Is this MRAP Really Necessary?

Police go after unarmed "water protectors" in full kit.

OK, I get that the law has sided with the corporation here, and thus that these protests are a kind of trespassing that the police have a duty to stop. However....

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Grim, Reality Bites.

and It all comes down to this.

Every time OPEC stops a pump, another one starts in North Dakota.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-opecs-prospective-deal-may-not-create-a-lasting-oil-rally-1475151854

- Mississippi

Tom said...

Officers with military-style armored vehicles and shotguns threatened the protesters, who call themselves “water protectors” for defending the Missouri River from imminent pollution, reported Unicorn Riot. Up to 21 were arrested, the channel reported.

"reported Unicorn Riot" -- That right there was worth the read.

Grim said...

Having ridden in a number of MRAPs over the years, I can't imagine why anyone would bring one if they didn't actually expect to encounter large IEDs of the type it was designed to defeat. That V-shaped chassis makes for a miserable ride.

Gringo said...

Note the source: TelesurTV- the Hugo Chavez channel. If any indigenous people tried that in Venezuela, they would get bulldozed.

Gringo said...

A further point about Venezuela. The Chavista regime has achieved a near monopoly in government-owned or government-supporting media outlets, a.k.a. communication hegemony. Rest assured that such a protest wouldn't hit the MSM in Venezuela, or if it did, the MSM would paint the protestors as Yanqui-loving traitors.

jaed said...

I can't imagine why anyone would bring one

The appearance of such a vehicle is very intimidating, particularly to peaceful protesters (i.e. no weapons or protection).

And police training and doctrine at this time is heavy on blunt intimidation, in order to secure compliance and ensure officer safety.

So....

Ymar Sakar said...

They have to justify getting these from the DHS and US military, somehow. Besides, it's just dry runs for when they need to run over US patriots and militias.