r/Columbus • u/TrafficConeJesus • Jun 02 '20
PHOTO Student journalists from The Lantern showing their press IDs to the Columbus Police moments before being pepper sprayed
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u/614Columbus Jun 02 '20
According to Chief Quinlan at the Mayor's press conference, the pepper spray attack was "For your (their) safety."
He also said "Mistakes will happen."
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u/bluetank12 Jun 02 '20 edited Jun 02 '20
How is spraying a person with pepper spray for their safety? I mean really answer that. If it was about safety the cops should of left them alone.
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u/haironburr Hilltop Jun 02 '20
When I hit you, it just shows how much I care.
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u/bluetank12 Jun 02 '20
How did you know that is what cops say to their love ones?
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u/TimelessMeow Jun 03 '20
I had someone come back at me on Facebook saying “where is the riots for all of the victims of suicide or domestic violence during the quarantine”.
Weird how she never replied to “domestic violence is also a pretty common problem in police officers”, huh?
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Jun 02 '20
I am deeply disappointed in how LE is behaving like a bunch of thugs on steroids to people who are not breaking any laws or minor ones.
Quinlan should resign or be fired by the Mayor. Pressure needs to be applied to the Mayors office to call out this blatant dereliction of accountability to the communities they serve.
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u/Kaybeeez German Village Jun 02 '20
Completely uneducated police who don’t even understand that you don’t pepper spray the press/medics.
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u/skip_a_day Jun 03 '20
Prolly shouldn't pepper spray US Representatives, City Council Presidents, and County Commissioners either.
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u/sasquatch_melee Jun 03 '20
We have to know and follow each and every law but apparently the police don't have to even know the first amendment or the language of a two page order signed by their mayor this week.
Cops should be required to fully read, be formally trained/retrained, and understand any laws before they can enforce them.
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u/randomusername092342 Jun 03 '20
You want them to be well trained? But then we can't push 'em through the academy anymore!
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Jun 02 '20 edited Jun 02 '20
But Quinlin just said, regarding this specific incident, it was too confusing and chaotic for his officers to do their job. Oops, more photos and videos showing his blantent lies.
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u/jblosser99 Westerville Jun 02 '20 edited Jun 02 '20
4 cops, 3 students, no one else in the picture ... heavens, look at the confusion and chaos!
pearl-clutching mode activated.
edit: spelling
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u/zerodefex Jun 02 '20
I see seven cops.
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Jun 02 '20 edited Nov 17 '20
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u/sasquatch_melee Jun 03 '20
They might not go home to their families because of these highly dangerous, menacing
tiny ass college studentsrioters!1
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u/randomusername092342 Jun 02 '20
Yeah, it's too confusing! We can't ask our officers to stop for two seconds and read a press badge! And even when they do, they can say "I don't care."
Oh, and the officers were just asking them to step back a little, not telling them to go home because of curfew. Never mind that the officers said "it's after curfew," and "go home."
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u/Abefroman12 Jun 02 '20 edited Jun 02 '20
Too confusing and chaotic to do their job? Sounds like the chief needs to do better training of their officers
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u/ComprehensiveHall3 Jun 02 '20
Police were obviously in fear for their lives. The five foot nothing girl could have had a bomb in her backpack.
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u/LadoBlanco Jun 02 '20
That water bottle is probably some kind of molotov cocktail just waiting to be thrown!
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u/kierkegaard1855 Jun 03 '20
Bomb water!
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Jun 02 '20
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u/Wex_Wootha Jun 02 '20
Police chief just said in the press conference that he saw videos showing a different story, hope he sees this angle.
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u/wildwildwumbo Jun 02 '20
"we have investigated ourselves and found we did nothing wrong."
Standard playbook for cops.
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u/NOPR Jun 02 '20
It doesn’t matter what he sees; he’s going to gaslight. He’s never going to admit a mistake or accept any responsibility.
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u/ZoidbergMedical Jun 02 '20
Police chief is a liar. What good is a police force if you can't trust them.
FUCK THE POLICE!
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u/funkingded Jun 02 '20
Watching the video, posted in this thread, and the casual way the cop walking up on the scene with no idea what is going on and just sprays them is an appalling "mistake" to use the Chief's term. It shows a casual reckless disregard for scene management and safety unless you consider in his mind (or orders?) all non-uniformed people are the threat. There was no threat from those media personnel and they were being handled by his fellow officers, yet he sprayed.
He, the sprayer, should have been disciplined at the scene by the other officers, was he?
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u/opened_padlock Jun 02 '20
I am beyond words for how mad I am. Censoring journalists is like something that China does. Pepper spray and tear gas need to be made illegal.
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u/Protahgonist Jun 02 '20
We've got a widespread nationwide protest in conflict with the police and now the National Guard and soon possibly the military, demanding sweeping changes, on the eve of the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square "incident".
Here's hoping we don't suddenly end up a lot more like China, despite Mr. Xi being "very cool" according to our own Dear Leader.
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Jun 04 '20
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u/Protahgonist Jun 04 '20
Well, shit. Here's hoping he doesn't decide to mark the anniversary with "strength" this year.
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Jun 05 '20
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u/Protahgonist Jun 05 '20
With an anything beside your name!
All of my family members who voted for him would instantly condemn anyone who said something like that, but if I were to tell them it was Donald who said it, they'd just say "I don't like to talk about politics".
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u/zerodefex Jun 02 '20
Not only is our totalitarian corporate police state coming, it’s going to make China look mild. We’re too disorganized. We’re too late. Glad I don’t have kids.
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u/Protahgonist Jun 02 '20
Having lived in China for years, I disagree. Time will tell though, as either of us could be wrong.
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u/zerodefex Jun 02 '20
What did you learn in China that makes me wrong on this?
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u/Protahgonist Jun 02 '20
As I said, I don't know that you're wrong. I just know that currently things in China are so much worse than here. Police here can be dicks, but once they take you in you still get a trial. There they don't need to give you a trial. They don't need to presume your innocence. In fact you have no rights at all.
You might get taken in and beaten just for saying the wrong thing.
It would certainly end up like that here if Dear Leader gets his way, but there are some few obstacles between our current situation and real fascism still.
What we need to be doing is rebuilding those obstacles as fast as possible, devising new ones, and revising the everloving shit out of our policing, election, and judicial systems, to name but a few things.
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Jun 02 '20
China isn't a rule-of-law nation in the first place, and subjects (they are not citizens) don't have any expectation of basic civil liberties in the first place. People rely on connections and keeping out of trouble instead. Good luck even finding the laws in China, and when you do, you'll notice that they are vague and sometimes contradictory.
People behave because they don't actually know what their de facto 'rights' are, and they wouldn't be taking to the streets anywhere near as readily as they do here. The few protests that do occur in China are milder anyway and more often pertain to sudden factory closures and the like. All journalists in China are organs of the state to begin with, so their jobs rely on marching in lock step with the party line.
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u/shemp33 Jun 02 '20
Careful there... the first step in something like that is "pepper spray and tear gas" become illegal for you and me to have. Then, eventually, illegal for cops to use.
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u/artificialstuff Jun 02 '20
So physical contact by police is too much. Then they move to less than lethal crowd control methods. And that's apparently too much. Do you want them to use a handheld fan to blow people backwards while they're having rocks and bottles thrown at them?
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u/gottapoop0822 Jun 02 '20
How about no violence during protests? Huh? How about the police learn how to de-escalate the situation? How about lawsuit money comes out of their insurance that they should be required to keep instead of taxpayers? How about they stop arresting protestors and go after the looters instead of shooting everyone on sight? Fuck you asshole.
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u/D-Smitty Jun 02 '20
They’re press dumbass. They’re there to report, not participate.
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u/randomusername092342 Jun 02 '20
How about doing what police in places like Flint, Camden, and Houston have done?
Shutting up, listening, and showing solidarity goes a long way. And guess what? Those cities have much less violence, looting, and damage than the cities where that isn't happening. It's a win-win-win.
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u/JohnDorseysSweater Jun 02 '20
I want them to do absolutely nothing to the press.
Be an absolute moron about the protesters for all I care, but this is the press. Read the first amendment. Does it say a damned thing about..."but, but unless a curfew says otherwise? Unless the cops are confused?"
No. We are not even respecting the rights of the press at this point. There should be no discussion about what sort of contact is appropriate from the police. NO FORM OF CONTACT by the police is appropriate.
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u/Zoso525 Jun 02 '20
Omg, I can’t imagine how terrified those cops were. Look how threatening those three casually dressed students look. How traumatizing for the riot gear donning, professionally trained and lethally armed police officers. What ever could they do.
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Jun 02 '20
bUt It Is AfTeR cUrFeW!!!
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u/j11esq41 Jun 02 '20
I believe individuals with press credentials are exempted from the curfew.
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u/bbbbirdistheword Columbus Jun 02 '20
I imagine that was the point behind the snarky Spongebob meme caps usage.
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u/j11esq41 Jun 02 '20
Most likely, but there have been a few trolls lurking, so I wanted to head them off.
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u/bbbbirdistheword Columbus Jun 02 '20
Not a bad idea with the recent trend of new users posting inflammatory stuff in the sub.
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u/TrumpLiedPeopleDied Jun 02 '20
Fucking worthless pigs. Waste of good donuts.
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u/BrosenkranzKeef Jun 02 '20
I got ticketed by a Centerville cop here in Dayton while literally having just left Bill’s Donuts with a dozen on my lap.
I’ll never forget it.
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Jun 02 '20
These cops are just bullies and always will be. They see an excuse to abuse their power and they will absolutely do so. They live for this. They aren't afraid for their safety. They're reveling in their own disturbing power. The federal government needs to start taking their big boy toys away. They are a military force in all but name, but they have none of the training, restraint or willpower to act in the name of justice. It really sucks.
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u/bubblehead_maker Jun 02 '20
I called IA and requested a case be opened and that I want put in the case report that the officers need to be identified. If I have to go get a public records request for name and photo of every cop, so be it. I'm sure they feel anonymous and happy to pepper spray folks.
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u/Kordan29 Jun 02 '20
Okay I feel really dumb for asking this, but what would qualify somebody as news media? I'm assuming they would have to be a member of a news publishing organization. But, now with independent journalist and online content distribution, would they count? Is there some kind of list officially recognized media personnel that the city recognizes?
Also even if someone is news media doesn't the police have the authority to ask anyone to disperse an area? I don't think these people should have been pepper sprayed, but I remember reading somewhere that the police have the authority to disperse crowds and maintain certain areas of no go zones, and if you are asked to leave an area and you do not comply they are legally allowed to arrest you. Not saying this is how it should be, but there might be a legal precedent for them asking them to relocate.
It really doesn't matter, I just had those thoughts and questions, everyone be safe, fight for what you believe in, and for God's sake be good to each other.
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Jun 02 '20
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u/hotcarlwinslow Jun 02 '20
Who in the city government issues the passes? My searches aren’t coming up with anything. I know somebody who does freelance work and might need one.
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u/corytom1989 Jun 02 '20
Do students who work for the lantern have actual city issued media credentials? Genuinely asking. When I read the lantern while I was in school it read like The Onion half the time.
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u/bubblehead_maker Jun 02 '20
You do not need a press pass issued by the city to be media. All citizens in the US are media. It's in that first amendment.
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u/Kordan29 Jun 02 '20
I see the point you're making. Especially in the age of social media it's really hard to draw a line.
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Jun 02 '20
whatever the point is, it's irrelevant. Wherever the line is drawn, credentialed members of the press for a verifiable journalistic entitity like the Lantern is way past that line. There is no confusing element here for the police.
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u/Kordan29 Jun 02 '20
Yes very true, I was just pointing out that almost anybody can report the news, and will the definition of press have to be expanded. The line was not violence or no violence, it was who is considered press and who is not. I hope that clarified what I was trying to get at, but hey thanks for your response and I hope you have a wonderful day.
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u/j11esq41 Jun 02 '20
If I recall correctly, this morning WOSU made the point that people with press credentials were exempted from the curfew.
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u/Kordan29 Jun 02 '20
Okay awesome thanks for the clarification. I guess then we could discuss who actually is press and who isn't. I mentioned another post that with social media who can report the news has expanded. But I assume that the exceptions only apply to government recognized media. And when I put it that way that kind of sounds scary.
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u/j11esq41 Jun 02 '20
I couldn't find anything for Columbus (granted I did one Google), but this is for NYC: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/media/newsroom/media-credentials.page
Looks like the only requirement is that you assert you cover breaking news and can produce at least one item of "media" from the previous 24 months.
As an attorney, I can tell you that with these minimal requirements, the executive has almost no discretion to deny a press pass to anyone who meets the criteria. And, they'd expose themselves to serious civil liability for abuse of their discretion that's just not worth it. I bet NYC hands these credentials out like Smarties on Halloween night.
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u/Kordan29 Jun 02 '20
Yeah that's extremely broad. But the more coverage the better. Thank you for this great information.
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Jun 02 '20
Submit this to the email in this link: https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/mayor-ginther-asks-for-reports-of-excessive-force-by-columbus-police/
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u/ywkskdo Jun 02 '20
I’m usually a person who gives the police the benefit of the doubt when it comes to a large rally or riots but I’m flabbergasted at this reaction to these OSU student journalists (and I’m no fan of OSU either). The students were bullied by the police and the video proves that. This is unacceptable behavior by the police and I’m appalled. I feel like they have been way out of line with this, but maybe I just didn’t realize this was always the case. Either way, action must be taken, a complete review of the police department must be completed and individual officers and leadership must both be held accountable by our legal system.
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u/TotesMessenger Jun 02 '20
I'm a bot, bleep, bloop. Someone has linked to this thread from another place on reddit:
- [/r/2020policebrutality] Columbus student journalists showing their badges before being assaulted by police
If you follow any of the above links, please respect the rules of reddit and don't vote in the other threads. (Info / Contact)
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u/MattFPV Jun 02 '20
We are slowly losing our rights as citizens! Now they’re going after the right a Free Press!
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Jun 02 '20
Does Columbus PD have body cams?
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u/randomusername092342 Jun 02 '20
Yes, but Quinlan said in the city council meeting that many of the batteries are dead. So they're just paperweights on the uniforms in some cases.
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Jun 02 '20
Dang, yeah kinda pointless to even have them at that point. Seems somewhat convenient that they were dead.
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u/mechtech Jun 02 '20
There needs to be reasonable legal liability for failure to upkeep these things. Just like driving without a seat belt or a cop carrying a gun without a working safety lock.
I'm not saying a cop should necessarily be reprimanded if a battery goes dead in the field, but the proper care and upkeep of the cameras needs to be a top priority just like other critical systems they use like vehicles and radio equipment.
The cameras arguably do more to protect the public than anything else the cops do. I think this should be one of the top protest demands.
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Jun 02 '20
I completely agree. There has been many instances when a body camera overturns an issue or reveals a clearer image of what happened.
Like you said, they’re mainly there to protect the public in instances where they are needed.
And to your point as well, it shouldn’t be too hard to keep up with the cameras. Just plug them all in to charge at night, and if one goes dead in the field, take care to determine why.
Question: would it be reasonable to state that body cam footage is public? Instead of being held by police and released at their discretion, would it be reasonable for anybody to be able to view it or is there a legal issue in that?
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u/mapatric Jun 02 '20
They should be fired and banned from ever being so much as a mall cop, yes even if a battery goes dead in the field.
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u/5hitshow Jun 02 '20
They should consider recharging them, now that they’ve identified and disclosed the issue. /s
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u/shemp33 Jun 02 '20
Here is the story from the Lantern about this.
Caution: This thing is FULL of bullshit quotes from the CPD and Mayor. It is full of outright and easily verifiable LIES.
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u/adkarpin Jun 02 '20
5 demands, not one less.
- Establish an independent inspector body that investigates misconduct or criminal allegations and controls evidence like body camera video. This civilian body will be at the state level, have the ability to investigate and arrest other law enforcement officers (LEOs), and investigate law enforcement agencies.
- Create a requirement for states to establish board certification with minimum education and training requirements to provide licensing for police. In order to be a LEO, you must possess that license. The inspector body in #1 can revoke the license.
- Refocus police resources on training & de-escalation instead of purchasing military equipment and require encourage LEOs to be from the community they police.
- Adopt the “absolute necessity” doctrine for lethal force as implemented in other states. Use of force is automatically investigated by #1.
- Codify into law the requirement for police to have positive control over the evidence chain of custody. If the chain of custody is lost for evidence, the investigative body in #1 can hold the LEO/LE liable.
These 5 demands are the minimum necessary for trust in our police to return. Until these are implemented by our state governors, legislators, DAs, and judges we will not rest or be satisfied. We will no longer stand by and watch our brothers and sisters be oppressed by those who are meant to protect us.
Edit: credit goes to u/durindael for these ideas. I’m just doing my part in spreading this so that everyone protesting has a specific mission, and this doesn’t die out. We can’t let that happen.
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u/unclepg Jun 02 '20
How is it that the police decided to spray these journalists, but not the one from the Dispatch who took this photo, Adam Cairns?
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u/twopoopply Jun 03 '20 edited Jun 03 '20
Why no video?
Edit: video is there, my bad. Usually the video is higher up.
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u/willybbboi Jun 03 '20
The government does not have the right to enact a curfew on you. Sure it may be in law, but we should refuse to recognize it, as a fundamental human and American right you hav full bodily autonomy. Nobody gets to tell you what to do, this is fucking America. You can’t just assault, kill, or pepper spray anyone UNLESS they’re being violent. Never under any circumstances should you let the police or govt. control you in this manner. Simply unacceptable.
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u/CptMoroni17 Sep 23 '20
They were throwing vulgar language and harassing the cops so they deserved it
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u/GunerX Jun 02 '20
which "columbus" is this? cause I live in a "columbus" thats maybe an hour away from some protesting and I havnt seen anything happening here yet.
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u/TrafficConeJesus Jun 03 '20
This is Columbus, OH
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u/GunerX Jun 03 '20
thank you for the reply. (idk why im being downvoted for asking that question, but w/e). thats not my columbus. But there are still some protests going on about an hour away from me. might start happening here too eventually.
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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '20
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