this post was submitted on 02 May 2024
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[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca 39 points 6 months ago (3 children)
[–] ondoyant@beehaw.org 73 points 6 months ago (4 children)

cop got on the news and used a bike lock chain that was used to barricade the building as "proof" that the protestors were infiltrated by professional agitators, because it was an "industrial chain" or something like that. its the bike lock that Columbia University itself recommends to students.

[–] stembolts@programming.dev 52 points 6 months ago (3 children)

The entire conservative, pro cop playbook is "say silly things, pretend you don't know they're silly".

And if anyone calls you out, act offended. Everyone knows if you are offended you are right. Growing up in a religious household it's incredible how many times I saw someone use, "You're rude therefore you are wrong" as a core tenant of "debate".

The 'victim card' is the conservative 'race card'.

[–] Lianodel@ttrpg.network 13 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Really reminds me of the "military-aged" thing. It's just so pathetic.

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] Lianodel@ttrpg.network 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

When conservatives fearmonger about immigrants and brown people, one of the current favorite talking points is to say they're "military-aged." It's vague and meaningless, but it implies something sinister, and plays into just about any conspiracy theory an audience member might be inclined to believe.

On top of that, they're afraid from merely seeing these people. They're just scared to death of brown and black kids and young adults.

[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

In this context that probably means something around "traumatized and depressed by the military regime in the place where they come from"

But they don't always come from places with such regimes and/or wars, while local citizens are also traumatized and depressed just for a different reason

[–] Lianodel@ttrpg.network 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

At least in the contexts I'm talking about, and I've never seen it used in another, it's really not that. It's coming from talking heads fearmongering about nonwhites, portraying nonwhite immigrants as criminals, ginning up a "border crisis" narrative, and even calling it an "invasion."

[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Ah, well, I'm wrong then. Maybe they mean something like "it's those guys at war with us [white supremacists]" then?

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Well I just learned the term today, but it seems to have the implication "these are men who could be military. They could be hidden insurgents

[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

How convenient when nothing should be proven right

[–] theneverfox@pawb.social 2 points 6 months ago

"We're just asking questions!"

[–] Lianodel@ttrpg.network 2 points 6 months ago

Yeah, pretty much. It ties into the "white genocide" and "great replacement" conspiracy theories, where the mere existence of nonwhites is taken as violence. It also often blames Jews for orchestrating it. It doesn't make any sense, but it appeals to paranoia and supremacy, and provides a scapegoat for literally any actual systemic problem.

[–] HawlSera@lemm.ee 7 points 6 months ago

"Anything but complete surrender is invalid" - Sadly I'm familiar

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 14 points 6 months ago

Versus some of that old fashioned homemade chain. HOW ARE THESE PROFESSIONAL PROTESTORS GETTING THEIR HANDS ON COMMERCIAL-GRADE METALS???

[–] Umbrias@beehaw.org 6 points 6 months ago

Of course they do know there are professional agitators at the protests, they're them.

[–] frezik@midwest.social 6 points 6 months ago

Let me guess, hardened steel? Because that's how you keep your bike from getting stolen in New York. Kryptonite calls it the "fahgettaboudit" lock for a reason.

[–] rockSlayer@lemmy.world 61 points 6 months ago (1 children)

The governor of NY, and former cop, justified the police response to the anti-genocide protests at Columbia with a statement about "outside agitators". When pressed on that, the governor essentially said it was a gut feeling.

[–] gt5@lemm.ee 13 points 6 months ago

It was the mayor not the governor

[–] DahGangalang@infosec.pub 12 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Probably the Columbia University protests. I expect this means someone was arrested for having a bike lock (which can be used as a bludgeon).

[–] EldritchFeminity@lemmy.blahaj.zone 41 points 6 months ago (2 children)

They were using the bike locks to claim that the protesters had ties to terrorist organizations, because "it's not the kind of thing a normal student has."

Despite the fact that the exact model of bike lock was part of a deal on bike locks advertised by the CU campus security on Facebook not 6 weeks ago.

[–] DahGangalang@infosec.pub 25 points 6 months ago

Wow, I think that is an instant winner for the annual "most dogshit excuse for cops to do a thing" award.

[–] sukhmel@programming.dev 12 points 6 months ago

I mean, let's think about it step by step. The protesters used bike locks, having a bike lock implies having a bike, having a bike implies using it, using a bike implies you're riding it for transportation. That obviously means that the infiltrators are from Europe (most likely, Netherlands)

[–] The_Hideous_Orgalorg@sh.itjust.works 29 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I think the students had chained the doors with bike locks, and the police are trying to claim the chains constitute professional involvement.

[–] DahGangalang@infosec.pub 7 points 6 months ago

This also sounds like a reasonable explanation.

[–] Pilgrim@beehaw.org 10 points 6 months ago (1 children)

It was used to close one of the doors of the building they occupied

[–] DahGangalang@infosec.pub 3 points 6 months ago

This also sounds like a reasonable explanation.