Riot Police

jamiethearcher · Mar 19, 2006

I was visiting an old friend from high school yesterday, and got into a discussion with one of his roommates. This guy was complaining about how when he was at the Quebec City anti-globalization protests a couple of years ago, he got really clobbered by one of the officers who was trying to control the situation. My friend's roommate claimed he wasn't doing anything, but peacefully obstructing the officer (for the sake of discussion, let us accept that as true, but in reality I have doubts he wasn't being beligerant).

For those of you who don't remember, at these protests, the protestors were throwing stuff at the cops, spitting on them, and destroying property.

How much force do you think the riot police should be able to use in these situations, and is it ok to use force on people who are peacefully obstructing you from getting to the actually violent people?

nonconformist · Mar 19, 2006

The answer is none, unless you're working class.

Bugfatty300 · Mar 19, 2006

If he was blocking the police officer from doing his job then he probably deserved what he got.

h4ppy · Mar 19, 2006

I support riot police in all circumstances. They protect society from the evils of mass movement.

CartesianFart · Mar 19, 2006

nonconformist said:
The answer is none, unless you're working class.

What about students in universities?I find them more atagonistic than the working class.

BCLG100 · Mar 19, 2006

I support the police, they reacted in a way that would ensure safety to everyone else, if your mate was blocking them then thats his fault for what he got.

nonconformist · Mar 19, 2006

CartesianFart said:
What about students in universities?I find them more atagonistic than the working class.

No, the working class are easier targets, and more fun to hurt.

jamiethearcher · Mar 19, 2006

nonconformist said:
No, the working class are easier targets, and more fun to hurt.

I have to disagree with you there. If I was a police officer, working my butt off in a job no one respected me for, I would have a heck of alot more fun bashing a bunch of lazy students who do nothing but go out, party, have easy sex and heckle me, compared to some working stiff that probably has alot in common with me. Don't forget, police officers are working class too.

CartesianFart · Mar 19, 2006

nonconformist said:
No, the working class are easier targets, and more fun to hurt.

I guess so,students like legal battles.

BCLG100 · Mar 19, 2006

not neccesarily have you seen Will Smith in Bad Boys I & II?

Bugfatty300 · Mar 19, 2006

nonconformist said:
No, the working class are easier targets, and more fun to hurt.

Yet most patrol and beat cops (the ones who do the dirty work in riot control) are working class citizens themselves.

Elrohir · Mar 19, 2006

My sympathy is almost always with the riot police. If they are throwing rocks or spitting or attacking the police, they should be able to disperse the crowd however they see fit - rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons, etc.

As for the situation outlined in the original post, they shouldn't bash their skull in or break their legs or anything. But obstructing a police officer's access to a criminal makes you an accomplice, even if you are doing it peacefully. I think he probably got what he deserved.

nonconformist · Mar 19, 2006

Bugfatty300 said:
Yet most patrol and beat cops (the ones who do the dirty work in riot control) are working class citizens themselves.

Yeah, but they're not the real working class.
Especially when the police has members of the army inserted into it to increazse their fighting skill.

CIVPhilzilla · Mar 19, 2006

Protests and riots can get out of hand really fast, if the riot police lose ground in the begining and can't control them early on there is no hope to stop it for a while after they grow significantly.

luiz · Mar 19, 2006

nonconformist said:
Yeah, but they're not the real working class.
Especially when the police has members of the army inserted into it to increazse their fighting skill.

Working class = people who vote for communist or socialist parties, regardless of their income or work. Oskar Lafontaine, with his ultra-expensive wines, cigars and jet trips, is a proud member of the working class.

Non-working class is anyone who does not vote for a communist or socialist party. Therefore police officers, who have a crappy income and have to do a crappy job, are clearly aristocrats that should be sent to the Gulag.

And let's not even get started on soldiers, those evil upper class snobs.

jamiethearcher · Mar 19, 2006

luiz said:
Working class = people who vote for communist or socialist parties, regardless of their income or work. Oskar Lafontaine, with his ultra-expensive wines, cigars and jet trips, is a proud member of the working class.

Non-working class is anyone who does not vote for a communist or socialist party. Therefore police officers, who have a crappy income and have to do a crappy job, are clearly aristocrats that should be sent to the Gulag.

And let's not even get started on soldiers, those evil upper class snobs.

LOL, great post! I honestly don't know how you can say police and the army aren't working class non-com - their jobs are just as low paying and crappy as any factory worker.

tossi · Mar 19, 2006

Police shouldn't cause violence, but prevent it! Of course it is hard to restrain when your are insulted, attacked, etc, but thats exactly their job. In certain situations they must use force to prevent more violence, but often they attack when there is no danger at all.

newfangle · Mar 19, 2006

My pop is a member of the riot team. I'd like to think he and his canine should reserve the right to smash hippies if they cause a ruckus.

h4ppy · Mar 19, 2006

No, the police have the duty to uphold the law, not to prevent violence.

shadowdude · Mar 19, 2006

h4ppy said:
I support riot police in all circumstances. They protect society from the evils of mass movement.

Well said, belligerent rioters deserve anything they get the police.

Riot Police

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