A police state? DHS has put out guidance to local police that normal protest stuff is violent & threatening? What are your thoughts?

[DrPepper12]

https://www.wired.com/story/dhs-tells-police-that-common-protest-activities-are-violent-tactics/

The DHS bulletins warn that officers could face assaults with fireworks and improvised weapons: paint-filled fire extinguishers, smoke grenades, and projectiles like bottles and rocks (obviously all non-lethal & similar to flash bangs, riot control gas/smoke & "soft" projectiles) - aka both sides have similar weapons.

At the same time, the guidance urges officers to consider a range of nonviolent behavior and common protest gear—like masks, flashlights, and cameras—as potential precursors to violence, telling officers to prepare “from the point of view of an adversary.”

Protesters on bicycles, skateboards, or even “on foot” are framed as potential “scouts” conducting reconnaissance or searching for “items to be used as weapons.” Livestreaming is listed alongside “doxxing” as a “tactic” for “threatening” police. Online posters are cast as ideological recruiters—or as participants in “surveillance sharing".

Exercising those rights shouldn't be justification for adverse action or suspicion by the government,” Eidelman says. Labeling something as harmless as skateboarding at a protest as a violent threat is “disturbing and dangerous,” she adds, and could “easily lead to excessive force against people who are simply exercising their First & Fifth Amendment rights.”

“The DHS report repeatedly conflates basic protest, organizing, and journalism with terroristic violence, thereby justifying ever more authoritarian measures by law enforcement,” says Ryan Shapiro, executive director of Property of the People. “It should be sobering, if unsurprising, that the Trump regime’s response to mass criticism of its police state tactics is to escalate those tactic.

FILMING PUBLIC SERVANTS IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DUTIES IS IRONCLAD FREEDOM OF THE PRESS (1st)

WEARING MASKS IS AN IRONCLAD RIGHT AGAINST SELF INCRIMINATION & PRIVACY (5th/State law)

THIS SHOULD TERRIFY ALL USA AMERICANS!!

Authoritarian chilling effect on exercising rights.

Prudent public order & safety. No news here.

Some are ACTUAL threats, some aren't. I'll explain.

[Lliam]

I am a strong supporter of the right to peacefully protest.

I went to marches in support of civil rights back in the 70s.
I have been to many anti-war rallies.
I marched for the United Farm Workers.
I protested against The School of the Americas (WINSEC).
I marched in favor of gay marriage.
I attended large rallies to oppose covid mandates.
I've been to pro-Palestine rallies.

But rallies need to be peaceful if they are going to raise awareness and gain support.

I have nothing but hatred for masked antifa, BLM, leftist mother fucking hoodlums in hoodies who block highways, attack police, commit vandalism and arson, loot and terrorize, use skateboards as weapons, and escape on bicycles. They don't create good will or empathy.
THEY are responsible for any backlash. I think they are organized to be instrumental in helping to bring about more authoritarianism in the way that color revolutions around the world always result in brutal dictatorships.

I think that was the goal of recruiting, paying and busing millions of people up to our southern border to flood across. It created a crisis and resentment. Undocumented workers were never a problem before that situation occurred during Biden's administration.

[Lliam]

Thank you for the MHO. ☮️

[OneViewpoint]

Fascism 101. Make it a crime to criticize the regime or its leader. So here it is. Government oppression. For real. Not some abstract thought exercise.

I thought 330 million guns in the hands of the "Good Guys" were supposed to save us. I thought the Walmart camouflage crowd was gonna stand up to tyranny with their AR15's. Instead... crickets. Cowards and traitors who would run from a gunfight.

[contentious]

Americans have a right to peaceably assemble. Apparently you don’t comprehend that because you’re mentally retarded. You feel you are being oppressed because you can’t use your “similar weapons” against the state. A weapon, arm, or armament is any implement or device that is used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Acting peacefully is to act in a way that does not involve violence. By your own admission, you and your people plan to act in a way that involves violence with "similar weapons". You think peaceful assembly is to meet an adversary on a field of battle with evenly matched weapons. Thus you are violating the law and conspiring to bring war on the federal government. That is the only reason to carry “similar weapons”, rather than a peaceful message.

[contentious]

What you are blatantly admitting to is the activation of an armed militia in the public real without government sanction. It is illegal to train up a militia to assume law enforcement functions (i. e. protect your side at a protest), attack government buildings, interfere with official government proceedings, or harm law makers. You're within your rights to train with your militia on your own private land, but you can only activate a militia under the authority of the state for common defense. You have to have direct orders from your governor for example. Bringing a militia to muster on the public streets without government authorization and specifically to oppose the government is a crime in all 50 states.

[exitseven]

THe cops are only encouraging more of this behavior by going easy on them. They should be arresting them as soon as the first rock is thrown. Put them on the ground, zip tie their hands behind their back and throw them in the wagon. Charged with assaulting a federal officer will land them on prison for a few years. Show them we mean business and this will disappear.

[DrPepper12]

Mises the point entirely. Rock throwing is illegal.

[msc545]

@exitseven Nobody is talking about rock throwing, but as usual, you deliberately misstated the alleged threat in order to justify an illegal response. Did you learn that trick in propaganda school.

However, you shoot or throw a "less-lethal" at me, and something will be coming right back at you - equally "less-lethal".

[exitseven]

@msc545 President Trump has authorized federal agents to be able to protect themselves. If protesters want to shoot at them, they will not like the outcome.

[msc545]

Here you go again. Inserting something into your response that was never alleged. Nobody's shooting at the ice people. They shoot themselves in the foot often enough that we don't have to bother.

[exitseven]

@msc545 one ICE agents was shot in the neck in an ambush. Other ICE agents were fired at by a fleeing illegal alien. They did not return fire.

[msc545]

Prove it, or stop spreading rumors.

[Avicenna]

Apocalyptic, hysterical leftist claims like these constantly turn out to be inaccurate, so forgive me when I don’t swallow your hyperbolic claims at face value. There is a huge problem with violence on the part of leftists being directed in particular at federal law enforcement, and that cannot be allowed to continue.

[Anonymous]

About time. This months long protest festival that occurs in every city needs to stop because ordinary working people can't get on with their lives and of course there's the cost to taxpayers. I say charge the cost of the policing to everyone that is there and i guarantee they will stop.

[msc545]

We have laws protecting the fucking RIGHT to protest, you uneducated moron.

[Opinion Owner]

@msc545 and people have the right to get to work, hospital, shopping, the doctor, pick up their kids etc. Freedom of movement within one's own country is a basic human right recognised by the un.
Protest all you want just fill out all the relevant paperwork and show your id so authorities know where to send the bill for the cost to taxpayers for policing and clean up and any of course any property damage. Maybe an app on your phone called protest as you go.

[msc545]

We don't have to fill out forms to to protest. If you don't like protesting, then either figure out a way to go to wherever you have to go when it isn't occurring or don't go at all. I'll write to protest is a lot more important than your convenience.

[Opinion Owner]

@msc545 my right to move freely wherever I want trumps your right to protest. If you want to protest then you leeches register and reimburse the taxpayer the cost.

[msc545]

Actually those rights that you think you have. Don't. You really need to review the Constitution and I suggest the first 10 amendments to begin with. You think you have rights you don't have and you don't think I have rights that I absolutely do have. You may not like it but those are the laws.

[Opinion Owner]

@msc545 The UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) includes freedom of movement as a fundamental right. Specifically, Article 13 of the UDHR states that everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.

[msc545]

So traffic jams are violating your rights? I get it now. Guess what not being able to protest because you don't like it Violates my rights as a US citizen.

[Opinion Owner]

@msc545 protestors preventing me from living my life are violating my rights. Even blocking police ambulance and fire.
Protrstors can still protest, they just have to pay

[msc545]

Move to another country where protests are outlawed.

[Opinion Owner]

@msc545 move to north Korea where no one has the right to free movement

[Pterodon]

Fuck all democrats and liberals. Remember CNN reporting from Minneapolis saying it was peaceful protest while businesses were burning in the background?

[DrPepper12]

So you can't or won't answer the question?

[Pterodon]

It’s no news

[Dongie]

Some seem to think it's ok to assault others if they are wearing a badge. It'll get them jail time and should. Our rights don't include running over other people's rights. So it's no infringement upon the rights of our citizens.

[goaded]

"Some seem to think it's ok to assault others if they are wearing a badge", yes. ICE.

[Dongie]

What's wrong with you? I'm sure wherever you live they borders are controlled. Go riot over it.

[goaded]

Google Schengen.

[goaded]

And disown the asshole who's lying about "ICE agents have been murdered".

[Dongie]

What are you talking about? I didn't say one had been murdered. And there is NO excuse for the behavior of the rioters. NONE!

[goaded]

No, but @seeyounexttuesday did. Do you agree or not?

[Dongie]

Man, gouda, lighten up! I'm not aware of what you are talking about. Are you ok? Have you had a little nip today? What did my friend @seeyounexttuesday say that has you all riled up?

[exitseven]

@goaded nobody said any have been murdered. Just shot in the neck. Eventually somebody will be shot and I hope it is not an ICE agent

[Dongie]

I know it all to well.

[goaded]

@exitseven "ICE agents have been murdered thanks to your party's continued violent rhetoric."

[Dongie]

The repeater! "Gouda cheese head don't know SHIT!" goaded he say.

[goaded]

You never fail to ignore inconvenient facts, do you?

[Dongie]

Ignoring you is plenty.

[msc545]

Absolute violations of free speech and assembly if they retaliate against protests. Of course they WILL, and nothing will happen to them legally.

[Anonymous]

Just open fire only cute for such liberalism

That's how they handled the IRA, dawn choruses I e. booting it doors and double tapping leaders in the beds

[Anonymous]

If it's against the constitution it'll only last till midterm.

[seeyounexttuesday]

yeah, because the anti ICE riots are violent and threatening. ICE agents have been murdered thanks to your party's continued violent rhetoric.

[DrPepper12]

Swing & a miss. Answer the question

[beefcakebradybatson]

How do you Yanks like Fascism?

[msc545]

Not at all. If this persists, you will clearly see the consequences. We didn't tolerate this behavior from you, Brits (whom we now love), and we certainly will not accept it from one of our own citizens.

Don’t confuse our measured response with passivity. Remember what happened the last two (and only) times you made that error.

[chrissykerdock]

stay home let ice deport rapists

[DrPepper12]

No ty

[Anonymous]

You left out the word "potential.."