RNC police/protesters montage

One question that comes to mind after the Republican National Convention is why politicians on both sides have yet to even acknowledge the brutal behavior by police forces during the event. 

This video comes from freelance journalist Lindsay Beyerstein.  I'm posting it because it gives a great sense of place during the peaceful 'Poor Peoples March' that was tear-gassed during the Republican National Convention, Sept. 2, 2008.  Not only that, its set to a seminal reggae classic that does justice to the images. 

Junior Murvin recorded "Police and Thieves" in 1976 amidst a scourge of Jamaican political violence and eventually a state of martial law.  During the 1970's Jamaica was mired in economic turmoil, unemployment and a two-party political system with both sides bent on destroying the other. 

The CIA had their hand in the political battle.  Philip Agee, former CIA officer who was interviewed in the documentary Rebel Music stated that the CIA was supplying guns and propaganda to the conservative Jamaican Labor Party.  Agee stated, "The CIA would look upon the radical political content of reggae as dangerous because it would help to create a consciousness among the poor people, the great majority of Jamaicans."

The Clash would go on to record a cover of "Police and Thieves" for their debut album.

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