and at worst, gives them an excuse to kill you. No good ever came out of resisting arrest.

using shot first and ask questions later tactics more and more.

even if you don't.

It's common. It usually gets dropped. If they haul you in for chewing gum, they'll be sure to add a bogus felony on top. It's ass-coverage for the routine abuse.

I had a neighbor who told me that his uncle was a retired LAPD officer. He said his uncle told him that, "Whites you don't have to beat them, because they aren't very tough. Latinos, you have to beat them up a bit because they are kinda tough, but blacks you have to really beat the crap out of them, because they are really, really tough."

He said his uncle was actually being serious when he said it.

K&R

YOUR RIGHTS
- You have the right to remain silent. If you wish to exercise that right, say so out loud.
- You have the right to refuse to consent to a search of yourself, your car or your home.
- If you are not under arrest, you have the right to calmly leave.
- You have the right to a lawyer if you are arrested. Ask for one immediately.
- Regardless of your immigration or citizenship status, you have constitutional rights.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
- Do stay calm and be polite.
- Do not interfere with or obstruct the police.
- Do not lie or give false documents.
- Do prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested.
- Do remember the details of the encounter.
- Do file a written complaint or call your local ACLU if you feel your rights have been violated.

IF YOU ARE ARRESTED
Do not resist arrest, even if you believe the arrest is unfair.
Say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don't give any explanations or excuses. If you can't pay for a lawyer, you have the right to a free one. Don't say anything, sign anything or make any decisions without a lawyer.
You have the right to make a local phone call. The police cannot listen if you call a lawyer.
Prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested. Memorize the phone numbers of your family and your lawyer. Make emergency plans if you have children or take medication.
Special considerations for non-citizens:
- Ask your lawyer about the effect of a criminal conviction or plea on your immigration status.
- Don't discuss your immigration status with anyone but your lawyer.
- While you are in jail, an immigration agent may visit you. Do not answer questions or sign anything before talking to a lawyer.
- Read all papers fully. If you do not understand or cannot read the papers, tell the officer you need an interpreter.


https://www.aclu.org/drug-law-reform-immigrants-rights-racial-justice/know-your-rights-what-do-if-you


Once an officer has made the determination to arrest you, there is nothing you can do to stop that from happening. Resisting will only make it worse. You do not have to cooperate with the investigation. You dont have to give any information (other than maybe your ID). The best thing to do is to keep quiet and then talk to your lawyer about what to do next. The only way for you to win now is through the court system.

It is not trying to convince people to resist. It's explaining that their experiences with police and the criminal justice system are so different that they sometimes respond differently to police and being arrested than you would.

For example, what's the number of people who are arrested calmly and taken back to the police station and beaten versus the likelihood of being hit with a nightstick repeatedly for resisting?

The article is trying to justify an action that has a very low expected value move. The vastly smarter move is to do as the ACLU suggests. Yes, it's a pain in the ass, but given that resisting arrest is pretty much 100% of the time going to result in you getting the crap kicked out of you and then arrested, go with the smarter odds.

"Why didn't (whoever) just quietly give up? There's no good reason for him to have resisted." When people are scared for *good* reasons, they might do things that are unwise or ultimately lead to a worse conclusion, but there is a good reason for it.

which will result in you getting arrested anyway along with resisting arrest and possible assault charges added
and possibly worse things happening to you.

...intellectually. If you are not suspected of committing a specific crime, you should resist by knowing the law and asserting your rights. Filming the encounter is a huge plus.

There are apps that upload and store video and audio from your Droid or iPhone live as it happens, as long as you have a cell signal or wifi. If they take your phone away from you and erase it, well too bad cuz you already have the evidence!

My favorite is Fi-Vo Film which costs $1.99 and is available for both Droid and iPhone. Fi-Vo is specifically designed for police encounters. As you record, your video instantly saves to your phone and uploads to your free Dropbox account.

There is a website called, "Copblock" that has lots and lots of resources for dealing with LEO and asserting your rights. Knowledge is power.

"resisting arrest" is a charge cops often just add at their own discretion whether or not there was "resisting." Mere talk-back can qualify. Or nothing.