Thursday 21 August 2014

Ferguson, Missouri update - 08/20.2104

Ferguson Cop Points Gun At Protesters And Press, Screams "I Will F***ing Kill You", Has Been "Relocated"



http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-20/ferguson-cop-points-gun-protesters-and-press-screams-i-will-fing-kill-you-has-been-r


In the aftermath of recent violent events and now that even the US Attorney General has arrived, one would assume that the Ferguson police had at least some "sensitivity" training about how to approach protesters, especially those "armed" with cameras. Not in this case. The footage below out of Ferguson shows a police officer pointing his gun directly at protesters and reporters while screaming "I’m going to f***ing kill you!"



The clip shows a Ferguson officer with his gun raised pointing it directly at a citizen journalist who was live streaming at the time: the incident was witnessed by Infowars reporter Joe Biggs who was also filming the incident.

"My hands are up bro, my hands are up," states the journalist before the cop responds, "I’m going to f***ing kill you, get back, get back!"

"You’re going to kill him?” asks another individual before the journalist asks, “did he just threaten to kill me?"

When the cop is asked for his name he responds, "go fuck yourself."

It didn't end there.

As Infowars reports, "another clip shows the officer pointing his gun as protesters demand he lower the weapon. A second cop intervenes to make the officer lower his weapon as more irate demonstrators demand to know the officer’s name."

The officer’s response to people asking for his name almost immediately prompted the launch of the Twitter hashtag #officergofuckyourself.


Biggs live tweeted the incident, and also took this photograph of the cop.
The incident is certain to provoke curiosity as to just how the local Police department is handling the de-escalation of local tensions.

As for police officer #officergofuckyourself, it appears he is no longer "on location."

Vanita Gupta @ACLUVanita
Quick work by ACLU: Highway patrol called. They identified the cop. He will no longer be in ferguson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AFia3Uo0TQ&feature=youtu.be 


One also wonders: if not in Ferguson, just where can this pleasant, if "relocated", individual be encountered?



Watchdog groups slam 

Ferguson police ‘harassment’ 

of reporters


As tensions continue to simmer following nine days of street protests in Ferguson, Missouri, where a teenager was shot dead by a police officer, two watchdog groups have slammed the heavy-handed police tactics.

RT,
20 August, 2014


To compound the physical and mental strain of reporting on the weeks-long protests in Ferguson, where the public is desperate for justice after a white police officer shot black teenager Michael Brown to death,journalists themselves are finding themselves the target of police tear gas, rubber bullets and flash bang grenades.


However, Robert Mahoney, Deputy Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said the police tactics would not prevent reporters from doing their jobs.

"Ferguson is an international story and journalists are going to cover it. They have a right to do so without fearing for their safety or liberty," Mahoney said. "The harassment and detention of reporters must stop. From senior commanders on down, the word must go out to security forces to let journalists do their job."

CPJ also released a guide for journalists on how to stay safe while covering events in Ferguson.

Attention journalists covering : stay safe; please read our Guide section on protests http://www.cpj.org/reports/2012/04/civil-matters-and-disturbances.php#4 

Jasmine Heiss, an observer with Amnesty International, expressed concern over reports that journalists were being tear-gassed while performing their jobs.

Just last night I’ve heard several journalists and community say that either gas was thrown at them while they were reporting, or, in the case of the community members that gas was thrown into residential neighborhoods while they were walking,” Heiss told RT.

Increasingly repressive tactics [are] being used to curtail free speech,” she added.

Six journalists were detained by police while covering the protests on Monday and early Tuesday, compelling the American Society of News Editors to describe the incidences as a "top-down effort to restrict the fundamental First Amendment rights of the public and the press."

Police in riot gear detain a demonstrator (C) protesting against the shooting of Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri August 19, 2014 (Reuters / Joshua Lott)
Police in riot gear detain a demonstrator (C) protesting against the shooting of Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri August 19, 2014 (Reuters / Joshua Lott)

According to CNN, 11 journalists have been arrested in the course of the protests, which have thrown a glaring spotlight on US race relations, not to mention military-style police equipment and tactics now being deployed on the streets of America.


Police were caught on video firing a tear gas canister that exploded directly in front of an Al Jazeera America crew, causing the reporters to discard their camera equipment and flee the fumes.

In another heated encounter, a police officer is actually caught on video telling journalists, "I'm going to f***ing kill you!"

Shock Video: Cop points gun, threatens to kill Infowars reporters - http://www.infowars.com/ferguson-cop-points-gun-at-journalists-im-going-to-fing-kill-you/  @Rambobiggs @MikaelThalen

Meanwhile, social media accounts have exploded with real-time proof of the severe press intimidation,”as the Huffington Post described the heavy-handed tactics, where Ferguson police fired at journalists with rubber bullets and flash bang grenades, in some cases preventing media from leaving their vehicles for fear of being targeted.

Reporters in being held hostage in vehicles, not allowed to leave, having flashbangs fired at them.

German reporter Ansgar Graw and his colleague Frank Hermann were detained by police for taking photos of a burned-out gas station, close to the spot where Michael Brown was killed.
I tried to take some pictures at a spot where before I think were taken several thousand photos of the same spot, and some police officers tried to shoot me and my colleague from Germany…but it was on Monday at 2 o’clock, it was perfect…there was no threat, no tensions were in the air,” he told RT.

The journalist said the police told them they could photograph, but they had to continue walking otherwise they would be arrested. Despite complying with the police orders, Graw said they were still detained.

Really, Vladimir Putin needed to have asked for restraint in Ferguson. But I see Egypt has!


Egypt calls for restraint in 


Ferguson


19 August, 2014


Egypt has backed the United Nation’s call for the United States authorities to deal with protests in Ferguson, Missouri “according to the American and international standards”.


A spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, in response to a question from state-run news agency MENA, said the ministry is “following the escalation of protests and demonstrations in the city of Ferguson and reactions thereto”.


The spokesman referred to comments made by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on Monday as a reflection of the “international community’s position towards these events” including the calls for “restraint and respect for the right of assembly and peaceful expression of opinion”.


Ban also said he hoped investigations into the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown will “shed full light on the killing and that justice will be done.”


Demonstrations in Ferguson began after Brown, who was unarmed, was shot dead by a policeman. Autopsy reports showed that the teen was shot six times. Protests have escalated with incidents of looting and police forces have responded by firing tear gas.


The US Department of State has in the past repeatedly called on Egyptian authorities to respect freedom of assembly and expression.


Last week Human Rights Watch released a report saying that Egyptian security forces’ clearing of a two protest camps “probably amounts to crimes against humanity”, saying at least 817 people were killed.


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