1. Denver – police fire rubber bullets at 2000 peaceful marchers in Denver
Here is a link to some youtube video from Denver, today: http://www.businessinsider.com/denver-police-fire-rubber-bullets-on-occupy-protesters-2011-10
And yes – the World is watching – and calls, faxes, and legal action are already underway. The Occupy Denver group has vowed to reform, regroup, and keep going. Don’t you love seeing one policeman hold someone while another stabs and hits the defenseless citizen with a baton in this bit of citizen journalist videotaping: http://youtu.be/IDTvdAYkKdg The photo above the article of a line
of policeman with rifles poised is from Channel 9 in Denver – I am told that journalists were also arrested. For the “official” statement
voted on by Occupy Denver itself, go to: http://occupydenver.org/
You can also read about police firing rubber bullets at kids in trees and see wounds and more citizen videotape. Occupy Denver
continues to stand strong for economic justice and civil liberties, unlike Denver’s elected
leadership and the orders given to – and followed by – Denver police.
In Albany the police said no: http://my.firedoglake.com/robertarend/2011/10/24/occupy-albany-cops-refused-orders-to-shut-it-down/
2. And then there is Nashville –
Occupy Nashville is still standing tall, as well, defending first amendment
rights and civil liberties better than their elected “leaders” –
see:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500188_162-20127440/denver-police-use-force-on-occupy-protesters/
According to CBS – yes, Occupy Nashville saw arrests and destruction again –
and for the second time, a judge dismissed all charges as improper and released
them. Occupy Nashville
is vowing to stand strong for the 1st Amendment, and to continue to fight for
economic justice. Here is what the Occupy Nashville website has to
say: http://occupynashville.org/
Leadership is not taking the easy way out. It is facing real problems, over coming obstacles, and being able to
work toward a sustainable future. That means marching in the rain and snow, and not leaving when the going gets tough. Sure, some will leave, but today plenty of us marched in the rain and the sleet and the cold to honor Scott Olson and stand with Oakland! I loved it when we marched to the statue of Sam Adams by Faneuil Hall – I would like to think wherever he is, he was pleased and recognized the energy
and passion that flowed around his statue. Here is the link to a photo I took; you may have to sign in to facebook to see it: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/photo.php?fbid=2592617263123&set=a.2592599342675.151607.1485417164&type=1&theater I admit I had to put everything I was wearing that wasn’t under a gortex parka on a drying rack. Brrrrr – but I would do it again, plan to in fact.
The official, often elected leadership, whether in Oakland or in Denver are wasting both money and resources and a chance to engage in discussion by indulging in repression. They are is NOT demonstrating leadership qualities at all. In Nashville, the arresting officers and officials who ordered those arrests were told twice that their arrests were illegal, and Occupy Nashville was set free by the
courts. That information is in the article posted in the first paragraph.
In Cleveland, a federal suit was brought, an injunction against removing the protest issued, and Cleveland was sensible enough to mediate with the lawfirm that brought the lawsuit, see
I downloaded and read the complaint filed in Federal District Court in Ohio – saved it as a .pdf – I just never know when a
competent example of a kind of law I have never done might come in handy. You can find that Complaint at Occupy Cleveland’s website, URL above.
I love the reality that Boston’s Veteran’s for Peace chapter is named
after General Smeadley Butler. Remember him? In case you do not, he
was the military man chosen by the plutocracy in the 1930s to stage a coup
against FDR. General Smeadley Butler not only refused, he
“outed” the conspirators. See “The Plot to Seize the
White House” –
http://www.eclectica.org/v1n1/reviews/wharton_plot.html
But this current great awakening by people all over the United States, and abroad, that they are, in fact “the people” and that government
derives its power and authority from “the people” has replicated itself so many times I cannot keep up with it, since I do need to work and keep up a household. Some folks are trying, by setting up collaborative websites such as Occupy Together and relying on citizen journalists – but the growth of this social awakening is so exponential that it is hard to keep track of for anyone. Here is a link to Occupy Together:
http://www.occupytogether.org/
And yes, I think what is going on is an “awakening” from apathy, hopelessness, and elite control that I certainly did not see coming, or have the courage to spark. I happen to be glad that these Occupations are happening, and see some real relationships being forged, and skills learned. Fascinating that the Irish are as furious at their bank bailouts as I am, with the demand “Make bank bondholders pay. If they won’t share the profits, then WE won’t share the losses!”
http://dailybail.com/home/occupy-ireland-make-bank-bondholders-pay-if-they-didnt-share.html
Not kidding:
http://pressenza.com/npermalink/occupy-hong-kong-off-to-heady-start
Is Beijing really letting them get away with that? I’m still upset they weren’t censured by the international community after what they did in Tiannamen Square.
1. Occupiers could lose steam in the face of police crackdowns and frigid weather moving in. They might disband for the winter and “declare victory” in having caused the pols and pundits to talk more about Wall Street malfeasance and the inexorably growing rich-poor gap.
OR
2. Police will badly injure or kill several Occupiers who are suburban college students, Iraq/Afghan veterans or elderly people and the revulsion and anger of the American People will explode in support of the Occupiers and force politicians to concede on major changes. I think this could happen any time, like tomorrow or the next day. The last thing I want to see is people getting hurt but Justified Indignation is going to continue to (non-violently) resist and challenge Establishment Power and something’s gotta give. I have admiration and gratitude for all the Occupy folks.
There is a Protest Chaplains website, and my hope is to see a Protest Chaplains working group become part of every occupy, and actual training in civil disobedience – and, of course, a Chaplain on every march at at every event, as well as medics and legal observers. See: http://protestchaplains.blogspot.com/
But extremely powerful interests are being challenged.
Martin Luther King JR. ON NON-VIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.
First, nonviolence is resistance to evil and oppression. It is a human way
to fight.
Second, it does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent, but to win his/ her friendship and understanding.
Third, the nonviolent method is an attack on the forces of evil rather than against persons doing the evil. It seeks to defeat the evil and not the persons doing the evil and injustice.
Fourth, it is the willingness to accept suffering without retaliation.
Fifth, a nonviolent resister avoids both external physical and internal spiritual violence- not only refuses to shoot, but also to hate, an
opponent. The ethic of real love is at the center of nonviolence.
Sixth, the believer in nonviolence has a deep faith in the future and the
forces in the universe are seen to be on the side of justice
But as Martin Luther King’s own life story showed, there is a price to be paid for choosing this path, at times. Where the alternative is to continue as a society on a path towards fascism, towards oligarchy, and towards more and more people no longer earning a living wage, really, what is the alternative to taking the courageous path of true nonviolence?
This is a must read story chock full of details, including that the police had to return all tents, soggy sleeping bags, etc – suit was brought by Occupy Nashville with assistance by pro bono attorneys. Again, the rule of law and protecting liberty request access to justice, access to courts, and the williingness to stand up for the Bill of Rights. Without access to justice, there is no liberty. See: http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2011/10/31/state-concedes-defeat-in-occupy-nashville-battle-judge-bans-more-arrests
Should be “require” access to justice, not “request” and I didn’t type “fill” after first amendment. Some kind of glitch. Anyway, thanks for reading what I wrote, Bob. It is now worth following the exponential growth of the General Strike planned in Oakland for 11/2/11.
There are a number of signs in English within this article, and an explanation as to who took the photos: http://boingboing.net/2011/10/28/tahrir.html
Also, Occupy Oakland has called for an Oakland General Strike, their website has that information: http://www.occupyoakland.org/
Also, only Bank of America has stuck with charging fees for using a debit card originally issued because it was cheaper for the bank (is this an early Occupy victory??): http://lawrenceville-ga.patch.com/articles/some-big-banks-decide-against-debit-card-fees-bank-of-america and http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/credit-unions-pounce-after-banks-raise-fees/2011/10/27/gIQApEl0WM_story.html?wprss=
One thing is for sure – social media and the exponential growth of Occupy as a horizontal movement is changing the conversation – big time.