OCCUPY WALL STREET

[Soon]

OMG Cops pepper-spray UC Davis students, point blank in face, who are just sitting there doing nothing

[Dominique]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

OMG Cops pepper-spray UC Davis students, point blank in face, who are just sitting there doing nothing

When I see things like this, and read about other cities and the problems they are having. I wonder, is the ACLU watching? Are they doing anything about this? It has been stated over and over again, (here) the ACLU will be watching everything. Redundant, but worth repeating. The police have been wonderful. Even the five people arrested this week, were put into plastic wrist cuffs, (not hand cuffed) and all walked nicely to the paddy wagon. I realize this could have gone the other way. ON EITHER PARTIES BEHALF>

[SoNotHer]

Is this photo-shopped or real? If the latter, I'm beyond words.

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

OMG Cops pepper-spray UC Davis students, point blank in face, who are just sitting there doing nothing

[VintageFemme]

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

Is this photo-shopped or real? If the latter, I'm beyond words.

It's as real as it gets. This is very hard to watch but here it is...

[SoNotHer]

What have we become...

Originally Posted by VintageFemme

It's as real as it gets. This is very hard to watch but here it is...

[persiphone]

i have to wonder what the members here in this online community that are members of the police force think of all of this. i was talking about this with one of them....and i said....worst case scenario if this country started transitioning into a police state....we would be on opposite sides of the fence just because hy's a cop and i'm not...not because of my belief in this movement.

[SoNotHer]

Imagine if everyone in Manhattan, Detroit and Chicago suddenly lost their ability to vote. That's the number of people -- 5 million and counting -- affected by passed and pending changes to voting laws in states around the country. When all is said and done, millions more could be disenfranchised.

The people passing these laws lie. They say that it's about voter fraud. What it's really about is systematically suppressing voters of color, students and the elderly.

While the NAACP is nonpartisan, the people pushing these laws are not. They know that the number of people, five million, whose votes would be suppressed by these laws is three times greater than the combined margin of victory in Florida, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia during the 2008 presidential election.

Let's call these new voter requirement laws out for what they are: Extreme attempts by the far right-wing to legislate voter suppression. We can fight back. Knowledge is power. Will you take these quick and easy steps to learn the facts about these new voter requirements?

Take our mobile text quiz. Text the word TRUTH to 62227 on your mobile phone to take a simple quiz: Learn the truth about who is affected by voter ID laws.

Like Stand for Freedom on Facebook: Join the discussion on new voter ID laws across the country, and learn how you can get involved in our efforts to ensure everyone has the right to vote.

You have a better chance of being struck by lightning than you do of being impersonated at the polls.

11% of eligible voters would not have the proper, up-to-date, state-issued ID required to vote.

African American, Latino, young, elderly and disabled voters are far more likely to lack the required identification to vote. Your support in the coming months is more important than ever. Take these quick and easy steps to start fighting back today.

Thanks,

Ben

Benjamin Todd Jealous
President and CEO
NAACP

[Cin]

I just read this article. It has ten police assaults on occupy protestors caught on camera. Some I had seen, some i had not. All were appalling. Particularly the ones of people trying to engage in peaceful protests being beaten for no discernible reason. I guess we are not allowed to complain anymore. I remember a quote by Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas "The difference between the communist and capitalist systems is that, although both give you a kick in the ass, in the communist system you have to applaud, while in the capitalist system you can scream. And I came here to scream". It appears now that screaming is no longer acceptable under the newest version of capitalism. Or they will give you something to scream about.

http://www.alternet.org/occupywallst...esters/?page=1

[persiphone]

Originally Posted by Miss Tick

I just read this article. It has ten police assaults on occupy protestors caught on camera. Some I had seen, some i had not. All were appalling. Particularly the ones of people trying to engage in peaceful protests being beaten for no discernible reason. I guess we are not allowed to complain anymore. I remember a quote by Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas "The difference between the communist and capitalist systems is that, although both give you a kick in the ass, in the communist system you have to applaud, while in the capitalist system you can scream. And I came here to scream". It appears now that screaming is no longer acceptable under the newest version of capitalism. Or they will give you something to scream about.

http://www.alternet.org/occupywallst...esters/?page=1

i think...of course i'm no expert on cops....but i think an entire generation of cops haven't had to deal with anything like this (meaning local civil unrest on this scale). i think their scared of it. i don't think their used to having their authority challenged and i'm of the mind that this is what's behind a lot of the violent responses.

[Dominique]

Originally Posted by Miss Tick

"The difference between the communist and capitalist systems is that, although both give you a kick in the ass, in the communist system you have to applaud, while in the capitalist system you can scream. And I came here to scream". It appears now that screaming is no longer acceptable under the newest version of capitalism. Or they will give you something to scream about.

That was hard to watch. I winched a few times, but when someone started to yell "These are children, These are children", I became emotional. I only saw three being hauled away (yes, three too many) For the front the police put on, I expected more. The students showed everyone its a US against THEM situation, and you saw how the police
backed off as the crowd chanted louder and the peaceful demonstration became an anti police protest. That could have been ugly. I also saw alot of hesitation on the faces and the body language of the police. Clearly they were struggling with what was going on here.

Police are only allowed to use the amount of force that is neccessary, and NOT A BIT MORE. NOT A BIT MORE.

Thank you for posting this. Ugly as it was, I needed to see it.

[key]

Cops could start refusing to enforce illegal commands to attack peaceful protestors exercising their first amendment rights.

When that happens (and I believe it will) the revolution will be in full swing. Power to the Peaceful!

[Ebon]

Originally Posted by key

Cops could start refusing to enforce illegal commands to attack peaceful protestors exercising their first amendment rights.

When that happens (and I believe it will) the revolution will be in full swing. Power to the Peaceful!

That's right. They always have a choice to do the right thing. No excuses.

[persiphone]

Originally Posted by key

Cops could start refusing to enforce illegal commands to attack peaceful protestors exercising their first amendment rights.

When that happens (and I believe it will) the revolution will be in full swing. Power to the Peaceful!

yeah if corporations stopped "donating" to police pension funds maybe.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by persiphone

i have to wonder what the members here in this online community that are members of the police force think of all of this. i was talking about this with one of them....and i said....worst case scenario if this country started transitioning into a police state....we would be on opposite sides of the fence just because hy's a cop and i'm not...not because of my belief in this movement.

I know 2 police officers in real time and neither of them agree with the tactics that have been employed. Now, both live in tiny towns that do not have a lot of crime- and have not had "crowd control" problems that have ever become violent.

I don't like what is going on here in the Bay Area in terms of the police raids and actions. But, I also don't like seeing an officer's face slashed with exacto knoves when they are just standing there and simply telling demonstrators to stay on the sidewalk. Guess, I just don't like violence or property damage to innocent parties. They have not been involved in any OWS activity at this point. I'm not going to stereotype all cops- even those around me. There have been many police officers joining in protests over the last year against anti-union legislation passed in WS, for example.

Now, this article is upsetting- and it looks like the Goodman research has turned-up some confirmation. Sorry if this link has already been posted.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/1...ds?via=siderec

[persiphone]

Originally Posted by AtLast

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/1...ds?via=siderec

this info doesn't surprise me. i'm surprised that this info surprises people. still. after all that's been done.

[dykeumentary]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

OMG Cops pepper-spray UC Davis students, point blank in face, who are just sitting there doing nothing

Abhorrent. As a non-violent person who has been involved in actions and organizing against police brutality, it sickens me every time.

But it seems they aren't "really" just sitting there doing nothing. The demonstrators seem to have received direction to disperse, and chose not to, as well as received warning that they would be pepper-sprayed, and they chose to stay. So with all the media there, it seems the police response was anticipated, and maybe that was the goal.

A well-organized action uses these kinds of tactics to gain attention to their cause, so I would consider this a successful action if the protestors moved closer to achieving their goals through what happened here.

I know I can be a buzzkill. I trust the readers of this thread know I'm interested in achieving a world of fairness, with the least violence possible. I dont support putting oneself in harm's way- someone being pepper prayed or beaten -- unless they are part of a coordinated action that has medical and legal contingency plans. Since it seems like police brutality is going to become standard behavior even against white people (!) I hope as few as possible suffer permanent damage, and at least it can be documented in service of worthy goals. Including ending police brutality against all people.

[persiphone]

Originally Posted by dykeumentary

Abhorrent. As a non-violent person who has been involved in actions and organizing against police brutality, it sickens me every time.

But it seems they aren't "really" just sitting there doing nothing. The demonstrators seem to have received direction to disperse, and chose not to, as well as received warning that they would be pepper-sprayed, and they chose to stay. So with all the media there, it seems the police response was anticipated, and maybe that was the goal.

A well-organized action uses these kinds of tactics to gain attention to their cause, so I would consider this a successful action if the protestors moved closer to achieving their goals through what happened here.

I know I can be a buzzkill. I trust the readers of this thread know I'm interested in achieving a world of fairness, with the least violence possible. I dont support putting oneself in harm's way- someone being pepper prayed or beaten -- unless they are part of a coordinated action that has medical and legal contingency plans. Since it seems like police brutality is going to become standard behavior even against white people (!) I hope as few as possible suffer permanent damage, and at least it can be documented in service of worthy goals. Including ending police brutality against all people.

uuuhhh.....what does "even against white people" mean? surely, i'm taking it the wrong way.

[dykeumentary]

Originally Posted by persiphone

uuuhhh.....what does "even against white people" mean? surely, i'm taking it the wrong way.

I'm glad you asked me to clarify: I am saying that police brutality is and has been a reality for People of Color, particularly for men of African decent, for centuries in the USA.

Now with all the photos and videos of police brutality against 99% protestors available, I am seeing white people surprised by police brutality, as if it is something brand new. It had never crossed the minds, or the experience, of some white people.

[persiphone]

Originally Posted by dykeumentary

I'm glad you asked me to clarify: I am saying that police brutality is and has been a reality for People of Color, particularly for men of African decent, for centuries in the USA.

Now with all the photos and videos of police brutality against 99% protestors available, I am seeing white people surprised by police brutality, as if it is something brand new. It had never crossed the minds, or the experience, of some white people.

thanks for clarifying cuz for a sec i was like....oh no she dint! *ghetto neck rolling* and i thought surely i am misunderstanding after having done the online forums thing with you for so many years now.

[dykeumentary]

Originally Posted by persiphone

thanks for clarifying cuz for a sec i was like....oh no she dint! *ghetto neck rolling* and i thought surely i am misunderstanding after having done the online forums thing with you for so many years now.

I'm so glad you know this about me! How is it that we've never gone out dancing? We should have some fun times together....soon, I fear.