DOJ Files for Restraining Order to Halt Ban on Tear Gas Use by Seattle Cops

[highplainsdem]

Source: Newsweek

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a motion in a U.S. District Court for a temporary restraining order against a Seattle City Council directive requiring the Seattle Police Department (SPD) not to use tear gas against protesters. The directive was set to go into effect on Saturday, July 25.

The DOJ's filing aligns with the views of SPD Chief Carmen Best. Best expects this weekend's protests to have more attendees in response to Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan's Friday announcement that federal law enforcement agents will be entering the city over the weekend to protect federal buildings.

-snip-

"While City Council may have intended the ban on these less-lethal implements to prevent the use of excessive force," the DOJ's court filing said, "the Directive ... removes them without providing training or alternative mechanisms to de-escalate or resolve the danger situations officers routinely find themselves in."

As such, the filing continues, banning tear gas increases the likelihood that officers will resort to use of hands-on force—like punches, kicks, batons and potentially deadly force—to stop any potential violence by unruly citizens.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/doj-files-restraining-order-halt-ban-tear-gas-use-seattle-cops-1520450

[msongs]

1. well they still have their rubber bullets and dogs and helicopters. poor things nt

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. Trump's all in.

"What does he have to lose"?

[sarcasmo]

3. Full on Fascism, I didn't think it would start until a Trump second term.

[forgotmylogin]

9. You're probably right, but it's increasingly clear a second term is in jeopardy.

Tick tock.

[Thekaspervote]

4. I really think gov Inslee and the Seattle mayor have the right idea

Go protest, keep your distance, don’t be provocative in any way. When the dark falls go home.

This is the dotard shit show...please please don’t give him what he wants! He wants tear gas, beatings and in general violence. His disguised goons will mix with the protesters and cause trouble.

This is what the protesters finally did in St Louis and it was effective.

[LeftInTX]

6. I say don't give them a show

Stay home
But who am I?

[Thekaspervote]

7. +1000

[bobbieinok]

5. !?!? 'Unruly citizens' !?!? Bizarre!

[jorgevlorgan]

8. Wtf

What stupid judge Grant's that I hope loses their seat very soon

[KelleyKramer]

10. Saddum Hussein would fit in perfectly with Trump/Barr DOJ

I'm so old I remember when Republicans thought a leader who gasses his own people was a bad thing

[usajumpedtheshark]

11. Syria gets to use chemical weapons on citizens, why can't we? asks the DOJ

[sinkingfeeling]

12. How despicable is this? Our government fighting the ban of

chemical use against it's own citizens.

[bluestarone]

13. Well i would say

DOJ. doesn't have any standing with Seattle decisions!