Now me, I am only human, and when I see cops turning their back to the duly elected DEMOCRATIC

[randys1]

mayor...

Boy oh boy, i get fucking mad as hell.

Just me, though

[House of Roberts]

1. Fascists don't respect voters,

it would seem.

[billhicks76]

12. No One Attended Their Protest Earlier In The Week

The cops wanted to organize counter protests to the police reformer ones and nobody showed so they got a thousand cops at a funeral to act like impetuous children on a power trip. Don't they realize the vast majority of Americans are extremely annoyed by that type if behavior? Their PR guys are blowing it big time.

[TexasTowelie]

15. Who needs PR

when you have a gun?

It's still inexcusable though.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. These fascists don't believe in democracy or the constitution

The NYPD policy of stop and frisk is unconstitutional by nature. They specifically target blacks and hispanics who aren't even committing crimes. They target minorities just going about their daily business...

....so it's no surprise the NYPD would disrespect an elected official like that. It's in their nature.

Look how the fascist Republican Party treats Obama...who was elected twice.

[Rex]

3. Oh come on now! Don't you want to be head cheerleader for our softcore police state?

Not that you need to, there are a few here that relish that job. I'll never understand why so many people refuse to become boot licking toadies for The Man.

Just drink the kool aid already!

[randys1]

4. ON one condition and ONE condition only...

Does it come in cherry?

[Rex]

5. Sorry just walnut and raspberry.

[sheshe2]

6. Disrespect for our elected Mayor.

Disrespect for our citizens. Disrespect to those that died unarmed. Disrespect for a kind man that could not breathe. He could not breathe as the police strangled him for selling cigarettes. Oh, a black man will never get respect. Yet they will surely get ridicule after they die. It is obvious that BLACK LIVES DO NOT MATTER.

Evidence is here,



http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026010663

Fuck them for their laughter and cruel, so cruel ridicule of an innocent man that died needlessly. White privileged and racist hate = another dead unarmed black man.

[Enthusiast]

10. +1 an entire shit load.

[billhicks76]

13. Disgusting

They live in a bubble. These guys are the worst part of humanity. This was an unarmed man choked to death for selling single cigarettes. It's all on video so no one can claim he was threatening to these thin skinned Un-American thuggish cops.

[Raine]

16. Fucking assholes!!! Absolutely sick and repulsive making fun of a dying man's

last words!

[TheKentuckian]

20. No, he was killed for no reason dressed up as for suspicion and/or history of selling get cigarettes

[lunasun]

28. Disrespect for the funerals too

[Cha]

7. Not just you, Randy.. but, I can imagine more so.. The NYPD Showed NO Respect for Authority Today..

UP Pastry Plate @UPPastryPlate
Follow
By turning their backs to @BilldeBlasio the #NYPD is confirming everything we know to be true about that gang. #unbelievable
7:04 AM - 27 Dec 2014 70 Retweets 33 favorites

[TrollBuster9090]

8. Democratically elected being the operative words, of course.

As I said in an earlier post (http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017234055) if they believe they can get away with such flagrant gestures of contempt for their democratically elected leader, in public, in front of TV cameras...I'd hate to think what they believe they can get away with in a dark alley, with no witnesses, and somebody they believe to be a 'bad guy.'

This is a serious problem. And, more importantly, these guys are only helping to prove the point of the protesters. These police officers either are, or WANT to be answerable to nobody; which is a major step towards a police state.

[Enthusiast]

11. Excellent point.

I'd hate to think what they believe they can get away with in a dark alley, with no witnesses, and somebody they believe to be a 'bad guy.'

[Live and Learn]

14. +1 nt

[uponit7771]

17. +1

[DeadLetterOffice]

18. Would you get just as mad if they turned their backs on...

... a Republican mayor?

I think what they did was a total dick move, especially at a funeral, but I keep getting the feeling that if cops had done this to Giuliani, folks around here wouldn't be nearly so upset...

[lunatica]

19. Your example is ridiculous

Giuliani created the police state in NYC, all whilst screaming "9/11, 9/11, 9/11" like a deranged banshee. Then he wanted to be elected President on his "9/11" one trick platform. Now he's defending his police force with the same hysteria, blaming blacks for causing all the crimes.

[DeadLetterOffice]

22. OK, fair enough. Pick a different Republican mayor. Of a different city.

Would we still be having kittens about 'disrespecting our elected leaders'? Somehow I think not.

[randys1]

24. You are operating on a "two sides equal", "both sides do it" delusion

the right is wrong about everything, they dont turn their backs on their fellow rightwingers because they are always on the wrong side of everything

[DeadLetterOffice]

25. No, I'm operating on a...

..."many of us here at DU only get upset when people do nasty things to Democrats" delusion. If you're going to attack me, at least do it for things I actually say.

[Caretha]

45. If they had done it a funeral

or done it while on duty, you bet your ass I would condemn them

As far as their right to protest, freedom of speech or picket their employer on their own time & dime, I have no problem. But while they are drawing a paycheck at the taxpayers expense - they will act like this is a democracy and not their very own little kingdom to do and say whatever the hell they like.

I won't put up with that type of behavior from my own employees, why should taxpayers have to? Taxpayers duly elected their boss - they need to suck it up or look for work elsewhere.

[JonLP24]

35. The problems started before 9/11

Chris Rock would often go into communities and ask for opinions as part of his Chris Rock Show. Often to show the white/black divide on opinions, often for humorous effect such as renaming a street "Tupac Shakur Boulevard" but I remember someone screaming "Fuck Giuliani" it was actually pretty funny but it gave insight to what the new mayor recently said Mayor Bill de Blasio disses Rudy Giuliani: “He fundamentally misunderstands the reality” of race and policing in NYC

The problems started before Giuliani because he took over the same time the Mollen Commission reported troubling findings "Blue wall more troubling than the corruption"

[randys1]

23. Giulainia would never in a million years do anything remotely close to annoying the cops let

alone pissing them off so this would never happen

Giuliani is a fascist prick and they love him

[NaturalHigh]

72. No. I'm guessing about 95% of the people angry at this gesture...

would be calling the same officers "heroes in blue" if they had done this to Giuliani. Bloomberg? Eh - maybe 50-50.

[LWolf]

21. I don't.

There is nothing in my set of values that says I cannot express my unhappiness with any elected official of any or no party, or any other public figure. As a matter of fact, I vigorously support the right to assemble, whether or not I agree with the opinions expressed.

I'm a teacher. Given proximity, I'd turn my back on the Democrat Arne Duncan before I'd shake his hand.

I HAVE joined groups of teachers at my district's school board meetings to oppose actions by that elected board.

Many things make me mad as hell. Some of those things are perpetrated by those in power. This doesn't rise to that level for me. My anger is reserved for the actual violent actions, and the sanctioning of those actions, that led to that event to begin with.

[DeadLetterOffice]

26. +1

Well said.

[bigwillq]

42. Good post.

I turned my back on Joe Lieberman at my place of business in front of the then editor-in-chief of the newspaper I work for.

[BlueCaliDem]

27. Nope. Not just you. Me, as well. I nearly went berserk when I saw it. How dare they disrespect

the duly DEMOCRATICALLY elected Mayor of New York. Who died and made them kings??

[SwankyXomb]

29. Eric Garner, for one

[Agnosticsherbet]

30. What if they tured their backs on a Republican mayor?

What if they had turned their back on President Bush back he was creating free speach zones?

I don't agree with their point of view.

I support their right to protest, even if the reason is stupid and wrong.

[randys1]

31. cops would never do that, though

[Agnosticsherbet]

32. That wasn'my question. You did not answer it.

Protest is a critical right, even when we don't agree with what is being protested.

So, to me, it would be fine if they protested a Republcian by turning their backs.

[LiberalElite]

33. I don't think their right to protest is what's in question here-

it's when they chose to engage in their right to protest.

[Agnosticsherbet]

36. Actually, I have seen many people question thier right to protest here at DU.

I don't agree with the point of view of the NYPD.

Now, had someone heard and decided to counter protest, I would support their right to tell the NYPD that politicizing the death of a fellow officer was wrong, even at a funeral.

When you tell people they can not protest at a funeral because it is in bad taste, or wrong, or vile, or badly thought out, or politically inexpedient, or for any reason, then you are taking their right to protest and their right to free speach.

[Caretha]

46. They can do it on their own time & dime

and not act like the bottom of the pond scum Westboro thugs grandstanding at a funeral.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, you don't like your boss, fucking quit, or work to get a new one elected. That's called democracy.

[Agnosticsherbet]

48. Where do you stand on the protesters in Ferguson or New York?

Do you also oppose their right to protest? Do you think they should just shut up and move somewhere else? Do you just think that if you don't agree with someone they should have no right to protest?

I am a liberal, and it is important that the same rights be expanded so that everyone has them, whether I agree with them or not.

The people in Ferguson, New York, and elsewhere are protesting because their rights are being denied. The solution is not to say to some group we don't like, we should take that right form you because you don't think like me or agree with me.

I don't agree with the police. I think every time an officer uses violence in the line of duty that it should be investigated by someone other than themselves or District attorney's (who rely on the police ot do their job.) Perhaps something like a citizens review board coupled with the civil rights division of the Justice Department.

[Caretha]

49. Huh?

Where do you stand on the protesters in Ferguson or New York?

I advocate for anyone who would peacefully protest. I think I've been quite clear, that there is a time and place to protest, protesting at funerals is not one of them in any decent human beings book. My mother taught me better, did yours?

If the police in NYC want to protest, they have the same rights as everyone else.

[Agnosticsherbet]

50. And they used that right.

[randys1]

51. And yet to me what they did was inform the mayor that he isnt protected by the NYPD

and that certain groups in NY are not either.

That is the message, and I think that was the intended message.

[Agnosticsherbet]

52. I never said I agreed with the message.

Message is irrelevant.

[randys1]

53. Not if they are on duty police, making a threatening gesture towards the CIC

Isnt the mayor of New York to the NYPD what the President is to the Army?

Imagine that.

What if troops did something similar to the Prez, and while they are under a much stricter contract than cops, it is the same to me.

Would it be an act of protest if the cops stood by while someone beat the mayor up?

[Agnosticsherbet]

56. Turning their backs is considered a threat?

I think it was a protest.

[randys1]

57. A direct threat not to protect him or his family or anybody who sides with his views

[Agnosticsherbet]

58. I can find no instance of officers saying that. Turning their backs is a symbolic gesture.

not a threat.

Symbolic getures are common in protests. In Furgeson, the gesture was holding up their hands. The people were not surrendering with that gesture. They were, in fact, letting the police know they were not surrendering their rights.

I agree with the people in Furgeson. I don't agree with the NYPD. I stand with the rights of all to protest.

[randys1]

59. If I work at Walmart and the Walton's show up to gawk at the poor people working for them

and i turn my back on one of them as they walk up to say hello or something, I will be fired.

Now, as a Walmart worker I have no union protection, of course.

And cops do, another problem, BTW

[Agnosticsherbet]

60. You do know that Walmart is a private corporation, and private entities are not required to

recognize your free speech rights (unless you are a member of a protect group such as discrimination against race) and can set strict rules on actions.

The Police are an entity of the government. They retain their right to free speech and the right to assemble. The government can not take those away without cause. Certainly, the city could make rules that protesting while in uniform was not allowed because the wearing that uniform tends to make people think that the city government backs that action. I have not heard that such a rule exists, and the Mayor, Police Commissioner, and various officers have not said that rule exists.

When I was in the military, I could not attend a protest in uniform or while on duty unless given permission by my command. The police have no such constraints.

[randys1]

61. Has nothing to do with speech, they are threatening him and the people of NY and

today we now hear that they are carrying out that threat.

This never had anything to do with speech

[Agnosticsherbet]

62. Turning their backs is not a threat. It is a symbolic gesture.

That has everything to do with free speech.

"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

Voltaire

[840high]

77. ....

[BklnDem75]

63. Interesting comparison...

Did DeBlasio do anything comparable to Bush creating free speech zones? Do you think we'd side with the officers if they were doing the same thing with a republican in office?

[Agnosticsherbet]

64. The police have become a huge symbol for our racist political justice system.

I thought it was an interesting question to ask. We are highly polarized.

[JonLP24]

34. I wish they turned their backs on Giuliani personally

Chain of command has pros and cons, when the bad ideas are on top than the shit rolls downhill.

[RobinA]

37. Why Don't Police

have as much right to protest as any other American? The day Americans can't express disagreement with a public official is the day we all better start protesting. I don't get this meme at all. Oh wait...yes I do. Only protests that one agrees with are allowed.

[randys1]

40. So the first time cops protest openly it is against a mayor who has a Black son

and their protest means "fuck you and your Black son, fuck ALL Black people, if we want to choke them to death, we god damn will"

Is there an example of the NYPD openly protesting on the right side of an issue?

I will gladly be educated about it if anyone knows.

And yes, as a liberal it is VERY easy to determine which side of an issue is the righteous side.

[spanone]

38. 1st democratic mayor in 20 years.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

39. And?

Who watches the watchmen?

[NaturalHigh]

41. They have the same First Amendment rights as you or I.

You can get mad about it, but they have the same rights as anyone else.

[randys1]

43. Mayor is their boss, this is insubordination and should be fire, every last one of them

On top of that these MOTHERFUCKERS are threatening the mayor and his family by their actions...

bunch of punks

[NaturalHigh]

68. Turning their back on him is endangering his family?

I get that you don't like cops, but that statement is just unreasonable.

As for firing a few hundred cops for daring to turn their backs on him, do you really think that's going to happen? The union would go to court and tie him up in legal knots for years. On top of that, he could probably count on a few thousand cops calling in sick every day with the blue flu.

[randys1]

69. Did I stutter?

[NaturalHigh]

71. No, I think I understood exactly what you meant.

I'm pretty sure you understood what I meant too, though it's hard to tell from your reply.

[ProfessorGAC]

65. Not A First Ammendment Issue

Nobody is suggesting the government impinge on their free speech. Saying they should not have the entitlement to act with impunity is not abridging free speech rights. And, the whole entitlement to acti with impunity is the problem in the first place.
GAC

[NaturalHigh]

70. I would say that firing the officers...

for daring to turn their backs on the mayor could be construed as the government impinging on their First Amendment rights. The union would certainly see it that way, and you can bet this would go all the way to the Supreme Court.

[One_Life_To_Give]

44. So Unions should always kiss the employers arse?

This is an employer/employee relationship. How DeBlasio came to be CEO is irrelevant to this particular dynamic.

[Caretha]

47. Yeah right

Duly democratically elected Mayors are so passe and matter not a whit. Hell, voting is so passe too, huh?

They don't like their boss? Well too damn bad, quit then, or work to elect another. Or do you think policemen are some sort of special beings that get to disrespect their bosses.....

I got an idea, you head to work tomorrow and when your boss is talking to you, why don't you disrespectfully turn your back on him and let me know how that works for you.

[spanone]

54. the union head, pat lynch, said de Blasio was to blame for the two policemen's deaths.

that's way beyond an employer/employee relationship.

[jwirr]

55. It certainly did not make us respect them anymore.

[Ernesto]

66. Respect?

http://www.truthdig.com/cartoon/item/respect_20141230

[jwirr]

67. Exactly. But I was talking about our lack of respect for them not theirs for the Mayor.

[NaturalHigh]

73. The great thing about our system...

is that nobody is required to swear fealty to any politician, elected or otherwise.

[SMC22307]

74. Whaddya gonna do about it?

Besides, you know, post to a message board. Or better yet, blog!

[jdenver_2624]

75. Me too. The police are out of control

They are simply way too quick to resort to violent tactics, far more often than police in other developed nations. And the fact that they more often than not get away with using such brutal actions says quite a lot about the corrupt justice system in America. A sad state of affairs.

[onecaliberal]

76. Every person defending the right of these cops

To protest at a funeral should also stand up for the right of Westboro baptist church to exercise their free speech rights at whatever funerals they choose. It is the same fucking thing.
These cops should be fired. The mayor, and his black family are NOT safe.