Edit: I thank the original poster for now including the other side of the violence -- the stick to the head -- in the user's diary. I've also apologized to the diarist here over the nasty tone of the following diary .
Since the diarist who penned "This picture should go viral" will only show the police fighting back against protesters who are attacking the goddamn police, here's a fuller sequence of photos -- along with the photographer's comments -- that the diarist won't publish because it won't fit the narrative:
The police officer fends off protesters. — Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2012
The officers and protesters continue in a skirmish. — Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2012
The officers and protesters continue in a skirmish. — Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2012
A protester whacks the officer over the head with a stick. — Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2012
The stick breaks on impact. — Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2012
The protester swings at the officer as a fellow officer watches, at right. — Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2012
The fellow officer throws a punch to stop the protester from swinging again. — Brian Cassella, Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2012
All photos copyright Brian Cassella and the Chicago Tribune. The full photo album is at this link.
There's the full context of the photo sequence that the diarist refuses to post. Defend the protester's attacks as "agent provocateurs" or however you wish, but don't dabble in dishonesty. There are plenty of examples of police brutality in this country without having to misrepresent protesters attacking police, and the police having the "gall" to fight back. It doesn't matter who starts it -- when you hit a police officer, you lose your right to bitch when they fight back in self defense. Welcome to reality.
9:29 AM PT: For those asking for videos (myself included), here's one from the AP yesterday showing the police telling protesters to move back, and one of the protesters reaching out to grab the baton away from an officer, which leads to a small skirmish. It starts about 14 seconds in when someone in a black sweatshirt reaches out and grabs the officer's stick. At 18 seconds another officer hits someone when a fist is raised at the officer.
9:36 AM PT: Here's another video from the Chicago Tribune. At 26 seconds someone throws a water bottle at a crowd of officers standing on the sidewalk (one of whom ducks and misses getting hit by it). Something happens in the distance behind the crowd that causes protesters and police to start fighting with each other.
11:37 AM PT: Video of some Black Bloc idiots charging the police line. (h/t Bob Johnson)