Rachel Maddow, Michael Moore Talk Expansion of Occupy Movement (VIDEO)

Michael Moore appeared on Rachel Maddow's show Thursday night to discuss the expansion of the Occupy movements sweeping across the United States.

The filmmaker and activist has traveled across the nation to speak to protesters in various cities including New York, Oakland and Denver. He was speaking to Maddow from Denver, where he addressed demonstrators earlier on Thursday.

Moore said that he has been seeing protests that possess many similarities despite taking place in different locations. He said that protesters have realized that America's "democracy does not apply to [the] economy."

Maddow pointed out that smaller cities like Pensacola, Florida and Youngstown, Ohio were also staging "Occupy" protests. Maddow said it almost "hits at another level" to see the movement spread so far and wide.

Moore agreed and said that the media has not even been able to cover the full extent of the Occupy protests because they were occurring in so many different towns and cities.

When Maddow asked Moore about some of the protests' more violent moments, Moore had a suggestion he recently shared with protesters in Denver.

Moore told protesters, "if you see someone trying to incite violence, start with the assumption that that person is...undercover homeland security or a cop or whatever, because this is the history of America, where those in charge have tried to ignite people, incite them to commit acts of violence. I tell them, don't be incited. Just assume right away that person is not part of the Occupy movement if that's what they're calling on people to do."

Moore has spoken to the press regarding the Occupy movement on multiple occasions over the past month. In one of his more elaborate appearances, Moore joined Piers Morgan on his CNN show when the program hosted a live studio audience and facilitated a town hall discussion.

Comments

[joeslick25747]

11:41 AM on 11/09/2011

police need to clean this mess out

[joeslick25747]

11:37 AM on 11/09/2011

mike is a nut case loose on the streets

[joehark]

11:20 PM on 11/08/2011

my computer must be broken. The problems it is having in delivering the info or experience your page promises is causing un-willingness to visit your web site. I clicked on the offer to watch the Maddow / Moore video. But instead of the video, I got a commercial for something. I have no idea what it is selling because I shut it off immediately. So, I will not see the Maddow / Moore video. I will go read a book instead. If this happens often enough, I will not even bother to turn on this lying computer. buh-bye.

[mairs]

11:53 AM on 11/09/2011

I just now tried the video 13 hours after your post and there is no advertisement at the beginning. Maybe someone listened!

[imonlyhereforthelaughs]

04:32 PM on 11/08/2011

"start with the assumption that that person is...undercover homeland security or a cop or whatever,"

Moore has mistaken Hollywood cops for real cops. Real cops...despite what the movies present...don't do this.

[leftheaded]

04:26 PM on 11/08/2011

Isn't there a no conspiracy theory policy here? I guess it depends on who says it, and which act it is about.

[xenubarb]

01:58 PM on 11/08/2011

Listen. When Anonymous took on the Scientology organization, we expected infiltrators and troublemakers. We expected some to be Scientologists, plus PIs and hangers-on.

Our system: if someone is starting to cause a problem, everyone in the vicinity around them drops to the ground, leaving the bozo standing out in plain view.

It works. Some added a detail, sit down and point at the problem. Make it harder for the cops to mistake a peaceful protester for a vandal.

[imonlyhereforthelaughs]

04:36 PM on 11/08/2011

That is actually sound advice.

[peanut]

12:58 PM on 11/08/2011

I support the OWS groups but my question is, "What outcome do they want to occur in order to end the occupation." I live near Pittsburgh and was in the city on Sunday......the tents were up in the park near the USX building, but that is all I saw....no people with signs, nothing. Are they prepared to spent the entire winter months camped out?
If they want the Wall Street influence on our government officials to end, they need to become active in the political process...volunteer, get pledges from candidates to not take the lobbyists' money and then work to see that the candidate's message gets to the voters.....if that means going door to door, then DO it! Get your facts on who get what from whom! Work for campaign reform....something that is long over-do. Make your voices heard........think creatively! Otherwise, your time will be wasted.

[xenubarb]

01:53 PM on 11/08/2011

We've done it that way. Now we're doing it another way. Telling us to go through the system, the system that is bought and paid for by corporate money, is not "thinking creatively." It's doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result.

Who do you think picks these candidates you think we should support? How many times do we have to get Obama'ed before we catch on that it's all a big sock puppet theater and nothing will change until it's forced to.

[madisgp]

12:00 PM on 11/08/2011

The OWS groups should get a congressman to put forth a constitutional amendment that would outlaw ANY business of any size from donating any money to any political campaign or cause. That would include lobbists donating to polititions. The only donations that would be allowed would be those from individuals and that would be maxed out at $2000.

[Kodes100]

06:11 AM on 11/08/2011

Right on Michael Moore!
I am very curious to see where this movement goes.
I sincerely hope it progresses to a point where it will help the American people by raising their standard of living & achieving some fairness in their lives.

[AlwaysRight213]

09:08 AM on 11/08/2011

Yes, Every American deserves a better quality tent and drum!

[leftheaded]

04:23 PM on 11/08/2011

Something tells me you hate non-whites.

[Anda]

12:41 AM on 11/08/2011

Funny how most people think how the owners want you think.

[herkyc130]

02:07 PM on 11/08/2011

the rich spend millions of dollars trying to get people to think like they want, Heritage Foundation, the Manhattan Institute, the Cato Institute, Citizens for a Sound Economy, citizens united, true but they control the media too

[fmj308]

10:14 PM on 11/07/2011

He should share some food with the protesters.

[leftheaded]

04:24 PM on 11/08/2011

I see how you've earned your fans.

[m362000]

03:17 PM on 11/07/2011

If you are washington congressmen and you want an crowd just call for a blame game, point at a party, or ask for money for the euro, or send money for war! It is easy what is wrong with that congressmen from youngs town, it does not matter that people are cold , sick and hungry!
Wow what kind of a man ask for help for the common man? Are you suprized? I am not!

[SUNDIED]

01:56 PM on 11/07/2011

When they decide to occupy "K" street count me in.

[lightbreeze]

05:47 PM on 11/07/2011

Definitely.

[leftheaded]

04:25 PM on 11/08/2011

The difference being?

[CherCher]

01:53 PM on 11/07/2011

I lift my hat to this Congressman for making this speech, even though no one in the House of Representative was listening. The Democrats had control of the House under GW Bush's presidency and the first two years of the Obama Presidency. This problem existed before 2010 so why just now is he giving this speech. If our jobs are being shifted overseas because of cheap labour, how are we to expect that those at home, including the government, are going to give us higher raises to keep up with inflation.

[recless]

01:19 PM on 11/07/2011

Hm... stay away from the violent ones? Kinda good advice for any protest, not just this one. While I'm skeptical of the government inciting violence, I don't think you can exclude the odd few who do so on their own.