Full speech by Ben Shapiro at UC Berkeley, Thursday, September 14th

Because, as everyone knows, Ben Shapiro is such an overbearing individual and cuts such an oppressive, racist, sexist, -ist and -obe swath seldom seen before, and should never have been allowed to speak at UC Berkeley this past Thursday. Yet he was.

As opposed to prior events where Berkeley PD and the UC Berkeley polices forces chose to stand down as ordered, however, the riots failed to cook off this time because officers were out in force and were clearly a presence. This time they countenanced no one, for example, wearing masks. That predominantly eliminates Antifa. Hold that thought. I’m coming back to it.

But first, Ben Shapiro’s entire speech including a Q and A session with audience members.

Coverage of the arrests outside the speech in Berkeley, by FoxNews.com:

Ben Shapiro speech at UC Berkeley results in arrests at protests

At least nine people were arrested Thursday night related to protests at the University of California, Berkeley, over an appearance by former Breitbart editor Ben Shapiro.

UC Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof said the security measures could cost $600,000. Mogulof called the speech “a successful event” and said the university was committed to hosting speakers like Shapiro in the future.

Stop. Question: just who cost the university $600,000? That’s correct. Its Leftist students. Seems like freedom really isn’t free, is it UC Berkeley? Not when you have rioters for students.

The evening did have its share of hiccups. Police said three arrests were weapons-related. Among them:

— Hannah Benjamin, 20, was arrested for battery on a police officer and carrying a banned weapon.

— Sarah Roark, 44, was taken into custody for carrying a banned weapon.

The arrests were announced on the police Twitter account.

The demonstrators, however, were largely peaceful. Some chanted against fascism, white supremacists and President Donald Trump. Others were holed up inside a student building, waving signs protesting the university’s decision to allow Shapiro on campus.

Inside the hall, Shapiro addressed a friendly crowd. He encouraged people to hold civil discussions with people who have different opinions, saying that’s what America is all about. He condemned white supremacists as “a very small select group of absolutely terrible people who believe absolutely terrible things.”

The campus and surrounding Berkeley streets were under tight security after a series of previous events turned violent.

City and campus officials anticipated protests against Shapiro, and prepared for possible violence with a variety of new strategies and tightened security. It was not immediately clear whether the people arrested Thursday were protesters.

Back to my reference to law enforcement. Four points.

First: Berkeley police agencies decided to utilize actual preparation this time in concert with some proactivity as well, to include the disallowance of persons wearing face covering as is customary with Antifa elements.

Second: Berkeley police agencies came out in force with barriers, gear, presence and plans in place.

Third: They did not stand back as they had in times past, instead making arrests, preventing injury to citizens and protecting property, which proves:

Fourth: When persons were injured seriously and property torched and damaged on prior occasions in Berkeley, it was quite now clearly due to law enforcement stepping back on orders from agency heads in concert with the BAMN/Antifa-supporting Mayor of Berkeley, Jesse Arreguin. How do we know this? Because of admissions from Berkeley Police Chief Andrew Greenwood and because of the results on Thursday.

This means that those people injured and those businesses and persons suffering property damage should individually and collectively sue the City of Berkeley, City of Berkeley Police Department, the Mayor of Berkeley and the UC Berkeley Police Department for negligence, as well as advocate prosecution under California penal code 182 PC for conspiracy, RICO, and federal code 42 USC § 1983, Civil action for Deprivation of Rights — as I delineated in this post.

Because up until last Thursday in Berkeley, what happened was this:

Americans were left to fight it out on the streets of the United States as law enforcement officers were either forced to or willingly allowed violence to occur directly in front of their eyes.

And that is absolutely unacceptable, unsustainable and anathema to actual keepers of oaths.

Oh please, let the suits commence.

Finally, as UC Berkeley itself pointed out: walls work.

BZ

 

Charlottesville PD sued: let the lawsuits commence

I advocated for this on my August 29th and August 31st Berserk Bobcat Ballroom radio shows. I also wrote this post on August 31st indicating that lawsuits were well past due on behalf of those persons who were injured by the clear and obvious negligence displayed by certain specific law enforcement agencies when they purposely determined to step back as Antifa appeared, and shirk their law enforcement responsibilities. Their oaths. Their honor.

Then: Laura Ingraham picked up my mantra on Tucker Carlson’s show later in the week. Perhaps it’s time to remove some very select and pointed elements of “qualified immunity” that is commonly granted to law enforcement agencies.

Why does so-called “qualified immunity” exist? Because, on their faces, law enforcement agencies across the nation attempt to do the job to which they’ve been tasked. They try to do the “right thing.” An excellent article is here.

When they fail to do the jobs to which they’ve been tasked, then, in my opinion, qualified immunity should be lost.

That is to say, Leftist law enforcement agencies and their masters will not change their stripe and begin to do the jobs to which they’ve been tasked unless they are sued within inches of their lives. They must be made to pay, and they must be made to bleed.

If for no other reason than to set an example, provide a chilling effect and send a quite clear message.

If you happen to live within the jurisdictions I recommended in terms of suits — the San Jose PD, Charlottesville PD, Berkeley PD and UCD PD — well, sorry. It may possibly suck to be you in the future because I can only hope that your law enforcement agencies are going to be drained and their overarching entities — city and state administrations — will likewise be so as well.

There must be pain, there must be loss and there must be consequences. For what? you may ask.

For not doing your damned jobs.

But listen to this, from a CBS station. It questions yet attempts to justify Berkeley PD’s non-reactive responses.

I emphasize, though: cash must be diverted from customary necessary requirements to lawsuits. If you must suffer as a Leftist law enforcement agency, due to locale, so be it. You, as a local citizen, signed up for this. Your zip code is your vote.

First, from the WashingtonTimes.com:

Lawsuit alleges Charlottesville police were ordered to stand down at white supremacist rally

by Andrea Noble

Robert Sanchez Turner claims cops turned blind eye to violence on the ground at Aug. 12 rally.

A man who was assaulted during a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, is suing the city and state police, alleging that officers were ordered to stand down and failed to act even as they witnessed the attack.

According to the federal lawsuit, Robert Sanchez Turner was sprayed in the eye with pepper spray and beaten with canes, and had urine thrown on him during the Aug. 12 rally in Charlottesville, as police officers stood less than 10 feet away and did nothing to stop the assault or arrest the assailants.

“By commanding their subordinates to stand down while hundreds of white supremacists and their sympathizers assaulted and seriously injured counterprotesters, these defendants were essentially accessories to, and facilitators of, unconstitutional hate crime,” states the lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times.

Nexus Caridades Attorneys, which filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, is expected to announce additional details about the case Friday.

This is just one lawsuit. But I ask: please let it grow and become a national debate.

From the TheHill.com:

Report: Lawsuit to target Charlottesville police over rally’s violence

by Josh Delk

Nexus Caridades, a Virginia-based law group, reportedly plans to sue Charlottesville police over the violence that resulted from a white supremacists’ rally earlier this month, citing a client who was injured in the violent clashes. 

The case alleges that plaintiff Robert Sanchez Turner sustained injuries in the violence because of the police “standing down” and failing to intervene in the situation, in which white nationalist groups attacked anti-racist protesters, the attorneys told The Daily Progress.  

But that’s just one case. On, frankly, the wrong side. The greatest number of potential suits exist on the side of, say, Patriot Prayer or those who are not Antifa-friendly. That is a vast untapped megabucks source for attorneys.

But still: Why?

Because some law enforcement agencies still purposely choose to not do their job in various venues across this nation. Not a decision made by line-level troops. No. But a decision made in concert with various other applicable government levels to include mayors, city managers, bureaucracies, bureaucrats, union members and those beyond civil service.

Those with a Leftist bent, weak of mind, unable to think for themselves, coat-tail hangers, sycophants, Those incapable in independent and/or true critical thinking. Because that is the last thing taught in any college today. Only Lockstep Thinking is promoted and encouraged. Non-variancy. Mindless response.

The pro-bono legal group plans to formally announce the litigation on Friday in Emancipation Park, where the Aug. 12 rally took place. Also targeted in the suit are the city of Charlottesville, its chief of police and the superintendent of the Virginia State Police. 

And I say: excellent. Be general and then yet become quite very specific.

Name names. Most cops wear name tags, velcro tabs, name plates, possess badge numbers. Let them also be named. Specifically. Quite very specifically.

You either engage and do your job, or you stand back and allow chaos to ensue.

Because trust me, you beggars, the chaos you allow will soon come to visit itself upon your neighborhood and your family. Damn you for not seeing those consequences.

President Trump was correct. There was blame on both sides. He spoke the obvious truth yet was excoriated via Leftists and the American Media Maggots.

“Mr. Turner was assaulted while police officers watched but failed to act to keep him safe or arrest those responsible for the attacks,” the organization’s public relations director, Jen Little, told the Progress.

The lawsuit follows a report that federal authorities had warned Virginia law enforcement of potential violence at the rally, citing previous clashes between white supremacist groups and anti-fascist “antifa” protesters.

Guess what? True on both sides.

Finally: a Truism from President Trump that the American Media Maggots shan’t acknowledge in retrospect.

“What about the alt-left that came charging at the — as you say, the alt-right?” Trump asked three days after the deadly rally. “Do they have any semblance of guilt? What about the fact they came charging with clubs in their hands, swinging clubs? Do they have any problem? I think they do. As far as I am concerned, that was a horrible, horrible day.”

Purposeful indifference. Go RICO, go 182 PC, go 42 USC § 1983. The situation is screaming for it. Name agencies, name administrators and then name very specific individual officers. Go for broke. Break them down. Bankrupt them. Make them bleed.

Anyone remember a quote: “it takes two to tango” — ?

True then and now.

There will be many more Antifa assaults upon our fundamental rights to come.

BZ

 

BZ’s Berserk Bobcat Saloon radio show, Thursday, August 31st, 2017

Featuring Right thinking from a left brain, doing the job the American Media Maggots won’t, embracing ubiquitous, sagacious perspicacity and broadcasting behind enemy lines in Occupied Fornicalia from the veritable Belly of the Beast, the Bill Mill in Sacramento, Fornicalia, I continue to proffer my thanks to the SHR Media Network for allowing me to utilize their studio and hijack their air twice weekly, Tuesdays and Thursdays, thanks to my shameless contract, as well as appear on the Sack Heads Radio Show each Wednesday evening.

Tonight in the Saloon:

  • Unfortunately The Underground Professor, Dr Michael Jones, was unable to join us due to Hurricane Harvey and its impact in his area of Texas;
  • Free speech under fire;
  • The First Amendment under fire;
  • “The Left’s War On Free Speech,” by Kimberley Strassel, from her speech;
  • The politicalization of agencies that never should be so;
  • Revealed: James Comey crafted Hillary exoneration statement BEFORE the conclusion of the investigation itself or even interviews of witnesses or Hillary Clinton herself: the terrible politicalization of the FBI;
  • FBI investigation of espionage, blackmail charges in Imran Awan case blocked by Obama DOJ appointee who worked for Holder and Lynch;
  • Let’s go 182 PC, RICO and 42 USC § 1983, the deprivation of civil rights, on those police departments or agencies who fail to perform their law enforcement job or stand down in the face of Leftist administrative direction;
  • Pelosi condemns Antifa; where is the GOP, en masse, on Antifa?
  • There is CLEAR evidence that the Berkeley Police Department played favorites in terms of Antifa vs others;
  • Berkeley PD allowed Antifa to mix with Trump supporters and others;
  • Then stood back when violence subsequently occurred;
  • Let’s sack up and name Antifa a terrorist group;
  • Laura Ingraham steals my idea: it’s time for 182, RICO and other charges against departments, and let’s remove certain aspect of qualified immunity because of the clear and obvious aspects of reckless endangerment to the public at large;
  • Law enforcement: it’s time to make a stand. Where is your courage? Where are your ethics? Where is your bravery? What happened to the oath you swore?
  • Berkeley PD: you dishonored your oaths;
  • What is a Good Sergeant?
  • Why were there NO Good Sergeants at any Berkeley riots? Do they exist on the City of Berkeley Police Department? I’ve seen none yet;
  • It’s time to make Leftist law enforcement entities hurt; sue their arses off;
  • The FBI goes out of its way to prove it can no longer be trusted; “lack of public interest” justifies withholding Hillary Clinton documents via FOIA;
  • James Comey is corrupt; Andrew McCabe is corrupt; the FBI is corrupt;
  • We know the FBI itself doesn’t obey laws;
  • An open letter to Multnomah County Sheriff Michael Reese;
  • 6 officers shot, 2 killed, in two hours, on just one day in August;
  • Deputy Bob French was killed yesterday, two CHP officers were shot;
  • Nurse practitioner REFUSES to treat gunshot deputy;
  • This is where we are now as an American society;
  • Is this sustainable? Certainly. Only if you want chaos to triumph;
  • Law enforcement must stop being politicalized, not if you want them to be efficient and unbiased.

If you care to listen to the show in Spreaker, please click on start.

Listen to “BZ’s Berserk Bobcat Saloon radio show, Thursday, August 31st, 2017” on Spreaker.

If you care to watch the show on YouTube, please click on start.

Please join me, the Bloviating Zeppelin (on Twitter @BZep and on Gab.ai @BZep), every Tuesday and Thursday night on the SHR Media Network from 11 PM to 1 AM Eastern and 8 PM to 10 PM Pacific, at the Berserk Bobcat Saloon — where the speech is free but the drinks are not.

As ever, thank you so kindly for listening, commenting, and interacting in the chat room or listening later via podcast.

Want to listen to all the Berserk Bobcat Saloon archives in podcast? Go here. Want to watch the past shows on YouTube? Please visit the SHR Media Network YouTube channel here.

BZ

 

An idea about Leftist law enforcement entities, whose time has clearly come

This is Berkeley Police Chief Andrew R. Greenwood, a law enforcement official who, in my opinion, dishonors and politicizes his badge and, worse, is in charge of an entire department. Shame on you, sir. Shame on your cowardly decisions. When you have eight yellow service hash marks on your sleeve, come talk. To me you’re a puerile political sycophant whose jejune views mark you clearly.

It’s time for suits and prosecutions.

Please see my predicating post here.

Make them general and then make them very specific. Name departments. Then name very specific individuals. Start at the top. Work your way down. You know the drill. Make deals for the bigger fish.Offer immunities for testimony. Leverage. Force. Immunity. End goal in mind.

First, from my Tuesday post about Antifa, riots, Leftists and law enforcement.

In my opinion, I would submit that the City of Berkeley, Mayor Arreguin, the city council and Chief Andrew Greenwood are all complicit in a conspiracy, 182 PC, to allow lawful citizens of the State of California and the United States to become injured by indifference, and to allow private and public property to be damaged and destroyed, having received their marching orders not to interfere if the forces of Antifa were having their way.

I would submit that these forces possess a history sufficient to instigate both a federal RICO investigation of the entire Bay Area bureaucracy, and a 42 USC § 1983“deprivation of civil rights” action.

Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress, except that in any action brought against a judicial officer for an act or omission taken in such officer’s judicial capacity, injunctive relief shall not be granted unless a declaratory decree was violated or declaratory relief was unavailable. For the purposes of this section, any Act of Congress applicable exclusively to the District of Columbia shall be considered to be a statute of the District of Columbia.

(R.S. § 1979; Pub. L. 96–170, § 1, Dec. 29, 197993 Stat. 1284Pub. L. 104–317, title III, § 309(c), Oct. 19, 1996110 Stat. 3853.)

It’s long past time for Leftists to be subject to the same lawful scrutiny others are.

Oddly enough, it was Laura Ingraham who suggested precisely the same thing, the next day, on Tucker Carlson’s show.

And I wholeheartedly concur.

It’s past due time for lawyers, guns and money. And terrible lawsuits aimed at police departments.

Let there be no mistake. As most know, I served 41 years as a law enforcement officer for the FBI, US Marshals, a coastal Fornicalia sheriff’s department and finally retired from a 2,000+ sheriff’s department in the belly of the beast with 35 years on.

If there were ever an advocate for law enforcement it is I.

But I cannot conjure or tolerate law enforcement agencies or administrators or officers who abandon their oaths of office for convenience or political correctness or for fiscal safety. Somewhere, at some time, stands must occur.

Courage needs to step up, ethics need to step up, and points must be made.

Otherwise, frankly, all is lost.

I was lost.

I was told in no uncertain terms that, as a Sergeant, I should never take the test for Lieutenant because I had not cooperated with a Captain who wanted to circumvent ethics on behalf of a female recruit he was copulating. And to whom he wished to afford training above and beyond other that of other recruits. I said no, declined the extra training at my range. Further, as a Sergeant, I consulted my immediate Lieutenant who left me hanging in the political breeze because he did not wish to become involved.

And so I retired as a Sergeant. Many suggested and hoped I would make Captain and beyond. That was not in the political cards. It’s a story to tell on another day.

So imagine my chagrin and dismay when various law enforcement officials want to circumvent standards, safety, rules and regulations that otherwise I had to completely obey and honor. You can be ethical. You can do what needs to be done. You can honor your oath despite whatever political outcomes may result.

As in: you dishonored your oaths, Berkeley. You stood by whilst people were injured, you weren’t simply not proactive; you weren’t even interested in being reactive for a time. There have already been four Antifa riots at Berkeley this year.

I ask: where were the Sergeants?

First line supervisors can make or break each and every department for which they work. Why? Because they not only relay but are tasked with enforcing the policies and orders issued by their specific departments, the state in which they reside and the oaths they took to support and defend the US Constitution and its Bill of Rights, with those they supervise.

A Good Sergeant is one who looks out for his or her troops, values the troops and knows full well that it is they who truly get the job done, not the Chief and not the Sheriff. Chiefs and Sheriffs come and go like soiled toilet paper, flushed down the political Toilet of Life.

Where were the Good Sergeants working for Berkeley PD? Because, trust me, in a similar circumstance, knowing people were getting hurt in front of me — no matter what my cock-gobbling managers or executive staff said — I would have intervened.

And my troops would have followed me.

Once one element was committed, my element, the others would have followed suit because someone took a stand and waded into the maelstrom.

All it takes is one.

One Good Sergeant.

You Berkeley Sergeants could have made a difference. You were provided numerous opportunities to prove your mettle and your honor. You know who you are. So do your troops.

Berkeley: is that how you want to be remembered?

We are coming closer to a bottom line. What is one of its aspects?

Americans are left to fight it out on the streets of the United States as law enforcement officers are either forced to or willingly allow violence to occur directly in front of their eyes.

Is this what we truly want as a society? I submit: no, we don’t. Chaos would ensue. But oh, be sure, that is precisely what Antifa wants as well as Leftists and anarchists. Chaos.

So I say: let the lawsuits commence.

And they should start with the San Jose Police Department, the Charlottesville Police Department, the Berkeley Police Department and the UC Berkeley Police Department.

Subpoena everything. Collect everything. There is more evidence on the internet than one can swing a dead cat upon. Take it, collect it, collate it, list it, organize it, depose individuals and soon you will have a lawsuit or series of lawsuits that — and I can only hope — put the proverbial Leftist Chilling Effect but upon each and every Leftist law enforcement entity and support bureaucracy in the nation.

Make their dollars and budgets bleed.

Shape up or get out of law enforcement. Go weave baskets. Join Antifa.

You are now on notice.

BZ

 

The Berkeley Police Department: “Okay, and?”

At least Berkeley PD offers its officers two ways to defend themselves in terms of one shotgun and one rifle per car. Shotgun left, long rifle right.

[This post has taken over a week to write because of the serious conflicts I feel when putting fingers to keyboard on what, to me, is a deeply disturbing topic.]

As a recently-retired law enforcement officer from two venues, federal and local, who served 41 years on the job, I am a Sheepdog, I am an Oathkeeper, I am a Silverback, and I am disgusted with the reaction — or the lack of reaction — once again — from the City of Berkeley Police Department (CA) with regard to the Saturday, April 15th riots ostensibly the result of a demand for the revelation of President Trump’s tax records.

This was nothing more than an excuse to riot, and nothing more than another reason for Antifa to corral its paid members once again in order to appear at a specific event. These are not local “protesters,” ladies and gentlemen. These are George Soros-paid, nomadic rioters who do the bidding of Antifa and anarchists across the nation. The faces begin to repeat. The difference, this time, was that pro-Trump members were present as well.

The Berkeley Police Department needs to be — again — named and shamed, as well as Chief Andrew Greenwood, City of Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin and the UC Berkeley Police Department Chief Margo Bennett. This is the same Chief Margo Bennett who had her gun, badge, laptop, credentials, iPad and other very personal items recently stolen from her official government vehicle. Charges? Discipline made public? Of course not. She willingly carries political water for Leftists.

They were and are in collusion to step away from situations that they know, full well, will likely lead to violence on the UC Berkeley campus and in the city. This is entirely despicable.

First the background, from the UKDailyMail.com:

Anti-Trump protest turns into a massive brawl: Twenty one are arrested after hundreds of Tax Day protesters trade punches with Donald supporters in Berkeley

by Abigail Miller

  • A ‘Patriots Day’ rally was held in support of President Donald Trump in Berkeley, California Saturday

  • It coincided with thousands who marched across the country to pressure  Trump to release his his Tax returns

  • The protest turned violent as counter-protesters showed up and both sides broke through netting

  • Hundreds threw stones, lit fires, tossed explosives and tear gas and attacked with makeshift weapons

  • Police stood by through the violence and at least 15 people have been arrested due to violence in Berkeley

Please note that last bullet point. Police stood by.

At least 21 people have been arrested after violence broke out Saturday between groups of Trump supporters and detractors holding rallies in downtown Berkeley, according to police. 

Hundreds of people with opposing opinions on President Donald Trump threw stones, lit fires, tossed explosives and tear gas and attacked each other with makeshift weapons as police stood by. 

As police stood by.

Berkeley PD’s mission statement reads as follows:

Our Mission is to safeguard our diverse community through proactive law enforcement and problem solving, treating all people with dignity and respect.

The Berkeley Police Department’s Vision is: We will be a team of leaders at every level.  We will foster strong relationships with our community, inspiring trust through our service, building on our historic tradition of progressive policing, and dedicated to the safety of all.  As members of this community, we will provide proactive law enforcement and problem solving, holding these as our core values:

Integrity: We are ethical, fair, and trustworthy in all we do.

Safety: We strive to keep our community and each other safe.

Berkeley PD also has a “Protest 101” link on its site.

Welcome to Protest 101

Protest 101 is a guide to assist anyone interested in organizing or participating in a safe and legal protest, march, demonstration, rally or labor action in the City of Berkeley.

During demonstrations, protest marches, public rallies or labor actions, the Berkeley Police Department is responsible for providing for the safety and security of the general public, while both monitoring and facilitating any peaceful demonstration.

Berkeley PD swears it provides safety and security for the general public during protests.

Here are the — there is no other word for it — riots that occurred April 15th, Saturday.

The situation devolving. No police around. “We will provide proactive law enforcement.”

No police around. “We will provide proactive law enforcement.”

No police around. “We will provide proactive law enforcement.” As CNN even admits, “we have been watching these pictures for some time now.” Translated: where are the police?

An Antifa woman got punched. She’s no “local.” She admits it was a six hour drive for her.

Violence should come as no surprise to her. She was already speaking and writing about advocating violence.

No police around. “We will provide proactive law enforcement.”

As the man in the video stated, to me it makes no difference. A woman can injure or kill you as easily as a man. When you attend an event expecting to create violence, be surprised not when violence is visited upon you. Antifa came mentally prepared for war, dressed for war, identities masked, armed for war, carrying metal poles on which flags were attached, possessing chemical weapons and M-80s, according to Antifa protocols. You can download an Antifa manual here.

Antifa by the way, should you care, is keeping a database of all your registered Disqus comments with your associated personal information. Gosh. Is BZ registered on Disqus? Uh, not just no but hell no.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Berkeley PD officers were busy sitting and standing next to their elderly Ford CVPI riot vehicles, buffing their nails, balancing their checkbooks or playing Angry Birds . How do I know this is a riot vehicle tasked with riot duty? Because otherwise you never put more than two officers in one car and simultaneously equip them with helmets, gear, long batons and filtered masks. Captain Obvious calling. A Leftist journalista named Shane Bauer (no relation to Jack) from Leftist rag Mother Jones walked up to the Berkeley PD officers in said tasked riot vehicle and asked questions. Frankly, they were excellent questions.

The answers and responses were both enlightening and yet vastly depressing.

It is important to note there are two entirely disparate responses from two officers here, and the body language is markedly different for widely divergent reasons. Paul Ekman taught me how to read body language in an interview/interrogation room, as did Carl Stincelli.

The standing officer says nothing. He is a cipher. The officer in the car responds, “that would be a good question for the Chief of Police.” He pulls up his left hand and lets it drop back on the sill. He is not happy to be where he is, on the sidelines. This is a highly conflicted officer, depressed yet resigned.

Officer Shannon, #120, standing, doesn’t like to be questioned and makes a referral to the department PIO. “What’s your next question?” You can see there is another Berkeley PD black-and-white unit in the background to the left. Waiting.

“Mmm-hmm. Okay. And?”

He couldn’t be more dismissive. The day’s events aren’t about the issue, it’s about him. Many, many factors here. Of these few seconds I can draw something of a conclusion.

What I sense is this: he is a veteran officer. After all the years of putting up with ever-changing administrations (Berkeley PD lost its last Chief, Michael Meehan, in September of 2016 amidst allegations of slow and poor decision-making, spending too much time on community actions outside the department, and being a deficient advocate and supporter of the officers overall: low morale.) and watching his department and his profession deteriorate before his very eyes. Is he really dismissive on its face, or is he truly disgusted? Is he tired of having to be another coprophagic Berkeley PD officer? In one sense, I can’t fault his demeanor.

This is Officer Jeff Shannon on a better day. Imagine having to work for Berkeley PD. Dude, you need a leader. Many leaders. You have none.

Here, a Berkeley PD sergeant stands back, knowing full well what’s occurring around him. Note the stripes. He is a supervisor. He was given an order. Clearly by his Lieutenant or his Captain, directly from the Chief of Police in Berkeley via, I suggest, its mayor.

He too is doing nothing. For, I submit, the same reasons as delineated above. However, the Nuremberg Defense does not apply. More on this later.

After watching these two videos, I wanted both to cry and to rip some administrator’s head off their shoulders. You can be certain — and never admitted — that Berkeley PD Chief Greenwood received a phone call from either the mayor or a mayoral subordinate to stand back unless absolutely necessary to intervene. There was also likely a Lieutenant or a Captain on site to determine just what would constitute “absolutely necessary.”

Yet, as the Berkeley PD officers stood by, this was occurring. Here, a Trump supporter got smashed in the head by an Antifa person with a large, heavy Kryptonite bicycle U-lock. Why? Because possession of a bike lock could easily be explained-away to cops by Antifa rioters. I had to be prepared to lock up my bicycle, after all. Right? Really? So what’s it doing in your hands instead of on your bicycle?

The person he struck was completely unarmed.

You can see the results. Only after the injured man was removed from the scene did the Berkeley Police Department even remotely become interested. This crime falls into and should be investigated as 245 PC, Assault With A Deadly Weapon. The bike lock. Felony.

Further, just who was the heavy bike-lock swinging individual? He was allegedly identified by a number of sources on the internet as an individual named Eric Clanton, who is employed as a professor for Diablo Valley College. Please check this site. The story is not over. Here is his photograph by which he may be compared to future violence.

More on the story of Eric Clanton.

Here, Antifa rioters, predominantly dressed in black with masks take, literally, a heavy skateboard — again, easily explained-away to local Berkeley PD cops as a form of transportation — to the head of a pro-Trump advocate.

Let there be no mistake. This wasn’t something of a “sudden and spontaneous” reaction to the “need” for President Trump to expose his tax records though no one — specifically the American Media Maggots — much cared about the issue intrinsically. It was simply an excuse to riot. Funded by anarchist George Soros.

Where were the riots regarding Obama’s failure to release college transcripts and records? Where were the riots regarding the failure to release IRS documents? The release of documents regarding James Foley’s aborted rescue mission? That’s just the tip of the Leftist iceberg. I term that Historical Alzheimers.

Berkeley’s stand-away orders were documented here.

Is this truly how you wish to be remembered, members of the City of Berkeley Police Department? Because, as of this point, this is your collective and individual legacy. Your history is such that you already stood down when Milo Yiannopoulos came to speak. You want to be known as nothing more than an infantile internet photo and meme? How callow and dismissive can you be? Where are your testicles?

As in: you dishonored your oaths, you stood by whilst people were injured, you weren’t simply not proactive; you weren’t even interested in being reactive for a time. There have already been three Antifa riots at Berkeley this year.

As opposed to Berkeley PD, here are cops with actual balls, who insisted on unmasking Antifa protesters at Auburn University in Alabama, recently.

Take a note, Berkeley PD.

Yet even so, Auburn officers were seriously negligent. Did you not hear the clank of a flag pole? The officers allowed a heavy metal pole into the event, saying “get your pole”? The heavy clank of metal is called a clue. That is a significant weapon. Do. Your. Jobs.

We are coming closer to a bottom line. What is one of its aspects?

Americans are left to fight it out on the streets of the United States as law enforcement officers are either forced to or willingly allow violence to occur directly in front of their eyes.

As an aside; an examination of body language at the Berkeley riots by a female member of society.

Interesting take on the situation from an uninvolved third party.

A few unresolved issues remain.

Were official Berkeley PD munitions fired only at Trump supporters?

Was Berkeley PD therefore supporting Antifa violence?

The Chief of Berkeley PD Greenwood has already spewed political bullshite. Of course, to be expected.

What about the Mayor of Berkeley? Breitbart.com indicates he may be a sympathizer of the groups that organized the riots in the first place.

Berkeley Mayor Is Member of Antifa Facebook Group that Organized Riots

by Tom Ciccotta

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin is a member of the anti-fascist Facebook group, By Any Means Necessary, which orchestrated the riots that occurred ahead of a scheduled lecture by Milo Yiannopoulos.

BAMN. Are you simultaneously shocked and non-plussed?

Berkley Mayor Jesse Arreguin was revealed to be a member of the anti-fascist group, By Any Means Necessary (BAMN), on Facebook. BAMN orchestrated the violence that shut down a scheduled lecture at UC Berkeley featuring Milo Yiannopoulos in early 2017. Arreguin is allegedly also friends with BAMN leader, Yvette Felarca, on Facebook.

They were also involved in the violent clashes earlier this month.

You’ll love this additional bit of buttery goodness from, of all least-quoted sources, TheBlaze.com:

Antifa wants combat training and firearms after losing the ‘Battle for Berkeley’

Last week supporters of President Donald Trump clashed with members of the leftist group known as Antifa (short for anti-fascist) in Berkeley California. The meeting of the two groups soon erupted in violence, with Antifa using mace, M80’s, and various other weapons to attack Trump supporters.

According to Rebel Media’s Lauren Southern, Trump supporters were told by police not to bring any weapons, as police would protect them. Upon Anitfa’s arrival, the police retreated, leaving the Trump supporters to utilize whatever weapons they could get their hands on. Regardless, the Trump supporters routed Antifa after one of their members threw a smoke bomb, not realizing the wind was blowing in Antifa’s direction.

This loss prompted Antifa members to begin discussion about how they could better prepare themselves for future skirmishes against Trump supporters.

Perfect. “Better prepare themselves.”

Here is where I draw the line. Perhaps you have been waiting for this. Because it’s all I have left.

Truly, whether or not the mayor issued an order to stand down from his office to Berkeley Police Chief Greenwood is pretty much immaterial. And whether or not Berkeley Police Chief Greenwood issued a sub rosa order to his Captains and Lieutenants to stand down is also mostly immaterial. (I still believe both of those things to be accurate, however.)

Do you know why?

Because the real power, the true power of any law enforcement agency rests in the hands of two people, two archetypes: 1) Its Training Officers, and 2) Its Sergeants or first-line supervisors.

First line supervisors can make or break each and every department for which they work. Why? Because they not only relay but are tasked with enforcing the policies and orders issued by their specific departments, the state in which they reside and the oaths they took to support and defend the US Constitution and its Bill of Rights, with those they supervise.

You and I both know and can instantly recall bosses who were, on one hand, absolute garbage and those whom we respected and honored. We can all name names. We never forget.

Your best bosses were four things:

  • Firm;
  • Fair;
  • Consistent, and
  • They praised in public, reprimanded in private. Then they moved on.

Translated to cop work, a grizzled old Sergeant once told my young ass that I’d have a successful, productive and satisfying career if I did these three things:

  • Do your job;
  • Tell the truth, and
  • Don’t be malicious.

These are the bosses you would waltz straight into Hell standing beside, working for, because they inspired you, inspired confidence, trust and loyalty. They had your six.

I found out early: the more I treated my troops like adults, the more they responded like adults. I watched: the more people were micromanaged — myself included — the less inclined they were to make decisions, stand on their own two feet, take charge or be independent. I wanted the job to get done. I knew with that the morale would be good.

I would consistently tell my troops: give me every reason to support you and I will. Lie to me, undermine me or fail to do your job and it won’t be pretty. For all of those reasons and more I had people who always wanted to work for me. I didn’t play favorites. I expected people to work. When the job got done they could be people. We could have fun. We could laugh. Job first, though. And I would grant you perks.

I would also speechify my new Lieutenants, who were legion in my career. They didn’t speechify me, I speechified them. My job was to look out for them and tell them what they didn’t want to hear, but what they needed to hear no matter the circumstances. My job, I told them, was to provide them with as much information as necessary to answer, to the best of their ability, questions posed to them by Captains. I never wanted them to be caught flat-footed. When they were caught wanting I was caught wanting. Not optimal. Many disbelieved what I told them. They were the ones proven wrong. I didn’t possess decades of experience under my belt for nothing.

That said, a Good Sergeant is one who looks out for his or her troops, values the troops and knows full well that it is they who truly get the job done, not the Chief and not the Sheriff. Chiefs and Sheriffs come and go like soiled toilet paper, flushed down the political Toilet of Life.

That said, I also told my troops this: if it is politically or fiscally expedient, you will be sacrificed. I would watch their six but they had to watch their own six. If they produced. If they worked. If they were honest. I told them genuinely: never adore your department because it will never adore you back. Be realistic. But be true.

That’s what a Good Sergeant does. That’s what a Sheepdog does. That’s what a Silverback does. That’s what an Oathkeeper does.

I once had a deputy who was a great worker but who strayed. He got into trouble. I never once reprimanded in public. I took him aside. All I had to do is tell him that I was disappointed in him. I could see the tears welling. He changed and got back on track.

That’s what a Good Sergeant does, and how effective a Good Sergeant can be.

Where were the Good Sergeants working for Berkeley PD? Because, trust me, in a similar circumstance, knowing people were getting hurt in front of me — no matter what my fucktard managers or executive staff said — I would have intervened.

And my troops would have followed me. Now you know why.

Once one element was committed, my element, the others would have followed suit because someone took a stand and waded into the maelstrom.

Sure, as cops we all know what the Ferguson Effect is. Proactive law enforcement has plummeted for obvious reasons.

But for fuck’s sake, if we can’t even be reactive when violence exists right in front of our faces, then why do we even exist? Why did we go to work that day?

You Sergeants could have made a difference. You know who you are. So do your troops.

Managers manage things. Leaders lead people.

Yes, your career could suffer. You might not promote. I didn’t. I was told that directly to my face, because I had ethics in the face of dishonesty. Those are stories for another day. That’s why I was called Sergeant and not Lieutenant or Captain. That’s what my badge read. The one under which I retired.

But, as I’ve always said, it gets down to: can you sleep at night?

I sleep like a baby.

Berkeley PD Sergeants: how are you sleeping these nights?

BZ