likemymask: thresholdofzero:mirrormanning:escapedosmil:COPS: We all know how bad you want to i
likemymask: thresholdofzero: mirrormanning: escapedosmil: COPS: We all know how bad you want to imagine that you’re in a combat zone. We see daily how quick you are to draw down on an unarmed black person. We watch as you dress yourself in military gear, military weapons and shield yourself in a military mentality. I have news for you: You’re cops. Not rangers. The gear I see you wearing is the same gear i saw my best friends die wearing… In iraq. In combat. The weapons you carry and point at peaceful protesters, I used in combat. And let me tell you something: If i EVER pointed my weapon at an innocent civilian or someone i did not intend to kill, my ass would get chewed the fuck up. And yet, i see groups of you pointing your rifles at AMERICANS with your fingers on the trigger, safety off, ready to kill someone. Every time i see a group of you walking down the street or buzzing down the road in a squad car i see an occupying force. I see presence patrols. I imagine that the Iraqi people saw me the same way America sees you. You occupy our streets and live outside of normal American society. You isolate yourselves. You stand secluded from the rest of us so you can more easily see us as someone to shoot at. I know your mentality. I lived it. Your toxic masculinity and inflamed bravado can be smelled from miles away. You love your gear. You love wearing your tactical vests because you think it’s cool. You’re supposed to be our protectors, part of the community. You’re supposed to be walking the beat and interacting with families and small business owners. Instead you intimidate the people around you. The people of this country don’t trust you to do the right thing anymore. You’re dogs with the taste of blood. Remember, you’re cops, not rangers. Dress for the job you have, not the job you want. To quote Battlestar Galactica: “There’s a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people.” Bring this back “You took an oath to uphold the law and defend the citizens without fear or favor,“ said Vimes. “And to protect the innocent. That’s all they put in. Maybe they thought those were the important things. Nothing in there about orders, even from me. You’re an officer of the law, not a soldier of the government.” ― Terry Pratchett, Night Watch -- source link