Posts in "police state"

By Timothy Muto at 7:50AM

May 4, 2011

Police State Arrives at Western Illinois University

West Central Illinois Mobile Field Force

This past Saturday, I became an eye witness to what the term 'police state' really means. The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote to the school newspaper the following day. I'm not sure if riot control has been used on any other Universities, other than during the Pittsburgh G20. Please spread this message!

Dear editor:

I am writing as a response to the events that took place at the Wheeler Block Party at Western Illinois University this past Saturday. It is of my opinion that the destruction of property should not be allowed. It is also my opinion that the actions taken by the police were extremely excessive and sadly predictable.

The police presence throughout the majority of the day provided a peaceful atmosphere for the students. As the day developed, police could be seen asking people for identification and making sure the roads were kept clear. I'd been hearing warnings about attending the block party for weeks, and even rumors of riot police. Finally attending the block party had me thinking that all of the rumors had been false, but then something interesting happened.

Delaware DOT Keeps Kids Safe from Basketball

Sounds a bit like an Onion headline, doesn't it? Every now and again there are instances of an overly intrusive government that defy logic and demand greater context. This video below is an interview with a resident of a Delaware town concerning the removal of basketball hoops in his neighborhood. Why the Delaware Department of Transportation is seizing private property is beyond me. Watch the video embedded below, and read on.

A Militarization of U.S. Police

Who watches the Watchmen? Radley Balko of The Agitator and Reason Magazine discusses the state of America's police forces. Specifically, the increasing militarization, lack of transparency, and laws against recording video/audio of police. Are they really accountable to us, the taxpayer? Does freedom stand a chance in todays day and age?

Posted in:

1 comment

By Cody London at 6:58PM

Jan 11, 2011

Relentless Police Quotas

I miss discussing state and local issues.

Nothing really disgusts me more on a personal day-to-day basis than the traffic quota. I live in the city of Houston, where it is against state law for police departments to partake in such practices (See the TTC Section 720.002). But because police jobs depend on revenue, quotas continue. It is only natural for entities like the police department to find whatever means necessary to stave off layoffs and cuts. It is a survival mechanism. It's even a way for departments to determine an officer's value to their force. Yet from the "join HPD" and "become a Harris county deputy now" advertisement campaigns, one would not think that there was budget trouble.

Even more ridiculous is that the Houston and Harris county officials will blatantly deny such practices even in the midst of a surge of police presence throughout the city at the beginning, middle, and end of the month. It is as if they are catching up on something...

American Drug War Screening at UCF

ADW

On Thursday, September 30th, the UCF Chapter of Young Americans for Liberty will be teaming up with NORML to screen the documentary film, American Drug War.

We will be using this event to raise awareness about the war on drugs and its threat to personal liberty. We will also be promoting the upcoming Nullify Now conference taking place in Orlando, Florida on 10/10/10.

For more information on this event, check out American Drug War Screening at UCF.

Posted in:

Add new comment

By Tom Baurain at 3:32PM

Mar 15, 2010

Standing Your Ground against Police

This video from Pete Eyre of The Motorhome Diaries is one of the best examples of standing up for your rights I've ever seen. This video is the second of Pete's used by Cop Block, a non-profit organization founded by Adam Mueller, another member of The Motorhome Diaries. I think one of the best examples Pete sets in this video is his calm demeanor and unwavering resolve. He has a strong command of what the law really is, and makes them abide by it.

The short version of the situation was Pete's girlfriend was pulled over by an officer, and Pete went to the scene to make sure she was okay. Pete was open carrying, which is not a crime in New Mexico, nor is it something that requires a special license of any kind. The officers repeatedly lie as to what the law is in this video, as you will see. He leaves the officers dumbfounded, and without showing them his ID.

Cop Block is "a decentralized organization that highlights cops breaking the law and the action taken to seek accountability." I highly recommend bookmarking that page, and take notice of the potential something like Cop Block has in terms of actually resisting the "police state" we discuss and write about so much. Watch the video below and read the accompanying post over at Cop Block.

Posted in:

17 comments

By Jihan Huq at 6:34AM

Jan 25, 2010

North Korean Camps

Coming across this mini-documentary made me realize that my idea of the brutality of the communist regime in North Korea was very inadequate. It covers just a few of the many terrible stories that are a part of daily life in North Korea -- stories of people eating rats( or whatever creature they can find available for nutrition), mass starvation, torture, brutality, the fear of escape, and finally hope from the other side of the border. If this is not worth your 20 minutes, I don't know what is! Enjoy.

Posted in:

Add new comment

By Jared Fuller at 7:54AM

Mar 27, 2009

Utilizing Opinion Sections for Truth

Get the message out = objective number one. A pretty fundamental and effective, although often overlooked, tactic on your campus is to write opinion pieces for your school paper. In all reality, it's pretty easy to get published and you can't argue with the fact that it's free coverage. Plus, it doesn't take a load of people in your group to organize an opinion section blitz; it's rather simple. Send in one opinion article each week and it will likely get published, that's it; most school papers are in dire need of opinion pieces.
Read more here

Posted in:

By Caleb Kinley at 10:54PM

Dec 24, 2008

Police: "Don't suffer from PTSD, go out and cause it!"

It was not too long ago that an Idaho State Police academy chose as it's graduating slogan, "Don't suffer from PTSD, go out and cause it." PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a serious illness which causes nightmares, flashbacks, and other physical symptoms, such as the sufferer reliving traumatic events many months or years after the traumatizing event occurred. My grandfather, a thirty year veteran of the U.S. Army, suffered from PTSD. I learned at an early age to keep my distance from him when he was having nightmares and flashbacks.
Read more here

Posted in: