In the wake of the failure of the Staten Island (it’s part of New York City) grand jury to indict police office Daniel Pantaleo for choking Eric Garner to death, there have been several protest marches in the city.

In response, the police department has deployed every available officer and police vehicle to the Upper West Side, as well as a police helicopter overhead. The protests seem peaceful so far but the police are in full riot gear.

Are the police overreacting? Maybe. But if the demonstrators tried to burn down my house, I’d want the cops there lickety-split.