I can, apparently, still be stunned by adequately callous evil.

[solarbird]

I can, apparently, still be stunned by adequately callous evil.

Officers responding to this mass murder attempt by a semi driver - he plowed his tanker truck into a crowd of seated protesters at highway speed - thought it was important to slow down and spray random people's faces with mace along the way.

Both links are to video. cw: mass murder, police violence.

I legit didn't know that could happen anymore. I mean, I've watched fascists commit successful mass murders and seen cops execute people in the street. I thought I was done with this emotion. Apparently, I'm not. Not quite.

I think it's a particular kind of callousness combined with the right degree of obvious contempt that made it happen.

"We wouldn't even respond to this if we didn't have to, because we're just fine with what this guy did. But since we have to respond anyway, we may as well make sure you know how we feel."

I guess that's it.

I guess.

I honestly don't know.

Comments

[dewline]

Good. You haven't lost the capacity for righteous anger. That's a victory for you and yours.

[solarbird]

Oh, I'm always angry.

This is different.

[kathmandu]

There's the callousness, the contempt, and also the absolute confidence that they will not be called to account for assaulting bystanders without warning or arrest or anything.

The police, collectively, are starting to remind me of the Varangian Guard in the old Roman Empire: once trusted security force, eventually using force to kill or depose anyone who gets in the way of their personal and group interests.

[solarbird]

Ah, that's it. The immunity.

[kitewithfish]

Re the ramming protesters - I was also horribly struck by this. I ride my bike, so car-related violence feels very real and terrifyingly present to me in a way is differently; I have luckily been sheltered from with other forms of violence like pepper spray and rubber bullets.

But, I am afraid to say, that this is a rising tactic in fascist circles - This tweet had some context on how this tactic has been cultivated. I don't recommend watching the videos, but the social media screen shots were, awfully, rather illuminating. Forgive me for leaving this here if you were trying to get some space - feel absolutely no need to engage with it if you're feeling drained. https://twitter.com/AriWeil/status/1267271819817480193

[solarbird]

The truck into the crowd, not so much. It's the police continuing the assault as they respond.

Thanks for the link.

This is going to be a long and brutal summer.

[conuly]

JFC.

[arethinn]

bbwaaaaggrrraahahh????