| Oh please... every riot, except sports related ones, happen in response to state oppression, usually by the police force. The detroit riots for example. There may have been looting, etc but it was unjust, oppressive police that created such an anger within the people to lash out.
Now, for political protesters, they will not just start attacking old ladies and children who happen to walk by, or looting stores. Anytime violence breaks out, it is ALWAYS in response to an oppressive, intimidating police force, dressed like stormtroopers, trying to manipulate the people and control them with line formations, pushing with the shield etc.
Riot cops CREATE violence. They know this. It's the whole point. You said that violence "gets people to care about the protesters"... this could not be further from the case. Most people trust the government way too much. When they see violence against protesters by riot cops, be it teargas, baton assaults, rubber bullets, they, like you, assume the crowd was "out of hand" and consist of nothing but a "bunch of no-good trouble makers". This creates public apathy, and possibly even disdain for whatever cause the protesters champion. It also creates an atmosphere where protesting is seen as a fringe activity for only radical extremists, and not for the general public.
There should be NO police sent to protests. If someone calls 911 to report an emergency, then sent some, but I don't buy the argument that we need entire battalions of stormtrooper cops dressed like members of the military to surround and threaten peaceful sign waving citizens. It is an underhanded police state tactic to undermine dissenters of the state.
This is not even addressing the more serious tactics they use, such as inserting fake protesters into the crowd to throw rocks at the cops (on camera), so the cops can have an excuse to move in with tear gas, batons, and ramming shields. This is well documented and as been standard practice since the 60s.
Look out kid, they keep it all hid. |