The above video, which shows riot police dispersing peaceful protesters, is difficult to watch without evoking a sense of frustration and anger. The demonstrators don’t appear to have done anything, other than exercise non-violent civil disobedience, and they’re treated like cattle being led to slaughter.
Of course, the police forces were just acting under orders. With crowds expected to gather and watch an upcoming soccer match, the dissenters had to be cleared out to make way for cleaning crews. To hell with democracy when there’s footie to be played, right?
Still, such thuggish tactics reveal the inherent violence in the system. Civil liberties and personal rights can so readily be squashed when the voice of the people clashes with those who hold the purse strings.
