Comments on: March on Washington this Saturday (Jan. 27) http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/ Author James Bovard Thu, 17 May 2012 04:33:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-19742 Jim Wed, 31 Jan 2007 15:31:22 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-19742 I was amazed that the chief of police did not lose his job after the comments he made about that round-up -- esp. regarding the intentional aggravation of the arrestees. I was amazed that the chief of police did not lose his job after the comments he made about that round-up — esp. regarding the intentional aggravation of the arrestees.

]]> By: Mike http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-19459 Mike Tue, 30 Jan 2007 23:30:38 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-19459 We've paid out over a million dollars so far and had to change some of over policies due to the Pershing Park round-up. We’ve paid out over a million dollars so far and had to change some of over policies due to the Pershing Park round-up.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-19235 Jim Tue, 30 Jan 2007 04:02:08 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-19235 Mike, thanks for the insights into police procedures & perspectives. I hope the brass listens to you more in the future. I am surprised the MPD brass did not catch far more heat for its great roundup at one of the parks prior/during one of the World Bank meetings a few years ago. Mike, thanks for the insights into police procedures & perspectives.

I hope the brass listens to you more in the future. I am surprised the MPD brass did not catch far more heat for its great roundup at one of the parks prior/during one of the World Bank meetings a few years ago.

]]> By: Mike http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-19134 Mike Mon, 29 Jan 2007 20:39:37 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-19134 "Why do they overdress?" I'm not sure. Part of it is that since they are feds they don't have anyone to answer to. At least that's how they feel. There is another reason though. I was at a briefing a couple of years ago prior to a World bank-IMF protest. The folks running the briefing, who were from MPD and not feds, showed video clips of every violent act at any similar demonstration during the previous couple of years. Thre was no video of the tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators, just the few knukleheads. I think that gets officers hyped up and scared. During that demonstration I stood behind a line of officers from an outside jurisdiction and I was the only police officer as far as I could see who didn't have armor or a helmet on. Maybe my years of dealing with actual dangerous people makes it so I can tell the difference between those who are dangerous and those who are not. Or maybe not. Mike “Why do they overdress?”

I’m not sure. Part of it is that since they are feds they don’t have anyone to answer to. At least that’s how they feel. There is another reason though. I was at a briefing a couple of years ago prior to a World bank-IMF protest. The folks running the briefing, who were from MPD and not feds, showed video clips of every violent act at any similar demonstration during the previous couple of years. Thre was no video of the tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators, just the few knukleheads. I think that gets officers hyped up and scared. During that demonstration I stood behind a line of officers from an outside jurisdiction and I was the only police officer as far as I could see who didn’t have armor or a helmet on. Maybe my years of dealing with actual dangerous people makes it so I can tell the difference between those who are dangerous and those who are not. Or maybe not.

Mike

]]> By: Karen http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-19045 Karen Mon, 29 Jan 2007 12:00:18 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-19045 I thought the police were very cool. Many of them smiled or chuckled when they say my dog wearing her protest sign "GOOD DOG. BAD WAR". By the way, if anyone has pictures of her (I didn't think to take any myself!) please forward to Karen247@sbcglobal.net. Much appreciated! I thought the police were very cool. Many of them smiled or chuckled when they say my dog wearing her protest sign “GOOD DOG. BAD WAR”. By the way, if anyone has pictures of her (I didn’t think to take any myself!) please forward to Karen247@sbcglobal.net. Much appreciated!

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18910 Jim Mon, 29 Jan 2007 02:45:42 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18910 Why do they overdress? My impression is that the antiwar protests from 2002 onwards have all been quite tame. (Some of the anti-World Bank protests have been a different story). Why do they overdress?

My impression is that the antiwar protests from 2002 onwards have all been quite tame. (Some of the anti-World Bank protests have been a different story).

]]> By: Mike http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18904 Mike Mon, 29 Jan 2007 01:54:17 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18904 Nobody had any armor on. Mostly we directed traffic. The guys you see by the White House are generally feds, either Park Police or Secret Service Uniform Division and they usually overdress for the occasion. Nobody had any armor on. Mostly we directed traffic. The guys you see by the White House are generally feds, either Park Police or Secret Service Uniform Division and they usually overdress for the occasion.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18903 Jim Mon, 29 Jan 2007 01:29:30 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18903 Mike - thanks for your comments on the role of the police at a demo. The police yesterday seemed fairly relaxed - esp. compared to demos that marched past the White House. I have been amused to see long rows of police decked out in full body armor with riot shields by the White House... with passerbys perplexed at their getups. I didn't see police in full armor yesterday but did not circle the full march route. If you see me next time, give me a holler. Mike - thanks for your comments on the role of the police at a demo.

The police yesterday seemed fairly relaxed - esp. compared to demos that marched past the White House. I have been amused to see long rows of police decked out in full body armor with riot shields by the White House… with passerbys perplexed at their getups. I didn’t see police in full armor yesterday but did not circle the full march route.

If you see me next time, give me a holler.

]]> By: mikeP http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18892 mikeP Sun, 28 Jan 2007 23:18:10 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18892 I'm PRO-BUSH, ANTI-WAR. Look as far as I am concerned Bush did his job. THEY knocked down two buildings WE knocked down two countries. THEY killed 3000 innocents WE killed 300,000+. Justice, vengence, what ever you want to call it, Bush did a GREAT JOB. But now its over, its a WIN, Job well done! lets wrap it up and get our guys home! I’m PRO-BUSH, ANTI-WAR. Look as far as I am concerned Bush did his job. THEY knocked down two buildings WE knocked down two countries. THEY killed 3000 innocents WE killed 300,000+. Justice, vengence, what ever you want to call it, Bush did a GREAT JOB. But now its over, its a WIN, Job well done! lets wrap it up and get our guys home!

]]> By: Mike http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18881 Mike Sun, 28 Jan 2007 22:00:56 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18881 The job of a police officer during a protest such as this one is two fold. The primary function is to allow all parties to exercise their First Amendment rights. The second function is to prevent property damage and injury caused by the small percentage of demonstrators who are intent on doing so. Unfortunately many, if not most, police officers get the order reversed and become so intent on preventing crimes that they forget the real reason they are there. Added to this is the fact that a majority of police officers live somewhere out on the right wing. I’ve been a police officer for almost 17 years and I generally enjoy demonstrations like yesterdays. I would have been on the lookout for you, Mr. Bovard, if I had read about your attendance sooner. Maybe I’ll see you next time. Mike The job of a police officer during a protest such as this one is two fold. The primary function is to allow all parties to exercise their First Amendment rights. The second function is to prevent property damage and injury caused by the small percentage of demonstrators who are intent on doing so. Unfortunately many, if not most, police officers get the order reversed and become so intent on preventing crimes that they forget the real reason they are there. Added to this is the fact that a majority of police officers live somewhere out on the right wing.

I’ve been a police officer for almost 17 years and I generally enjoy demonstrations like yesterdays. I would have been on the lookout for you, Mr. Bovard, if I had read about your attendance sooner. Maybe I’ll see you next time.

Mike

]]> By: JJCIV http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18765 JJCIV Sun, 28 Jan 2007 08:13:26 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18765 It would seem that the public education is certainly failing in America. We were attacked more times from 1993-2000, with no response then anytime in the Nations history. Less then 10% of the Nation makes up our military yet 80+% seem to have all of the solutions to solve conflict. If anyone one can come up with a pragmatic solution to preventing another American from getting killed, please post, Isolaionalism won't work, look at Pearl Harbor, or Sept.11, so failure to face the enemy is not a solution. Jc It would seem that the public education is certainly failing in America. We were attacked more times from 1993-2000, with no response then anytime in the Nations history. Less then 10% of the Nation makes up our military yet 80+% seem to have all of the solutions to solve conflict. If anyone one can come up with a pragmatic solution to preventing another American from getting killed, please post, Isolaionalism won’t work, look at Pearl Harbor, or Sept.11, so failure to face the enemy is not a solution.
Jc

]]> By: JJCIV http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18764 JJCIV Sun, 28 Jan 2007 07:58:53 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18764 Can anyone in this group tell me when the current war started? Can anyone tell me when WWII started? If you say Dec 7, 1941 you'd be wrong, the same way if you said the current war started Sept 11, 2001 you'd be wrong. If you honestly believe the current war would terminate with bringing the US troops home, you could be classified as delulsional, the current conflict can be tracked back to 1979, take the politics out of it and look at reality, If we weren't fighting them over there we certainly would be fighting a larger force here. JC Can anyone in this group tell me when the current war started? Can anyone tell me when WWII started? If you say Dec 7, 1941 you’d be wrong, the same way if you said the current war started Sept 11, 2001 you’d be wrong. If you honestly believe the current war would terminate with bringing the US troops home, you could be classified as delulsional, the current conflict can be tracked back to 1979, take the politics out of it and look at reality, If we weren’t fighting them over there we certainly would be fighting a larger force here.
JC

]]> By: Dee http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18718 Dee Sun, 28 Jan 2007 01:46:24 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18718 I wish I could march. Im a Canadian and I live too far away to make the trek, but Im mad as hell with the current US administration and I'd really like to have a way to vent my anger in a positive way. Im very tempted to put signs up in my neighborhood deriding Bush's "war on terror" but it wouldnt make much difference in Canada. It just burns me up that most of the civil world loudly cried "NO!" when Bush declared this war, and saw through his excuse of looking for WMDs, then looked on in pity as he tried to explain that the *real* reason he was in Iraq was to bring democracy to the land. Well, Mr Bush, now that you've found those WMDs and brought democracy to the land, dont you think its time to get the hell out before you do any more good? Your president has done more to damage your countries reputation than anyone or anything that has happened in hundreds of years. I think he should be impeached. Now. I wish I could march. Im a Canadian and I live too far away to make the trek, but Im mad as hell with the current US administration and I’d really like to have a way to vent my anger in a positive way. Im very tempted to put signs up in my neighborhood deriding Bush’s “war on terror” but it wouldnt make much difference in Canada. It just burns me up that most of the civil world loudly cried “NO!” when Bush declared this war, and saw through his excuse of looking for WMDs, then looked on in pity as he tried to explain that the *real* reason he was in Iraq was to bring democracy to the land. Well, Mr Bush, now that you’ve found those WMDs and brought democracy to the land, dont you think its time to get the hell out before you do any more good? Your president has done more to damage your countries reputation than anyone or anything that has happened in hundreds of years. I think he should be impeached. Now.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18643 Jim Sat, 27 Jan 2007 14:54:37 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18643 A gesture of defiance can be bracing both for the individual and the nation. Short term, it doesn't matter if the protests don't quickly change policies. A gesture of defiance can be bracing both for the individual and the nation.

Short term, it doesn’t matter if the protests don’t quickly change policies.

]]> By: Freedom Lover http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18567 Freedom Lover Sat, 27 Jan 2007 09:34:02 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/01/23/march-on-washingotn-this-saturday-jan-27/#comment-18567 Wake up, this isn't the 70's. NO draft, no pressure. People today are too caught up in their latest techno gadgets. Protest all you want, but the media will not give it a rats ass minute of coverage. I mean, if a tree falls in forest and no one is there, does anyone know (or give a rats ass). So no matter how big and needed the protest, if it isn't covered, did it ever take place? The Nazzi administration is in total control. Revolution!!! What Revolution? Wake up, this isn’t the 70’s. NO draft, no pressure. People today are too caught up in their latest techno gadgets. Protest all you want, but the media will not give it a rats ass minute of coverage. I mean, if a tree falls in forest and no one is there, does anyone know (or give a rats ass). So no matter how big and needed the protest, if it isn’t covered, did it ever take place? The Nazzi administration is in total control. Revolution!!! What Revolution?

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