OCCUPY WALL STREET

[Ebon]

Originally Posted by AtLast

If someone can post informative links about what happened in Oakland and the injured young man, please do.

Many conflicting stories floating around about how it came to happen. From the cops being pelted with paint, rocks, etc. when they asked demonstrators to get back on the sidewalk- to no one was doing a thing to provoke any police action. Also, it took much longer than it should have to get that kid to a medical facility due to chaos. Some of the folks that were trying to help him were shot at too, while trying to carry him closer to where medics could treat him??

I have had it with these "non-lethal" weapons claims. If you shoot someone with one at point blank range and hit certain areas, they can kill. This kid has a fractured skull ans last I heard (6 am) is in critical condition.

I know the blame is going to back and forth- what I am interested in is how we can demonstrate our dissent and not have this happen. And no, that won't include just letting people camp and march where they want. There needs to be ER services available, specified public free speech areas and common sense. Permits include services and resources for our right to assemble and protest as well as safety routes for ER vehicles.

Protests can be very important in effecting change, but violence and chaos do nothing to effect change. The 99% includes people from the far left to moderates. Even folks that have some conservative views- we are all getting screwed by the 1%. In fact, this is the first time I really seen a movement marching in the streets in which people that most of the time would not cross paths, have differing political views, sexualities, as well as educational levels or professions and differ in race out there together. In some cities fire fighters and police officers have joined in. Actually, I like this about the OWS movement- it does represent the 99%- the whole point of the movement.

http://www.businessinsider.com/this-...rotest-2011-10


Scott Olsen survived two tours of Iraq, but his life could be over after being critically injured by a police projectile at Occupy Oakland, The Guardian reports. He's 24 years old.

As we know, Occupy Oakland got incredibly ugly this week as police tried to remove protesters from their camp in front of City Hall by using tear gas, fire crackers, and rubber bullets.

Olsen suffered a head injury on Tuesday night, and is now in critical condition in Oakland's Highland Hospital. Jay Finneburgh, a photographer on the scene, managed to witness and take pictures of the incident. Police policy specifically prohibits the firing of these weapons at a person's head.

"This poor guy was right behind me when he was hit in the head with a police projectile. He went down hard and did not get up," Finneburgh wrote.

At first, Doctors told Olsen's friends that he was in critical, but stable condition. Now they're being told that his skull has been fractured and his brain is beginning to swell. Neurologists are in the process of determining whether or not he will require surgery.

According to Keith Shannon, a friend who served with Olsen during his time in Iraq, Olsen was hit in the head with a tear gas or smoke canister, and he has the scar on his head to prove it.

Meanwhile, Oakland police admit that they used tear gas and baton rounds, but have denied the use of flash bang grenades. Protesters, however, say they saw police use them, and the more video that comes out, the harder it is to believe the police.

Olsen hails from Wisconsin, served tours of Iraq in 2006 and 2007, and is active in both Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War.

You can see a video of him collapsing and injured below.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/this-...#ixzz1c0pcVmVh




Here is the video also. It shows the police throwing a flash bomb right in the middle of them while they are trying to help him.