OCCUPY WALL STREET

[nowandthen]

SHAME ON THE MAYOR AND OPD!!!!!! WHO STREETS OUR STREETS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=OZLyUK0t0vQ

[Cin]

Wall Street Firms Spy on Protesters in Tax-Funded Center
In a secretive government facility Wall Street firms get to sit alongside the New York Police Department and spy on law-abiding citizens.

http://www.alternet.org/occupywallst...er?page=entire

Who Do the White Shirt Police Report to at Occupy Wall Street Protests?
Financial Giants Put New York City Cops On Their Payroll

http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/10/...their-payroll/

[Cin]

FDR'S WORDS 60 YEARS AGO CONTINUE TO INSPIRE TODAY!

On January 11, 1944, in the midst of World War II, President Roosevelt spoke forcefully and eloquently about the greater meaning and higher purpose of American security in a post-war America. The principles and ideas conveyed by FDR's words matter as much now as they did over sixty years ago, and the Franklin D. Roosevelt American Heritage Center is proud to reprint a selection of FDR's vision for the security and economic liberty of the American people in war and peace.

“The Economic Bill of Rights”

Excerpt from President Roosevelt's January 11, 1944 message to the Congress of the United States on the State of the Union

It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth—is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.

This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.

As our nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for our citizens.

Of course Congress did not pass it.

[SoNotHer]

Excellent post! I'm so glad to hear someone bringing this up and correlating it to corporation action - the creation of monocultures, "pesticide ready" plants, GMOs and "terminal seeds," the wildly indiscriminate use of antibiotics in stockyard animals" as a natural (or unnatural) impetus and cause for the creation of superbugs like drug-resistant staff infections.

Persiphone, I've encouraged my students to write about a variety of topics, including OWS and this one. Do you have any sources for this that you like? One student is writing about this, and she's already accessed an article form The Altantic (6/11) and the PBS survival series segment. What else have you read that you like?

Originally Posted by persiphone

with the creation of superbugs via the current corporate oppression, i'd say you're kinda out of luck in the germaphobe thing. i'm sure it would be nice to have neat and clean protests that are shiny and germ and violence free, but that's just not how most (not all) change of this magnitude occurs. there is going to be violence, and germs, and differences of opinion, and a whole slew of other things to pick at and pick apart. hopefully the violence stays contained on the police side cuz that will just make people more involved. i would be worried when we hit the tipping point and the protestors become violent in response. i hope that doesn't happen.

i don't mind that it's messy. messy happens. i don't care about what the people look like or how old they are or if there is some trash or not or who has germs and who doesn't or if i smell incense. i don't give a shit. change needs to happen and i don't mind getting my hands dirty over it.

[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.

[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.

[nowandthen]

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/loc...cc4c002e0.html

[Toughy]

well the Mayor certainly is talking out of both sides of her mouth. Her tune has changed in less than 48 hours. I'm pissed I voted for her. I also want to know where the City Council members were when Tuesday happened and what they knew about it and what they are going to do about it.

There are re-call the Mayor petitions being circulated right now.

[SoNotHer]

They actually fired on the people who ran to help the protestor they shot with tear gas?

I can't even begin to express how angry I am right now.

Originally Posted by Ebon

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.

[SoNotHer]

and his skull is fractured. He came back from two tours of Iraq to participate in a democracy that he defended. Yeah, how about that.

[nowandthen]

http://www.occupytogether.org/2011/1...r-scott-olsen/

[MsMerrick]

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 posted such links yesterday evening and yes, you can see very clearly , people rush back to help the young man lying on the ground..and a Police person, lobs a Flash Bomb DIRECTLY into the middle of teh group trying to help! Very Al-Quaeda esque ....! Attack one person or thing, then lob another attack when people rush to help...

[MsMerrick]

Btw, Michael Moore is saying he will be in Oakland tomorrow to stand with the protesters.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by MsMerrick

I posted such links yesterday evening and yes, you can see very clearly , people rush back to help the young man lying on the ground..and a Police person, lobs a Flash Bomb DIRECTLY into the middle of teh group trying to help! Very Al-Quaeda esque ....! Attack one person or thing, then lob another attack when people rush to help...

I looked at these today- my heart in in my throat. Weird reports here in terms of some info left out as far as I can see with now the videos being posted.

There are also some other pics posted in various blogs/articles with other people that have been hit with these bean bag and rubber ball bullets- ALL that I have seen have been in the face or on the neck. And facial bones have ben broken. So, I'm think close range- but maybe any range can do this kind of harm? I think people should use bullet, because that is what they are. The "non-lethal weapon" thing is just wrong. They can be lethal just as tasers can be.

As Toughy wrote earlier, police are not to shoot these at close range and not in the face in the first place. Obviously, these officers did just that. I am wondering about how "orders" are given about this and are these part of what police always have with them- or are these just for "riot patrols?" That term bothers me too.

I am not one to jump to conclusions on police as sometimes I think their actions are justified. But, I'm having a hard time with this. Why were these even used? Even if the crowd was throwing things at them, there is no indication of anyone other than the police being armed. usually, using tear gas breaks up crowds fairly fast- why did they go to these?

I hope this guy recovers fully from this, but it sure sounds like he was hurt badly.

[Corkey]

The average speed of a rubber bullet is 141 mph, sniper bullets are much faster.
Bone will shatter at these speeds.

[Toughy]

At Last.........

There is NEVER EVER justification for the police to use flash grenades, rubber bulletts/bean bags and tear gas on unarmed citizens exercizing our right to assemble in the streets or on public property. Whose Streets? OUR Streets!

So the fuck what they got pelleted with a few paint balls, rocks and bottles....the police were in FULL riot gear......vests, face masks, helmets, padding everywhere on their bodies.....I doubt they even felt the paint balls hit them in the back. The police came looking for a fight and they started one.

I can't believe you would even think about defending what they police did on Tuesday morning and night. There is no justification.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by nowandthen

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/loc...cc4c002e0.html

This article says he was struck with a tear gas canister but also says that is "what is believed." Here in the bay Area of CA, reports have said it was either a rubber bullet or bean bag bullet. Wonder when the actual facts are going to be publicized?

He was hurt badly no matter what hit him or how. This says he is in "fair" condition- others say "critical." All reports I know of say he is in an intensive care unit.

This just plain sux!

[Toughy]

looking around on the Occupy website I found this page.......I'm kind of stunned at how many towns/cities have folks participating and occupying....

http://www.meetup.com/occupytogether/

[Corkey]

Lets be clear. The Oakland police department came armed with several riot options. They encountered a peaceful protest and after being taunted with paint and a few rocks, which they were fully capable of protecting themselves from, lobbed tear gas in the direction of a person in a wheelchair, and used a flash bomb on a person who was UNarmed. Upon which Unarmed civilians trying to remove injured civilians from the scene were again flashed bombed. There is NO reason for any of this to have happened. The Mayor needs to answer to the people of Oakland and the police chief needs to answer why his officers used lethal force on unarmed civilians.

[Toughy]

The Oakland Police Chief flatly denies his officers used rubber bullets. He says they are not in the inventory. He says it must have been police from other jurisdictions that used them, in spite of the agreement that no rubber bullets would be allowed........

snort..........