Cops Throw YouTube Prankster To Ground For Dancing Behind Them

[dmr]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/alexander-bok-dancing-thrown-police

ByAhiza GarciaPublishedDecember 30, 2014, 5:05 PM EST

New York City police officers threw a prankster to the ground for dancing behind them in a video that was posted to YouTube on Saturday.

The incident came about while prankster Alexander Bok was carrying out a dare issued by daytime talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres, who challenged viewers to "sneak up behind perfect strangers" and "dance behind them without them knowing it."

- snip -
"What's wrong with you, bro?" one of the cops could be heard saying in the video.

"What are you dancing in the street for?" another asked.

"Are you a fucking asshole?" another cop could be heard saying.

The verbal questioning eventually got physical and ended when one of the police officers pushed Bok to the pavement.
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I can understand the cops questioning him, but there is no excuse to swarm him; to disrespect or abuse him or anyone else. I wonder if Ellen will show this full clip on her show. I hope she does.

[randys1]

1. This was yesterdays outrage, and yet today nothing is different.

If you annoy a cop, not hit a cop, not attack a cop, not shoot a cop, if you annoy a cop you are thrown to the ground.

Everyday we allow this, we deserve it.

[daleanime]

2. Things have to change...

[lobodons]

3. F'n Pigs

And you wonder why the title.

(I'd sue their f'n little piggy asses!!)

[Downwinder]

4. Thugs have no sense of humor.

[yuiyoshida]

5. This...

Its like teasing a tiger, eventually its gonna jump the fence and maul your ass.

[Kevin from WI]

6. The cops are supposed to have more self control than tigers

They should not be mauling anyone's ass if there is no threat or crime being committed.

[yuiyoshida]

8. I totally agree...

but The cops have no self control.

[Downwinder]

9. Ever been around a Jersey bull?

[yuiyoshida]

11. Been to Atlantic City ...

That's about the only time I have ever been to Jersey... as for livestock, been to the state fair, but I was never into animal husbandry, so no.
Mooooo!

I'm a city slicker...An UPTOWN girl.. in her uptown world.

[Malraiders]

7. Cops are trained to treat everyone as if

they were a threat to the cop.

It is justified by the idea that it is for the cop's well being and safety.

It also instills in the cop's mind that the cop is more important then others and is entitled to use force to create a feeling of intimidation and fear in people so that the cop can controll the situation as well as control the masses.

[MrModerate]

10. One way to approach this would be . . .

Civil suits. At every turn. For every time a cop raises his/her voice at a citizen. Until they are so overwhelmed by legal entanglements (and expensive payouts) that they finally figure out that they need to change their behavior.

And the cackle of hyenas in blue in this video need to lose a couple of weeks' pay and sit through "Don't be an asshole" training.

[Hoppy]

12. Maybe Ellen better get another script writer.

[RKP5637]

13. Oh ya, we're supposed to respect them. I don't respect fucked assholes like these cops! n/t

[Hulk]

14. Exactly...

What a cluster of power-hungry, ego maniacs. I have ZERO respect for NYC police. They are headed down the toilet bowl of disgusting thugs faster than the slickest turd.

They will get what they deserve, and little more. No wonder so many people fear the bastards. They have earned every ounce of fear from their public. Public servants, my ass.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

15. That's really fucked up in the head

These guys have real anger issues and paranoia for getting rough with this guy. They need counseling. Even if the guy was making fun of them, it goes with the job. It's not like they were the Shogun's samurai retainers who shall not tolerate any insult.

[toddwv]

16. To be fair to the NYPD

That guy was dancing while black. What did you expect the cops to do? Laugh it off for the prank it was? Not assault him for doing something that is completely legal? Not take offense to something that their hyperdriven egos obviously saw as a threat to their alpha status?

[onwardsand upwards]

17. The NYPD have always been assholes

Back in the 1970's, as a teenager, as a visitor, I was once foolish enough to ask one for help with directions.

He reacted with pure bullying aggression: "When you speak to me, you call me SIR!!!" he said, menacingly. He gave no help whatsoever, and made me feel as though I was in danger of being assaulted and arrested.

They are not there to serve and protect -- they are there to intimidate.

[LiberalElite]

18. Well - they're afraid for their lives what do you expect?

[KansDem]

19. "What are you dancing in the street for?"

Uh, because I have "happy feet?" I'm optimistic about the future? The sidewalks are crowed with people?

Maybe he just realized he's in love--

Gene had better be careful in NY!

[marble falls]

20. I love that guy! The cops? Not a bit. Bullies.

[markpkessinger]

21. The real irony here . . .

. . . is that if any of of the ordinary folks whom this guy danced behind -- some of whom appeared rather annoyed by the prank -- had responded the way those police officers responded, they could, and likely would, be arrested for assault.