Baltimore Calmer; 6 Officers Indicted

[Imperium Sidhicum]

Well, it was a black American that died in police custody, so I could imagine the anger in that local community. It's basically a case of "no shit Sherlock".

I know, right? It's almost as if a racial group with a history of being abused by the local police would take issue with someone of their race dying in police custody under suspicious circumstances. But that's just crazy talk.

Still, that's no excuse for any community to behave like degenerate apes, vandalizing and looting property of people who have nothing to do with the incident. From the looks of it, only a minority of the "protesters" actually protest the incident and police abuse, while the rest are just using it as an excuse to riot.

For some reason, there was none of this shit back in the day of Martin Luther King, when Black folks actually had legitimate grievances about discrimination and police abuse to complain about.

[The Conez Imperium]

Am I the only one who noticed that the overwhelming majority of "protesters" belong to a certain ethnic group (again) that is not to be named loudly on grounds of political correctness?

Is this supposed to offer us some kind of surprising insight?

The root of the conflict involved race issues, so it's really not surprising.

Perhaps its an interesting commentary about racial issues. Heavy-handily I will say that 80% of the protesters where black and 20% were white. What are the other "whites" doing? Perhaps that is the point of OP?

[The Grim Reaper]

For some reason, there was none of this shit back in the day of Martin Luther King, when Black folks actually had legitimate grievances about discrimination and police abuse to complain about.

Nation of Islam.

Look up Malcolm X, or admit you really don't give a fuck about black people enough to understand the civil rights movement.

[Costa Fierro]

Well, it did with the federal consent decree, which led to the new hiring practices and resulted in a huge shift in policy, training, community relations, and just the general manner in which business was conducted. To some degree, you can't avoid having the same shit occur, but you can change your tolerance level for it and how said shit is dealt with. That's what the LAPD has done to great success. Yes, you still get abusive cops on occasion, but they tend to get reassigned to desk duty and/or fired depending on the level of evidence and the severity. Yes, you still get cops who steal or plant evidence, but they get fired. Yes, you still get cops who get involved in controversial shootings, but they get investigated by a Civilian Review Board rather than their own.

So what is the point of all the riots and protests? Is that really it? Is there nothing else that can be implemented that essentially tries to prevent these people from becoming officers or at least creates better transparency and oversight of their conduct?

I mean, the police where I live have an independent body that basically reviews police actions. Every time they discharge firearms responding to calls. Every time a police chase results in the deaths of those being chased or innocent bystanders. It largely stops this kind of thing happening.

Most importantly, except on a case-by-case basis (as in Ferguson, and Los Angeles), the national government can't do much regarding local police forces. Cities tend to be jealous of their prerogatives, and it generally takes a dramatic event (such as, say, a riot) for the feds to be able to step in without causing major jurisdictional disputes.

Jurisdictional disputes. Got to love America.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

I know, right? It's almost as if a racial group with a history of being abused by the local police would take issue with someone of their race dying in police custody under suspicious circumstances. But that's just crazy talk.

Still, that's no excuse for any community to behave like degenerate apes,

Really? You want to lead with that?

vandalizing and looting property of people who have nothing to do with the incident.

Yeah, when all that you have is a hammer....

From the looks of it, only a minority of the "protesters" actually protest the incident and police abuse, while the rest are just using it as an excuse to riot.

The looks of it? Of what? Which pictures? The ones of the larger demonstrations? Or the ones of the riots?

For some reason, there was none of this shit back in the day of Martin Luther King, when Black folks actually had legitimate grievances about discrimination and police abuse to complain about.

Please, before you make a definitive comment regarding such matters, check first to see if you're talking out of your ass.

And I ran out of words there. Not riots.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

So what is the point of all the riots and protests? Is that really it? Is there nothing else that can be implemented that essentially tries to prevent these people from becoming officers or at least creates better transparency and oversight of their conduct?

I mean, the police where I live have an independent body that basically reviews police actions. Every time they discharge firearms responding to calls. Every time a police chase results in the deaths of those being chased or innocent bystanders. It largely stops this kind of thing happening.

We have one of those in Los Angeles, largely as a result of the riots and Rampart. That's my point. They cause city by city change.

Jurisdictional disputes. Got to love America.

Indeed.

[Russels Orbiting Teapot]

So what is the point of all the riots and protests? Is that really it? Is there nothing else that can be implemented that essentially tries to prevent these people from becoming officers or at least creates better transparency and oversight of their conduct?

I mean, the police where I live have an independent body that basically reviews police actions. Every time they discharge firearms responding to calls. Every time a police chase results in the deaths of those being chased or innocent bystanders. It largely stops this kind of thing happening.

The point of these riots and protests is to force cities to establish things like the independent body you have in your local area, in order to stop these things from happening. Do you think that they are doing this just because a legislative solution hasn't occurred to them?

[Costa Fierro]

Do you think that they are doing this just because a legislative solution hasn't occurred to them?

No. They're rioting because they can, not to make a political point. You don't achieve change by looting and burning cars.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Do you think that they are doing this just because a legislative solution hasn't occurred to them?

No. They're rioting because they can, not to make a political point. You don't achieve change by looting and burning cars.

Except that we have shown that it can be the first, desperate step in affecting change, at least locally.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

Do you think that they are doing this just because a legislative solution hasn't occurred to them?

No. They're rioting because they can, not to make a political point. You don't achieve change by looting and burning cars.

Yes you fucking do.

[Russels Orbiting Teapot]

No. They're rioting because they can, not to make a political point. You don't achieve change by looting and burning cars.

And the protesting is just because standing around waving a sign is fun I guess.

[The Two Jerseys]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Some looting and a fire set overnight at Pratt and Pulaski. Fire at 3 alarms.

Other isolated fires throughout the city, fire departments from the neighboring counties are assisting.

Police still have the intersections at the center of the riots closed.

Local residents are helping city workers clear debris from the streets.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Some looting and a fire set overnight at Pratt and Pulaski. Fire at 3 alarms.

Other isolated fires throughout the city, fire departments from the neighboring counties are assisting.

Police still have the intersections at the center of the riots closed.

Local residents are helping city workers clear debris from the streets.

If past riots are any indication, this is a sign that things have peaked. Fires are being fought, looting is happening but at a lesser rate, police remain in control of intersections, people are focusing on cleaning up. Hopefully it stays that way, with no flare-ups.

[The Two Jerseys]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Some looting and a fire set overnight at Pratt and Pulaski. Fire at 3 alarms.

Other isolated fires throughout the city, fire departments from the neighboring counties are assisting.

Police still have the intersections at the center of the riots closed.

Local residents are helping city workers clear debris from the streets.

If past riots are any indication, this is a sign that things have peaked. Fires are being fought, looting is happening but at a lesser rate, police remain in control of intersections, people are focusing on cleaning up. Hopefully it stays that way, with no flare-ups.

We'll see. It was high school students that started the trouble yesterday, and schools are closed today...

[Yumyumsuppertime]

If past riots are any indication, this is a sign that things have peaked. Fires are being fought, looting is happening but at a lesser rate, police remain in control of intersections, people are focusing on cleaning up. Hopefully it stays that way, with no flare-ups.

We'll see. It was high school students that started the trouble yesterday, and schools are closed today...

Exactly. The schools are closed, there's a heavy police presence on the street, and the National Guard is there. With the city officially shut down, it's easier to control the situation, especially with a curfew.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Jesus, this picture.

[Nazi Flower Power]

No. They're rioting because they can, not to make a political point. You don't achieve change by looting and burning cars.

And the protesting is just because standing around waving a sign is fun I guess.

I am pretty sure everyone waving signs is doing that because they believe the stuff that is written on the sign.

I am not so sure that everyone looting stores is doing it with a political goal in mind. Looting comes with the opportunity for selfish personal gain, which you don't get from waving a sign.

[Costa Fierro]

And the protesting is just because standing around waving a sign is fun I guess.

I am pretty sure everyone waving signs is doing that because they believe the stuff that is written on the sign.

I am not so sure that everyone looting stores is doing it with a political goal in mind. Looting comes with the opportunity for selfish personal gain, which you don't get from waving a sign.

Indeed. Protesting and even occupying any given place shows that you give a shit about something and about someone else. Going into a store and stealing as much as you can carry from the shelves shows that you only care about yourself.

[L Ron Cupboard]

It would be interesting to know whether the number of people killed by the police in the US has declined in recent months or not. Sadly there doesn't even seem to be decent statistics (HINT it might be a good idea to start collecting them). I know if I was in charge of US police, I would be telling them to take more care not to kill anyone.

[The Conez Imperium]

Jesus, this picture.

(Image)

Reminds me of this http://ak-hdl.buzzfed.com/static/2014-08/12/16/enhanced/webdr04/enhanced-buzz-wide-24383-1407876918-7.jpg

[L Ron Cupboard]

Jesus, this picture.

(Image)

Reminds me of this http://ak-hdl.buzzfed.com/static/2014-08/12/16/enhanced/webdr04/enhanced-buzz-wide-24383-1407876918-7.jpg

Or this

[New Skaaneland]

Made me think of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zYkbjrMkZk

The HIF fan woke up minutes later. One Gais fan was in a coma for weeks. Good result for 1 against 300.

[Wombocombo]

People are starting to think it's okay to riot.
That isn't good.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

People are starting to think it's okay to riot.
That isn't good.

You think that this is a recent historical development?

[Wombocombo]

People are starting to think it's okay to riot.
That isn't good.

You think that this is a recent historical development?

Eh. I thought we would grow out of it.

I'm stupid.