A newspaper vendor on his way home. Not a protester. A 47-year-old going about his business.
Ian Tomlinson, according to police, came at them. Protesters bombarded them with bottles, and when Mr Tomlinson collapsed, prevented help from reaching him.
There is now an "anti-terorism" (ie. save the police's arses) law which says we must not take pictures of the police. Luckily someone was disobeying that law, and their footage proves that the police started lying straight away to cover their sorry butts. An innocent man was assaulted by a police officer, and a few moments later died of a heart attack. Sounds like manslaughter at least. But don't forget, this is the country that allowed Jean Charles de Menezes to be shot dead without any police officer having to answer for that crime.
Thank Christ they are not all armed all the time.
When even white, middle class Britain does not trust the police, they really must realise that they are failing completely in their job.
When Brian stopped on a sidewalk to observe the Federal Way cops hassling a homeless guy who really wasn't doing anything, the cops got in Brian's face. Told him to "move along, nothing to see here" and Brian told them no, he had every right to stand on a public sidewalk and watch. They threatened to arrest him and he laughed at them and said, "for what?" Then he took out his cell phone and pretended to take pictures (it doesn't have a camera in it). Man alive did the cops get maaaaad. They ended up leaving the homeless guy alone and driving off. They were really pissed at Brian.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm naive, but I doubt any police officer went out with the intention of thwacking someone in the hope they died of a heart attack. We have no idea what was happening BEFORE the piece of film that's been all over the news and I kind of like to weigh BOTH sides of the evidence. I may be a majority of one but I also don't believe for a second the cops went out to shoot someone, anyone, dead on the London underground either. It was a tragedy caused by a split second decision as to whether someone was about to blow themselves up and commit mass murder, but I just can't believe it was deliberate.
ReplyDeletethe anti terrorism law is as worse as the terrorism itself; it tramples on human rights.
ReplyDeleteWhile causing his death indirectly may not have been deliberate, their actions speak for themselves. Time and time again, some police in large cities have proven time and time again that they are nothing but ignorant, angry bullies. The facts in this case should be brought into court, and from there, any guilt should be attributed. I agree, Diane, that this video may not be the complete story, but that is all the more reason there should be a complete and unfettered investigation into this man's death.
ReplyDeleteI think it's nice you still have confidence in the police, Diane. When you've been in a bus queue charged by police horses because the riders didn't like it that soem "big boys" were "swearing" you lose faith in them.
ReplyDeleteSince we very rarely see a policman - at all - in the village I live in, it's highly unlikely that'll happen Val ;0)
ReplyDeleteThat's another problem - you can never find one when you need one!
ReplyDeletethe anti terrorism law is as worse as the terrorism itself
ReplyDelete___________________
Vince
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