{"article":{"id":3196,"heading":"LA Police Diary c\/o Conservative Mag.","author":"themona","created":"2000-08-23 16:09:16","modified":"2000-08-26 15:39:31","last_modified":"Sat, 26 Aug 2000 22:39:31","article":"

Thought this was interesting tidbit, though it was hard to read without getting riled. This is supposedly the P.O.V. of an LA police officer...it's always good to know what all sides are thinking...

http:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/comment\/comment082200a.shtml<\/a><\/p>\n","contact":"themona@hotmail.com","link":"http:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/comment\/comment082200a.shtml","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"The National Review, \"America's Premier Conservative Website,\" publishes \"Among the Lunatics, Part I - \r\nAn undercover cop's Democratic convention diary.\"","numcomment":18,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2000\/08\/3196.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":3200,"heading":"Knucklehead","article":"One of these years, the black bloc knuckleheads will give the LAPD the thrashing they so deserve. This time we were just testing the pigs in blue. We learned a lot this time and we're confident that we can take them in a street fight the next time around. Shit, we didn't even put much of an effort into L.A.\r\n\r\nKeep up the good work LAPD! By harassing the rank and file activists for so much as daring to put a toe on the street, you created more black blocers to deal with in the future.\r\n\r\nCan we pay you guys some money for the excellent recruitment you do for us? It's nice to know that the younger generation is becoming an anti-cops generation. They'll be dreaming about black blocs when they return to school in a few weeks and have to deal everyday with that miniature version of the police state we live under.","author":"Commander Tofu","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-23 17:00:04","modified":"2000-08-23 17:13:24","fileurl":""},{"id":3218,"heading":"Black Block Vs the COps","article":"This should be simple to understand: The police are NOT the Enemy! They are only agents of the State and those who control the State - THEY are the Enemy! We need to keep that in focus - we don't win anything in encouters with the police unless we attack\/expose those that pull their strings. Everything else is just wasted tesosterone! We learned in the 60's that blowing up a few buildings didn't cause the Revolution. Breaking a few windows in the '00's ain't gonna either!\r\neag","author":"eric","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-23 18:21:39","modified":"2000-08-23 18:45:18","fileurl":""},{"id":3220,"heading":"Black vs. the Cops","article":"The black bloc understands that our true enemy is the ruling class. The ruling class wants us to engage the cops, becasue the pigs are their first line of defense. But there's nothing wrong with keeping the cops on the defensive. Let them spend millions of dollars policing nonviolent activists.\r\n\r\nBut if the cops don't give the streets back to the activists soon, they can expect to see more resistance to their control from our ranks.\r\n\r\nAnd Eric, this isn't about testosterone. ","author":"Commander Tofu","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-23 18:44:07","modified":"2000-08-23 19:14:35","fileurl":""},{"id":3222,"heading":"about the testosterone","article":"Just wanted to side with Eric here momentarily on one small point... I've been masked up in the front lines against the cops, I'm not an armchair observer, but I think we're kidding ourselves if we think testosterone (i.e. adrenaline, and group think \/ mob mentality) has NOTHING to do with the black bloc. When I look around and the front lines of these protests, I see a lot of young guys getting quite (justifiably) angry and yelling at the cops, and taking actions, usually not even consciously, that serve to egg each other on and earn bragging rights. I know this because I've been there and done it, and will most likely do it again. My point, though, is that we need to recognize the social dynamics that are playing out here, so that in case we decide in the future that they are undesirable we will know what we need to do about it. \r\n\r\nWe can use testosterone (or aggression, to include the revolutionary sisters) to our advantage, as the bloc has so admirably proven. What it is good for is intimidating cops, which in some cases allows activists to do something they wouldn't have been able to do otherwise. If the angry black bloc can hold off the cop line while the rest of the crowd escapes the trap, or tears apart the McDonalds or whatever, then the bloc did its job and deserves a beer (or better) :-). I just think we need to be clear about what we mean to accomplish and know that an angry bloc that doesn't have a specific goal is more likely to simply supply the corporate media with lots of juicy images with which to frighten the mainstream and get the cops more money. That's the drawback of keeping the cops on the defensive -- if the public agrees that they are threatened, then they are going to support them. We already know the corporate media is going to do its best to totally fuck us every time, so the question comes down to how easy we make it for them. ","author":"Private Tempeh","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-23 19:21:05","modified":"2000-08-23 20:00:02","fileurl":""},{"id":3223,"heading":"mob aggression","article":"I should add that I've never raised a fisti n anger towards anyone nr have I even come close to being in a fight at any point in my life but Black Blocs do induce a sense of aggressiveness in me that I never would otherwise feel. And its good because I can sense how it is the resistance of a unified people. I feel that strength from being arm in arm with others.\r\n\r\nI should add thalso that when police wear riot gear they tend to dehumanizethemselves. In Philly not every officer was geared up, but compared to the Ninja Turtle suits of Seattle or DC, they looked more human and my directed anger was somewhat deadened. Its like being able to kick a computer, but never a dog.\r\n\r\nIm sure there's an interesting psychology paper somewhere here...","author":"sarin","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-23 20:00:02","modified":"2000-08-23 20:51:30","fileurl":""},{"id":3225,"heading":"Hmmm, sounds so..... simple","article":"I was at the protest pit on Monday night. I watched my girlfriend get shot by an LAPD officer. At 5 feet range, the rubber bullet pierced her skin and damaged her ribs. She fell and was then sprayed with in the eyes with mace. She was later almost trampled to death. I had to carry her out of the way of a barrage of concussion grenades and rubber bullets, while she was barely conscious. Why? Because she was trying to pull one of the Blac Block kids off the fence. There was no time for first aid or any kind of medical attention before we were herded out of the like farm animals. Suddenly we were there illegaly? This all started BEFORE it was declared an illegal assembly. It's so easy to sluff off the whole thing, like this article seems hell bent on doing, but I am finding it very hard to sluff off my girlfriend's string of nightmares, how she winces in pain everytime she moves. She hasn't slept peacefully once since that brutal attack, everytime she closes her eyes, she sees the muzzle flash and remembers the agony of that moment. She is filled with fear and I can't find a single rational reason to give her why it happened. \r\n\r\nGee I'm really sorry the poor cops had to stand there and sweat it out in the California sun, all the while earning about $150 an hour in double time and a half wages. Thats just terrible guys, we protesters will be sure to make full apaology next time we have something to say. Hey maybe next time, you guys could maybe cut your forces in half, save the city about 2 million dollars a day and just stay home and watch it on T.V.! I mean, there's nothing wrong in the world, right??? No reason to say anything, just watch a football game and guzzle a few beers. Freedom is just a word, right? Your free, you can do what you want? Why should you care about anything? You guys have everything you want, right? Power, money, a good home. \r\n\r\nJust stay home next time and leave the democracy to us, we the ones who are willing to care about people we aren't related to. We, the ones who care about people who don't even live in the United States (I know, its crazy, but thats what compassion is all about). If seeing the world through eyes of love and caring earns me the right to be called \"Tree Hugger\" then I shall wear that brand proudly, and the cops who shoot at innocent young people performing our rights of free speech and protest precisely how the founding fathers envisioned, can kiss my bark smudged ass! \r\n\r\nThose cops would'nt know an act of kindess if it drilled itself through thier stupid wooden heads. I have no sympathy for cops anymore. I see them as merely a nuisance to my life and my struggle to find some decency in the world and in the America I grew up believing in. We might as well hire the Hell's Angels next time. At least we can pay them in beer and save a hell of a lot of money. \r\n\r\nAnd another thing, why didn't the cops shoot at the kid who was on the fence? I saw him later actually talking with the cops, maybe he was one of thiers, sent in plain clothes to actually start trouble, so they could treat us they way the are accustomed to, like animals. You have my undying disgust, LAPD: Los Angeles Pansy Division. Stay home next time. We don't need you.\r\n\r\n","author":"Buck McGibbony","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-23 21:15:30","modified":"2000-08-23 21:28:17","fileurl":""},{"id":3245,"heading":"the police are the enemy","article":"In response to the \"[the police are not the enemy, they are merely agents of the state and the powers that be,]\" sentements that so many people espouse, I have to say that; THE POLICE ARE THE ENEMY AS WELL!\r\nThey choose to defend the neo-feudalistic, multinational corporations which now rule over us through the US Government and the Republicrat politicians whom they own, and they believe in and support the current system. They are not forced to brutalize, beat, and torture people excersing their constitutional right to protest, they choose to. Even supposing that they are ordered to act with such \"iron fist\" aggressiveness; they still have the choice to refuse. In fact if they wanted to stand with the rank and file, which too many people still foolishly consider the police to be a part of, (and which in a better world the police would be a part of,) they could always just refuse to interfere with protests at all, especially at anti-globalization protests which are bad for all workers and labour unions. If the poice unilateraly chose to let the protesters be, there's nothing that the powers that be could do. I mean, they couldn't fire the entire police force, could they. But the police hate the protestors, and love the powers that be. They are the enemy as well. Personally, I think that if the police continue their current behavior, and continue to work against the rank and file, I think that they should be expelled from the AFL\/CIO. ","author":"R ob","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-23 23:36:01","modified":"2000-08-24 00:09:57","fileurl":""},{"id":3246,"heading":"the police are the enemy as well","article":"In response to the \"[the police are not the enemy, they are merely agents of the state and the powers that be,]\" sentements that so many people espouse, I have to say that; THE POLICE ARE THE ENEMY AS WELL!\r\nThey choose to defend the neo-feudalistic, multinational corporations which now rule over us through the US Government and the Republicrat politicians whom they own, and they believe in and support the current system. They are not forced to brutalize, beat, and torture people excersing their constitutional right to protest. They choose to. Even supposing that they are ordered to act with such \"iron fist\" aggressiveness; they still have the choice to refuse. In fact if they wanted to stand with the rank and file, which too many people still foolishly consider the police to be a part of, (and which in a better world the police would be a part of,) they could always just refuse to interfere with protests at all, especially at anti-globalization protests which are bad for all workers and labour unions. If the poice unilateraly chose to let the protesters be, there's nothing that the powers that be could do. I mean, they couldn't fire the entire police force, could they. But the police hate the protestors, and love the powers that be. They are the enemy as well. Personally, I think that if the police continue their current behavior, and continue to work against the rank and file, they should be expelled from the AFL\/CIO. ","author":"Rob","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-23 23:37:57","modified":"2000-08-24 00:09:57","fileurl":""},{"id":3247,"heading":"Ummm.. Buck?","article":"Why on earth should someone be shot for climbing on a fence? I mean, I'm really sorry about what happened to your girlfriend and of course that was wrong. But haven't you ever climbed a fence before? Should you have been shot for it? That being said, I wish a speedy recovery to your girlfriend.","author":"Durg","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-23 23:40:26","modified":"2000-08-24 00:09:57","fileurl":""},{"id":3264,"heading":"Symbiotic","article":"You sort of must feel sorry for the poor fool who wrote that (if the national review didn't, I didn't know cops had brain cells) His thin, irrational arguments against us reveal a complete a-political understanding of the way he world functions. He seems to think in terms of apperience, quick one-liner remarkers about people being knuckle-heads, and an almost pathetic sense of humer about his defeat as a human bieng for being an agent on the side of the powerful. His mentality, and false bravado is an ideolodgy (if you can call it that) that is one of the main reasons that corporations and the elites control the wealth and distribution today. Unlike dictators, corps. and elites in America must still relay on popularity and consent, carfully manufactured content that is (heh). With casually complient conformists like him, it's a real testiment to their propaganda. Or perhaps he belongs to the special section of the human race that get off on power and control, clinging to the vast robes of corporate america and the elites, with their mouths open, hoping for a drop of power as a crumb falls from their master's table. And in the end, they may beat our heads \"like gongs\", and then they go home to their empty, wasted lives, while capitalism leans over to pat their asses with a resounding \"thanks, I needed that.\" I guess you could give the cops credit for that. Most people in this lovelly corporate capitalism of ours curse their luck and the system that engenieers \"bad luck\" to the many, or at least do their jobs in silent nihlism. But the police actually thank and even defend the oppressive force above them. They subjegate themselves, while capitalism spanks them soundly, and actually take pride in their conformity and brutality. But underneith it all they know that the brutes and conformist, apolitical enforcers of oppression are all wretches and will be remembered in history for the frightened school kids beating those smaller then them while the teacher looks on in approval, that they are. Nothing less then the cowards of our era, adorned with paper-armor.\r\n\r\nPerhaps that's why they hate us, because in their hearts is just sand and wind, silently wispering \"nothing...nothing\". And our hearts are filled with greenery, wildlife, and fire, burning austeir and proud blue-tiped waters thrashing and laughing \"New... and passion...and a death to the dust-covered philosophies of coward kings... and WHOLE\". And they can shoot our cheasts, and clink glasses later, but they all know in that last glass of whisky, and sand makes nothing but castles, and the wind quickly blows those down. ","author":"Frog","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-24 03:37:45","modified":"2000-08-24 03:55:12","fileurl":""},{"id":3267,"heading":"Hmmmmmm...????","article":"It seems that this officer of the \"law\" presented his \"suppossed\" point of view from a rather articulate (more so than some of the folks who've posted here, unfortunately) if somewhat \"cynical\" perspective.\r\nHis comments towards people OTHER THAN \"law\" enforcement seem to seeth with apathy, or perhaps what can be construed as simple hatred.\r\nHe seems intelligent enough to make an observation and comment, though his commentary and perspective are obviously biased toward those of the \"brotherhood.\"\r\nIt's a damn shame. \r\nA mind is a terrible thing to waste.\r\n","author":"bcr","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-24 05:24:05","modified":"2000-08-24 05:54:01","fileurl":""},{"id":3268,"heading":"LAPD Won the Battle, Lost the War","article":"Massive firepower and treating citizens like cockroaches may be an effective way to clear streets, but in the long run the LAPD will pay dearly for their excesses. Not only have they turned vast new numbers of citizens, local politicians, and news media against them, but they are driving another nail in their coffin. This will only increase calls for a Federal takeover of the LAPD and a purge of psychopaths like the writer of the National Review article from their ranks.\r\n\r\nCitizens Committee for an LAPD Pay Freeze","author":"Michael Everett","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-24 05:35:22","modified":"2000-08-24 05:54:01","fileurl":""},{"id":3277,"heading":"mob aggression","article":"I should add that I've never raised a fisti n anger towards anyone nr have I even come close to being in a fight at any point in my life but Black Blocs do induce a sense of aggressiveness in me that I never would otherwise feel. And its good because I can sense how it is the resistance of a unified people. I feel that strength from being arm in arm with others.\r\n\r\nI should add thalso that when police wear riot gear they tend to dehumanizethemselves. In Philly not every officer was geared up, but compared to the Ninja Turtle suits of Seattle or DC, they looked more human and my directed anger was somewhat deadened. Its like being able to kick a computer, but never a dog.\r\n\r\nIm sure there's an interesting psychology paper somewhere here...","author":"sarin","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-24 12:11:36","modified":"2000-08-24 12:42:24","fileurl":""},{"id":3281,"heading":"Agreed - cops ARE the enemy","article":"An unjust law has no teeth without the willing enforcement of police. They know what they're doing, and they choose to do it still. They do it for a paycheck, and for the adrenaline rush of getting to bash heads. The police are just mercenaries - private security for the govt, if you will. When they act unjustly (with or without an unjust law behind them), then they are guilty of injustice. The Nuremburg defense, \"I was just following Adolph's orders\", doesn't wash.\r\n\r\nCops are, and should be held, responsible for their own actions. As should all people. They get credit for courage and bravery when they (rarely) do something right. Why shouldn't they be blamed for cowardice and cruelty when they abuse people? \r\n\r\nAren't prostitutes \"just doing their job\"? Isnt the accountant for the mafia \"just doing his job\" - he's not out there shooting people, just back in the office balancing the books. What about the adult stoner selling pot to his adult friends?\r\n\r\nThe cops are corrupt. The judges who support them are corrupt. The politicians who support them are corrupt. The public that supports them is corrupt.\r\n\r\nThere-in lies our problem, and our enemy - corruption *everywhere*. This society, as a whole, has become unjust. And this is the result.\r\n\r\n-Edison\r\n","author":"Edison Carter","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-24 14:01:22","modified":"2000-08-24 14:14:33","fileurl":""},{"id":3300,"heading":"One more comment on the pile...","article":"A few thoughts:\r\n\r\n1. The officer writing the article seems to hate everyone and everything. He hates the city council, he hates the protesters, he hates the Anarchists, he hates the police officials, he hates just about everyone who isn't a fellow cop, and I'm betting they would be quick to join his shit-list too\r\n\r\n2. If you believe in this movement, this article will make you so angry with the police and the system we live in that you'll want to rave for fifteen minutes, then put a rock through a cops head. It's just that bad. It's by the person we all fear: the infiltrating cop. If you're nonviolent, you'll think about violence. If you advocate violence, you'll start thinking this guy is the very model of the enemy.\r\n\r\n3. Conservatives get off on this stuff, they really do. Liberals are often called 'bleeding heart' to describe the way we \"wail in vicarious agony\" as I've heard it told. In turn, many conservatives adore summoning this response from liberals. They laugh a storm on every conservative show in the land at the struggles of action groups, and I can't find a rational reason other than plain old fashioned elitist meanness. To be truely capatalist conservative requires a solid belief in Darwin-esq survival. The strong survive, the weak die. Or, the rich prosper and the poor deserve what they get. This is in itself cruel, by the definition of the word. \r\n\r\n4. Not every face under the riot helmets is this guy. Don't let yourself think that way. Be wary, and remember that right now they're not that sympathetic to anyone. If they hate you, it's not a personal, informed hatred. It's the sort of hate you would expect from a child.\r\nYou've got to be fairly mean just to get to be an officer, and the LAPD are besieged with shame for past failings and a people who at once demand they crush the \"out of control gangs\" and bring peace to LA, while also reaming them everytime they go to far. It's like hitting a dog everytime it does something. The dog goes crazy, all it knows is that it's going to get hit. \r\n\r\nIt's not it's fault that it's a particularly dumb dog...\r\n\r\n\r\nOne final thought:\r\n\r\n5. Notice how congradulative the police are of themselves? The media proclaims it a victory of restraint and control that so few arrests were made and so little property destruction (any?) took place in LA. But... didn't they manufacture the expected violence? Weren't they the ones who took admitedly fabricated lies from the Seattle reporting and made it their crusade to ensure such imagined violence didn't spill into the Los Angeles streets? \r\n\r\nOf course there were few arrests and little property destruction! *YOU GUYS* are the ones who created the image that there would be! \r\n\r\nNext they'll be taking credit for convincing us that non-violence is the best answer.\r\n\r\n\r\n","author":"TheNewOhioGreen","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-24 18:35:33","modified":"2000-08-24 19:07:42","fileurl":""},{"id":3328,"heading":"Here's a link too part 2...","article":"http:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/comment\/comment082300a.shtml\r\n","author":"Buck","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-25 05:20:40","modified":"2000-08-25 05:53:02","fileurl":""},{"id":3355,"heading":"the police are insane, like everyone else","article":"Response to Rob:\r\nI totally empathize with your position re: the cops. In a world where a lot of people make bad choices, the decisions made by people who wear blue uniforms tend to take the cake. To voluntarily smash dissent and beat up innocent and idealistic people because it is \"your job\" would be unforgiveable in a sane person. \r\nHowever, practically every human alive on the planet can be classified as emotionally unstable due to the twisted and barbaric cultures forced on us and the constant threat of global annihilation under which we have all grown up. I'm not an apologist for what anybody does, I think people who are abusing power need to be removed from their positions of power immediately, whether they are cops or presidents. I just think it's really important that we don't fall into the trap of regarding ANY flesh and blood human being as our enemy, the negative patterns of behavior (corporations and governments) are the only enemy we should focus on. It might sound like fluff but I've been there and I can tell you: when you spend your mental energy hating some person, it fucks up your head and you can't be as effective as you would be if you look at everybody as just another crazy person who might get it some day.\r\nBesides, as many people have pointed out on this site, a revolution isn't a revolution until you start winning over deserters from the cops and the military.","author":"Exit Wound","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-25 23:16:29","modified":"2000-08-26 00:19:26","fileurl":""},{"id":3385,"heading":"I'm constantly amazed","article":"I'm constantly amazed at the shear stupidity and self-centered pompousness of the Los Angeles Police Department. (Don't they know that we knew who the undercover pigs where? They were so obvious.) These articles boil my blood and reignite my hatred for the current controling interests of society today.\r\n\r\n\"To protect and to serve\" indeed. \r\n\r\nGranted, the LAPD is not to blame for the corporate control and subsequent demise of society. They sure as hell aren't helping any. If anything, they've helped create a whole generation of anarchists and revelutionaries bent on rebuilding our own world from the ground up. They'll be the first to go.\r\n\r\n","author":"twinkle","parent_id":3196,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2000-08-26 15:39:31","modified":"2000-08-26 15:53:17","fileurl":""}]}