Forum Post: The Marines Stand With Occupiers

"The Marines have arrived.

Last week, amidst the frothing sea of protesters in New York assembling to protest what they see as rampant greed and political corruption, Marine Sgt. Shamar Thomas, an Iraq War Veteran, started a fire that has suddenly begun to boil and rage. As the Marine angrily stood up for protesters who were allegedly being aggressively arrested by riot police, he reminded the standing authorities, who looked stunned as they listened to the his frustrated and furious rant, that they were not 'in a war zone.'

'Leave these people alone,' he was heard shouting. 'These are US citizens! Stop hurting these people, man! Why are you doing this to our people?' He continued, emphasizing his confusion at the seemingly unbalanced reaction to a peaceful demonstration: 'I've been to Iraq for 14 months for my people... They don't have guns! ...Why are you hurting these people? It doesn't make any sense... There is no honor in this!'

In the wake of this outburst of raw frustration, those of the group now known as OccupyMARINES, whose members had been cautiously monitoring the situation in New York since the first day of protest, began to take a stand against perceived police brutality against peaceful assemblers. An estimated 20,000 non-active Marine Veterans have decided to band together and form the aforementioned group, with the stated purpose of supporting and protecting the growing movement, offering 'organization, direction, supply and logistics, and leadership... especially for the oncoming winter months.'

Asking that no individual be granted special recognition, in keeping with the traditions of the Marine Corp and the overall sentiment of the movement, the group spoke with me as one, saying that they..."

-- More at: http://gobb.us/F5e