Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Officer Peter Shields
Peter Shields works for the San Francisco Police Department. He's been a police officer for five years. San Fran, of course, has a higher-than-usual percentage of people who exercise their constitutional right to petition the government for redress of grievances, or just gather in public and bitch about stuff, depending on the mood. Officer Shields was tasked to keep order during protests surrounding the G-8 summit - during which he was savagely beaten by protestors:
Officer Shields suffered brain swelling and a blot clot. Although he has been released from the hospital, his return to the force is not yet certain. Now, there are two different versions of events - according to the protestors - Officer Shields' vehicle had some kind of inadvertent contact with one of the protesters' props, and maybe his car got accidentally hit by a firework, at which time Officer Shields totally went nuts and started trying to beat innocent people for merely exercising their freedom to dissent, at which time they heroically and not in any way excessively or illegally defended themselves. It should also be noted that the protesters, who should not be thought of as the type of people who would initiate a violent confrontation were "shooting off fireworks, putting barricades in the street and breaking windows."
The police version of events is slightly different, of course. Per the police, the protesters, (who already merited arrest for the whole breaking window thing) tossed a mattress in the way of Officer Shields' car, and were intending to light it. Shields got out and was immediately assaulted. I leave it to you to make up your own mind who started the fight.
Of course, the rioters in question were not typical of the left. San Fran Mayor Gavin Newsom is as liberal a guy as you'll see in polite society, and he's commendably pissed off. The mayor has also authorized a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever assaulted Officer Shields, and I'm sure responsible and decent people who were part of peaceful protests against the G-8 are lining up as we speak to either add to the reward fund or provide any information they may have, both to signify that this atrocity in no way represents their goals and ideals, and simply because it's the right thing to do. Three people have been arrested, but their role in the attack remains unclear.
Tip - Ace of Spades.
Officer Shields suffered brain swelling and a blot clot. Although he has been released from the hospital, his return to the force is not yet certain. Now, there are two different versions of events - according to the protestors - Officer Shields' vehicle had some kind of inadvertent contact with one of the protesters' props, and maybe his car got accidentally hit by a firework, at which time Officer Shields totally went nuts and started trying to beat innocent people for merely exercising their freedom to dissent, at which time they heroically and not in any way excessively or illegally defended themselves. It should also be noted that the protesters, who should not be thought of as the type of people who would initiate a violent confrontation were "shooting off fireworks, putting barricades in the street and breaking windows."
The police version of events is slightly different, of course. Per the police, the protesters, (who already merited arrest for the whole breaking window thing) tossed a mattress in the way of Officer Shields' car, and were intending to light it. Shields got out and was immediately assaulted. I leave it to you to make up your own mind who started the fight.
Of course, the rioters in question were not typical of the left. San Fran Mayor Gavin Newsom is as liberal a guy as you'll see in polite society, and he's commendably pissed off. The mayor has also authorized a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever assaulted Officer Shields, and I'm sure responsible and decent people who were part of peaceful protests against the G-8 are lining up as we speak to either add to the reward fund or provide any information they may have, both to signify that this atrocity in no way represents their goals and ideals, and simply because it's the right thing to do. Three people have been arrested, but their role in the attack remains unclear.
Tip - Ace of Spades.
