The bad news is that activists in Ferguson, MO, have released a list of 19 demands that, if agreed to, will make the situation a lot more dangerous when the grand jury conclusion in the Michael Brown case (all but expected to exonerate the police officer) is released. Here's the list for reference.
What's wrong with it? Here you go:
- Demand #3 is that advance notice will be given--OK, 48 hours to prepare for a riot. What could possibly go wrong?
- Demand #4 is that the rioters be informed of the police chain of command--"Hey Honey, have a nice time while I'm at work. By the way, the rioters know who and where you are."
- Demands #7 and #8 are that the police not wear riot gear, use rubber bullets or tear gas, or use crowd control equipment. OK, if I'm an officer and do not have crowd/riot control equipment, and I'm faced with a possibly lethal situation, what tool on my belt do I use? Hint; it's not the nightstick, the flashlight, or the Taser.
- Demand #9 is that the police not interfere with the communications of the protesters--because it's not like rioters have ever coordinated to create a much more dangerous result, is it?
- Demand #10 is for individual arrests and not bulk arrests. Because apparently the police have never faced a situation that became more dangerous because people refused to disperse, which is a crime.
- Demand #11 is for "safe houses" so the rioting leaders can run the riots without interference from the police. Um, say what?
- Demand #15 is for police to tolerate "minor lawbreaking" like throwing water bottles. Because a bottle filled with an unknown liquid has never been used as a weapon, of course.
2 comments:
Why are we letting rioters have demands?
I don't mind them having demands. To riot is to make demands, no?
My objection is when politicians treat the demands with more deference than the demand deserves. Grown-ups, if there be any there, need to point out the consequences of the demand if granted, or else it'll get a lot of people killed.
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