FriedConsole
Banned
Just like Chris Christie blocking a bridge, this could be blocking emergency traffic.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Portland Police tackle protestors blocking traffic
- Thread starter superdeluxe
- Start date
- Status
Just like Chris Christie blocking a bridge, this could be blocking emergency traffic.
Yup, "order" over justice.
This is about as accurate as saying people for disruptive protesting are on the perfect road to anarchy
crustchump
Member
no i don't believe that the police should have the right to assault the people that they work for for standing in traffic. i won't waste my breath defending the police's right to do this when i could be defending people who are actually standing up for their values and are attacked for doing so. whether they're protesting or not, the level of force exerted against the people in this video is unacceptable, and trust me the portland police have confidently done much worse against the people they're sworn to protect.
Much easier to get clicks and headlines by inciting road rage instead, although I doubt these perps intended their message to backfire
I don't think you've thought this through. Like even for a second.
"Are you kidding? Making a big deal about a seat on a bus? Keep bein hysterical liberals, thats how you lost the election!"
We shouldn't protest violently because it will ruin the lives of others
We shouldn't protest non-violently because it will inconvenience the lives of others
We shouldn't complain online because that's slacktivism.
We shouldn't show disapproval at people because that makes you just as bad as them.
We shouldn't make fun or laugh at them because do you want 4 more years of trump?
We shouldn't make demands from politicians because we just need to give them a chance, they'll pivot.
Don't speak up, don't act out. Conform to my closed minded worldview, don't make me leave my comfort zone in any way, don't make me feel uneasy, for I am a perfect liberal with no flaws.
How hard of an ask is that?
We shouldn't protest non-violently because it will inconvenience the lives of others
We shouldn't complain online because that's slacktivism.
We shouldn't show disapproval at people because that makes you just as bad as them.
We shouldn't make fun or laugh at them because do you want 4 more years of trump?
We shouldn't make demands from politicians because we just need to give them a chance, they'll pivot.
Don't speak up, don't act out. Conform to my closed minded worldview, don't make me leave my comfort zone in any way, don't make me feel uneasy, for I am a perfect liberal with no flaws.
How hard of an ask is that?
GurgleBot20
Member
This is brought up in every protest thread.
Has there ever been any case where this has actually happened?
Bobby Roberts
Banned
And honestly, for a little context as opposed to the vague, generalized "FFS just let me get to work," Portland commuters (especially downtown) aren't particularly thrown by the idea there are protests making the buses run slow and causing traffic diversions. This happens fairly frequently for myriad unforseen reasons (train derailed, emergency construction, planned construction, etc) at least two or three times a week, and that's on top of the generally fucked traffic we normally have to endure anytime between 7am-10am and 2pm-6pm.
There have been protests "stopping" people from getting to work/school fairly frequently for the last half-year, I'd say. It's not unexpected at all.
For example, there's going to be a protest this weekend, put on by a coalition of black churches in the area, marching on the anniversary of a mentally distraught unarmed black teenager getting shot in the back and killed by police 7 years ago.
the action that this video comes from is, I believe, from a protest regarding the city's ineptitude in handling both inclement weather and the homeless, which led to a baby being stillborn on the streets during an ice storm.
I believe the people who actually live and work downtown understand and account for this, for the most part. The people who tend to complain about "just let me get to work FFS" are usually people who do not live and work here, but are instead posting from outside the metro area, hanging out on the comments section of the local news services and feigning their aggrieved nature.
There have been protests "stopping" people from getting to work/school fairly frequently for the last half-year, I'd say. It's not unexpected at all.
For example, there's going to be a protest this weekend, put on by a coalition of black churches in the area, marching on the anniversary of a mentally distraught unarmed black teenager getting shot in the back and killed by police 7 years ago.
the action that this video comes from is, I believe, from a protest regarding the city's ineptitude in handling both inclement weather and the homeless, which led to a baby being stillborn on the streets during an ice storm.
I believe the people who actually live and work downtown understand and account for this, for the most part. The people who tend to complain about "just let me get to work FFS" are usually people who do not live and work here, but are instead posting from outside the metro area, hanging out on the comments section of the local news services and feigning their aggrieved nature.
radios shipping overview
Member
Hmm, now we find out who the fascists are
FriedConsole
Banned
Yeah during the Chris Christie bridge closing:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/08/politics/christie-bridge-ems-delays/index.html
The civil rights movement targeted symbols of oppression. They targeted the areas of society that succeeded in flagrantly violating the civil rights of others. The significance of the targets were obvious to many at the time and while they obviously inconvenienced some, they did so with maximum effect.
Standing in the middle of a seemingly random street unrelated directly to what you are protesting against is not the same thing.
Jacksinthe
Banned
Note: because I know GAF, I'm going to preface this by saying I don't agree with the police here and do support peaceful but disruptive protests, provided it won't affect emergency vehicles where people need medical attention.
What I mean is, do you... I don't know... Maybe... Perhaps... Think the local and state powers are getting just slightly on edge from "protests" turning into "riots" where property is being destroyed left and right?
Like, if you came over to my house on the reg just to punch me in the balls, chances are one of these days I'm going to see you walking up to my door and I'm just going to start swinging on you BEFORE you do something.
Protests have repeatedly turned into riots - not sure exactly what people are expecting moving forward. I don't agree with what police are doing here, but you have to be able to see past your own nose in these situations. It's compounding, not isolated.
Disruptive? Fine. Destructive? No. The more the latter happens the less the former will be allowed. Honestly, people will ruin it for themselves.
How about if we ONLY had "disruptive" protests?
What I mean is, do you... I don't know... Maybe... Perhaps... Think the local and state powers are getting just slightly on edge from "protests" turning into "riots" where property is being destroyed left and right?
Like, if you came over to my house on the reg just to punch me in the balls, chances are one of these days I'm going to see you walking up to my door and I'm just going to start swinging on you BEFORE you do something.
Protests have repeatedly turned into riots - not sure exactly what people are expecting moving forward. I don't agree with what police are doing here, but you have to be able to see past your own nose in these situations. It's compounding, not isolated.
Disruptive? Fine. Destructive? No. The more the latter happens the less the former will be allowed. Honestly, people will ruin it for themselves.
NoLongerALurker
Banned
Good job by the police. Protesters are doing no good and just getting in the way as people go about their day.
Generalpsyduck
Banned
Yeah beat up peaceful protesters so people can get to work a little quicker.
Just a reminder that these posters in the thread caping for this bullshit aren't anything new. Their entire idea of "correct protesting" is basically 'Do it so I don't have to see or hear about it. Be easily ignorable.' And anything that falls outside of that they will have a problem with, no matter the cause. History repeats.
That horseshit about "Your protests are only HURTING your cause" is fucking bullshit and just another way for people to demand that you shut the fuck up and stop being noticed; because protests that get noticed is often the first step to getting shit done.
Our "allies" brehs...
That horseshit about "Your protests are only HURTING your cause" is fucking bullshit and just another way for people to demand that you shut the fuck up and stop being noticed; because protests that get noticed is often the first step to getting shit done.
Our "allies" brehs...
Yeah we should stage a massive, crippling general strike instead. Let's see how you like your roads then
Generalpsyduck
Banned
I feel TERRIBLE for all the emergency vehicles mlk blocked. We should just let the government and police do what they want unchecked!
Forerunner
Member
Good job? A man with his back turned was tackled. Do you not see how this is excessive use of force?
No one got beat up. The policy simply removed them hastily.
Exactly.
Generalpsyduck
Banned
Except the guy that got fucking tackled.
Bobby Roberts
Banned
Again, this isn't occurring in a vaccuum here. People in Portland, employers and/or teachers, are going to be pretty understanding if you tell them you got stuck momentarily behind a protest action downtown. It's not rare. It's not going to be seen as some sort of irresponsibility on your part.
It's also not as if the ability to communicate from said commute blockage is beyond us. It's not 1987, where you'd have to hop out of your stalled car and run to the nearest payphone and hope the line at the boss' office isn't giving you the busy signal. You can call/text and they can check their fuckin traffic app and note the big angry red lines all over downtown and if they're employers/educators at all worth a shit, they'll ask you to get there asap and stay safe.
(the stay safe part is usually going to be in reference to the armored up and extra-eager riot cops, not the protesters themselves, btw)
Forerunner
Member
That could have been done without the takedown.
crustchump
Member
you have to realize that police brutality in response to protests is nothing new. just because you are being forced to reckon with it due to increased media attention on protestors in the wake of the civl disobedience in response to trump doesn't mean that the police are suddenly just starting to utilize disproportionately violent tactics to squash protests, in fact, now that we have an authoritarian president who in my opinion cares more about "blue lives" than black lives, i'd encourage you to strap in because police brutality has quite a few more prominent cheerleaders in the white house than it did before.
Dude speak for yourself, I have it on good authority that peaceful protesting from the safety of my computer desk is more than enough to bring about positive change!
/s if that wasn't obvious enough
Heavy_D206
Member
I've been tackled by cops when I was mistakenly identified as someone involved in a big gang fight at the mall. Honestly I wasn't even really that upset about it.
Getting tackled is a hell of a lot better than getting Tazed or Tear Gassed.
Definitely didn't seem like excessive force IMO.
Getting tackled is a hell of a lot better than getting Tazed or Tear Gassed.
Definitely didn't seem like excessive force IMO.
wesleyshark
Banned
The thumbs up lady is great lol
Gordon Shumway
Banned
Who knew that the "anti-Semitic" name I mashed up would still be around? lol..Ruth be praised..
Usual suspects doing their usual thing..best to ignore them.
Usual suspects doing their usual thing..best to ignore them.
This. Our culture is entirely about self, who cares about the rest.
Despite agreeing that disruptive protesting should not be silenced, there is an objectively "wrong" way to protest. In this case, the police action was completely misguided but police brutality is a separate discussion altogether. However, police should also not be chastised for upholding the law. I'm sure most of these protestors were aware that they may be arrested for blocking traffic. The police were totally out of line in how they responded but that doesn't mean some measure of response wasn't appropriate.
Protest, be disruptive, etc., but accept the consequences if you're breaking the law, especially if your protest devolves into violence.
edit: to be clear, I'm not saying this was an improper way to protest
radios shipping overview
Member
Did I miss where it's written in the Civil Disobedience Handbook that all emergency vehicles should be blocked during disruptive protests?
Jacksinthe
Banned
Oh I understand that fully. I'm just saying that now, with such an "itchy trigger finger" president, we should probably use just slightly more caution during execution of protests to make sure any action taken by the government(s) are seen as acts of aggression.
I probably should have clarified that in my original post but I'm not that bright. We can still be disruptive but have to realize that past protests which turned into riots will only compound any previous disposition to aggression by the government.
NoLongerALurker
Banned
Nah, I'm cool with it. These protesters get 0 sympathy from me. They were literally just getting in people's way as they go about their day, and probably did more harm than good for their cause. Which is evident with the cheering as the police came in.
Forerunner
Member
It is excessive use of force. That man didn't do anything that required that level of force. It would have been different if he was resisting or was violent. He had his back turned, he didn't even know they were coming.
So you're cool with police brutality. That explains a lot.
But that's what you are doing, tilting at the "regular working class people" instead of what they are protesting about.
One Eyed Willy
Member
- Status