Why were the militarized cops and LRAD used against unarmed Pitt students but not armed TEABAGGERS?

[Nikki Stone1]

If the cops were so worried about violence, it would seem that the teabaggers and their assault weapons would ring the alarm bells. Where were the LRADS when these screamers yelling Hitler, disrupting the democratic process and carrying weapons were around this summer? Why were the LRADS and robocops used against unarmed Pitt students, most of whom were not even protesting but just trying to get to their dorms?

[MrModerate]

1. Because the teabaggers were just waving their dicks around . . . excuse me, I mean their guns . . .

Whereas the students looked like they were going to take concerted action -- and so scared the cops shitless.

Of course, in the real world where the rest of us live, one nutcase with a gun is a more serious threat than a hundred unarmed marchers, but that's only in the real world. Apparently, Pittsburgh cops are not required to "reside in the neighborhood."

[Nikki Stone1]

2. What concerted action were they going to take?

Many of the videos I saw had students doing sit-ins, one in the lobby of THEIR OWN DORM. They were pepper sprayed in their own dorm. Many students were trying to get into the dorm and were sprayed.

[MrModerate]

12. They were standing around without that dopey look that makes teabaggers . . .

even armed ones . . . so cuddly.

[Nikki Stone1]

14. Hey, I have a drink here!

:spray:

[MrModerate]

18. Keyboard spew is the highest form of flattery. Thanks! n/t

[Nikki Stone1]

19. Enjoy it. I don't do it often.

:evilgrin:

[RagAss]

3. meh...it's Pittsburgh

[Kievan Rus]

4. Get this straight. The cops only care if you protest against the rich.

If you protest against the rich, expect police in full riot gear to antagonize you and beat the crap out of you for nothing more than peacefully assembling and calmly voicing your opinion.

If you protest in favor of the rich like the Teabaggers, well then...the cops don't give a shit what you do. Pro-rich demonstrators can disrupt government functions, by loudly yelling and disrupting a democratic town hall. Pro-rich demonstrators are free to violently assault other demonstrators whose cardinal sin is that they have a different opinion. Pro-rich demonstrators can rip up other people's signs. Pro-rich demonstrators can throw things at other demonstrators. Pro-rich demonstrators can even carry loaded guns near the President...and the cops simply won't care.

If you've assembled and it doesn't have a political agenda at all, the cops generally won't get involved unless it gets pretty violent. In Pittsburgh, Pitt students became far rowdier in February following the Steeler victory in Super Bowl XLIII...cars were overturned and burned, couches were burned, objects were thrown at riot police, and many windows were smashed. The police did not even respond until there was widespread property damage...and it was a reasoned response...nothing like last week's police riot.

An even better case in point is with the city of Seattle. In 1999, thousands upon thousands of protesters showed up to voice their disapproval against the pro-corporate, welfare-for-the-rich WTO summits. Only a handful of anarchists broke windows, but the Seattle Police behaved like a bunch of thugs against mostly peaceful demonstrators. Fast forward two years to a Mardi Gras celebration in downtown Seattle. The situation got completely out of hand. Fights broke out, cars were overturned and vandalized, several women were raped, many businesses lost all their windows, looting broke out, and a person even died. Yet, the cops did absolutely nothing...they just stood there as people were beaten and raped, and property damage in the hundreds of thousands of dollars was committed. Why did the cops not respond? Because it had no political agenda. Had it been a COMPLETELY PEACEFUL demonstration that was anti-rich and pro-little guy, the nightsticks and tear gas would've been flying five minutes into the demonstration.

Get this straight...the police are not so much meant to protect society as a whole...they're more for the protection of the rich. Ever wonder why wealthy white neighborhoods in New York and L.A. have much better police presence and response times than poor black and Hispanic ones?

[juno jones]

13. +1

:thumbsup:

This is a topic that should be explored.

[intheflow]

15. +2

This post is right on the money!

[BBG]

25. Bingo +3

There you have it. Those who would speak out against the powerful interests will be met with the force of the powerful interests. Know that they will not concede their power without a fight. It is as it has always been.

[Echo In Light]

29. Unfortunately this fact is anathema to way too many in this brainwashed country

[earth mom]

5. That's a question everyone on DU should be asking. Check out this video I just posted:

Pittsburgh Police Use Nazi StyleTactics at G20

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=380109&mesg_id=380109

[PA Democrat]

6. What make you describe those cops on the Pitt campus as "militarized"?

Are you implying that this could possibly be an inappropriate response to a completely peaceful protest? Edited to add that these photos are from Friday night, hours after the last world leader had departed.

[Nikki Stone1]

10. +1

Thanks for the pictures

[Nikki Stone1]

11. +1

Thanks for the pictures

[Irish Girl]

7. Follow the money

Because the participants of G-20 are able to afford that insane amount of security and I'm sure Big Business is donating / lobbying tons of money toward helping "Teabaggers" have a more .. pleasant experience at their protests.

[Kievan Rus]

9. What do you mean? You think the corporate overlords were bribing cops?

It certainly isn't beyond them. The hypercapitalist agenda is always pushed through with dubious morality at best.

[salguine]

8. Because the teabaggers didn't constitute a threat against Money.

[leeroysphitz]

16. The students were understandably protest against the staus quo and the teabags

were inexplicably protesting FOR the status quo. Cops aren't paid to help change things their job is to keep thing just the way they are.

How helpful was the Detroit Police Department in the thirties? How helpful were the police in Alabama during the sixties? How useful was the National Guard at Kent State? The answer depends on how much money and power you had.

[Liberal_Dog]

17. That Is A Damned Good Question. nt

[Nikki Stone1]

20. Thank you. I thought so.

When it came to disruptions, I thought the teabaggers were much more dangerous.

[aikoaiko]

21. The ones with the guns were very carefully following the letter of the law.

I don't know what the college students were doing.

[Nikki Stone1]

22. Even the guy with the gun right outside where the President was?

I can't remember what state that was.

[aikoaiko]

23. If you're thinking about NH, then yes.

He was on private property, did not brandish the weapon, and did not act aggressively (even verbally).

[Nikki Stone1]

26. Unbelievable.

:scared:

The harm that someone can potentially do with a gun, even legally carried, is far more than anyone can do with his mouth chanting.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. The armed teabaggers weren't rioting.

:shrug:

[Nikki Stone1]

27. Neither were most of the G-20 protesters

Especially the students. Have you seen the videos?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

28. No, but some of them were.

And when ordered to disperse, they made the decision not to.