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Title: Despite Iraq Vet’s Cracked Skull, DoJ Sees No Evil in Occupy Crackdown
Source:
[None]
URL Source: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/10/doj-occupy-crackdown/
Published: Oct 30, 2011
Author: Ryan Singel
Post Date: 2011-10-30 08:43:52 by A K A Stone
Keywords: None
Views: 525
Comments: 11
After Scott Olsen, a two-tour Iraq war veteran, suffered a skull fracture Tuesday when police shot Occupy Oakland protestors with rubber bullets and threw flash bang and tear gas grenades at them, you might think that the Justice Department would investigate. After all, the Justice Department has the power and responsibility to investigate state and local police violations of Americans’ constitutional rights. Sorry, Scott Olsen. Sorry, Occupy. No such luck. The Obama Justice Department has not opened an investigation, spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa told Wired. That’s despite Oakland having a long history of abusing protestors. Just last month, a federal judge hinted that he would take over the department for failing to rein in rogue policing practices identified in a consent decree from 2003 that the department has failed to obey. The National Lawyers Guild contends police violated that order again Tuesday. Oakland’s paramilitary response was no accident. Oakland assembled a small army of police decked out in paramilitary gear, comprised of officers from 18 California police units. Their task was to evict the protestors from what’s been one of the most organized Occupy events in the country, because the city said the protest site was dirty. The protests, which have swept across the U.S., center on outrage at a political and economic system that has failed the middle class while continuing to help the richest 1 percent continue to get richer — often through highly complicated financial schemes that funnel wealth upward, without adding any value to society. As for the Justice Department keeping an eye on the broader police response to Occupy protests around the country to see whether authorities are violating Americans’ constitutional rights (e.g., by punching them in the face in the street or macing women for exercising their First Amendment rights), the Justice Department says it’s not investigating that either. But Hinojosa does promise that, “The Department will review complaints, as it always does, that indicate a pattern of misconduct or criminal misconduct.” The DoJ helpfully sent along the link where you can lodge a complaint. Don’t expect much response if you do file one, however. When Egypt teargassed and beat protestors in Tahrir Square, the world, including the Obama administration, howled in outrage. But when police did the same to Americans in Oakland’s Frank Ogawa Plaza, the Obama administration said nothing. It’s clear that while there is no honor in hurting unarmed civilians, there’s no punishment for it, either.
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#1. To: A K A Stone (#0)
Commie Scum News On November 2nd we will teach the ruling capitalists and their government that needed respect by shutting them down. Join the general strike and mass march November 2nd. Shut Down the 1% General Strike & Mass Day of Action called for by Occupy Oakland Everyone to the Streets! No Work! No School! Mass gatherings at 14th & Broadway: 9:00am • 12 noon • 5:00pm 5:00pm start at 14th and Broadway and march to the port to shut it down before the 7pm night shift All banks and corporations must close down for the day or we will march on them Liberation News joins the Oakland Occupy General Assembly in Demanding: • Solidarity with the worldwide Occupy Movement • End Police Attacks on Our Communities • Defend Oakland Schools & Libraries • Against an economic system built on inequality & corporate power that perpetuates racism, sexism & the destruction of the environment And Liberation News adds the additional demand: Drop The Charges Against All Occupy Protesters!
By NOT marching on DC, this entire movement keeps on *enabling* goobermint fascism and corruption as it blames *only* Wall St. Is it by design?? I say it is. It deflects blame from DC to Wall St - just as 0bama has been doing since Day One. What good are ALL of these theatrics which single out ONLY Wall St if the DC gets a free pass?
There are a lot of anarchist groups using OWS as cover for their own agenda and OWS in general is quickly becoming 'anti-cop' despite the fact the police are overwhelmingly unionized working class people. The last time these punks tried to close the Port of Oakland they got a serious beatdown.
Sure...And so are the Commies and 0bama-Operatives. About 10% IMO is dedicated to spreading the word on the NWO and Bankster monopolies. ...and OWS in general is quickly becoming 'anti-cop' despite the fact the police are overwhelmingly unionized working class people. Yep. And that will work against them. But then the anarchists get what they want. This entire movement really needed to begin in DC on the heels of the Tea Party protests to be effective from a policy standpoint.
If the 1 percent preselect candidates for the 99 percent to choose between (isn't that why there is no difference between the two parties?) then wall street and washington are one and the same.
"You post articles- intellectual excrement, really- that support your inane, insipid mentality, on a regular basis. Capitalist Eric
Yep, civilization as we know would stop dead in it's tracks, if even one ship bringing junk from China was delayed for a few minutes from unloading.
When the people are afraid, that's when the greatest long term money is made.~~~~Clark Howard
True, I will concede your point that 1% choose who the candidates for President will be... However, there IS at least one important distinction between the Dems and GOP. The Dem President had openly decided during his campaign to "spread the wealth around." That's called "C-O-M-M-U-N-I-S-M." This was accomplished in part by his his $800 billion middle class theft, quaintly referred to as "The Stimulus", (paid for by the 53% who actually pay federal taxes.) WHERE DID IT GO?? Secondly, Wall St and Washington DC are different in this crucial respect: WASHINGTON DC - as the seat of a representative *government* ("for the people, by the people and all that crap") CREATES THE FINANCE AND BANKING LAWS. Does it not? It is *they* are beholden to us, NOT Wall St. Capisce??
I guess you've never heard a out the golden rule - he who has the gd rules
"You post articles- intellectual excrement, really- that support your inane, insipid mentality, on a regular basis. Capitalist Eric
I don't agree with much of what they want. I think most of the people in the crowd are protesting for many different reasons. I don't think it is right for the cops to fire into the crowd either.
Yes because it is factual. Wall Street owns the political system in America. You can argue all day long about Democrats or Republicans but the wealthy pick and choose your candidates. These same candidates after becoming elected (in turn) influence the rules and regulations on all levels of government leaving the middle class with little or no voice. Wall Street is acting unethically. Try to get a loan these days, say to buy a home from a conventional bank. They shall laff you out the front door and tell you to shop for a FHA loan. Meanwhile they have taken the Wall Street bailouts from the federal government and have NOT stimulated the economy at all; those funds are nearly zero interest, too. What do they do with the federal money? They reinvest in guaranteed US securities at annual interest rates of over 4% thus making BILLIONS with no risk at all. This is isn't capitalism. It is corporate gluttony feeding on the American People.
How about a designated two dozen from each side? No cops at all. There vermin aren't going to stop until they get their skulls cracked and it is going to happen one way or another.
#2. To: Thunderbird (#1)
On November 2nd we will teach the ruling capitalists and their government that needed respect by shutting them down. Join the general strike and mass march November 2nd.
#3. To: Liberator (#2)
#4. To: Thunderbird (#3)
There are a lot of anarchist groups using OWS as cover for their own agenda...
#5. To: Liberator (#2)
#6. To: Thunderbird (#3)
The last time these punks tried to close the Port of Oakland they got a serious beatdown.
#7. To: lucysmom (#5)
If the 1 percent preselect candidates for the 99 percent to choose between (isn't that why there is no difference between the two parties?) then wall street and washington are one and the same.
#8. To: Liberator (#7)
Capisce??
#9. To: Thunderbird (#1)
#10. To: Liberator (#2)
Is it by design?? I say it is. It deflects blame from DC to Wall St - just as 0bama has been doing since Day One.
#11. To: A K A Stone (#9)
I don't think it is right for the cops to fire into the crowd either.
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