In the freezing cold rain and under threat of an immediate crackdown by the Oakland Police Department to remove them if they tried to re-establish their occupation, Occupy Oakland setup a new camp site at 19th & Telegraph.
Occupy Oakland organizers reported regaining “momentum” as a number of actions with “visible union support” took place as many took to the streets again. They added ”as of 6 pm [Occupy Oakland was] celebrating in a liberated vacant lot at 19th and Telegraph to the sounds of hip hop, drumming, dance music and marching bands. Some neighbors in the Uptown development welcomed the arrival with signs of support and danced in their balconies. Police quickly withdrew to the perimeter when the thousands of protestors arrived.”
By 1 am, the occupation had “settled in,” but not without having to deal with some level of police harassment. A “sound truck” was seized by police.
Police had requested that all amplified sound end at 10:00pm and in respect for the neighborhood the truck packed up and left. It was quickly detained by police who cited anti-side show laws as the grounds for impounding it. Police in riot gear were deployed on MLK to clear a crowd trying to block the police from taking the vehicle.
There were no arrests. The reason the police said they were seizing the truck was because it was part of a “sideshow.” However, the vehicle sideshow ordinance the police were likely citing was repealed in 2007. (h/t Gavin Aronsen)
An MSNBC reported Oakland police had adopted a “non-confrontational strategy” for dealing with the occupation. Police spokeswoman Johnna Watson issued the following statement: “While peaceful forms of expression and freedom of speech will be facilitated, acts of violence, property destruction and overnight lodging will not be tolerated.”
The continued momentum of the Occupy movement invites some intrepid civil rights attorney to take a case to court and challenge cities all over the country on this notion that the “lodging” or camping occupiers are doing isn’t a part of expression and freedom of speech. There is great opportunity to expand what society deems to be justified under the First Amendment. A legal working group tried to expand what is considered expression when challenging the eviction of Occupy Wall Street, but the judge wound up favoring the city and Brookfield Properties. Of course, in the case of property that is clearly city-owned, there is little justification for any codes or ordinances to abridge the rights of citizens and constrain speech or expression.
Firedoglake’s premier live blog continues now. The blog will be tracking Occupy Oakland’s camp throughout the day and night. Also, I am back in Boston and may visit Occupy Boston today to check in on the camp. Here is a Twitter list to follow for the latest updates.
8:38 PM Situation unfolding with Occupy SF as a few occupiers have setup a tent on Market St. Traffic is blocked. Riot police are surrounding. (via @pixplz)
8:25 PM Occupy Charlottesville (#OccupyCville) thanks FDL for Occupy Supply. [Occupy Charlottesville's permit for camping is apparently up this week. The city will have to decide whether to renew the permit or not.]

8:19 PM Preliminary declaration of Occupy Wall Street’s vision
8:08 PM Compromise with NYPD worked out. From @masseydaniel, here are the tents, neutered:

7:59 PM Occupy Wall Street candlelight vigil and march is underway but NYPD being pricks and saying the tents have to come down off the poles because they are a safety hazard (Photo via @masseydaniel )

7:52 PM In a terror alert orange sweater and a camouflage green shirt, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is holding a press conference on a terror suspect just arrested. Don Lemon on CNN has apparently noted that up until this conference Bloomberg had been receiving negative attention for removing Occupy Wall Street from Zuccotti Park. This will conveniently give the media something to cover instead of the drum circle outside of his mansion. And, as I understand, the FBI was not involved at all.
7:14 PM Occupy Cleveland has helped a woman save her home from foreclosure (for now). A court gave her 30 more days.
This is but one example of the constructive force that is the Occupy movement. It can help people stay in their homes.
6:55 PM Two police officers involved in pepper spraying of UC Davis students placed on leave
6:45 PM I’ve known about this story, but I have been waiting for it to develop into something more substantial. Brad Johnson of Think Progress reports tents and insulated materials are banned at Occupy Boston. Clark Stoekley, who drives the WikiLeaks truck, was woken up by police because they thought he had “contraband.” Stoekley asked an officer why he was woken up:
This incident happened about a week ago and was covered by the free daily newspaper, Metro Boston. It has gotten a lot of play over the last week. And since the temporary restraining order was issued, police may be keeping a closer eye on the entrances to the camp. However, if an occupier wants to get materials into the camp, there are ways and once the materials are in the camp the police are probably not going to take action to draw attention to any policy to “freeze out” occupiers.
5:21 PM Here’s video from the concert I was at earlier at Occupy Boston. The Dis-N-Dat Band did a cover of Bob Marley’s “Could You Be Loved”:
Then, Tosh 1, reggae legend Peter Tosh’s son, came out. He and the Dis-N-Dat Band performed “Equal Rights” and a cover of “Johnny B. Goode.”
5:05 PM National Lawyers Guild has filed FOIA requests for information on Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, FBI, CIA, and the National Parks Service in the eviction of occupations all over the country.
5:00 PM Drum circle near Mayor Bloomberg’s mansion happening now – livestream here
12:45 PM Watch Al Jazeera English for live reporting from Egypt as security forces are mobilizing on Tahrir Square
12:44 PM ICYMI: Proposal for a total west coast shutdown that passed through Occupy Oakland’s general assembly. Reportedly, Occupy San Diego has approved the resolution as well.
12:32 PM Now going to visit Occupy Boston one more time. Beautiful weather – highs in the 60s. Tosh 1, Peter Tosh’s son, is shooting a music video at the camp and then will be performing some songs.
Here is Tosh 1′s update of “Get Up, Stand Up.” (Peter Tosh was a member of Bob Marley & The Wailers.)
12:30 PM Police have raided the new Occupy Oakland encampment. Occupiers were asked to leave about 8 am PST. The occupiers left. It appears tents were taken. There are no reported arrests as of now.
11:19 AM John Zuccotti, co-chair of Brookfield Properties, whose name is now known around the world as the name of the park Occupy Wall Street took over for two months and counting, is worried his legacy is tarnished. So, let us all pause for a moment and weep for the liberal-leaning elitist businessman who is John Zuccotti. Forget the 99% out protesting. We must sympathize with this member of the 1%, even though he could have stopped the OWS eviction and did not. In fact, former Mayor Ed Koch implores us to do so.
11:14 AM ICYMI: UC Davis Faculty Association called for the resignation of Chancellor Katehi. She has said she will not be resigning.
10:59 AM Participants inspired by Occupy DC occupied the vacant city-owned Franklin School building in DC and were arrested yesterday. Here is a video in two parts: part one & part two.
And then a video showing the start of the occupation of the school:
10:51 AM Occupy Subways action on November 17 (video)
10:46 AM Occupy MN participants have been given “trespass” citations for violations on plaza property. Occupiers are contesting these citations because they prevent you from being on that property for 365 days.
10:45 AM FDL members, supporters, readers, etc, have now raised nearly $125, 000 to fund donations of winter gear and other supplies to occupations.
10:25 AM Glenn Greenwald on the roots of the UC Davis pepper-spraying
10:22 AM In Tahrir Square Egyptians are having their tents set on fire right now. A major assault is underway to evict protesters.
Egypt is partly responsible for inspiring the core group of occupiers that launched Occupy Wall Street. Expect demonstrations at the Egyptian embassy and consulates in the country to show solidarity with Egyptians who are fighting military rule in Egypt.




261 Comments

Good morning Kevin, thank you.
Just a thought… Inside The Beltway is the main problem IMO. Taking advantage of March 2012 spring break might be an opportune time to reinvigorate (post-winter) Occupy K Street & their Kapitol Hill Kronies.
OWS-Washington, DC Schedule
Good morning Kevin. As always, thank you.
I’m very happy you mention the courts. I am outraged that the DOJ Civil Rights Division is not even tu-tutting the naked brutallity being visited on United States Citizens (you know, We The People) daily.
Yo,
White House aides,
I know you’re reading here. We are watching the pathetic, hypocritical non response of the Administration. We are also aware that it is entirely possible that DHS has a hand in the deplorable, coordinated, violent treatment of those you are sworn to protect and serve. Oh yeah, we fucking vote.
TWOOPH!
Civil rights are for the 1%ers.
Another real kick in the head for us citizens is our Military Vets are being shunned as well. Not to mention that the spy agencies set up by ex-military folks are being paid by our government via our tax dollars to suppress our Liberty and Freedoms!
Pure shame on those that took the oath to protect and serve.
hi kevin
can you embed this and put it up. it is really powerful. shows UC chancellor walk of shame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8775ZmNGFY8
Indeed, deep and lasting shame on ANY alleged law enforcement agent or agency that uses violence against peacefull protesters.
Count this Honorably Discharged Vet as one that has had ENOUGH of this bullshit.
No comments from The Big O that I can remember. Since they may be realizing that they cannot co-opt the movement, they must take it apart. More evidence that Obama is, at least in this situation, is very transparent.
Good work, Kevin, thanks for the continuing updates.
A suggestion for occupy supply: ask suppliers if they do small orders with applicable ship/handling charges+tracking# direct to occupy site addresses. i.e. purchase by fdl with different ship to address.
Once you obtain in person information from occupy sites, fdl could do all the orders & shipments online.
karen
Off to help the grandkids make cupcakes. Have a wonderfull day all.
Keep up the fabulous work Kevin. You are greatly appreciated.
yum yum. what fun for the grandkids
These protesters carry no guns, no weapons. Instead they protest wielding tents and sleeping bags and their voices, which for some reason threatens police so much that they dress in riot gear and assault protesters with pepper spray, rubber bullets, bean bags, and the like.
These cash strapped cities who are cutting funds to schools and other public services deem it a wise expenditure of taxpayer funds to amass paramilitary police on a daily basis to knock down tents and arrest a few protesters.
This just doesn’t make sense, especially considering that the protesters aren’t going anywhere and will return day after day. And if all of them are imprisoned for any length of time, then others who are twittering will put on their coats and go out there to take their places.
There is nothing so threatening to PTB than telling the truth.
Yes. I just think it can’t be a coincidence that the president was out of the country when all this cracking down was going on. Would the president have said nothing about protesters being hosed during the civil rights era? Would he have said it’s a local matter? Racial inequality and income inequality are inextricably linked.
Another suggestion: I would ask the sleeping bag supplier if they could design a weather proof, warm poncho with interior pockets. Sleeping bags will be confiscated, but clothing may be returned–especially if you are wearing it.
karen
Gotta repost this from the other day. It is a little crumb trail for the PERF group of crooks and a special recognition for our fellow Pup that brought it to light!
We have a winnah! That is such a profound statement of truth. The fact that the WH crows about the protesters across the ocean and says nothing in America is mind numbing. I guess I am on the list now. *g*
O is irrelevant. Occupy is much, much bigger than one man, even if that man is the leader of the “free world”.
Thanks again Kevin you are so inspiring. Keep up the great work you are doing. I really appreciate it.
My #17 refers to #11
^..^
Solidarity with the peeps at #tahrir who are being injured and killed by the Egyptian military.
O’s too busy trying to confront & provoke Chinese in central Africa & Pacific. Give the poor man a break. /s
Back in February , I remember thinking that Egypt-like crowds in the street were impossible in the USA. How wrong I was.
Also, for those that did not see it yesterday here is the Client list for the Lobby firm for Wall Street that is trying to put the Kaboosh on OWS. You should see the big K in there as well:
http://www.clgcdc.com/clients
Jay Carney made some statement that this was an issue for the cities to handle. That’s the only whisper out of the White House.
Nonviolent resistance has a way of exposing the stupidity of the folks that consider themselves the smartest folks in the room.
You thought that cities who are in the pockets of real estate developers and corporate management would have a clue? Not having a clue is the key to their success.
Just in case anyone isn’t already…follow @monaeltahawy for Egypt news.
DHS and DOJ need to be on this and tell American’s why they feel it is okay to send out militarized coppers.
Oh yeah, along with Chemical and Sound weaponery!
That’s an excellent list of the bad players in the economy, the folks who have corrupted government from the federal to the local level. Most client lists have to be taken with a grain of salt; they do not represent contracts at the highest level of the corporation. My judgment is that this does not apply to this client list.
We have found one of the hidden links between corporations and government, no doubt part of the network of laundering political bribes.
Pffffft. They’ve got all those cool toys lying around and this is the first chance they’ve had to use ‘em.
Here’s a kewl new chant…Tweet tweet, our revolution’s not complete!
You forgot FBI, which is under DOJ.
Who we know is involved with PERF are DHS Federal Protective Services (building security), DHS Secret Service (protection of politicians), DOJ FBI. The evidence so far is that the coordination is being driven by local police “executives”. That would of course include Ray Kelly.
There are no hard stories yet of any US counterterrorism involvement in the suppression of civil rights.
This looks for the moment like the classic police-FBI response to dissent. As I’ve remarked before, “the ghost of J. Edgar Hoover”.
Occupy Bloomington IN: What happened yesterday
Thanks for your addition and thoughts. I seriously think the public deserves an explaination of this behaviour by the very agencies that we pay to protect us.
LOL! Yeah, but why does local peace officers need all that junk?
They’ve carried the Bush Administration terror meme way too far.
And, it is traditional right around now at Thanksgiving to reprise the line “all sorts of cop equipment” at the “police officers’ station”.
NOT AGAIN! FerGawd’s Sake! Who is ordering up that menu?
Clearly those students were concealing suicide bombs under their sweatshirts. Everyone knows pepper spray diffuses suicide vests.
Don’t bother making an analogy to another time.
Feb 11, 2011 — Obama on Egypt:
I know bullets and pepper spray are very different. And I know the Egyptian military reported to Mubarak, whereas local police absolutely do not report to Obama. And I know that people were dying in the Arab Spring, including hundreds in Egypt.
Nonetheless, if anyone went back to analyze Obama’s comments regarding Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria, etc… and compared them to actions toward Occupy… I bet there’d be more than a few embarassing comments to be found. And to simply ignore Occupy (and the Tea Party) is classic Washington denial.
There is real bipartisan outrage in the country. And Obama is pretending it doesn’t exist.
Tell me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the government of DC effectively run by the federal government? If so, then Occupy DC isn’t just a “local issue.”
Yep. And sound cannons blow holes through poster weapons of mass destruction! (Sheesh!)
You’d think they were protecting the White House or a King. Instead, they are stomping out free speech!
UC Davis students obviously hate us for our Freedom.
I don’t think it is local. There are people there from all over the country. The thing I have noticed from the talking heads over and over is that people need to stop protesting Wall Street and protest Washington. Strange how they don’t know it is already going on, therefore I think we should keep highlighting it.
Most of the media and news is zoom scooped on blogs such as this. If we put it out there and keep it out, they eventually catch on. However, as usual they are too late.
Nothing like putting the pressure on the ILWU.
That’s been done as a powerful YouTube. Search for I Will Not Move.
More and more, it seems, people are displeased with the White House’s inadequate response to events relating to #OWS.
(Maybe Team Obama, in full campaign-mode, can’t figure out the right spin.)
Oakland MOTU down – This seems very well sourced:
FBI press release.
In case we’re not on the same page… my point is that a good reporter could give Carney the followup… “true, most protests are local issues… but in DC, the police are funded by the federal government. The budget falls under the President. How does the President feel about this use of federal funds?”
Darn… I thought I thought of a good one! haha…
Yes and no. The government of the district is semi-autonomous in that the people elect the city council and mayor and those hire the city officials, including the police chief. But as the largest landowner, the federal government and certain Congressmen exert pressure through the appropriations that the federal government pays to DC in lieu of taxes. Private citizens are also DC taxpayers directly. To say the least, it’s a very complicated relationship.
Ohhhh! Gotcha! That is an excellent question and observation.
Will we get the answer? Nope. Obama hasn’t even been in town and is relying on his staffers/stuffers/advisors/vicors to tell him what’s on the ground. Since they are all locked up in chains there in the Political bubble zone, they don’t have a clue.
A further point is the fact that a lot of the riot gear you see was bought with DOJ Law Enforcement Assistance Program funds or DHS local capacity building funds. Both are federal grant programs to police departments.
I prefer O’s silence. Silence is better than lies, IMO.
Actually, I’m surprised he hasn’t asked a spokesperson from each occupy site over for a beer.
Someone’s getting a paid holiday vacation, then…
Ha!
TWOOPH!
Besides, he shouldn’t speak about it until he has met with spokespersons and gotten the real facts of the matter.
My thought this morning… use Spring Break 2012 as a time for people to mass in Washington. Congress should be in session. And don’t use The Mall. Just flood the streets around Capitol and the various office buildings. No violence at all… just make movement nearly impossible.
Force Obama / Boehner / Reid / Pelosi / McConnell to speak. And while OWS has no stated goals, it would be nice to force them to offer their thoughts on the ills of — and remedies for — America.
Another thing with massing around Capitol Hill… I presume it would fall under the purview of the Capitol Hill police. So Boehner and Reid be further pressed to speak.
And if people didn’t get all partisan, the Tea Party would probably show up too for greater impact.
Yes! I’ve said many times that people on the mall have little effect on CONgress. Capitol Hill needs to have the masses on the door steps.
I see your point, but it starts to get too distant IMO.
Obama proposes and approves a budget that, presumably, is a big chunk of the metro-DC budget.
Without accusations of micromanaging, he can legitimately raise questions about the use of those funds… at least if we get into the misleading nonsense about response times that was being put forth in Portland.
Is this for Bloomie’s Drum Circle?
Any idea why that is?
Is it some sort of standing agreement to allow protesters to not get arrested… IF they stand on The Mall?
Re Zuccotti Park, NYC:
If true, we need the photo and/or videographic evidence. This is troubling:
Video: “Brookfield Properties Security Calls Me a Faggot at Zuccotti Park” (Nov 15, 2011)
Thanks PeasantParty. I forgot to mention that the study in the 2nd link above was partly funded by the Dept of Educ. So even when the clowns in DC vote for something that seems to have some usefulness (education, recovery act funds for local police) it’s just another transfer to the 1%.
Here are some additional links.
Crowd control report produced with support from Motorola Solutions Foundation (PDF)
http://privacysos.org/sites/all/files/PERFmajorevents.pdf
UK connection
AyeshaKazmi AmericanPaki
More on #PERF : Police Executive Research Forum’s links to UK Policing | Philip Brennan http://bit.ly/ucLf7j #OWS #OccupyLSX
http://bit.ly/ucLf7j
Nice catches, PeasantParty and maryminil.
Hey Kevin, i have not able to post much since Friday –Tubes issues. I just want to thank you for all your efforts. What a gift.
BTW, left a comment on the last thread you might want to read.
FWIW I just posted a new diary about the march in St. Louis last Thursday. Sorry for the interruption.
http://bit.ly/tDVCT8
Here’s my comment from the previous thread:
Hey folks I was away for two days and could read all the events on my phone but I seemed to have blockage of service when I tried to post.
TarheelDem, here’s my thought on the militarization of the police force and what it appears to manifest (after reading through all the blogs plus Naked Capitalism insights to catch up).
The images of Abu Graib are starting to infect the question of why cops are being so militaristic in various key places around the country, along with Kevin pointing out the coordination strategies in various city administrations. And there I think, we have an answer. Take Abu Graib. The application of humiliating torture techniques there took the form of an attack on what Muslims in particular hold sacred, their modesty. Likewise, here the focus is and will continue to be on non-violence, using the opposite to degrade the victims. And we see cropping up in some (not many) postings from supporters of the Occupies suggestions that it may be necessary to fight fire with fire.
In the case of Abu Graib, the attack was really upon what is and was the strength of the Muslim faith – their most endearing virtue which all people could and should sympathize with. Similarly, when we see our Occupiers at their most peaceful, our hearts go out to them.
A closing thought: at the first violences perpetrated by the police in New York and in Oakland, correct me if I am wrong, but were not those (and perhaps at Davis as well) committed by the leadership in the police forces, the ones in charge of the various operations? I would say that at least, if that is for the most part the case, we have in some sense a far better situation than back in the dark days of the Iraq occupation. For there, it still was possible to pass the responsibility down to the least powerful in the regime, Lindsay whateverhernamewas and her boyfriend, while those responsible for the atmosphere in which the crimes were committed stayed shrouded in darkness.
Now, the chain of collusion is being rapidly exposed. That has to be a very good thing.
This thread may be dying, but the idea of a mass march in March in DC is on my mind…
Maybe several days to mass people with an ongoing concert / fundraiser? And as the concert ends, take the slow walk to surround the Capitol?
And here’s one band that would need to be invited.
It appears it may fall under sexual assault. IANAL.
Wondering if this gas is also Made in America?
Rape with a foreign object. That’s a fascinating legal argument. Sexual intent is not legally required for rape, right? Crime of power and all that.
Another apt song that could be dedicated to The Divine One:
These threads never die. I cannot go there and march, so I will leave that to people that can. I’ve been unemployed for far too long and have no travel money.
Well, the Tarsands action did a #SurroundTheWhiteHouse march and wrapped the place 5 shoulders deep. This would be a #SurroundTheCapitol march. I’d drop that in the suggestion box for National Occupation of Washington, DC (NOW,DC) (beginning Mar. 30, 2012).
And it’d be fun to watch Pink Floyd dedicate “Money” to Jamie and Loyd.
That reminds me of the many discussions we’ve had here at the Lake about an alternative currency. One that the bankstas don’t have control of.
Link So the “sexual” part wouldn’t be satisfied at UC Davis, I’d guess.
Good one, but I still say it was attempted Murder with a CHemical weapon!
That’s why I posted sexual assault. My state does not use the word “sexual” in its’ definition.
From what I found on CA, it seems to fit sexual assault.
I would charge both.
California Penal Code section289 “sexual” again.
I’m a Paulista. I support competing currencies. I don’t know the consequences of such legislation, except for one: reduce the power of the banksters.
My view is that just about anything that reduces the power of The Banksters is — at least on balance — a good thing.
Except for the fact that the budget that Obama proposes is never the one that gets funded and there are folks like Joe Lieberman in Congress who are intent on militarizing the police force. And will add Christmas tree ornaments to law enforcement and homeland security bills to make sure that happens.
Except to put a DOA budget on the table every February, Obama himself has been very distant from budget decisions–essentially leaving a lot of them to the Cabinet and to technocrats. And to the Congress. And given the fact that riot gear is acceptable pork for Republicans, there is likely as much inertia as direction in the decisions. Presidents become convenient scapegoats for diversion of attention by other actors because the public has the impression that they have more power than they actually do. Which comes as a surprise to almost all victorious presidential candidates. It’s the basis of Harry Truman’s “Poor Ike” comment.
It’s the system that is broken and creates the type of leaders that it does, not any individual. Selling out is a requirement to keep being a playah. And Occupy Wall Street is calling out the entire system. And exploring all of the detailed ins and outs of how it works.
Whether it holds true legally, this is an excellent point about the psychology of the perpetrator.
TimWhite, here you go:
I am not moving
New need for OWS camps. Fire extinguishers.
I would not be surprised if the victims are experiencing the trauma of a sexual assault victim. My guess would be yes they are experiencing such trauma.
And, let’s not forget that they helped force Americans into pay television and news sources. The last I heard on the analogue airwaves is that it has been an abject failure to create communication for police, fire, etc. Oh, and don’t get me going on those boxes people were forced to buy to see local news and weather! Acckkk! That’s the same as plastic sheeting and duct tape if you ask me.
It’s website fru-fru, but whitehouse.gov has a petition engine. To get attention, the petition has to accumulate 25,000 “signatures” in 30 days.
We the People: Your Voice in Government
This might be common knowledge, but I hadn’t seen it before.
Yes, both would be appropriate. Those cops had no idea what kind of health issues that kid might have had. Forcing that chemical down his throat without knowing whether he was on medication that could react, or if he had asthma, allergies, or some other heart or respiratory condition is, or could have resulted in death.
I wouldn’t know. We got rid of the telly and get local news and weather online. The statement “500 channels and nothing on” coined in the 1980s to critique the idea of “narrowcasting” turned out to be correct.
Agree.
To get attention is exactly why they put it up. We and thousands of others have been petitioning them for years now. We’ve also called, written, and voiced our opinions at Town Halls. They have all been ignored.
Occupy Colorado Springs photo set
Can we get his name and badge number?
Yep. Let me see 25,000 x $200 is an upside small donation number of $5 million. So an interest group has to have a $5 million upside to be recognized by the White House. As George Bernard Shaw said, “We’ve established what you are. We are just haggling over the price.”
Food for thought …
Video: Occupy Wall St – The Revolution Is Love (Nov. 18, 2011)
I haven’t seen cop’s name and badge# tweeted, suprisingly.
Drum Circles: The people’s LRAD. Ha!
You think this might be why they are being evicted?
ROFLMAO – excellent
P rather than B?
Occupy Lubbock TX
Save Fukushima’s children
Already watched it. Thanks.
The Gates to Harvard Yard
Kevin’s latest with a link:
Tahrir: Dead body dragged away. Ugh.
Does anyone think it couldn’t happen here, considering all the repression we’ve been seeing? Let’s hope the elite will come to their senses first.
Newark Councilwoman Crump Supporting Occupy Newark
I generally agree with your premise on how the system works. But I also believe that a true-believer could break the institutional inertia by using the bully pulpit to galvanize the support of the people for real change on good government issues.
Obama was given that opportunity, but he wasn’t sincere.
Fuckers.
I am so sorry you still believe that. There will be no candidate put forward unless the powers behind the scenes have approved of them as a good puppet.
Can’t stream on my ‘puter anymore or I’ll risk divorce. ‘Puter has crashed too many times. If anyone watches, pls. liveblog anything interesting.
11-20 Occupy Fresno arrests
But if that’s the case, violent revolution will come. And I really have no interest in contemplating that.
In normal times, you would be correct. But these are not normal times. No President has faced a completed stonewall by the other party. And the defections in the Democratic caucus are not trivial. No President before has had a Congress go to the wall on a debt ceiling, threatening the good faith and credit of the US. Not all of that is self-inflicted on the part of Obama.
The very fact of the Occupy Wall Street movement points to the gridlock in government brought about by the war among the 1%. The economic and political system are broken in a way that neither can move forward. And no faction of the 1% is giving an inch, leaving the the 99% as collateral damage.
If it is that simple, the Occupy Wall Street movement might as well go home, put their heads down and keep taking it. That situation exists because of the control of money over politics, which exists because of the large media expenditures required to run a contemporary political campaign. And it has seeped to the local level. Making the buying of Wall Street Media services irrelevant is certainly one of the effects of the way Occupy Wall Street local groups operate, even if unintended. Politicians dance to the piper. Change the piper, and you change the dance.
Is the piper going to be money power or people power. Is the judgment going to be of words or actions? Even George Wallace got the message of people power.
If you are interested in planning actions in DC there are already two fine orgazations in place making mischief on a daily basis, who have experience in plannning these things. Many of their actions are not followed natinally, but nonetheless they are making a difference in DC. I suggest you contact one or both and follow their actions on their websites:
october2011.org
occupydc.org
The corporatist war criminal Obama did have a chance and a choice to go a different way, he personally decided not to and is 100% responsible for his right wing policies, and should be prosecuted for them. Those that believe system analysis excuses the rich powerful of their crimes are deluded.
Different country, different city, same elites. Cruelty perpetrated against the people.
I thought that’s basically what happened when FDR ended the gold standard? Regardless, how does a war among the MOTU deter social upheaval (among everyone else) and eventual violent revolution? I don’t see how they are mutually exclusive.
“Either/or” is a trap laid by 1%er strategists. This development shows that there are some of the 1% who are more sane than the others. Meanwhile, the de-brainwashing and de-escalation activities continue and the 1%ers’ support dwindles even further.
System analysis does not excuse the 1% and their factotums of their crimes. But it suggests that if there isn’t a different strategy than replacing one man, the you are doomed to endless cycles of repetition. The choices we will face in the 2012 election are beside the point at the moment if we are not working on fundamentally changing the environment in which elections take place. Whether you vote R, D, a third party candidate, a spoiler candidate, or sit out. In the current circumstances, the casino house wins.
It doesn’t. Focus on the social upheaval and ignore the kabuki.
FOIA will be proptly answered in 2015.
Might be worth watching this GA.
Occupy Newark livestream
Occupy Easton PA
And it will be mostly blacked out pages w/ National Security stamped all over them.
Occupy Poughkeepsie
That would tell us all we need to know.
E.D. Kain, Forbes: UC Davis Not an Isolated Incident, It’s Part of the Culture War
Now doing understand paramilitary policing?
This is heartbreaking.
Bloomberg Drum Circle
Al Jazeera English continues live coverage of Tahrir Square here. Hundreds of demonstrators forced to leave earlier
arefloodedingback into the Square shouting “God is Great.”Considering everything that has happened with Occupy over the last 2 months, it’s hard to see #Tahrir as something apart. They are us and we are them. And we’re not dying. Yet. Hopefully never.
Nice election turnout suppression strategy on the part of the SCAF. We’ll see if folks have still moved beyond the fear factor in the coming days. The temptation will be for each party or faction in the election field to try to intimidate other folks from showing up. The solution the SCAF fears is all parties and factions working together to turn out their people en masse for a truely representative election. In that event, watch the vote counting process and the pre-emptive charges of fraud.
The best effect would be forcing the January coalition back together.
Occupy Dallas, After The Raid: We Will Not Go Away.
The system must be changed, but Obama, the Bush’s and Clinton’s must also be dragged to the Hague in chains to pay for their crimes. There is no chance left for the right wing scum that is Obama; and shit-eating democrats who painted bush as the great evil and want to excuse their own war criminal corporatists once they get in power are disgusting hypocrites who should not be listened to. So actually, yes, no matter what, Obama is out for 2012.
“Up the Spout” – vocals by Michal Shapiro
“Appalled” UC president [the Big Boss] vows to convene meeting of chancellors following campus protest response
LINK.
This needs encouragement. Maybe strong written and enforced standards, guidelines and procedures for all UC campus police that will protect and respect peaceful protest can emerge from this. Right now, there appear to be almost none–at least not from the search I undertook yesterday.
That’ll just add one more to your list of folks to pack up to the Hague.
Appalled UC President needs to fire two chancellors, two police chiefs, and a bunch of UCPD officers. Then, he can consider calling a chancellors meeting to discuss where the porta-potties will go.
سميرة و الجيش: قصة فتاة مصرية (“Samira and army: the story of an Egyptian girl” with English subtitles) from Tahrir Diaries (Nov 15, 2011)
What you can do at home. Occupy your house
Check your sign ordinances to see if you will be committing civil disobedience as well. And your homeowners association covenant.
Occupy Oakland: Camp at 19th and Telegraph
I agree with you, but currently there are apparently no, or demonstrably insufficient, standards of conduct backed up by meaningful sanctions for breaching those standards. The UC cops seem to be doing whatever they want and the chancellors seem to be doing whatever they want. Result is that the students and their rights are getting trashed and brutalized, with those doing the trashing and brutalizing getting paid days off work.
“#OccupyNashville Infiltrates Rumsfeld Speech” (Nov. 18, 2011)
“Occupy Nashville Infiltrates And Disrupts Rumsfeld Fundraiser” (ThinkProgress.Org, By Zaid Jilani, embedded video, Nov. 18, 2011)
Scary pic of tanks perhaps preparing to enter Tahrir?
A More Democratic, Creative, and Effective Assembly Network
Yet another critique of the general assembly process.
Whatever happened to being summarily fired for cause?
What happened to “The people and the army are one”? Last time, the rank-and-file troops and mid-level officers refused to attack the people. This sort of action depends on obedience. Of the bulk of the people and of the masses of the armed forces.
UCDavis Bicycle Barricade: No Cops, No Bosses
Video: Mystery surveillance man flies Occupy Nashville protesters the bird then speeds away (Nov. 17, 2011)
Tony Bizjak, Sacramento Bee: ‘Appalled’ by police response to protesters, UC president to convene chancellors
WTF? “Nor do I wish to be a leader…Nor do I wish to continue in my job…”
Hmmm … the University of California Office of the President is Oakland, CA.
From “Gingrich proposes replacing janitors with children, gets mic checked by Occupy Boston” (RawStory.Com, Nov. 20, 2011):
Kristine Guerra, The Oregonian: Portland police to limit presence at Occupy events
I guess that means that Mittens can up the ante by advocating the return of slavery.
bink, Daily Kos: What We Missed: Lobbyist Memo to Wall St. Was Extortion Letter+
Tori Middelstadt, AlaskaDispatch: Occupy Fairbanks: Do protesters have a ‘right to warmth’?
Dance party in Oakland, CA at 19th and Telegraph on the live stream now. OakFoSho answering questions via Twitter.
Tina Griego, Denver Post: Griego: Real people occupy ranks of Occupy Denver
Kelsey Whipple, Denver WestWord: Occupy Denver: ACLU reacts to restriction against recording during court appearances
Bloomberg supposed to be having a press conference now, though he’s already late. Go here.
Bloomie to hold news conference any minute now. Terrorism related. *sigh*
‘sponse there is *no* effort for Bloomie to talk about something other than occupy. I tire of my own cynicism.
Al Qaida suspect caught plotting to bomb police cars, post offices, blah blah.
Re Oakland, CA:
Snow Park apparently being raided. More reporting to come over the live stream shortly so stay tuned.
It finally happened.
AP: Immigration law: Mercedes manager from Germany arrested in Alabama
With Bloomie it’s always going to be about terrorists. He gets more mileage from it than Julie ever did. Keeps the small folks fearful.
“Tonight’s episode of Security Theater has been brought to you by the friendly financiers on Wall Street.”
RoboKopter Zamieszki I
Consulate?
*snicker*
From the Grey Lady…
“The Police Department basically had an informant with this guy,” said a second law enforcement official familiar with the investigation. “The guy is sort of giving to the informant all of these material on bomb building and talking about building a bomb and supporting the mujahedeen by targeting — he’s kind of all over the place; sometimes it’s targeting servicemen and women returning from Afghanistan, sometimes it’s the police, sometimes its build it and test it, but it’s all over the place.”
“He was in the process of building three pipe bombs,” the law enforcement official said. “We weren’t going to wait around to figure out what he wanted do with his bombs. He was in Harlem about an hour from actually having assembled the bombs,” but had all the “unassembled components ready to go.”
Holes were drilled into pipes; sulfur was scraped off of matches; nails were ready to be used as shrapnel; and some sort of wires were used to fashion an ignition device, the official said.
I’m glad he was stopped, but, does this sort of crap truly justify our massive amounts of $$$ for our DHS/Intel/MIC…?
Does it really merit a presser? Oh well….watch the shiny object.
I bet the tent making biz is pretty good lately.
Arrgh! I leave for a few hours and when I get back I find an informant/coach has been helping a would be bomber make a bomb!
Good, GOD, Y’all!
“Actual Video of Water Torture Our Ex-Leaders Confess to on Their Bestselling Book Tours and Our Current Leaders Falsely Deny” (WarIsALie.Org, by David Swanson, Nov. 21, 2011)
I’ve been away for several hours so I’ll need a little help with that one. Why are they placing a tent in the street and occupying the intersection?
That’s an interesting question. The obvious “Whose streets? Our streets?” But why now, why there? San Franciscans. any ideas?
Occupy San Francisco: Police Raid on Market Street an Ongoing Pattern
This has more information behind the protest.
Correction:
Yeah. It just doesn’t look right. They have been peaceful, law abiding grievance addressers. I understand they have been evicted from every space they try to occupy, but a tent in the street?
Yesterday’s attempted clearing?
Hmmm. So it is spreading.
Interview with one of the UC Davis protesters who was soaked with pepper spray by Lt. Pike.
Occupy Dayton
Data dump
Via Livestream outside of Blommies place:
“We cannot drum so we shall hum. Ohmmmmmmmm”
Now this is interesting:
Less-Lethal Working Group
Less Lethal: Federal Publications
No Comment
Occupy Duluth on Occupy MN livestream
Occupy Bangor livestream
Thank you. I dropped an email to OccupyDC.
I think it could be a lot of fun! Plus it’d be a hoot to help organize something like that.
Not sure if anyone’s seen this or if it’s realistic, but I found it fascinating.
Anonymous hacks cops coordinating Occupy evictions – PERF goes down
LINK.
Holy %$#$
I seem to recall that the DOD recently declared cyberwar as an act of terrorism. Where is this headed?!
I wonder if Panetta’s already begun searching for his site for Lark Hill?…
+47,000 signatures on this Petition for UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Kathei To Resign (with updates)
Re Mexico City, Mexico:
Photos: N20. Indignadxs México
Note the UC Davis pepper spray incident being carried in Spanish-speaking independent media:
“Indignati & Indignados Occupy” | Published by Geo8 | Nov. 21, 2011
Peter Passi, Duluth New=Tribune: Several Duluth Occupiers dig in their heels
Marisol Bello, USA TODAY: Communities print their own currency to keep cash flowing
In 1985, Richard Louv (Last Child in the Woods) wrote America II: The book that captures Americans in the act of creating the future.
Allison Kilkenny, In These Times: On Those Gates Surrounding Wall Street And Bloomberg’s Weird Presser describes the future that the trends documented in Louv’s book created 26 years later.
I don’t watch ‘Need to Know’ very often but they did a segment (either they or NBC) on a group of kids in one school that goes from one office to another at the school and fixes their computer tech problems. Gave me a sinking feeling in my chest. Touted as ‘simply marvellous.’
They weren’t being paid, either.
Tara Lohan, AlterNet: The 5 Most Toxic Energy Companies and How They Control Our Politics
This is great.
Thanks you for bringing that to my attention. I haven’t seen that program but the re-institution of children as property for slave labor and who-knows-what-else is just plain wrong besides disgusting.
George Lakey, Strategizing For A Living Revolution
Power is supported by pillars, not a pyramid.
It’s a product of the GOP candidates’ strategy of out-crazying each other in order to get media attention.
An interesting tidbit about PERF: Tony Narr, Jessica Toliver, Jerry Murphy, Malcolm McFarland, Joshua Ederheimer authored a study for PERF called: Police Management of Mass Demonstrations: Identifying Issues and Successful Approches .
Tony Narr is PERF’s Director of Management Education
Jessica Tolliver is a PERF Research Associate with prior experience in the Homeland Security and Technology Division of National Governors Association
Jerry Murphy is PERF’s Director of Homeland Security and Development
Malcom McFarland is a serving police officer with Police Service of Northern Ireland
Joshua Ederheimer is Director of PERF’s Center for Force and Accountability
The report contains extensive after-action reporting on the handling of the 2004 party conventions and was published in 2006.
This is interesting:
Motorola is a major supplier of police communications equipment.
This is the Deutch amendment. Critique please.
New liveblog thread upstairs.
I see instead it as a coordinated 1%er attempt with the captured institutions to drive society to normalize to the previously unthinkable– the destruction of the fabric of human society. We all have a choice to not cooperate in any way, shape or fashion as that preserves our humanity. This is one of the points of #Occupy. The murderous, lying, thieving minority hasn’t yet figured out that the majority has seen through the workings of their exclusive system of access that presents as “wealth.” At some point, Americans will walk like Egyptians. It’s the end of the sick dream.