Here’s good news for the Cleveland Police Department: don’t worry about getting that riot gear properly fitted for the Republican National Convention this summer. The San José Police Department has set a new precedent with its response to Donald Trump supporters being sucker punched and bloodied by flag-burning agitators: stand and watch.
On Friday afternoon, the day following the Trump rally, San José Mayor Sam Liccardo emerged with a statement making it clear there was no place for violence in the political process.
There is absolutely no place for violence against people who are simply exercising their rights to participate in the political process
— Sam Liccardo (@sliccardo) June 3, 2016
He stopped there, right? Please say he stopped there. He didn’t? At least he didn’t try to foist the blame on Trump for inciting the violence. Wait, he did? Oh.
I condemn all acts of violence committed against people who exercise their rights to free speech and assembly pic.twitter.com/PumCWdfWnT
— Sam Liccardo (@sliccardo) June 3, 2016
If Trump’s exercise of free speech has been responsible for inciting violence and even rioting in the streets, a crackdown by police on violent protesters would really “insight” violence. In another statement, San José police described the very difficult decision they faced: enforce the laws, or not?
OH.
MY.
GOD.
Basically: "Arresting them would just make them angrier so we didn't." pic.twitter.com/FcgE8YaZen
— A.J. Delgado (@AJDelgado13) June 5, 2016
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Basically, yeah. Their statement read, in part:
… officers were confronted by some protestors who became violent, aggressive and began to throw objects in their direction. A majority of the violence occurred at the conclusion of the event. While several physical assaults did occur, the police personnel on scene had the difficult task of weighing the need to immediately apprehend the suspect(s) against the possibility that police action involving the use of physical force under the circumstances would further insight [sic] the crowd and produce more violent behavior.
Violence will not be tolerated, with the exception of those times it will be tolerated, as determined by the police. Now the department is trying to play catch-up by tracking down those caught on video beating people as they exited the Trump rally.
#SanJose Mayor @sliccardo & @SanJosePD doing damage control, asking for tips over violence at @realDonaldTrump rally https://t.co/CJzhZcoG9T
— San Jose Inside (@sanjoseinside) June 3, 2016
https://t.co/H8LNAw1GOF. I realize there is frustration, but we are not done. The violence will not be tolerated.
— Eddie Garcia (@sjpdchief) June 4, 2016
Anyone with video or audio of the Trump rally can upload at https://t.co/X39cMekyEv under the "submit a tip" tab.
— Eddie Garcia (@sjpdchief) June 4, 2016
Video of the Trump rally? Cable TV has that. Or did they want video of protesters outside the rally making threats, throwing eggs and hitting people from behind so hard that they bled? Have they considered checking the Internet? Here’s a bunch of footage, all in one handy place.
Here’s more video, along with the offer of a very substantial reward. Could the department use a few extra grand to hire some private security to do its job?
I'm offering a $20,000 REWARD for the identity of the COWARD who sucker-punched this Trump Supporter in San Jose. RT pic.twitter.com/vJxoi26X4S
— Mike 'Thomas Paine' Moore (@Thomas1774Paine) June 3, 2016
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