[baddox]

Not to mention that the whole military analogy is ridiculous. The protesters are essentially "allowed" to do nothing, but the police are "allowed" to do almost anything they want. How does this apply to military battles at all?

[WanderingEnder]

I think the military analogy is to support the claim that police have been extensively militarized.

If they really were fighting a military battle, the cops would have suppressed them with direct fire, then maybe taken prisoners from the wounded.