U.S Marine Corps. Sgt. Shamar Thomas challenged a large number of New York City police officer’s at a Times Square OWS gathering just over a week ago. The young veteran was outraged with the acts of intimidation and outright police brutality directed at unarmed, non threatening protesters. Thomas confronted the police, face to face, asking cops, “why you all doing this to these people? I’ve been to Iraq for fourteen months for my people! You come over and hurt them, they don’t have guns. They don’t have guns. They don’t — why are you hurting these people?” And the cops are stunned. They don’t know what to do. My opinions on what the men in blue were thinking, aside, the 24 year old continued reprimanding.
“This is America”
“nobody is trying to hurt you guys”
“There are no bullets flying out here, there are no bullets flying, how tuff are you”
“There is no honor in hurting unarmed civilians”
“There is no reason for this”
“There is no honor in hurting unarmed civilians, I won’t let it happen, have a good night”
Now some have criticized the good sergeant’s demeanor, and I admit there were a couple of times during the incident where it became a repetitive rant, but it was an intense situation which could have backfired on the young man, and because of that I’m am dismissing the critics objections as mere nit picking.
It was full of win, as they say. When the confrontation came to an end and Thomas walked away, random protesters reached out in a show of support.
More on Sgt. Shamar Thomas
Marine’s dressing down of cops sparks OccupyMARINES
h/t Daily Kos
update
Shamar Thomas’s youtube channel.