• bean@lemmy.world
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    18 hours ago

    Eyewitness News Reporter Sid Garcia spoke to the protester who was shot from his hospital bed at the L.A. General Medical Center.

    I was thinking at first like, how lucky to be in a hospital bed already when being shot. 🧐

    • SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 hour ago

      “A young man who lost his eye with a rubber ball in a street protest, coincidentally meets the riot police who shot the ball in a dinner.”

      Holy shit. This must be a thing that cops do on purpose, then.

    • SabinStargem
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      1 day ago

      It is this kind of thing that made me decide to ignore my city’s municipal codes regarding protest gear. It outlaws the wearing of bulletproof vests, helmets, protective visors, hearing protection, gas masks, and so on. To say the least, I cannot respect a law that is designed to permit bullies to injure or kill people who did nothing wrong.

      • chaosCruiser@futurology.today
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        17 hours ago

        If you don’t bring any protective gear, you better run when things get ugly. If you plan to stay when things get ugly, you better bring the appropriate gear with you.

    • IamSparticles@lemmy.zip
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      2 days ago

      In the video from last weekend of the Australian reporter being shot in the back, you can clearly see the police officer behind her raise and aim straight at her. Clearly there’s no repercussions for misusing these weapons.

        • pmk@lemmy.sdf.org
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          35 minutes ago

          I had a similar bruise from a less-lethal bullet on my butt, and I’ve seen a kid get hit with one in his head, that was scary. This was a long time ago though, but the bullets then were steel core and rubber around it. Not sure if they use different ones in the US.

        • HasturInYellow@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          I think he was hit with some kind of grenade the police fired. There seems to be a huge hole in the center. How is he not paralyzed??

          • EldritchFeminity@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            19 hours ago

            IIRC, rubber “bullets” are somewhere around 30mm, which isn’t that far off from the size of the rounds grenade launchers commonly use - I think those are usually 30-40mm. I saw somebody recently say that they’re the size of 8 or even 4-gauge shotgun slugs, and an 8-gauge is 25% larger than a 12-gauge.

            They’re also not rubber like people think of when they hear the name. They’re a metal slug wrapped in a layer of rubber or foam.

        • Thetimefarm@lemm.ee
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          1 day ago

          Holy shit, where is that picture from? Is that an injury from the current round of protests?

      • octopus_ink@slrpnk.net
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        2 days ago

        Clearly there’s no repercussions for misusing these weapons.

        Maybe in countries where police accountability isn’t a punchline.

        • Dasus@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          Maybe in countries where police accountability isn’t a punchline.

          Name one.

            • Dasus@lemmy.world
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              1 day ago

              Seriously, though. Name one in which you think police accountability isn’t a joke.

                • thebestaquaman@lemmy.world
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                  11 hours ago

                  We’ve had a couple cases in Norway in recent years where police were investigated for some thing or other. Based on the evidence I’ve seen, they’re definitely held accountable when they over-step.

                  To name a specific case (where the cop was found not guilty), there was a huge case when a cop punched a guy in the face while he was on the ground. After several rounds in court, it was decided that he was using reasonable force, because the guy was wrestling him, and he noticed that the guy had a knife on him.

                  The point is that a policeman punching someone at all became a huge court case with national coverage, so I would say they’re held accountable.

                • Dasus@lemmy.world
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                  21 hours ago

                  Well I got tortured in a cell for three days and can’t get a single Finnish person to even accept that it happened.

                  They won’t talk about it either. They’ll just shut down, completely.

                  Just like your systems, theyre good on paper.

                  But do tell me how a person could feasibly manage to hurt themselves and write a fucking novel with their own blood on the cell walls while under constant supervision for “his safety”?

                  Afterwards when I tried getting the video of that with lawyers, it’s “vanished”, despite them originally trying to say I “vandalised the cell” by going crazy and drawing with blood.

                  They denied me my prescription medication, personal rights are honestly a fucking joke in Finland. We’re so bureaucratic it’s gone authoritarian.

                  It’s ludicrous.

                  I also didn’t have the mattress or the blanket, they took hose away too. Three days, lights on constantly, no explanation how long I would be here for, no medication, I didn’t eat.

                  Yeah, police accountability is a complete joke in Finland, much more so than in the US. There may be more overall abuses in the US, our cops generally play nice on the street. But behind closes doors?

                  Hell, Finnish people literally don’t understand that we actually have rights.

                  At one point they turned of my water in the cell. That’s literally against international laws.

                  I’ve tried complaining to officials and journalists and even my own family don’t believe me. My mom fucking victim blamed me for it.

                  In the US I would’ve definitely found a lawyer willing to fight such clear injustice (as in a golden case). I’d be a fucking millionaire for the compensations.

                  But here, even when I do manage a small win like

                  https://www.hs.fi/suomi/art-2000009654524.html

                  That, actually the supreme court of Finland deciding I was in the right and my rights were violated? Zero compensation. Fuck, no-one even let me know, I learned it from the news.

                  So yeah. Police accountability here is a goddamn joke.

    • Empricorn@feddit.nl
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      1 day ago

      Hundreds have been permanently blinded.

      Just think about how that could even happen. You put any of us in their shoes, we would obviously aim low, to prevent permanent damage.

      It’s like police are overgrown toddlers, mad that they’re forced to use less lethal rounds… So they take it out on civilians and aim for the face. Can you imagine being as hate-filled as these fucking orcs that you would want to blind the people you “serve” for the rest of their lives (if you don’t kill them)!? Absolute monsters…

      • pulsewidth@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        ‘Quantified immunity’ is unique to the USA. Never should have been made law and it should surprise no-one that it came about during push-back to the civil rights movement. It enables all of this bullshit by making police behaviour untouchable.

    • TheKMAP@lemmynsfw.com
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      2 days ago

      You expect me to believe that cops are supposed to 360 no scope trick shots? I don’t think they took, much less passed, geometry.

  • LilB0kChoy@midwest.social
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    1 day ago

    I hope they recover their vision. As someone who lost sight in one eye I can attest that going from binocular to monocular vision is life altering AND not considered a disability under the law Social Security requirements but typically is covered by ADA.

    Edit: clarification.

    • SirSamuel@lemmy.world
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      18 hours ago

      You’ll need z87+ (ANSI Z87.1) impact resistant safety glasses or goggles. If the chemistry store does not have these you can find them at any big box hardware store

  • throwawayacc0430@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    Imagine if you are a refugee and escaped from a war/tyrannical regime only to end up in the US and reading these type of things on the news…

    Must be awkward… 👀

    • Chaotic Entropy@feddit.uk
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      20 hours ago

      Pretty depressing to imagine escaping one despotic regime, through hell and high water, only to watch another rise and set its sights right on you.

  • 96ToyotaCamry@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    You shouldn’t have to wear safety rated glasses to protest, but I wouldn’t go to one without them at this point. If you normally wear glasses and they’re not rated an impact can shatter them and cause even more damage than not wearing them at all would have.

    • Oxysis/Oxy@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      2 days ago

      If you have glasses buy safety glasses that go over top of them. Doesn’t matter if your glasses are rated for it, use the safety glasses. Glasses are expensive and safety glasses can be bought for fairly cheap.

      • Oxysis/Oxy@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        2 days ago

        If you can’t afford them, check if there is a robotics event going on near you. Then check if they have open access to the pits, if they do then they will have safety glasses stations that you can pick up a pair at. They won’t hound you for then back really, the people working those stations are usually volunteers. At those kinds of events they also expect a lot of those pairs to get taken, whether accidentally or on purpose. So you taking a pair will go unnoticed.

        Edit: Not everyone has a few dollars that can be spared for a pair of safety glasses. Stealing from a store is more risky than taking them from an event where they aren’t expecting them back. Remember that jails are filled with people who can’t afford to pay their bails. I’m not here to price gatekeep people going to protests, get a pair however you can. I want you to be safe, not keep you out.

        If you can afford multiple pairs buy extras for others. Be selfless rather than be an asshole.

            • DBT@lemmy.world
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              2 days ago

              You’re right, if you check Amazon you can get a box of 10 ANSI certified safety glasses for 16.99. So actually less than two dollars.

              I originally pulled that number out of thin air, but how much do you think the ones they give out for these robotics events cost? If you tour a manufacturing facility and they pass out OSHA required safety glasses, how much do you think they cost? Probably also less than two dollars.

              • Oxysis/Oxy@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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                1 day ago

                Yes glad you understand the concept of bulk buying!! Maybe you’d also understand that the events are buying in even larger amounts and they get their money (or even the safety glasses themselves) from sponsors who aren’t it back anyways. Maybe you also might understand that the people who run these events don’t really care if they are returned or not. That they care more about people being safe than about a piece of plastic being brought back.

                I volunteer at events and have spoken with organizers of said events. They aren’t bothered by pairs going missing, they are bothered by people not wearing them.

                Another you should consider is that not everyone has the 16.99, plus shipping, plus tax, to buy that 10 pair on a discount. Remember that roughly half of all people in this country survive paycheck to paycheck. Money can be tight and even cheap things can be expensive to others. Be understanding of where others are, rather than assume your position is the default. Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes and you’ll see things differently.

                • anomnom@sh.itjust.works
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                  20 hours ago

                  Single glasses are also $2 in local retail stores.

                  I actually prefer the clear $2 glasses to the fancier padded $8 ones. They last longer and the rubber on the fancy ones will eventually get sticky and fall off.

                • DBT@lemmy.world
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                  1 day ago

                  Look at this condescending ass motherfucker who was telling everyone to go find a robotics event somewhere to snag some free glasses on their way to a protest to save two five dollars. You can get a single pair at Home Depot for five bucks.

                  Thanks for the tip buddy. I’m sure it will help exactly zero people.

                • brbposting@sh.itjust.works
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                  1 day ago

                  I wonder if it would help to frame the suggestion as a “questionably ethical, depending, life pro tip“.

                  Then explain you might be able to have some fun checking out a robotics event and—especially if you are able to make a little connection with one of the organizers—you should explain your financial situation and ask if one of the pairs went missing if they could forgive you for it.

                  And for some two-dollar item when it’s a question they probably never get asked, they’re probably gonna say “sure!“ and be able to feel good about helping a near stranger.

                  (As it stood, it had vibes like “your local library might leave their late fee coin jar unlocked!” which I know was notttt anything like your perspective cuz you’ve been to those events! This is a risky parenthetical, not accusing you of nuthin’ pls :) )

        • CaptDust@sh.itjust.works
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          2 days ago

          Lol wat? Why go through all that to steal from volunteer event supplies? If you really, seriously, need to steal a pair go to home depot, grab a pair and walk out. Take from corpos not science nerds.

          Edit- I’m not condoning stealing from anyone, but if that’s where your heads at, choose better targets.

          • Oxysis/Oxy@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            2 days ago

            I’ve worked as a volunteer at robotics events, pairs can be donated by large corporations. And the events aren’t expecting the pairs back anyways. Stores might give more of a shit, probably not but it’s safer for the people who can’t afford them.

        • NABDad@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          Unethical life pro tip there. “Steal from volunteers” shouldn’t inspire any sympathy for you from anyone.

          If you’re going to steal, steal from Home Depot.

            • thedruid@lemmy.world
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              22 hours ago

              Love the down voting of what I actually had to do yesterday. Fuckheads.

              No wonder Trump’s in office

      • legion02@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        I don’t think z87 are strong enough for rubber bullets, especially if they’re taking a direct shot like this. Looking around the internet you need to jump up to MIL-PRF-32432 for that.

        • Tempus Fugit@midwest.social
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          1 day ago

          I looked it up, and take this how you will as it’s from safetyglassesusa.com and they say, “Yes, safety glasses & goggles can stop a rubber bullet, provided the correct type of safety eyewear is used. Industrial-rated ANSI Z87.1+ safety eyewear is specifically designed to protect your eyes from work-related hazards. Ballistic-rated eyewear is designed and tested to protect your eyes from higher-velocity projectiles and debris typically found in combat environments.”

          So you’re right. Z87 may not cut it, but still it’s probably going to be fine except in extreme circumstances. Still better safe than sorry.

    • yeehaw@lemmy.ca
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      2 days ago

      And kevilar vest. And jock. Maybe even a helmet.

      But if course, that enables the narrative that you come dressed to fight or something stupid. What has happened to Western civilization…

  • WHARRGARBL@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    The protester was among tens of thousands of people who took to the streets for the demonstrations across Southern California and the rest of the country.

    Tens of thousands? There were over FIVE MILLION protesters.

    E OVER THIRTEEN MILLION protesters - thank you, Lucidlethargy

    • HikingVet@lemmy.ca
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      2 days ago

      You are supposed to aim centre mass with less lethal. Hitting the eye means you are incompetent (unlikely), or malicious (definitely).

      • Tahl_eN@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        I was at a protest in DTLA where they were firing them. Some cops were flinching when the rounds were fired. So I’m going with both incompetent and malicious.

        • logicbomb@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          I think that part of a cop’s competency is not being malicious. Or in other words, a malicious cop is also necessarily incompetent.

          • EldritchFeminity@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            18 hours ago

            I saw somebody say that older rounds were designed to be used that way while newer rounds are meant to be aimed at center mass (both from at least a certain distance away to let the energy dissipate before it hits somebody/something), but cops have both kinds in their arsenal and fire them both directly at people from point-blank range - breaking all the rules for their use.

      • PaleRider@feddit.uk
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        2 days ago

        Rubber bullets are supposed to be fired at the ground and bounce up into targets…

  • WoodScientist@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    States need to pass ballot initiatives that make it completely legal to shoot any police officer with a rubber bullet whenever you feel like it. It should also be legal to pump tear gas into a police station whenever you want. Police are using these things against entirely peaceful protests. The only violent people are the police. Yet they’re allowed to just use these weapons against people with no consequence whatsoever. I say what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. If these weapons are that harmless that cops can just use them whenever, then we should be able to use them against cops whenever we feel like it as well. It should be entirely legal to shoot cops with rubber bullets. They should have to go everywhere in full body armor and face coverings. See a cop on the street? Shoot them with a rubber bullet. Officer pulls you over? Shoot them with a rubber bullet. Cop standing in line at a donut shop? Feel free to come up behind them and shoot them point blank in the back of the head with a rubber bullet.

    If cops can use these weapon with such casual indifference, then they must be completely harmless. As such, there is no harm in allowing citizens to use rubber bullets and tear gas against officers at any time they choose. Anything that cops can do to random citizens random citizens should also be able to do to cops.

    • HeyListenWatchOut@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Protester shot in the eye with rubber bullet during ‘No Kings Day’ rally in downtown Los Angeles

      Police use firearms at point blank range equipped with rubber bullets to get away with literally shooting out the eye of an American peacefully expressing their legally protected 1st Amendment right to protest during the ‘No Kings Day’ rally in downtown Los Angeles

      TL;DR -

      FTFY