Video of police stopping peaceful march in St.Louis County & trying to intimidate marchers:

[Are_grits_groceries]

Hear that noise of their batons beating their shields. That's the sound of the police state.
None have nametags and none will talk.

[Live and Learn]

1. Police intimidation pure and simple.

Not the first example of it, just another one. When will something be done? When will people even care?

[Downwinder]

2. They need to get some lessons in drumming.

And if they really want to intimidate, Bagpipes and Kilts.

[wheniwasincongress]

3. What's with the baton clicking

are they taught to do that or what?

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. It's a riot control tactic:

Usually, when front-facing a riot, officers slowly walk in a line parallel to the riot's front, extending to both its ends, as they noisily and simultaneously march and beat their shields with their batons, to cause fear and psychological effects on the crowd.
From wikipedia.

[wheniwasincongress]

5. Ugh

thanks!

[democrank]

6. The sound of those batons

made me feel sick.

[Live and Learn]

7. It should. It is meant to intimidate. nt

[Scuba]

8. Thank you protesters!

[Enthusiast]

9. That little batton cracking exercise really made the police look like assholes.

Hey, police, we were already convinced.

[raouldukelives]

10. "You are free! To do as we tell you!" nt

[Diclotican]

11. Are_grits_groceries

Are_grits_groceries

I wonder for one thing - what would happened if the demonstration turned around - and used the same tactic like the police do - and is using the same "tools" to show off... After all - it is a game of who is more powerfully than the other - and if the civilians in this demonstration do not show any fear - and in fact is using the same tactics like the police - then it might be more troublesome for the police to do what they do..... It might end in the police retract to a "safe place" like under the bed in their police barracks.... If the population had been playing the same game as they play...

After all - this is a old game - going back at least to the roman empire - where the roman soldiers used to bang their shields when going into battle - to show resolve - and to scare the hell out of their enemies... And it worked also for the most part - at least untill most of their western armies was fulled up by german tribesmen who was more loyal to their own kind than to their roman overlords...

Diclotican

[Are_grits_groceries]

13. Wouldn't work.

Unfortunately, the police have the power to arrest others under a number of charges. If the protesters used sticks to beat whatever, it would probably be perceived as threatening them. It would give them the cover and the pretense to do a lot to the protesters.

The protesters have power in numbers and in publicity. The police are being filmed and they know it. If there is a clear look at who is doing what, they cannot afford to attack. They look very bad in this clip becuse of their tactics and no names. They are no different than a street gang in many ways.

[malaise]

12. Don't expect to see that on M$Greedia

They only cover the Hong Kong protests