Comments

1
CAN'T WE JUST GET RID OF THE STUPID WASTE OF MONEY MOUNTED PATROL? OR IF THEY'RE GONNA STICK AROUND MAKE THEM DRESS LIKE CANADIAN MOUNTIES?!?
2
The answer is yes.
3
It's my understanding that very few cities still use horses (calling them weapons though Denis, really?) because of the expense that isn't really needed to get the police job done.
Scrap them.
But pepper spray? C'mon. Recent events have shown that people don't always respond to being politely asked.
4
Finding myself in complete agreement with Franklin.
5
Throwing out a hypothetical here: Let's say we've got Random Psycho-Fundie Pseudo-Christian Wingnut Group blocking access to Planned Parenthood. Linking arms and blocking street access and doorway access to the facility, sitting in circles in patient parking, slathered in Crisco, etc. Police show up and say, "Hey, would you move?" and they say "No."

Now what? At what point, if ever, do the police get to resort to force (grappling, pepper spray, what-have-you) presuming that's all you've got -- no one is attacking anyone or anything?

Now what?
6
(Second "Now what?" brought to you by sloppy editing, not rhetorical emphasis.)
7
Yes. I have repeatedly seen, and recorded video footage of, the complete sadistic abuse of these weapons, to terrorize peaceful protesters. It's time to reign in the Portland police army.

The SERT (what other cities call "SWAT") response team is supposed to be used in cases of armed resistance. Why is it routinely deployed against peaceful protesters?
8
I am a little concerned that if they don't have pepper spray that cops will be forced to go to ever more violent weapons. What we need is for a cop who sprays to be taken off-duty for a while and the incident investigated, just like if they used a gun.
9
Just be thankful they use horses instead of dogs for crowd control. Although I do think they should have to clean up the horse poop.
10
I'm for the ban ONLY if they replace them with a water canon. Water is recyclable, it cleans the dirty protesters and washes the streets clean of all the garbage the protesters leave behind.

Can't wait for the new film that's going to be released about the occupiers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqxA9LMa_0c
11
"A Water Canon"? I realize that was probably an unintentional spelling, but it does produce some interesting images.

Oh, and Andy, the protesters don't smell...that's just a Fox News myth. They also don't deserve your hatred, given that they're fighting for you against a system that's trying to screw you. If you're not rich now, you never will be. Deal with it.
12
@Alaskan - They are NOT fighting for me.
13
"They also don't deserve your hatred, given that they're fighting for you against a system that's trying to screw you."

That sentiment right there is why a growing number of people resent these protests. Please, stop "fighting" the system for me.
14
Both horses and pepper spray are weapons that are not easily controlled - a horse can spook, and pepper spray drifts.

Horses are essentially moving walls in crowd control situations; the same effect can be used with shields instead of clubs (excuse me, they're called "batons", even though cops club people with them).

Pepper spray is meant to be used to incapacitate a person for arrest or to break up a fight; its use in crowd control panics the crowd and makes it much more difficult for people to leave the area (because they can't see and have trouble breathing). Cops also like to use it to bully women, as shown in the 11/17/11 protest and multiple times with Hauptmann (er, Captain) Mark Kruger.

And back in the days of the controversy with Nike and outsourced labor, protesters didn't need to shut down Niketown - the police horses left steaming piles in front of the store for shoppers....
15
@12 and 13. Ditto, thank you. @7 would these be the Peaceful Protesters that fashioned hundreds of makeshift weapons in their "camp" last year? Or the ones who vandalize? Or the ones who refer to themselves as a "mob"? @11 you sir are incorrect, some of them are pretty whiffy...ugh. Anyway, I am only ok with it if the horse is using the pepper spray! @7, shut up. And if you want an answer, fine. Because you are a mob and the Police are not going to let you do whatever the fuck you want. Sorry.
16
As for the rest of you, STOP HORSING AROUND!
17
I continue to film the horses being used as weapons "against and on the people of Portland" I continue to film the police abuse peaceful demonstrators. I continue to film the police use their bikes, fists, batons, motorcycles, horses and chemicals on UNARMED protesters. This issue of using animals in violent chaotic situations as tools of force is wrong. How much proof does a civil society need? "Retire the horses to good homes!"

Please wait...

Comments are closed.

Commenting on this item is available only to members of the site. You can sign in here or create an account here.


Add a comment
Preview

By posting this comment, you are agreeing to our Terms of Use.