Tampa Authorities Empty Jail In Anticipation Of Mass Arrests At GOP Convention

[demmiblue]

Source: Think Progress

<snip>

To prepare, Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee has ordered the Orient Road Jail, a 1,700 bed prison in Tampa, emptied, relocating some inmates to another nearby prison and releasing others on bond. The entire facility has been transformed into a one-stop booking, detention, and bond-issuance center capable of handling large numbers of arrests, which begs the question: will Tampa police keep demonstrators on a short leash?

Sheriff Gee says no, but also indicated in a letter posted on a county website that his department would have very little tolerance for anything more than chanting and holding up signs:

To the agitators and anarchists who want only to bring a dark cloud to this event, let me be clear: criminal activity and civil disturbances will not be tolerated and enforcement actions will be swift.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/08/22/729141/tampa-authorities-empty-jail-in-anticipation-of-mass-arrests-at-gop-convention/


I have to say, this makes me a little nervous given the police brutality exhibited at peaceful demonstrations as of late (OWS). I hope the protesters stay safe.

[LiberalEsto]

1. They're going to try and jail Hurricane Isaac?

"To the agitators and anarchists who want only to bring a dark cloud to this event, let me be clear: criminal activity and civil disturbances will not be tolerated and enforcement actions will be swift."

Lotsa luck

[notadmblnd]

2. Protesters and people in general should totally avoid and ignore the GOP convention

Deny revenue to the local authorities by boycotting it. Let nothing but Republicans be arrested.

[Scuba]

3. Drunk and disorderly Republicans will flood the dockets....

... Mormons away from Utah for the first time, Teabaggers on their first trip away from Boogertown.

It's going to be wild! Wild, I tell you!

[Panasonic]

4. Here's an sound advice cops...

Don't arrest the protestors - arrest the crooks that's stiffing your pay and refusing to pay your overtime.

Yes, that is the Republican Party.

Hurricane evac priority on the RNC should be dead last if they're stiffing people (in other words, wasting taxpayers money)

[leveymg]

5. "Bring a dark cloud to the event"? So, if it rains, Sheriff Gee will arrest the Weathermen?

[Fire Walk With Me]

21. To quote Moe at the end of the Simpsons episode when a comet threatened to destroy Springfield:

"Let's go burn down the observatory so this can never happen again."

[HooptieWagon]

6. Arrest anyone who brings a dark cloud?

Is Sheriff Gee going to arrest God for bringing Isaac?

[leveymg]

9. "Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren . . ."

You have been warned - no dark clouds!

[HooptieWagon]

10. I have here, 15 <clunk>...no, 10 commandments!

[leveymg]

13. "Bring me a shrubbery."

I miss Monty. I miss Mel.

[lame54]

7. Maybe they'll pick up Cheney in a sweep

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. What happens if you get ready for civil disobedience

And nobody shows up? For the record, this is what I would do. Show the sherriffs for what he is.

[HooptieWagon]

11. I don't know about out of town protestors...

But the local groups are all planning peaceful action. Passing out bottled water and literature, holding up signs, etc. Local Food, Not Bombs is planning a food kitchen. Of course, if anyone was planning violence I doubt they'd advertise it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Trust me I understand it

but there are times when one needs to show up who is showing for ready for a riot.



I will defend cops when they are doing the right thing. This sheriff strikes me as my local sheriff. People showing up with signs, not a good thing.

[fascisthunter]

23. I bet they "feel" like bad-asses to... pathetic

John Wayne syndrome...

[TeamPooka]

33. that would be great. Just a bunch of swat guys with nothing to do...

then their own people can bash them for spending all that government money

[mmonk]

14. The dark cloud is inside the event.

[HopeHoops]

15. Yeah, those rampaging Sarah Palin look-alike oogler GOP assholes will need a place to sleep.

[HooptieWagon]

17. Strip clubs have hired Sarah Palin look-alikes.

LOL!

[HopeHoops]

18. It's not a joke. They're swamped with them - stupid rectangular glasses and all.

Talk about sick.

[HooptieWagon]

19. I know! I've seen the ads! Too funny...

[tanyev]

16. For all those Republicans that wil be using the services of prostitutes, right?

[Fire Walk With Me]

20. Dear Lord, here we go. IT'S NOT DEMOCRACY IF THEY WON'T LISTEN!

[fascisthunter]

22. can't have freedom of speech, is that right, right wingoes?

as many have stated in the past, the right wing would be nazis if this were Germany 1939. They fit the mental mold to a "t".

[Fire Walk With Me]

24. Goodbye 1st Amendment. Period. Protest = jail. We're waiting for you.

[obliviously]

25. This is outragous!

So basically they are saying if we break the law, law enforcement agents whose reason for being is to uphold the law will arrest us.
This is an absolute travesty!!! If I hadn't read it with my own eyes I wouldn't believe it!

[kestrel91316]

28. I'm wondering if you made a wrong turn and that's why

you wound up on DU.

I suppose you are a fawning acolyte of the police state and anti-free speech fascists.......

[obliviously]

30. I'm trying to think of the best course of action here

I say head down to the sheriffs office and take a healthy shit on a squad car, or I guess we could let them have their convention and we'll have ours and then democratically reelect our president..............oh hell that's crazy talk.

[orpupilofnature57]

26. Maybe they'll use that jail for no one in Montana.

Halli American Bluewater force could help.

[kestrel91316]

27. They must be planning on the vice squad being REALLY busy?

[muntrv]

29. Maybe they're really preparing for mass arrests of repubs soliciting undercover cops.

[Fire Walk With Me]

31. FEAR! TERRA! "Agencies warn of possible anarchist activity at conventions"

Amber Lyon ?@AmberLyon

"The anarchists are coming..." http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/22/politics/conventions-anarchists/index.html

Washington (CNN) -- Law enforcement officials are concerned about possible violence by anarchist extremists at the upcoming Republican and Democratic national conventions, according to an intelligence bulletin prepared by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security.

The bulletin, which was obtained by CNN, says that anarchists could try to use improvised explosive devices.

It also says that, as of March, the FBI had intelligence indicating individuals from New York "planned to travel to Tampa and attempt to close" all of the Tampa Bay-area bridges during the Republican National Convention next week.

---

Fearmonger much, fuckheads? With DHS and FBI spying on Occupy and invading homes looking for "anarchist literature" and indefinitely detaining peaceful citizens and entrapping the dissolusioned, I'd say THEY are the terrorists, under their own definition of the word.

And the photo in the article is 8 years old:

Amber Lyon ?@AmberLyon

Photo used in this article depicting violent 'anarchists' is 8 years old #RNC

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/22/politics/conventions-anarchists/index.html

[demmiblue]

32. Never mind... totally stupid question given the serious nature of what is going on.