ACAB is a common slogan, especially in anarchist spaces. Should we really be using it though? It is a reference to children born without their parents being married, and due to christian morality is seen as inherently negative. It is effectively a slur. Do we really think that trying to enforce the hierarchies we are trying to get away from on others is going to help us? How have we allowed this slogan to become so common?
As an anarchist I think we should be defending these people, not punishing them with the hope of some of that transferring to cops.
I agree with the examination of language. My issue with this particular case is that unless someone brings it up, there is no way to know someone’s parental status. It just does not matter to anyone that I have ever interacted with, so has never come up in conversation or even crossed my mind to ask. Bastard is kind of a vestigial insult.