How the Police Take Down Protests

Gothamist is going to work on getting our hands on the NYPD reports about how to quell protesters, because today's NY Times article about how the NYPD has used tactics like "proactive arrests" and bringing in correction buses to scare protesters is fascinating. It seems that proactive arrests are used when protesters use "hard-core, violent" tactics (metal pipes, for instance, to rush the police), which can make sense, if you're thinking strictly in terms of public safety. But then there's this:

The reports also made clear what the police have yet to discuss publicly: that the department uses undercover officers to infiltrate political gatherings and monitor behavior.

Indeed, one of the documents — a draft report from the department's Disorder Control Unit — proposed in blunt terms the resumption of a covert tactic that had been disavowed by the city and the federal government 30 years earlier. Under the heading of recommendations, the draft suggested, "Utilize undercover officers to distribute misinformation within the crowds."

Aha! So those protesters who are paranoid about cops being in the midst? Totally true, as mentioned in an earlier Times article. We'd also like to note that the Times' coverage of the messy convergence between the police and protesters, be they Critical Mass rides or political protests, has been especially good.

Other posts about police tactics: The NYPD using using videotape surveillance and even police officers are upset.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on March 17, 2006 9:03 AM

Comments [rss]

Kojak

"...Not one anti-war movement has ever been successful in preventing a war. ever."

Maybe so, but if theres enough support for it, it can help end a war more quickly and change the balance of power in government.

But these days.....

Sometimes i wish we lived in the 70's, when Americans actually gave a shit.

anyone use real name and addre

talk about repeating propaganda eliot. disgusting. here's fun fact for you: Not one anti-war movement has ever been successful in preventing a war. ever. its abig world out there folks full of people who have different opinions. it's amazing that that activists and like-minded people, has so little intolerance for views witch conflict with their beliefs. And, having worked in the area near MSG last year it was nothign more than a hassle and didn't seem very effective.

nm

Hey, quit your bitchin. Most of you guys foolishy voted for Bloomberg, who gave Ray Kelly a blank check to do all of this. You get what you deserve.

eliot

There is simply no excuse for these tactics.

First, These tactics are NOT used only against "hard-core" or violent protestors -- they are used indiscriminately as a means of crowd control, against whoever happens to be in an intersection the police want to clear.

Second, NO ONE, in ANY American protest over the last decade has EVER "rushed the police" with metal pipes. Period.

I was there at 59th and 5th when the police swooped in. The pretext for the arrests at 59th and 5th were that some "black bloc" kids were rumored to have plastic PVC pipes holding up their banner. Someone had put out a call to reinforce banners with PVC piping to defend against police batons and prevent the "snatch squads" from grabbing individuals.

Whether anyone actually made such banners is unknown to me, and was probably unknown to the police. But the rumor was enough to give them an excuse to implement their plan to intimidate and harass participants in a legal, permitted demonstration.

The same crackdown was planned in advance both tactically and through media fear-mongering about violent anarchist hordes. The process repeated itself during the RNC, during Boston's DNC, during

Miami's FTAA protests, the list goes on.

There's no reason to repeat police propaganda in reporting on these things.

Danial Ellsberg

Basically people should do whatever they want and disrupt other people's lives. That serves the .5% of the population. 10's of thousands, if not closer to 100,000 in some of the "anti-war" "protests" versus a few hundred police officers who could give a damn about cause A or cause B, and want to put in 8 1/2 hours and go themselves. They are burden to all and a nuisance to most in New York, and accomplish close to absolutely nothing, particularly with the current national leadership. I am sure Bush is very receptive to protests, especially those that destroy public and private property, not to mention spitting in police officers faces and punching horses. No justice, no peace!

bigbro

sounds very COINTELPRO. the state will stop at nothing to protect its interests. see fred hampton.

Toby

"Disorder Control Unit" sounds very 1984.

Max

Easy bake Fascism Recipe:

1. Take one undercover cop.

2. Give UC policeman metal pipe, firecrackers, etc.

3. Inseert said policeman in crowd of protestors.

4. Mix UC policeman within crowd to whip up violence and cause chaos.

5. Arrest everyone.

6. Collect cushy job/payoff/appointment

7. Define potential threats to above step.

8. Arrest potential threats ad infinitum.

9. When done will serve .5% of population. Goes best with fine imported wine. Serve out of skulls of enemies.