Right of peaceful assembly

People were running in every direction, waving their banners and shouting as police officers were chasing after them with their batons high in the air. I saw one man with a camera trying to escape from the pursuit of several officers who unfortunately wasn't able to get very far. The officers caught up with him as he tried to turn the corner. At the corner there was a woman beside him who tried pleading with the officers. The officers just ignored her however and proceeded to beat down the man with their batons. It was like that video of the Rodney King beating in L.A. They surrounded him and started whacking away until he fell to the ground. After a good beating the officers started to move on but as they did I saw one officer quickly turn back around, reach out and give the man who was already crying in pain one more good whack.

What the heck was that for? He forgot to throw in a hit in there for his Tito too? There was no point in turning back all the way around just to hit the poor guy once again. First overall the man was already defenseless when they proceed to be him and secondly, after they had finished beating him it did look he was about to do anything but lie there for a really long time. I couldn't believe it. That's when I realized how glad I was that we have civil rights in America and how glad I was to be watching this in my clean pressed white uniform from miles away in front of a television set.

Though, one of these days I got to go there to get some of this on camera. I was watching the MSNBC news coverage online and they mentioned how the police met the ralliest with water cannons. The video clip didn't mention at all however how they also chased and beat down helpless protestors with their batons. Here's one quote from an article covering the story of the Filipino protest against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo which occured last Friday in Manila, from MSNBC.com.

"Hours later, another scuffle broke out, with police using truncheons on protesters who pushed and shoved them. No one was seriously hurt and the rally dispersed soon after."

That one man I saw on TV got his ass beat. Now would that qualify as news censorship? They obviously weren't telling the whole story. I hear that when the crowd control officers out here hit the streets it's anything goes. You better bring a helmet and lots of Band-Aids.