Yet there are people on posting on this very thread saying that police were justified in doing so somehow... I don't get it.
well, I don't feel it to be justified myself... but then again, that's just a personal opinion and not a legal one.
police brutality has been a problem since the very first cop started walking a beat.
the police are the pointy spear of government force....they are not brutal in 90% of their interactions with the public, but they are sanctioned to use force, by law, in cases where citizens do not comply with lawful orders.... that's just the basic facts.
it's not the force by the police that I worry about people not getting... it worries me that a lot of people think it's justified to break the law when it's politically convenient to do so.
none of our rights extend into the realm of lawlessness... and that's something I see OWS supporters being a bit confused by.
for instance, i'm exercising my rights by carrying a handgun... but i can't say that my right to bear keep and bear arms is a justification for unlawfully using that weapon.
if I start waving my gun around at a school, and the police tell me to stop.. and I refuse.. i can't really be whining about the cops beating my ass or shooting me... my right did not extent that far and the cops would be justified ( by their very mission) in utilizing force.
protesting is surely a right... a very important right.... but there are reasonable limits to that right pertaining to time/place/and manner.
it's ok to believe that time place and manner do not count... but one would be wise to understand that their beliefs are not accurate.... and the police will show them just how inaccurate their beliefs are.
when you engage in civil disobedience ( which is nothing more or less than non-violent lawbreaking) expect the people who are in charge of enforcing laws to actually enforce the laws... do not be surprised by them doing so.... and if you refuse to comply with them, don't be surprised when they resort to physical force.
so yeah, if the police were enforcing actual laws, and these protestors were not complying with lawful orders... the cops are justified in using force...those are just basic legal facts.
it's understandable for folks to think that their pet movements should be given special treatment .. it's even understandable when they think they should be allowed to break the law.. and it's understandable to believe the laws they are breaking are stupid or whathaveyou.... but being understandable doesn't change the nature of reality.