#Ferguson Protestors Deliver “Rules of Engagement” to Police
Message: Police priority should be facilitation of protest, not preserving law and order
CNN is reporting that the #Ferguson protestors have delivered to police a list of 18 “Rules of Engagement.” These essentially amount to a set of constraints on police response to the violence expected to result when the grand jury declines to indict Police Officer Darren Wilson for his self-defense shooting of Mike Brown, the 290-pound black adult male who, in what seems like an all too common moment of poor judgment, attacked and tried to kill the police officer.
I’ve embedded the list, as linked on the CNN site, below, but the first item is worthy of particular note:
1) The first priority shall be preservation of human life.
The irony fairy was unavailable for comment.
Anyway, here’s the whole list:
–-Andrew, @LawSelfDefense
Andrew F. Branca is an MA lawyer and the author of the seminal book “The Law of Self Defense, 2nd Edition,” available at the Law of Self Defense blog (autographed copies available) and Amazon.com (paperback and Kindle). He also holds Law of Self Defense Seminars around the country, and provides free online self-defense law video lectures at the Law of Self Defense Institute and podcasts through iTunes, Stitcher, and elsewhere.
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Comments
chuckling… good luck with that asshat attitude, #MikeBrownFans™
Notice 15, re throwing water bottles? Does that mean it is ok if they are filled with urine? This would be funny if it weren’t so pathetic.
How about if they’re filled with gasoline, and plugged with a burning rag?
Actually, I had to chuckle at #3, guess it takes 48 hours to bus in the paid demonstrators!
I cannot think of a more perfect example of why we were setup as a constitutional republic and not a pure democracy.
they demand, with some lawmakers support, the ability to break the law with no repercussions.
Police response to the demands should be – behave yourselves in a responsible manner, don’t start a riot, no destruction of property.
If any of the above are violated you will be arrested by any lawful force necessary to restore peace to the community.
If I were Ferguson Chief of Police, my response would be:
1. Go fuck yourselves.
Well, not exactly creative, but short, sweet to the point. Now I have to wonder what 2. would have been.
2. Rinse and repeat.
Well played sir! 🙂
Nope. Say what 4fun said, and think what you said.
Hypocrisy (or is it discretion?) has its uses.
Shucks, I was going to go for “Nuts.”
Short, sweet, and we’re coming up on the 70th anniversary, so historically relevant.
I like it.
Aonghus – you beat me to it! Well played indeed.
Andrew, as I believe you predicted before, the “no bill” will be announced during a cold weather. Well, the “Polar Vortex” will be moving south into the mid west all next week.
Keen observation, I think this would be hilarious.
I hold to the cold weather prediction.
At least, if the authorities have any brains whatever.
Lazy people don’t like to fight when cold.
–Andrew, @LawSelfDefense
Yes, a cold evening the Tuesday night before Thanksgiving would be a blessing.
Pretty soon the weather forecast for that area will fall into the greater accuracy range for that week. Looking at that as we get closer may be worth a look in terms of predicting a pretty accurate date.
Yep, wait for a 3-4 day stretch of cold and wind, drop the no-bill at the beginning of that period, and when the misbehavior begins, hit them all with a couple of quick blasts from a fog-nozzle fire hose.
Voilà; Mother Nature does your crowd control for you.
Wow, what delusional arrogance these protesters show! They’re setting themselves up for some pretty severe disappointment if they think the cops are going to agree to this.
Piece of cake – you simply release the GJ no-bill decision on the same morning that government checks arrive.
“Yes, we marched on the Federal building. Five hundred of us young brothers, full of outrage.
[sighs]
They were hiring that day. The brothers came with guns; they left with jobs. Oh, yes, whitey is very tricky.”
From I’m Gonna Get You Sucka.
The only thing missing is a demand that all officers turn their weapons over to them before the rioting starts.
But I really wouldn’t be surprised if the governor, mayor and police chief put the list of demands into force. Gotta be PC and police free don’t ya know.
Christmas is around the corner, and little DeShawn needs a new bike, and little Jolisa needs a new doll. Hello …. Walmart?
They can go shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.
I have a much more simple set of “Rule of Engagement”.
#1: Weapons Free
See much more simple.
Correction: preservation of human life is a choice. It becomes disposable when it is perceived as a burden by a single individual, without cause. In point of fact, following the pro-choice and diversity standards, the rules are that human life is both disposable and interchangeable, respectively. I wonder if integrity is important to the Left. Abort the burdens and racial, gender, etc. duplicates in the field.
They demand to dictate the police response but do not dictate how the demonstrators will operate.
The police deal with public safety and order…. I think the demonstrators had better instruct their people that such restraint does not apply to private citizens and their property. As in,” any demonstrator found on private property attempting to commit a crime can be picked up, scooped up or otherwise carried from said property the next morning to avoid being mistakenly put in the trash bin.” Rodney King Loot, Scoot and Shoot 1 and 2 rules apply as in Korea Town. Behave and don’t wind up a departed footnote in history.
The police had better be ready for more trouble. No one on Earth (except a certain former boss of mine and most reporters) is stupid enough to take this seriously. It’s purpose is NOT to change police behavior or to keep things peaceful. The purpose is to give the “protesters” a propaganda club to beat police with in the media after things blow up.
Expect the “protesters” to escalate the violence, then when police respond, start screaming that the police have broken the rules.
In a strange and very twisted way, it’s kind of brilliant.
“Expect the “protesters” to escalate the violence, then when police respond, start screaming that the police have broken the rules.”
It’s exactly how a person with borderline personality disorder acts. They provoke and abuse you and when you respond declare themselves the victim.
You mean like President Jugears?
Here is a legal question.
If you are in your store with a gun, and looters start breaking into and looting a neighboring store. are you legally allowed to shoot then?
The scenario that I keep visualizing is that of a store owner shooting an attempted looter. Or a store owner seeing someone who is about to launch a molativ coctail at his tore and shooting him.
What do the police do in that situation? Because I’m sure Mo politicians haven’t thought it out.
about to launch = threat to my life = self-defense
See how that works?
I feel like I just woke up in bizarro world. Was the goal of this to have them all be laughed out of anyone caring?
That list would be hilarious if the clueless entitlement and arrogance behind it weren’t so damn sad.
I just love #18 no publishing of private information. but they sure wanted all the private info about the officer. honestly blew mt dew out my nose laughing so hard when I saw this.
Speaking of Officer Wilson, does anybody know HIS weight? Just so I can properly assess the 290 pounds of thug coming at him.
Based on pics I’ve seen, I’d estimate about 175 to 185. Less if he’s as short as Tom Cruise. 🙂
Thanksgiving Week.
Turkey, weather, football.
Blotto.
Did I miss the part where they promise not to loot, smash, or burn local businesses, shoot at police or commit any other felonies?
No, you didn’t miss it. The plan is to loot, raze and destroy unfettered. See #7, #8, #11 & #14. This is an obvious attempt to intimidate the cops.
The other two purposes of the document are 1). Make it appear that the cops have done all these things unfairly in the past, and #2). Promote these ROEs through the media as some sort of law-breaking or civil rights violations by the cops for civil suits if not adhered to.
I can just hear some idiotic CNN reporter, “Well, here comes an armored vehicle and a platoon of police officers in riot gear. The police are already violating the rules of engagement. This certainly gives these protestors cause to be really upset.”
Sick. Truly sick.
Kid gets beaten up at protests.
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/11/ferguson-mob-turns-on-umsl-student-beat-him-chase-him-down-chambers-street-screaming/
I should say that a bunch of up watching the “no thiefs” stream heard them threaten him a couple days ago, and tried to warn him.
With regard to number 3… What makes these guys think the Police will get any notice, let alone 48 hours notice, of what the grand jury’s decisions?
“The irony fairy was unavailable for comment.”
Cleaning the coffee out of my keyboard now. I hope you’re happy Andrew! 🙂
Ok, so you’re kidding with this list right?
Early April fools day perhaps?
“Dear rioters, I hope you’re bullet-proof.” – Signed “The Po-leese.
We don’t negotiate with terrorists.
Rules of Engagement:
1. Protesters shall immediately disperse upon orders by law enforcement. All protesters will be subsequently subject to arrest as insurrectionists.
2. Police will be prohibited from using wood batons. Iron pipes will be issued in their place.
3. Police will make liberal use of tear gas and sting ball grenades, and baton rounds. Live ammunition and fragmentation grenades shall be reserved for serious situations, except that birdshot may be fired at the legs of insurrectionists.
4. So called safe houses will be raided and everyone inside shall be arrested.
5. Looters will be shot on sight.
6. Arsonists or anyone holding a Molotov cocktail, lighted or not, will be shot on sight.
7. In case of loss of life from any cause, insurrection organizers shall be arrested and prosecuted for felony murder.
8. Arrested insurrectionists shall be jointly and severally liable for all property damage and the cost of law enforcement. This debt is not dischargeable by bankruptcy, and defaulting debtors shall be sold into slavery as permitted by the 13th Amendment.
9. Arrestees for insurrection will be held without bail.
10. Prosecutors shall seek the death penalty for captured insurrectionists.
Yea, I’m dreaming.
I worked up a list somewhat like that:
How about some rules for the ‘demonstrators’
-When throwing flaming bottles of gasoline, please make sure to have your drivers license or other form of photo identification in your pocket, so when the police sniper (censored), you will still be able to be identified at the morgue.
-When approaching a building to relieve it of salable goods, please pull up your pants and run a comb through your hair so you’ll look good on the nightly news, and also at your trial six months from now. Nobody likes an untidy looter, particularly jurors.
-Spell. Particularly on signs you wave at the cameras.
-In the event you find it necessary to shout obscenities at the camera crews, please be creative and don’t simply repeat the f-word, the n-word, and the c-word(s). Cue cards are suggested. Spell the words right. (see above)
-Wear shoes, not sandals when kicking in doors. Broken glass can cause nasty cuts, and the emergency rooms will be treating people with much more serious injuries.
-Make sure to get good video of your friends as they carry out a night of gleeful shopping and constructive violence. Call out to them by name, and ask them to display that TV or stereo they just picked up. It will help the rest of your friends identify them when you post the video to the internet later.
-Policemen are your friends. Particularly on the internet. Friend them before you post your videos.
-Drive the most expensive car you own to the ‘event’ and park as close as possible. Leave the windows rolled down so the tear gas will not get trapped inside.
-Tear gas is only an irritant if you do stupid things like wearing a wet cloth over your face. Inhale deeply and often. It’s cheaper and better than pot.
-Tear gas grenades make great games. Play catch with your friends. They only get up to 500 degrees, which is cooler than a pizza, so toss them fairly quickly after picking them up.
That’s a keeper.
I see a lot of “will not be tolerated” in the demands. So ahhh, are they going to call the police?! Also, why not add “free lunch should be provided for the protesters” to the list while you’re at it.
20. Cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres will be provided from 4pm to 6pm for all protesters.
The professional riot police in Paris and Athens as well as other European capitols “take” a lot more (Molotov cocktails, for example) before they start breaking bones. The US police response gets brutal much earlier. The protesters list isn’t outrageous.
“The professional riot police in Paris and Athens as well as other European capitols “take” a lot more (Molotov cocktails, for example) before they start breaking bones.”
Irrelevant. Police depts in Ferguson, Missouri and Paris, France, or Athens, Greece, are completely different and operate under different laws. I reject your unsupported assumption that the European approach is superior.
“The US police response gets brutal much earlier.”
The police response to street riots differ wildly across the US, and I reject your assumption that the LAPD approaches street riots the same as would, say, Fowlverville MI, Rochester NY, or Charleston SC.
“The protesters list isn’t outrageous.”
It is outrageous in that it assumes they have standing to make demands. They do not. The law is the same for everyone, or ought to be. It is alaso outrageous in that it emits not from local Ferguson resident protesters, but from professional troublemakers assembled from around the country to take advantage of a local crisis, a la Rahm Emanuel’s dictum.
“Lawman_45”
Right. Uh huh.
#19 They are admitting that they are going to break the law!
What in the Sam Hill is going on…you never beat the drum before you hunt the tiger! Then again… you cannot fix stupid… and these 19 demands are just that! Printed by STUPID and affirmed by STUPID!
I pray the Dear Lord has mercy for those who are STUPID!
Alas, the fans of Gangster Government; well schooled by the state schools, the various divisions of the Propaganda Ministry (NBC, CBS, MSNBC, ABC, NySlime, etc) and Eric Holder’s thugs.
My one rule of engagement is the same one as Mayor Daley’s in Chicago many moons ago: rioters and looters will be shot on sight.
Time to skim the gene pool!