cross-posted from: https://rss.ponder.cat/post/203442
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) flew two high-powered Predator surveillance drones above the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles over the weekend, according to air traffic control (ATC) audio unearthed by an aviation tracking enthusiast then reviewed by 404 Media and cross-referenced with flight data.
The use of Predator drones highlights the extraordinary resources government agencies are putting behind surveilling and responding to the Los Angeles protests, which started after ICE agents raided a Home Depot on Friday. President Trump has since called up 4,000 members of the National Guard, and on Monday ordered more than 700 active duty Marines to the city too.
“TROY703, traffic 12 o’clock, 8 miles, opposite direction, another ‘TROY’ Q-9 at FL230,” one part of the ATC audio says. The official name of these types of Predator B drones, made by a company called General Atomics, is the MQ-9 Reaper.
On Monday 404 Media reported that all sorts of agencies, from local, to state, to DHS, to the military flew aircraft over the Los Angeles protests. That included a DHS Black Hawk, a California Highway Patrol small aircraft, and two aircraft that took off from nearby March Air Reserve Base.
ATC Audio Mentioning TROY and Q-9s0:00/21.5771428571428571×
From 404 Media via this RSS feed
the MQ-9 Reaper
Have any media outlets mentioned if the fucking thing was armed or not? Maybe it’s unknown.
I wonder if today, Trump - the uber dipshit that he is - will boast about it.
“Reaper. Great name - Reaper.”
“Mr. President - was the Reaper armed.”
“Of course.”
“Why was it armed?”
“Just in case.”
Like a year or two ago I used to joke about domestic cops in the usa flying drone missions bombing neighborhoods as part of my shtick. Little did I know that the lathe was spinning up at the same time. DO NOT let me make any more jokes about police escalation.
echoes of the MOVE bombing
Now that I’m thinking about it more - maybe Trump demanded they use an armed drone. How could I forget my favorite three words to make Trump jokes? I must be even more sleepy than I thought. President Strong and Powerful needs Americans to know he is very, very Strong and Powerful.
DO NOT let me make any more jokes about police escalation.
Reminder - DO NOT make any more jokes about police escalation.
They call the spending “defense” and “security”, but give their toys names like “reaper” and “predator”.
I can see em in my eyes when they’re closed, I can feel them at night
I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
