This past May, the New York Times requested an accounting from the Pentagon of all the military gear since 2006 which had been transferred from our military to police forces around the United States. What they received in response was a staggering list, including “tens of thousands of machine guns; nearly 200,000 ammunition magazines; thousands of pieces of camouflage and night-vision equipment; and hundreds of silencers, armored cars and aircraft.” And, now, the New York Times has made that data available in a searchable online database, where you can see, broken down by county, what high-tech, war-fighting gadgetry your local police forces now have at their disposal. Here, for your consideration, are the results for Washtenaw, Oakland and Wayne counties.
And, speaking of military-grade urban assault vehicles, did anyone happen to see today’s SWAT training in downtown Ann Arbor? In light of what’s going on in Missouri right now, the timing seemed odd to me, but I guess they don’t have to worry too much about public sentiment, seeing as how they make all of the rules and have all of the weapons.
[Click here for more information on the militarization of America’s police.]
12 Comments
It’s worth noting that, just because Washtenaw County did not get more military gear from the government, it doesn’t mean that we don’t have it. Our force is well funded and my guess is that they’ve bought night vision equipment, for instance.
Maybe it’s just my competitive nature, but part of me was disappointed to see that we only got 4 rifles and a mine resistant vehicle.
What we need is a Google Maps plug in that tells you, as you travel from one jurisdiction to the next, what kind of military hardware you might encounter.
Take a look behind the jail on Washtenaw/Hogback to see the variety of black military style vehicles.
I’d like to see the map showing where assault vehicles have been place overlaid with a map showing communities that are primarily poor and African American.
My county has more grenade launchers than your three counties put together! Suck it!
It was reported by many in Ferguson that they used a sonic weapon to disburse crowds. Was that a military technology?
I’m conflicted. On one hand I detest big government. On the other though I love having tanks on our streets rolling over hippies.
“This past May, the New York Times requested an accounting from the Pentagon of all the military gear since 2006”
Yes. You read it here first:
http://markmaynard.com/2014/08/the-underlying-message-coming-from-ferguson-get-the-money-out-of-politics-and-the-tanks-off-our-streets/#comment-868412
But the important point is this: we’ve got to elect democrats to ensure the continuation of these and related policies. Republicans, especially white men, are too crazy and arouse too much resistance. Ideally, maintain the trend toward blacks, women, etc. This way assures a continual, seamless transition to perpetual war, fascism and debt slavery, without a peep of serious objection. Fascism with a friendly, compassionate, inclusive, multicultural face.
The US or Iraq? Take the photo quiz to guess where you are at! – http://mashable.com/2014/08/13/ferguson-police-protests-vs-iraq/
Breaking news: New bill before Congress would ban ordinary citizens’ access
to body armor.
A successful fascist state must have a monopoly on serious arms AND
the means of defense from same.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-21/congress-proposes-law-banning-body-armor-land-free
Congress Proposes Law Banning Body Armor In The Land Of The Free
08/21/2014 23:01 -0400
“They spy. They steal. They wage illegal wars. They authorize military detention of civilians. They assassinate citizens. They intimidate. They terrorize. They torture. They suspend due process when it suits. They destroy anyone who challenges them. And now they want to take away a non-violent means of protecting yourself.”
Check!
Welcome to the F.S.A.
Photos from inside the “Urban Shield” trade show taking place in Oakland.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/09/urbanshield-oakland-police-militarization
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