via Peter Harris, who has a full set of pictures of Occupy Wall Street from the beginning
I have been following the campaign known as Occupy Wall Street, because I have been desperately hoping that people a bit more fit than I am would start protesting something, somewhere, or somehow, about the raping of the American people by Wall Street and the massive corporations (or, as the Supreme Court says, persons) owned by the 400 wealthiest human beings in America.
They’re the ones who bought Congress, both the left and and the right. The ones who have too big a stake in our White House. The ones insinuated into the government of every state and every city(?) of our nation.
I’ve said again and again to friends that I expect rioting here in the United States eventually, because things are becoming unlivable for far too many people. Some previously well-off families are now homeless after years of joblessness, also know as the feared unemployed.
And that’s not even mentioning the people who’ve been homeless for many years prior, or the chronically unemployed due to poverty and a system that actively filters them out of the success funnel.
I myself am in financial trouble because of the Wall Street collapse, but not destitute, thank God, because of the support of the Pseudo-Husband. He won’t leave me homeless, since it was my house before it was ours. (Also because he’s just a wonderful man, and I do know how lucky I am to have him.)
But I didn’t realize, I didn’t suspect, I didn’t get it that the riots would be started by the Police Department of New York City.
I’d hoped for citizens rising up. I thought students might figure out what they are up against right now and in their future.
But definitely, on this occasion, THE RIOT WAS STARTED BY THE COPS. And some of them went way overboard, and since the white shirts indicated higher ups in the department, they weren’t untrained rookies.
Take a look at evidence that American police are acting against American people who were in no way breaking any laws:
What is up with fencing the women in with the orange containment material? And once in there, safely stopped from using their weapons (cameras? water bottles?) against the poor, out-numbered, unarmed police gentlemen, WHY THE PEPPER SPRAY???
Here are some still pictures of police rounding up and manhandling some 80 people who were part of the non-violent protest.
Not so pretty, are they? Would you be willing to sign a petition saying that we want this treatment of people who aren’t doing anything wrong to end? It asks the New York Police Chief and the Mayor to put a stop to this treatment of the Wall Street protesters.
Oh, rats. Darn it, anyhow.
Lawrence O’Donnell (@Lawrence) just announced on MSNBC that a statement has been issued by the City that the officers involved did nothing wrong. (He also said that videos would be posted on his page, available to anyone who wants to see them.)
Shoot. And here I thought I’d really seen an actual news story. How embarrassing. Must have been my imagination.
Hey, if you agree with me even a bit, please sign the petition. At least let’s get this day’s work looked at by an objective group of people with some power of some sort.
Oh, I hear what you’re saying. Am I counting on this turning out well? No, not really. I imagine the cops will get away with it. They totally went after the person with the professional video camera and got it away from him.
Remember Kent State? Don’t be surprised if we see another and similar tragedy, maybe sometime soon.
We aren’t that different from the brave citizens of the Middle East who fought and died for their freedom this spring and summer. In fact, I seem to recall that our nation started that way. Wonder if the folks in charge of New York will recall it some time soon?
And if so: Hello, Washington? Washington, D.C.? Are you there, supposed leaders?
I’ll finish up as I do so very often, and still keep hoping there’s some truth behind it:
You may say I’m a dreamer. But I’m not the only one…
Thank you, Occupy Wall Street folks. You’re showing the courage I knew was still out there. Keep on keepin’ on.
And I guarantee that MSNBC will be watching now.
I have been feeling the looming memory of Kent State too when viewing this. That did something on a deep level to my generation and yours – well it did affect some of us.
Some of my work is with Scott Degraffenreid who is an expert on the Millennial Generation (1982-2001). He expressed concerns years ago about Generational Apartheid and the eventual response Millennials would have on a long term basis doesn’t bode well for older gens expecting them to somehow pick up the tab on the mess “we” made.
The sick thing is did “we”? Or was it a handful of people?
I think on a meaningful level it was “we”… We wanted to believe that houses priced 4 or 5 times higher than anyone’s working income on average could afford to pay was a good investment – flip it to someone else, no harm no foul. We allowed WalMart, Tyson and other huge corporations to shift the structure of retail so we could pay a few dollars less and close our eyes to how it impacted local concerns and real people making “things” for us overseas. We accepted the lie that we are best serving our country’s economy by being a consumer and regularly upgrading appliances, cars, houses, clothes – whether or not they had served a full and useful life.
We lied as a nation and allowed our politicians to remove the wrong regulations and add rafts of burdensome laws that are crushing what small businesses and schools that are left.
I’m glad these young people and older ones are out there – but I am worried that whatever altruism, hope or belief that we do actually care about them as older generations will be killed when the majority of us keep looking the other way and pretending that 100 million of them will somehow change and become more like us.
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Wowee! Thanks for bringing this to light, Paula! I absolutely cannot believe this happened and that people are saying that there was nothing wrong even with the evidence. It reminds me of the strikes they often have here in Huancayo where police are supposed to be there to make sure everything stays calm, but they’re the ones whipping out their batons for no reason and dragging people by the head out of the way.
Thanks for helping us open our eyes. =)
Samantha, oh yes! Yes, it happened, and I’m thrilled it did. I can feel people starting to think that something can be done, at long last.
Suddenly I see groups and nonprofits and gatherings. The American people have finally woken up, realized that just accepting this awful fate doesn’t have to be.
Things are exciting now! And it may even change the 2012 election. Lord knows I HOPE it does! Thanks, kiddo.
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Powerful post Paula,
I’ve been so entangled with my website, networking, and all of that, I had no idea about this story! When I read your post, for the first time in weeks I turned on the news.
Thank you for taking this post and running with it.
I don’t know what our government and law enforcement officials are thinking these days, or why we (the citizens) are letting them get away with it. What I do know is… I completely 100% agree with you! There needs to be something done. More riots, more police reports, more saying “enough is enough”!
I fear for this country to the point that if I had the means to do so, I would certainly head to Sweden or somewhere far, far away. Not that it’s any better anywhere else… the entire planet is going berserk!
The sad part of the story is, that it’s only going to get worse if we don’t stand up and say something. This story showed me something else that I’m passionate about, and that is the injustices that are occurring here in the States. It needs to end.
Well written post Paula. And I thoroughly enjoyed being informed about what is going on. Thank you for sharing.
Deeone, I’m so glad you came by! I know how easy it is to live online and lose touch with everything else. I did a lot of that, especially when I was establishing my online reading service.
Finally, though, we need to come down from the cloud and look around. You’re right, it’s gone wayyyy too far! Great to know that you’ll be speaking up about the injustices going on for so many. For too many years African American bore the brunt of the outrages against humanity here, but now—it seems to be anyone who isn’t a millionaire.
Good to know you’re with me on this. I have lots more to say on these kind of issues, and I’d love to have you along with.
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I thought the USA was for freedom of speech – what happened here? Oh right, freedom to speak only counts for the chosen ones. Would sign the petition if I lived in the USA. I just an thankful that I never have.
Thanks for the thoughts from abroad, Roberta. Yes, we’re in a pretty terrible state. I think I feel the outrage growing, though. It’s going to burst out soon, and maybe then things will improve. I hope it doesn’t have to go TOO far. You put it exactly right: “the chosen ones.” Thanks for chiming in.
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The police over-reacted and I hope justice is done. You made some very valid points, Paula. Thank you for having the courage to speak up.
I tend to speak up, Janette, and probably too often! I’m really disgusted with my government, my country’s situation, and now New York City. I appreciate you coming by, and here’s hoping we can straighten this thing out.
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We have seen this before- all over the South in the 60′s, in Chicago (1968) , LA (1991), the Middle East (any day of the week), Beijing (almost any day of the week), the FSU (any day of the week). Why do we consider ourselves immune? Better?
We need to stop this. We need to help those folks FILE the police reports to insure an investigation. We need to cajole the NY Times writers to write about it. The Atlantic’s, the New Republics’s. If we don’t, then it’s swept under the rug.
As usual, you are right on target, Roy. In fact, you’ve inspired me. I’m going to the Times, the Atlantic, and the New Republic. I’ll report back on how they covered it. Great idea for a post, actually.
As always, you are appreciated.
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Reblogged!
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Most appreciated, my friend. Hope all is well on your end.
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Hi Paula: All is well on my end, thanks for asking. I wanted to share a link with you and your readers.
The UpTake, a Minnesota-based citizen journalism organization, is livestreaming covering of OccupyWallStreet. The UpTake made its bones by providing wall-to-wall coverage of the Franken/Coleman U.S. Senate recount, and provides amazing coverage on a national level, too. Link here:
http://www.livestream.com/lauraflanders/
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