Scott Olsen, Iraq Vet Hurt In Occupy Oakland Protest, Expects Recovery (VIDEO)

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Marine Corps veteran who was struck in the head during a clash between police and Occupy Oakland protesters says he expects to recover completely but he is still having trouble speaking.

In a video interview posted on Indybay.org, Scott Olsen says he had trouble speaking at all in the days after his skull was fractured Oct. 25.

It's the 24-year-old Iraq War veteran's first interview since he was injured. He wears a neck brace and speaks haltingly, and his words are sometimes slurred.

Olsen said in the interview that he believes a tear gas canister struck him and he's frustrated by the pace of the police investigation into who fired it.

Oakland police spokeswoman Johnna Watson says investigators are still combing video footage of the incident to put together a complete picture of what happened.

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Comments

[retiredvetdidmine]

06:31 PM on 11/30/2011

Come on guys, Where are my 5:49 and 5:52 posts? WHY? (ens0rship is WRONG no matter when, where or by whom!

[TheRoosterman]

11:50 PM on 11/29/2011

As a service member he swore an oath to defend this country from both foreign and domestic enemies for the rights we're supposed to be granted under our constitution which explicitly provides for 'the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances'" in the First Amendment.

I'm disgusted by the over-reaction of the police departments around the country. I think I read that Detroit has been the most tolerant and surprisingly least violent of the OWS protests. I think both sides could take a look and learn some lessons, but the police elsewhere are over the line and should be held accountable.

[Alan Kurtz]

10:43 PM on 11/29/2011

FOREIGN ANARCHIST BEHIND "PATRIOTIC" SCOTT OLSEN FACEBOOK PAGE

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/10980197-foreign-anarchist-behind

[sirmonkey]

02:42 AM on 12/01/2011

yes, that happens. but its not Scott Olsen himself is it?

[politicky]

10:21 PM on 11/29/2011

I love the picture of him with Tristan Anderson (suing IDF for injuring him w/ teargas cansiter) on the inddybay site where I watched the interview.

[S1ndr0m3]

09:24 PM on 11/29/2011

It's been over a month since Scott Olsen received a skull fracture during police action against the Occupy Oakland movement. He still has trouble speaking and cognitive issues. The police investigation has not shown any results and it seems no one will be held accountable for what happened. Veterans are part of the reason we have free speech and this is what happens when a veteran tries to protect his free speech from the government. SHAME!

[chrispychilla28]

09:17 PM on 11/29/2011

A true patriot!

Best wishes for a full recovery.

[Ricky Sampson]

02:12 AM on 11/30/2011

Keep in mind this guy had his own website regarding hating the Marine Corps.

[goodwillsf]

02:36 AM on 11/30/2011

As a fellow patriot I too despise the Marine Corps, a necessary evil at best

[retiredvetdidmine]

05:42 PM on 11/30/2011

Do you have a point?

[psileste]

05:46 PM on 11/29/2011

The All-American Boy. How could you not just love him? Thank you Scott Olsen for your service to humanity.

[Ricky Sampson]

02:14 AM on 11/30/2011

Hard to love a guy that wears camo to incite a patriotic emotion but also hates the Marines he served with.

[goodwillsf]

02:37 AM on 11/30/2011

he's free to loathe them as you are free to idolize them, he doesn't want your love and camo is cool

[psileste]

06:50 PM on 11/30/2011

What makes you think he hates the Marines? Maybe what he hates is violence.

[ellawensmom]

03:45 PM on 11/29/2011

Welcome back, Scott! You've been in our thoughts! -solidarity from Ft. Worth

[retiredvetdidmine]

11:59 AM on 11/29/2011

Where is my 11:45 post?

[retiredvetdidmine]

11:45 AM on 11/29/2011

And meanwhile, in other news...http://news.yahoo.com/police-8-hospitalized-west-oakland-shooting-050441661.html...The Oakland poLICE Dept. sure does have it's priorities wrong. Why are they wasting resources on a non-violent exercise of civil rights? Why are they intimidating OCCUPY? Who is the COWARD who shot My BIA, Cpl. Scott Olsen? Oakland poLICE, YOU will be held accountable. No threat implied! OCCUPY!!

[juchargeje]

09:26 AM on 11/29/2011

Thank you for endangering your life for We the people, of this beautiful country. By now you shall comprehend that our troops shall be here fighting for us and not trying in another country abroad. May you be an example for your brethren.

[Rjchinook]

08:31 AM on 11/29/2011

You're doing great Scott Olsen, first thank you so much for your service! Yes it does appear you are having some struggles with your speech, but YOU sound better than Rick Perry & George Bush combined! I am so happy to see you alive! WE all love you & think of you & you're family!

[KaAp]

10:45 AM on 11/29/2011

So true thank you fanned and faved.

[Candide33]

07:23 AM on 11/29/2011

What a beautiful young man, it was hard to watch him struggle so hard to speak, it is heartbreaking. The fact that he came home in one piece only to be injured for standing up for human rights and freedoms that we take for granted makes it that much more heartbreaking.

[pisturi]

12:10 AM on 11/29/2011

Read the article, I still do not understand the occupy and what is being accopmlished? seems that people are being injured and pepper sprayed gased what ever more than anything else. I do not see anything changing tired of people getting hurt! hope it works? I would think going to washington and sitting in front of whitehouse and blocking and occupying congress they are not doing anything anyway except sit on their ---- and draw paychecks!! both REP and DEM arguing!! cannot get it together? Thats what I see Stop Obama from Going to work Oh wait he is on vacation? or is he appearing on a talk show? I wish Scott well and good recovery Thanks for serving Marine!

[DWAYNE CORREA]

09:15 AM on 11/29/2011

Wall Street owns and runs the politicians. That is why OWS, not Occupy Washington. The politicos have no real power they are just corporate stooges following orders from giant manks & corporations. This is no longer a democracy, it is a corporatocracy. The choices are to sit back and take in the axx it or stand up and take our country back from these criminals and traitors.

[retiredvetdidmine]

12:05 AM on 11/29/2011

No matter why, where or when, cens0rship is wrong.