Occupy Oakland

While I am not sure what the proper responce to the minority of protestors that threw rocks and bottles should be, I doubt it is this. It is clear by this video that the police are targeting non violent protestors, in this case one who was injured. 

Form the video it is not clear that the injured Iraq Vet was targeted in the initial incident where the tear gas cannister struck him, but it is clear that he and those who were trying to help him were targeted by a flash grenade. It would not be too difficult to determine who tossed the flash grenade, but I doubt we will ever know because of the "Blue Wall of Silence."

Of course the Police were totally honest about thier use of flash grenades and rubber bullets-well, maybe not. To be totally fair, the acting chief in Oakland denied the use of these items, at the same time saying they may have beed used by other departments beside his. In the modern era of 50% of the protesters carring cell phones with video cameras they should know better. 

Here is another example of the Police targeting non violent protesters. 

I think most of us have an assumption-we assume the Police tell the truth. This assumption, what I have been calling on this blog a template, is in need of some reconsideration.