1968 Chicago riot cops set to ‘celebrate’ mass beatings

[Are_grits_groceries]

Members of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) who participated in what an official report later described as a “police riot” during the 1968 Democratic National Convention are planning to get together next week to reminisce about the good times and set the record straight on “what really happened.”

FOP president Mark Donahue insists, “It’s just a get-together for guys who worked together 40 years ago. Nothing more.” However, the group’s own statements indicate that the reunion is intended as a political statement.

As the official Chicago Riot Cops website explains, “The time has come that the Chicago Police be honored and recognized for their contributions to maintaining law and order - and for taking a stand against Anarchy. The time was the hot summer month of August ‘68. The Democratic National Convention was about to start and the only thing that stood between Marxist street thugs and public order was a thin blue line of dedicated, tough Chicago police officers.”

Chicago Copwatch, which tracks current police brutality, is organizing a rally and a march to the Fraternal Order of Police Hall on the night of the reunion. The group has issued a statement linking the events of the 1960s to present abuses:

“When gather to celebrate one of the largest mass beatings in Chicago history they are also meeting to celebrate the savagery of that generation of the CPD. This is a celebration not only for the police who beat down DNC protesters, but also the ones who attacked the Puerto Rican community during 1966 Division Street Uprising, and assassinated Black Panther Party leaders Fred Hampton and Mark Clark. This reunion will be bringing together cops from this era with those who are currently oppressing our marches, occupying our communities, brutalizing, and mudering young people across the city.”
http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/06/18/chicago-riot-cops/

This was not a shinng moment.

[tularetom]

1. You can't change the facts

These cops were frightened, they panicked and lost control of the situation.

Now they want to rewrite history. Unfortunately they displayed anything but courage in the face of these protesters.

[Faygo Kid]

3. Absolutely correct. They are too old to beat anyone now.

A 25 year old cop in 1968 is 66 this year.

They won't be beating anybody else, and they can live their fantasy.

[knowbody0]

2. shame shame shame

[Resuscitated Ethics]

4. good time for honesty regarding paid instigator programs

"False flag" violence etc. Growing up I never understood the contradiction of "violent Peace protest" but the corruption in Justice and FBI and the paid instigators faking hippiedom to plant a few fists in faces to get the riots riled just irks me now to no end.

Truth would be good for these cops families: I fear too many members of the force believe their own rhetoric. In TV land on Frasier that jerk what's his names Dad was a retired salt- of- the- earth chicago cop, all McGillys this and we knew what was right that. He would have been one of the pigs with the truncheons busting 14-year old runaways heads open like melons.