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, 20 Nov 2008 11:19:27 +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

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