It doesn’t take long to blow up a reputation. In the case of the New York police department, an institution with an already troubled history, the clip lasted all of 27 seconds.
I am alternating between horror at the news with a complete lack of surprise, and horror at the news with sheer disbelief.
Quote:
The shocking video was compounded hours later when the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, spoke about the incident. A politician who won election in 2013 largely on a promise to reform the NYPD and scrap its racially discriminatory stop-and-frisk policy, astounded even his closest supporters when he defended the police.
De Blasio said: “I do believe the NYPD has acted appropriately.”
Ah well, let me introduce you to the Mafia, I mean Police Unions!
Police union in Feb, “We do not respect you, DO NOT visit us in hospitals. You sold the NYPD to the vile creatures, the 1% who hate cops but vote for you. NYPD cops have been assassinated because of you. This isn’t over, Game on!”
Police union in June, We have arrested and doxed your daughter, publishing her drivers license to the internet, in a manner so blatant even twitter had to take action.
At this point anything DeBlasio says in support of the police is coerced under threat of violence to his family.
I'm frankly astonished that there aren't armed groups going to war with the cops in Philly, NY, and other places where they are openly attacking unarmed citizens. I've always known that gun nuts are really selfish assholes who wouldn't lift a finger against actual tyranny, but there are plenty of plain old street gangs with guns--where are they?
I have seen a number of items about "heavily armed rednecks" defending pharmacies and other stores from looters. They seem positive - they are in support of the protesters and against the looters - but I haven't had the energy to dig into the stories and confirm that.
For sure, none of the 2nd amendment folks are going up against the police. I guess the sensible ones among them realise that all their guns don't count for much unless they are organised and in greater numbers than the police - and the courts and judges half of whom will protect the police. And even the most manic still need "their people" to identify the enemy, and the police and even the national guard have not been identified as such by anyone on "their side" afaik.
Plus the critical thinkers among them (lol as if) would know that attacking police indiscriminately isn't going to help, and identifying the ones who are committing the atrocities and fighting them there and then requires a lot of attention and care.
It's not like it's 30-50 feral pigs. Some of the pigs are OK.
Standing for the protest at the corner of Roosevelt and Washington, and this Auschwitz survivor drove by to show her support for Black Lives. She wanted me to see the number tattooed on her arm. “There all sons of bitches”, she said. “You should see what they did to my brother.” pic.twitter.com/fvGD430a4Y
I'm so embarrassed that until this week I assumed the Austin cops reflected the progressive values of the city and didn't previously bother to look under the surface of shit like this.
If I was willing to be generous, an astroturf organization may have given the thank you cards to the police, and the police were stupid enough to celebrate the fact.