Copwatch on GNN

THIS VIDEO WAS PRODUCED BY GNN back in 2002 WITH THE HELP OF BERKELEY COPWATCH. FOOTAGE USED IN THIS COME FROM POLICE STOPS IN THE BAY AREA, CINCINNATI, and DENVER.


American television audiences have long been accustomed to the celebration of rawkus police action via the Fox Network's signature exploitation, COPS. And while, for many, the show is a tell-tale sign of our militarized world, for others, it represents something far more sinister and far-reaching. Namely, the broad inculcation and deep internalization of the notion that society cannot exist without the men and women in blue who patrol the perimeter of our increasingly gated communities. By carefully omitting coverage of police brutality and corruption, COPS has succesfully sanitized the image of our urban police forces in ways that few propagandists could have ever imagined possible.
And so, in the spirit of striking back by reversing the power structure, GNN presents CopWatch, a journey into the dangerous world of community police oversight as epitomized by pioneer activists Andrea Pritchett and Jacob Crawford. Founded in 1990, the Berkeley chapter of CopWatch sought to revitalize the Sixties-era initiative originally conceived by the Black Panthers. Over the past twelve years, CopWatch chapters have begun to spring up across the United States. With the recent high-profile cases of police brutality and fears of a looming police state, they might be just in time.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• copwatch
• ladder
• non
• violence
• direct
• action
• protest
• civil
• liberties
• know
• your
• rights
• police
• state

[CircusIsInTown]

Cop Watch sounds like a group of criminals or people who need a real job. If you have nothing to hide or are not doing anything wrong what's the problem with letting a P.O. know who you are? Because of the sensitivity of an investigation, dissemination of any information to a person why they are asked their identity could compromise their case. So, if you were a law abiding citizen that was a victim of a crime, I hope one would feel good to know the police were doing everything they could.

[Jacobzladder]

when the role of police is to lock up people regardless of criminal activity, then it is the role of the public to distrust them, to know their rights, and to fight for them. If anything you should do an analysis of the criminality of police and recognize,  the job of law enforcement is the only occupation where criminals are allowed to thrive,

[Jacobzladder]

nah, we find that they're all a bunch of whussies in the presence of a camera, richmond, chp, oakland, sf, epa, san jose, hayward, (all those nervous little fellas scatter like cockroaches when they find they're interactions with the public is being documented)

[staniscanner]

Police Officers do not make the rules they simply enforce them (High end government douche-bags make the laws), take it this way.. When your boss tell you this is the way its done, do you argue? no you do it, because u want to keep your job. Thats why officers are allowed to issue warnings even if you did do a criminal act ex. speeding. You may think all cops are pigs (most common phrase) but some are actually regular human beings trying to change the stereo-type placed on them.

[Jacobzladder]

well yeah, do some research and omg! you'll find that many of those who worked forces, were the same that burned crosses.

[DogWarrior327]

@Steelerssuk94 Take it from me it is really hard to own a nice home with 2 kids a wife numerous aquariums with expensive fish and a 2000 sq foot business for the last 17 years and not have a job. Now that we have that out of the way i will address your question Pigs are Disloyal, Unpredictable and Vindictive and are not to be trusted they are liars and beat torture and kill innocent civilians on a daily basis and justify it. Pigs commit more felony's then any civilian criminal. Just Sayin...

[Steelerssuk94]

@DogWarrior327 and your comment speaks to how much of an uninformed idiot you are. You're worse than the people who let the Nazi's take power. In just what ways are the police a "dangerous gang of power hungry Nazis?" You probably have no job or sit around and smoke weed all day.

[DogWarrior327]

@Steelerssuk94 He is correct, the pigs are worse than wild animals they are a dangerous gang of power hungry Nazis.

[DogWarrior327]

@CircusIsInTown Cop Watch Does not in any way sound like a group of criminals and I am sure they have jobs. You do not have to be jobless to film corrupt PIG activities so your words are no more than propaganda. Sensitivity of what investigation? most of the time pigs make up reasons to harass law abiding citizens. Lets face it pigs are pigs and their job is to terrorize anyone who does not kiss their arrogant asses when told to. They are power hungry thugs. FTP

[Steelerssuk94]

Approach a cop like a wild animal? HAH, freaking retards

[cdimmm]

heads up, your rights don't come from the constitution

[CircusIsInTown]

@fowzie777 -- YOU'S IS RONG!!! mE haz Maid it two da forth grayd!!! LOLOL!

[fowzie777]

@CircusIsInTown - you sound like you haven't done a lot with your grade 3 education...its because they don't have the right to randomly ask....you would probably like check points and papers...letting cops randomly come into your home and search....arrest you because you said something they didn't like hold you without bail, not tell anyone where you are and then just release you and say there are no charges... get a grip idiot...

[seanredsky]

@sniggity You're an idiot

[seanredsky]

This lady is absolutely incorrect in her statement about the origin of police in America. It ceases to amaze me, how bold some people can be as blatant misinformation and lies dribble from their lips. It's pathetic.

Anyone that is interested in educating themselves about the actual origins of modern policing and more specifically the concept of community policing in the US, Canada, Australia, Great Britain etc., research Sir Robert Peel.