Forum Post: The police: our local enemy!
Posted 13 years ago on Nov. 28, 2011, 10:28 a.m. EST by migarce
(7)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
It is evident that the police is against freedom of speach. Pls see these videos: http://www.care2.com/causes/top-10-must-see-occupy-wall-street-videos-slideshow.html
If you choose to infringe on the rights of others to use the street to get from place to place, then the police HAVE to drive you off the street. When the crowd is enraged and resisting the efforts of the police to get people off the street, the police have to try more aggressively. At some point, either the crowd or a police officer steps over the line. (Usually the crowd, but not always.) The more hostile the crowd, the more likely a police officer here or there will get caught up in the emotion, but for the most part, I watched these videos and saw police acting in as restrained a manner as they could while still getting people off of the streets. They have usually not gotten somewhat violent until people either resisted arrest for having broken the law or until people pushed against restraints that were intended to create a perimeter that kept people on the sidewalks and out of the streets.
It is the simple risk of crowd control. The more hostile and aggressive the crowd, the more aggressive the police will be in order to protect themselves while making sure that people obey the law.
We do not need a society free of the law when the whole problem that created the Wall Street mess was too many laws being revoked and people breaking the few laws that remained. A lawless society is not a good society, and Occupy Wall Street is actually arguing that their SHOULD BE MORE LAWS. So, don't break the law while trying to argue that there should be more laws against the abuses of Wall Street.
--Knave Dave http://thegreatrecession.info/blog/2011/11/occupy-wall-street-now-unoccupied-but-stronger/
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Boo hiss. Demonizing the police who are doing their jobs. OCCUPY is abusing the 1st amendment by blocking/invading and stepping on other people's rights to pass through or use the blocked areas.
And REAL people get mad at this disruption of the peace. Mom wants to take her kids back to the park, dad wants to walk his dog. They demand something be done.
Occupy is its own enemy. Disrupting the peace =/= peaceable assembly.
As I have attended several OWS protests, there are several things you might not know.
During the last major march, November 17th, the police blocked off more sections of the city than the protestors. I had to direct a friend via facebook because the police had blocked her way (even if there weren't occupiers there, they were being preemptive).
We would allow any non-occupier to go by as they wish. Not once did I see anyone blocked off from their desired location. If an elderly or disabled person was attempting to go through the crowd, the word was sent out and a lane was made to allow the person(s) to go through. This also applied to children and even adults. All they would have to do is ask and a hole would be made.
I do not agree with demonizing the police however, but again, I don't know if you've actually been to a march, but, sometimes you'll have those couple of people who want to agitate the officers. Typically, occupiers would hush the person or in someway prevent the individual from continuing. My father is former NYPD and a marine. He's attended OWS marches. I and many others, have respect for those just trying to do their jobs.
When you have 30,000 protestors and say around 1000-2000 cops, something is bound to happen and that is not within our control all the time. A good example is what happened in Oakland. Peaceful protests were had all day until the later evening. There are videos of kids in all black, hoods up, faces covered, causing the vandalism. Occupiers were will to risk themselves to prevent these 'children' from doing damage. Unfortunately some damage did occur. What happened? The occupiers of Oakland went to those damaged businesses and helped clean and replace said damage.
Just like with the occupiers, it's those couple of officers that wish to be violent, that give their respected departments a bad name. It's no different than if an 'occupier' does something he/she isn't supposed to. This happens even outside of protests.
I also see you are from IN, nice state. I have several friends who do live in Manhattan. Yes, on occasion they feel it's a bit of an obstruction, but they still support and understand the movement. Unfortunately some inconvenience is going to be had but many of us feel it's for the better, even those being inconvenienced.
So during posted hours everyone can peacefully respect and share parks whether walking your dog or protesting corrupt cronyism. Peace.