Ferguson protest in Ross park mall Saturday (Pittsburgh, Mars: college, living)

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by Lobick

I wonder if the Stonewall protests blocked traffic and inconvenienced delivery drivers?

Entirely different circumstances. No one is defending Garner or Brown's activities which precipitated police action, just the police tactics are being criticized and the grand juries' decision. The Stonewall riots came about from objections to the New York liquor code which was the reason for the raid on Stonewall in the first place

Further, the Stonewall rioters didn't block the Parkway in Pittsburgh, they knew that the people in Pittsburgh had no influence on criminal law or police raids hundreds of miles away in New York.

[JimboPGH]

I don't think protests like this really accomplish much beyond annoying the passerby's in the general vicinity of the protest... but anything that annoys this many Nixionian, "Law and Order" types is fine by me.

Also, bringing a shred of unfiltered democracy to the corporate sterility of a shopping mall is never a bad thing, whether the cause in question is deemed worthy or not by the Cranberrians of the world.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by JimboPGH

I don't think protests like this really accomplish much beyond annoying the passerby's in the general vicinity of the protest... but anything that annoys this many Nixionian, "Law and Order" types is fine by me.

Also, bringing a shred of unfiltered democracy to the corporate sterility of a shopping mall is never a bad thing, whether the cause in question is deemed worthy or not by the Cranberrians of the world.

Funny stuff.

[erieguy]

Dozens Protest At Ross Park Mall « CBS Pittsburgh

[JimboPGH]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

So what did everyone have for breakfast this morning? I had a healthy dose of white privilege infused into my mocha frappucino while doing laundry in Bloomfield with other working-class people who were oozing white privilege. It was totes delish!

I find the term "white privilege" to be divisive, clumsy, and more than a bit dismissive of the economic struggles of poor and working-class white people. However, using the talking points of "guilty white liberals" to help dismiss the indisputable racial biases present in the American judicial system is utterly reprehensible.

[Boomchee]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Dozens Protest At Ross Park Mall « CBS Pittsburgh

Just reading the comments section below gives one little hope that things could possibly change for the better.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Boomchee

Just reading the comments section below gives one little hope that things could possibly change for the better.

You're not kidding, just read them. Sad that there are so many out there like that.

[Vanessamichaels]

The mall is open to the public. I don't think there is much they can do about it if they protest peacefully. As long as they are not interfering with businesses by blocking them,harassing the shoppers or soliciting with out permission of the mall management I don't think there is anything they can do. The protesters are exercising their right to freedom of speech and that is a protected right. The mall does not have the right to take that away unless they can prove that the protestors are interfering with the business at the mall. And I also guarantee that the mall will welcome the peaceful protestors. When they get thirsty or hungry they will go to the food court. If they see something they like on sale while they go to attend the protest they will buy it. Some of them will probably Christmas shop when they are there. Peaceful protests would only benefit the mall because it will bring more money in. So don't count on them getting kicked out.

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Entirely different circumstances. No one is defending Garner or Brown's activities which precipitated police action, just the police tactics are being criticized and the grand juries' decision.

What actions exactly, Jaywalking and breaking up a fight? Remember, the officer who shot Mike Brow knew only that he was jaywalking and that's why he stopped him. Garner has later been "accused" of selling loose cigarettes but in the video he denies it and I've seen no actual proof that he was. Regardless, police "tactics" are being criticized to the extent that these men were stopped and questioned at all not just for the ridiculous escalation of force that followed both initial encounters.

The Stonewall riots came about from objections to the New York liquor code which was the reason for the raid on Stonewall in the first place

Sure, you can be overly technical about the reason for the "raid" which was just an excuse to hassle homosexuals. In the larger context, it's about disparate treatment of marginalized social groups by agents of the government whom society has granted extraordinary power to deprive a citizen's liberty. When viewed through a slightly larger prism they share many aspects.

Further, the Stonewall rioters didn't block the Parkway in Pittsburgh, they knew that the people in Pittsburgh had no influence on criminal law or police raids hundreds of miles away in New York.

I disheartened to read that you don't feel Pittsburgh is also burdened by police officers shooting and beating unarmed citizens. I see it as a national policing issue and understand why the protests are nationwide. Concerned citizens shouldn't have to wait until the next time it happens in this City before making their voices heard.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by Lobick

I disheartened to read that you don't feel Pittsburgh is also burdened by police officers shooting and beating unarmed citizens. I see it as a national policing issue and understand why the protests are nationwide. Concerned citizens shouldn't have to wait until the next time it happens in this City before making their voices heard.

We don't have a national policing problem, since we don't have a national police. Some police are too aggressive, but that's the way its always been. Some communities expect a more proactive PD, others not so much.

When I was a young man, Millvale had a young officer who was convicted of "official oppression" here in Allegheny County. Many members of the community still like him. The situation blew over for the officer, he moved upstate to the city of Cochranton and served for many years as their police chief.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search


As far as the local police today, there is a new police chief in Pittsburgh, someone with a new approach-we'll see how it works out. But going out to Ross Township to complain doesn't mean anything, they have their own cops out there.