Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Scare at State Fair: witnesses describe mobs, some people claim racially-charged attacks

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Latest Breaking News Donate to DU
 
joeglow3 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 10:46 AM
Original message
Scare at State Fair: witnesses describe mobs, some people claim racially-charged attacks
Edited on Fri Aug-05-11 10:47 AM by joeglow3
Source: WTMJ - NBC Affiliate

WEST ALLIS - Witnesses tell Newsradio 620 WTMJ and TODAY'S TMJ4 of a mob of young people attacking innocent fair-goers at the end of the opening night of State Fair, with some callers claiming a racially-charged scene.

Milwaukee Police confirmed there were assaults outside the fair.

Witnesses' accounts claim everything from dozens to hundreds of young black people beating white people as they left State Fair Thursday night.

Authorities have not given official estimates of the number of people involved in the attacks.

"It looked like they were just going after white guys, white people," said Norb Roffers of Wind Lake in an interview with Newsradio 620 WTMJ. He left the State Fair Entrance near the corner of South 84th Street and West Schlinger Avenue in West Allis.




Read more: http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/126825018.html



While this clearly is not justifiable, can anyone be surprised people are getting restless. You can only be oppressed so much, and those in Wisconsin have taken a LOT lately.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
no_hypocrisy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 10:53 AM
Response to Original message
1. If true, I see it as a symptom of what's going on generally.
No money for schools, job-training, activities that build a future.

And mob mentality. You've heard of the Tweet Flash Mobs that converge on stores and openly steal items. Kids do it for the thrill of doing something with a group as much as they want the stuff. Something similar here with one or two individuals picking a fight and others joining in.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Enrique Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 10:57 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. also I wonder if the number of police is down
there's that one city in NJ, Camden I think, where they cut the force way down, but I wonder how many other localities are losing cops under these right-wing governors.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
oldbanjo Donating Member (223 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:26 PM
Response to Reply #2
24. Crime got too bad and they had to hire them back.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Chimichurri Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 05:18 PM
Response to Reply #2
70. Newark layed off 167 policemen. Gang members passed out t-shirts with the date
they were being let go emblazoned on them. They were in the streets celebrating. I kid you not.
http://www.wpix.com/wpix-newark-layoffs,0,4362999.story
http://www.thenation.com/article/156522/rise-chris-christie-governor-wrecking-ball

The murder rate has skyrocketed because of it. Gee, I wonder why. Thanks Republicans!
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/newark_homicides_up_64_percent.html
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
indurancevile Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 03:59 AM
Response to Reply #70
77. dubious.
Edited on Sat Aug-06-11 04:03 AM by indurancevile
A lawsuit claims that gang members are not only counting down to a deadline for police and firefighter layoffs in Newark, they're actually passing out t-shirts emblazoned with the layoff date.


nothing besides that in the articles to indicate it's true. the increases in crime are contradictory (rape & aggravated assault down, for example) & no reason to attribute them to the change in policing v. other factors without more detailed analysis.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Chimichurri Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 08:13 AM
Response to Reply #77
82. A 71 percent increase in killings from a year prior when there were 167 more cops.
Between Jan. 1 and April 17, Newark has seen marked increases in homicides, shootings and thefts, while overall crime rose by 21 percent compared with the same time last year, according to Newark’s quarterly crime statistics obtained by The Star-Ledger.

The violent opening to 2011 is in stark contrast to last year, when the department enjoyed one of its most successful stretches in recent memory. Crime dropped 13 percent during the first three months of 2010 and Newark police crippled one of the city’s oldest drug havens in a massive raid at Academy Spires apartments.


http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/newark_homicides_up_64_percent.html


(167 Lay offs were in November 2010, largest in 32 years)

7/8/11
Newark's city council voted yesterday to require all late-night restaurants to have an armed security guard posted from 9 p.m. to closing.
http://securelaw.blogspot.com/2011/07/newark-restaurants-must-have-armed.html




You may not like facts but you cannot dispute them because just because you don't like what you see.



Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
indurancevile Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 12:02 PM
Response to Reply #82
87. i.e. 12 more murders. there is no reason to attribute it to lack of policing without
more information.

correlation = not causation.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Lance_Boyle Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:00 AM
Response to Reply #1
4. Milwaukee has Juneteenth mob violence nearly every year,
recession or no. I don't think attempting to blame racial violence on the recession is productive.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
no_hypocrisy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:11 AM
Response to Reply #4
5. Not blame entirely, just a factor to be calculated.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
pennylane100 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:21 AM
Response to Reply #4
6. Agreed.
If they were just plain angry about lack of jobs and training why did they only beat attack white people. Nobody wants to be thought of as racist, but the truth is that a whole group of young black people set out to beat up as many people as they could, who were not black. The report tells of a horrific beating of a young male and I hope they catch them responsible and charge them with hate crimes.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:33 PM
Response to Reply #6
25. Deleted message
Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
grasswire Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 10:57 AM
Response to Original message
3. Limbaugh is going to love this.
Gives him a chance to beat up on minorities.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Rozlee Donating Member (821 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:26 AM
Response to Reply #3
7. FAUX will be lapping it up, too.
A crowd of a hundred will be mobs of tens of thousands wielding machetes. "Dozens" to "hundreds" say some eyewitnesses. "50 to 100" says another. There's no consensus. And no excuse for assaulting anyone. But, teabaggers will love it and connect it somehow to having a black president. He's the Manchurian candidate that was put in place by a secret black cartel to usher in an uprising against the white majority.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
valerief Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:41 AM
Response to Reply #3
13. My thoughts exactly. He must be beaming. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
RandomKoolzip Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:00 PM
Response to Reply #3
19. Yeah, but this actually happened. It's not as if this story's made up.
Sure, Limabugh and the racist shitheads on talk radio will have a field day, but this is the latest in a series of mob violence incidents happening in this country, and I'm more intrigued by why it's happening than what the right wing media will do with it.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
indurancevile Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 04:04 AM
Response to Reply #19
78. i wouldn't be so sure it happened as reported.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
totodeinhere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:05 PM
Response to Reply #3
22. Yes he probably will use the story to promote his own agenda. But that doesn't make
what happened right or any less serious. Where is your outrage at the violence? Or are you only worried about what Limbaugh will say about it?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Brother Buzz Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 03:02 PM
Response to Reply #3
44. Just wait for the Watts riot - Reagan connection
Law and order
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DURHAM D Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:31 AM
Response to Original message
8. My first thought - the Koch brothers hired some thugs.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
EFerrari Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:35 AM
Response to Reply #8
10. Yep. If it's true. These stories always turn out to be bs of some kind. n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Patiod Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 01:39 PM
Response to Reply #10
41. Well, it's not bs here in Philly.
I was going to post links, but there are too many. Just google "flash mob violence Philadelphia".

Denying that it happens doesn't help.

Understanding what's causing it is more useful.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
indurancevile Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 03:25 PM
Response to Reply #41
51. what's causing it is psyops.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
grasswire Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:36 AM
Response to Reply #8
11. yeah, I always figured starting a race war would be their trump card.
I've always understood that the right could start one any time they felt it would be useful. Kinda surprised it took them this long. Wait till they start talking about the "Muslim thugs who were educated in prison schools for crime" again.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
oldhippydude Donating Member (446 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:39 PM
Response to Reply #11
29. yep
black folks rioting... just before the recall.. be very scared!! sounds like Rovian tactics..
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
valerief Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:42 AM
Response to Reply #8
14. Sounds plausible, cuz that's what the mafia does. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Proletariatprincess Donating Member (527 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:35 PM
Response to Reply #8
26. Exactly...
this story doesn't ring true....too convenient for this battleground state. I need a fuller explanation and then I will consider the source for credibility.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JDPriestly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 03:13 PM
Response to Reply #26
48. Yes. This is really strange timing.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
indurancevile Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 04:05 AM
Response to Reply #26
79. isn't there a recall election next week or something?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
a simple pattern Donating Member (426 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:39 PM
Response to Reply #8
28. I agree 100%
What a convenient timing, too.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ChrisBorg Donating Member (411 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 03:08 PM
Response to Reply #8
45. At some point blaming everything on the Koch brothers makes you look simple minded.
I think this is the point.

The Koch brothers made my milk spoil and my grass turn green.....or was it Rove?

Bad people do bad things all by themselves.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DURHAM D Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 03:59 PM
Response to Reply #45
55. Well Chris - you clearly weren't involved in the Anti-War Movement or
the Women's Movement.

the naive it burns
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ChrisBorg Donating Member (411 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 04:38 PM
Response to Reply #55
59. The tinfoil burns also. You really think the Koch bros paid black youths
to rampage at a state fair? You are seeing spectral forces behind everything.

Because there have been instances of behind the scene manipulations in the past does not mean that every instance has a puppet master.

Stupid people do stupid thing especially when mob mentality takes over. Look at all the post-win/lose sports celebrations that turn into car burning riots. Koch brothers? Karl Rove? Tea Party or just Glenn Beck? Not everything is a grand scheme event.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DURHAM D Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 04:45 PM
Response to Reply #59
63. All I said was it was the first thing that came to mind.
I didn't make a case for the payments. I have lived through and been involved in many movements so forgive me if I am a little cynical.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ChrisBorg Donating Member (411 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 04:52 PM
Response to Reply #63
65. That's more than a little cynical. It is approaching delusional, that's all I am saying.
So if something burns you it is not my naivete.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DURHAM D Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 04:54 PM
Response to Reply #65
66. How old are you?
Edited on Fri Aug-05-11 04:56 PM by DURHAM D
Edit to add - Look how many other people agreed that it might be possible.

You are the outlier.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Kingofalldems Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 05:13 PM
Response to Reply #59
68. Big fan of the Kochs?
Not fooled.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Hassin Bin Sober Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 06:09 PM
Response to Reply #68
71. Yep. Do a posts search.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
indurancevile Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 04:14 AM
Response to Reply #59
80. it means that the possibility is always worthy of consideration, however.
Edited on Sat Aug-06-11 04:33 AM by indurancevile
it's not an isolated phenomenon.

The “strategy of tension” denotes a highly secretive series of interconnected covert operations conducted jointly by the CIA and MI6 largely in Western Europe during the this period. Well-documented by several respected historians, confirmed by official inquiries, and corroborated by former intelligence officials, the “strategy of tension” is one of those unsavoury moments in contemporary history that we don’t learn about in school, or even university.

During the Cold War, indeed through to the late 1980s, the United States, United Kingdom, and Western European governments and secret services, participated in a sophisticated NATO-backed operation to engineer terrorist attacks inside Western Europe, to be blamed on the Soviet Union. The objective was to galvanize public opinion against leftwing policies and parties, and ultimately to mobilize popular support for purportedly anti-Soviet policies at home and abroad – most of which were really designed to legitimize brutal military interventions against nationalist independence movements in the “Third World”.


http://nafeez.blogspot.com/2007/05/strategy-of-tension.html

The strategy of tension (Italian: strategia della tensione) is a theory that describes how world powers divide, manipulate, and control public opinion using fear, propaganda, disinformation, psychological warfare, agents provocateurs, and false flag terrorist actions.<1>

The theory began with allegations that the United States government and the Greek military junta of 1967–1974 supported far-right terrorist groups in Italy and Turkey, where communism was growing in popularity, to spread panic among the population who would in turn demand stronger and more dictatorial governments...

An astonishing observation of the terrorism in Italy that was blamed on communists is that it coincided with election victories for the communists at the poll. So as the PCI was gaining popular support, the number of civilian-targeted bombings, random knee-cappings, and high-profile kidnappings blamed on communist terrorists increased markedly. Furthermore, starting with the 1969 Piazza Fontana bombing and the 1972 Peteano attack, several bombings carried out by the far-right were at first blamed on anarchists (for the first one) and, for the second one, on the Red Brigades (BR) — although it was later found that neofascists, such as Vincenzo Vinciguerra, had organized them. Piazza Fontana's bombing, in December 1969, marked the beginning of the "strategia della tensione", which ended around the time of the Bologna railway station bombing in 1980.

Turkey has a history of involvement in similar plots. The Turkish branch of Gladio, known as Counter-Guerrilla, allegedly followed a similar strategy in Turkey in order to justify the 1980 military coup.<9> Turkish secret police are also believed to have instigated the bombing of the Turkish consulate in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1955, leading to the Istanbul Pogrom against the Greek minority of Istanbul.<10>

Operation Condor in South America and events in Algeria during the 1990s (see Organisation of Young Free Algerians). Stefano Delle Chiaie apparently had a hand in both what was happening in Italy and with Operation Condor, as he met with Michael Townley (a US expatriate, DINA agent). It has been claimed that Delle Chiaie was involved in the murder of General Carlos Prats in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 30, 1974. Delle Chiaie, along with fellow extremist Vincenzo Vinciguerra, testified in Rome in December 1995 before judge María Romilda Servini de Cubría that Enrique Arancibia Clavel (a former Chilean secret police agent prosecuted for crimes against humanity in 2004)<19> and Michael Townley were directly involved in this assassination.<20>


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategy_of_tension

and your scenario of someone telling black kids to go trash the fair is not the only scenario. people can manipulated into doing things without directly giving them marching orders.

as someone mentioned, an anonymous tweet that white kids are beating up black kids at the fair could do it -- and vice-versa, all the publicity about black kids supposedly beating up white people can draw a reaction.

Or a simple agent provocateur who organizes other people under some pretext.

or false reporting, i.e. blowing up something more innocuous into a racial incident.

Or putting out videos like the "flash rob" ones currently going round -- of an isolated or perhaps manufactured/acted incident -- to provoke imitation.

or yeah, it could be somebody directly paying someone to round up a bunch of people to make a scene. if you think that's so impossible, well...


What's the goal? Scare people in Wisconsin into voting for "law & order".

A perennial in the US as elsewhere. Worked for more than one presidential candidate.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
musette_sf Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 09:25 PM
Response to Reply #55
73. + 1
:fistbump:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 03:27 PM
Response to Reply #8
53. Provocateurs. Certainly wouldn't be the first time, would it? Who benefits? n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Evasporque Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:33 AM
Response to Original message
9. Creampuffs and Fisticuffs!
Wisconsin State Fair!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
cheapdate Donating Member (197 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:40 AM
Response to Original message
12. Obviously racial attacks by a bunch of teenage thugs.
There's no "new" social phenomenon going on here. The overwhelming majority of all crime is committed by teenage boys, and young underemployed males, no matter what color they are. Always has been. Groups of stupid teenagers do this kind of shit all the time; white, black, Asian, or brown.

This was pretty egregious, but I've seen some pretty egregious shit like this before growing up in Mobile, Alabama. Teenagers behaving badly; stop the presses.

Yes, it's bad, but for a lot of fear-filled Americans, this will be epically bad; a sign of the coming murder and enslavement of white people.

A thousand cases of white on brown violence, no big deal. One case of brown on white violence, holy shit! Lock up your women and get your gun!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Mojorabbit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:48 AM
Response to Reply #12
15. When I was a young woman 30-40 years ago
I thought we would have evolved out of this stuff by now. I am just so cynical these days about everything.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
cheapdate Donating Member (197 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:07 PM
Response to Reply #15
23. Don't get too cynical.
Teenage boys are going to do stupid shit. Even if we took an entire generation of teenage boys off of planet Earth and raised them on the moon; away from their stupid-ass fathers and his idiot friends, away from their stupid-ass uncles, away from Eight Mile, and Animal House, and all the rest, they'd still come back to Earth and blow their fingers off lighting fireworks.

I spent years in the trenches as a teenager and young man, battling reason and common sense. Most young men eventually grow out of it.

I'm actually encouraged in the numbers of better behaved young people that I see these days.

I think a good, old-fashioned hippie drum circle with mushrooms is what this country needs to come together.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Stardust Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 01:26 PM
Response to Reply #23
92. I'm so ready for that drum circle, etc. right now.
Seriously, I wonder what effect mushrooms would have on the teabagger, right-wing types. They may be enlightened, or it might backfire. Who knows? What the hell, it's worth a shot, right? Nothing else seems to be swaying them.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bitchkitty Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 01:23 PM
Response to Reply #12
90. +1
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
RandomKoolzip Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:52 AM
Response to Original message
16. There's no defense for this. Sorry.
Mob violence for no fucking reason isn't defensible by using the "Well, they're poor and oppressed" button. There's no rational explanation for what happened here other than a lot of people wanting to beat the living shit out of innocent people.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Supersedeas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:04 PM
Response to Reply #16
21. Rage against oppressional and rationality usually do not go hand in hand
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
snipervictim Donating Member (18 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:40 PM
Response to Reply #16
30. I think you might try being poor and oppressed first
Before you make that statement don't get me wrong I myself would not do that because I KNOW nothing good will come from it.I think the problem is they just have way to much time on their hands and have come to the understanding they are living behind enemy lines.I remember when I first came to that understanding I was mad for a long time and it took even longer for me to understand how to SEE who really is my enemy and who is just going along to get along.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
RandomKoolzip Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 01:19 PM
Response to Reply #30
40. You have no idea who you're talking to, "snipervictim."
:rollseyes:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mojowork_n Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:53 PM
Response to Reply #16
36. Whatever really happened, it couldn't have been for "No Reason"
Sad to say, because I live here, but Milwaukee is easily in the country's Top 5 Most Segregated Metropolis' list.

One of the things -- historically -- that's gone along with that is a police force that's at least as much an occupying army,
as it is an organization devoted to "protection and service, for every citizen."

In fact, going back decades, the State Fair in West Allis has historically been a venue where blacks were not
welcome.

Part of that came from the "police protection" provided during the Fair. Cops from all over the state used to (not
sure it's still set up that way) have a "bus man's holiday." They'd get time off in exchange for assorted perks and
the opportunity to patrol the park with little supervision and no real organized command structure. All the cops were
'just volunteering' and part of the reward was being able to toss whomever they wanted to in to the park's tiny little
jail.

I know, because I was arrested. My crime was stopping to stare too long, as I was leaving the main gate. Two 15 or
16 year old kids were kneeling, with their hands locked behind their heads, in the glare of the lights. It looked
like a major arrest of terrorists, because there were at least a dozen cops there. Given the youth of the offenders,
it took me a minute to figure out what must have happened. The boy was black, and his cute female friend was both
European-American-looking and blonde.

In my case, the charges were dropped. I told the D.A. exactly what happened, refused to budge from the facts, and
had an attorney friend threaten a jury trial.

But that's just Milwaukee, for you.

The new police chief here is a major improvement over our own Bull Conner, Harold Brier (way back in the 70's),
but in a lot of ways, it's still the same town.

PS -- for the record, I'm mostly European-American, too. (Except by association, including major holidays.)

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Supersedeas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 03:25 PM
Response to Reply #36
52. that does provide some context
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
MessiahRp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:53 AM
Response to Original message
17. The source makes me doubt the validity of it. TMJ is a super right wing network.
They bash Democrats all day long and then give Republicans whole 30 minute to 1 hour shows with a RW co-host to sell their ideas. (I particularly remember this when Mark Green was running against Jim Doyle)

This sounds like a bunch of lies to me (or way exaggerated).

Rp
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
joeglow3 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:58 AM
Response to Reply #17
18. Reporting seems pretty widespread
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
totodeinhere Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:02 PM
Response to Reply #17
20. The same thing is being reported by several news organizations, not just TMJ.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
MessiahRp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 02:54 AM
Response to Reply #17
76. Pretty good read pointing out TMJ's fear mongering on this story...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
EC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:36 PM
Response to Original message
27. Things like this used to happen during Bush I years
Edited on Fri Aug-05-11 12:38 PM by EC
here. During Clinton years when all the young people could get pell grants to go to school and found jobs, it stopped...so I've come to solidly believe in the power of aid keeping everyone safe.

On edit: What I mean is that social programs provide for the general safety of the populace as much as having a police force.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Enrique Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 01:15 PM
Response to Reply #27
38. Clinton put a ton more cops on the streets
it made a big difference right away.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Ian David Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:41 PM
Response to Original message
31. This explains why they had to put sandbags around Fox News today...
... to keep the streets from being flooded by sexual fluids spilling out of the building.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bobthedrummer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:42 PM
Response to Original message
32. K&R I was born and grewup in Milwaukee, the most physically racially segregated midwest city still
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Ian David Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:44 PM
Response to Original message
33. ...were not there for the MC Hammer concert," said the woman.
Edited on Fri Aug-05-11 12:45 PM by Ian David
"The mob of black teenagers involved in the beatings and damage outside of State Fair last night were not there for the MC Hammer concert," said the woman.

Well, thank goodness for THAT, I guess.


The witness also told us that not every African-American teenager outside the fair grounds acted violent.

"We continued to move towards the parking lot, through even more black teenagers. Thankfully this part of the crowd was not violent."

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
dixiegrrrrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:49 PM
Response to Original message
34. This "flash mob" of violence is happening all over the country.
It is called 'wilding".

Various news stories have appeared over the past few months, and can be found via a web search.
Some mobs ran rampant thru a shopping center, some attack people. Most seem to be described as black youths.
I have not read enough stories to know how much of a racial component there is.

for starters:

http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2011/08/03/philly-bigger-problems-flash-mobs/

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/June-2011/Flash-Mobs-and-Chicago-Beach-Violence/

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
4dsc Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 12:50 PM
Response to Original message
35. Same thing happened at the Iowa state fair last year
The last night of the Iowa State Fair there was an incident just like this although the police never got the courage up to claim the attacks were racially motivated.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
BNJMN Donating Member (461 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 01:07 PM
Response to Original message
37. Defending these thugs (because of the recession?) is disgusting. Google Dover Melee or ...
'Denver Whites Targeted' or the infamous
'Hell Yeah' video by a rap group called Dead Prez.

All that happened before the recession.
And there's no excuse. This is the mirror image of TeaParty racists.

Except these people are actually assaulting people and robbing them.
:(
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
marasinghe Donating Member (754 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 01:16 PM
Response to Original message
39. no excuse for picking on innocent passers-by.
these asshole mobs, or gangbangers, deserve the same justice as rampaging cops, or soldiers.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
jsamuel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 01:45 PM
Response to Original message
42. according to the cheif of state fair police, not racially motivated
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/126828998.html

Tom Struebing, chief of the State Fair Police, said two of the seven injured officers were hospitalized. One was hit in the face with an improvised weapon; the other suffered a concussion.

Struebing said the fights that broke out in the midway area involved black youths fighting other black youths. He said those fights were not racially motivated.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bainz Donating Member (278 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 01:15 PM
Response to Reply #42
88. those fights were not racially motivated
He said that the fights that broke out in the midway were not racially motivated.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 02:24 PM
Response to Original message
43. Someone is trying to divert attention from what other right-wingers called a "throng" (60 people)
calling out little tyrant Scott Walker:
Leftist Protester Shouts ‘Sic Semper Tyrannis!’ At Wis. Governor Scott Walkerby Brett Healy

Last year 876,020 people attended the Wisconsin State Fair to see children show the animals they care for, try various foods on a stick, play carnival games, enjoy music and celebrate the last few days of summer. This year five dozen protesters chose to disrupt the normally placid Wisconsin State Fair grand opening with chants; at least one of them shouted an epithet commonly associated with political assassination.

The MacIver News Service’s cameras were there when a throng of about 60 protesters disrupted the opening ceremonies, shouting down Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker during his brief speech. Walker was one of several dignitaries at the opening ceremony of the the fair, but the only one there who is under fire from Big Labor for ending a fifty year entitlement of collective bargaining that was costing local and state government hundreds of millions every year.

Sic semper tyrannis is the Latin phrase meaning “thus always to tyrants.” The phrase is commonly said to have originated with Brutus during the assassination of Julius Caesar. It was later shouted by John Wilkes Booth while assassinating President Abraham Lincoln.

The Wisconsin State Fair is known as one most family-friendly entertainment events every year. This year marks the 160th incarnation of the event. To show animals at the Fair, children must first become the champions in their county. Hundreds of exhibitors bring their livestock to the fair every year and there were kids in attendance Thursday to witness this stunt.

http://biggovernment.com/bhealy/2011/08/04/leftist-protester-shouts-sic-semper-tyrannis-at-wis-governor-scott-walker/

~~~~~

Apparently they realized the rest of the world wouldn't see anything wrong with people trying to shout at the scumbag Governor, and opted to push this racist garbage, instead.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
midnight Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 10:07 PM
Response to Reply #43
74. I strongly suspected that too.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
BeliQueen Donating Member (433 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 03:09 PM
Response to Original message
46. There is no double standard
If these mobs were white teenagers beating up black families it would be deplorable with no excuse.

If these thugs wanted to take out their frustrations, they should have done so cleaning up their school grounds or lending a hand at a homeless shelter or volunteering to work at an election recall center.

Beating up innocent bystanders is NEVER excusable.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JDPriestly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 03:11 PM
Response to Original message
47. Looks to me like this was arranged to trigger a backlash
against Democrats for Tuesday's election.

This is either a phony news story, was incited by political operatives or was a really stupid move by the people who are reported to have been "going after white guys, white people." This could have a very negative effect on the chances of Democrats on Tuesday.

What is the real story here?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 03:24 PM
Response to Reply #47
50. Absolutely. It's not a fact-based story. It's crap. Exactly like the filth which caused a race riot
in Oklahoma City as white residents stormed into a very prosperous area with professional offices and shops of black Oklahoma City residents, burning it to the ground, even engaging airplanes flying over and dropping fire bombs on the place, after a woman started the story a black man molested her in an elevator.

The story was NEVER well known outside the state, that story was buried, a deep, ugly secret until people from elsewhere in recent times found out about it, and brought it to light.

You'd think people would have the decency to pull back from crap like this, unless they hope to fan the flames of racism to further polarization, and in this case, hand more power to the governor, and his filthy Republican power machine, who should be visited by the wrath of god already for his sins against the human race.

Anyone who pushes this ancient ignorance is no friend of human beings.

When the story finally is discovered it will be NOTHING like what has been circulated, as you suspect, and as many others should.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
indurancevile Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 03:27 PM
Response to Reply #50
54. +1
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DURHAM D Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 04:06 PM
Response to Reply #50
56. OKC or Tulsa? nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 05:09 PM
Response to Reply #56
67. Thank you, that's right. People need to know about it.
Here's the Wikipedia version of the events, for anyone who hasn't heard much about this vicious, dirty, murderous part of this country's history:

Tulsa race riot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_race_riot

Thanks for setting the record straight, Durham D.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
JDPriestly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 11:48 PM
Response to Reply #50
75. Thank you, Judi Lynn. It sounds either false or highly exaggerated.
It's just intended to incite a backlash that is not warranted.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
struggle4progress Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 04:50 PM
Response to Reply #47
64. The real story seems to be that a group of out-of-control juveniles engaged in petty
violence and vandalism at the midway and continued their party outside when the fair closed: maybe a dozen hurt, mostly minor injuries, and about two dozen arrested. No evidence of racial issues. Fair has now put some restrictions on minors attending
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
indurancevile Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 03:22 PM
Response to Original message
49. psy-ops.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mitsu Donating Member (5 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 04:20 PM
Response to Original message
57. i am going to say hell with it and
Edited on Fri Aug-05-11 04:25 PM by mitsu
and post a couple of things

this first part is directed towards those who "claim" to be or have been in the military at levels
other could only dream of or in positions where words like psyops and secrets get thrown around
carelessly.

wether you are or have been in the military, i don't care. Others may fall for some people posting
and take the words of some postings too seriously, but i tend not to fall for that.

long story short, THIS is a simple classic military technique.

most people in the military are too stupid to realize the things they do and why. This is not
a slam against people serving in the military, just a fact. if you're a gun toting grunt, following orders
and not asking why is is a staple of your job, not cracking open books and thinking with your mind.
Like i said this isn't a slam against military personnel, but an important pretext to the actions
at the fair.

if you have been in some branches of the military and have been deployed to areas of conflict around
the world, (sorry iraq or afghanistan do not count), and have been involved from anything such as
infanrtry(ie light weapons combat) or even some areas of intel, the situation at this fair should
seem really familiar to you. especially if you have been in places such as in south america or even
in a few situations in cold war european areas.

very simple

1. take the one or two years needed to start the ball rolling
2. use whatever local political and social means that are happening
3. create network of people
4. execute order to begin operation
5. use established response
6. rinse and repeat

with each step there is alot of things going into yes, but for this post to keeps things
short its just simple

longer story shorter

1. identify areas ready to implement(not to test, testing has been going on for a long time) predetermined operation
*milwaukee

2. political and social means
*read the news

3. facebook, social programs(the psyops is amazing), the poor, the disenfranchised, hospitals, etc,. so many groups to pick
and choose from and so many inplace ways to do things to people
*at the end of the day people just wanna be loved man

4. put those free cell phone minutes to use.
*people aren't classified as niggers, crackers, spics, kykes and poor worthless bastards just because it fun to do so
back in grandpa's day(just one example out of many social and mental tools of use)

5. at government level, dem-rep-fed-state-local, it's all the same rulebook, no matter if the play names are different
*lack of police and judicial action can speak just as loud as a full on operation to restore peace

there is so much that goes into planning but it really is a tried and true simple method to accomplish things

what is important though is what planning and why. the outcomes are pretty much the same though. people dumb enough to not beg,
not ask, not require, but to DEMAND a solution now. martial law, economic enactments, laws passed, doesn't matter. the DEMAND must
be met though, and in most cases is met.

I could write a thousand pages that get into the entire process of this, but this is really all there is too it. there are places that i have seen this used around the world by the military, (as well as state level agencies), but if anything you have to remember this. places like
iraq and the like, it doesn't work. you need to have a few things as well as a few perceptions present. this post is getting out of hand so that's enough for now so i'll quit babbling for a bit.


sorry after all my babbling forgot to mention that this does not have anything to do with race, money, or status, it's just these things are the most readily brandable tools when setting bigger things in motion.





Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 09:22 PM
Response to Reply #57
72. So glad you took the time to write this. It does stick with the reader!
Will be thinking about your comments for quite a while to come. Really appreciate it.

Welcome to D.U. :hi:
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
yardwork Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 11:12 AM
Response to Reply #57
85. Welcome to DU. Too few people recognize this long-established policy.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
struggle4progress Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 04:37 PM
Response to Original message
58. Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis tightens security after 24 arrested, 11 hurt on 1st day
WEST ALLIS — Dozens of young people started fighting inside Wisconsin State Fair Park's popular Midway on Thursday evening and the violence spilled into the surrounding neighborhoods while overlapping police jurisdictions struggled to quickly react.

At least two dozen arrests were made at the fair and 11 people were injured in or around the grounds ...

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20110805/GPG0101/110805072/Update-State-Fair-tightens-security-after-24-arrested-11-hurt-1st-day
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
struggle4progress Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 04:39 PM
Response to Original message
60. Changes Announced After Wisconsin State Fair Fights
POSTED: 3:14 pm CDT August 5, 2011
UPDATED: 3:58 pm CDT August 5, 2011

WEST ALLIS, Wis. -- Officials at the Wisconsin State Fair are trying to figure out what sparked a huge fight at the fair Thursday night.

According to police, a large group of young people pulled out guns and knives shortly after the fair closed for the evening. Only minor injuries were reported, including a bus driver who said he was beat up.

Most of the arrests were for disorderly conduct ...

http://www.kcci.com/news/28781096/detail.html
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
struggle4progress Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 04:41 PM
Response to Original message
61. State Patrol called in, youth policy imposed after violence at State Fair
By Don Walker and Mike Johnson of the Journal Sentinel
Updated: Aug. 5, 2011 2:58 p.m.

... Rick Frenette, CEO of the fair, announced that, because of the violence overnight, the fair would immediately implement a policy in which no youths under 18 years of age would be allowed onto the grounds after 5 p.m. without a parent or guardian who is at least 21 years of age ...

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/126828998.html
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
struggle4progress Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 04:44 PM
Response to Original message
62. State Fair Police Say Fights Inside Park Not Racially Motivated
POSTED: 3:08 pm CDT August 5, 2011
UPDATED: 3:43 pm CDT August 5, 2011

WEST ALLIS, Wis. -- The news of mobs and beatings in and around Wisconsin State Fair's opening night spread quickly across the Internet Friday morning.

Rumors of racial attacks spread just as quickly. But the State Fair police chief said the incidents inside his jurisdiction did not appear to be based on race ...

"There were huge groups of kids," said Bryant Johnson, another vendor at the fair. "Sixteen to 18 kids, throwing what looked like peanut M&Ms at cars, sticks at cars, screaming and yelling, urinating on the front glass. It was just utter chaos."

The incidents on the fair grounds took place near the midway. But when the fair closed at 11 p.m., the incidents then spilled out into the city streets ...

http://www.wisn.com/news/28780979/detail.html
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Judi Lynn Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Aug-05-11 05:17 PM
Response to Reply #62
69. There are some you just can't take anywhere!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
indurancevile Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 04:31 AM
Response to Reply #62
81. "huge groups" of 16 to 18 kids? throwing m&m's? urinating on cars? horrors.
how did that mutate into gangs of 60 to 70 picking out white people to attack?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Fastcars Donating Member (121 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 11:08 AM
Response to Reply #81
84. Sounds like.....
The truth is probably somewhere in-between. It probably seemed like groups of hundreds to the victims of attacks and on the other hand it is in the Fair's best interest to make the "incidents" seem as minor as possible to keep attendance from falling dramatically.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bainz Donating Member (278 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 01:19 PM
Response to Reply #62
89. inside his jurisdiction
State Fair police chief said the incidents inside his jurisdiction did not appear to be based on race ...

The incidents on the fair grounds took place near the midway. But when the fair closed at 11 p.m., the incidents then spilled out into the city streets ... i.e. outside of his jurisdiction.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
indurancevile Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-07-11 12:44 AM
Response to Reply #89
94. the reports were of kids rampaging through the midway attacking people. inside his jurisdiction.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
miyazaki Donating Member (446 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 08:47 AM
Response to Original message
83. So its not the Kroch Bros.? Ha, some people. n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Hugabear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 11:24 AM
Response to Original message
86. Oh no, it's Scary Black People
Seems like this should be local news, but you can always count on Drudge to promote any article involving Scary Black People.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bainz Donating Member (278 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Aug-06-11 01:25 PM
Response to Reply #86
91. Exactly
When a mob of white kids beat up random asian people at a fair we never even hear about it. Not even on a local level. Wonder why?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Odin2005 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-07-11 12:03 AM
Response to Reply #86
93. I thought the same thing.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-07-11 10:59 AM
Response to Original message
95. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Tue Apr 30th 2024, 02:18 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Latest Breaking News Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC