You're probably mistaking police flash bangs for fireworks. These devices are completely inappropriate for crowd control, but routinely deployed by US police in the protests.
Very unlikely. Fireworks use against the police more common that you think. You’re just not going to see that many videos of them as it doesn’t help the narrative. A buddy of mine is a cop who had the unfortunate duty of being one of the riot police in my city and it’s not easy to keep your cool while having rocks, fireworks, and almost a Molotov cocktail tossed at you.
Don't dish out what you can't take. I've never seen an example of riots breaking out in a city before police instigate violence with rubber bullets and tear gas.
Also, if he can't keep his cool under those conditions, he has an obligation to change jobs because if he can't handle it he's just putting other people in danger.
I've only seen videos of police using flash bangs against crowds, which seems to be quite common in the these protests for some reason - completely inappropriate, just like shooting gas canisters or less lethal rounds at heads, not at ground level as they are designed to be used.
Haven't seen or heard of any fireworks, which you can be sure the police would not tone down in reports (probably describing them as explosive projectiles).
It certainly isn't easy to keep your cool if things are been thrown at you, but that's the job. It's not an excuse to violently attack protesters who are not throwing things or use inappropriate methods.
Ah what is appropriate? Letting them take over entire city blocks as Seattle has done? Allowing mobs to burn down minority neighborhoods in Minneapolis?
I live basically in the CHAZ in Seattle, they haven't taken over anything. The police just abandoned the precinct building and left it unlocked and people are gathering peacefully to listen to other people speak. It's like a street festival or a farmer's market but with an explicit aim of stopping police from killing black people.
Ah what's the end game? They were forced by leadership to abandon the area. That wasn't their choice to abandon their post. What are your thoughts on the 300+ black people murdered in Chicago so far in the past year by gang violence? You think that a CHAZ in Chicago would help those lives? You think defunding the police would lead to less or more deaths there overall?
The police abandoned the city blocks first. The intent was to purposefully set up a situation where cops can point to rioting in an area they intentionally vacated so riots could happen. Protestors have responded by sitting and watching documentaries about police brutality in that area.
Maybe this can set an example for the rest of the nation, then.
There have been calls to abolish the police. If Seattle can do it, maybe Atlanta and Minneapolis too.
I think that's the right answer: this should be a local decision and each community should decide the level of policing it wants (including none at all).
I downvoted you because I live in a Seattle, and this question shows a ignorance of the facts: “Letting them take over entire city blocks as Seattle has done?”
A bare assertion followed by a bare refusal isn't much help. If you would instead provide some information, that would be a big help to all those of us who do not live in Seattle.
Thanks, I appreciate it. Obviously it's hard for me to confirm things (an increasing problem) but at the very least it gives me an insight and a hook into events.
Not sure why people can't take their political hat off for HN and try to inform.
They've taken over blocks, blocking traffic, stopping the flow of people and businesses into that area, they've disregarded state and local laws, etc. It's completely factual. Whatever Fox News has been doing to drum up hits on their website is completely irrelevant.
When other people have been downvoted, they complain that no reason was given.
I am doing the courtesy of telling you why I downvoted you.
If telling you why I downvoted you then also compels me to justify my position in an extended way, then I will not do it in the future. Instead I will just silently downvote when I feel it is warranted.
