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But yet the 3 protestors still comply and do not escalate the situation. They do not lunge or push back and prefer to cover their eyes rather than smack the canister filled with pepper spray is aimed towards their faces. Even as Alex is pushed towards the ground he leaves his hands up and open to as a de-escalation tactic to show he is not a threat, is not aiming to retaliate against them, even as he sees other CPB agents join his initial assailant in threatening physical harm
I agree I think the body-cameras will help with transparency, which is sorely needed, and hopefully by taking the masks off, it will be easier for locals, protesters and activists to communicate with ICE agents. Maybe it was just me but I noticed sometimes I could always understand what they were saying, even with the volume loud or when they yelled, because the masks seemed to muffle their words. This step could also, as a result, increase public safety and de-escalation of tense or high-conflict situations.
IMO
But that is always a risk and according to their instructors some of the disarming tactics the agency has educated them on can help mitigate these risks, save lives and de-escalate any and all violence.
Wouldn’t the armed instigator be the CPB agent who not only carries a gun but it is the main one initiating the aggressive or violent behavior leading up the shooting by pushing the woman into Alex’s arms before pushing both of them back towards the curb and shoving the other woman harshly against the curb and ground? At no point do we see acts of violence or harm committed by Alex or the two women before the agent begins shoving them. The agent’s attack seem both unprovoked and excessive, especially considering that no physical altercation occurred before the agent started just started shoving them and yelling louder and louder. Clearly he is enraged, perhaps disproportionately and his anger won’t be abetted. Instead of de-escalation he relentlessly shoves the protesters harder and harder and grows more aggressive despite their lack of aggressive responds back. It is like he doesn’t even see them or people anymore but rather potential punching bags he can pummel, shove and abuse to cope with his own turmoil.
I think it is completely understandable that they would be in fear of their safety and do not want to diminish or dismiss the danger they are facing as members of law enforcements. However, I think it is also understandable that local community members and leaders across the nation as a whole hold members of ICE to higher standards, both professional and ethical, than they would of their regular civilian because of the trust, training, education and access to power and resources we give in return. The public is allowed to demand better implementation and utilization of strategies and protocols that promote our human rights and safety, including giving us our due process, right to be free from harm and coercion and the protection of personal and public safety and property.
Also, they went in fear of their lives or safety when they shoving Alex and the other two protestors, or pinning them to the ground, blinding him with chemicals and repeatedly his head with the spray’s canister. If they were in fear of their lives or if their safety was priority they would have followed basic protocol and patted and checked Alex for any weapons on his persons long before they let their colleagues pin him to ground so that he could endure a brutal assault. Fear wasn’t even a factor until the utterance of the word gun made them realize they too now could face the consequences of their own death and disability as the man could easily retaliated for the assault by shooting at them. They thought jumping someone was more important on the job than taking precaution or inhibiting the use of excessive force to avoid retaliatory violence demonstrating how in the end CPB’s and ICE’s own incompetence will be put their safety and lives the most at risk.
That’s all just my own opinion of course or mere insight.
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