The biggest story of the week is the number of arrests made at Occupy encampments large and small across the whole country and the late night/early morning police raids that have generated so many of those arrests.
The most gripping example was the early morning dismantling of Occupy Oakland by police with riot gear. The whole world was watching as Iraq War Vet for Peace Scott Olsen was dragged to safety at a protest later that day after being left bloodied and prostrate on the ground by a police projectile. The image of someone in a wheel chair maneuvering through a cloud of smoke and tear gas was no less gut wrenching. Mayor Jean Quan decides to make nice with the occupiers the following day.
Arrests were also made in Atlanta, Nashville and of course here in San Diego. Atlanta Occupiers moved at one point to federal land where Atlanta police have no jurisdiction; a judge in Nashville refuses for the second time to recognize a curfew on the public plaza and occupiers are released. Tucson has had the highest proportion of arrests and needs our help.
Denver Occupiers were told by police that they could not set up tents and were left to huddle under tarps in freezing rain, anticipating up to 10 inches of snow. Two people ended up with hypothermia. Winter weather will be a grim test of the occupiers’ resolve and resiliency. It will also determine to what degree mayors are hoping that the enforcement of curfews, permits and city ordinances under such terrible conditions will ultimately put an end to the movement.
Occupy Denver's kitchen, the Thunderdome, is covered by tarps to protect food items from the weather. Photo by Kelsey Whipple
This was also a week of focused actions. OWS in New York delivered thousands of emails to banks via red balloons and paper airplanes; Irvine Occupy gave testimony in a 5 hour long city council meeting and walked out with a resolution in support of their presence; Occupy San Diego gave stirring testimonyat council but without a resolution forthcoming.
And yes, the whole world is watching. One of the most amazing sights was the demonstration in Tahrir Square in support of Occupy Oakland.
Not only is the whole world watching, it is also participating. Occupiers in London, outside of St. Paul’s Church have pushed back against attempts to disperse them. There was a huge march in Melbourne.
This week I watched videos from small occupy efforts in areas outside of the large urban centers. Occupy Youngstown and Occupy Coachella Valley may be taking place under the national radar, but their efforts are truly noteworthy as the occupy movement continues to find resonance within the 99%, no matter where we live.
This week’s take away—arrests and dispersion of occupiers are being met with not only local resistance but national and even international pressure on police and mayors. THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!
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Locally, complaints re police abuse should be filed quickly.
Video evidence could be archived at several different locations to support complaints.
Another suggestion for OSD & Occupy the World: Move Your Money Day. Move your money from the big offending banks like BofA to a local credit union. I moved everything from Wells Fargo about 5-6 years ago. In the nineties I took BofA to small claims court for an egregious misappropriation of money. I lost & moved my money.
Bank Transfer Day, November 5th – Prepare Now to Move Your Money!
Disturbing story from New York- police have allegedly told addicts/ people aggressively acting out elsewhere to “take it to Zuccotti Park.” When occupiers try to get police assistance to deal with them there, they have been told that if they (the occupiers) have the right to assemble and speak so do these other disruptive folks. http://tiny.cc/2q361
You know, I’ve been careful not to put this wholly on the police, i.e., the boots on the ground, because they’re part of the 99% also. The other part of me keeps coming back to my memories of the soldiers in Tahrir Square siding with the people. AND, I just read Michael Moore’s speech in Oakland and was astonished to learn this:
“….there are police departments and police unions across the country supporting the Occupy movements in their towns. Albany, New York, a beautiful example, the Governor told them to remove the people and the police said, ‘We don’t consider that part of the police work.’” Wow, they told the governor “NO”! Sure didn’t happen that way in San Diego.
Mike’s entire speech can be found at:
http://www.truth-out.org/michael-moore-theres-no-turning-back/1320084730
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