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Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
The 5 things you gotta know before you let that cop into your house
THIS STUFF IS SOOO IMPORTANT TO KNOW. Seriously. It’s saved my ass before.
What do you do when you look through the peephole and see a badge?
- Remember: You do not have to let the police in the house unless they have a warrant — or probable cause. If you’re having a party, turn off the music, ask your guests to chill, and ask that anyone who’s too intoxicated carry on in another room.
- Go outside to speak with the cops. Close the door behind you. Although some scary precedents are being set these days, police cannot enter your home without a warrant or probable cause. By closing the door, you’re cutting off a visual — or olfactory — line to potential probable cause.
- Be polite. Ask why they are there. “Good evening, Officer. What can I help you with?”
- Where possible, assure them you will take care of the problem. If the police ask to enter, inform them, “I do not consent to any searches.” If a police officer gives you an order and you are confused about your position, ask, “Do I have to comply?” If they continue with questioning, tell them you’ll need to call your lawyer and that you will not answer any questions.
- Ask, “Am I free to leave?” This is especially handy if, say, a group of you’d been too bawdy on the patio and an officer stops by. If he/she is getting a bit hot under the collar, politely ask, “Am I being detained?” or “Am I free to leave?” If the cop has no reason to hold you, quickly, quietly, and politely retreat inside.
The POC’s Bill of Rights when it comes to the Police. Remember. These are your rights.
(Source: bohemianarthouse)
Unite or Die: Congress to Vote Next Week on EXPLICITLY Creating a Police State
The police brutality against peaceful protesters in Berkeley, Davis, Oakland and elsewhere is bad enough.
But next week, Congress will vote on explicitly creating a police state.
The ACLU’s Washington legislative office explains:
The Senate is gearing up for a vote…
Do I even need to say it? GET THESE PEOPLE OUT OF CONGRESS. Force them to read the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Pres. Roosevelt’s Proposed Second Bill of Rights. Then quiz them relentlessly. If they fail even once, bar them from ever coming back into politics. These people should NOT be allowed to stop on our basic rights. “America is part of the battlefield.” Please.
Oh my God. This is so many variations of wrong. What the fuck is wrong with Congress that would make them think that this is even remotely okay? This isn’t defense. This is terrorism. If it passes, they can pick up anyone they want anywhere in the world and detain them indefinitely. Probable cause can be bullshitted in later. The point here is that if this passes, no one is safe.
Oh, wait. Is it not terrorism if American people are the ones doing the menacing?
Here is an ACLU petition against this horrific piece of legislation. Please, I beg of you, sign it.
*blinks*
Okay, I’m trying to take a really deep breath here, but …
Are you telling me that some motherfucking white dudebro actually got out a motherfucking pen and a big old sheet of poster board and seriously sat his ass down and wrote out “Why are you harassing us white kids when you could be arresting BLACK PEOPLE??? Who have serious medical conditions (i.e. addiction) but no access to treatment? ISN’T SOCIETY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE POLICE ARE CURRENTLY FAILING THE RACIST PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX BY PICKING ON WHITE FOLKS???”
And then
And THEN
A whole bunch of OTHER motherfuckers got on tumblr and reblogged his goddamn picture without a single fucking critical word?
Because apparently they see this sign and think “YEAH. He’s right! WE SHOULD BE ARRESTING BLACK PEOPLE INSTEAD.”
Yeah, okay, if you did not see an immediate problem with this sign the minute you saw it, I am totally fucking DONE with YOU.
I could think of about ten other things this guy could have wrote on a sign to make it more effective and less awful.
thecurvature: You’re implying crack can only be sold by black people.
Uh… probably because the vast majority of people arrested on drug charges, especially crack, are Black. Pay attention.
losing so much faith in the occupy movement every day
A friend of mine in Seattle sent me a picture of a different sign that said this exact phrase taped to some trashcans at OccupySeattle.
It is not just this one white guy who feels this way, there are plenty of racist white folks in the Occupy movement
….but will you see people who are putting OWS on a pedestal talking about race? no. If they do, they’re trying to get you to shut up about race by appeasing you, there is no discussion or consideration of race within the Occupy Movement at large. When I say that, they’ll think “Well why don’t you get more involved and bring it up”….my response is fuck you, if you’re so fucking radical that classwarfare is coming out of your asshole….why don’t YOU bring it up? yeah, that’s what I fucking thought.
Um… I’m actually among those white people who reblogged this picture a while back, but I wasn’t aware of the racist implications when I did. I apologize, and I’ll pay closer attention in the future.
(Source: hasslechassels)
UC Davis Pepper Spray Officer Also a Racist Homophobe
Pike, one of the officers who sprayed the students, is a retired Marine sergeant who has been honored for his police work on campus, but he also figured in a discrimination lawsuit against the university.He has twice been honored by the university for exceptional police work, including a 2006 incident in which he tackled a scissor-wielding hospital patient who was threatening fellow officers. Afterward, he said he decided against using pepper spray because it might harm his colleagues or other hospital patients. (funny huh?)
But an alleged anti-gay slur by Pike also figured in a racial and sexual discrimination lawsuit a former police officer filed against the department, which ended in a $240,000 settlement in 2008. Officer Calvin Chang’s 2003 discrimination complaint against the university’s police chief and the UC Board of Regents alleged he was systematically marginalized as the result of anti-gay and racist attitudes on the force, and he specifically claimed Pike described him using a profane anti-gay epithet.
Tuesday, state lawmakers announced they would hold a hearing on the pepper-spraying incident. Assembly Speaker John Perez sent a letter to the University of California Board of Regents chairwoman Sherry Lansing and UC President Mark Yudof asking for a system-wide investigation.
He also appointed the university’s general counsel and the UC Berkeley law school dean to examine police protocols and policies at all 10 UC campuses, including discussions with students, faculty and staff.
(Source)
Can this story get any worse?
…Since you just said the magic words, I expect they will.
ALERT: Impending attack on Occupy Madison (Wisconsin)
Public Health has demanded that Occupy Madison apply for a Special Event Campground permit for the 800 block of the city owned Don Miller property (East Washington and Livingston). Members were informed that this permit was required to be filed by noon Wednesday, November 2nd.
At Occupy Madison’s 26th General Assembly (10/01) it was decided by consensus to not comply with this demand. We are well informed that a process to remove the occupation could follow including citations and arrests. We at Occupy Madison fully expect these events to occur soon after noon tomorrow, the 2nd of November.
Join us in person to stand in solidarity with occupation efforts across the globe. Spread the word as widely as possible. Demand the personal involvement of the mayor. Occupy Madison is not camping. We’re a political demonstration of resistance against austerity well within our rights of free speech and peaceable assembly.
Thank you for the consideration, Solidarity!
Police attack Occupy Tulsa; 10 arrested
TULSA, Oklahoma — Police arrested 10 Occupy Tulsa protesters after they refused to leave a city park at 6th and Boston early Wednesday morning.
The arrests happened at 1:45 a.m.
As many as 50 police officers were involved in clearing out the park after officers ordered the protesters to leave.
Police said the protesters were in violation of the park’s curfew.
Many of the 40 Occupy Tulsa protesters left when police made the announcement, but several refused to leave.
Tulsa Police say those who refused to leave grabbed a hold of each other to show they were refusing to leave.
At that point, Tulsa Police started using pepper spray.
The protesters who were arrested were taken to the Tulsa County jail and booked on complaints of resisting arrest and violation of the park’s curfew.
According to Tulsa County jail records those arrested by Tulsa Police include:
- John Harlien
- Amanda Hammack
- Lawrence Black
- Shane Algiere
- Masar Alabdul-Baqi
- Jeffrey Key
- Brittany Mercer
- Samval Molik
- Elias Sliva
- John Vanzant
After posting bond, seven of them returned to the park at 6th and Boulder to continue their protest.
Police arrest 8 Occupy Portland demonstrators
Police arrested eight people before dawn Thursday and reopened a downtown Portland street blocked during the past week by protesters supporting the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Officers moved in quickly and traffic was flowing a half-hour later.
Many of the protesters had decided the day before to go along with a request by Mayor Sam Adams to give up the street that divides two downtown parks where a settlement of more than 300 tents and tarps sprang up.
fuuuuuuuck.
Why? The police fucking joined them a few weeks ago. Fuck. I fucking called Kitzhaber’s office. I know a lot of people did.
What the fucking fuck…?
Police physically and violently begin to remove protesters from Occupy Boston’s new encampment, starting with the Veterans for Peace.
This is not a representation of all police. I get that. I used to know some officers, and I’ve never been interrogated by one or directly approached by one in a menacing fashion. So I avoid generalizing all officers in a negative light.
However, it is important that we also never generalize all officers in a positive light, either. At my middle school, the resident school officer maced a seventh-grader at point-blank range for cursing at him. Anyone in power is capable of abusing it. Some are responsible, and don’t abuse it. Others do. This video showcases an example of the latter.
My challenge to anyone who thinks I’m being unfair: Find me video footage of police officers standing with and protecting protesters. I will reblog it as fast as possible. I’ll even like it so that I can KEEP reblogging it whenever I lose hope. Because I want to see the other side, the ‘good side’, and it hasn’t been widely featured in video footage of the occupation.
No media or recording devices are being allowed into Occupy Boston’s site
The police are invading TONIGHT. The occupation is facing shutdown, and it will not be recorded.
Guys, please reblog this. The world must know.
Seriously, reblog this, everyone. If you’re a human being, if you have a heart reblog it please. D:
I’m calling bullshit on this. Why?
#1 - The people have a right to peaceful assembly. We don’t live in a totalitarian state where protests are shut down, ignored by the media, maybe, actively stomped out? No.
#2 - Probable cause. Unless the police have probable cause, they will not go storming in to shut things down. Hang back and observe the protesters, yes, to insure there are no acts of violence/looting/defacing property. The precincts would be facing a quiet mutiny if they did.
Really, coming from a police family, I hate how they always take the brunt of any blame from any situation, not to mention targets of rumors such as these.
Eep. Hi, anoriginalurl! I just wanted to elaborate for a second on this.
#1. You are absolutely right on this point. The right to peaceful assembly is covered in all American citizens’ First Amendment rights. However, there have been instances in which these rights (and others) have been disregarded in practice, leading to…
#2. The issue of probable cause. It’s a reasonable limit, but also highly subjective, and the meaning of probable cause has been twisted many times in the course of this movement.
I am not blaming the police as a whole; there are many in the police force who are staying back and observing, as is their job, and some who have even sided with the demonstrators. However, there are some—let’s call them a highly visible minority—within the ranks of the police force who are overstepping their duties, such as Anthony Bologna did when he maced those kettled protesters (including OP) in that now-infamous Youtube video. Because of OP’s close connection to the groundwork in Occupy Wall St., I tend to believe and reblog information that she sends out. She, too, cites her sources as the Occupy Wall St. and Occupy Together pages. Therefore, when she warned that some members of the police force were trying to shut down the assembly… well, I reblogged.
I apologize if I’ve stepped on your toes in any way.
