I don't care what party you are back. The rights to assemble, to protest, and to speak freely are part of what makes America great.

Police celebrating abuse of powers with t-shirts?

What part of that is even a little okay?

Police Union Shirt Pokes Fun At DNC Protesters
Denver Officers Given T-Shirt To Commemorate Event

DENVER -- The Denver police union is selling T-shirts that poke fun at protesters at last month's Democratic National Convention, but the main target isn't laughing.

The back of the shirts reads, "We get up early to beat the crowds" and "2008 DNC," and has a caricature of a police officer holding a baton.

The front has the number 68 with a slash through it, a reference to the Recreate 68 Coalition, which organized several demonstrations during the convention.

Recreate 68 organizer Glenn Spagnuolo called the shirt appalling and tasteless.

Spagnuolo released a written statement Thursday saying members of the police union "clearly have no respect for the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution."

Detective Nick Rogers, a member of the Police Protective Association board, said police often issue T-shirts to commemorate big events.

Rogers said each Denver officer was given one of the shirts free and others are on sale for $10 each at police union offices.

He said the union expects to sell about 2,000 of them.

Rogers said he hadn't received any previous complaints about the shirts.

Police arrested 154 people before and during the Democratic convention. There were few reports of violence.

In once incident, an officer was videotaped pushing a protester to the ground with his baton and telling her, "Back up, b----."

The district attorney declined to prosecute the officer, saying the woman had disobeyed warnings to back away and had grabbed the officer's baton.

that actually is kinda funny

they to have the right to express themselves.

amen.

Denver cops are known for their, um, UNIQUE approach to law enforcement.

Since I'm already on every Denver cop's sh1t list, I've got nothing left to lose by saying here: The requirements as far as education, physical aptitude, and problem-solving ability to be a law enforcement officer for the City and County of Denver are among the lowest in the nation. That's a fact that anyone can look up.

It's not that they are all bored because there's not enough crime for them to fight--it's that they would rather hassle people who are basically law-abiding than go after real criminals. (They might get hurt!)

The stereotype of the overweight, donut-munching policeman whose primary interests involve getting free sex from women who want to avoid getting arrested and looking for a nice quiet place to coop is definitely alive and well in Denver, Colorado (USA). (Now don't get jealous! I'm sure some of your cops are just as bad! Just not as many of them all in one place.)

yours in Chaos (and realizing that I'll probably get pulled over within the next few days), Scarlett

I learned the hard way

don't screw with the cops out west

you just say "sir" and move along

they (the police union) have as much right to free speech as anyone else

obviously the protesters of the dnc did not like things related to what the dnc represents

obviously the police union did not like things related with the protesters

what gives one group the right to protest and not the other

when you restrict one group from their right to free speech it will not be long before your group will have their free speech restricted

at this thread!

anybody can say anything they want at anytime

that doesnt mean they have to be "politically correct" and in agreement with anyone whatsoever

that doesn't give them the right to force anyone anywhere to have to listen to them or to disrupt anyone elses life or activity

AND there will always be natural consequences to anything anyone says. in other words I am free to say that you are a dork and you are free to punch me in the nose for it

You realize that this was at the DNC...

Denver police or any other cities police should be acting within the law not inciting or celebrating the beating of peaceful protesters.

It's my bet the protesters were from a variety of backgrounds. From anarchists to pro-lifers to environmentalists to right wing religious types.

They are all entitled to equal protection under the law and should not have to fear police officers while exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights.

A police officer is a public servant and while they are entitled to their own opinions those opinions must be set aside as much as possiable while working. Much like a soldier. They are suppose to act according to orders and in compliance with the law.

If I go out and publicly urge others to beat members of a certain group, no matter the group, I have committed a crime. Why is it okay for the police to do it?

not exactly

a punch in the nose in a criminal offense

but i understand the logic

still you have the freedom to do it, just expect the natural consequences

where can i get the shirt?Do they come in tanktops?

Even still some forms of speech carry more protection than others. Some states have laws governing "inflammatory speech" and actually mitigate penalties in cases where something a person has said constitutes physical action on the part of another person. That said, political speech carries more protection than any other form of speech.

that is true but calling someone a dork does not constitute a physical response

and

try yelling fire in a crowded building when there is no fire and see where it gets you

agreed.



no thanks, and that isn't exactly what I meant.