by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
The Internet news sites that I frequent have been clogged with stories all day about Wall Street tool Michael Bloomberg sending in his police force in riot gear to clear Zucotti Park, ostensibly, according to the billionaire mayor of New York City, for health and sanitation reasons. The rabble and the city have been in and out of court all day challenging and defending the attack on the protesters and the destruction of their property. At last report, they were being allowed to drift back into the park, but without tents, tarps, sleeping bags or any other items that would help to fend off a New York City winter.
Apparently a special effort was made to move the press away from the commotion while thePinkertons New York City police dealt with sign-wielding anarchists.
Oddly, parks are beginning to be cleared in other cities as well. Recent days have witnessed removal of protesters from the green zones in Portland, Oregon, and Oakland, California. Is the fact that a dozen or more American cities began acting almost in tandem on clearing their parks completely coincidental? One would have to be mighty stupid to think so.
Whereas President Cheney might have simply ordered up a military blitzkrieg to deal with the social malcontents, the Obama administration is being a bit more discrete. Rick Ellis, a reporter for the Minneapolis Top News Examiner, ran a story today citing an unnamed justice department source who said that each of the recent police actions has been coordinated through the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and some other federal agencies. He said specifically that local police received "tactical and planning advice" from the national agencies.
The reporter continued:
But yes, it looks at though the "coincidence" of this spate of park closures is not a coincidence at all, but a well-planned and coordinated assault on the civil liberties (especially freedom of speech and assembly) of Americans living in many communities across the United States. It is, unfortunately, our tax dollars in action - and it is shameful!
At least the Pinkertons never pretended to be working in the public's interest. They were hired thugs working for corporate America and everybody knew it.
Citizen Journalist
The Internet news sites that I frequent have been clogged with stories all day about Wall Street tool Michael Bloomberg sending in his police force in riot gear to clear Zucotti Park, ostensibly, according to the billionaire mayor of New York City, for health and sanitation reasons. The rabble and the city have been in and out of court all day challenging and defending the attack on the protesters and the destruction of their property. At last report, they were being allowed to drift back into the park, but without tents, tarps, sleeping bags or any other items that would help to fend off a New York City winter.
Apparently a special effort was made to move the press away from the commotion while the
Oddly, parks are beginning to be cleared in other cities as well. Recent days have witnessed removal of protesters from the green zones in Portland, Oregon, and Oakland, California. Is the fact that a dozen or more American cities began acting almost in tandem on clearing their parks completely coincidental? One would have to be mighty stupid to think so.
Whereas President Cheney might have simply ordered up a military blitzkrieg to deal with the social malcontents, the Obama administration is being a bit more discrete. Rick Ellis, a reporter for the Minneapolis Top News Examiner, ran a story today citing an unnamed justice department source who said that each of the recent police actions has been coordinated through the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and some other federal agencies. He said specifically that local police received "tactical and planning advice" from the national agencies.
The reporter continued:
"According to this official, in several recent conference calls and briefings, local police agencies were advised to seek a legal reason to evict residents of tent cities, focusing on zoning laws and existing curfew rules. Agencies were also advised to demonstrate a massive show of police force, including large numbers in riot gear. In particular, the FBI reportedly advised on press relations, with one presentation suggesting that any moves to evict protesters be coordinated for a time when the press was the least likely to be present."The article also quotes Oakland Mayor Jean Quan as telling the BBC that she had recently been involved in a conference call with officials from eighteen cities who were struggling with the same situation. A few days later, Mayor Quan, having since smartened up, declined an invitation to expand on her remarks.
But yes, it looks at though the "coincidence" of this spate of park closures is not a coincidence at all, but a well-planned and coordinated assault on the civil liberties (especially freedom of speech and assembly) of Americans living in many communities across the United States. It is, unfortunately, our tax dollars in action - and it is shameful!
At least the Pinkertons never pretended to be working in the public's interest. They were hired thugs working for corporate America and everybody knew it.
1 comment:
I have been mulling over a thought that what the occupy movement needs is a little creative lawyering.
Consider this. Lawyers for Occupy in a major city go into federal court preemptively seeking an injunction against law enforcement.
The argument is premised on the First Amendment's Constitutional Right of the people to peaceably assemble.
There is enough evidence available to demonstrate that police are using tactics that are unnecessarily violent and that the use of force is disproportionate.
Now you can bolster this argument by saying that the actions of the police, in concert with the federal government and private security forces, work to deprive this specific civil liberty under color of law. The under color of law issue is a threshold requirement for bringing an action under the federal civil rights statute 42 U.S.C. §1983.
Occupy has some good, bright, creative lawyers. I hope they think of this. You might get foot patrols, sanitary workers, open sidewalks right in the middle of the occupation. That would bring opportunity for more communication between law enforcement and the people. That would be a good thing.
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