The Good samaritan

[cleef]

O.k this ones a bit of a moral dilemma

You are on your way home from work on your own and you see a guy at the train station jump the barriers. 10 seconds later you see the guy get chased and then jumped by six cops who smash the guys head into the ground (im not sure but i dont think ticket evasion really constitutes this sort of punishment :huh:)

Anyways realistically what would you do in this case if you see the guy mis-treated?

[bcbm]

Observe the police from whatever the legal distance is, get badge numbers, try to get the jumpers name if they're arresting him and offer to goto court or whatever.

[Holden Caulfield]

Observe the police from whatever the legal distance is, get badge numbers, try to get the jumpers name if they're arresting him and offer to goto court or whatever.

yeah that, or tell them you and CCTV saw them and that the independant police commission and that they have broken his rights as protected by European Law (thats always a good one). They wont give a shit but you will have scared them a bit, they might nick you but hopefully not,

[apathy maybe]

Fuck the police. But be very wary of being obviously doing anything. They can and will fuck you up.

Stay your distance, don't talk to them, observe, record, etc.

If they start to approach you, start walking off (don't run), and disappear into the crowed.

You have to look after your own safety first.

The filth will smash this guys head into the ground, make sure they don't do the same to you.

Edit: Also, I don't believe this should be in Shit Chat, it is a serious issue that deserves a serious discussion.

[cleef]

yeh i wasnt sure where exactly to post this.
But yes i have to agree i couldnt play the apathetic role and just leave this guy to be abused by the cops, we need to stick together...

[Charles Xavier]

This is a reason phones have cameras, put it on youtube.

[Comrade B]

I don't know I would use that wording, but I would yell at the cops something a bit more polite at first, such as asking what he could have possibly done wrong to deserve that, acting like you are curious, rather than just sickened, and once they tell you to fuck off, then start yelling make a commotion and hope others join in as well...

[RaiseYourVoice]

Okay first of all, yes record things, maybe try to stir up some public by shouting if you wish, of course knowing that that could endanger you as well. Cops are good at finding reasons to arrest you.

Pictures... well if the situation is as clear as above you might want to take pictures. Generally DONT take pictures of arrests, situations with cops in etc.
Many picutres made with good intentions are held against people in court and the police wins in 97/100 cases anyway. Maybe a person that is close to arrest can get away, maybe they want to sue him for resisting arrest, maybe he comitted something that he couldnt do alone and they take you in for that.

All material can and will be used against you! The only really save way to help against police violence is when you have some kind of solidarity organisation that you can turn to. In Germany you should always contact your local Rote Hilfe (www.rote-hilfe.de), i dont know how much the anarchist black cross is involved in these things too.

If there is no solidarity organisation and you dont know the person i advice to keep distance to courts and police. You wouldnt be the first to be busted for fighting police violence. Press, youtube and other media where you can keep stay anonymous are the way better options, but again even that can be used against the person, against you and against other people that might be involved.

Don't think that your moral values of "right" and "wrong" can be converted into "guilty" and "unguilty" in terms of the capitalist state.

[Tzonteyotl]

Fuck the police. But be very wary of being obviously doing anything. They can and will fuck you up.

Stay your distance, don't talk to them, observe, record, etc.

You have to look after your own safety first.


While I can understand the natural desire to not get fucked up, I must say I found these comments rather odd. I mean, maybe don't talk to them, but to not observe and record what you can? Isn't this rather defeatist for us?

[Invincible Summer]

While I can understand the natural desire to not get fucked up, I must say I found these comments rather odd. I mean, maybe don't talk to them, but to not observe and record what you can? Isn't this rather defeatist for us?

I think Apathy meant "don't talk to them. Observe, record.."

Purely a punctuation error.



How does one get badge numbers without being too conspicuous?

[Dr Mindbender]

If you have a video phone film them and send it to the authorites and the press.

Also put it on youtube of course.

[brigadista]

Observe the police from whatever the legal distance is, get badge numbers, try to get the jumpers name if they're arresting him and offer to goto court or whatever.

also use the video on my mobile phone to film the filth

[brigadista]

sorry Ulster socialist got there first!

[Pogue]

Film it, create a scene, etc. Maybe make a loud phone call along the liens of:

"Dave, get the lawyer down here, theres a case of police brutality which we're gonna hve to do deal with."

[Bilan]

Get badge numbers.
They can't arrest you for it.
and remain civil, but firm. Getting aggressive will only harm the situation.