State & Fed Police Crack Down on Burning Man in Unprecedented Show of force

[Esau.]

http://intellihub.com/2013/08/23/state-and-federal-police-crack-down-on-burning-man-in-unprecedented-show-of-force/

One of the most peaceful and long running festivals in the country is under attack by police, with early arrivals experiencing a show of force like they have never seen before.

Burning man and other similar art and music festivals generally have very peaceful and safe endings. The most common dangers with any of these events is the fact that police like to target the people who attend them.

In recent years as the drug war police state has escalated, they have become more aggressive with these events, setting up illegal checkpoints, illegally entering onto private property without permission and senselessly using violence or threats of violence against nonviolent people.

Aaron Muzslaski, a Burning Man regular made the following post yesterday:

The pigs are here. And uncommonly badge heavy. Earlier tonight, the #BLM pulled over El Couchino for a registration violation. In 18 years on the playa, I’ve never seen a more aggressive police presence than what’s been going down today. Deeply upsetting, outrageous stuff. One DPW member was issued a $275 ticket for urinating on the playa, and threatened with being forced to register as a convicted sex offender. (a note for people not familiar with Burning Man, the “Playa†is what Burning Man attendees or “Burners†call the land that this event is held on.) I suspect this is fallout from the lawsuit BMORG won against the BLM earlier this year. Whatever the cause, know this: Law enforcement is going to be VERY AGGRESSIVE at Burning Man this year. Keep your shit as right as you do back in the world. Don’t give them any excuses. Be extremely cautious, and MAKE SURE TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS. Things are changing. #BM2013 #LEO #police IF YOU DO GET STOPPED: Make sure to file an incident report with Burning Man. And before you get here, LEARN YOUR RIGHTS. [1]

In response to this unprecedented show of force, volunteers and workers nearby are calling for a general strike, with some of them organizing and refusing to set up the festival until the police promise to keep off the playa and let the Burning Man crew handle security inside the event.

In a recent interview a spokesperson for the group “Reform In Our Time†said that:

“Our demands are simple: We want law enforcement excluded….. The problem is a huge growth in outside law enforcement officers invading the playa, not the money it costs. We would really appreciate them if they stayed outside and only came in when we really wanted them to.

If the cops would leave their badges and guns at home and just be burners like everyone else in BRC, we’d welcome them just like we welcome anyone else. We’d even build them a Donut Camp! We’re not against cops necessarily, we just don’t want outsiders doing law enforcement in our city. We have everything we need to take care of it ourselves without any outside help!â€[2]

Last week at a conscious music and arts gathering in Ohio called “Rootwire†police invaded the property and arrested or fined 80 people for nonviolent crimes.[3]

[ollie]

We’re not against cops necessarily, we just don’t want outsiders doing law enforcement in our city.

While I'm completely sympathetic to the issues being experienced by the festival attendees, exactly what right to sovereignty do they think they have? I've always been amazed that festivals like this are allowed to happen in the first place.

[boiler]

I never saw a single security guard the whole time I was at Delfest and I never saw a single problem or need for them. Gentlemen of the Road had a ton of cops and even a a six wheeled fire truck ATV with helmet wearing Firemen on it with a ton of hoses and other contraptions. It was crazy. But again, I saw no problems and I didn't see the cops hassling anyone. Festival goers are pretty good at policing themselves and the "services" should be handy in case of emergency but should otherwise fuck off. It's annoying seeing them everywhere and without reason. I don't know what the hell they were planning with all that hose on the ATV. Maybe at burning man, I could understand the firehose but at Gentlemen of the road, I found it very confusing.

[SaggyBalls]

We’re not against cops necessarily, we just don’t want outsiders doing law enforcement in our city.

While I'm completely sympathetic to the issues being experienced by the festival attendees, exactly what right to sovereignty do they think they have? I've always been amazed that festivals like this are allowed to happen in the first place.

It's not a privelege to live life freely and happily. Unless someone is specifically breaking the peace or committing heinous unlawful acts, the police have no right to hassle anybody.

Burning man is self-contained and remote just for that: to be of itself and sovereign.

My question is: how can police be hired to stay at arms' length for an event like that?

[AD]

So there's all this heavy police presence and aggression and intimidation going on but the example they use is a guy getting a ticket for taking a piss?

[Northern Wish]

So there's all this heavy police presence and aggression and intimidation going on but the example they use is a guy getting a ticket for taking a piss?

:clapclap:

[Esau.]

Yeah the article isn't the best representation I suppose, but on my FB alone I've already read some horror stories from there - several people detained by immigration (Cdns & Euros). Some beat downs even. The article I posted was just the first account I stumbled across. A simple google search will show more, like people being harassed for setting up kitchens and not having food licenses etc. Police also forced a official fest blog to take down the warning of the heavier than usual police presence and border patrol check points.

It's not a privelege to live life freely and happily.

Unfortunately in the current police & surveillance state of the USA it's seemingly becoming just that.

I read some politicians have dubbed the folks who attend as domestic radicals already, so it wouldn't surprise me if burning man has been added to the list of possible domestic terrorist orgs along with the enviros, anarcho-syndicalists/capitalists etc, and numerous other activists.

[Esau.]

As for the taking a piss in public example. I believe the bigger issue was the guy was threatened with being charged as a sex offender - at least according the festival organizer.

[phishtaper]

As for the taking a piss in public example. I believe the bigger issue was the guy was threatened with being charged as a sex offender - at least according the festival organizer.

maybe it was so huge it could be seen by the children in the orphanage miles away ...

[Northern Wish]

Maybe someone panicked and posted before they realized what was going on? Lol.....

~* On Thursday afternoon out at the temple, I suddenly heard police sirens and then saw scores of police vehicles with lights flashing heading down the promenade towards the temple. It looked like at that moment every LEO on the playa was descending on the temple. Many of us stood stunned, not knowing what was happening, as these law enforcement vehicles slowly arrived and fanned out around the temple, as officers got out of each car. It looked like some kind of planned raid, perhaps a drug enforcement spot check. As they all got out of their cars and lined up on either side of the entrance to the temple, they took off their hats. Soon, a woman was being escorted down the path towards the temple, accompanied by someone holding a plaque. It became apparent that a fallen officer was being honored here at the temple, and that his family members were being escorted inside for a ceremony and placing of the plaque. As the officers went inside, crowds of burners followed, and everyone stood in respectful silence as the eulogy was read, and the plaque placed on the alter. Gongs quietly rang in the background, as desert dust gently blew through the temple. The capacity crowd stood in rapt silence. Afterwards, the crowd erupted in applause as the speaker finished up, and the assembled officers and family members filed out of the temple. It was an emotional and unifying scene, and though different people have had varying experiences with police on and off the playa, in that moment we were all part of the same shared experience. *~

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2013/09/an-interesting-twist-from-burning-man-photo/

[NewRider]

As for the taking a piss in public example. I believe the bigger issue was the guy was threatened with being charged as a sex offender - at least according the festival organizer.

maybe it was so huge it could be seen by the children in the orphanage miles away ...

DAMN! I knew you were gonna get a dick joke up here before I could.