Ongoing U.S Police Brutality and Corruption Discussion Thread

xpost

My wife just told me that reportedly a number of big box stores - Costco, Walmart, Home Depot - are nervously closing early out here in the near western suburbs (right on the city border), which is super weird to me, as there is no foot traffic there at all, just the usual big parking lots for those particular sorts of big stores. That is, no one is going to randomly stumble upon one of these stores while marching or protesting or anything, you'd have to hop in a car and specifically head there as a destination. Destination looting?

Incredible photo:

https://preview.redd.it/ntutphk0n4251.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=8d40799bf54c0f2329a64626108eb37c6cd59f43

god

CPD should get some new helmets that don't scream 1968 every time they wear them.

(Even though they always act like it's 1968 again when they wear them.)

Doubtless that’s the point.

fires struck very close to my friend's apartment in Richmond last night. worried about her and her boyfriend - they're thinking about relocating for tonight.

unrelated, I really hope the press continues to call out the cops who fired anything at them. one of the journalists who was hit by rubber bullets is now permanently blind in an eye.

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/americas/2020/05/31/us-law-enforcement-are-deliberately-targeting-journalists-during-george-floyd-protests/

jesus

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/500336-michigan-sheriff-joins-protestors-marching-over-george-floyd-death

Apparently some shit going on right now just a mile or so from my house. A big liquor store supposedly got looted, there were apparently shots fired a mile or so away, bunch of other stores reportedly closing, apparently some police action at a gas station a few blocks away. Mildly nervous. One of my kids has been hanging in the backyard with a friend who we think maybe shouldn't bike home on her own right now. And reiterating what I posted earlier, I'm right by the city border, but this is a (very) inner burb. If there is violence or looting anywhere near here, it is totally and exclusively opportunistic, by design.

Just saw footage of people looting the mall a mile or two away, where my kids hang and go to the eye doctor. Rumors the aforementioned big liquor store is on fire, but who knows. Confirmed shots fired.

Listening to the police dispatch from the neighboring village, they're definitely going after large groups congregating around U-Hauls.

Jesus, stay safe Josh.

It's kinda nuts. A friend just got back from the store and said there is insane Mad Max driving everywhere, just ignoring lights and stuff. And I hear the hum of helicopters out there. Can't imagine anything coming dangerous close to where I am, exactly, but I'm not going out for my afternoon run, that's for sure.

Social media is actually kinda of amusing, because the mall being or that was looted is a total dump. People are all ... wait, why there?

The police scanner is kind of nuts, though. There's a lot going on over there.

About last night's arrests in Miami.

JUST IN: Residence breakdown of Miami's 57 arrests last night.

30: Miami-Dade
8: Broward
3: Palm Beach
3: Minnesota
2: New York
1: Georgia
1: Michigan

6 are homeless, 3 others are unknown.

— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) May 31, 2020

All target stores in la county closed

Apparent looting right now at the Santa Monica 3rd st mall.

Beverly Hills curfew in the business district from 1pm. LA curfew from 8pm.

Saw the national guard filling up at my gas station earlier.

Risible press conference from the mayor.

dang, stay safe everyone

can't remember if I asked this already, but also I think it probably changes per day: which organizations are not currently overwhelmed with donations that would be most effective to donate to? the big ones largely say "donate here instead," where those links in turn have had the swell in donations, etc.

I donated here: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/

apparently they already raised $20 million in 4 days though.

yeah, that was one of the big ones I had mentioned, they've been redirecting people for at least one or two days now

"Destination looting?"

They stopped the Santa Monica freeway to keep people out.

xpost yeah just saw that on their site. i've set up monthly in case there's any lull.

katherine, if you're into it this one has a lot more to raise for rebuilding efforts https://www.welovelakestreet.com

https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2020/05/mapping-police-killings-black-americans-200531105741757.html

this map is insane. obviously the main story is the insane racism that makes you 2.5 times more likely to be killed by police if you're black, but fuck me even if you reduced the numbers of black victims to equal the number of white people this would still be WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE BEING MURDERED BY THE STATE! WITHOUT TRIAL! i could never live in the US, fucking hell.

See also: https://mappingpoliceviolence.org/

2.5 times seems low tbh

It does seem low

you people should have sick days and free healthcare as well btw jesus

good idea

i know what you all mean is that 2.5 times is probably lower than the reality, but 2.5 times is not 'low'

you people should have sick days and free healthcare as well btw jesus

― plax (ico), Sunday, May 31, 2020 6:50 PM

DON: well, yeah

Downtown LA

Completely peaceful protest at #PershingSquare in #DTLA . Cops ran their car into a protester for no apparent reason and then got the hell out fast. #BLACK_LIVES_MATTER pic.twitter.com/EBQfdF1LvJ

— Laura Shapiro (@PsychopompStdio) May 31, 2020

2.5 doesn’t reflect the many other ways black people are disproportionately targeted by police/the criminal justice system

xp, will visit the link (I'm inside because I'm on rush deadline but already donated the paycheck for it, it seemed like the only justifiable thing to do with it)

BREAKING: The L.A. County sheriff says he'll enact a countywide curfew in effect from 6 p.m. today until 6 a.m. tomorrow https://t.co/9Xzc2YARWO

— KTLA (@KTLA) May 31, 2020

Things just got nasty in Ft. Lauderdale.

Apparently the stuff going on by me was, for lack of a better term, organized crime, a convoy of cars and U-Hauls opportunistically hitting various spots en masse, clearing out the stores, and then zipping out of there to the next target before the police could respond. Regardless, we now officially have a curfew where we are, not that I had anywhere to go after 9, anyway.

Chicago announced suspension of all public transportation at 6:15 pm...effective 6:30 pm. I can only assume that the announcement of a 8 pm curfew yesterday at around 8:15 (followed by suspension of transit, leaving people stranded in the city) contributed to what went down in the city last night, so let's see what comes of this boneheaded decision.

From a reporter friend of mine who was there last night:

People, please don't spread conspiracy theories or let your friends do the same. No, Lightfoot did not create a curfew to "trap" protestors downtown so the CPD can have their way with them. Shame on these memes for only inciting more paranoia and violence. The trains, LSD southbound, and river bridges are shut down to prevent more hordes from coming IN. I got out easily by heading north. There are plenty of arteries to get out of the city in all directions and THEN grab a bus, cab, uber, whatever. I know it's exciting to imagine that city hall and the CPD have conspired because they are hellbent on thuggery, but let's not go there.

He also wrote:

Finally, it was most distressing to go online and read all these couch radicals spouting off about what they “heard” happened and how the CPD and Lori Lightfoot were conspiring to club the righteous. A guy on Twitter asked how I would even know that the protestors were trying to torch the paddy wagon with two cops inside. Well, because I was standing next to the woman who told the crowd to step away from the vehicle because "we're gonna set it on fire" into her megaphone, buddy.
This is where we are in America. The internet has successfully destroyed the notion of objective truth, reasonable dialogue, and critical thinking. That’s why 45 is so good at what he does. Spreading online speculation is just as dangerous as any of his tweets because it just thickens the discord. And it's a shame because so much is at stake. It’s why we’re getting nowhere in solving any of this tragedy. But I guess you feel that already too.

the helicopters they are a-roarin'

I know it's exciting to imagine that city hall and the CPD have conspired because they are hellbent on thuggery, but let's not go there.

Forgive me but wouldn't this be…not unprecedented for Chicago

FTR, I wasn't asserting any conspiracies, just a lack of mindful planning/forewarning and the potential adverse effects thereof.

George Soros has already come up in two arguments tonight. man this guy is powerful!!! someone needs to stop him

maybe 1500 people peacefully massed at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, still weird to see large groups of people in public

i see that was part of a larger protest movement that's taken over manhattan bridge, cops appear to mostly be treating this more hands off now

Thousands of people are shutting down Manhattan Bridge. Beautiful.#BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloydProtestspic.twitter.com/e8OgsP71Qt

— Dr. Lucky Tran (@luckytran) June 1, 2020

Orlando tear-gassed again for no real reason after 3 hours of incident free protesting (I wasn't there, but a friend of a friend posted a video).