Protests and Riots Thread

[Blarg]

7 minutes ago, Lou said:

I guess To Serve and Protect is an antiquated notion 

We had just moved to San Dimas, just blocks from the shopping center where this event occured.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailybulletin.com/2015/06/08/louis-pompeis-last-efforts-helped-capture-assailants/amp/

Pompei, 30, and a 7-year veteran of the Glendora Police Department, had just gotten off duty with L.A. Impact — a regional anti-drug trafficking task force comprised of Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and municipal police officers. He went to Vons Market near his San Dimas home to cash his paycheck. He was in the checkout line when two young men, later identified as Larry Hernandez, 16, and Robert Ramirez, 17, entered the store, announced a holdup and began pistol-whipping a box boy, according to police reports.

“Louie did what he was trained to do as a policeman,” Staab said. “Whether he is on- or off-duty, he was sworn to protect, serve and defend. He drew his gun and identified himself as a policeman to stop the attack on the special-needs employee. Gun fire ensued, but Louie drew fire away from customers and employees in the store and toward himself.” Louie remains the only Glendora police officer killed in the line of duty since the department was founded in 1926.

It took a jury of seven women and five men three hours to convict Ramirez and Larry Hernandez, the shooters inside the market, of first-degree murder of a policeman, a special circumstance that eliminates the opportunity for parole on their life sentences. 

Pompei could have been retired by now. There is a plaque and bench in his honor across from the park next to the Vons shopping center. Eight years ago a Boy Scout from troop 491 made it his Eagle Scout project to restore the memorial site using donations and $100 of his own money. 

Lawyers argue details, others go by their upbringing. Some have memorials and others keep care of them. 

 

[Lou]

I know that Vons and remember when that happened.  Very sad indeed. 

[Blarg]

I drove by it after work and wondered what all the commotion was in my sleepy little neighborhood. I thought maybe someone had a heart attack and that's why the firetruck and ambulance. 

None of those assholes are seeing a day without bars and barbed wire. 

[angelinkc]

https://www.tmz.com/2020/05/31/j-r-smith-attack-fight-video-los-angeles-la-protests-nba/

[Chuck]

This woman verbally punks a car full of rioters. 

 

[Adam]

This is funny

 

 

[Blarg]

7 minutes ago, angelinkc said:

https://www.tmz.com/2020/05/31/j-r-smith-attack-fight-video-los-angeles-la-protests-nba/

"He didn't know whose window he broke and he got his ass whooped."

 

[Claude]

As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.

Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.

First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation – something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.

On the other hand, the small minority of folks who’ve resorted to violence in various forms, whether out of genuine anger or mere opportunism, are putting innocent people at risk, compounding the destruction of neighborhoods that are often already short on services and investment and detracting from the larger cause. I saw an elderly black woman being interviewed today in tears because the only grocery store in her neighborhood had been trashed. If history is any guide, that store may take years to come back. So let’s not excuse violence, or rationalize it, or participate in it. If we want our criminal justice system, and American society at large, to operate on a higher ethical code, then we have to model that code ourselves.

Second, I’ve heard some suggest that the recurrent problem of racial bias in our criminal justice system proves that only protests and direct action can bring about change, and that voting and participation in electoral politics is a waste of time. I couldn’t disagree more. The point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make the powers that be uncomfortable; in fact, throughout American history, it’s often only been in response to protests and civil disobedience that the political system has even paid attention to marginalized communities. But eventually, aspirations have to be translated into specific laws and institutional practices – and in a democracy, that only happens when we elect government officials who are responsive to our demands.

Moreover, it’s important for us to understand which levels of government have the biggest impact on our criminal justice system and police practices. When we think about politics, a lot of us focus only on the presidency and the federal government. And yes, we should be fighting to make sure that we have a president, a Congress, a U.S. Justice Department, and a federal judiciary that actually recognize the ongoing, corrosive role that racism plays in our society and want to do something about it. But the elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels.

It’s mayors and county executives that appoint most police chiefs and negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police unions. It’s district attorneys and state’s attorneys that decide whether or not to investigate and ultimately charge those involved in police misconduct. Those are all elected positions. In some places, police review boards with the power to monitor police conduct are elected as well. Unfortunately, voter turnout in these local races is usually pitifully low, especially among young people – which makes no sense given the direct impact these offices have on social justice issues, not to mention the fact that who wins and who loses those seats is often determined by just a few thousand, or even a few hundred, votes.

So the bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.

Finally, the more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, the harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to the cause and then fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away. The content of that reform agenda will be different for various communities. A big city may need one set of reforms; a rural community may need another. Some agencies will require wholesale rehabilitation; others should make minor improvements. Every law enforcement agency should have clear policies, including an independent body that conducts investigations of alleged misconduct. Tailoring reforms for each community will require local activists and organizations to do their research and educate fellow citizens in their community on what strategies work best.

But as a starting point, I’ve included two links below. One leads to a report and toolkit developed by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and based on the work of the Task Force on 21st Century Policing that I formed when I was in the White House. And if you’re interested in taking concrete action, we’ve also created a dedicated site at the Obama Foundation to aggregate and direct you to useful resources and organizations who’ve been fighting the good fight at the local and national levels for years.

I recognize that these past few months have been hard and dispiriting – that the fear, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship of a pandemic have been compounded by tragic reminders that prejudice and inequality still shape so much of American life. But watching the heightened activism of young people in recent weeks, of every race and every station, makes me hopeful. If, going forward, we can channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, then this moment can be a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.

Let’s get to work.

- https://policing.civilrights.org/toolkit/
- obama.org/anguish-and-action
 

Barack Obama

[Chuck]

Man I feel so bad for these small businesses that either just opened or were set to open real soon only to have been completely destroyed. 

[Chuck]

 

[angelinkc]

20 minutes ago, Blarg said:

"He didn't know whose window he broke and he got his ass whooped."

 

I never liked Smith but he just became one of my favorites

[hangin n wangin]

Got a golf tee time on Tuesday. Should be nice.

[Tank]

1 hour ago, Lhalo said:

 

wait, she paid money to be a rioter?? WTH

who does that?

[Lou]

2 minutes ago, Tank said:

wait, she paid money to be a rioter?? WTH

who does that?

No, she was paid.

 

[Tank]

4 minutes ago, Lou said:

No, she was paid.

 

ah, okay, i was reading it wrong.

but still . . .WTH

[Catwhoshatinthehat]

Supposedly the protest they disbursed in HB cops found bricks stacked up on neighborhood streets that had been put there or the intent of causing damage when things got out of hand.  Wouldn't surprise me if it were true as there's been multiple pictures of different cities where this has happened.  Any groups or people involved in any of these actions hopefully get what they deserve.

[Lou]

3 minutes ago, Tank said:

ah, okay, i was reading it wrong.

but still . . .WTH

I offered @UndertheHalo  huevos rancheros to loot me an iPad, so I get it. 

[fan_since79]

Bixby Knolls got hit last night but it was nothing compared to downtown Long Beach. Up and down Atlantic Ave mostly.

They especially went after pharmacies all over Long Beach and Lakewood. CVS, RiteAid, Walgreens, etc. 

Looters were dropped off in vehicles and they quickly went about their business. What was impressive was the speed with which Signal Hill cops stopped the attempt to loot the Target on 33rd St. That was stopped immediately and arrests made, I believe. Don't mess with Signal Hill PD.

 

[Adam]

20 minutes ago, Catwhoshatinthehat said:

Supposedly the protest they disbursed in HB cops found bricks stacked up on neighborhood streets that had been put there or the intent of causing damage when things got out of hand.  Wouldn't surprise me if it were true as there's been multiple pictures of different cities where this has happened.  Any groups or people involved in any of these actions hopefully get what they deserve.

If I'm a business owner right now I'm putting those bricks there. PLEASE destroy my business and let me collect the insurance money! The government destroyed their businesses 2.5 months ago

[arch stanton]

4 minutes ago, Adam said:

If I'm a business owner right now I'm putting those bricks there. PLEASE destroy my business and let me collect the insurance money! The government destroyed their businesses 2.5 months ago

Then the government can bail out the insurance companies 

[Chuck]

 

[Amazing Larry]

Just now, calscuf said:

I don’t think anyone still thinks the riots and looting is about anything other than frustrated dumbfucks and people wanting free shit. 

That and anarchists.

[Amazing Larry]

Sorry, I forgot they're covered under dumbfucks.

[Catwhoshatinthehat]

24 minutes ago, Adam said:

If I'm a business owner right now I'm putting those bricks there. PLEASE destroy my business and let me collect the insurance money! The government destroyed their businesses 2.5 months ago

Many of the business owners apparently didn't agree with you as they boarded up windows in the morning knowing the protest was coming.  Unlike the looters and rioters not everyone is looking for a quick fix or an out.

[Lou]

1 hour ago, fan_since79 said:

Bixby Knolls got hit last night but it was nothing compared to downtown Long Beach. Up and down Atlantic Ave mostly.

They especially went after pharmacies all over Long Beach and Lakewood. CVS, RiteAid, Walgreens, etc. 

Looters were dropped off in vehicles and they quickly went about their business. What was impressive was the speed with which Signal Hill cops stopped the attempt to loot the Target on 33rd St. That was stopped immediately and arrests made, I believe. Don't mess with Signal Hill PD.

 

Every time I read Signal Hill, I immediately think of Sugar Hill.

As in Gang.

As in Gang that didn't loot.

 

 

Where's Wonder Mike when you need him?