Posted by jeepdave Violence I can get behind. Camping in a park, not so much. But I still think they are going after the wrong folks. The government is your enemy, not the rich.

But they do sleep together. We're not talking yacht rich here, we're talking island rich.

Angry and violent as I've always been, I'm not sure open violent conflict is the best idea right now. I is going to take a few more turns of the ratchet for it to come to that. That a lot of folks are having this conversation speaks volumes though.


Also, Dirt was not arrested last night.

Also this:

http://www.rawstor...ccupy-chapel-hill/

The city of Chapel Hill, North Carolina made a name for itself over the weekend by sending at least 25 heavily armed commandos to arrest eight unarmed “Occupy” protesters who’d taken over a building left abandoned for over a decade. Asserting what they thought were squatters’ rights, about 50-75 “Occupy Chapel Hill” demonstrators broke into an abandoned Chrysler building on Saturday night, taping up banners in the windows. They screened a film and danced into the night, with officers only making a single, brief appearance before leaving entirely. Things changed dramatically by Sunday afternoon, when local media reported that more than 25 commandos armed with assault rifles staged a raid on the building, rushing in to find just eight protesters who’d stayed the night. Others near the building, including a reporter, had guns drawn on them and were forced to lay on the ground and be placed in handcuffs.

Posted by earthworm Others near the building, including a reporter, had guns drawn on them and were forced to lay on the ground and be placed in handcuffs.

jesus.

as a photographer, i would expect to risk things like that in the context of covering Libya or Afghanistan; covering war zones, not in a normally quiet city full of civilians in North Carolina.

and the rifles pictured being aimed by those police are not the 'less lethal' riot control variety, they're the extra lethal AR15A2 (no top carry handle) kind - no rubber bullets in those, just 5.56mm FMJ rounds. military grade. at least that cop is considerate and kind enough to keep his finger off the trigger.

back in the day, mayors would have to call in the National Guard to bring that kind of heat. nowadays PD budgets are big enough that they can just do it themselves it seems.

_{*edit*: rifles are reported as being semiauto only}

wtf double post

Posted by imprezawrxsti back in the day, mayors would have to call in the National Guard to bring that kind of heat. nowadays PD budgets are big enough that they can just do it themselves it seems.

Agreed, which is personally a bit of an issue for me.

And as the ole saying goes.... Who polices the police?

I'll be the first to admit, shit is outta hand.

the powers that be are raiding zuccotti park right now.

http://www.livestr...m/globalrevolution

Me? listening to some Drum and Bass with police scanner blazing NYPD channels, trying to get onto twitter to see whats the word.


http://www.livestream.com/occupynyc

Posted by Speed And as the ole saying goes.... Who polices the police?

nobody. and frankly, that's the way they like it.

I was there all night. The cops were well organized, and more importantly disciplined. If nothing else, we are able to show that we can put pressure on the cops enough for them to change tactics. I talked with a member of OPD today. Even though they are giving us lip service, at the same time they are trying to "reach out" to OO. As far as the arrests goes, all were non violent, Respectful. Example:

Posted by dirt I was there all night. The cops were well organized, and more importantly disciplined. If nothing else, we are able to show that we can put pressure on the cops enough for them to change tactics. I talked with a member of OPD today. Even though they are giving us lip service, at the same time they are trying to "reach out" to OO. As far as the arrests goes, all were non violent, Respectful.

glad you stayed out of cuffs, my man!

at least you live in a city where respect matters to the police; here, OD (or anyone physically near them such as myself) is just a group of hostile enemy combatants to be neutralized by overwhelming and superior force. this is a military operation now, executed by specially armed and trained 'briefed' police units.

Posted by imprezawrxsti glad you stayed out of cuffs, my man! at least you live in a city where respect matters to the police; here, OD (or anyone physically near them such as myself) is just a group of hostile enemy combatants to be neutralized by overwhelming and superior force. this is a military operation now, executed by specially armed and trained 'briefed' police units.

Oh no. There is little respect on their part. But the mayor of Oakland is catching hell on all sides. That is why the cops are being careful.

Posted by jeepdave Violence I can get behind. Camping in a park, not so much. But I still think they are going after the wrong folks. The government is your enemy, not the rich.

The rich influence the government. THAT'S one of the major things OWS wants changed. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that most people would buckle to the pressure $50,000,000 would put on you. All that cash, in exchange for voting a certain way.

Money talks, but money shouldn't talk to our elected officials. At least not in ways that influence how they do their jobs.

EDIT: as far as what camping in a park is going to accomplish, I think so far all it's done is get people talking. From issues with our current system to police brutalization, people around the world are talking.

In other news, Occupy Dayton is actually engaging in negotiations with the city. While I believe the initial proposal of halting foreclosures for one year is absolutely ludacris, it is once again getting people talking. My personal opinion is when the GA meets on Wednesday, they will probably come up with a list of more obtainable goals, like moving in exchange for allowing the camp to use electricity in the plaza.

http://www.daytond...quare-1284553.html

Really...? Live rounds and assault weapons and shit...?

It's OVER. But keep it up, America. You're doing a fine job.

Posted by earthworm I'm not sure open violent conflict is the best idea right now.

I'm sure that it won't be the best idea at all. If you start fighting the police with violence, you'll lose support.

There are rumours here that cops were attacked, which provoked arrests, but the rumours are false. The only perpetrators of violence have been on behalf of the city and all arrests have been for obstruction of justice aka sitting on your tent/personal property to prevent it from being destroyed.

Posted by tribeachpunk I'm sure that it won't be the best idea at all. If you start fighting the police with violence, you'll lose support and teeth.

Understatement.


Anyhow, the coppers effectively blocked reporters from the Zuccotti Park raid last night btw.


http://www.nbcnewy...ess-133879523.html

Posted by earthworm Understatement. Anyhow, the coppers effectively blocked reporters from the Zuccotti Park raid last night btw. http://www.nbcnewy...ess-133879523.html

Yeah, probably a huge understatement..

I understand there is an injunction allowing protesting to resume at that location. But that police aren't yet allowing that to take place?

isn't it amazing that in just a few short years, we have gone from a people with numbers on our side to the easily cowed sheep in a police state. they hide behind vague interpretations of the law and those easy to digest terms like 'for the public good'... shit like that. It's amazing how much of a police state the US and Canada have become if you really stop and think about your day to day life. It's disheartening.

Posted by Samurai isn't it amazing that in just a few short years, we have gone from a people with numbers on our side to the easily cowed sheep in a police state. they hide behind vague interpretations of the law and those easy to digest terms like 'for the public good'... shit like that. It's amazing how much of a police state the US and Canada have become if you really stop and think about your day to day life. It's disheartening.

Agreed, Sam. Ten years ago goddamned near everyone was on board, and America basked in the warm sympathetic glow of the international community.

Funny how things work out. ALMOST AS THOUGH IT WERE ALL PLANNED THAT WAY.

Posted by KublaKhan Funny how things work out. ALMOST AS THOUGH IT WERE ALL PLANNED THAT WAY.

That's deep, bro. But probably 100% true. It's happened on a smaller scale in the far past. But now a days in the internet age, well, word spreads VERY fast.

I'm curious, and I'm not being a dick. lm genuinely curious, why we haven't seem Occupy movement in middle America. Why not Dallas, Houston, Salt Lke City, Laramie, etc. Denver is the sole exceptionas far as I can tell.

Posted by Jonsered I'm curious, and I'm not being a dick. lm genuinely curious, why we haven't seem Occupy movement in middle America. Why not Dallas, Houston, Salt Lke City, Laramie, etc. Denver is the sole exceptionas far as I can tell.

population density perhaps? Good question. You have to admit, and this is not being a dick, but there are definite attitudes in cities in Texas, Utah and Wyoming...