In preperation for the grand jury announcement, this is what "civil" leaders from the "Don't Shoot Coalition" are asking law enforcement to adhere to, so the protests can go , uh, smoothly, yeah that's it.
Proposed Rules of Engagement 1) The first priority shall be preservation of human life.
2) Channels of communication will be established so that situations can be de-escalated if necessary.
3) Police will give protesters 48 hour advance notice before grand jury decision is announced.
4) Police will provide to the public information that makes clear the chain of command, who is making what decisions and the processes for deciding when the police response will be escalated.
5) Every attempt should be made to communicate with protesters to reach "common sense" agreements based on these protocols, both ahead of time and at the scene of protests.
6) Clear standards of professionalism and sound community friendly-policing will be maintained and adhered to at all times.
7) Police will wear only the attire minimally required for their safety. Specialized riot gear will be avoided except as a last resort.
8) Crowd control equipment such as armored vehicles, rubber bullets, rifles and tear gas will not be used.
9) Police or other government authorities will not interfere with the free flow of information through tactics such as limiting cell or internet access, interception of cell or other mobile conversations or unwarranted wiretaps.
10) Every attempt will be made to pinpoint arrests so that only individual lawbreakers will be arrested. �Kettling� and mass arrests will not be used.
11) Safe houses shall be considered sacred ground and only entered by police when called upon or if extremely necessary.
12) Media and Legal Observers shall not be considered participants in protests and shall be allowed to do their jobs freely.
13) Every attempt will be made to provide alternate routes or other means for non-involved persons to get to places of employment and meet other transportation necessities.
14) Strategically, police commanders will allow protests to take and occupy larger and more disruptive spaces than would normally be tolerated, and will allow occupation of those spaces for longer periods of time than would normally be tolerated.
15) Police will be instructed to be tolerant of more minor lawbreaking (such as thrown water bottles) when deciding whether to escalate the use of force.
16) Police rank and file will be instructed to provide every latitude to allow for free assembly and expression, treating protesters as citizens and not �enemy combatants.�
17) Excessive force and other forms of police misconduct will not be tolerated.
18) Intimidation and harassment of protesters will not be tolerated. This includes pretextual pedestrian or traffic stops, contacting of employers or family members, pre�emptive arrests or detention of "leaders," publishing of private information and any other means of intimidation and harassment.
19) Bond for arrestees will not be set above the levels which would be considered average over the last two years, and arrestees will not be held for periods longer than average lengths of time. Medical care will be liberally made available. Attorneys will be able to travel to and meet with clients without impediments.
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
If the whole thing wasn't derived specifically to agitate people by inferring the police have previously been intimidating protestors, using illegal wire taps, and are quashing rights to civil disobediance, I'd almost give them credit.
I see no quid pro quo, no assertion that leaders will ensure there will be no looting, or other crime. In fact, the rules state there will be other crime and cops should look the other way or treat it lightly.
I was reading this article earlier this morning. Sounds like the 'organizers' would be down with just having the police leave the room, and let this coalition of community organizers run the show. That way, no matter how out of hand things get, no innocent protesters would be harmed. After all,
Quote
"After the verdict, no matter what it is, people are going to pour into the street - either in celebration or in rage," said Montague Simmons, chairman of the Organization for Black Struggle. "It's in the best interest of the public, the police and elected officials who control the actions of the police to work together to protect the rights of people to engage in civil disobedience and expression of their First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly."
I place a major part of the blame for the riots squarely on the shoulders of the media. From the very beginning their biased reporting led to more and more riots and lawlessness.
Their headlines read "Unarmed black teen shot and killed by cop"
Instead of the more accurate "Giant robbery suspect attacks cop."
The way our media worded it, incited violence.
So yeah. F'em. Media and protestors. Riot? Go to jail, hopefully after getting hurt real bad.
I would love to be in a room with these community organizers (zing)
Ask them if private businesses are considered "safe houses" to wit:
11) Safe houses shall be considered sacred ground and only entered by police protestors when called upon or if extremely necessary engaging in business related activities only.
The fact that they list separately in their treaty all the common folk and business owners (the non-involved) proves beyond any doubt that the "us versus them" mentality not only applies to the "protestors" vice the cops, but the "protestors" versus the general public as well.
Likewise, its only convenient that they refer to themselves as citizens when they are about to have the rights suspended for their own actions.
The looters probably have their Christmas shopping list already made out and looking forward to just leisurely strolling around at their own pace, in and out of stores, taking what they want, unimpeded, no hassle.
Law enforcement should gather all those "leaders" together in a room and explain (with cameras rolling) that they will each be held personally responsible for any thefts, vandalism, injuries or deaths that occur during the marches and protests they are "leading".
Exactly Grouseman. Here are OUR rules: you act like civilized human beings and will be treated as such. You act like [bleep] that just jumped down from low hanging limbs in a tree in Africa and you will be treated as just that. This really isn't rocket science and won't be treated as such.
If the local business owners would nut up, then the cops should let the protestors know that they have no intention on restraining local property owners in exercising their rights either.
