The police have too much power, are above the law and have no accountability or oversight. If we do not bow down to their barking orders we are subject to torture from tasers, pepper spray, beatings, arrest and criminal charges. We have been conditioned to fear the police. Most of us are terrified to even disagree with them even when they are blatantly wrong. Groups of people watch as police assault and batter people. If we even touch an officer we are subject to felony charges. We need police reform.

Watch the shocking videos here http://www.youtube.com/user/CopsOutofControl WARNING: Videos are graphic and show police executing people.

Also check out the play list called "Know Your Rights" This is America and we cannot stand by while the police abuse and brutalize the people.

Consider - what kind of person would choose a career as a TSA "agent". The kind who wants to push people around and intimidate them. ie a thug, with a badge.

Also there was a video here a long while ago that showed how to respond if you are 1) pulled over and asked to allow a search of your car, 2) asked by police "can we come in" after noise complaints by neighbors. Tricky bastards, you gotta know your rights.

>> You are treated like a giant piece of shit, no matter what the hell you have done. You are taunted, ridiculed, called ridiculous names, harassed and basically lied to as much as possible, unless you know your rights and stick up for them.

Does this sticking up for your rights include verbally assaulting your arresting officers and throwing things at them? I don't know how doing those things could be considered sticking up for your rights. Does it make officers call you less ridiculous names and stop harassing you?

>> And to think she somehow deserves to get the shit beat out of her for getting a sneaker come close to almost brushing against your leg.. holy shit you guys! WTF? That's a big downvote from me.

I didn't say or imply she deserves to get the shit beat out of her. In fact, I said I don't at all condone the officers' actions. They probably should be fired for having such a terrible lack of control over their anger. All I said was I don't feel sorry for her. The officers were extraneous to my point.

The girl demonstrated that she has no respect for authority and not even a shred of common sense by continually insulting the officers then finally kicking her shoe at them. It's like those guys at the zoo who kept shooting rocks at that tiger with their slingshot until it found a way to escape from its enclosure and attack them. My point is they wouldn't have been killed and maimed if they just hadn't insisted on provoking the tiger.

If you're intentionally doing something that carries with it inherent risk to your safety (for no reason other than you are a disrespectful piece of shit) and that risk is realized as a direct result of your own actions, I just can't feel sorry for you.

There are too many selfish, self-centered, disrespectful people in this world who don't give a shit about their elders, authorities, or just anyone else in general.

>> ^volumptuous:
BC and Lucky obviously have never been in jail before.
You are treated like a giant piece of shit, no matter what the hell you have done. You are taunted, ridiculed, called ridiculous names, harassed and basically lied to as much as possible, unless you know your rights and stick up for them.
And to think she somehow deserves to get the shit beat out of her for getting a sneaker come close to almost brushing against your leg.. holy shit you guys! WTF? That's a big downvote from me.
These are "fat pigs" and if they flip out over a teenage girl tossing a shoe at them, they should be nowhere near an armed weapon or a tazer.


Yeah, flipping a shoe at someone does not deserve what this cop did to her. He WAY over reacted to the situation. And if that caused "blood pockets" then this pussy needs to get another job, 'cuz I'd hate to see what would happen to him if someone punched or shot him.

BC and Lucky obviously have never been in jail before.

You are treated like a giant piece of shit, no matter what the hell you have done. You are taunted, ridiculed, called ridiculous names, harassed and basically lied to as much as possible, unless you know your rights and stick up for them.

And to think she somehow deserves to get the shit beat out of her for getting a sneaker come close to almost brushing against your leg.. holy shit you guys! WTF? That's a big downvote from me.

These are "fat pigs" and if they flip out over a teenage girl tossing a shoe at them, they should be nowhere near an armed weapon or a tazer.

I disagree with her that retroactive immunity was given because it was a revenue stream for telecom firms, it was given because Bush pushed for it, issuing an executive order post 9/11 that mandated that the NSA, bypass FISC approval under FISA to start wire tapping. If you are a US based telecom firm, how exactly do you say no to the NSA when it comes with orders from Bush, at the time of large terrorism fears and general public support to do pretty much anything?

The blame is thus with the abuse of executive powers as envisioned by Cheney and the rest of the Nixon gang that believed that the President has the ultimate authority to do anything he likes. Also as I recall there was one single telecom firm that refused to abide by this and thus was mired in legal issues. I do however concede that there is alot of American technology helping China impose a surveillance society everyone from Microsoft to Yahoo to Google is involved there.

America needs civics education programs in schools from Elementary level. If you don't know your rights as a citizen, being free is a moot point.

So, you think you know every single law in your area? You'd better know them all before you blithely consent to a search, because the cops will certainly know what they can nail you for, even if you didn't know it was illegal.

Oh, and you'd better be sure some dumb friend didn't accidentally leave something in your car or in your house too.

Consenting to a search is stupid.

Be polite, know your rights, assert them.

MG, are you saying this never happens?

Cops are not always dicks. Most of them are professional and courteous. However, some of them are dicks. And this video could help prevent you from being taken advantage of.

Know your rights. Stay calm, do not answer questions, do not react if provoked, and do not give them anything they don't have the right to take.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'speeding, ticket, howto, know, your, rights' to 'speeding, ticket, howto, know, your, rights, aclu' - edited by MrFisk

The cops asked for license, proof of registration, and insurance documents.

Normally, they are only allowed to ask for those things if they caught you doing something in violation of the law.

Know your rights.

After reading the discussion here, I came across this from the Know Your Rights Manual for New York City Messengers and Cyclists:

"What’s the Law?
Many cops don’t even know the law. How many times were you pulled over for
something that you swore that the cop made up? Know the law, and you will
have power. This information is from Transportation Alternatives/

Rights and Responsibilities
You must obey traffic laws. Every bicyclist and in-line skater has the same
rights and is subject to the same duties as a driver of a vehicle, with certain
exceptions. (NYS 1231)

Where to Ride
Ride in the bike lane if provided, except for safety, turns, etc. (NYC 4-12, p)
On a wide one-way roadway, ride on either side. (NYC 4-12, p)
Ride on the right side of the roadway, with above exceptions. (NYS 1234)
Where Not to Ride
Don’t ride on the sidewalk unless you are twelve years old or younger. (NYC 4-
07, c)
If you ride on the sidewalk, your bike can be confiscated. (NYC Admin Code
19-176)
Don’t ride on expressways, highways, interstates or thruways unless authorized
by signs. (NYC 4-12, o)

How to Ride - How Not to Ride
Don’t hitch your bike or cling to any other vehicle on the roadway. (No skitching.)
(NYS 1233)
Don’t ride more than two abreast. Ride single file when being passed. (NYS
1234)
Use hand and arm signals to indicate turns and stops. (NYS 1237)
If you’re carrying packages, keep at least one hand on handlebar. (NYS 1235)
Don’t ride friends on the handlebars or seat. Carry only the number of persons
for which your bike is designed. (NYS 1232)
Ride with your feet on the pedals. (NYS 1232)"

For the record, I agree that the use of force here was excessive and unlawful and just plain disgusting. So onto the legalities! I can't see how biking en masse in this manner, especially on what appears to be a multiple lane one-way road, is technically legal due to the above. Can someone also explain how this falls under freedom of assembly? Disrupting traffic and ignoring cyclist laws, possibly causing collisions with other drivers and or/other pedestrians, somewhat negates the "whole assemble peaceably and in an orderly manner" under which any other protest would have to abide by. If I'm misinformed in my attempt at ascertaining the situation on a subject I have literally zero experience but am interested in, please inform me. In no way am I defending Captain McClusky's actions.

The issue has got me thinking about my own state's laws on cycling. Should I ever need to know.

"We all recognize the need for effective law enforcement, but we should also understand our own rights and responsibilities -- especially in our relationships with the police. Everyone, including minors, has the right to courteous and respectful police treatment.

If your rights are violated, don't try to deal with the situation at the scene. You can discuss the matter with an attorney afterwards, or file a complaint with the Internal Affairs or Civilian Complaint Board. "

from
http://aclu.org/police/gen/14528res20040730.html

a nice 'Know Your Rights' link, shared in the related digg comments.

http://digg.com/videos/people/The_full_expanded_newspaper_report_of_the_Missourri_Policeman_Gone_Wild

The last time i saw a cop act like that was in a Burt Reynolds movie. These "know your rights" things are all well and good but they are really just a guide on how to annoy police and not get out of being caught for doing something wrong. If your not doing anything wrong then co-operate and be on your way. Thier just doing thier job too. The moment you say you refuse to being searched you might as well say "sure ive got illegal stuff in the car but im going to be an ass about it till you search me anyway". Can you imagine ANY police officer saying "oh, you dont allow it? My apologies sir.. please be on your way." pfft. My advice, if you dont like the laws, write to a politician. The police dont make'em up.

I'll give this an up vote because it's worth a discussion, but I'm not sure I'd endorse it as such. It is *highly* important to understand your rights, a cop or prosecutor is allowed to lie to you in order to get what they want. They have no obligation to act in your best interests, if they can sucker you into saying or doing what they want to expose something they suspect, they are allowed to.

Knowing your rights is important. Taking the time to tell a cop about them is likely to get you in more trouble, at least if done before you really need to. I've had real good luck myself just being polite and conversational, even back in my long haired hippie days Start sounding like a jailhouse lawyer before you need to and they'll look at you that way, as a probable criminal. When it does come to rights the Supreme Court has made a few decisions over recent years which encroached on them to the point where I'm not positive myself what can be trusted on a case by case basis, so the odds of starting a confrontation you might be wrong in seems too high to do it without real need.

If it comes to a search or something, sure, say you don't consent and make it clear that you won't. If they insist anyway allow them, don't resist and complicate things, just keep sticking to that without your consent part and you might get the case thrown out if they are wrong. If at any point you say something like you're going to look no matter if I want or not so go ahead, you're screwed, That's consent.

It's called "probable cause"....it gives the police great lee-way into what they can and can't do. For instance, if there were a crime being committed inside a private residence such as a murder or a rape or some other such crime, the police do NOT have to wait for a search warrant to enter.

If the cop suspected there was underage drinking going on or other illegal activities, he really didn't need a search warrant to enter.

The 4th amendment says this:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Bottom line, the cop may or may not have had probable cause....but it doesn't really matter. If an arrest were to be made, THEN it would be determined in court whither he had probable cause or not. If he didn't, the charges and such can be dropped. But the whole point is to hassle you until you stop what you're doing. Where are you going to go if the cop walks in? Call the cops? They will all say they had probable cause and back up their officer...then tell you that no one was arrested so why are they complaining blah blah blah. Really, what are you going to do if a cop walks in without a warrant? Warn him he better leave? Or what?

It's all fine and good to say that you know your rights, but your rights mean zero if all they want to do is hassle you. Good luck trying to prove it.