"If #occupyoakland was in Damascus, U.S. State department would be telling Wolf Blitzer how unacceptable it was to teargas peaceful marchers." @techsoc
As two activists who have called Oakland home, we are appalled at the events of our city in the last 36 hours. Last night the country joined us to watch in anguish as the Oakland Police Department, with back up from a dozen law enforcement agencies from around the region, used excessive levels of force against hundreds of mostly peaceful Occupy Oakland protesters. In a city with a long and painful record of police violence, it is especially disturbing to witness scenes of women, children, the elderly, and the disabled under assault by rubber bullets and tear gas.
This kind of crackdown is bad for our democracy, and it's bad for public safety. Mayors and police chiefs at Occupy sites across the country should take note: this is the wrong way to respond to the Occupy movement.
Oakland, one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the nation, is a true reflection of the 99%. For this reason, the Occupy movement stands directly for the people of Oakland -- so many of whom have lost their homes, lost their jobs, and lost the services they rely on. Our city's unemployment rate is over 10%. People are angry. Let us not forget that this frustration and anger is real and justified.
Oakland also has a rich history of protest and political action. Occupy Oakland builds upon this legacy. Sitting at lunch counters and burning bras were symbolic political acts of previous generations, acts which we now celebrate as part of American history. The Occupy protests should be allowed to continue, as should all political expressions protected under our Constitution's First Amendment.
Therefore it is even more embarrassing and unfathomable that the City would so badly miss the mark in its treatment of Occupy Oakland.
Let us be clear: there is no justification for the use of violence against a non-violent protest. The vast majority of people were peacefully marching and demonstrating. The police department and the mayor should apologize for an inexcusable use of excessive force. And they should publicly commit to ending these tactics immediately
Finally, let us remember what the Occupy movement is actually about. Regrettably, the City of Oakland's mis-step last night shifted the focus to a "police vs people" narrative, distracting from the real problem: the big banks and corporations responsible for causing our economic crisis.
The Occupy movement is powerful, not because it is fighting for the rights of a few hundred people to sleep outdoors, but because it is fighting for the right of millions of Americans to sleep indoors. These excessive responses from law enforcement, from Atlanta to Oakland, not only violate the law, but take our collective eye away from the economic violence occurring daily in this country.
Today, the mayor and police department should apologize. And they should apologize loudly and sincerely. And then tomorrow, they should join us all in fighting for the 99%.
P.S. Our hearts and prayers go to Iraq War veteran Scott Olsen who was injured after being hit in the head with a police projectile at the Occupy Oakland rally 10/25/11. Olsen is a member of Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against The War (IVAW). We encourage people to send donations to IVAW who are currently accepting donations for Olsen and his family.
Follow Van Jones on Twitter: www.twitter.com/VanJones68
Matthis Chiroux: Police Violence Against Veterans: A Long and Painful Legacy
Bruce Reyes-Chow: Faith Leaders March and Pray for Occupy San Francisco
Now there's an understatement!
"mostly peaceful" ... "non-violent protest"
You can't call a "mostly peaceful" protest a "non-violent protest"
It they are mostly non-violent this means the police need to address the violent.
If you're going to mix with a crowd that is not-so-peaceful then expect the police respond. .
Again the "message" of the Occupy movement (whatever that is) is completely lost
Not surprised that this is the best Oakland could do. Tea Party folks can even carry guns to their protests, have Fox news televise it ((when its a corporate manufactured movement) and promote the most vile racism and ignorance but REAL protest by an informed public is not to be tolerated and girls standing on a sidewalk with a sign need to be maced, shot with rubber bullets, abused and hauled off to jail because a cop told them to leave on behalf of a criminal corporation that is raping our country.....
1st off, the Oscar Grant shooting did not involve an Oakland PD officer. Secondly, Tea Party folks (or anyone else for that matter) can no longer openly display weapons in CA. The reason for this is a new law supported by law enforcement agencies.
For those officials being the new American jackboots; I hope they choke on their standard 4th of July stump speech. Better be wearing insulated boots as the clouds gather over the parade field. Oh, any of them hear of Nuremburg? Keep beating up on those having a constitutional right to protest and petition the government and you'll be in the defendants' box, too.
You are jesting, right?
It is his former Czar and communist Van Jones leading the whole thing. Please don't tell me that Obama is not behind this. This is the sort of thing a community organizer specializes in. Obama also organized all of the protests in Wisconsin.
I like that they are giving the Left a blackeye, but they've become a health hazard. Time to bulldoze these Obamavilles.
Puleeze!
But if that's what you think, then go to the ballot box and elect a candidate who thinks that. (And do me a favor -- publicly endorse lots of Dems.)
In the meantime, don't start spreading cholera and dysentery with your bad hygiene. While you children play protest games, the adults have a world to run.
I know, I was there.
I do not think the OWS people HAVE to be out 24/7 365 days a year ! Now that theY have become the NEWS.........it is best if
they themselves DECLARE that in ORDER not to DISRUPT the PUBLIC places 24/7 they will MEET only on WEEK ENDS.
THIS will be good for their REPUTATION , and people will support them more. I am sure they could meet in private places during the week too and think about RUNNING for the 2012 election to advance their cause by becoming representatives.
Protests of the past, which were met with M16s, tear-gas, and billy-clubs have been enshrined (even by conservatives) as Real American History deserving of pride in our culture of freedom.
Protests of the present are met with M4s, tear-gas, and collapsible batons. Only after the conservative element in America loosens up a bit (read, a bunch of old white people die), then modern protests will be looked upon as good things by those who create the narrative.
I used to think my husband was just being paranoid when he said "I predict anarchy" but lately I find myself saying it too. Welcome to the revolution..
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19150644
If the Occupy Oakland campsite members had decided to cooperate with law enforcement, and not run their campsite like a scene from Lord of the Flies; this whole discussion would be moot.