Extra Credit

Ariella Aghalarian

On November 16th I attended the conference regarding the riot in Pittsburg during the G20 summit that took place on September 24th and 25th. I attended this meeting wanting to learn more about the topic after viewing those unbelievable you tube videos about what the police were doing. I was angered. I could not believe that in a country where free speech is so widely preached there are actually specific tactics used to prevent it. I was especially dumbfounded when I heard that police were using tactics only used in Iraq against terrorists.It is obvious that the police used this as an opportunity to show that "no one has more power than the government." The fact that they were punishing others for things we are obviuosly allowed to do at any other time (such as "twittering") is outrageous, but hurting people just because they were innocent bystanders who were not even given the opportunity to leave when warned is even more babaric. I understand that there needed to be some control at the protests, but the police have NO RIGHT to do things to entice the protestors in order for them to make a point of their authority. Using tactics that like blocking the protesters and using sonic guns so that hey arer writhing in pain and cant even move. Using free speech zones- going directly against our first amendment right to free speech (which supposedly grants free speech- no matter where you are). The actions police took during this protest exemplify the exact opposite of what America portrays itself as. And then America wonders why some countrries may not take it as seriuoslly as we want them to. I wonder why.