Bank of America has hired G4S for its shareholder meeting. According to Wikipedia:
“G4S plc (formerly Group 4 Securicor) (LSE: GFS, OMX: G4S) is a global security services company headquartered in Crawley, United Kingdom. It is the world’s largest security company measured by revenues and has operations in more than 125 countries.[2][3] With over 630,000 employees, it is the world’s second-largest private sector employer (after Wal-Mart Stores).[2][4]”
G4S and its subsidiary Wackenhut have a lengthy criminal record:
“In March of 2006, whistle-blowers employed at Wackenhut released information to the press revealing that the company cheated on an anti-terrorism drill at a US nuclear site.
“… In 2009, an Aboriginal man from Western Australia died of heat stroke after being transported in a G4S (then GSL) van without air conditioning or water.[26]
“… On June 13, 2010, a video posted on YouTube by documentary filmmaker James Fox showed Wackenhut guards preventing reporters from covering the BP oil spill.[30]
“… In October 2010, three G4S-guards heavily restrained and held down 46-year old Angolan deportee Jimmy Mubenga on departing British Airways flight 77, at Heathrow Airport. Security guards kept him restrained in his seat as he began shouting and seeking to resist his deportation. Police and paramedics were called when Mubenga lost consciousness. The aircraft, which had been due to lift off, then returned to the terminal.[31] Mubenga was pronounced dead later that evening at Hillingdon hospital.[32]”
The kind souls from G4S, being housed in two downtown hotels by B of A, will be joined by off-duty police hired by B of A, wearing their police uniforms, and empowered to arrest on B of A’s behalf and at the order of B of A security.
What is this militarized, privatized emergency preparation for?
Are foreign armies descending upon the shareholders meeting of the Bank of America?
Nope.
Actually citizens of the Country of America. Newspaper headlines explain:
Bank of America braces for protesters onslaught
“In Charlotte, protesters are expected to demand a complete halt to foreclosures, forgiveness of student loan debt, a stop to financing coal projects, an end to political spending and an end to seven-figure compensation packages.”
Uh oh. More cops! More guns! Quick! What would Bloomberg do?
The protesters’ plans, of course, are for a nonviolent march and rally.
B of A billionaires aren’t afraid for their physical safety. They’re afraid their shareholders may side with their victims.