for purposes of clarification, I didn't say the cop solidarity gestures were sincere (certainly all of them weren't), I just think it doesn't matter much since either way, this kind of thing is so unusual it's a sign of a system starting to break down. 1/
I've been facing off vs cops for more than 20 years now, & know 1. cops personally HATE anti-cop protests, 2. cops are almost never ordered to express solidarity with protests they despise, if that's what's happening, someone must be worried about total loss of control 2/
as individuals, the vast majority of cops are assholes, & typically, chosen & trained to be capable of killing & maiming their fellow citizens or at least supporting colleagues who do. That's why most regimes hesitate to call in the army: the army is more likely to defect 3/
fwiw they tend to be so cynical they know they're fighting for the wrong side. I remember during an OWS eviction asking a line of riot cops "how do you feel about being the bad guys?" One beefy guy actually said "you know it used to bother me but I've come to terms with it." 4/
so some are personally conflicted, but follow orders so it doesn't matter at all. Only makes a difference if: 1. commanders in the filed might go lighter on direct action by a group they like (i.e., a labour union), way harsher on say, anti-cop protests 5/
(this is especially true if it's a small action and a relatively low-ranking officer is in charge), or 2. there's a potential revolution, in which case some might refuse orders to shoot. We're not there yet in the US but it's possible the higher-ups are afraid it will 6/
what I do know is you only get to know what's happening on the higher ranks years later, if ever: i.e., we now know in Seattle N30, the police chief refused to send in his men to attack peaceful protestors for the first day until he got an angry call from the Sec of State. 7/
this is what makes the current US situation weird from my POV: 1. you have widespread infiltration of outright Nazis into police forces & that must strain "blue wall" solidarity a bit, especially when 2. politicians like Trump are intentionally fanning the flames 8/
it's perfectly plausible that Trump could've given orders to use live ammo, & some police chiefs are saying "what? the populace is armed! You really want to spark a civil war to get elected & have us clean up your mess? Fuck you." And this is their way of communicating it 9/
