Ouch, quit it.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-04-07 01:01pm

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,83441,00.html

OAKLAND, Calif. — Police opened fire with non-lethal bullets at an anti-war protest at the Port of Oakland Monday morning, injuring several longshoremen standing nearby.

Police were trying to clear protesters from an entrance to the docks when they opened fire and the longshoremen apparently were caught in the line of fire.

Six longshoremen were treated by paramedics and at least one was expected to be taken to a hospital. It was unclear if any of the protesters was injured.

"I was standing as far back as I could," said longshoreman Kevin Wilson. "It was very scary. All of that force wasn't necessary."

Last week, a San Francisco-based peace group, Direct Action to Stop the War, had announced that it would stage a series of protests Monday involving new acts of civil disobedience.

The Port of Oakland was among the targets, organizers had said, because at least one shipping company is handling war supplies.

Trent Willis, a business agent for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, said angrily that dockworkers were leaving the docks after the incident.

"They shot my guys. We're not going to work today," Willis said. "The cops had no reason to open up on them."

Police used non-lethal bullets, sandbags and concussion grenades to try to break up about 500 protesters, who split into groups in front of different terminals.

Oakland Police officer James Carroll said police set up a "skirmish line" and ordered the protesters to disperse.

"It escalated pretty quick," he said. "Usually you go to these protests and you wait around for three to four hours. Today, all of a sudden, people were being taken into custody." He could not confirm that anyone was hit by the bullets.

Protests also took place at the federal building in San Francisco and at the Concord Naval Weapons Station. Seven people were arrested when they temporarily blocked an exit ramp off Interstate 280.

Ok, I feel bad for the 'innocent' longshoremen who got hit, but really I can't find myself feeling sorry for the protestors in general. After the debacle of the past couple of weeks, of emergency services getting blocked, that numb nut who got pulled out of his car and pummeled, and all the other shit, I really see it as fitting that the police crack down before any new bullshit happens.

theski · Post by **theski** » 2003-04-07 03:28pm

Sean Hannity is going to smack around a protestor from oakland right now!!! FUN FUN FUN

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-04-07 03:30pm

theski wrote:Sean Hannity is going to smack around a protestor from oakland right now!!! FUN FUN FUN

Yeah, just turned him on. Atleast they could have got a more well spoken guy than this. Not that Sean is a debaters dream either.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-04-07 03:37pm

I see nothing wrong with instant crackdowns on acts of civil disobedience, that’s the way it should be. However it sounds like some officer was over eager and wasn't thinking. Discipline is very important in such situations.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-04-07 03:42pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:I see nothing wrong with instant crackdowns on acts of civil disobedience, that’s the way it should be. However it sounds like some officer was over eager and wasn't thinking. Discipline is very important in such situations.

True, but someone was thinking if they were packing rubber bullets and flashbangs. Although, having non lethal weaponary might have made the officers more willing to engage with the 'protestors' rather than the more stricted ROE's with standard issue weapons.

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2003-04-07 03:51pm

Post by **Beowulf** » 2003-04-07 03:52pm

Hamel wrote:Ouch

Well... that's the point. Ouch. Pain is a very good way of doing negative reinforcement.

theski · Post by **theski** » 2003-04-07 03:56pm

That would be the stick not the carrot

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2003-04-07 04:16pm

WTF? How can police open fire on a group of people who weren't even protesting? You'd think they'd aim for the guys with the signs, not the guys in rubber pants and flannel shirts. C'mon now... That's just ridiculous. Especially considering it's possible that none of the protestors were even hit. That's just insane.

...Christ...

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2003-04-07 04:57pm

Who knows that the longshoremen weren't involved in the protesting?

Their union has a long history of being involved in left wing radical politics.
In fact, it's founder Harry Bridges was revealed to have been a Communist agent by the Venona decrypts.

Hell, the leadership of my union (UNITE) shoved an antiwar resolution down our throats and we're not near as radical as the ILWU.

They probably weren't involved, but it's definitely not beyond the realm of impossiblity.

EmperorChrostas the Cruel · Post by **EmperorChrostas the Cruel** » 2003-04-07 07:40pm

When you are trespassing, and the police tell the crowd you are in to leave, LEAVE, NOW! Don't hang around and take pictures, don't continue to protest. LEAVE, NOW! The round that hits you, might not even be aimed at you.
This dock was for loading military supplies, to the war effor.
Some of the crowd was throwing rocks and bolts at the cops.

Isreali lesson #1. If you throw, or are in the crowd of rock throwers, (even if you are a reporter) you may be SHOT! (not may, as in are allowed to be shot, but may as in probabilities are good.)

Protesting on public land is one thing, but once you are on MY property, the rule change, in my favour. Especialy if I'm useing non lethal force.

What the fuck are these idiot thinking, anyway? (Stop the war!)
Trying to stop the war, NOW, shows a lack of common sence. Stopping the war NOW, would be snatching defeat, from the jaws of victory.
It will be over soon, and the coalition forces are NOT going to back down at this point.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2003-04-07 08:19pm

Queeb Salaron wrote:WTF? How can police open fire on a group of people who weren't even protesting? You'd think they'd aim for the guys with the signs, not the guys in rubber pants and flannel shirts. C'mon now... That's just ridiculous. Especially considering it's possible that none of the protestors were even hit. That's just insane.

...Christ...

Perhaps they weren't trying to hit them. Even then, it was a fuck-up on the cops' part. Perhaps they'll explain it better.

As for the protestors, they were intentionally protesting to disrupt stuff, they should have been the ones to be shot.

Ted · Post by **Ted** » 2003-04-07 10:59pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:I see nothing wrong with instant crackdowns on acts of civil disobedience, that’s the way it should be. However it sounds like some officer was over eager and wasn't thinking. Discipline is very important in such situations.

This is becoming a lot like India in the 20's and 30's, with Ghandi's civil disobedience.

Such times as when a crowd just sitting on the ground doing nothing was machine gunned.

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2003-04-07 11:37pm

Ted wrote:
Sea Skimmer wrote:I see nothing wrong with instant crackdowns on acts of civil disobedience, that’s the way it should be. However it sounds like some officer was over eager and wasn't thinking. Discipline is very important in such situations.
This is becoming a lot like India in the 20's and 30's, with Ghandi's civil disobedience.

Such times as when a crowd just sitting on the ground doing nothing was machine gunned.

I don't think it's gonna get THAT intense... at least I hope not... And the US certainly doesn't have a Ghandi figure leading them.

But that certainly wouldn't be a bad idea.