http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2062982Oh my.
Skidmore (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 08:47 PM
Original message
What does being "kettled" mean?
Sorry to sound so dumb, but I've never heard that before.
Coexist (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 08:48 PM
Response to Original message
1. the police bring "nets" like plastic fencing and break people into groups they sort of cage, in the nets.
baldguy (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 08:49 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. And once the people are thus corralled, the police attack them.
Fire Walk With Me (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 08:48 PM
Response to Original message
2. Cut off from the main body of a protest and held from further movement.
Kievan Rus (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 08:49 PM
Response to Original message
4. It's an encirclement in which nobody is allowed in or out
FSogol (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 08:50 PM
Response to Original message
5. Same here? My dictionary of slang says, female genitalia, british from the 1700s.
Well, franksolich heartily endorses kettling, whether it involves handling civil disorder or female parts.
Earth_First (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 08:50 PM
Response to Original message
6. A highly questionable tactic...
Often times, cops will lead these protesters to an area where there are limited areas to enter/exit and set up nets at these access/exit points around the group and begin arresting those in the nets...
ixion (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 08:50 PM
Response to Original message
7. It's like seining salmon only worse.
Poll_Blind (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 08:50 PM
Response to Original message
8. It's where police intentionally confine a group of people to too small a space which...
...naturally leads to heightened levels of fear (a natural human reaction) and a rise in poor behavior which the police can then act on.
It is an excellent way to turn a group of peaceful protesters into not peaceful protesters or, rather, a large enough percentage that the police can explain away their resulting actions against them.
FarLeftFist (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 08:51 PM
Response to Original message
9. Human fishing nets.
eShirl (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 09:10 PM
Response to Reply #9
16. "a fine kettle of (human) fish"
arcane1 (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 08:52 PM
Response to Original message
10. I believe it's a British term
The previous poster said it well. Basically breaking a crowd into more manageable smaller crowds, and barricading them so they can't flee.
Then you let loose with the tear gas and pepper spray.
It also has the (surely unintended, right?) effect of making it look, when filmed in close, tight shots, as if the police are behind a defensive barricade, and the "rioters" are breaking into it.
notadmblnd (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 08:53 PM
Response to Original message
12. A term used for herding people into a closed pen.
Maybe borrowed from the British?
No, apparently the "female parts" part is borrowed from the British.
Pharaoh (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 08:56 PM
Response to Original message
13. they need net cutting tools!!
Earth_First (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-05-11 09:03 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. I suggested this, however I was then shown that this constitutes 'willfull destruction of property'
Giving law enforcement an even greater reason for arrest and added senseless charges.
Typically those kettled are prepared for the ultimate consequence.
