Chicago Police Supt. McCarthy Responds To Video Alleging Intimidation Of Occupy Chicago Protesters

By aaroncynic in News on May 11, 2012 4:40PM

Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy responded to the video of police officers allegedly intimidating Occupy Chicago protesters yesterday. In an interview with WLS, McCarthy said the video was “very clearly edited.” He went on to say:

"That is not the full context of the conversation and less than encounter, except for that one comment, something about 1968 and night sticks and skulls, I think that those officers acted professionally, they acted courteously, and it was a casual encounter."

If McCarthy does believe that outside of the comment officers made about cracking skulls like it’s 1968 that the recorded encounter is a “non-event,” we’re left wondering if it’s safe to assume that “we’ll beat your white ass” and the ominous sounding “save it up for the protest…we’ll come look for you…” comments are considered casual and courteous.

While plenty have argued that the incident is pretty mundane and par for the course, we’re left with the feeling that despite the common media narrative that protesters are going to tear up the city streets, there are those on the other side of the line itching for a fight. From advice to citizens to “dress down” for fear they might be targeted by protesters to a source telling CBS that the Red Cross in Wisconsin is on standby in the event of an evacuation of Chicago, we’re lead to believe the south loop will be a warzone come next weekend. However, as we saw during Chicago's May Day march and in nearly every other protest involving Occupy Chicago for months, events have been peaceful.

If the encounter proves anything, it’s that no matter what side of the law enforcement line people fall on, those hoping for a fight have a good chance of instigating one. Thankfully, the majority of people here in Chicago have been much more rational.

Amidst questions of heavy editing, the group who released the first video, NewsPower TV posted the complete unedited version.