welcome to the police state
 

TANKS APPEAR AT ANTI-WAR PROTEST IN WESTWOOD, CA
LOS ANGELES, November 9, 2004 - At 7:50 PM armored tanks showed up at an anti-war protest in front of the federal building in Westwood.

The tanks circled the block twice, the second time parking themselves in the street and directly in front of the area where most of the protesters were gathered.

Enraged, some of the people attempted to block the tanks, but police quickly cleared the street.

The people continued to protest the presence of the tanks, but after about ten minutes the tanks drove off. It is unclear as to why the tanks were deployed to this location.

http://www.la.indymedia.org/
http://la.indymedia.org/uploads/tank.jpeg

Whatthefuuuuuuu...? :confused:

Tanks? That is getting a little dramatic. More stuff like that would just break apart the country more.

Last time we did something like that up here it caused a BIG stink.... seems the commander of an Armoured Regiment decided conduct a move exercise from a base in northern Quebec to Montreal, and back again... nothing big really, just about a dozen LAVs driving down the highway into Montreal, stopping by the Armoury, and then driving back that night....

Would have been no biggy... other than the fact this Armoured exercise was conducted the same night that Quebec held a referendum on seperation... some seperatists though that he was trying to deliever a "subtle" statement.

Shape of the tank - or armored personnel carrier - is one I don't recognize. Doesn't look like an Abrams (it woulda probably tore up the streets) or a Bradley.

Methinks there's some shenanigans involved with this photo - and it was posted to further agitate the crowds.

Video:
http://la.indymedia.org/uploads/tanks-on-la-streets.mov

Looks abit like a LAV III ummm LAV 25... turret is about right and the hull high is pretty high... they have the driver and the crew commander "unbuttoned" for maximum visibility so that'd be right also for urban travel.... I check the video and see...

>EDIT>

Yep LAV IIIs (LAV 25 - refering to caliber of cannon) engine sound is exactly the way I remember :)

However I don't know if there is anything sinster behind the "tanks" arrival at the protest... could have been a road move through LA - there are lots on Marines around there.... besides it'd give recruits good experience drving in an urban enviroment.

Looks like you're right, Coop... it appears to be a Marine LAV (Light Armored Vehicle).

Don't these peacenik morons know that tomorrow's Veteran's Day? And tonight's the 229th birthday of the Marine Corps!

Ahhh... there we go... Marine vehicles going to a display for Marine birthday and then Veterans day... heck we have Artillery deploying around our Provincal parliment as I speak... but they are setting up for Rememberance Day...

I'm thinking that this was a happy coincidence for the protestors... something to help them with good media.

If the tanks were there to make a statement I'm assuming more the a couple bicycle cops would be around :rolleyes:

welcome to the police state? that sounds about right around here.

KS 361

Meanwhile, back on the grassy knoll...

Had those tanks been there to break up the protest, pepper spray or other measures would have been used. There would also have been cops in riot gear, etc. They know how to tactically break up a protest so the hippie bulletin I think is having a difficult time with facts.

Oh, so on your special days we're supposed to abandon all our beliefs and like war? Must have missed that memo.

And on MLK Day all the racists are supposed to pull off their white hoods and start loving black people for a day! And during National Women's Day (March 8th, men -- start getting ready) all men are supposed to make up for centuries of sexism by sending us candy and flowers! :rolleyes:

Youre right. Why have any holidays?