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G-20 Protester Arrest Video Not a Hoax

VIDEO

by Tommy Christopher | 1:59 pm, September 25th, 2009

» 5 comments

The Drudge Report is currently running a red headline that says “See U.S. Military Snatch Protester…” that links to a YouTube video of what appears to bethe most absurd bit of street theater I’ve seen in awhile. Hot Air has already posted some extensive debunkage, but just watch the video, particularly the driver, who appears to be wearing Skechers:

Former Marine Caleb Howe also points out issues with their uniforms, including “sleeve settings,” on his Twitter feed.

While convinced that the video is a fairly obvious hoax, we contacted the Pittsburgh police to see if anyone had reported the arrest. They referred us to the G20 Joint Information Center, which gave us this stunning statement:

The individuals involved in the 9/24/09 arrest, which has appeared online, are law enforcement officers from a multi-agency tactical response team… It is not unusual for tactical team members to wear camouflage fatigues. The type of fatigues the officers wear designates their unit affiliation.

Prior to the arrest, the officers observed the subject vandalizing a local business. Due to the hostile nature of the crowd, officer safety, and for the safety of the person under arrest, the subject was immediately removed from the area.

Another G20 spokesperson confirmed for me that the man is in police custody, and that the officers are not affiliated with the military in any way.

This goes to show, sometimes truth looks faker than fiction.

Update: Hot Air has downgraded their BS Alert from “skeptical” to “plausible.” Drudge still hypes this as a “U.S. Military” operation.

drudge, G20, G20 Protesters, Hoax, Hot Air, HotAir, Protest, Tommy Christopher

Billy Carter

Awesome video. Don’t blame us Tea Party protesters for this one. This is a great example of how the Left behaves at protests. The guy was arrested after vandalizing local property. “Civil Disobedience” is common at these types of protests. There were like 70 arrests yesterday alone.
berries

“The guy was arrested after vandalizing local property.” And you know this, how? Because the authorities told you so? You pathetic sheep, you.
http://www.swissarmyjew.com Keeva

Don’t blame the US military either. Drudge really needs to learn how the US operates. Contrary to whatever he thinks, the US military is not used for law enforcement domestically. One look at the video told me these were local law enforcement officers.

The blame for this rests strictly with the protesters who persist in violence. We have seen this same thing in every city that has hosted an international summit.

And Billy is right. I am sure that while Drudge will try to blame the administration somehow, some will try to blame the Tea party folks. Well, neither are correct. These protesters follow these summits to wherever and then engage in intentional violence against the host city and the local police. They belong to neither side of our current American political scene.

The saddest part of this is that both sides will try to make some points out of the arrest and protests, when the real truth is that we can all agree that violent protest is not welcome here at anytime by anyone.

Note to berries – the protester was arrested. This makes it a public record and there will be a public trial. The “sheep” are those that automatically dismiss the obvious truth in favor of a ginned up conspiracy.

With no regard to my personal politics, I commend the Tea Party protesters for their continued non-violence. Agree with them or not, the Tea party folks are exercising their First Amendment rights with total respect for the law and other citizens. That is a lot more than can be said for these violent jerks at the G20.
KiKi

Berries,
If you would have clicked on the Hot Air link you would have seen this,

Update IV: Stephen Gutowski gets confirmation from the G-20 Joint Information Center that the men clad in camouflage fatigues are police officers, and that the man was arrested for vandalism.

Doh!
Billy Carter

berries says:
September 25, 2009 at 4:29 pm

“The guy was arrested after vandalizing local property.” And you know this, how? Because the authorities told you so? You pathetic sheep, you.

berries…..
Keeva is right. There is a group of anarchists in this country and overseas as well, who follow the WTO and G20 meetings with the sole intention of creating chaos. They accomplish absolutely nothing, except to cause both physical harm and property damage in host cities.
Also, I don’t take the high road with a-holes like you. So go f–k yourself punk, along with all of your other paranoid chumps!!!!! You’re the sheep who’s getting it in the keister by me, the bull, on the edge of the cliff.
BAHA, BAHA, BAHA, BAHA,BAHA……had enough?? I love that video of that punk getting arrested by the cops and his ass being thrown into the car and swooped away. BEAUTIFUL work by the Police!!!!