Black helicopters Downtown & Police Militarization

[FISHMANPET]

There are a bunch of black helicopters (civilian looking, not military) circling downtown. I'm by the river right under the Federal Reserve building and that looks to be where the activity is centered. I've seen 5 or 6 touchdown on the roof for just a second or two then lift off again. Then they circle around to the central Ave bridge, and back to the Fed. I'm not sure how many helicopters exactly, the most I've seen is 3 at once, but then they circle behind the post office and I can't see them. Because of my angle I can't tell if anybody is getting on or off, but it looks like there may be people with their legs out the door, both on landing and taking off.

Anybody have any idea what's going on?

[Nathan]

A Heist?

[seanrichardryan]

I heard them go over me about half an hour ago off Marshall and w river. They just now headed back overhead to the south. They kind of looked like bugs with equipement hanging off the sides. Loud suckers too.

[Tyler]

They did this two years ago too. I'm assuming it's the same thing:
http://www.startribune.com/local/167637205.html

[FISHMANPET]

I'm seeing now via Twitter that this is a Homeland Security drill

[twinkess]

They appear to be MH-6 Little Bird helicopters. They flew between Grant Park and The Hilton Garden Inn! Also flew close enough to my building to be able to see the legs of the soldiers hanging out the side of the helicopter.

[Minneboy]

A bit off topic but a couple Sundays ago I was leaving downtown St Paul and was near the 3M HQ and up above the highway was this big drone. From my estimates it was the size of a car. At first from a distance I thought it was a helicopter but as I got closer the shape wasn't right and as I had the sunroof open I was directly underneath it and it definitely wasn't manned. I've tried to do a little research on it by Googling government drones for the State Patrol etc but can't find anything. Anyone have any ideas. Again it was quite large and seriously doubt it was one of those things ordinary people could buy.

[David Greene]

Well, this is a fine idea given what's going on in Missouri.

Sheesh.

[mattaudio]

Turnkey totalitarianism.

[go4guy]

Well, this is a fine idea given what's going on in Missouri.

Sheesh.

Not following this thought. What does this have to do with Missouri?

[Nathan]

Well, this is a fine idea given what's going on in Missouri.

Sheesh.

Not following this thought. What does this have to do with Missouri?

do you watch the news?
they enforced a police state around an area where a man was shot by a cop, and then there were protestsand riots and all that.

[David Greene]

There were not "riots." The violence is NOT being done by the protesters. It's being done by outside groups taking advantage of the situation. We need to be very clear about what is happening in Ferguson.

[mattaudio]

The first part of the statement was very clear, and the most important detail.

they enforced a police state

[David Greene]

The first part of the statement was very clear, and the most important detail.

they enforced a police state

That is very true. Except they aren't police anymore. They're military.

[mattaudio]

Do you know what a police state is? Do you see a difference between police and military anymore? Local police are the local branch of the military these days. That's the whole point.

[David Greene]

Do you know what a police state is? Do you see a difference between police and military anymore? Local police are the local branch of the military these days. That's the whole point.

Um...that's what I said.

[mattaudio]

You seemed to be saying that since it is NG in Ferguson that it's somehow different (better? worse?) but really it's the same thing.

[go4guy]

Well, this is a fine idea given what's going on in Missouri.

Sheesh.

Not following this thought. What does this have to do with Missouri?

do you watch the news?
they enforced a police state around an area where a man was shot by a cop, and then there were protestsand riots and all that.

Of course I watch the news, and am well aware of what is going on down there. My point is that the events in Missouri have absolutely nothing to do with a routine training excersise in Minnesota.

[mattaudio]

Except they are both examples of the militarization of our places?

[mplsjaromir]

Pretty effed that the cops' in Ferguson explanation for murdering a man was that he was jaywalking under the influence of marijuana.

I mean, that is my preferred mode of transit.