The state calls its own violence law, but that of the individual crime.
-Max Stirner
First, thanks to the observant reader who was kind enough to point out the following articles in the two dueling self-described "dailies". It would seem that the local, self-described corporate, print "media" feels compelled to carry out their civic duties of intimidating opponents of the notion that the G-20 is qualified to run our lives and demonizing those who will still be willing to show up.
The "liberal", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (P-G), ran two stories on the consequences of opposing the G-20 summit, one on the ways in which the local legal/prison-industrial complex is turning itself inside out for their September fines and court costs fundraiser, and another piece about the muscle for the G-20, cowering in a "terrorist training camp", located in a "secure, undisclosed location". The "conservative", Pittsburgh Tribune Review, only wrote about the re-opening of the old jail and the revenue generation through arrests, skipping out on the story about the skull-cracking and chemical weapons, possibly because the right-wing has a serious problem with militarized policing, but only when there is a Democrat in the White House.
If witnessing some well-fed men in pads and helmets, lining up shoulder to shoulder, and pushing each other around when a whistle blows will give participants in the protests such an edge, then trips to Latrobe to watch the Steelers train at St. Vincent's should be mandatory. On a hopeful note, the P-G is reporting that the instructors for this particular terrorist training camp have been supplied by the competent professionals from FEMA.
Police officials asked that the Post-Gazette not reveal the location of the training or the specific tactics being taught because of fears that protesters will use the information to disrupt the summit, which has spawned large demonstrations in other cities.
During the next several weeks, groups of 50 to 60 Pittsburgh police officers will gather at the training site every three days. Most of the Police Bureau's nearly 900 officers will participate.
Instructors from the Center for Domestic Preparedness, a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, are teaching the course, which is called Managing Civil Actions in Threat Incidents, or MCATI.
"The MCATI training prepares law enforcement for crowd control and unlawful protest," said Shannon Arledge, a public affairs specialist for the Center for Domestic Preparedness. "It provides officers with the knowledge to handle situations such as this in an effective and professional manner to maintain safety of everyone involved, including the public."
The center, based in Anniston, Ala., offers more than 40 courses for law enforcement agencies and emergency responders. Teams of instructors can deploy across the country to teach the courses, including MCATI.
In a move that will likely not endear the G-20 detainees (as the self-described "media" refers to them) to the day-to-day victims of the legal sector, many of whom will be spending extra time behind bars, like Downtown, itself, the wheels of the law will come to a grinding halt for several days and pretty much only deal with G-20 issues, as reported by the
P-G:
From Sept. 21 to 25, the county courts will operate on a reduced schedule and staffing level.
In the criminal division, the court will remain open for the entire week, but there will be no jury trials and no defendants will be brought in from the jail. A memo distributed by Judge Jeffrey A. Manning, the administrative judge for the criminal division, notes that no police or law enforcement witnesses will be available that week, either. Most everyone in the region with a badge will be pitching in on G-20 security.
That includes sheriff's deputies, who typically provide security at the courthouse. Mr. Billotte said a very limited number will be available to secure the courts.
Judge Manning said criminal division judges will be asked to pitch in with bail matters and arraignments if there are massive amounts of arrests.
Family Division will feel the biggest jolt because its building likely will be all but taken over for arraignments. Mr. Billotte said those accused of lesser crimes likely to make bail will be held in the Family Law Center -- the former home of the county jail. Suspects will be arraigned on the second floor, in courtrooms usually used to hear juvenile cases.
Fortunately, the region will likely see a decline in typical arrests, since area law enforcement will be preoccupied with defending the few places Downtown where the delegates will be hiding out, and neglecting their bread and butter, which consists largely of speeding tickets and dime bags. Also, Federal/Christian prosecutor, Marybeth Buchanan, will probably be looking to get in on the action, as the P-G hinted.
The local prison-industrial complex is uncharacteristically addressing overcrowding in the Allegheny County Jail, before it occurs and without a court order, according to the
Tribune Review:
The historic former Allegheny County Jail — now used for family court — could become a Downtown holding area for hundreds of protesters expected to be arrested during the Group of 20 summit in September, court officials said Tuesday.
"We want to make sure we're taking the necessary precautions," district court administrator Ray Billotte said.
As of last week, 2,670 inmates were locked up in the county jail, just shy of its approximate 2,700 capacity.
The old jail at Ross Street and Forbes Avenue can house about 250 people in holding cells in the basement. The rest of the old cells were converted into courtrooms during its renovation in the Family Law Center. If both jails are full, inmates could go to the state prison in Woods Run, Billotte said.
Court officials estimate that 500 to 1,000 people could be arrested in street protests, jamming the courts and pushing the already-full Uptown lockup beyond capacity.
Although I'm sure that some of the "detainees" with an interest in 19th century history, as well as masochism, will be somewhat honored to spend a night or two where
Alexander Berkman slept.
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