UC Berkeley Purchases Armored Personnel Carrier

[Magda Hassan]

TUE JUL 03, 2012 AT 12:08 PM PDT
UC Berkeley Purchases Armored Personnel Carrier

byOllieGarkeyFollow

Remember the guys that did this?


Well they've decided that they need a $200,000 armored personnel carrier called a Lenco Bearcat.
From CampusReform.org

The University of California - Berkeley Police Department (UCPD) has acquired a $200,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security to purchase an "Armored Response Counter Attack Truck," a police department spokesman told Campus Reform on Friday.The eight-ton vehicle, commonly referred to as a "Bearcat," is used by U.S. troops on the battlefield and is often equipped with a rotating roof hatch, powered turrets, gun ports, a battering ram, and a weapon system used to remotely engage a target with lethal force.
Lt. Eric Tejada, a spokesman for UCPD, said the university plans to use the vehicle along with neighboring counties in dangerous situations that could involved heavy weapons.Tejada said that although he does know of any incident in the university's 144-year history in which such a vehicle would have saved a life, the police department would have have liked to deploy it in an incident last year when they mistakenly believed a man had an AK-47 assault rifle.

We now live in a world where campus police departments are purchasing armored vehicles, and feel that they need them. This is the same police department that felt the need to attack nonviolent student protesters.The money came from a Department of Homeland Security grant. We are deciding as a nation to spend money on military technology; money that could otherwise be helping create better schools, or more jobs, or something else far more valuable. But our military-industrial complex has convinced us to buy tanks for schools.
This is insane.

3:27 PM PT: Kossack jpmassar commented with this update:

The Berkeley City Council chastised the Police Department this week for submitting a federal grant to acquire a $169,000 armored vehicle it will share with UC Berkeley and Albany police to defend officers in shootouts and rescue operations.
The council voted unanimously on Tuesday to request more information from the city manager on the Lenco Bearcat armored car's funding and purpose.Council members were not happy, saying they were kept in the dark about a large acquisition that bears a resemblance to military equipment.
"It's pretty clear this is just one way to keep the weapons producers fat and happy," said Councilwoman Linda Maio. "I'm really sorry we got involved in this. It's very inconsistent with our culture and our values. We need to talk about what we're thinking before we act."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/03...el-Carrier

[David Healy]

what idiots...

[Albert Doyle]

No Tiananmen, Soviet Union sense of hypocrisy in this present US government. :darthvader:

"It's pretty clear this is just one way to keep the weapons producers fat and happy," said Councilwoman Linda Maio. "I'm really sorry we got involved in this. It's very inconsistent with our culture and our values. We need to talk about what we're thinking before we act."

Not good enough. She should be replaced with somebody who is capable of stopping it.

[Peter Lemkin]

The militarization of Society, in general, and the Police, in particular, is INSANE and can not be reversed IMHO. The entire system must be rejected and abandoned - more so its (sic) values and priorities. A civil society is based on a civilian infrastructure, not a military dictatorship or police state...which is where we are headed [if we are not there already]! Too many are accepting it, only complaining. Are students more violent than in the past - no. Do students have and use weapons - no. Only the Police, Campus Police and Military [now allowed to operate in the US] are more violent and have and use new and more dangerous weapons. Ultimately, it is not the policemen/women nor soldiers - but those who send them that are to blame. Resist! :mexican:

[Jan Klimkowski]

Volkland Security idiots.

[Keith Millea]

Oakland scares them much more than Berkeley.And,I wouldn't doubt if that armored vehicle gets used in Oakland first of all.Berkeley is University kids.Oakland is armed and dangerous.:mexican:

[Lauren Johnson]

As much as I agree with the above points, this video is kind of strange. Note the third "student" from the left side of the picture frame. He is wearing a grey hoody and is locked arms with a woman on his right and man on his left. He looks up at the camera, points to it, and appears to communicate with the policeman right in front of him. That policeman turns and appears to communicate with one of the poilce behind him. Then he turns back and begins the assault. Weird.

[Peter Lemkin]

As much as I agree with the above points, this video is kind of strange. Note the third "student" from the left side of the picture frame. He is wearing a grey hoody and is locked arms with a woman on his right and man on his left. He looks up at the camera, points to it, and appears to communicate with the policeman right in front of him. That policeman turns and appears to communicate with one of the poilce behind him. Then he turns back and begins the assault. Weird.

Might very well be police agents provocateurs...sadly, a very common event. The occupy movement, generally, has been beset by them - many documented on video. During the Toronto chaos, several of the 'black bloc' persons were captured on video melting by running INTO the police lines [with no ill effects] - says it all. Ditto one 'troublemaker' at Liberty Plaza in NYC. Was exposed as a police agent and he ran into the Police lines and disappeared. Interesting would be to find out what happened to those persons you are wondering about Lauren. Usually A.P.s are arrested and then pretty soon JUST released - while the others are arrested and prosecuted/fined/detained/interrogated/etc.

[Lauren Johnson]

As much as I agree with the above points, this video is kind of strange. Note the third "student" from the left side of the picture frame. He is wearing a grey hoody and is locked arms with a woman on his right and man on his left. He looks up at the camera, points to it, and appears to communicate with the policeman right in front of him. That policeman turns and appears to communicate with one of the poilce behind him. Then he turns back and begins the assault. Weird.

Might very well be police agents provocateurs...sadly, a very common event. The occupy movement, generally, has been beset by them - many documented on video. During the Toronto chaos, several of the 'black bloc' persons were captured on video melting by running INTO the police lines [with no ill effects] - says it all. Ditto one 'troublemaker' at Liberty Plaza in NYC. Was exposed as a police agent and he ran into the Police lines and disappeared. Interesting would be to find out what happened to those persons you are wondering about Lauren. Usually A.P.s are arrested and then pretty soon JUST released - while the others are arrested and prosecuted/fined/detained/interrogated/etc.

Watching Hoodie Man through the entire video, he appears to be continue communicating with the same police officer. He points to his hand as if to say, "Hey, that really hurt. Looks like I get a purple heart and extra hazard pay."