So, Anybody in the thick of it??

[Marlin]

Well, depending on the account You want to believe,,

Cops say that The protesters Pick up rocks and Bottles and started to advance,,,

The Hippie scum say that They were only moveing the rocks and bottles out of the way, So that the Police didn't trip over them..

[Ridge]

The Hippie scum say that They were only moveing the rocks and bottles out of the way, So that the Police didn't trip over them..

[westy1970]

According to organizers and supporting video( I only saw the hippies video, nothing to support the police yet), the police escalated it by rousing people in an area set aside by the city as a safe zone. The police also broke rule #1 in riot control- no exit. Since they did not leave a way for people to obey or to get out of the way, my vote goes for the hippies.

When I was a cop in the PRC I saw the same thing happen on New Year's Eve 1993. I was stationed downtown about 6 blocks away acting as rear security. Riot police surrounded the people and started popping tear gas with no exit. In trying to get away the south line was broken and those guys got run over. It also resulted in much damage to the busnesses in the area. The next time we gave a dispersal order, we told them where to go and it went much better.

Looks like poor training on DPD's part.

If I see video showing them picking up rocks or throwing things at the po-po, then they deserved what they got. Otherwise I say they got their rights violated.

[Ridge]

[Marlin]

I haven't seen vids from either, I was just going off the accounts I heard on the radio this morning..

I'm getting another account now that the Police were completely professional in handleing it, The Hippies were the ones Who weren't..

I wasn't there I don't know,, I will say this though, Having enough experiance as an amature photo/vidieo bug,, Images can be altered to show what You want to be seen...

[HunterCO]

I seen the video and will put my money on the cops they told the drugged up POS hippies to leave several times. They resisted and got the smack down I will say that the cops had them pinned with no place to go for a while. They should have given them a way to dispearse and leave but hey sometimes stupid hurts. If they would have obeyed the lawful orders of the officers in the first place nothing would have happend to begin with.

When facing an army of officers in full riot gear with guns, teargas, pepper balls, pepper spray ect..... Logic says your tie die shirt and sandals are not going to be very effective when you charge them.

But hey what do I know.

[ssf467]

Don't like hippies hate oppression more. Doesn't look like the America I grew up in.

[westy1970]

If they would have obeyed the lawful orders of the officers in the first place nothing would have happend to begin with.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Lawful Order?