Provocation (Expletive Warning)

Coyote has so much to say.  He will try to make it brief.

I knew things had changed when I saw a very disproportionate police response to the protester attempt to symbolically levitate the mint.  Then ten minutes later a lot more police than yesterday in Civic Center Park.  Then it all fell apart.  Coyote wonders, why?

Here is a theory.  In studying police and protesters this summer, Coyote learned that a new police approach was being formed, an approach designed to be less provocative than usual.  In this new police model, the first level of police presence was regular police being visible, no dogs, horses, bikes, or riot gear.  Away from this first level of presence would be a second level of bikes, batons, and dogs, but they would be kept back, and mostly out of view.  The third level would be police in riot gear, strategically placed throughout a city, ready to go in an instant, but out of sight until, and if, needed.  The whole idea would be for the police to be as laid back, and as minimally provocative, as possible.  Coyote saw much wisdom in that approach.

But the Denver police approach at this convention seems to be exactly the opposite.  The Denver model is show everything you have right from the start, make a strong show of force, make sure everyone sees the batons, dogs, bikes, and riot gear on day one, and, apparently, hope this show of force prevents any problems.  The problem with this model is that it is provocative.  This approach seems to be subtly, and not so subtly, saying, if you F with us, we will respond quickly and with overwhelming strength.  This doesn't lower tension.  It increases it.

What you fear comes upon you.  If you are worried, and you provocatively say don't F with us, then you are setting up a situation where people will F with you.  And you will F with them.  This is not deep psychology folks.  This is psych 101 stuff.  

Coyote wonders, why?  

CoyoteJ