"The Police Were Itching For A Fight" - DNC Protesters

You may have heard that pepper spray was used on the first official night of the DNC, or that some protesters got arrested. The UpTake's Eli Linch went on a mission today to find out what happened and get the protester's side of the story. Are the charges levied on those arrested accurate? When did the tear gas come into the picture? Check out this side of the story.

Greg Spagnuolo – spokesperson and co-founder of the Recreate 68 Allaince says the police were getting out of hand and acting in a criminal nature

Protesters say they were blockaded. Police had been harassing people throughout the day in the park even though the people had a permit to be there.. The police drove them out of the park and then blocked them in an area where they pepper sprayed people and shoved people with their batons

Police report said the people who were arrested were throwing rocks at the police, obstruction and disobeying lawful orders. Several people told us they didn’t see anybody throw rocks at the police. There were no orders given by police. The minute protesters went into the streets they were hit with pepper spray and pepper bullets.

Another organizer told us “We have a permit for this park. So to me it’s the cops who disobeyed a lawful order to leave us the hell alone with our permit.

“They make these things up when they attack people so they can try and make charges stick, so they don’t wind up looking like the aggressor, which is what they were.”

Spagnulo says “It’s a shame that this had to happen. Everyone was acting non-violently. The police were itching for a fight since about 6 o’clock on. They were pushing people in the park shoving people around acting like a bunch of bullies and it didn’t need to happen this way. I don’t know who made the tactical call from the police department, but it was a piss-poor call because now everybody is all tense and motivated for more confrontation and that’s something we didn’t want and its something that the police are bringing down ...

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Tags:

• 08conventions
• 68
• arrests
• center
• civic
• dnc
• marches
• park
• pepper
• permits
• perspective
• police
• protest
• recreate
• spray
• streets
• NextNewNetworks

[ShenmueAtheist]

These guys are full of shit; the cops weren't just harassing people there, some of the protestors, specifically the anarchist idiots were taunting, harassing, and assaulting the cops. I was there and I actually have the honor to be honest unlike these morons. Don't blame the cops, blame these anarchy dick heads, the rest of us wanted a peaceful protest, but they fucked up our shit too.

[mizzoulibertarian]

I don't think the cops would pull this on Libratarians and tea party protest. They know better. And if they don't, they will.

[onthedocktechnology]

I think these anarchists are the only ones who got it right. The shit is being beat out of people who are peacefully protesting, cops wanna start some shit, bring it. Those anarchists are fucking crazy.

[bandanamaniac]

@ShenmueAtheist alot of time the so called "anarchists" are cops in disguise trying to start shit so that our RIGHT to peaceful protest can be taken away. always look at the boots they are wearing!!

[FrankieLilleyJr]

@9asMa5k shut the fuck up

[9asMa5k]

BULLSHIT!!! DAM HIPPIES!!!

[dabouj30]

It's amazing how EVERYONE is always innocent. Also, if you notice that the so called "witnesses" to this didn't see anyone throwing rocks and such.. That's probably because they just didn't see it. I can see one cop acting an ass and doing stupid shit. I don't see a whole damn company of them doing it.. Here's a little secret about MOST cops. We don't get paid enough to fight with people or to start a fight especially if we are out manned. Most cops want to go to work and have an easy shift.

[mindround]

If people would just start killing these aggressive cops, they will eventually back the fuck down. No revolution was successful without violence.

[n7app]

I was not there, but I do believe the lady at 2:20 mentions the police starting the mess by lobing pepper spray is telling like it was. The same thing happened at the port of tacoma protests.

[Mr71HemiCuda]

and the so-called protesters were all so innocent? yeah right

[thejuryissleepless]

@doughnutboy99 wow i dont sleep with cops whatever gets you off hahaha :D

but seriously - fuck a lot of cops are simply perpetuating their own existence/presence. Like I said - it's the system, not the people that are causing the problem.

[eminem0980]

ftdp