A large number of demonstrators showed up in Brooklyn last night to march and hold demonstrations. In recent times, many of the protests we see are demanding action on climate change, equal pay for women or gay/trans rights. This was something different, however. The angry people taking to the streets with banners and signs were there to protest the NYPD. And their message wasn’t very subtle. (NY Post)

Close to a thousand anti-police protesters descended on Downtown Brooklyn Friday night, blocking traffic, vandalizing a city bus and shouting obscene insults at NYPD cops.

The demonstration formed soon after 7 p.m. on the streets near the Barclays Center, with protesters unfurling large banners that read “F—k the police” and “Don’t let these pigs touch us.” The crowd began dispersing by 9 p.m.

The demonstration was in response to a planned crackdown on fare evasion by the NYPD — and two controversial police actions in Brooklyn subway stations in recent weeks.

One of the banners carried by roughly half a dozen people read, “Ante up! Punch that cop! NYPD out of MTA!” The outside of the banner was littered with the words “Hit em!”

A bus was vandalized along with a number of buildings. The unoriginal graffiti proclaimed “F*** The Police!” and “NYPD KKK.” Separate banners were plastered around the street, instructing people to, “Make transit FREE! Take what you NEED! F*** THE POLICE.”

Charming. These people are actively calling for violence against police officers and violations of the law.

There were apparently two themes driving the anti-police protests. One was an announcement that the police would be stationing officers in the metro stations to discourage people from jumping the turnstiles to avoid paying fares. Imagine that. The police being asked to deter people from breaking the law.

The other issue was a recent pair of incidents involving NYPD offers, both of which no doubt merit investigation. In one case, a police officer was seen briefly pointing his firearm at the window of a subway car.

In the other, officers held down and punched a fifteen-year-old boy in the face while breaking up a fight at a metro terminal. Video of the incident went public, but as usual, we only saw the end of the event. Police claim that body camera footage will demonstrate that a fight had broken out between two groups of young people and they were taking steps to break it up. The boy’s family has since announced they are suing the NYPD for millions of dollars. An investigation continues.

The point is that investigations into the actions of both officers are underway. If a couple of bad cops have been identified, they will be dealt with. But these incidents aren’t representative of the police force in general. And what the protesters are really calling for is an end to enforcement of long-standing laws and physical assaults on the police. Is that now an accepted liberal cause?

The lack of respect for the police in New York City has grown out of control lately. The lack of support for their own cops from City Hall has compounded the problem. The police are supposed to keep the streets safe, but now those same streets aren’t particularly safe for the cops anymore. And when large enough groups of people being rejecting authority and assaulting police officers, that’s the point where the fabric of society starts breaking down.

It’s safe to assume that New York City’s voters will keep sending the same people back to office time after time, so I’m not sure what can be done at this point. Perhaps the sane people should simply flee while they can and then we put a big wall up around all of Gotham and call in Snake Plissken.