Department of Homeland Security expecting election violence?

[jgalt]

So then you have documentation of a cop throwing a girl down on the pavement for simply walking home from work? Please provide this documentation so we can all review it.

If he saw it, and you are questioning it, are you calling him a liar?

One can question someone's statements, and even state they don't believe them, without implying the person making those statements is a liar...

[Collector1337420]

Sure. Here is the one I was speaking of. One is using his dissenter beater, err, um, I mean baton, as a baseball bat, while another (off camera) is pitching a water bottle as a baseball. See it? It's right above the head of the one with his back turned. It looks like it's coming in a little high, he better not quit his day job. It's good they could get a chance to relive their baseball playing youth.

Pretty good timing in the taking of that picture on my part, I must say.

Careful, it's a pretty big picture:




Standing around is such hard work with all this gear on. Hey, I got an idea! Let's do this in shifts. You guys go first, we'll rest here.




I don't think I have enough. I need another bandolier! But, you go get it, I don't want to lose my awesome tactical advantage I have up here sitting on the roof on this van.




Umm, what are we doing here again? Screw it, I'm tired, let's just stand here. I didn't sign up to be a bike cop anyway.




Protect Wells Fargo at all cost! We know who our true masters are.




I don't think there is enough of us! I hope we don't have to walk very far to meet everyone else, wearing all this black is really hot in this Summer sun!




Excuse me. Officer? Is there a particular reason why this intersection is closed? The RNC is across the river...




Incrementalism.

Maybe if we do it slowly and gradually, no one will notice.

[jshuberg]

So you documented a bunch of cops standing-bye to stand-bye. I hate to break it to you, but a lot of being a cop, a soldier, a firefighter, etc is waiting around for something to happen. Something that hopefully never does happen.

Why did they have so many cops on the streets? Out of an abundance of caution. Why were they all geared up in scary black tactical gear? As a visual deterrent and to establish a command presence. Why were they scattered around the cities, rather than all at the convention? Bad people sometimes have cars and can drive to the place where the cops aren't.

Nice photos, but I don't think they capture anything unusual or unexpected. Nothing at all that indicates police oppression or abuse. Unless you happen to be that water bottle.

[Collector1337420]

So you documented a bunch of cops standing-bye to stand-bye. I hate to break it to you, but a lot of being a cop, a soldier, a firefighter, etc is waiting around for something to happen. Something that hopefully never does happen.

Why did they have so many cops on the streets? Out of an abundance of caution. Why were they all geared up in scary black tactical gear? As a visual deterrent and to establish a command presence. Why were they scattered around the cities, rather than all at the convention? Bad people sometimes have cars and can drive to the place where the cops aren't.

Nice photos, but I don't think they capture anything unusual or unexpected. Nothing at all that indicates police oppression or abuse. Unless you happen to be that water bottle.

Thank you for informing me on all these things I already knew, I appreciate it. You seem very eager to stick up for the police.

Apparently, the point is lost on you. Nevermind.

[jgalt]

Thank you for informing me on all these things I already knew, I appreciate it. You seem very eager to stick up for the police.

So you know all the stuff jshuberg said is true, but you think that means he is "very eager to stick up for the police?" Really? You're not making any sense...

Apparently, the point is lost on you. Nevermind.

And that point would be ... what?

Standing around waiting for something to happen is not only a legitimate activity for police to engage in - in fact, it is the ideal activity, as it means there isn't anything going wrong.

None of your pictures show any LEOs doing anything wrong. Are you upset because they are there at all?

Again, please do make your point crystal clear. Do so and some of us might actually agree with you...

[xd ED]

So you documented a bunch of cops standing-bye to stand-bye. I hate to break it to you, but a lot of being a cop, a soldier, a firefighter, etc is waiting around for something to happen. Something that hopefully never does happen.

Why did they have so many cops on the streets? Out of an abundance of caution. Why were they all geared up in scary black tactical gear? As a visual deterrent and to establish a command presence. Why were they scattered around the cities, rather than all at the convention? Bad people sometimes have cars and can drive to the place where the cops aren't.

Nice photos, but I don't think they capture anything unusual or unexpected. Nothing at all that indicates police oppression or abuse. Unless you happen to be that water bottle.

Thank you for informing me on all these things I already knew, I appreciate it. You seem very eager to stick up for the police.

Apparently, the point is lost on you. Nevermind.

Sounds like you're upset and disappointed that there is no one- be that police or protester- in a state of distress for you to conveniently photograph.

[cobb]

Apparently, the point is lost on you. Nevermind.

And that point would be ... what?

I guess I missed the point also.
In the past, the left leaning liberals have proven to be violent in their actions, so precautions were taken based on their past history.

[photogpat]

The RNC protests (pretty much any large event) were full of "citizen journalists" with their brand new DSLR's hoping to take "that" picture of the police beating on some kid with a black hoodie and bandana over his face -- or some 80yr old Grandma getting a faceful of pepper spray. Most of these "journalists" didn't realize that "embedding" in a semi-violent situation can itself be a risk, and they should be prepared to take precautions when the situation turns violent. Most didn't even bother trying to obtain press credentials from ANY media outlet, and believe me, they were available if you had a heartbeat and an online portfolio. Without creds, you're just a guy with a camera who happens to be in the wrong place and the wrong time, many (all) of the protestors had cameras as well (some with better gear than the press)....except true journalists don't become involved with the event they're documenting though, no shouting/chanting/etc...and remain impassive and clearly identified at a glance (other than simply having a camera around their neck). True journalists realize in a situation like this, the story isn't necessarily the police dressed like storm troopers (major press had that covered long before you showed up) - but sometimes the people behind the police, or in the rear of the protestors (hint, thats usually where grandma is).

My favorite during the RNC was the group of "journalists" who didn't have the common sense to work their way back through police lines when the police were very obviously cordoning off the protestors down in front of the Science Museum on Shepard Road - they waiting too long. A quick flash of a press card - or even a kind word with an officer not in the midst of handcuffing, and you're back through the line. The police herded everyone together, closed the perimeter, and ticketed/arrested everyone. I'm not the brightest bulb on the tree, but you could literally watch the herding. A great number of the "citizen journalists", lacking press credentials, were swept up...leading to uncomfortable detention prior to ticketing...and in some cases being arrested. Charges were later dropped against a number of them, but still should have been foreseeable. Word to the wise - if someone next to you throws a rock/bottle/starts a fire -- document, and get away...at least far enough back that you're not next to them anymore.

Another interesting situation was when the Westboro folks setup shop at Cedar & 12th right by the capitol. They made a circle of their people (around a lightpole), and shouted at anyone/everyone/no-one with their chants. Now, they were shouted at by everyone else...but I happened to be standing right next to them as I watched a group of black-clad folks come charging up Cedar from downtown -- quiuckly standing to the side, the Westboro folks were assaulted within about 20 ft of me. I documented, but also watched for expansion of the violence. It was stopped fairly quickly by State Troopers...but remained tense. There was a group of people swept up into it, and one ended up on the ground and bleeding because he wasn't watching where he was standing at all times. Lo and behold - he'd had a camera and was trying to get into the Westboro circle... Head on a swivel -- its kinda a mantra during situations like this.

I have nothing against "citizen journalists" - but owning a camera and getting in a cop's face just prior or during a tense situation "can" result in uncomfortable-ness later -- most of these "journalists" weren't prepared for that....nor were they prepared for avoiding a violent situation. The funny part is, most of these "journalists" weren't going to be doing anything with their hard-won images other than downloading to their personal computers.

If you're going to document something like this - and are hoping for a pulitzer -- be prepared, be aware, and have a plan -- otherwise you're just a spectator/participant in civil unrest, and may have to pay the consequences. Sometimes even then, you end up on the wrong side of the line: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/nyreg ... bronx.html

Pat

P.S. Don't dress like your subjects either...the couple of guys I saw in cargo shorts and black hoodies really made a bad choice in clothing that morning...especially when they chose their bandanas too...

[Anokamnman]

Someone was asking why the police were all geared up in minneapolis... I can tell you why. there was a ” RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE” concert at target center. I was there enjoying the music. Not even thinking about it. Lots of people were talking about going to st paul after the concert to join the protestors. As everyone exited the building we were greeted by minneapolis's finest. I think it was a very smart move.

[xd ED]

Also, many of the RNC attendees were lodged in Mpls. and bussed to St. Paul.

[jgalt]

Also, many of the RNC attendees were lodged in Mpls. and bussed to St. Paul.

But, but, how could that be? I mean, Minneapolis is in no way connected with St. Paul, and they are so far away from each other geographically. They certainly don't have any decent hotel accommodations or enough restaurants to support visitors from out of town, so it is a complete mystery to me why you might think some connection between Minneapolis and the RNC could even be possible...

</sarcasm>...

[gman1868]

There was only a handful of arrests in that video.

I can only speculate, but I imagine that a lot of those "gassed" people had plenty of time to disperse, but chose not to.

Here's my favorite cop video from the RNC..

Das right, we bad!

[PRS]

So then you have documentation of a cop throwing a girl down on the pavement for simply walking home from work? Please provide this documentation so we can all review it.

What kind of documentation would you like? All I have is my word. This isn't a second hand tale, I was there and you weren't.

So then you have documentation of a cop throwing a girl down on the pavement for simply walking home from work? Please provide this documentation so we can all review it.

If he saw it, and you are questioning it, are you calling him a liar?

One can question someone's statements, and even state they don't believe them, without implying the person making those statements is a liar...

In this case I disagree...

[infidel]

Here is a video narrated by an undercover FBI agent describing the events of the 2008 convention, and how protesters were manipulated: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lkJ8VFJ ... _embedded#!

If that link doesn't work, it is the embedded video from this link: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government ... EMS-System

[Jeff Bergquist]

Without creds, you're just a guy with a camera who happens to be in the wrong place and the wrong time

Why does a press pass make one special? It seems to me that it just says you're a civilian working for a (probably) for profit information corporation. IMO the first amendment guarantee of freedom of the press implies that all the citizenry able to disseminate information is de facto "The Press", just as the second amendment implies that all the able bodied citizenry is "The Militia".

I understand that the concept of what "The Press" is has become bureaucratized and institutionalized over the years, but I still object to the idea that there is any class of American civilians who get special privileges by virtue of for whom they work.