DNC Protests: CodePink protester is slammed to the ground by police in Denver

Posted by Arturum on September 3, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Shame on the RMN for the lack of ethics while posting this one sided story.

For the WHOLE story check out:

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/artic...

Nice edit job RMN, you get a thumbs down for this one....

Posted by LovingFamily on August 31, 2008 at 7:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have to agree with a poster below, he knew he was on camera. The world is watching and you have 50 MILLION of our tax dollars to play with new toys. Guy won the cop lotto. So many legit departments are in need of funding. He showed the world what denver police can do with 50 mill. Hit an unarmed woman not posing a threat with a baton. He NEEDS to lose his badge for this.

Posted by PTK on August 30, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I first learned of this video from a Canadian friend who sent me this link: http://www.cbc.ca/world/usvotes/story... , entitled "Democracy's Potemkin Village".
This is really pathetic -- do we live in a free country or not?

It just turned my stomach to see that video. That "instruction," "Back it up, b*tch" followed immediately by a blow, that's simply assault. What kind of Nazi thugs are the Denver Police hiring? I'm surprised this outrageous incident hasn't caused more outrage.

There was also the incident of an ABC news reporter getting pushed around (then arrested) on the ABC nightly news on Thursday.

The hypocrisy of talking "freedom" and "democracy" followed by Gestapo thuggery is not lost on the rest of the world. Its embarassing, and the cynicism it creates about America only makes us less influential in dealing with them.

Posted by ladyinred on August 29, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It may be true that we did not hear the whole clip. She may have been antagonizing him. I do not know much about Codepink. Question is, why did he not just arrest her? It is weird that he slams her then she gets arrested WHEN she talks to the media.The little man did not like his ego being brought down so what does he do, only thing little men know how to do, act violent.

Posted by 21ratman on August 29, 2008 at 12:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hello one and all.... Are you the only one who hears what the woman says just before the JBT knocks her to the ground?? Well take the time to go back an LOOK at the video. Are you the only one who does not see that the JBT (cop) is not using his night stick, baton or a billy club on her?? Notice that he hits her with his 12ga Shotgun/Riotgun. Not only does he hit her hard enough to knock her to the ground possibly injuring her if not just knocking the wind out of her, but he hits her so hard that it forces the shotgun shells to exit, be ejected from the magazine chamber. Those are what are rolling around on the ground at his feet after he hits her with it. Now THAT is totally uncalled for. It is a wonder that she got up after being hit that hard.
If he was so upset by what she said and also because she failed to move back quickly enough, then he should have taken her into custody immediately without brutilizing her first. But then it appears that the JBT's are being trained to beat up upon defenseless women and others with a shotgun whacked into the victims if not just blowing them into next week (commonly known as being killed) with said shotgun instead of just arresting them and taking them into custody. So is this the kind of treatment we are to be expecting in the future in times of unrest, demonstration and possibly martial law that can come at the drop of a possible presidential decree?? Thank you Denver police, Presidential Directive 51 and the Patriot Act!! Thank you especially Denver police for not having the restraint that you should have been trained to use. Kinda looks like 1968 all over again. Only not quite as widespread... or is it and we just have not been shown it yet.

Posted by wmerydith on August 28, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Officer, "Back it up..."
Woman, "F---ing do it again!"
Officer, "Back it up, b----!"

True . . . but then,

Officer, shoves woman to the ground.

That's not justified. You can scream your head off to a police officer and the response of the police officer is to inform you to
A) Stop the action
B) The consequence of not complying.

The consequence of a non-violent citizen in not complying with an order from a police officer is to be arrested. In no case is it justified to assault a non-violent subject. I can't believe what I'm hearing from some of the people posting here.

Posted by Andy12 on August 27, 2008 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Am I the only one who hears what she says right before getting pushed? Listen to the audio a few times. Right before the Officer comes into the screen:

Officer, "Back it up..."
Woman, "F---ing do it again!"
Officer, "Back it up, b----!"

Now, call me crazy, but if a bunch of police are lined up and telling you repeatedly to get back, you probably should back up. Then if one of them pushes you back a step, you probably should back up. If you then get closer to the police and tell them, "F---ing do it again", you should not be that shocked when you are pushed harder the second time. I don't think that calling her a "b----" was really necessary, but obviously crowd control is a tense situation for all involved.

Anyway, it didn't seem that anyone else picked up on what she was saying so I wanted to point it out. Like others have said, it is a 30-second, edited news clip, it does not tell the whole story. I don't see much wrong with pushing a non-compliant person back after giving them several chances to do it on their own.

Posted by LuckySkunk on August 27, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

DippityDo wrote: "Police don't grab innocent people off the street and arrest them to get their jollies. The courts and their superiors would put an end to that quickly."

I'm sure the innocent people in the article below were to blame for getting themselves arrested. Fortunately, the courts and their superiors quickly put a end to it. If you consider it took the courts five years while the Law Department maintains that the police had done nothing wrong. Which in this case appears that the taxpayer will once again bear the cost.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/nyr...

Posted by DippityDo on August 27, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Outstanding!! These fine men and women have enough on their plates without these fruitcakes from Code Pink antogonizing them. If you think excessive force was used consider you only saw a couple of seconds of the end of the interaction between this woman and the officer. If you think she was arrested for no reason also consider this is a 30 second EDITED clip. Police don't grab innocent people off the street and arrest them to get their jollies. The courts and their superiors would put an end to that quickly.

Posted by tettes on August 27, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WOW. I'm not a supporter of CodePink, but if all of you who think she was antagonizing an officer or disobeying an order, <i>she should have been arrested and not physically attacked</i>, right? I understand things get heated the officer was probably getting angry and frustrated by the protests, but based on the video clip his actions were entirely inappropriate.

Why didn't they just arrest her instead of escalating the incident?!?

Posted by NuggetsFan on August 27, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nice flop. Should try out for the WNBA.

Posted by sweetie on August 27, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hell he didn't have to knock her down,the pig.

Posted by law_abiding_citizen on August 27, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Follow simple, clear, and lawful instructions by the Police and this sort of thing won't happen to you. Yes you have free speech but you still can't disturb the peace.

Posted by Conservativeslayer on August 27, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The police are breaking the law by not having any identification on their uniforms. Police have to be identifiable. Since the cops know it will be very difficult to identify them, they aren't afraid of being held accountable for their actions.

Posted by robc50 on August 27, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Idiot cops. Just another instance of uneducated men with little willies put in a position of power. I'd pay for 5 minutes alone with this joker and his girly stick. The sad thing is the city will ignore this. Hell, when I see that, I want the crowd to attack and beat the cops asses... teach them a lesson as to who they are employed by and work for.

Posted by GTFOOH on August 27, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

imagine what would happen if the camera wasn't there? She'd be in the hospital, not jail. This hothead with a stick needs discipline as an example to other brutal cops -- just like he tried to make an example out of her. Investigation should also cover double standard that allowed that Tub-of-Lord to disturb the peace while antiwar activist gets attacked. DNC should speak up too.

Posted by leftside on August 27, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Back it up...B*tch".

No justification. He has no business being a cop if he can't control his emotion (or his baton). Which of course is why they drug her off while she was describing the situation to reporters.

Posted by daemon on August 27, 2008 at 12:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Even though I completely disagree with CodePink and all they stand for, from what I see this cop was completely in the wrong. Not only does he lose it with this woman, potentially making this situation far worse than it already was, he did it in front a camera; how stupid can he be? Like the two officers involved in the Coor's field situation he needs to be fully investigated, fired, and possibly charged with a crime.

DPD needs to start reviewing it's hiring practices; number one being, start requiring a degree like the majority of the other departments in the metro area. They seem to be the department with the majority of the problems in the last few years, so maybe it's time for some real changes.

Posted by ascrivner on August 26, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the officer should be charged with assault. There was absolutely no justification for that. I do not want an officer on Denver streets showing that serious a lack of judgement. I hope she sues the police department for this, and that the officer is charged. This was a crime, I hope they prosecute it.

Posted by badfrog101 on August 26, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The police are actually very worried in a riot situation. As a former reporter I have been in two riots, and even though I am a large and powerful man with some martial arts training and a news team that hung together, it was very scary. Smaller people were getting hurt. This woman and her friends were agitating, and the police have a responsibility to preserve safety and order, and are authorized to silence people who threaten that order, even though in other circumstances they would be allowed to speak their minds. Fire in a crowded theatre.

Whether she is eventually exonorated or charges dropped, it's not smart to frighten armed men. She came looking for a problem, and she made one. Others solved the problem she made to their satisfaction, not hers.

Posted by Thresher on August 26, 2008 at 8:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't care who you are or where you're from, it doesn't matter WHAT that lady was doing,short of assaulting an officer, that is intentional assault BY a police officer, and her arrest should be prosecutable. If this is OK, we're already living in a police state. That's just plain WRONG.

How can anyone think that's OK??? What is WRONG with you people???

Posted by musicgrinder on August 26, 2008 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Deeply disturbing. The Denver Police need a serious personnel review. The police SERVE THE COMMUNITY. They do not beat it down with sticks. This officer should be fired and the entire force needs some training on how to deal with human beings.

Posted by TrueFreedom on August 26, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

-U.S. Constitution

End of story, no comment to be made, the first amendment says all that needs to be said. Clearly the Denver police as well as many other police agencies nationwide need to brush up on the bill of rights. This is what a police state looks like.

Posted by adam1mc on August 26, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

So who exactly is going to have to pay for all the lawsuits that the city will be forced to defend from incidents like this.

Should the city or any city employees be found liable for any injustices during this convention, me, as a taxpayer will not be too happy to have to pay to settle these disputes.

Posted by LovingFamily on August 26, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

For sure, why stop at simple abuse of authority. Lets put them in camps. Those dang free thinking americans. dever police will show them how denver treats dem der book learners.

Posted by Zuropaman on August 26, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's beautiful to see the cops drop the hammer on these beligerent, disrespectful, leftist nut-jobs! They got what they deserved. Looking forward to tomorrow's highlights!

Posted by LovingFamily on August 26, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Takes a big man to hit an unarmed woman that wasn't even looking at you. That being said, i agree that "The gender has nothing to do with it, male, female, lesbian, gay, transgendered, hermaphrodite, republican, democrat" It was just plain old bad police work. I have law enforcement in my family and have alot of respect for police. This woman was unarmed and showed no threat. No reason for force to be used what so ever. Despite what happenend before or after the video. The victim obviously showed no threat to the armed attacker. He is a disgrace to the badge.

Posted by WrongNumbr on August 26, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The gender of that protester has nothing to do with it, male, female, lesbian, gay, transgendered, hermaphrodite, republican, democrat makes no difference it was her protest methods that got her in trouble.. All of us including myself are coming to conclusions about the facts based on what is undoubtedly an edited video with useful parts edited out that would make it easier to defend one side or the other. (notice I did not say which side). You start in with the name calling and make inflammatory confrontational internet post.(more power to you as this is an appropriate environment for that.) We all know that any conclusions drawn from that edited video will be slanted towards the political views of the individual viewing it. I have no need to name call but I certainly will express my opinion and so should you even if it differs from my own. This will not be the first idiot caught on tape this week make your own conclusion as to which was the idiot in this video my vote is the protester.

Posted by easy on August 26, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Looks like a pattern of behavior for the Denver Police. Can't wait until we see what's in the fabricated report.

Notice the woman wasn't taken into custody until she was talking to the media. What - is FOX News sponsoring our boys in blue this week?

@ WrongNumbr - I'd bet you "got off easy" a lot beating up on women back in your 'glory' days. Please find it in your heart to beat on a woman in my presence and we'll see how easy you get off, d-bag.

Posted by WrongNumbr on August 26, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Not a Cop I just apparently ride a different side of the political fence. She was clearly instigating a confrontation. From the limited portion of the video posted she was perhaps even a leader of that small group (megaphone with her). If you have a group of individuals causing problems then you arrest the leader or other confrontational individuals that was why she was pulled from the crowd afterwords. I can not either defend or applaud the Police Officers actions without a more complete video. What was she doing in the minutes that lead up to that moment. More than likely attempting to disrupt the Police or interfere with others attending the convention. I would agree that perhaps the cop should have beaned her in the chest, perhaps he attempted a less antagonistic approach before this hit. You clearly hear this idiot protester say try that again or something along those lines. I would like to see about a minutes worth of film from that same camera before this. Before the week is out this will be commonplace and there will likely be lots of taser video on youtube. All I can say is act like an idiot get treated like one.

Posted by Spuds on August 26, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It takes a big man to beat up a woman with a billy club.

Posted by bugmenot on August 26, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WrongNumbr - you're either a cop or you're one sick individual. You think it's OK for a police officer to assault a woman like that and then drag her away because she is describing what happened?

That officer is a violent bully and should be fired for that sickening and unjustified attack.

Posted by Dudesy on August 26, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WrongNumbr, how is knocking a girl down to justified, the police are becoming agitated and are now allowed to beat up anyone for looking at them incorrectly. She was in the middle of an interview when they arrested her for saying what happened. Nothing justifies that and this is only the beginning for this week.

Posted by WrongNumbr on August 26, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I would say she was continually refusing to comply with a lawful order. Clearly antagonizing a Police Officer and in general looking for exactly what she got. If you will not move given a lawful order to do so expect to be dealt with. She got off easy.

Posted by Morry32 on August 26, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WOW- seriously what was she doing that justified that?