Why don't the police ever beat people who block abortion clinics?

[devilgrrl]

Wouldn't that fall under "keeping the peace?"

Re: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2969679&mesg_id=2969679

[devilgrrl]

1. Oh, come now people!!!

It's perfectly acceptable for cops to beat the living shit out of protesters and anti-war or anti-globalization rallies but when anti-choice zealots harrass employees and clients of family planning clinics, that's okay?

[DenverDem]

2. I'm with you.

I personally advocate citizen freedom brigades ensuring freedom WITH EXTREEME PREJUDICE!

[Maven]

3. If I ever had to take accompany my sister or a friend to a clinic...

I think I'd probably make signs mimicking the those of the dumbasses trying to block entry, then once we'd made our way to the door I'd drop the signs, give them all the finger, and walk inside.

I wonder if it's been tried. :evilgrin:

[Book Lover]

4. Because we should never give cops the OK to beat people?

Just a thought....

[arbitror78]

6. amen brother

[Book Lover]

13. Sister, but thank you nonetheless

Weclome to DU! :hi:

[newyawker99]

24. Hi arbitror78!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[devilgrrl]

7. Obviously you've not read any of the recent threads concerning police

because people seem to have absolutely no problem with the way cops behave at protests.

[Book Lover]

12. Actually, I posted in SouthernDem's one

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2965544&mesg_id=2970969

I am not saying I like cops; I grew up on a block in Queens with at least three cop families, and I heard quite enough to put me off liking cops, thank you (Sorry, SouthernDem. I'm tryin' to change with you here now...) But it is never right to give the cops the authority to beat people; I'll be next.

That said, what's keeping you from infiltrating the groups that block clinics? This guy did: http://sfweekly.com/issues/2004-11-10/news/infiltrator.html

[devilgrrl]

17. So what your saying is...

that's it's okay for people to block family centers and if I just happen to have a problem with it, it's up to me to infiltrate the anti-choicers and go from there? How about the people who work at the clinic? How about the clients? Why can't the police help them out?

[Az]

20. Talk to the clinic

I have worked with some and have a friend that is a regular escort for one. They are very well versed at dealing with the protestors. They simply don't want to the police present unless they detect something out of the ordinary (as far as massed protestors being ordinary goes).

The proterstors want attention. That is their goal. They want cameras. They want people being dragged off by police. They want the crimes of the state and the clinic to be displayed before the people. The clinics deny them this by simply bringing in their own defensive measures and not calling the police unless they go too far for their positioned defenses.

[Book Lover]

21. Why do you want to give the cops more power?

I truly do not understand why you want to give cops more authority. I also do not understand what you are asking for. Do you want anti-choice protesters to be physically beaten? If so, that's fine, but don't empower the cops to do it.

And you are being mendacious when you say that I want anti-choice protesters to block clinics. I never said that, nor is it implied. You want to be angry, sister, I am there with you. I have done my share of clinic escorting, and have been punched by the very same people we are arguing about.

And what's wrong with a little infiltration?

[devilgrrl]

22. Nothing is wrong with infiltration...

how I got on this rant was that a lot of people here seemed to have little concern with the way police bust up any form of decent, with force that is often times uncalled or provoked. I don't want cops beating on anyone. However, I am having a very difficult time understanding why some people who have no problem with cops busting heads at protests and their rationalizations for such behavior.

[Az]

23. Don't like it then get a petition going

The police are the peoples tool. They serve us. We need only tell them what to do. Of course its not as easy as that. But there is a way to address the issues you are talking about. And its not by beating a person serving his community with a 2x4.

[democracyindanger]

14. Yeah, that's it.

:eyes:

[devilgrrl]

18. Excellent retort!

I feel so swayed :eyes:

[devilgrrl]

5. Don't you love the sound of crickets chirping?

Can the defenders of police violence be anymore gutless? Come on, prove my accusation wrong!

[Az]

16. Sounds like really big crickets

:D

[devilgrrl]

19. Yeah, they chirp but they still don't make one bit of sense.

:-|

[noonwitch]

8. Because the protestors are mostly middle class and have lawyers

Not that it's ever okay for the police to beat protestors, at abortion clinics or nuclear plants.

[devilgrrl]

10. Wow, there's a good excuse!

"Because the protestors are mostly middle class and have lawyers"

Are they mostly white too?

[jdj]

9. just give them a while, they've got tasers now, and they're gonna use them

that's the buzz around town anyway.

(one can always dream).

[devilgrrl]

11. Seems they only use those on snotty kids in Florida.

They need to protect themselves!!!!! :wow:

[Az]

15. I have seen them break up such protests

Typically though the clinic protesters are very very well versed in the local laws. They will avoid crossing any lines that they know will get them removed.

Typically though it is up to the clinic to ask for assistance and as I understand it they do not wish to give the protestors the attention they are seeking. Police coming in to break them up would certainly trigger bulletins to all the media sources in the area and cries of indignation would soon follow. The clinics prefer to maintain the balance they have rather than start a fight where no one will win.

[indepat]

25. They are just exercising their constitutional rights?

[devilgrrl]

26. People who attend protests are also exercising their...

constitutional rights. So, why is it acceptable for the police to beat the hell out of protesters and not anti-choicers who obstruct people - who have a constitional right to abortion - from visiting family planning clinics?

[geniph]

27. It's never acceptable for cops

to beat the hell out of ANYONE who is obeying the law, or in fact, to beat the hell out of lawbreakers if there is any alternative.

The cops do move in to break up illegal obstructions of clinics, but there's a fine line between illegal obstruction and legal exercise of civil rights.

There's always some bad apples in the police force, but let's not paint them all with such a broad brush. The last protest I marched in, some of the cops were smiling and giving us thumbs-up and generally being friendly. They aren't all dicks. Not even the majority are total dicks.