WI: Police open fire on Ferguson protestors

It seems fairly unlikely, but what if the local police officers monitoring unrest in Ferguson following the shooting of Michael Brown, opened fire on the protestors, killing anywhere between a few and several dozen protestors?

How would the local, state and federal authorities react to the killings? Would it be justified by the government? How might it affect the Black Lives Matter movement?
 
well.. that would really help the public relations for the local police.

one of two things happen then. The state and federal governments step in quickly: then, 1 they side with the police and things get ugly quickly. or 2. they side with the people ( assuming they were unarmed and were not throwing cars at the police before shots fired.

This might also serve to clean up police forces. ( doubt it .. but it could... )


honestly, you would see major demonstrations, and riots and well generally all hell breaking loose until the federal government quickly steps in, declares marshal law and brings in the military.

after which I could see the ferguson police being drawn and quartered
 
Why would they open fire, though?

If it did, the FPD and perhaps the city itself would be disbanded.
 
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one of two things happen then. The state and federal governments step in quickly: then, 1 they side with the police and things get ugly quickly. or 2. they side with the people ( assuming they were unarmed and were not throwing cars at the police before shots fired.

How many Incredible Hulks are among the protestors?:p
 
I think we have an answer to why they opened fire...

Not being the OP, but here's my take. The police see a rioter with a gun (or at least they claim they did) one starts firing and the rest join in. Whether they think they themselves are under fire of their mates are.

One thing to think about is what is Fox's take on this?
 
How many Incredible Hulks are among the protestors?:p
heh.. at least my sarcasm shines :)

but seriously, If they opened fire and it was a veritable blood bath of unarmed black people protesting, I fear it would get ugly around the nation as I am sure the more vocal and militant will be pressing for a response against "the man"
 
We wouldn't see an all out gun battle, but something more along the lines of the Kent State shooting; a brief, intense period of violence, followed by a collective "Holy fuckign shit what just happened?". In the short term, the National Guard moves in, the FPD are recalled/placed on leave, and the county goes on lockdown.

Long term, public support for the police plummets, down to the hardcore supporters/right-wing types. Fox twists itself into knots trying to say that while the police were wrong to open fire, the protestors had it coming. The FPD is probably dismantled, and police departments around the country take a long hard look in the mirror (possibly at DoJ urging). The country wouldn't fall apart or descend into city-wide riots, but there probably would be a few serious protests/riots before things calmed down.

Things escalating would depend on how the aftermath is handled, and my guess is that everyone (or at least anyone with any sense) would bring the hammer down on the police department in order to head anything off at the pass.
 

Wallet

Banned
I'm pretty sure that lots of protesters had guns. Every protest has people with guns. Police know this.

They can't fire until they are shot at. Even then it's batons, tasers, and tear gas.

It's horrible PR. That's why it hasn't happen since Kent State
 
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