Cops Harassing Citizens at the Request of Oligarchs

California has no AG Gag laws or regulations, but it has a lot of AG, a lot of which is big and locally powerful. So some people just documented an example of CHP and Fresno Sheriffs trying to enforce one anyway, by harassment and attempted intimidation, on behalf of an enormous cattle feeding operation.

The following BoingBoing article has a hilariously narrated, but quite disturbing video of police misbehavior: https://boingboing.net/2016/09/13/cops-hassle-filmmakers-flying.html. The video itself is on you tube and is embedded below. It starts slow but gets better and better, or worse and worse, as the case may be.

An animal welfare group decided to get some photos of an enormous feedlot run by Harris Ranch along I-5 in CA. They carefully parked on public property, in the form of a public easement, and set up to use a drone to get some pics. Soon tsome ranch employees show up and shortly after, the CHP. The CHP officer goes over and cordially greets and shakes the hands of the feedlot employees and then goes over to the guys with the drone to start giving them a ration of shit. Soon yet another cop, then another and yet more. The cops demand ID, and just happen to carry it with them during one of their trips over to chat with the todies representing their owners, the local oligarchs. One kind or assumes that the purpose was to make an unlawful disclosure, since there was no legitimate purpose to ask for ID, let along take it over to the private (as opposed to public) servants of thelocal oligarchy. Another cop takes pictures of all of them, no doubt for some nefarious purpose, since no legitimate one exists for such scurvy behavior. Sheriffs get involved too, and at long last, an independent one who is also in a supervisory position and the cops stop harassing the citizens who then go about their business.

But, the filmers return the next day and the same scenario plays out, with all of the harassers claiming that since they ween't there yesterday, it is a whole new world and set of rules. They're either too sleazy or too stupid to call up the office and ask about the report from the prior day, to talk to the officer from the prior day, etc. At the end, one pretty much openly states that no matter how many times they come back, they will be harassed and intimidated (except that their attempts at intimidatin failed) again and again and again.

Nobody was shot, maced, beaten, framed, or subjected to malicious false arrest, as is so often the case. Nobody even had their money or property stolen or got groped or solicited. Nonetheless we have malfeasance, cops trying to assist a huge CAFO in attempting to illegally suppress the gathering of information about its operations. Though CA has no Ag Gag laws, this company clearly tries to create one, ad hoc, and gets the cops to assist it because it is huge, wealthy, connected and powerful. Even on the smallest humdrum level, great numbers of cops do not "serve and protect" the people, but are instead waging war against the citizenry on behalf of the oligarchs, acting as enforcers, lackeys, toadies and gofers for the latter.

This isn't a problem with one cop, one force, one county, or one state. This is a national problem that permeates the entire country, and it will take concerted national action to try to re-establish some semblance the rule of law. Currently, we have the rule of the cops, who far too often make and enforce their own laws and rules and follow no others, and the rule of the oligarchs the whims and desires of which are enforced by the very same cops. We have no rights except in the sense that long after they've been violated some court might so rule, which does us no good whatsoever. The cops and oligarchs certainly won't help change things, and, if history is any guide, nor will lesser corporations, governments and government subdivisions, politicians and political parties unless they are driven to by manifestations of massive unrest such as strikes, boycotts, demonstrations and the like. Since this is a national problem, the solution needs to take place on a national scale, much like the civil rights, union and anti-war struggles of distant memory did.

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and AG and the gov't don't like it.
Btw, you don't have to give them your ID, you just have to show it.

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Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

enhydra lutris's picture

spend a few hours handcuffed in the back of their car in the hot sun and/or ber yaken down and booked for the usual "refusal to obey a legal order" and "resisting arrest" bullshit charges if you don't. It all depends on what is important to you at the moment when they make the demand.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Also, if you know your license number you can recite it to them. Cuffed and stuffed on that one, recognizance and no charges. wmp.

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Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

with the haves of society and act as rent-a-cops for them.

One-third of the methane emitted into the atmosphere in the contiguous 48 states comes from domestic livestock.

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"The justness of individual land right is not justifiable to those to whom the land by right of first claim collectively belonged"

enhydra lutris's picture

of this country. The history of the police and policing in this country is simply horrifying and disgusting. Re-read Zinn, looking for them and it is not pleasant.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

when you redefine all dissent as terrorism, it makes it real easy to accomplish this.

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"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

enhydra lutris's picture

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

lotlizard's picture

Ron Paul said so, if I recall correctly. Around the same time the supposedly “moderate” Romney said we needed to “double Guantanamo.”

What do this year’s Green and the Libertarian candidates say about repealing the Patriot Act, the military kangaroo court act, etc.?

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Phoebe Loosinhouse's picture

And we are all Black Lives Matter.

What happens to one happens to all.

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" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "

enhydra lutris's picture

wearers, hispanics (of course), asians, and on and on and on.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Raggedy Ann's picture

However, not a surprising video. Law enforcement is here to protect the 1% - this is not news, although it has been somewhat "hidden" in the last several decades. I'm thrilled it is being exposed more and more every day, much to the chagrin of law enforcement. They should no longer be able to hide, which is why I'm grateful for the video.

As for the feed lots - living in New Mexico and traveling to see in-laws in TX, I've been exposed to many feed lots. Raggedy Andy worked for a dairy farm, which is equally as bad. Give up meat, folks. Give up dairy. It is the only way to stop the madness of these feed lots and you'll get much healthier, as a side benefit!

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

shaharazade's picture

Isn't that what big Oil big Ag and too biggie rat's call people who dare to either protest or investigate their malfeasance? I like it that the Shark animal rights group have a drone. This does not surprise or shock me in any way.

The cops here in Portland are nothing but the good squad who protects business's interests. Not surprising as the city, state, government is also working for the oligarchs. Think about what it will be like when the TPP is in place.

When the Robobcops tore apart the OWS encampments in the park here they did so because the occupiers were wrecking the public space's grass. It was something to watch the violence and mess the cops created with their display of force. Same with our military armed forces who do they kill and fight for? They protect and serve the people who own the place.

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enhydra lutris's picture

second comment was a long accusatory rant in effect painting every organization concerned with animal welfare as eco-terrorists, akin to ALF, who also advocate that everybody become vegan and nobody be allowed to keep pets and on and on and on.

And, of course, yet another was from somebody who avowed that they too would call the cops if somebody flew a drone over their business, though they failed to state on what grounds.

Of course, the difference in reactions there and here is no more unexpected than the contents of the video itself.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

corporo-propertarists eager to defend the indefensible. coffeetalk is gone, but her spirit (and likely enough, a zombie account) lives on.

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The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.

Alphalop's picture

The Democratic Party has been so invaded by the "Moderate" Republicans that left their party that it is now basically little different than the pre-2002'ish Republican Party.

There is no major "left" party anymore, just far right and center right parties.

Our Government, and therefore our nation, has become a mockery of Democracy...

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"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me

earthling1's picture

is what you meant? Of course.
Law enforcement protects the monied elite from us.
The military protects them throughout the rest of the world.
If we could find a way to stop funding them both, we could stop this madness.
And the Oligarchs would hide in fear.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

enhydra lutris's picture

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

to add a subtitle:

Cops Harassing Citizens at the Request of Oligarchs:
the Essential Industries Clause in the Patriot Act

Coming soon--
the Essential Industries Clause does elections!

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"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

level by the essential industries clause:

Even on the smallest humdrum level, great numbers of cops do not "serve and protect" the people, but are instead waging war against the citizenry on behalf of the oligarchs, acting as enforcers, lackeys, toadies and gofers for the latter.

This isn't a problem with one cop, one force, one county, or one state. This is a national problem that permeates the entire country, and it will take concerted national action to try to re-establish some semblance the rule of law. Currently, we have the rule of the cops, who far too often make and enforce their own laws and rules and follow no others, and the rule of the oligarchs the whims and desires of which are enforced by the very same cops.

Well, OK, not "justified," but "legalized."

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"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

I once delivered Chicago's daily newspapers early every morning. I got to noticing that I never saw any cops in the neighborhoods, but I saw plenty keeping an eye on the businesses. I have seen little evidence across the subsequent decades -including during a rash of drive-by shootings in front of my house aimed at a neighbor- to change my mind who the cops really serve and protect. It isn't me.

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Vowing To Oppose Everything Trump Attempts.

Mark from Queens's picture

Most malleable of folks, cops are purposefully picked for their lower iq's. The low standards are bad enough, then to think of the State equip these young, naive, susceptible to racism and not very intelligent people with badges and guns to roam our streets with impunity.

What really gets me is that almost all policing is arbitrary. Why doesn't an older white lady with a mink on not get ticketed for not putting her directional on while driving or not stopped for trespassing but a young black or brown male will every time? I think all policing should be limited to responding to crises and potentially dangerous situations, no more patrolling. They should be at the precinct house and on call for emergencies only. Responding to domestic disputes? What a joke. Most of these guys are totally unqualified for such a job. Send marriage social workers.

They're basically enforcers for the 1%. Employed by local municipalities to raise money for their "austerity-strapped" towns (see Ferguson or Flint for the most glaring examples), they keep the poor and working class embroiled in a fetid stew of small debts and little frauds that keep

When they get out (if they're good little boys and girls) they get cush jobs working for the 1% in security. Trump's bonehead goon security guards are but one example. A New Yorker piece last year described former NYPD Commissioner Bratton as someone who could be seen dining around town with the 1%.

It's a protectionist racket, with countless examples of legions of cops on the take. Serpico put his life on the line to expose this.

As usual James Baldwin gets to the truth like few others:

...the police are simply the hired enemies of this population. They are present to keep the Negro in his place and to protect white business interests, and they have no other function. They are, moreover—even in a country which makes the very grave error of equating ignorance with simplicity—quite stunningly ignorant; and, since they know that they are hated, they are always afraid. One cannot possibly arrive at a more surefire formula for cruelty.

This is why those pious calls to “respect the law,” always to be heard from prominent citizens each time the ghetto explodes, are so obscene. The law is meant to be my servant and not my master, still less my torturer and my murderer. To respect the law, in the context in which the American Negro finds himself, is simply to surrender his self-respect.

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"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:

THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"

- Kurt Vonnegut

lotlizard's picture

Fat lot of good that did them.

All Japanese-Americans had left to fall back on was their stoicism and their very-long-term faith in America. The latter was so great they even sent their sons to fight and die in Europe while living in concentration camps in the desert.

Remember all the other minorities and activist groups that stood up for them, went to bat for them? Me neither. (To be fair, some groups did rally to help them “resettle” after they were released from the camps.)

https://depts.washington.edu/civilr/after_internment.htm

(So much in the linked article. Just one remark: Democrat Henry “Scoop” Jackson, who later became a famous Senator and model for today’s neocons, started his career as a hardcore anti-Asian racist for economic motives? Why am I not surprised?)

(Edited to add: knowing what little value America has historically placed on Hawaiians and Asians, I guess that’s why Trump or Republicans don’t scare me in the least — if anything scares me, it’s what “normal,” majority, Ellis Island celebrating, FDR-revering, labor union supporting, Republican and Democratic America is capable of.)

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gulfgal98's picture

This is something that every citizen should be highly concerned about. The perversion of justice simply to protect profits. It is not going to get better unless the people stand up to the system.

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

enhydra lutris's picture

taught in history classes.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

I was given a ticket for patronizing a chain tire store instead of the independent tire guy next door. It was on the independent's lot that the cop hid until he could spring upon the unsuspecting. No one who went to the independent's store was bothered by him in the slightest, even though many committed the same traffic violation I had to get my citation.

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Vowing To Oppose Everything Trump Attempts.

enhydra lutris's picture

major stock in trade for those guys.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --