SWATTING THE RABBLE: The Orange County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team maintains constant surveillance of “subversive groups” protesting against police brutality on the North side of Ball Road near Cambridge Street in the City of Anaheim.
Ever since I went to last Sunday’s anti-police brutality demonstration at Anaheim Police Department headquarters, I’ve been rather curious to learn just how many Special Weapons and Tactics Teams (SWAT) were mobilized to confront unarmed protesters. The photographs I took of a staging area the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies set up in a parking lot near Glover Stadium, not to mention of cops monitoring the demonstration itself, hinted to me that numerous SWAT teams had been deployed throughout the city.
Earlier this morning, after several days of unsuccessful attempts to reach him via email and telephone, I finally had an opportunity to speak with Anaheim Police Sergeant Robert Dunn, Public Information Officer for that agency. In the brief conversation I had with him, he confirmed what photographic evidence I had already compiled strongly suggested: namely, that members from approximately four different SWAT teams had been called in to handle the protesters.
They are as follows:
* North County SWAT, which serves Brea, Cal State Fullerton, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma and Placentia.
* West County SWAT, which serves Cypress, Los Alamitos, Westminster and Fountain Valley.
* Anaheim Police Department SWAT
* Orange County Sheriff’s Department SWAT
When I asked Dunn as to the reason why SWAT teams were deployed, he stated their purpose is to compliment patrol officers on the scene; that they have better equipment to effect arrests, sometimes going directly into a crowd if necessary to pluck out “troublemakers.” Although he wasn’t specific about it, he did confirm these teams were used later on after the demonstration winded down to take some protesters into custody for alleged crimes they committed.
As I alluded to in a previous post, nobody should be the least bit surprised that SWAT teams were deployed in force at this anti-police brutality demonstration given that the intended historical purpose of these highly-militaristic units was to suppress “civil unrest” and wipe out “subversive groups.” During times of crisis, when the rabble begin to rise up, the capitalist state responds with an iron fist, clamping down on all dissent before things get really out of hand.
In a future article, I’m going to shed some light on the not-so-hidden role the federal government has played so far in the recent deployment of SWAT teams in the City of Anaheim. Although I didn’t witness them being used last Sunday, some of the “assets” strategically placed in the parking lot next to Glover Stadium were there thanks to funding that several local police departments were able to secure from, among all places, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
We are in the midst of gathering 25,000 signatures to petition the Obama administration to investigate and stop police brutality against peaceful demonstrators and to demilitarize local police.
Go to: http://wh.gov/1S3u
yes peaceful demonstrators who toss rocks at police and kick police cars and dont move when police tell them to move .. heck go for holder he does not enforce any laws . i got a idea go see sherrif joe in az .. THATS THE MAN ..
Please indicate at which protests since July 20 you believe that protesters have (1) thrown rocks and police, (2) kicked police cars, and/or (3) refused lawful orders to move.
My understanding is that with the possible exception of the end of the protest on July 24, it has not happened at all, rendering your comment irrelevant.
I am happy to see you finally got your Caps Lock button fixed TGO. And I agree with Greg, no one on July 24th threw anything at anyone, except I did see cops attempts to corral a few protesters. The individuals who were ‘plucked’ out of the crowd were not doing anything illegal and I saw the arrest sheet; most were arrested of suspicion of being under suspicion. This tactic was used, in my opinion, to intimidate the rest of the protesters and to make themselves look good so they can keep getting $$$$ from the Feds. No arrests=no money.
I think you meant July 29 (last Sunday), Chief; Tuesday July 24 was the day of window-breaking — and, as Duane notes, probably not by protesters but by people who took advantage of police being assigned to do jobs other than fighting crime.
Well, the President came to Anaheim. Did he talk about it or anything else of consequence? NO.
As much as I love that Obama guy. He aint going to sign it. He is owned by the banks. The banks are not going to accept more freedom in the streets or the sidewalks. Thats why we have to act rowdy on the Net while we still can. I’ll sign the petition though.
Greg please find out for us if the county and city are going to pay the bill of all of this militarized police action or if Homeland Security is going to pick up the tab. That would be an awesome article!
Sorta busy right now, 2xI! I think that the local government pays overtime; I don’t know about the rest.
I am willing to bet we the taxpayers will foot the bill…as usual!
Sorry about that Duane. I thought Greg wrote the article but it was Duane. So if anybody finds out exactly who pays for it all please let us know.