LA Police told not to put on riot gear because it might inflame the crowd

[dead0man]

..and of course an officer gets hit in the head.  link

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Shouldn't the safety of the officers outweigh the "anxiety" protesters feel?

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Isn't the riot gear there for exactly that possibility?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

The problem with riot gear is that it sends the message you expect the crowd to make trouble, and people have a nasty habit of tending to live up to the expectations one has of them, be it good or ill.  That said, if you're going to have a line of police in close proximity to protesters, helmets would seem advisable, so yes to hats, but no to bats.

[Earth]

It's a psychological tactic, obviously, but I would be concerned with keeping helmets in use. The additional vests and gear are the image of riot police, not necessarily the helmets alone.

[John Dibble]

It's a psychological tactic, obviously, but I would be concerned with keeping helmets in use. The additional vests and gear are the image of riot police, not necessarily the helmets alone.

Agreed. There is middle ground here.

[minionofmidas]

The problem with riot gear is that it sends the message you expect the crowd to make trouble.

Donning of riot gear sends the message that the *police* intend to make trouble.

This isn't always police intent, of course, although sometimes it undeniably is, but that's the way it comes across. When you're surrounded by police but all has been quiet for a while and they suddenly all put their helmets back on etc, you brace yourself for whatever's coming next.

[Sbane]

Keeping on hats is probably a good idea but batons and other riot gear could be counterproductive.

[Sir Coffeebeans]

It is true that rioters will tend to be more violent if they see "the troops come in heavy" per se, but I think it is better to preserve the lives of the cops who are serving, rather than the protesters who are disturbing. I have nothing against peaceful protests, but violent protests bother me.

[AkSaber]

This was a protest, the crowd was already pissed. The police didn't wear their riot gear, but an officer was still attacked.

And as we've seen, many of these people don't need an excuse to act like pricks.

[dead0man]

Obviously if the cops never show up at all to "events" like this nothing bad would ever happen.  But sadly, the Jews control everybody in power so the cops will continue to show up to protect their masters from the freedom loving truth seekers.

[Lunar]

This can't be discarded as an otherwise peaceful event if people are willing to attempt murder or serious bodily harm on police officers.  I doubt some Jewish conspiracy was behind this, dawg.


This forum has.....done something lately... with some of these topics.  I'll point my finger on it later.

[dead0man]

This can't be discarded as an otherwise peaceful event if people are willing to attempt murder or serious bodily harm on police officers.  I doubt some Jewish conspiracy was behind this, dawg.

Obviously not.  I was just making fun of those that claim Jewish conspiracy to everything.  As a bonus it was an anti-Isaelie protest.

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I for one can't wait

[Associate Justice PiT]

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I for one can't wait

     I am also interested.

[CARLHAYDEN]

This can't be discarded as an otherwise peaceful event if people are willing to attempt murder or serious bodily harm on police officers.  I doubt some Jewish conspiracy was behind this, dawg.


This forum has.....done something lately... with some of these topics.  I'll point my finger on it later.

Loonie,

First, Dead0man was being sarcastic.  The problem with sarcasm is that some people fail to understand the sarcastic nature of the comment (ahem).

Second, I understand your failure to comprehend the posts of libertarian or libertarian leaning posters given your hard left positions. 

 

[Earth]

Obviously not.  I was just making fun of those that claim Jewish conspiracy to everything.  As a bonus it was an anti-Isaelie protest.

Once again, I'll ask you; how do anti-israel protests equate to anti-semitism? You bring up a "Jewish conspiracy" as if antisemites are leading them.

[Sir Coffeebeans]

Lunar, what are you talking about. First we have a sarcastic Jewish conspiracy, and then we have a thinly veiled forum conspiracy.

[Matt Damon™]

Lunar: Given how it's the LAPD we're talking about how is that a bad thing?

[Lunar]

Lunar, what are you talking about. First we have a sarcastic Jewish conspiracy, and then we have a thinly veiled forum conspiracy.

What?  I'm was just teasing the flood of libertarian blog-linked posts .  I like more threads.  This one seemed a bit silly though.

[Sir Coffeebeans]

OK, sorry, just wondering.

[dead0man]

Obviously not.  I was just making fun of those that claim Jewish conspiracy to everything.  As a bonus it was an anti-Isaelie protest.

Once again, I'll ask you; how do anti-israel protests equate to anti-semitism? You bring up a "Jewish conspiracy" as if antisemites are leading them.

Because I've seen them?  I'm not going to say everybody at an anti-Israel rally is a Jew hater, but some of them certainly are.  Way too much hate in some of those people.

[Lunar]

Well, I think it's because they hate people who disagree with them and see anyone who believe in there morally righteous cause as morally repugnant.   This is common among people defending indivisible issues - issues where there is no compromise.  Because Jews often are very pro-Israel and pro-Israeli lobbies are so much more successful than pro-Palestine lobbies, and because of group psychological pressures, some of them will naturally become anti-semites.

But labeling them all as anti-semites would be almost exactly as prejudiced.

[dead0man]

Which I'm not doing.  I'm sure many people at these protests are disgusted and embarrassed by the bigotry.

[Lunar]

Which I'm not doing.  I'm sure many people at these protests are disgusted and embarrassed by the bigotry.

Yeah I no you aren't accusing them all of being anti-semites, you stated as much natch.

Really?

Why would they be there then

[dead0man]

I would assume that some of the people there would notice racism when they see it.  You may be right though.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

While I understand the point of what they did, the officer's safety needs to be top priority.