New Police Strategy in New York - Sexual Assault on OWS

[Dominus Atheos]

Link

Is the NYPD using sexual assault as a law enforcement tool? It sure looks that way, from various reports.

From David Graeber at Truthout (via my co-blogger Charles at Mercury Rising):

A few weeks ago I was with a few companions from Occupy Wall Street in Union Square when an old friend — I’ll call her Eileen — passed through, her hand in a cast.

“What happened to you?” I asked.

“Oh, this?” she held it up. “I was in Liberty Park on the 17th [the Six Month Anniversary of the Occupation]. When the cops were pushing us out the park, one of them yanked at my breast.”

“Again?” someone said.

We had all been hearing stories like this. In fact, there had been continual reports of police officers groping women during the nightly evictions from Union Square itself over the previous two weeks.

“Yeah so I screamed at the guy, I said, ‘you grabbed my boob! what are you, some kind of fucking pervert?’ So they took me behind the lines and broke my wrists.”

Eileen quickly went on to clarify that the cops didn’t break both of her wrists, just the one – though not for lack for trying, as it turned out. And, as indicated already, she wasn’t the only female Occupy Wall Streeter to be molested by the cops in recent weeks:

Arbitrary violence is nothing new. The apparently systematic use of sexual assault against women protestors is new. I’m not aware of any reports of police intentionally grabbing women’s breasts before March 17, but on March 17 there were numerous reported cases, and in later nightly evictions from Union Square, the practice became so systematic that at least one woman told me her breasts were grabbed by five different police officers on a single night (in one case, while another one was blowing kisses.) The tactic appeared so abruptly, is so obviously a violation of any sort of police protocol or standard of legality, that it is hard to imagine it is anything but an intentional policy.

For obvious reasons, most of the women who have been victims of such assaults have been hesitant to come forward. Suing the city is a miserable and time-consuming task and if a woman brings any charge involving sexual misconduct, they can expect to have their own history and reputations—no matter how obviously irrelevant—raked over the coals, usually causing immense damage to their personal and professional life. The threat of doing so operates as a very effective form of intimidation. One exception is Cecily McMillan, who was not only groped but suffered a broken rib and seizures during her arrest on March 17, and held incommunicado, denied constant requests to see her lawyer, for over 24 hours thereafter. Shortly after release from the hospital she appeared on Democracy Now! And showed part of a handprint, replete with scratch-marks, that police had left directly over her right breast. (She is currently pursuing civil charges against the police department).

And what happened when David Graeber tried to get the establishment media interested in telling this story? This is what happened:

Update (3:40 PM): In comments, a reader asked why I did not go to the media. My response:

To be honest my first impulse was to call a sympathetic [New York] Times reporter. He said he was going to see if he could spin a story out of it. Apparently his editors told him it wasn’t news.

I realize this isn't going to get many replies since there probably isn't anyone who's surprised by this kind of conduct by police, especially against Occupy protesters, but thought I'd post it anyway.

[madd0ct0r]

Link

...Shortly after release from the hospital she appeared on Democracy Now! And showed part of a handprint, replete with scratch-marks, that police had left directly over her right breast. (She is currently pursuing civil charges against the police department).

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that's the smoking gun - one reason for this sort of tactic s it's highly distressing but very hard to prove. Someone's for the high jump I hope.

[Alyeska]

I am very glad that the courts have been protecting people who video tape the police. We need more documentation. It protects everyone.

[Scorpion]

WTF is happening in the US? Since when does the NYPD take lessons from the Egyptian military?
Taking into account the constant stream of reports of police abuse as of lately, the question remains: has police abuse gone up, or merely the reporting of police abuse?

[Eulogy]

I am very glad that the courts have been protecting people who video tape the police. We need more documentation. It protects everyone.

Well, it obviously doesn't protect the pigs who do this kind of shit - or those that defend them, but fuck them. Anything that makes life harder for corrupt abusers of their station is a good thing.

WTF is happening in the US? Since when does the NYPD take lessons from the Egyptian military?
Taking into account the constant stream of reports of police abuse as of lately, the question remains: has police abuse gone up, or merely the reporting of police abuse?

I'd say both. The police think wrongfully that they can get away with it (if they don't get hammered in court, they may just get literally hammered by those they wronged taking justice into their own hands). The practice of taping the police confers so many obvious advantages that you'd be a fool not to, given that it gives you damn strong evidence against the Blue Wall bricks you're accusing. And with now the incidences of sexual assault starting to be commonplace, the things preventing women from stepping forward is dwindling in strength, as it is no longer unbelievable that the New York pigs would stoop so low and those who hear such cases, that either were victims of it, or know someone who is a victim, grows rapidly thanks to this overused and abused "tactic". Thus the damage to the reputation caused by persuing the case is (or soon will be) greatly mitigated or even eliminated by simple numbers.

If you become known for something then people will expect that something from you. I wouldn't be surprised if this backfired on the NYPD.

[Alyeska]

Well, it obviously doesn't protect the pigs who do this kind of shit - or those that defend them, but fuck them. Anything that makes life harder for corrupt abusers of their station is a good thing.

It protects the innocent. Cops from false claims. People from police abuse.

[Broomstick]

WTF is happening in the US? Since when does the NYPD take lessons from the Egyptian military?

Seriously? You think this shit hasn't been going on since forever?

Newsflash: a certain percentage of men in various levels of authority use their position and power to have their way with women, either to amuse themselves or to intimidate, since forever.

Taking into account the constant stream of reports of police abuse as of lately, the question remains: has police abuse gone up, or merely the reporting of police abuse?

The reporting has gone up. Also, the ability to prove assault has gone up because of evidence collecting that didn't exist 100 years ago (like video cameras and camera phones). The biggest hurdle has always been proving harassment/assault/rape took place.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Do we have a REAL source for this? I am not sure how much stock I can put in a 1-page post by "Phoenix Woman" on some blog hosting service I've never even heard of. How do we know this isn't being ... you know, made up? Of course it's possible that these incidents DID occur, but this 'article' just screams bias.

The tactic appeared so abruptly, is so obviously a violation of any sort of police protocol or standard of legality, that it is hard to imagine it is anything but an intentional policy.

I mean ... seriously? This is the most absurd logical leap I've heard all day.

Until we get an actual verification of this, I am not inclined to trust it.

[Serafina]

I doubt that this is an intentional policy. At most there would be orders to be rougher towards OWS (and we have seen that already), and a silent encouragment towards a "special kind" of roughness towards women. But it's just as likely that this is just men being pigs and rape-culture providing encouragement and silence to those who do it.

[Col. Crackpot]

Blog posts are objective news sources now? How about something from a vetted journalist? Obviously if there is truth to this the cop should be shipped off to the general population at Rikers,, but random blog s have as much credibility as a birther or 9/11 conspiacy site.

[Saxtonite]

Taking into account the constant stream of reports of police abuse as of lately, the question remains: has police abuse gone up, or merely the reporting of police abuse?

The reporting of police abuse makes the state harder to get away with these sorts of things with the international web and whatnot.

I doubt that this is an intentional policy. At most there would be orders to be rougher towards OWS (and we have seen that already), and a silent encouragment towards a "special kind" of roughness towards women. But it's just as likely that this is just men being pigs and rape-culture providing encouragement and silence to those who do it.

Uh, what? I heard of 'rape culture' but I wouldn't say it is "men being pigs".

[Simon_Jester]

A police officer taking the opportunity of breaking up an OWS camp to grope women's breasts is a perfect example of (that) man being a pig. I don't see the problem.

While Serafina may think all men are pigs, not just those men in particular, what she actually said works perfectly well with that interpretation.

[Ziggy Stardust]

a "special kind" of roughness towards women. But it's just as likely that this is just men being pigs and rape-culture providing encouragement and silence to those who do it.

As I said in my first post, I am not convinced any of this happened at all in the first place, but assuming it did, I highly doubt there are actual explicit orders to treat women especially poorly or sexually or anything.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were orders about the OWS group as a whole. In fact, I know there are, I just don't think that there is anything about being extra rough in those orders, but that's a different story. Any transgressions committed are simply men getting hormonal in the heat of a high-pressure situation and acting like assholes, though I will grant that the macho-chauvinist culture that is common among many American males (and is concentrated even higher in the police circuit, as with fraternity brothers and such) would provide at least subconscious encouragement of such actions, and promote silence over it's occurrence.

[Serafina]

I don't think that there are orders or "instructions" to go specifically after women either.
But rape culture means silent encouragement of rape and sexual assault, and that's likely whats taking place here.

How does it happen?
By encouraging aggressive male sexuality and passive female sexuality - that starts with "the man always makes the first move" and goes over "a woman who actively seeks sex is a slut".
By being silent about sexual assault - it's easy for a rapist to assume that those who are silent about sexual assault are so because they have done what he did. That principle actually goes into further parts of police work - if your colleges aren't outraged about bribes, why not assume you're safe because they are just as corrupt as you are? That even applies if you're actually the only one or one of few who did so.
By doubting the words of women who report sexual assault. Again, this happens in other areas as well. Incidentially, the mis-report rate of sexual assault and rape is extremely low.

Bottom line:
The men who assaulted those women did so because they thought they would get away with it - because the culture they live in tells them so in various ways. That's the essence of rape culture.

[AMT]

I think I'll wait for something beyond a random blog posting before I take any stock in this "new police strategy"

[Broomstick]

I think a random groping is more plausible than some sort of system-wise "orders".

[AMT]

I think a random groping is more plausible than some sort of system-wise "orders".

Or no groping whatsoever. Either way, will wait to see if any evidence besides anecdotal from blogs shows up.

[Broomstick]

Groping is so damn fucking common that I'm more inclined to believe it happened than it didn't. Seriously, a woman getting groped is as common as hearing a sneeze in public. But getting groped doesn't mean there's a massive police conspiracy, it means the guy doing it is a complete dick.

[Themightytom]

Groping is so damn fucking common that I'm more inclined to believe it happened than it didn't. Seriously, a woman getting groped is as common as hearing a sneeze in public. But getting groped doesn't mean there's a massive police conspiracy, it means the guy doing it is a complete dick.

You know every time I hear that I think "What the hell, I would never grope anyone, and I doubt even my sleaziest friend would unless he was utterly hammered"

On the other hand a lady friend of mine said hello by tugging on the ol' Johnson and this happens probably once a month from SOMEONE when I go to a club. At first I thought, maybe the culture we live in over emphasizes sexuality, maybe both men and women don't report accurately enough because of social mores and stigmas, and maybe groping is exxagerated in some situations, and overlooked in others.

Then I applied Occam's Razor and realized...

Am I A Woman??
?

[Broomstick]

Groping is so damn fucking common that I'm more inclined to believe it happened than it didn't. Seriously, a woman getting groped is as common as hearing a sneeze in public. But getting groped doesn't mean there's a massive police conspiracy, it means the guy doing it is a complete dick.

You know every time I hear that I think "What the hell, I would never grope anyone, and I doubt even my sleaziest friend would unless he was utterly hammered"

It only takes a small minority of men to make things unpleasant for a majority of women. It's not 10 men groping a woman each, it's 9 men who never grope and 1 who gropes 10 women.

[Themightytom]

Groping is so damn fucking common that I'm more inclined to believe it happened than it didn't. Seriously, a woman getting groped is as common as hearing a sneeze in public. But getting groped doesn't mean there's a massive police conspiracy, it means the guy doing it is a complete dick.

You know every time I hear that I think "What the hell, I would never grope anyone, and I doubt even my sleaziest friend would unless he was utterly hammered"

It only takes a small minority of men to make things unpleasant for a majority of women. It's not 10 men groping a woman each, it's 9 men who never grope and 1 who gropes 10 women.

He's gotta have Carpal Tunnel then because you just said it was as common as hearing a sneeze in public. I also think it's fair to say that, even if disproportionately practiced among the police, because of the, at this point common claim, that the personality type attracted to police work MUST be borderline criminal hopped up on steroids facist... the majority of police are probably not participating in an intentional groping campaign. I realize you're a more moderate voice here Broomstick, so I'm not arguing a point you never made, I'm just pointing out the obvious to the world in general. one semi verifiable claim does not equal:

I realize this isn't going to get many replies since there probably isn't anyone who's surprised by this kind of conduct by police, especially against Occupy protesters, but thought I'd post it anyway.

Of course I'm surprised, and since when were we putting Occupiers on the pedestal for martyrs.

[Losonti Tokash]

No one but you has said anything about putting them on a pedestal as martyrs, though it took probably all of two days of protests before police started spraying fire extinguishers and pepper spray point blank into the faces of protesters laying/sitting on the ground, shooting them in the face with tear gas canisters, not responding to 911 calls from occupy encampments, targeting street medics for harrassment, etc.

Sexual assault by police has been a major issue for at least my whole life, so them groping protesters isn't a shock either.

[Alyrium Denryle]

Of course I'm surprised, and since when were we putting Occupiers on the pedestal for martyrs.

Pedestal of martyrs? No. Do they get treated...poorly? Yes. I want you to compare instances of police brutality against the tea party with instances of brutality against OWS. You will probably notice a distinct paucity in the former. You will notice things like the use of unauthorized high pressure pepper spray, firing tear gas canisters in people's faces for point blank range, unlawful arrests, and unlawful beatings in the latter.

You then want to tell me that it is shocking that some police officers might take it upon themselves to grope a woman who is in what is frankly a legally marginalized protest movement? A movement where the green light for physical abuse has already been given implicitly or explicitly? Really?

I would be more shocked it it was NOT happening. Prison Experiment and all that.

This comment is more general:

Have larger media outlets picked it up? I have looked. Nothing in print or text from the likes of CBS or such. However, the question is, do you really expect them to, given who ultimately pays them and has editorial control? Does the term "feathering one's own nest" mean anything to you? Larger media outlets have a rational reason to not so much lie, as omit. Have they? Dont know.

Given the above, the argument that you dont trust the sources we do have to the point that you are going to seriously make the claim that Zero such sexual assaults exist despite the quantity of every other sort of assault that has occurred... I believe there is a term in Latin for it.Oh. Yes. Argumentum ad Hominem. You are attacking the source without basis in fact, conflict of interest, or long-established pattern of lies, as a substitute for an actual argument. OWS certainly does not have a reason to lie about police brutality. There is no shortage of unlawful conduct by police officers of the NYPD and other departments like Oakland PD etc that they could latch on to.

Is there proof? No. Is there a decent prior probability, given reports in some media and the OTHER forms of assault by cop, that police officers have sexually assaulted female protesters? Yes.

[Themightytom]

No one but you has said anything about putting them on a pedestal as martyrs,

"Especially against Occupy Protestors"? That's not placing them in a special category of suffering?

though it took probably all of two days of protests before police started spraying fire extinguishers and pepper spray point blank into the faces of protesters laying/sitting on the ground, shooting them in the face with tear gas canisters, not responding to 911 calls from occupy encampments, targeting street medics for harrassment, etc

Oh so they ARE particularly maligned, I thought you just said no one was claiming that

Sexual assault by police has been a major issue for at least my whole life, so them groping protesters isn't a shock either

How horrible for you and yet... that is your personal experience. You can put it in a blog but that is not a news story.

Sexual assault by police is a major issue any time, when it happens, that doesn't mean it's characteristic of police behavior and should be expected.

Pedestal of martyrs? No. Do they get treated...poorly? Yes. I want you to compare instances of police brutality against the tea party with instances of brutality against OWS. You will probably notice a distinct paucity in the former. You will notice things like the use of unauthorized high pressure pepper spray, firing tear gas canisters in people's faces for point blank range, unlawful arrests, and unlawful beatings in the latter.

Comparison complete. The Tea Party left much more rapidly when they were told to. No escalation was necessary.

You then want to tell me that it is shocking that some police officers might take it upon themselves to grope a woman who is in what is frankly a legally marginalized protest movement? A movement where the green light for physical abuse has already been given implicitly or explicitly? Really?

Did you want to prove the green light was given or just imply it as though it were supportive of your claim. No it is not shocking that something could have possibly happened to someone who is doing something that might be something in which something have been something-ed. How could I possibly be shocked.

I would be more shocked it it was NOT happening. Prison Experiment and all that.

Prison Experiment =/= Police are probably molesting Occupiers. Do you want to open a separate thread on that because i could go for DAAAAAAYS...

This comment is more general:

Have larger media outlets picked it up? I have looked. Nothing in print or text from the likes of CBS or such. However, the question is, do you really expect them to, given who ultimately pays them and has editorial control? Does the term "feathering one's own nest" mean anything to you? Larger media outlets have a rational reason to not so much lie, as omit. Have they? Dont know.

[/quote]

Fine it's general, but I feel like I have to point out,



THAT's an ad hominem. The Media Lies Because They Are Owned By The One Percent? You can't claim that the ABSENCE of media coverage is evidence of a coverup, that's Ron Paul's strategy, and he needs it to win, don't steal it from him.

Given the above, the argument that you dont trust the sources we do have to the point that you are going to seriously make the claim that Zero such sexual assaults exist despite the quantity of every other sort of assault that has occurred... I believe there is a term in Latin for it.Oh. Yes. Argumentum ad Hominem. You are attacking the source without basis in fact, conflict of interest, or long-established pattern of lies, as a substitute for an actual argument.

I'm gonna drag that out the next time I write a research paper and post whatever my professor says. "Hey I went ahead and used livejournal as a source, is that alright? Because if it isn't, you are ad homineming my source.

Blogs aren't peer reviewed, they aren't liable for libel there's no expectation for them to source their work, whereas media outlets at LEAST have to make sure they maintain enough public credibility to continuing maintaining an audience.

OWS certainly does not have a reason to lie about police brutality. There is no shortage of unlawful conduct by police officers of the NYPD and other departments like Oakland PD etc that they could latch on to.

The hell they don't, the Occupy movement is literally built on attracting disparate agendas into general unrest. Crying police foul attracts anyone with a grudge against police, or authority in general. Crying Man Repress Women mobilizes feminists and gets people marching about a rape culture.

Is there proof? No. Is there a decent prior probability, given reports in some media and the OTHER forms of assault by cop, that police officers have sexually assaulted female protesters? Yes.

[/quote]

Can I interject myself in this self dialogue? No. Did it need to continue beyond "Is there proof?" No.

[Losonti Tokash]

While I certianly appreciate you calling me and my friends paranoid liars, the point I was making is that sexual assault on arrestees is nothing new or specific to Occupy. The fact that you doubt the veracity because major news organizations haven't reported on it is funny, though, considering those dame orgs barely even mention it when the police corral their reporters, confiscate recording equipment, and threaten to revoke press passes for journalists who were present at marches.

It is interesting how you mock Alyrium saying news companies aren't interested in reporting accurately on Occupy since it's against their business interests, but then claim that we can't be believed since it would help us to lie about our opponents.