So I am about to wrap up the ‘black mob violence on July 4’ material -- wondering if I should do another chapter on the July 4, 2014 violence or if everyone else is as sick of it as I am -- when I come across this story, followed by a startling quote.
An arrest warrant has been issued for a fourth suspect in a July 4 fireworks assault against Oklahoma City firefighters.
The night of July 5, three men were arrested at a Spencer apartment after firefighters said the men launched mortar-style fireworks at them. Oklahoma City Police said 21-year-old Marquail Patton changed clothes to avoid being identified by witnesses that night, but they eventually tracked him down as a suspect.
So far, so ordinary: Another case of July 4 mayhem. With a twist, true. But not that unusual. They were firing rockets at cops and firefighters.
“To be honest, this is the first time I've heard of it in my career. I've been on the department almost 24 years,” said OCFD Battalion Chief Brian Stanaland.
‘Oklahoma City firefighters said it was an ambush at Fred Factory Garden Apartments in Spencer. They went to the government housing complex to put out a dumpster fire and someone started shooting large, mortar-style fireworks at them.
“You certainly don’t expect fireworks to get shot at you,” said Stanaland. “Actual mortars that were being shot which contain quite a bit of gunpowder. They are highly explosive, very dangerous.”
Never heard of black mobs attacking law enforcement with fireworks? Chief Stanaland has some catching up to do.
Check Peoria, Illinois.555 From White Girl Bleed a Lot.
Or Tulsa,556 from a few pages ago. Ditto from Chicago in 2014.
Here’s how common it is: I set up two -- count ‘em, two -- Google news alerts to keep me posted on fireworks attacks. One for fireworks fights. The other for fireworks arrests.
I got lots of hits but I was not even going to write about it until I read Chief Stanaland’s cry for help. So here is a recap for the chief. Consider it a mitzvah:
In Greenville on the Fourth of July 2011, a large group of black people fired rockets at cops. The 911 calls reveal a wounded officer, calling for assistance, after one firework hit him in the chest, and others were bursting around him.557
This news report also has video from the scene: “There’s about 15 or 20 of them shooting them,” said the cop, as he scrambled for cover. “I got hit once in the chest. They are shooting them still at my car.”
Said a neighbor to police dispatch: “I’m calling to tell y’all to send some help back for the officer out here because they are shooting fireworks at him.”
One videographer was kind enough to record additional audio and video of the mayhem:558
“This done got real ratchet in Greenville,” said the moderator, barely containing his glee. “They are shooting at the police and all. It’s Fourth of July and they done shot the police in the face with fireworks. They got helicopters and everything. It’s gettin’ real ugly.”
Insert lots of laughing and shrieking here: “It’s done got wild here. They shot the police in the face. It’s crazy.”
More laughing and shrieking. “They are coming from everywhere.”
The reporter announced it was a “dangerous holiday tradition that seems to escalate year after year.”
And oh yeah, it’s been happening here for a long time.
In St. Louis, the Post-Dispatch describes this holiday mayhem from 2013 in the first paragraph:559
“A group of security guards were attacked with fireworks and then one was hit by a vehicle during an incident Thursday night, police say.”
In Dallas, July 4, 2011, “Dallas police were dealing with an out of control mob of people shooting fireworks at them and a photojournalist,” said the local News 8.560
No, they do not get a pass for shooting them at reporters too.
"Those officers that arrived were being shot at by fireworks," said Dallas police spokesman Senior Cpl. Kevin Janse. "In fact, one officer was actually hit by a bottle rocket in the arm. Once enough officers got there, the crowd dispersed. That's considered aggravated assault, and it will be filed as that and will be investigated to its fullest, and hopefully we can find out who actually did it."
“Apartment residents said this is what happens in the hood.”
Guess there might be something to this crazy R.A.T. theory.
"It's every day; it's every day," said one tenant. "This is the hood. That's how it go down every day."
Ditto in Quincy, Massachusetts.561
In Watts, Los Angeles, in July 4, 2012 eight hundred black people setting off fireworks at the Nickerson Gardens public housing project did not take kindly to police and fireman who showed up to stop it. “During the incident, the suspects allegedly tossed rocks, bottles, and fireworks at Los Angeles police officers, according to City News Service.”562
That would be live fireworks.
Newspapers might not like reporting black people in riots, but on Twitter, no one has a problem talking about it. Let’s hear from the locals first, at least two of them who thought it was funny:
Niggas in the niccersons had the riot squad out there...throwin fireworks n roccs at police lmfao yall did that fasho @HerFavDrugg So we was downtown watching tha fireworks and ah riot broke out nigas was err Wer! @Quarta_Mill
Three hundred police were there. Along with a crowd of eight hundred revelers. (Couldn’t tell that from the news report, could you? The Los Angeles Times devoted a few column inches to it, buried in the local section. Yawn.)
Several officers were hit by fireworks. There was no word on their condition. Except for one fireman who tweeted from the scene:
“Cops in riot gear and the locals shooting fireworks at the cops pretty funny until u drive through it.... Eh,” @ryancurtis7966
Twitter now allows us to follow both sides of a race riot. In real time. There goes that deniability again.
In Waco, Texas, in 2012, four hundred black people filled the streets of downtown following a fireworks show, throwing fireworks and destroying property. When police arrived, they threw explosive devices and rocks at the officers. “Officers’ attempts to move the crowd were not successful and when they moved into the area, the people became hostile,” says KCEN TV. 563
The crowd then started throwing rocks at officers and police cars. One officer received a minor injury when he was struck. Large fireworks that explode with a large flame were also thrown at officers by people in the crowd where attempting to use them as hand grenades.
An armored vehicle was used to try to clear the streets. When it was brought in, members of the group started throwing bricks and large pieces of concrete. 564
When they refused to leave, the police brought in tank and sprayed the crowd with “chemical munitions.” Twitter was on the case:
Normal people hear pops on the 4th an think fireworks, people in Waco hear pops on the 4th and duck and roll. #ghetto @JustinKFly91
Was watching fireworks at the Waco Bridge. Waco have wayy too many ghetto people... Just saying :P @HaoT_Dinh
Same shit Goes Down Every Year in Waco, Bridge Fireworks Fights & Ratchet Kids -__ @Chelaa11
And oh yeah, that’s been happening in Waco a long time.
That’s a couple dozen right there. Guess I’m not the only one who needs to get out more, eh Chief Stanaland?