Political Cartoons, Memes & Amusing Videos

[KaraBulut]

I am merely the photographer. I found it interesting that an activist used a piece of scrap wood to create a political message.

Interesting or ironic, since they want to preserve the forest as part of their protest?

 

[KaraBulut]

From the US News article (and also KaraBulut's post):
"opponents, who have been joined by activists from around the country, say they fear it will lead to greater militarization of the police and that its construction will exacerbate environmental damage in a poor, majority-Black area."

I understand the environmental objection, but it seems to me that "fear [that Cop City] will lead to greater militarization of the police" is, in effect, basically "fuck the police" phrased in a more altruistic-sounding way. It seems to me that "greater militarization of the police" would happen or not happen based on the wishes of elected officials and police chiefs, regardless of whether or not a new training facility was built. And opposing Cop City means opposing a training facility for firefighters, too, and that's not a great look.

I get their concerns about militarization, although I don't get their level of concern and their approach to "protesting".

Back in the late 80s and early 90s, I was in plenty of protests and street theater actions. Some of the protests were pre-arranged (so that the cops were given a heads-up) but some weren't. Police in blue uniforms would show up and would check us out. Sometimes we would nod our heads and say, "hello" or if they were cute, we would smile and flirt a little. At the most, they would have a sidearm.

These days, if you protest, you might be met with a military style humvee purchased from military surplus.

 

[TX-Beau]

None of that kind of equipment is appropriate for policing and tells the population that they are the enemy. If it's anything like Texas, police departments generally aren't trying to send that message, but politicians give them the budgets for that kind of equipment, pretending it's going to "stop" something or other, or solve non-existent crime waves. or give "good guys" guns or some such bullshit, and the police by and large can't help but want to play with it. I mean that exactly as it sounds.

We end up with massive shows of intimidation for minor things. I forget the specifics but a while back the APD sent the swat team in their giant military vehicles on a noise complaint. The justification was that there weren't enough patrolmen available to handle the workload, and no one wanted to explain just how many cops could be funded for the cost of one of those giant assault vehicles.

That kind of response does not de-escalate, it just drives resentment - and that's before you get to communities with real histories of police abuse.

I also think that if you train police to act like a militia, they act like a militia and that is NOT policing, it's provocative and confrontational and will drive more problems than it solves.

Too many people have started thinking of police as foot soldiers and not community caretakers, which is what they should be.

 

[rareboy]

Fortunately, across Canada, we stopped that trend of hyper-militarizing our police forces after seeing the results.

From the national RCMP level down to municipal policing the focus has been on de-escalation.

So far it seems to have worked, even to the occupation of Ottawa by Truckers pissed off because they have to wear masks, to the terrible conflicts between mentally ill people and the authorities.

The US seems to think that even security guards should somehow be Navy Seals.

 

[KaraBulut]

We end up with massive shows of intimidation for minor things. I forget the specifics but a while back the APD sent the swat team in their giant military vehicles on a noise complaint. The justification was that there weren't enough patrolmen available to handle the workload, and no one wanted to explain just how many cops could be funded for the cost of one of those giant assault vehicles.

I remember hearing a story from a Texas politician from probably 40 years ago. He was walking with a judge in downtown Austin when a naked protester ran by them on the street. The judge stopped and shrugged and said, "free speech".

Things have certainly changed in the Lone Star State, whether it be the militarization of the police force or the concertina barbed wire that is piling up along the Southern border.

 

[rareboy]

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

police departments generally aren't trying to send that message, but politicians give them the budgets for that kind of equipment, pretending it's going to "stop" something or other, or solve non-existent crime waves. or give "good guys" guns or some such bullshit, and the police by and large can't help but want to play with it. I mean that exactly as it sounds.

As I read that, I was thinking, "Yes, that's it exactly." Especially that they can't help but want to play with it.

I've had the impression that the budget for the equipment is quite separate from the one for personnel, and that police departments have been getting this equipment in part because it's surplus for the military and they don't know what else to do with it. (And more equipment keeps having to be made because of the employment that manufacturing it provides in key Congressional districts.)

Now, of course, hardware like that should be, and probably is being, sent to Ukraine.

 

[johaninsc]

 

[johaninsc]

 

[johaninsc]

 

[johaninsc]

 

[KaraBulut]

As I read that, I was thinking, "Yes, that's it exactly." Especially that they can't help but want to play with it.

I've had the impression that the budget for the equipment is quite separate from the one for personnel, and that police departments have been getting this equipment in part because it's surplus for the military and they don't know what else to do with it. (And more equipment keeps having to be made because of the employment that manufacturing it provides in key Congressional districts.)

Now, of course, hardware like that should be, and probably is being, sent to Ukraine.

You might be interested in this 2021 Brookings report:

How 9/11 helped to militarize American law enforcement | Brookings

Rashawn Ray writes that in light of 9/11 and America's overseas wars, policy makers should critically re-evaluate the benefits or costs (financial and human costs) associated with military equipment programs for law enforcement.

www.brookings.edu

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

You might be interested in this 2021 Brookings report:

How 9/11 helped to militarize American law enforcement | Brookings

Rashawn Ray writes that in light of 9/11 and America's overseas wars, policy makers should critically re-evaluate the benefits or costs (financial and human costs) associated with military equipment programs for law enforcement.

www.brookings.edu

Oh, right, that one rings a bell now that you post it.

 

[johaninsc]

From Banksy...a lot being said in those few words:

 

[Dargelos]

If only it were that simple. Those that are killing it use nested shell companies to make it hard to trace who does what where. And we let them do that.

 

[TX-Beau]

Or they are just Exxon/Mobil.

 

[rareboy]

 

[rareboy]

 

[rareboy]

 

[rareboy]