The Daily Kos has the article Military device used on Detroit protest against #WaterShutoffs.
A LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device) was used to disperse a rally at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit on Friday, July 18, 2014 at 2:43pm. There has been previous use of an LRAD in Detroit on May 1, 2012 when Occupy Detroit gathered on the public sidewalk outside Grand Circus Park after park closing hours of 10pm. The use in 2012 was as a public address. The use in 2014 was to cause distress to those hearing the sound.
You can hear the sound emitted in the video footage at 50 minutes into this clip (the final minute of the clip). Those who were on the platform to speak felt vibration throughout their body and some clutched at their chest during the deployment which last about 2 minutes.
How do you think the Supreme Court would rule on First Amendment consequences of using this device? Freedom of speech does not guarantee that you will have eardrums after you speak. Ears are not for speaking. They will probably permit the use of this device, so Massachusetts is probably free to use this on abortion protesters. It will be especially effective when the demonstrators stand closer than 30 feet to the people who are tying to get into a Planned Parenthood Clinic.
Enough of that. What about the issue that was being protested?
Volunteers with the Peoples Water Board Coalition have heard from residents of rental properties that were not notified by their landlords of high water bills that resulted in water being turned off. It is inappropriate for people to have water – a human need – removed without notice. Detroit Water & Sewerage Department (DWSD) have contracted Homrich (a demolition company) to perform up to 3,000 shutoffs per week. Addresses are listed with no information about occupants of the locations being shutoff. Elders and families with small children are all treated the same. If the property is on the list it gets shutoff and those affected are told to come to a water payment center to work out arrangements. Thousands of Detroiters have experienced their water being turned off for at least 24 hours. Hundreds have been found that have had no water service for months. Sanitation concerns around the city are increasing.
Well, I think the oligarchs may have finally found out what they can do to start a rebellion. Cutting off peoples’ access to water ought to rile them.