This was written in response to the police brutality at the port protests at Olympia and Tacoma this year.
I was pretty shocked at some of the responses to the police brutality at the port protests. People were basically excusing and minimizing the police's actions against peaceful protesters.
To those who believe the actions against the protesters were justified, please read the following examples of police brutality and illegal actions (much of which was documented via photographs and videos):
-Peaceful protesters standing against a fence were pepper-sprayed at point-blank range. A policeman walked up to them and sprayed them in the face from about a foot away. For those who believe that pepper spray is non-lethal, I quote: "The Los Angeles Times has reported at least 61 deaths associated with police use of pepper spray since 1990 in the USA, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) documented 27 deaths in custody of people sprayed with pepper spray in California alone, since 1993."
-Protesters at that same fence (again, people who were standing there with signs, completely non-violent) were thrown to the ground and then kicked by police, as well as beaten by batons. There were also instances of people already on the ground being sprayed with pepper spray.
-Tear gas canisters were thrown into crowds of people who were doing nothing but sitting on the ground chanting "Give peace a chance."
-The police chased FLEEING protesters for three blocks, while shooting rubber bullets, throwing at least 20 tear gas canisters, and spraying with pepper spray.
-The police tased protesters who were already on the ground. In one instance a man was tased three times in the back AFTER police had knocked him down.
-Police shot peaceful protesters with rubber bullets at close range. On one night, for instance, at least five people were reported to have been shot at point-blank range in the chest or in the face. Rubber bullets can be lethal at close range.
-Protesters were shot at point-blank range with pepper balls. At least one man was repeatedly shot in the groin at close range.
-Police pointed shotguns at peaceful, unarmed protesters, even after being asked to lower the guns. (This I find particularly disturbing, as it's widely taught that you never, EVER point a lethal weapon at a person unless you are prepared to use it.)
-Protesters were not the only ones targeted by police brutality. Journalists, medics, legal advocates, and bystanders suffered the same treatment.
-Police illegally pepper-sprayed protesters without following the legally mandated dispersal time limit.
-Police illegally confiscated cameras and videotapes from people filming the events.
-Police illegally banned people from bringing backpacks (sometimes containing food and medical supplies, sometimes something as simple as a teddy bear) into the protest zone, even after being informed by at least two attorneys citing Ninth Circuit legal precedent determining that such bans violate Fourth Amendment privacy rights.
-Police denied medical treatment to injured protesters, including those in police custody.
At no point were the police in any danger. Numerous videos have shown them using brutal force against protesters who were not in any way violent, nor even attempting to advance - and yet the police showed up armed with lethal weapons and in full riot gear.
Are you seriously, seriously condoning the use of possibly lethal violence against a bunch of teenagers doing nothing more than sitting on the ground singing songs? Whether or not you support the war in Iraq is irrelevant - do you not support a person's right to peacefully protest on a public sidewalk without being shot in the face?
I haven't been in the US long, but I could've sworn this was a country where people have the right to speak freely without being beaten up. Apparently I was mistaken.
For more info on the protests and police brutality, I recommend the following article: http://www.olywip.org/site/page/article/2007/04/09.html
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it is sad that something like that does happen in a country that stands for civil rights, on a more positive note though cases like this are what instigate change. For example in black civil rights, the edmund pettus bridge. it wasn't until people saw police brutality on harmless kids, did they begin to fight for change
Unfortunately, these are reasons why most of the time I am completely terrified to stand up for what I believe in, especially in the form of joining a protest. It's not only the police we need to worry about. Citizens supporting the other side may become violent. Shooting are happening too often. I am even afraid to stop to help someone in a car stranded on the side of the road. Who knows if they have a gun or not.
Sadly, this is how its always been. If you look back a few years, you find the same behavior. In fact brutal force being used against protestors goes back hundreds of years. Here in America freedom of speach is something we pride ourselves in. These officers seem to be doing all they can to prevent us from exercising that right.
I think that police face the same problems doctors do. After dealing with so many criminals and violence and more, they become desensitized. To them the peaceful protestors are no different that every other violent and common criminal they deal with. They loose sight of why they became police officers. Their duty is to protect us and our rights, not withhold our freedoms.