What is happening in Portland, Oregon is terrifying, as federal agents have moved into the city as an “occupying force.” Federal agents are kidnapping and unlawfully detaining American citizens for hours and days at a time, holding people without charging them or Mirandizing them. The federal agents are also instigating violence, trying to force peaceful protests into crisis. And that will be happening more and more as the election comes closer. Donald Trump wants to throw more federal agents into cities with Democratic mayors, cities where there have been large-scale and overwhelmingly peaceful protests.
All that being said, the NYPD doesn’t even need help from federal authorities to terrorize their own citizens. Yesterday, this video went viral – plainclothes NYPD officers violently kidnapping an 18-year-old homeless trans woman off the street and throwing her into an unmarked minivan:
NYC is taking after Portland – a trans femme protestor was pulled into an unmarked van at the Abolition Park protest – this was at 2nd Ave and 25th Street pic.twitter.com/1PDhSYuK9h
— michelle lh࿊࿊q (@MichelleLhooq) July 28, 2020
It’s hard to watch this. It’s difficult to see the NYPD dudes acting like trigger-happy cowboys and to see them swarm on this poor woman. Protestors look mystified by what was happening and some even looked like they were trying to protect the woman, but they saw quickly that they would probably be shot if they intervened. The video was so widely circulated that the NYPD had to issue a statement about the kidnapping. Turns out, it was because that woman hurt their cameras! Totally reasonable, right. Thoughts and prayers to the cameras.
In regard to a video on social media that took place at 2 Ave & 25 St, a woman taken into custody in an unmarked van was wanted for damaging police cameras during 5 separate criminal incidents in & around City Hall Park. The arresting officers were assaulted with rocks & bottles.
When officers from the Warrant Squad took the woman into custody in a gray NYPD minivan this evening, they were assaulted with rocks and bottles. The Warrant Squad uses unmarked vehicles to effectively locate wanted suspects.
When she was placed into the Warrant Squad’s unmarked gray minivan, it was behind a cordon of NYPD bicycle cops in bright yellow and blue uniform shirts there to help effect the arrest.
Watch the video again – the van rolled up, cops jumped this woman and dragged her into the van while most people watched in bewilderment. There were no rocks or bottles being thrown, and even if there were… why is that some kind of reasonable explanation for kidnapping a woman off the street? When did “hurting police cameras” become a crime worthy of a violent takedown? And why does the NYPD lie about everything? Also – if you follow this Twitter thread, a NYC Council Member was keeping track of what happened to this young woman and she got the girl released in a matter of hours.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Cuomo will say and do nothing. The mayor will side w the police. JK Rowling reading this news is probably thrilled w the outcome. 2020 is such a shitstorm. This poor woman! Hope she gets justice and isn’t too harmed from their poor execution and man handling of this situation
DeBlasio is a disaster, he’s petrified of the police union here to the point I often wonder if they told him they’d put a hit on him, or they have something on him. I’m not kidding either. Cuomo is a huge disappointment when it comes to the police. I don’t know if he’s scared of them, if he agrees with them, or if doesn’t do anything because he enjoys watching DeBlasio (the two hate each other) struggle. I just haven’t been able to figure it out.
But the NYPD are a horror show, and their union leader behaves like a mafio thug.
This is exactly why we say to Abolish Police and ICE. Idk how many folks realize this but the tactics used it Portland have been used a for number of years against immigrant communities and countries abroad. Unfortunately many of us BIPOC are not surprised.
And Maya Wiley is considering a run for mayor!!!
That video though…when I saw it I was speechless. Had to rewatch it. They looked like a band of drunk assholes fighting at a diner. They used their bikes as shields like they would use chairs. It’s extremely frightening to see these images popping up everywhere. Is no one reading the room? Do people still think that the police budget is being well used??!!
What do you think about Wiley running?
I’m not voting for someone who has not previously held elected public office to be mayor of the largest city in the US. I’ve also read that she’s dismissive of activists and activist organizations while peddling useless police reforms. She was on the toothless and useless CCRM and public school diversity task force (remember that and the report that went nowhere?).
I have no words…what is even happening to our country?
The GOP is happening to our country.
I mean that. I mean that the GOP typifies every horrible impulse, every bad seed, every action chosen with the knowledge that it will hurt someone else. I know that there are sexist and racist people in the Democratic Party as well, but only the GOP gets down in the mud and really wallows in it. Only the GOP is excusing every shtty thing the police or Barr’s Gestapo is doing. Only the GOP excuses treason. Only the GOP is okay with candidates taking foreign assistance. Only the GOP is kidnapping children and keeping them in cages (and then losing the paperwork that tells which child goes with which parents, including for the children too young to remember who their parents are in a few years). The GOP is alright with the Trump Crime Family robbing taxpayers blind.
I have such hatred in my heart for Republicans, including the ones who think they’re on the side of God here.
It’s also Democrats. Mayor De Blasio has time and time used the bully pulpit to justify and excuse police officers running over protestors with their cars, ripping masks off protestors faces to pepper spray them, slamming women’s heads on pavements while their children watch helplessly.
Both Republicans and Democrats (and I mean specifically the elected officials) will justify any violence that supports and protects our violent white supremacist system.
I’ve been thinking recently, how do we know no protesters have been sent to GITMO? The admin said they consider “ANTIFA” to be a terrorist organization. Trump has advocated for keeping GITMO open and sending new prisoners there. What’s stopping them, Barr’s integrity? Would we even know if this happened? The Federal government has been given crazy powers when it comes to fighting “terrorism”, and now that they are trying to link protests to terrorism, where is their limit?
To be clear, I have no evidence that this has happened, I’m just imagining the worst. Because the Trump administration does do the absolute worst things every single day.
(I posted something similar on the other story about Arnie Hammer)
Tiffany you are so right. Its chilling and terrifying. They already cage children. They would absolutely send political dissidents to Gitmo as a litmus test for the capability of building concentration camps to send anyone and everyone they deem a threat. They are already using Gestapo tactics to snatch people. I am probably already on a list somewhere for the stuff I post here and elsewhere.
Yes, and they refuse to call the white supremacists – who have actually KILLED PEOPLE – as terrorist organizations, when they so clearly are. It’s disgusting. “Antifa” is their scary monster used to prop up “law & order” campaigns and trample on everyone’s rights.
What about the times that weren’t caught on video?
Even with video, they outright lie. There were no rocks or bottles. You can see it on the video. Also, the language of “hurting” police cameras. That is damage, the cameras were not “hurt.” It’s utter BS and frankly terrifying.
That poor girl. Glad someone got her released.
What type of situation would warrant this type of apprehension of a “suspect “? Surely they have to understand that this is problematic and poorly executed! Imagine someone doing this at Walmart pretending to be cops but really abducting someone and everyone just standing there looking because this is so called normal for a warrant force. I just can’t with this bs.
She put STICKERS on police cameras. Seriously.
This violent take down was because of stickers! Is it a crime? Probably. But it absolutely doesn’t warrant this kind of brutality.
One of the most terrifying things is that they aren’t clearly identifiable as police. It looks like a van of good ole boys, not officers of the law. They are making it so anyone can impersonate law enforcement.
I used to be in apartment management and worked with the FBI to execute a warrant on a tenant for child p0rnography a few years ago.
After providing the necessary documentation (and having our lawyers review it) the date and time were set days in advance, we met at the property office where they again provided me with the warrant and their identification. After all of that, we let them in to the apartment to do a search and perform an arrest while we waited in the office.
What happened in NYC is shocking and frightening and if grabbing non-violent people off the street for a vandalism warrant is legal that needs to be changed immediately.
Girl, thaaaannnkkk yyyyoooouuuu xoxo Portland loves celebitches
These kidnappings are horrifying but I can’t get over the Republican games with all of it. If Obama had a secret police force in the streets of ANY city they would be calling for his death. With trump it’s “law and order” to violate ALL of people’s rights, including 2nd amendment because why? Because they are violent thugs or liberal agitators or AnTifA!!! And The Base love to see it! The same base that claims they are hoarding guns because of a tyrannical government. It’s all so stunningly terrible and stupid. JFC 2020 is the worst.
My hurt and anger are tangible.
Do you know what this looks like? A rendition. For those who do not know what this word is, a “rendition” is when a group wants someone and kidnaps them, usually outside the law. This one was very sloppy, but that’s what this looked like.
Someone is going to get shot when this happens, and if it’s police officers doing this shtty work, I’m not really going to be able to spare a tear for them.
Thank you for calling this what it is – a kidnapping! I see too many of these labelled as arrests. Also, I’m seeing too many of these period.
I’m also unnerved that they seem to be using security footage in this way- I’ve heard scary stories of protesters being put on “lists”. We know where this goes!
This atrocity is what Donald Trump calls law and order.
The WORST atrocities against America and performed on the BEHALF of America (supposedly) are done under Republican Administrations with a Republican Senate…
This has gone on for DECADES.
Yet…folks KEEP voting for this….
You are correct. It makes me irate. There is no both sides on this and I don’t dignify with replies anyone who claims that there is.
Police not dressed as police pulling up and hurriedly snatching people away in unmarked cars. What the actual fuck? Yet people are screaming about how a piece of cloth over their mouth is taking away their freedom? I seriously can’t. History is repeating itself – these are gestapo techniques and it’s appalling that certain people in power aren’t calling it out for what it is.
So let me get this straight, the police can kidnap you if you are wanted for connection of a crime now? Like, they don’t even have to have proof you committed an actual crime, they’ll just snatch you up?
No crime necessary. Some folks are picked up for being on the sidewalk outside the courthouse, because the sidewalk is federal property technically.
How did they even know where to find her? This is nothing but a demonstration of power but at this point, nobody can be surprised.
HOLY F*CK. Ok I’m on the west coast of Canada…actually not too far from the chaos in Seattle and Portland. My jaw is on the floor, how the F is this actually happening in plain sight in NYC? How is this going unpunished? I am so sad for the upstanding peaceful protesting citizens
Break the law, get arrested. 🤷🏾♀️
I live in Portland. These riots have NOT been peaceful.
That was more than arrest, though. Her crime was putting stickers on police cameras, which is NOT a violent act. She wasn’t a threat to the safety of others.
@Keshet They broke the law by vandalizing police cameras, so there are consequences for that. HOWEVER, do you not see something wrong with how this person was arrested? Why were an unmarked van, plain-clothed officers and a snatch & grab technique required? If there was a city-wide manhunt for an armed mass murderer, I’d expect something like this. Vandalizing police cameras??? Um, not necessary. Also, this opens up the possibility non-law enforcement could do this and no one would be able to tell the difference. This is not law & order. This is an example of the law being unevenly applied and exploited to provoke fear in citizens.
I live in Portland too and I’ve actually been to the PROTESTS and they are actually very peaceful and powerful.
I think sometimes the media makes it sound like the protestors are a single organism and it’s very clear and everyone knows when a few folks start getting squirrelly, but that’s not true at all…99.9% of folks are in the street chanting, and there are a few teenage boys that cause trouble, and the whole huge group doesn’t even know and gets punished for it.
Don’t perpetuate right-wing lies.
trump is literally turning this country as crazy as he is…all his tactics are the beginning of what we see u democratic countries do. Why aren’t the weird people complaining about masks and their freedom upset about this BS?
She put up quite a fight, being bigger than the officers. Several needed to pull her in. Good for her!
Can we follow this story? It worries me that the media will forget this in 3 seconds and we won’t know if she gets released or if she gets serious time for effing stickers.
Who can keep up with the firehose of sht that the GOP has shot at us in these last few years? There’s just always something worse happening, no matter what. Treason. Kids in cages. Misdirected money. Hungry kids. A pandemic that didnt have to happen. More black people getting murdered by the cops. It’s just nearly impossible to keep up with it all.
All too true.
But sometimes I do wonder about a specific story and discover there has been no follow-up anywhere.
We’re angry, we may protest, but if the media just forgets, then the authorities can too. They can reasonably assume we will forget about this and other stories if we never hear of it again. And if we forget, tbey can do whatever they want again.
It was in the article that a city council woman was following what happened and got her released in this Twitter thread https://mobile.twitter.com/i/events/1288324169893994496