It’s called “following orders” and “don’t give ‘em what they want”.
They were being taunted, pelted with frozen water bottles, sticks, urine...anything to try and incite a repeat of 1968, which was just what the Occupiers and Black Bloc wanted. Restraint was what was called for...especially as half the protesters were holding up cameras and phones in hopes of a “bloody shirt” picture.
The cops swung clubs when it was called for...like when the mob charged the police line. Which, by the way, is the same melee in which the cop got stabbed.
True, but still the wrong message. Eventually, these thugs will have to be met with overwhelming force/violence or they'll keep getting bolder. Until they start getting put down, it will only spread like a cancer until it overwhems this "Nation of Laws". This type restraint is just kicking the can down the road until it turns into all-out war.