05-05-2024, 07:33 PM
(05-05-2024, 04:15 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: So, UVA got in on the fun of the protests this weekend. https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2024/05/police-forcefully-clear-encampment-near-university-chapel-detain-protesters
There are some interesting parts to this one. The policies regarding tents used to justify the police action in this situation had included exceptions for recreational tents. However, as of Saturday morning, they had been changed without notice. I have seen the screenshots and documents; not a good look.
Another thing that wasn't a good look was a local journalist observing the action looked over to see a VSP officer laughing at one of the protestors being injured in the fray. When he saw the journalist looking at him he commented "this is so entertaining."
My last thought on this is that the officer wasn't the only one laughing or cheering at this occurring. There were a large number of people observing the police action that were cheering at the violence of it. I find it disheartening that anyone could find joy in such violence, no matter who it is. I just don't have that in me.
This is exactly what I've been afraid of, and have said so multiple times. The inevitably backlash, and how far it goes. There was a movie about the Attica prison riot, I want to say it starred Kyle McCloughlin and Samuel Jackson. There was a line from it, when they were about to retake the prison, when one of the guards said this was "get right day". We let so much go, that we probably shouldn't have, from 2020 to now, that there are a sizeable number of people aching for a reaction. For many people the current situation is "get right day". Contrary to what some here would think, I'm not in favor of this. I prefer a more measured approach. But I don't think we're going to get one and I understand why.
