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Originally posted to It’s Going Down

Several days ago, Conflict MN reported on the ‘National Night Out’ events taking place across the US. While seemingly positive, community-based block parties aimed at bringing neighbors together, the article argued that the events have a very specific agenda. They reason that the events are organized as a means to build credibility (and also recruit) on the streets for law-enforcement, especially now at a time when public distrust of the police is at an all time low.

This push towards ‘community policing,’ was first used by law enforcement agencies in the wake of the numerous uprisings that took place in inner cities in the 60s and 70s. This style of law enforcement, which worked to integrate police in various American neighborhoods, was coupled with more aggressive tactics such as SWAT raids, ‘broken-windows‘ no tolerance theory, the War on Drugs, and the massive growth of the prison-industrial-complex.

This coming together of much more militarized police departments along-side ‘community policing,’ came to be called ‘Counter-Insurgency,’ and was influenced heavily by US military engagements in the Middle-East and beyond (as was military by mainland police operations).

Here’s a collection of photos from @newyorkyearzero and others following #NNO. First up is from Salinas, California, a town where over the past few years, local police have shot numerous people of color dead, gotten counter-insurgency training from the military, and have recently been filmed beating a man senseless in the street.

https://twitter.com/JuanVillaVTD/status/628765107439271937

Kids play with police robots.

#WCSONNO Fun with the robot at National Night Out at John Marty Park in Bethany. DR pic.twitter.com/xtOoSg1d7W — WCSO Oregon (@WCSOOregon) August 5, 2015

More pig than dog, Scruff McGruff takes a ride in your neighborhood, friendly tank.

on my way 2 steal yr fam pic.twitter.com/q0vHKX3IGJ — New York Year Zero (@newyorkyearzero) August 5, 2015

This one comes from Cincinnati Police, who currently are facing murder charges after one officer shot and killed Sam Dubose at a traffic stop and then attempted to cover it up with the aid of other officers.

.@CincinnatiPD Sgt. Brian Meyer shows Zi'Yanna Trotter, 4, the SWAT vehicle during National Night Out in O'Bryonville pic.twitter.com/7tDpNEGBTn — Kareem Elgazzar (@ElgazzarBLVD) August 5, 2015

Bloomington, Indiana police help kids try on SWAT gear. SWAT teams grew out of police raids on Black Panther Party headquarters across the US in the late 60s.

Our newest SWAT team member trying on gear with Ofcr Lucas. #NNO2015 pic.twitter.com/re82mTI2S8 — Bloomington Police (@BPD_MN) August 4, 2015

Come get finger printed!

Bring your kids down to get fingerprinted by New York Life. #nno #mtpsc ^cg pic.twitter.com/JY1migzhI6 — Mount Pleasant PD (@MountPleasantPD) August 4, 2015

Checking out a tactical vehicle in Ashville, North Carolina. Local police departments are awash in military grade equipment as budges get larger and they are able to buy gear from the military. This ‘militarization’ is happening across the US and grew more controversial in the wake of the Ferguson Uprising in 2014. Police gather once a year to buy such militarized weapons and vehicles at the ‘Urban Shield’ conference, and practice in counter-insurgency operations. American police also get training from Israeli forces (who in turn receive US aid in the billions), on how to better suppress their populations.

Check out our SWAT gear on display at National Night Out pic.twitter.com/hRHGYzejS7 — Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) July 22, 2015

The FBI was also at many events. The FBI was formed to track, surveil, and monitor anarchists and other revolutionaries, immigrant workers and the labor movement, and in the 1960s, the Civil-Rights movement, the Black Power and other liberation struggles, and the movement to end the Vietnam war. During COINTELPRO, a government program that sought to disrupt and destroy movements for radical social change, the FBI killed militants, threw people in jail on false charges, and broke apart organizations.

#NNO fun at Vance Park with this cutie. Might need a few more years before it fits. pic.twitter.com/XszU4Uhh1y — FBI Portland (@FBIPortland) August 5, 2015

Police violence in American is skyrocketing as this civilization continues to break down and pushes people closer to revolt. Check the website KilledByPolice.net which is sadly updated daily.

Cops are instructing children how to beat people with billy clubs at National Night Out. #NNO #NationalNightOut pic.twitter.com/nOkjBe1InR — DE-Pro9 ??↙↙↙? (@Deprogrammer9) August 5, 2015

Tags: Community Policing