63 replies to this topic

[Lt. Dizzle!]

damn, you guys got wrecked! i saw the pictures, that was brutal

[bob]

i think it's a bummer the protesters are pigeonholed as 'anarchists' which makes them sound as politically and culturally sympathetic to most phoenix residents and cops as nazis.

just throwing this out there, take it or leave it:

the nazis had a federal permit. the police weren't protecting them out of some inbred sympathy or because they're fascists but because it was their job. it's one of the things i like about living in america. as disgraceful as i think their message might be, i'm glad they're not outlaws for their political beliefs and that they have the right to march for their bullshit. of course, the nazis will never get the irony of their situation: as minorities, they're protected by laws they would get rid of if they ever found their way into power.

regardless, it seems to me, if the reporting i've read is accurate, the cops had a decision to make at this point:

"Unlike the NSM's march to the state Capitol last November, where the anarchists merely taunted the Nazis and vice versa, this time the anarchists came ready to throw down, with a large contingent of members in their "black bloc" attire, linking arms, and refusing to allow the NSM to continue to the Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse, where they had a federal permit to rally."

it looks like the cops made a very cop-like decision. not surprising. i don't know how poorly they exercised their judgment but when you do your taco rally and there are a bunch of protesters that call you racists or anti-racists or whatever, if you have a federal permit, the police will protect you as well.

i'm sorry if you got gassed or sprayed. but what did you expect to happen? it seems to me, once you or one of your party has blocked a marcher's federally approved path, you're asking for some serious trouble. maybe it was worth it. i would argue that the nazis got far more visibility and press than they deserve.

[Jacki O.]

a video of what the incident i wrote earlier

it's on someone's facebook page so i hope the link works.
you can see the woman i am talking about being pushed by the cops, i am standing next to her, you can see my hand holding my cardboard sign that said "wife power" on it.


i know your stance bob, you disagree with protesting, i agre with it. it is what it is. normally in instances where nazi groups are protesting, i would ignore them but not in arizona, where our elected officials have ties to white supremist groups, where, according to the FBI, hate groups have grown in numbers since obama was elected, their numbers and power fueled by anti-immigration rhetoric from a racist, conservative right-wing ideology. sadly, arizona is that battleground. these people and legislators and laws divide our communities, i want to be part of building not division, this protest was supposed to be fun and peaceful and about community ties. but the phoenix police made it about violence. why not? paint all the protesters as "anarchists", and wipe your hands of it.

but you weren't there so when you write "what did you expect?"...

i expected to not get rubber bullets shot at me or be pepper sprayed when i am non-violently protesting hate, hate that was brought to AZ to support SB1070 and our politicians. they did not treat the non-violent protesters with respect. they did not treat the citizens of their own city with respect.

why couldn't they warn us or say "if you dont move we'll spray you with pepper spray, remove young children" or something. why didn't they tell the people who had legal permits that it was too dangerous out on the streets for them to march. the nazis had a big van, they could have just escorted the van with their cop cars to the federal building, and not sprayed anyone with pepper spray or shot at them.
problem solved.

they did noting to the protesters but put them in danger, thus putting everyone in danger, thus sparking violence and unrest. it was badly thought out and planned by the phoenix police and resulted in many people being hurt.

[Jacki O.]

i hope you can see these

this is who they shot pepper spray at






she's so violent! she deserved it!



the cameramen must have been asking for it too!

[Jacki O.]

interestingly i just learned that the neo-nazis only had a permit to have a rally at the Federal building, not to march....

[Jacki O.]

ASU Students sprayed with tear gas

some good photos

this photo almost looks like the nazis were spraying the tear gas but i think it's a cop, but they are standing side by side now



and Fox News' coverage was suprisingly sympathetic to the anti-nazi protesters

[Tender Lad]

and Fox News' coverage was suprisingly sympathetic to the anti-nazi protesters

It's part of their new add campaign to improve their image. "Fox News - Hey, at least we're not nazis".

Those images are pretty disturbing. Armed goons against painted up peace protesters is what you would expect from a non-democratic country. Why couldn't the cops have just stood there? Who was going to fuck with them?

[Jacki O.]

[Jacki O.]

really well put together vid of the protest, and i'm in it a lot cuz i'm cool like that

[differently biotic]

the last video is really good.

[johnnytron]

You cant wear a wedding dress with a clown face and not expect to get gassed!

[Jacki O.]

You cant wear a wedding dress with a clown face and not expect to get gassed!

dont tell me what to not expect!

[johnnytron]

Wife Power!
That gas looked like pretty powerful shit!

[Quezo]

You cant wear a wedding dress with a clown face and not expect to get gassed!

I believe this is called the Sideshow Honeymoon Dutch Oven

[johnnytron]

All that was missing were the sheets.

Kidding aside, that was a awesome display of courage.
It takes a lot of balls to do what these people did
to represent Phoenix as a state of equallity dispite
the picture Jan Brewer has painted of Az.