[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6FfO2rRbeQ&w=560&h=315]
Boston police arrested 141 people during Occupy Boston demonstrations on Tuesday. The early morning arrests (1:30 am) were for trespassing and unlawful assembly. After almost 15 hours in custody, all of the peaceful demonstrators detained by the Boston Police Department had finally been released as of 6 pm on October 11. Occupy Boston has many eye-witness accounts and videos of police misconduct during the arrests (see above).
Perhaps the most disturbing, and characteristic, clip is of a member of Veterans for Peace being thrown to the ground multiple times without provocation. Street medics and clearly marked legal observers who were also detained despite explanation that they were neutral observers, and in sharp contrast to how non-violent arrests ordinarily take place.
As the Boston Globe said:
Urszula Masny-Latos (executive director of the National Lawyers Guild’s Northeast regional office) said no protesters fought with police. She said police could have employed a technique routinely used at other protests—police approach a protester, tell them they are violating the law, and the protester then submits to being taken into custody—and still achieved their goal of clearing the area.
“They really attacked,” Masny-Latos said of police. “They used force that was completely unnecessary. … It was just brutal. I have no idea why they arrested us with such force’’ (Boston.com).
While police contend that their actions were, at least in part, due to an anarchist contingent that had taken control of the group, this was not the case. While police stood across the street from Occupy Boston’s General Assembly, the General Assmebly voted almost unanimously (80%) to peacefully protest Occupy Boston’s removal from the area that BPD insisted the protestors vacate by 12:00 am Tuesday.
Occupiers have been in constant contact with the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, a non-profit that manages the publicly park owned by MassDOT, and, prior to their arrests, they had received verbal consent to stay in the park. Further, Occupy Boston has plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for restoring damaged areas of the park. Last week, members also unanimously agreed to return to Dewey Square—and any other areas that they occupy—to repair any damaged grass.
As the Huffington Post wrote:
The Greenway website confirms that it did have an agreement with the protestors. “Occupy Boston organizers have been cooperative with the Conservancy and the Boston Police Department to date, and have agreed to avoid the planting beds and adhere to common sense rules.” Calls to the Greenway seeking comment were not returned (The Huffington Post).
246 Responses to “More on Occupy Boston Arrests”
It might have in under the control of nonviolent anarchists. There are a lot of us nonviolent anarchists and we are very dangerous =)
I hear some of the anarchists might have been singing songs last night. We can’t have that!
Crazy World By Lucky Dube. http://youtu.be/AF5zQ2J4n_0
What happens when the calm peaceful protests stop working, and the american 99% are left with nothing but to fight back… I am not for it by any means but look what is going on in Europe, it is just a matter of time for the same thing to happen in the states.
WE ARE READY TO ASSUME THE DUTIES OF THE POLICE.
Singing Songs…whenever I have been in a group of people singing songs…it has ALWAYS ONLY been good. Did you know that in the human brain, when it sings it is totaly cut off from the part of our brain that fears? Look it up (or google it as we say today)..its true. Your “fear” receptors are cutoff by singing…if you are a human being that is.
I am biased against the movement; but for those on the fence who are a little angry will see the video and understand that there was no police brutality, no excessive use of force and they will read the comments. The person on the fence will think that the group as a whole are nothing more then drama queens. How would they not assume that you are over reacting on everything else?
Throwing people to the ground is not violence?
I don’t know what state you live in, but if you think it’s fine for an officer paid to protect and serve to act against the public in this way (when those same public have a constitutional right to voice their grievances) I wish you luck!
The real reason people don’t side with the OWS movement is not because they don’t understand it, or they think these things are acceptable, they are predominantly Conservative and fight against anything that doesn’t fit into their simplistic world view.
They’re even willing to sacrifice their support of war vets. That’s not moral.
I thought you were open to various views points? Libertarians and conservatives are in the 99%. MIKE CHECK!
watch wellaware1.com about move on
There are photographs of an officer choking a female veteran. That generally constitutes excessive force, particularly at a protest committed to non-violence. She was going to be arrested anyway.
Likewise, pushing an elderly veteran to the ground would perhaps(!) be constidered justified at a violent protest, or if he were resisting arrest. But he wasn’t. The police acted beyond what was appropriate. Their treatment of veterans was appalling, but their arresting of legal observers and medics was unwarranted and likely inexcusable from a legal standpoint. It exceeded their mandate as officers, and, in fact, violated it.
You weren’t there so you can’t know…that no force OF ANY KIND was ever necessary. Not plastic cuffs or pepper spray. THE PROTESTERS WOULD HAVE GONE WILLINGLy, WITHOUT ANYTHING VIOLENT, if only to spare their comrades of any harm. How wonderful it is to count myself among the people who will so willingly put themselves between us and THEM. Boston Veterans For Peace…YOU ARE AWESOME. I happened to be up and watched the assault on Boston live stream..I saw the paddy wagons roll in and my heart skipped several beats when the Tweets stopped. I was with you…LOVE YOU BOSTON!!!
One thing some of you maynot be aware of; over a year ago when Vann jones organized this, violence and property destruction is part of the blue print. Soon the leaders and unions will incite violence and property destruction. Now, you say you are peaceful and exercising 1st ammendment rights, but what do you do when the flags are raised and you are asked to participate in violence? That day is coming soon.
That day is coming soon.
As much of a pacifist as I am, I know the revolution will get bloody. The 1% — those who are in power are not going to say..You are right…we should share. They are without empathy. But I hope every day I am wrong about that.
Man Seamus you seem like an operative. How do you find the time to be on this site all the time if you’re not an occupier and have a job? Could your job be to attempt to demoralize the occupiers with this right wing radio rhetoric? Or are you so recruited by the ingenuity of Rush Limbaugh et. al. that you feel the moral duty to crush the supposed re-election campaign of Obama, which seems virtually impossible at this point with his impeachment bearing ever nearer (if people come to their senses in time). I think a more valiant effort you could do is to fight for Obama’s impeachment NOW because if he doesn’t go we probably wont be able to reorganize the banks (HR 1489) before they explode, taking YOU with them! So the elections really aren’t the issue because the system is gearing up to explode NOW and the threat is dictatorship. Think strategically don’t be brainwashed by the media streams designed to mislead you.
So far he has violated Article 1 section 8 twice: Libya (which also violated NATO policy), Super Congress (a super legislative branch above the constitutionally amended Congressional Body),
The Awlaki assassination is blatantly unconstitutional (which i assume you are in favor of because its Oh-so-Dick-Cheney)…
He has also committed obstruction of justice on two accounts in protecting Bank of NY Mellon and BOA from an investigation.
Get to work calling congress like i have for the past months, we need more patriotic republicans and less of these vaginal complaining types!
Stupidity is always dangerous.Everyone in Roseway who failed to obey the lawful order to disperse deserved their arrest. If you don’t agree, please provide the addresses of your parents home so that I and all my cohorts can go Occupy their houses.
Shame on all of you who had to fight the city of Boston and its police forces. You have already been given too much: free trash hauling and electricity. You take away resources needed by the truly needy of this city and show yourselves to be lacking in responsibility and accountability; the very things you demand of others.
Dear Publiis.
Yes, I know they were warned about what would happen. And it happened just as “they” said it would. But WHY? If I know anything about the people in that encampment, its that they wouldn’t harm…anything. Not even the shrubbery, $150,00 worth of shrubbery as we now know. Why aren’t they planting $150,000 worth of plants that would feed the homeless in Boston???? U do have a huge homeless population in Boston…am I right about that?
Denise Moclair
I have a feeling mom and dad will sht of the credit cards of the kids before this turns violent. Not to mention you rthe ones talking about this turning violent yet most of the Trustafarians on the parkway are against the 2nd amendment looks like you pcked the wrong side.
Hi People:
I’m reading your post from Valencia Spain. I’m from the 15M movement in Spain, and I just wanna give you my best wishes and let you know that we are watching you guys with lots of hope and happiness. We are millions all over the world and for sure, together, we’ll change this terrible system. It’s time to say enough, we are not goodys in the hand of the markets, we are Human Been.
Keep the spirit guys, no violence but no silence.
A big hug from Spain ;).
You trid to find videos that showed violent arrests and still couldn’t You have a bunch of clowns who are trying to look like they are being manhandled but it’s by no means a gramy worthy performance.
The current cost on taxpayers is over $70,000 per day. They will say it is worth it and talk about other costs. I say if they were taxayers they would be working not camping out beating drums and having jam sessions. When we use to do this it was called going to see the Dead. When this is all over 99% will go occupy the dorm rooms mommy and daddy pay for. My guess is the other 1% will go back to the union job that they have left to protest. Go back to class mom and dad are paying allot for you to learn how to be a socialist at the schools across the river.
To the entire Occupy Boston Movement:
Whether I agree with what you are doing in my city or not. Let’s call a spade a spade here. If you want to gain support for your movement, you want to be respected by the people in my beloved city of Boston, I like I am sure many that have posted on these boards demand an apology and a clean up of your boards. The Boston Police did not brutally attack protesters last evening on the greenway. I know people that were there and I have talked to some today while in the city. They restrained people that resisted and did not hede to what the BPD warned them to do. Police Brutality would be beating someone with a baton while not resisting arrest. This topic disgusts me the most to see on your boards and people outside holding signs. Remember people these very police officers protect our daily lives. They put their lives on the line everyday to protect this city, this country from people hurting us or our very children and family. I am appauled at these accusations that police Brutality took place and I will never respect this group nor will many in this city if you defame the very people that keep this city safe. If you have a evidence then show it, otherwise don’t defame the people that protect this city is a disgrace to me as an American that know people that have sufferred during 9/11.
Amen!
Fuck jesus
I wonder how long it will take for the admin to realize that I’m trolling. In any case, y’alls probably have more reason to occupy my house than wallstreet so trace my ip address and bring it on!
Trust me, when you are arrested while exercising you basic right you’d sing a different tune. All of sudden the police would stop being all warm and fuzzy and your face against the pavement would seem like an injustice to you.
It is not police brutality. You are one of the many of disgraceful Americans blogging this. Many won’t give up on this topic here in this city beleive me. We expect an apology from this group. If you want to post that they invaded your rights to assembly whatever else you want to post still for debate fine but you don’t claim police brutality.
right.
the police allowed you to have your little party outside south station but you all intentionally pushed the limits to create a police response so you could scream brutality.
i laugh at you losers every day as i walk by.
You are free to keep speaking the whole time you are getting arrested, so your freedom of speech was never denied. The Park closed at 11 PM, no permit was issued and the Occupants consciously decided to ignore a lawful order to disperse. Those arrested failed to obey and where lawfully arrested. I was there and saw no outright abuse by police. Nothing compared to what I experienced at the hands of Seattle police during WTO. If the movement was serious, they would’ve taken over the park in front of the Fed across from Dewey Sq,
I agree. I have found the BPD to be one of the most calm and reasonable police departments. I cannot say that about other departments I’ve witnessed, but as for the BPD, you would have to be doing something unreasonable for them to get tough. I watched this unfold last night and saw many youtube videos you have raved about showing police brutality. I have not seen any police brutality or unreasonable force considering what could have transpired. I’m not even one who really even likes authority of any kind either. Trying to gain attention by deceiving the public and making the BPD look bad is immature and non-productive in the least. It is also very unfair to the BPD and city who has been MORE than reasonable and accommodating to you. You were really welcomed with open arms to your first camping spot, along with free electricity, twice a day trash pick-up, and the protection of the BPD while you sleep safely in your tents. It is also ungrateful, especially when there are people in this city hurting who can’t even pay their own electricity or afford food while you get these things for free, yet you complain. You wanted to get greedy and take more. That’s ironic, isn’t it?Now, instead of looking at yourselves, you lash out and blame. Shameful really. My respects go to the BPD and their professional attitude throughout this.
Putting a protestor in a choke hold isn’t unreasonable force?
Not if that person is resisting arrest and they need to be cuffed NO…..
Maybe they should have given them some flowers and pleaded with them to please turn around to get cuffed for not heding to the police warnings. Do you know an police officers, do you understand what that job entails and what they have to deal with?
Have you found buddha #joshuaeaton?
M is right. There was no police brutality. Bpd only beats up on black people and there just is not enough involved in the movement. Google boston police brutality and you’ll see about 10 cases with pics in some where the bpd was found to use excessive force. Quit being all sensitive, you weren’t before when these other cases where going on.
Oh please spare me the 9/11 stuff. Wheeling it out every time you want the whip hand in any argument, in some kind of unpleasant and emotionally manipulative attempt to gain the moral high ground, is extremely disrespectful to the people who died there. This has nothing whatsoever to do with 9/11.
Police officers do valuable work in the community obviously. But they also protect the interests of the rich and propertied. These truths we hold to be self-evident and you see it clearly when they are ordered to go in and rough up a bunch of kids protesting about the hijacking of the US by the banking sector.
This outrageous undemocratic situation, this wholesale corruption which has bankrupted the US economy, is the context for these protests. But there are people, incredibly, complaining about some damaged grass. It reminds me of Seattle, where the left spent hours of TV time apologising for the window of Niketown getting trashed – or the G20 in London, where the window of RBS was damaged and the entire reason for the protest was conveniently forgotten – and many left wing commentators complained that the reason for the protest was being forgotten even as they apologetically cooperated with the agenda that was allowing it to be forgotten. It was the same in the student protests in London, where someone throwing a fire extinguisher which nearly hit someone became the main news item for days, even while the reason for the protest was sidelined, and the historic right to free tertiary education in the UK was abandoned forever.
Perhaps we shouldn’t have staged the Normandy landings because there was a danger of damaging the bladderwrack on Omaha beach.
Don’t be naive when it comes to media coverage. God knows the other side aren’t.
If this movement was serious they would have created the new camp in the Fed courtyard and grounds. I was there and saw that the march to block the Charlestown bridge was a ruse to get the BPD away from the overall Dewey Sq. area, so they could create the new camp on the Roseway (was well organized and thought out.) All the BPD motorcycle cops took off and the whole Fed courtyard and grass area was vacant of police: city/state/fed. I myself went and had a quick puff on the Feds grounds; very high. Again, if the movement was serious, they would take over the Feds grounds and force the Fed police to move them. Then the whole world really would be watching. MIKE CHECK: TAKE THE FED!
We are the 99% and we TOO are responsible…for this mess we are in. Maybe not as much as the 1% who made their $$$’s off of our NEED for stuff…which they sold us by way of tv and what we now call “Media” yadayada but still…we are responsible to some degree. Are we seeing a whole new generation who says…I WON”T be responsible for THIS bullshit which passes as ‘the status quo.” I HOPE SO!!! I LOVE YOU…Occupy Everythng And Never Give it Back!
Oh common, cut the crap with the 9/11 !!! NOBODY outside the US believes that you were attack. Open your eyes. Stop living the lie. Wake up, cause you know what ? There is no more “American Dream”.
All I can say to this 911 shit is…check out the info about bldg 7. Something is not right with this picture. And when I saw GWB’s reaction to the news of attack..reading a book upside down in a school…it made me question. And check out how a huge plane made such a small impact at the pentagon…
Question EVERYTHING!
Question your government…especially. The 911 commission didn’t even go into the thermite that was found on site. Either the terrorists are more sophisticated than we ever imagined…or something is wrong with this picture. We haven’t had an attack in 10 years so I’m guessing it wasn’t the terrorists at work. Even Anonymous has a more recent crime sheet than that. I LOVE ANONYMOUS!
The most interesting part is that the funding has been confirmed to have come out of an account held at Riggs National Bank under the name of Prince Bhandar Bin Sultan, prince of Saudi Arabia, and atleast 2 of the hi-jackers were well educated Saudi Nationals (Intelligence Agents) and this part of the report was classified under Bush (info can be found in the Executive Intelligence Review EIR) and remains so to this day although Obama promised during his campaign to declassify it… kinda silly how that whole thing was used to start wars in 3rd world countries instead of directing it at the purse of the operation… HMMMMM… Well we know the Bush family is well connected to the Saudi Royals and has worked with them in the past in intelligence operations against the Soviets but why would they work together against the US…. HMMMMM Maybe to pushed for more power in the executive to one day be able to seat a dictator in the American Government, the last standing truly sovereign power (hardly so anymore with our puppet government under Obama)… We gotta cut these scum out of the pie by denying them their bailouts (HR1489) This is imperial warfare, not warfare against the government as such, our government has been hi-jacked and its up to us to take it back for the people!
These same people that protect us will turn us on a dime. Given their marching orders, they are more than happy to comply. They take their orders from corrupt politicians who are bought and paid for, not by the taxpayers, but the corporations. Wake up! You are part of the problem!
As an arrestee I’d like to share my observations of this.
I personally acknowledge a certain degree of force is necessary to forcibly remove people from a human chain. In *my* case very close to that minimal force is what was used.
HOWEVER, I am a 40yr old white male and was wearing a button down shirt, the person next to me in a hoodie WHO RESISTED MUCH LESS THAN I was thrown down much more violently and was taken to the hospital for injury from the handcuffs being applied to excessive force. I know of others who needed stitches because of similar abuse/negligence (take your pick it’s one or the other). And that was just my very small vantage, I can’t specifically speak beyond that.
They also attacked the veterans group first dragging the American flag they had been holding through the dirt after confiscating it. I haven’t had a change to look yet but I really hope there is video of that. They then went after clearly marked medical and legal staff
We all know this isn’t Egypt or Syria, not even NYC but that doesn’t make it right.
Why did you people feel it necessary to move to the Greenway at 1am?
Answer: Because you wanted a police response so you could claim brutality.
Bunch of jokers.
Never in my life, have I ever heard of someone requiring stitches because someone placed them aggressively into FLEX CUFFS. Nobody was placed into metal handcuffs, due to the large number of arrests being made, so give me a break. What’s next, police brutally handed out fliers defining the law, resulting in 3 papercut deaths.
Income it off. Your actions that night have completely taken any credibility away from you. BPD explained NUMEROUS times that you would be arrested. I believe someone stated that protesters voted to peacefully resist, but comply when an officer approached them to take them into custody.
Well that didn’t happen. What I witnessed was a group of people standing with locks arms. When BPD approached to take them into custody, there was no “oh, ok sure, let me unchain my arms and go with you sir”. What happened was protesters tightened their grip, and when officers came in contact, they sat down on the ground, still holding tightly to one another, forcing BPD to use a minimal amount of force to separate you. Were some people pushed to the ground? Maybe, there were a pot of .people, shit happens. Stop claiming brutality, stop acting like the next day was such an emotional reunion……please, your group is making me sick to my stomach.
to clarify the laceration happened when removing the cuffs.
Also I agree any complaints of brutality should be specific, and should always be specific.
Just because it wasn’t “that bad” doesn’t make it not bad.
The expansion was not arbitrary or just to hold more ground the initial space is full of people WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAN WILL FIT AND WE ARE GROWING!
Police State! Remember how America was putting down Government Interference at protests around the world, saying the people had the right to be heard? Now, our own Police are doing the same. Are we really free when we don’t have a right to have our voices heard? Somethings wrong when the Police are higher than the Constitution.
Fox News called – they want their news-spinning writer back.
1980 called, it wants its somebody called catch phrase back
All of Occupy Boston members are weak in my opinion. Though I agree with your cause, you are fighting the wrong battle. This isn’t about beating police or the city. It’s about defeating the 1%. None of those who took down Occupy Boston through reasonable measures, when pushed to what was necessary due to the volumes, did so with the venom that many imagine. They are so siimilar to you, you wouldn’t understand. That’s not surprising as the entire movement seems unreasonable to deal or talk with. Stop being arrogant and start being productive.
You first. Where’s your movement? What are you doing when you stop typing, besides patting your own back?
The city’s message through clearing the second park after denying all other location we suggested is “you can stay as long as you don’t grow big enough to matter”
Voices on both side seem to drift into hyperbole but that is the message. The cost of greenway improvements is a sham the police operation must have exceeded that cost and caused more dammage to the planting when the police charge through them than the occupiers ever would have (who also offered to fix any damage caused by them)
For those who keep repeating to a large ground of individuals, most of whom are employed, that we need to get jobs & quit blaming others for our ‘problems,’ I’d like to point out that most of the blaming I’ve heard is from you all telling us to ‘look at the man in the white house.’ Many of us are not even attributing blame there – We are, however, demanding change as an entire country & economical/political system. I find it interesting that so many of you, who I am positive are struggling to some extent yourselves, choose to spend so much time on the OccupyBoston site attempting to shame & demean others. FOR THOSE OF YOU HERE OPPOSING FOR WHAT WE STAND: Thank you all for giving the movement so much of your attention, time, and energy 😀
Although the improvements were a concern, that section of the greenway was scheduled to have an event this Saturday. Permits were issued and fees were paid (something this group should have done prior to assembling in the square). But have no fear Occupiers, the Greenway Mobile Food Fest has been cancelled. No food trucks, no bands, no crafts for the kids, and no money to be made by the 99%ers trying to support their families. What could have been a cheep family outing in these hard economic times has been ruined. Not by corporate greed but by Occupy Boston’s greed.
The demonstrator’s movement is endorsed by at least 10 unions. I will use my time more wisely campaigning for Ron Paul.
Occupy the grounds of the Federal Reserve and leave the Roseway alone. But I bet the protesters are too scared to take on the Feds and have any arrests be federal charges that will likely be much more severe then the $50.00 civil fine handed down to most of those arrested for failing to disperse.
The hypocrisy of the Occupy Wall St. stealing a private park is not lost upon the whole world watching.
And please kids, don’t wear the expensive threads when shouting how unfair the system is. How many of you 20 somethings spent the summer at your parents beach houses? How many of you have debit/credit cards issued by the banks you purport to loathe? How many of you college kids are getting subsidized by your overly attentive parents while in college? How many of you have ever truly been homeless? Why is it that your movement is mainly filled with upper middle class white 20 somethings, Ipod, Ipad, Iphone in hand; no responsibility to the human exploitation used to create these goods, nor the outsourced destruction caused to the planet by the hyper consumption of these children of the pseudo-elite.
In response to Moonchild: There was also suppose to be a canned food drive to support the Greater Boston Food Bank along with Food Fest which has now been cancelled until Spring. Meanwhile the campers will continue to get free food and free electricity. Their original site wasn’t enough, so yes, I would say greedy is a fair term.
Occupy Boston Fail:
http://www.boston.com/video/editor_picks/?bctid=1213186781001&p1=News_links
Where are the crusty replies to this post? LOL!
Here’s my crusty reply … as true as i am able to be given my standpoint .. i was there that night .. i support the occupation in general and gain hope from it, but i think it’s very important to act and speak with integrity and self-criticism .. i generally agree that the police acted with general restraint from my experience with cops in the past .. some strong shoving, but no beating or gratuitous violence given their mission.. i have issue with their orders and their mission, but from my single standpoint, not particular issues with their performance as police in the situation.. i think it’s bullshit that a peaceful assembly in public space can be called an “unlawful assembly” and evicted in this way, but this is not called police brutality .. it’s called a bad political decision .. that said, i have to say that i was not inside the park that was evicted .. i was just outside it and could not see inside it fully due to the shrubs and many people .. others do claim specific acts of brutality, i can’t confirm that with my own eyes ..
I pretty much agree. The Boston Police did show restraint, although that one guy just getting pushed over seemed unprovoked.
However: It’s clear that there’s a lot of propaganda coming out of the city now, between blaming the arrests on “anarchists” or evicting “to protect the plants.” It’s crystal clear what this was: a show of force to tell Occupy Boston “we’ll let you have your little crappy plot of land next to the big ugly vent, but don’t think about getting any bigger.” The lawn next to Dewey Square was barely utilized before and was just a big field, so who cares if a bunch of tents pop up for (as they think) a couple weeks? But if they’d allowed the tents to remain in the next park, Occupy would have quickly outgrown that area and would have continued to move down the greenway. Occupy Boston is a *manageable* protest right now. If it remains manageable, nothing will come of it. We need to keep pushing and make people uncomfortable if we want them to listen to us.
Well put, dot and Sage! This was a move to contain a growing movement, and what is sickening is the media playing along, blaming “anarchists” and dutifully writing up how many thousands the greenery cost that the small army of *700* police had to “protect?” What I want the media to report is how much it cost to close down the streets for blocks around, to have helicopters circle the area, to have battalions of officers in riot gear, motorcycle brigades, K9 units, etc etc. Was it more or less than what it would cost to re-sod a small spit of land?
Anyone who thinks that this huge show of force was “reasonable” and the purpose was to protect greenery that the Conservatory already gave permission for the protesters to occupy is either in serious denial or else one trunk short of a tree. We’re not talking about the regular Boston police force, who are working long hours alongside the protesters.
The media is a disgrace. How many people know that this summer a small tent city sprang up in Tel Aviv, over housing concerns and social justice? That it grew, and was comprised of Jews and Arabs, young and old, all talking together and struggling for social change? How many people know that 8 weeks later it grew to a march of a half million people on the streets in Tel Aviv? They don’t want people to know….but you can bet Menino knows this. And he’s already said that the main camp will have an expiration date as well. This crackdown was about stopping the movement, not about grass.
Ask your supporters to march on Saturday or Sunday with a clear message to the city officials and the police department that mass arrests are wrong! You have a lot of support, use it!
police contenD, not contenT
Is this still happening now ?
Is the protest still going on someone please tell me
The protest is still taking place in the original park at Dewey Sq.
Thank you very much man
Cool story bro
I think it’s important to mention that Urszula Masny-Latos (executive director of the National Lawyers Guild’s Northeast regional office) was also arrested in the struggle. What do you think a ‘legal observer’ could have done to get arrested?
She got arrested – because she was told to move along like the rest of the group – but thought her “legal observer” ((????)) self proclaimation exempted her from her tresspass.
As much as she’d not want to admit – she is in fact – NOT – above the law!
You nitwits don’t even know what “Brutality” is !! NOBODY was roughed up – but plenty resisted arrest – and THOSE (quite unbecoming) photos’ are what you’re putting up!
Even if you won’t agree the police beat anyone you still have to agree that they used force that was not warranted
You clearly have no concept of what legal observing is. They are supposed to be there observing (gasp!) and documenting what takes place so that in cases of excessive force or resistance, there is an objective, eye-witness account of what took place that can be used as evidence during a trial. She was supposed to be there — that was her role. Arresting her is as wrong as arresting medics.
Yo I’m looking for a synth player for my low-fi indie band. Arf if you wanna join!
What’s really amusing is that without a single exception thus far, everyone who reports the events as authoritatively as you do, WASN’T ACTUALLY THERE AND DIDN’T SEE ANYTHING.
Enjoy battling on behalf of the plutocracy, just don’t expect much from them.
I love it. A group of people is warned to leave an area. First with flyers explaining the laws they are breaking and the consequences if they continue to break those laws. Then they are warned with a bullhorn to leave this area. The group refuses to leave. The group gets arrested.
Now, the group is complaining about it. The best part is the “legal observer”. I’m assuming she was Told to leave the area as well. Oh, and the “medics”, did they not hear the guy on the bullhorn. Maybe they should have gone across the street.
Police brutality? Was anyone hospitalized? All these YouTube videos and new clips don’t show anybody getting beaten.
As a vet I can say that the veteran group that was also arrested should have respected the authorities.
I love this country. We have a lot of problems right now no doubt. This protest in Boston is coming off as a bunch of whiny people with nothing better to do. Go back to your dorm rooms and your parents basement and figure out how you can change things because camping out in beantown is not going to solve anything.
I love it. Good little American Frank thinks it takes 700 police officers in riot gear, with helicopters flying overhead, and streets barricaded for blocks around, and K9 units to break up the Mighty Mighty protesters oppressing the grass blades on a small strip of land. Yeah, that’s reasonable.
The sad thing is the forces shutting down Americans’ right to peacefully assemble are showing it more respect than the pea-brains who dutifully regurgitate the lapdog media memes that it was all just long-suffering peace officers asking people to get off the grass and since “they were warned” it’s all justified. At least those ordering helicopters, motorcycle brigades, dead of night closing off public roads, plus an army of police whose regular batons and guns just wouldn’t be enough against these scary “anarchists” —they know. They know that if it dawns on the people to stand up for their constitutional rights, even that overkill show of force won’t be able to stop it.
Oh, and Frank, they weren’t breaking the law, but go ahead and ignore our constitutional right to assemble and seek redress. And yes, I was there…I went down there as soon as I heard it was happening because I know from experience you have to witness these things first hand. The media is not going to report it. Or rather, they are going to give people soothing things to repeat, such as “well, they were asked to leave and they didn’t leave.” Far be it for them, or you, to question authority. Ask little questions, such as how much did it cost to deploy that army of riot police? More or less than the cost of re-sodding the grass? Or maybe ask, so how many citizens are going to be given the right to assemble? Only so many and then we call out the hounds?
I have to ask – and I’m supportive of Occupy Boston – since when has “Legal Observer” been a category that cannot be arrested? It’s not codified in legal statute, so how does she does claim the ability to ignore a police officer?
She was, however, in a strong position to monitor what happened to individuals during and after the arrest. That alone could be very helpful to Occupy Boston.
I have to say that I seems our movement is starting to make enemies with the police. Beat downs in NYC, Beat downs in Boston, and more beat downs to come….which will do us no good. It is important that this change or else their “force” will grow as well as our resentment towards them, which only makes progress more difficult.
Instead lets take a different viewpoint. When confronted with police, encourage them to join us. Whether they know it or not and whether we want to believe it, they are also part of the 99%. They have dept, they have mortgages, they have families and student loans, and they have been fucked like the rest of us. Tap in to this, remind them that they are also being fucked, that they too are in dept to corps and the government. Remind them that they are part of the 99% and they should stand up. Once they start realizing this they will understand what they are doing and stand with us instead of against us.
Very well said
Beat downs. You want to know what a beat down is, the people of this city that grew up here in blue collar areas would love to show you a beat down. What the police did last night clearing the area was not a beat down. Get off your skateboard and look for a job.
I’m from this city so don’t try to tell me shit about it.
I couldn’t agree more! If this is to become the serious and long-lasting movement for real change that the country desperately needs, we can allow ourselves to be diverted into conflicts with the police. Its true enough that they are the hirelings of the establishment, which means of property. They are there to protect the interests, ie the property of the establishment. However, economically they are most definitely part of the 99% and are experiencing the same everyday pressures that the rest of us are experiencing. They also have family members who can’t find jobs or who have lost housing. The movement must also make practical plans for moving out of parks and into indoor quarters for the coming cold months. I’m sure there are organizations, NGO’s and churches that will open space for the occupy movement when the weather really gets bad. It is romantic to think that you can continue camping out outdoors through the winter and still get the hard work done. The cities will not allow it for various reasons, and it wouldn’t be healthy or conducive to doing the organizing and other work required for keeping this important movement going. The establishment all around this country would like nothing more than to find an excuse to shut this movement down ASAP and get back to their corrupt and shifty business-as-usual, but we can’t let them find that excuse. I hope the occupiers in all the cities are discussing now the practicalities of making alliances with NGO’s and churches for moving inside in a month or so.
The City of Boston is NOT trying to shut down Occupy Boston. Occupy Boston used a ruse of a march to the bridge to create the second encampment; against the agreement already made with a highly sympathetic mayor. No permit for what exists in Dewey sq. was ever sought and the free trash clean-up and electricity show, AGAIN, how understanding the city of Boston has been. If you need more space, move across Atlantic Ave to the grounds of the Federal Reserve Board and see how sympathetic they will be. Occupy Boston just wants to take and take and pissing off many us who agree with your overall mandate but not the method of your mission.. And yeah, your got a perfectly good, family oriented food and music festival cancelled. I don’t hear any remorse for that.
I was arrested (one of the last to be removed).
I’ve seen beat downs.
There were no beat downs there.
This is not to say all the police acted with minimal force in all situations or that there were no injuries. But let’s keep this real. We need to address individual issues both of injury and targeting but this was not a police riot kids…
“Urszula Masny-Latos (executive director of the National Lawyers Guild’s Northeast regional office) said no protesters fought with police. She said police could have employed a technique routinely used at other protests – police approach a protester, tell them they are violating the law, and the protester then submits to being taken into custody – and still achieved their goal of clearing the area.”
This is such a frigin joke. They were warned to leave the area multiple times. What do you think was going to happen, the police were going to come holding flowers and cookies for the group. You either hede to what they say or you risk getting arrested. Whether you feel it is the right to assembly or not these police did not commit police brutality. The people of Boston demand an apology from Occupy Boston and a clean up of these boards.
What right do they have to make them leave . We have a right assemble
IT IS NOT POLICE BRUTALITY!!!!!! What don’t you get and their is debate you needed a permit to be there but regardless of that fact. IT IS NOT POLICE BRUTALITY…..The people of this city and the BPD demand an apology..
The police still use force when they want. not exactly beating people but they still use force when it’s not warranted. which is basically an abuse of power and is not surprise when you look at how the police always react to protest by the minority of people in this country/ city who actually see a need to change our nations horrible ways
Uh, seriously? I have personally seen people drinking at this occupy whatever event.
Freedom to Assemble is not carte blanche to camp out wherever we’d like. Additionally, until Occupy Boston can come up with an actual political platform, Freedom of Assembly seems almost an afterthought.
You all dont represent me,cause i have a job,and what kills me is i know that area,that was pretty nice distrupting the whole friggin neighborhood,and now i learn since all you hippies moved in a couple shops are being broken into,in a area that doesnt see crime like that often,but now 3 times since your little sleep away camp has been set up.I’m all for free speech and the right protest,but i watch video after video,and all i see is disorginazation,drunk people,and wtf do camps like that need boxes of condoms for,you actually represent the down cline and probably the 23% if that.>jus go away most of you have the faintest clue to what you want,its more of mob mentality at this point,just pack it up and go home already.
So it’s still going on ?
You are misinformed.
There are many professionals and entrepreneurs there. My income is is the top 20% nationally (which means shit at Boston prices) and they sure represent me.
And yes THIS IS STILL GOING ON Dewey Sq, is right out side South Station across from the Federal Reserve
I do support your cause but Police Brutality come on, BPD couldn’t be more fair than it has the past week, if this video of a guy purposly falling down repeatedly is the best you have then you have no case. Do you expect the city to let Occupy Boston to take over the entire Greenway from Dewey Square to the Zakim.
Can you tell me if this is still going on cause noone else has
I went to the GA this evening, discussed the commotion last night and found a few things wanting:
1) Comparing this to Tahrir Square and similar “Arab Spring” events…
2) Not honoring the original agreement with the Greenway
3) Thinking that it’s perfectly fine for Occupy Boston to do whatever they want as long as it’s peaceful (the implication is that you and your intentions are beyond criticism)
4) The whole PC aura of the camp that puts special interests before common interests.
5) Total lack of focus regarding fiscal and corporate reform, etc..
6) Total lack of understanding of how to use the media against itself. The media is the only conduit most people have. They won’t go on the website, they won’t do research, they will receive information about us from other sources. You have the public’s sympathetic ear for only so long.
7) The idea that the arrests were for some noble cause.
8) So much of what I’ve seen of the Occupy Movements in person and on YouTube has nothing to do with democracy. The process is smacks of tyranny.
How exactly does it ‘smack of tyranny’? First people need to address problems, recognise them and then come to terms with how to fix them. Direct democracy isn’t an overnight process. For everyone to be heard, concerns addressed and consensus to be reached, it will take time. In the meantime, basic logistical concerns need to be addressed to accommodate the people living in the camps. It’s all a matter of process. Also, regarding the ‘PC aura’, I don’t see what’s wrong with that. If by not oppressing people or making participants of the movement feel threatened or violated is a problem, then you’re overlooking what is inherent in the spirit of a truly democratic movement. Racism, sexism, heterosexism, cissexism and all other forms of oppression are undemocratic and prevent people from being respectful of each other and each others’ opinions. I think it’s great that these things are being addressed. It wouldn’t be a democratic process if they weren’t.
Oh Bullshit. Your Mike Checks with everyone repeat as ordered is frightening Group Think. The majority in your cause are being led by their emotions; as they young often are. I have wanted to MIKE CHECK you into jumping into the harbor many times. And if some of us don’t agree with your socialist agenda, then we are insulted and baited as 1%’ers. Many of you are just as authoritarian as the corporations you denigrate. The truly poor can’t afford to join your crusade and I don’t see the people of Bostons housing projects coming to join you.
Clearly you already know the One True Way to successfully manage a massive and truly democratic people’s movement. Please let me know when you’ve got the last one or two problems in this world fully worked out, OK?
Parliamentary procedure. That evolved over hundreds of years. Not this ridiculous, hand waving, consensus driven garbage that’s resulted in one single, almost pointless resolution. Yes it’s hip, yes it makes you feel good inside, but have you wondered why not a single government in history has used this process?
Leaderless consensus is what you want – and that’s what you have. Occupy Boston is still – still! – not able to come up with an economic agenda. And no, I don’t want to come down to the GA for 3 hours, twice a day, to hear people express their pain.
You need to do something, or Occupy Boston is as much a joke as the Judean People’s Front.
Can we at least archive video or sound or text of the GA so that it is available to all who might not be able to make all of them, or for the people who want the ability to fast forward the hour or so of each GA where white people flagellate themselves for drowning in such privilege that they’ve decided to take to the streets to protest their lack of privilege?
Poor Barry. He promotes a system that “evolved over hundreds of years” and yet he just can’t believe that the 99% hasn’t instantly come up with a bulletin point agenda in allllll these weeks already. “Still…still!” It’s, like, incredible! Patience, Barry. That sentiment you’re repeating is called a meme. It burrows into your brain like an earworm and impedes your ability to think. Now take a breath, and try it. Does it make logical sense to promote a system that took hundreds of years to evolve, specifically praising that aspect of it, and then turn around and demand instant gratification from a rising movement that is evolving its own way to best meet the future? See how that works? You can think for yourself instead of repeat a corporate media-driven critique of OccupyUS. 🙂 You’re welcome!
Uh… you guys are accomplishing very little, except to make yourself feel happy. The system that you’re using has also accomplished nothing. You cannot come to any conclusions, and each GA is repetition of the last.
Far worse is the short attention span of the people, the 99% you claim to represent. Their short attention span, promoted by the media, has only seen the brave suggestion that we “decolonize Boston” and a bunch of folks trampling the garden. You have to focus, and I’m suggesting that your system of yelling “Mike check!” “Stack!” “Block!” and making hand signals is not working.
It’s not working in Boston, it’s not working in NYC, it’s empirically not working. You may call it a “meme” and I’ll call it a grim mistake. I’d also suggest that a system that tries for consensus is very easily controlled by a small group of people, typically the loudest, angriest, and most radical faction – and while those folks may be absolutely correct in their anger, you’re trying to represent the 99% of Americans who do not control the nation’s wealth.
Jesus folks, have you read history? Are you aware of what has happened to practically every so-called democratic movement? It either fails miserably or becomes a tool of a lunatic. Our nation is a republic, not a democracy, both to preserve the rights of the people and to ensure that government actually functions. If you’re going to be so presumptuous as to call your meetings a General Assembly, please act like one.
We’re in bloody Boston, home of some of the most powerful hedge funds in the country, home of Harvard Business School – a principal educator of the 1%, and you’re camped across the street from the Fed. You’re surrounded by greed and uncontrolled wealth, and you’re debating what the Arts and Culture committee is up to. And you still cannot come up with an economics resolutions?
I would like to know how many of the “Occupy Boston” participants actually VOTED in 2008 AND 2010, if they were old enough to vote. Unless all of them voted in every election since they have been eligible, then their protest lacks credibility. Also, how many of the protesters can state the NAME of their state representative, their state senator, their Congressional representative, and their senators? if any of them cannot answer these questions, their protest lacks credibility.
Not voting may be a conscious act of political defiance, not laziness or indifference. Personally, I voted in both elections but I do not plan to vote in the 2012 election unless something drastically changes or I find a candidate outside the two-party options that I fully support. Democrats and Republicans are both working against the 99% and I don’t want any part in condoning what they’re doing.
You have avoided the question of whether you know all your democratically elected representatives.
In addition, perhaps you will recall that it was Ralph Nader in 2000 who brought us George W. Bush, and his related wars and economic inequality.
Sweet rational man!
Been voting in every single national, state, regional, and municipal election since I was eligible in 2000. My representative is Jim McGovern, my senators are John Kerry and Scott Brown.
Clearly I’ve passed your test and am awesome, so it’s my time to make a proclamation without basis: If you can’t name at least one person in Occupy Boston’s Medical tent, all the members of our Governor’s Council, and the black guy from Ironsides, your comments lack credibility.
I have.
“perhaps you will recall that it was Ralph Nader in 2000 who brought us George W. Bush”
Actually, it was the Supreme Court that brought us George Bush. Ralph Nader had nothing to do with it.
Not voting is not a conscious act of anything. Don’t kid yourself. It’s also a huge slap in the face to everyone who worked tirelessly against odds that are unimaginable to us now just to secure the right to do it.
Busloads of civil rights workers risked their lives — and many lost their lives — trying to get that right for everyone. Don’t spit in their faces or on their graves by sitting back and convincing yourself that not voting is a ‘conscious act of political defiance’. Work to better the system by keeping money out. But by all means VOTE!
Aefer Cafer, you are awesome, lol! But chris still “wins” (it seems very important to him) because he said if ANY of the protesters can’t do this the entire uprising is a FAIL. See how tricky he is? btw, chris, are you that awesome that you contact your Congressional representative regularly to let him or her know you care about the issues and are watching? I’m that awesome. And I do agree with you on voting, and think the parties could be a great vehicle if, for instance, people cared enough about primaries to ensure the best candidates reach the top, and all reps, say, were required to hold regular town hall meetings. Local involvement is best! But if you don’t think we need a serious reset in our electoral system, you need to look into this. We all do.
I have voted in every election, national, state and local since I was eligible to vote back in 1966. I know my legislators well, since I am in contact with their respective offices on a regular basis. I am involved in my community, have raised a great family of well-educated, socially conscious and responsible citizens, and I have always encouraged participation in their government. Who do you really think you are to paint such an insulting, demeaning picture of this movement? Occupy Boston is a 2 week old movement formed in support of what is happening on Wall St. and in response to the crimes that have been allowed to germinate there.
In my view, the central focus of the Occupy movements is the economic
system of corruption, greed, and abuse so blatantly practiced on Wall St.
Never forget the criminal activities that occurred there among the large financial institutions and banks. They created an incredibly fraudulent model of economic gamesmanship that ultimately imploded on itself AND THE REST OF SOCIETY. That is the central issue here. Banks too big to fail? I was against the bailouts – these institutions should be broken down in to smaller entities anyway, but that is an argument for
another day.) If you cannot ‘see’ the problems posed by these
institutions, or even worse, if you think that their criminal activities are
just fine and ought to be protected and allowed to continue, then no
one can help you. The middle class has been decimated by these
abuses. Our money-drenched Congress is complicit in these practices.
They are cousins to their Wall St. brethren. We have an ineffectual,
wholly-owned corporate subsidiary – called the US Congress. In effect, we have no real government of the people any longer.
The Occupy Boston movement, as stated, is just beginning. There are better ways to do things and to get out the message. That will come with time and experience. By the way, I am employed, have a responsible job; I also still have a soul and a conscience. Things must change. The people have to speak loudly and persistently for that to happen. If a few saplings and some grass were trampled, well perhaps the BPD ought to accept some responsibilty for dragging people, tents, etc. through, over and around the bushes. In any event, FREE SPEECH and the RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE trump a rose bush. Those can be replanted with care. Once we lose our Constitutional rights, they will not be so easily replaced. Think about that.
I am a Boston resident. I do not owe anyone an apology. Get over yourself, Beantown guy.
What a bunch of trolls on this blog! We are the 99% and we will continue to fight even for those too ignorant to understand the situation. Solidarity!
Agreed. The trolls say: “Don’t blame Wall Street. Stop asking for handouts. Get a job!”
Wall Street took hundreds of billions in handouts. They get a free pass and we get stuck with the bill.
Get money out of politics and end the corruption. We are the 99%.
Sorry, you speak for yourself, which is your right.
Do not claim to speak for the rest of us, and CERTAINLY do not claim to be smarter than those of us “too ignorant to understand the situsation”
Pot, meet kettle.
I like protest and support generally what hey are doing. Its is kind of sad to see th utter snobbery of comments like yours. Many of the Tea Party folks are exactly against having a government decide “what is best for us who are too ignorant to know what is best for us”
You are well-menaing. but being manipulating, are are too ignorant to know it,. That is what makes your comment so hilareous.
Police forces around the country will be bogged down by a plethora of law suits against their officers. Clearly the police have no experience with the nature of protests – in part a fault of their own pigheadedness and the people’s historic lack of civic involvement – UNTIL NOW.
LONG LIVE THE REVOLUTION!
Trolls don’t troll in places that are unimportant or are being ignored. Understand that the influx of trolls and folks who think they know the movement from a 10 second clip on Fox are only here because you are beginning to really frighten their rulers. You are doing well. Never give up.
WORCESTER IS WITH YOU. SEE YOU IN DEWEY PARK AGAIN ON THURSDAY.
I am the 99%… Born and raised in Boston by low/middle class parents. A member of the minority urban community. Graduated high school, put myself through college, and have never been unemployed since the age of 16 (now 30). I now have an established career. Although I’ll never be apart of the 1%, I don’t blame them for the economic downfall of this country. They just worked harder than me, or were more clever.
To the protestors of Occupy Boston, #occupyboston, @occupy_boston: how many of you are actually born and raised in this city? You’ve been allowed to protest and exercise your freedom of speech and assembly. The mayor has invited NON residents to camp out ofr your cause. He informed you of rules, laws, and ordinances to abide by while in the city, and you chose not to. You flexed, and were reminded of the power of authority. Why run away and cry brutality? You’re causing an eye sore and unwanted attention to a beautiful city. Please leave…
I was arrested & I’m not crying
you really think they’ve worked harder than you? really like 400x harder or 400x smarter? The more money you have in this country the easier it is to make more I bet most of them haven’t work 1% as hard as you have in your life.
I too busted my ass and continue to do so to go from dumpster diving out of necessity to a high 5 figure middle class income. I’m not down there every day because I have work and family as do many people there. You really should come down and see it in person, yeah there’s some whiny loud mouths but there are also many other people.
If I have to qualify on residency I may fail s I live across the river in Cambridge now but I was born in St Margaret’s in Dorchester. Boston is the capital of Masachussetts so some leeway is deserved there in my opinion.
Well said.
Thank you jproulx, for being the people’s representative. I will continue to help the protesters in every way I can. When the banksters who defrauded people get bailouts instead of indictments, and they then use their continued subsidies (given to them to loan out and jumpstart the economy) to “pay off” their bailouts and sit on the rest, how is it that everyone’s not up in arms, instead of hyperventilating about a bit of grass and passing judgment on those who have the backbone and ability to stand up and raise their voices?
Well said.
Spot on.
Nis, congratulations on putting yourself through school. Working your way through school shows more pluck and ambition than most. But why would you believe that the 1% ‘worked harder than you or were more clever’?
There are many people who have inherited a lot of wealth, and these are the people who keep benefiting from the current setup. They have been taking a bigger and bigger piece of the pie in the past few decades. And they pay less of their fair share. Maybe you don’t know any of them, so you’re not aware they are out there. One of the amazing privileges of the 1% is that you get invisibility and anonymity.
This imbalance is what I thought Occupy Boston was all about.
Why do you quote the (uniformed) Huffington Post regarding the agreement with the Greenway Conservancy when the Conservancy itself has made a statement about your agreement?
Quote:
The Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Conservancy continues to support the right to free speech, as demonstrated by the Occupy Boston encampment on Dewey Square. From the beginning, the Conservancy and the Boston Police Department have made it clear to the protesters that they could not expand to areas of the Greenway beyond Dewey Square, out of concern for public safety and our belief in the importance of maintaining public access and enjoyment of the Greenway by all. The Boston Police Department is responsible for ensuring public safety in our parks, and will continue to do so.
You’re all starting to sound like the politicians and corporations, with all of your half-true soundbites and parsing of statements to dishonestly support your cause.
Have some integrity in your cause or pack up.
And where is the written document that this was “made clear” from the beginning?
Look who’s carrying the politicians’ water now, AG….need a mirror? Ooooooo….”concern for public safety.” From the scary anarchists, hm? And if there is access to “all” — how absurd is that? Are you saying the 99% aren’t part of those “all?”
There is either access or there’s not. The park is now gated and guarded. If you can’t see the absurdity of that, you’re missing the point. The powers that be have an undisclosed time limit for the original camp, too. When they crack down on that one, again in the dead of night, they will also release a joint statement claiming that all along they told everyone they were only “allowing” peaceful assembly on a temporary basis. Because grass trump the constitution.
Mother Nature will get rid of you on her own. When Winter arrives and all snow needs to be put someplace, well I hope you move your tent. Like across the street. Please, one of you hardcore Occupy Boston people explain this: Why are you not camped on the Grounds of The Federal Reserve Boston Branch. It is right across the street. Could it be that you fear the Feds and don’t really want to incite the government; so instead you freeload off the taxpayers of Boston?
on October 12th, 2011 at 7:48 am #
[…] Occupy Boston protest has been much in the news lately. The map above shows the portion of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy […]
i have spoken with a number of the “occupiers.” by and large, they are nice people. some are a bit crazy but you get that everywhere i guess.
the one common theme among them is that they have no idea what wall street is. “a casino” i kept hearing.
if you all want to get any traction you should first educate yourselves on finance. of course, that would cause an unwanted epiphany that your beloved govt was an integral part of the horrid situation you all find yourselves in: unemployed, angry, and ignored.
Wall street is not like a casino. At a casino you get free drinks and can hang out with hookers. Wall street is not that hard, you invest in companies that have a future to sell and that have low debt and sound business plan. Crispy Cream had a great product but bad plan. When things get bad is when you work for unions, they invest your money in bad products with bad plans, the union boss gets kick backs from the seller. If you want to see cheat, theft, greed go no further then the unions. do a google search and type in ‘Union leader convicted, or union corruption. The housing mortgage aspect of the market was collapsed by democrat policies, not opinion but fact.
I agree that blame goes to government and many traditional unions who are in bed with both corporations and the government. But it is the corporate interests, and 1% who mostly own them that benefit.
No one is asking the corporations to “please play nice”, many people are asking that the government tax and and regulate both the corporations and the ultrarich (well perhaps not regulate them) so they they work in the interest of the wider public. Though the specific (even if tax and regulation are the way to do this) are widely and loudly debated.
As to The Union problem these are not my words and I forget the atribution (sorry) but I do love them “A bad Union is better than no Unions, and if you have a bad Union it’s your fault” (obviously this is directed to workers )
I couldn’t agree more! If this is to become the serious and long-lasting movement for real change that the country desperately needs, we can allow ourselves to be diverted into conflicts with the police. Its true enough that they are the hirelings of the establishment, which means of property. They are there to protect the interests, ie the property of the establishment. However, economically they are most definitely part of the 99% and are experiencing the same everyday pressures that the rest of us are experiencing. They also have family members who can’t find jobs or who have lost housing. The movement must also make practical plans for moving out of parks and into indoor quarters for the coming cold months. I’m sure there are organizations, NGO’s and churches that will open space for the occupy movement when the weather really gets bad. It is romantic to think that you can continue camping out outdoors through the winter and still get the hard work done. The cities will not allow it for various reasons, and it wouldn’t be healthy or conducive to doing the organizing and other work required for keeping this important movement going. The establishment all around this country would like nothing more than to find an excuse to shut this movement down ASAP and get back to their corrupt and shifty business-as-usual, but we can’t let them find that excuse. I hope the occupiers in all the cities are discussing now the practicalities of making alliances with NGO’s and churches for moving inside in a month or so.
Let me guess.
All you “occupiers” commenting on here are doing so from Occupy Boston and are not just sitting at home daydreaming about your own importance and some vague revolution.
I don’t understand your point here, Employed. Are you commenting from your place of employment when you should be working? Or maybe just during your commute before you start your workday? Or some other scenario…does it matter?
Regardless of where we’re supporting the 99% from….on the street, from home, from work, or a combo of the aforesaid, I agree with your previous statement that a large number of people are uninformed, but I would term it “kept uninformed.” Where is our free press? You stated, “…if you all want to get any traction you should first educate yourselves on finance. of course, that would cause an unwanted epiphany that your beloved govt was an integral part of the horrid situation you all find yourselves in: unemployed, angry, and ignored.” I wonder why you think that would be an epiphany, and if so, an unwanted one? I think that is the very point. Even people unclear on specifics know that our representatives are not looking after our interests.
Actually, a few have been, but they don’t get much traction in the media megaphone.
I’m All In!
“Not that their solutions are solutions that I agree with” says Rahm Emanuel .. but gosh, I thought the problem was that they don’t HAVE solutions..
I wish these rich jackasses would make up their minds. Is it that the Occupy folks are too unfocused or is it that you don’t like what they have to say?
As far as I know, nobody has a “solution”, What people have is anger: anger at corruption, anger at little people getting screwed over every day while rich people and rich corporations buy themselves even more power and wealth.
I saw some idiot yesterday saying “It sounds like you people are jealous of folks who have more than you do.” No, that’s not it. If you work hard or work smart, you deserve the rewards. It’s when you leverage your gains to stack the deck against the rest of us that we get pissed off.
I’m going to use a poker analogy here. In no-limit games, if someone makes a bet you can’t match, you can push whatever you do have into the pot and, if you win, you win a matching amount.
If you couldn’t do that, then someone with more money than you could always take your ante or previous bet because all they need to do is bet more than you have.
Although an imperfect analogy, that does describe what has been going on in America and the world today – the wealthy are using their money and power to make damn sure that they keep on winning every pot.
“I see your $50.00 and raise you six million”. Your four Aces are worthless – and you lost $50 for stupidly thinking you were playing in a fair game.
Of course what really happens is this: the guy with the chips uses his money to change the rules of the game. Amazingly enough, in this hand your four Aces are no good because – according to the new rules the other guys money helped buy – two fours and a five of clubs beats anything you might have.
You didn’t even know that rule existed, because it was buried in a 3,000 page book of dense legal jargon that you didn’t even get when you sat down at the table – but you can go look it up and as your opponent lays down his hand, he’ll happily refer you to the rule that says he wins.
He ALWAYS wins.
THAT is what people are angry about. Not that someone else has a bigger pile of chips, but that they are using those chips to stack the deck against the rest of us.
Not jealousy. ANGER. Aaargh!
thank you
WTF are you talking about? Your rambling makes absolutely no sense. I will never be part of your Occupy movement as it stands now but I could potentially start to respect it if you’ all knew what you were protesting against and came up with a clear message.
Instead:
You march with unions against special interest in Washington. I can’t be the only one that finds that absurd.
You mention you want to stop outsourcing, raise the minimum wage, give everyone free health care, etc. Did you miss what happened to GM, are you not reading about Europe? Italy has a debt to GDP of 120%. There is no such thing as a free lunch.
You blame Wall Street for foreclosures and completely ignore the fact that it was political legislation that truly created the fantasy that everyone in the US deserves to own a home, and 4 plasmas, and multiple cars, and computers in every room… and your messages come off like you are continuing this mentality.
You blame Bush for the current mess which reveals how narrow minded you are. This has been building for 20+ years and both political parties are at fault.
You completely forget to mention that no one held a gun to people’s heads telling them to lever up and buy a house they couldn’t afford. Just because debt was cheap doesn’t mean that everyone needed to take it. You had to walk your ass to a mortgage broker’s office, get a realtor, find a home, find a lawyer and close on that house. People honestly make it sound like houses were just given to them with a bill and they were told to start paying it.
You blame Wall Street and capitalism for all our problems but continue to update you website from iPads, and iPhones and mourn the loss of Steve Jobs whose company was almost the gold standard of what you are protesting against. But his company wouldn’t exist and neither would his precious toys without Wall Street.
Are these the thoughts of everyone in your group? Probably not, but this is what I get when I talk to people that are part of the movement. I feel like more then half the people there are there because it’s the “cool” thing of the moment and their lack of education on the subject is hurting your overall message. Do you have a right to be pissed off? Yes, but it shouldn’t be directed at Wall Street.
In relation to Steve Jobs and Wall Street – Apple has had a very tense relationship with Wall Street analysts for at least fifteen years. Steve did not ever agree with conventional Wall Street wisdom – e.g. no dividends, no analyst meetings about new products, backdating options, etc.
I doubt that everyone is blaming capitalism – I’m certainly not – be we aren’t living in a capitalist economy. It is a socialist one, a socialist economy with extreme weight given to protecting wealthy investors and in funding the military / security complex.
Capitalism requires the efficient allocation of capital, and the current way the market works is creating an incredibly inefficient allocation of capital – hence a failure to invest in R&D, capital expenditures (new plants), etc. in favor of hoarding cash and paying dividends to investors. Not only that, we have no clear picture of how dividends are working in the market, putting the entire structure into risk.
Spoken as (sigh) an MBA from a top five school, with an undergraduate economics degree from a top ten – who would much, much rather live on a kibbutz.
Ask the Occupy Boston people as to how many of them own homes and pay mortgages
Look who’s uninformed now, Sillyhipsters. You’re absorbing and spitting out memes fed to you to keep YOU uninformed. This crisis was not caused by people “buying more home than they could afford.” It was caused by sub-prime lenders who packaged bad loans they created in order to peddle securities fraudulently labeled as AAA investments. Of all the other factors involved, from balloon interest rates, to robo-signing foreclosures by companies who could not even find the mortgage note, to this administration’s ham-handed bailout to the banksters involved with no iron-clad requirement that they keep people liquid, to the fact that people were being misled that they had to “default” on purpose to renegotiate upside mortgages during this freefall of home values (when the banksters then went on to foreclose instead of negotiate), of all these and more factors, the ones least culpable in this widespread crisis are some few who were talked into mortgages they couldn’t afford. They don’t comprise the majority of victims and they didn’t cause this economic meltdown.
And, Loe Mccauley, I pay a mortgage…I made sure I got one locally, where they held the loan, instead of “traded” it. I made sure there were no looming balloon payments. But I support Occupation Boston (both from home and on site) …and I support regulations that prevent the predatory behaviors that have destroyed so many. And I appreciate the fact that there are people out on the streets representing ALL of us. Even if I made better decisions than those who were roped in, I’m still struggling. Credit was tightened for everyone, and what good is equity if it’s shrinking no matter how well you keep your property up?
I feel sorry for people who need to feel superior, and yet display perfectly that they are clueless that we’re all in the same boat here.
Well said, Barry. Maybe you could add something about the huge derivatives market, which is unregulated, and dwarves the equity and bond markets. Which means the current setup is one big casino. Even hedge fund managers have admitted they are in a zero-sum game, so they’re really raking in billions by just shuffling big piles around. They are not using capital productively to make anything grow (except their wallets). Those are the people who should make big money: the ones who create big value.
And worse, the small participants (holders of mortgages, savings, retirement accounts) pay for the misdeeds of these finance cowboys. That’s what needs to change.
Save me a place on the kibbutz.
@Barry —- if you are an MBA from a top five school then i can tell you exactly why we are all screwed and you can ignore the mixed messages of OWS.
Yes Millerz I’m the one that is uniformed. Thank you for setting me straight.
So please, please translate that sentiment into a resolution. Have the GA stop issuing pointless statements of its support for transgendered indigenous disabled union members, and actually come up with a real agenda. Yippee, let’s have a teach in on how evil Israel is! That’ll do…. something. Wait, we care about the economy. Wooo! Let’s decolonize Boston! (etc.)
(and yes, we should all support transgendered indigenous disabled union members, but you need an actual concrete plan here that people can get behind)
Barry –
Just because Steve Jobs had a tense relationship with Wall Street doesn’t mean he didn’t need it and didn’t play the game.
Anyway, I appreciate your response. We can argue all day on the root causes of the inefficiencies in the market, i.e. are they too regulated or not regulated enough (this was my undergraduate thesis), but it was nice to get a sophisticated response that wasn’t filled with venom or platitudes.
Barry, the fact that you can even joke about this shows how much more training you need in heteronormativity awareness! The next 3 GAs will now be dedicated to making you more aware of the most emotionally sensitive 1% of the assembly. We can discuss economic stuff after everyone eventually leaves.
Hetoronormativity awareness? We can discuss economics later? This is a representative of the mighty movement that’s going to bring down Wall Street?
You’re trying to win here, you’re trying to accomplish something, and Occupy Boston is falling into the identity politics trap that has wrecked the Left for my entire life. This is not just pathetic, it’s so very sad. There’s actually a chance to undo the damage that the right wing has done, and you’re throwing out buzzwords.
Ah, my bad, didn’t recognize the sarcasm. Unfortunately, your sarcasm is very well placed…
I don’t know when I’ve seen such adorable chest-beating! Darling things! I thought I would die laughing when the one turned to the other and said, oh, whew, for a moment I thought you were denouncing the genetically-approved tradition of chest-beating! Carry on, please. Men are so cute.
If this movement is going to respond to well-intentioned internal criticism so dismissively it won’t take very long to fall apart. Even if the criticism comes from a man.
Well, bless it. Hims can dish out the mockery but hims can’t take it. Oh! Pardon me… the “well-intentioned” mockery. 🙂
I’m sorry that trying to make the movement inclusive and safe for ALL of the 99% doesn’t meet with your approval. It’s not like trans status, disability or race contribute to anyone’s economic status, right?
Yep , its all a big conspiracy!
Wow.
You should listen to yourselves. You have more in cowith Glenn Beck than you realize—if, of course, you had a shred of intellectual ingegrity.
ingegrity is a rare thing indeed
Let’s create a better future for our children! Sometimes working hard and “being clever” are enough to get you by. And sometimes you actually have to stand up and fight!
Some are intimidated by this. I don’t blame them. It’s not courage if you’re not afraid.
OccupyDallas is surrounded by cops. See: http://www.occupydallas.org/
Notice a lot of those commenting here neglect the fact that it is a constitutional right to assemble.
Let me guess, the constitution is only brought out of the box when it’s YOUR rights being trampled?
Indeed.
I think that Occupy Boston is damaging itself pretty badly here. The Greenway protesters messed this one up at least as much as the BPD. The level of initial protester resistance shown on the video justified the use of force beyond the polite “you’re under arrest — oh, o.k.” approach that otherwise might have prevailed. Maybe not perfectly executed on the part of BPD, but no one got hurt and to hype this up as “police brutality” jeopardizes credibility.
Stick to the important issues. You have more support among the mainstream residents of Boston than you might think. I advise slanting that way instead of toward the self-proclaimed anarchists and organized labor mouthpieces who will get you nowhere.
It’s your moment to make or lose.
Do you really think that, gp, or was it “thought” for you? Occupation Boston “damaged” itself by growing? Thousands marched, and more stayed than could fit in the first camp…and this is a bad thing?
So how much SHOW of force do YOU justify? Maybe if the media had framed this differently, the “mainstream residents” would know to be outraged, since apparently, all any of them can do is re-bleat that the “police were reasonable” and the protesters “deserved it” because they did or didn’t comply with this or that demand.
Try to wrap your head around this: HUNDREDS of police in riot gear surrounded this TINY park. They shut down street access for blocks around. There was an army of them before they even knew whether or not the peaceful protesters would “voluntarily” cede their constitutional right to assemble.
You don’t call that excess force? No? How about asking the mayor how much he spent on that army? How many of your tax dollars went to saving that grass from being “trampled.”
I think the residents of Boston are damaging themselves pretty badly by docilely regurgitating the media drumbeat instead of questioning authority here. Or maybe you support the use of massive amounts of riot police to clear out those “anarchists and organized labor mouthpieces” you find so distasteful, hm?
Did you get arrested Monday or were you one of the big talkers telling everyone to stick together who ran off at the first chance?
Did I see you there, chest-beater Dan? 🙂
I came as soon as I read the reports asking people to come with cameras. I’m glad I did, because I knew from past experience the media would not accurately draw the picture. I was shunted far away by all the roadblocks, but when I finally got there I stayed till it was reasonably certain they weren’t going to shut down Dewey Square, too (yet….they’ve already said they’re going to). Then I did a food run.
Sorry if that’s “lame” in the male pissing-contest world. Chestbeat on! 🙂
No, but unlike you I respect the rule of law. And the park rules clearly state that the park closes at 11PM and no camping allowed. Your, mistaken, belief that your outrage somehow gives you more constitutional rights then you otherwise have is laughable. Please, go yell “Fire” in a crowded theater and then cover your actions with the guise of Free Speech. If you need more space, THEN WHY NOT MOVE ONTO THE FEDERAL RESERVES PROPERTY?
And I was there. It was a pretty even match in terms of manpower, but again, you were breaking the law. On purpose, looking for a fight. You wanted to get arrested then you should expect to get arrested and stop martyring yourselves.
Millerz:
No, OB damaged itself by letting Big Labor, which has more lobbyists than you or I will ever have, hijack the movement and suck off the energy and truth.
And is damaging itself further by insisting on this stupid manufactured story about the BPD’s “brutality.” In fact OB is back at Dewey Square with the full cooperation of the city and police. The cops maybe should not have used the aggressive tactics it did, but (1) no one got hurt, (2) OB or elements within it were seeking to provoke a reaction and (3) OB or elements within it deliberately place the older veterans right at the point of likely conflict. The whole thing smacks of manufactured outrage, to be honest. It is a stupid thing to waste your time on and opens the door for the anarchist assholes to smash windows and generally misbehave.
Meanwhile, the nation is praying for you to make this mean something. You have our attention. You are on the right side of history. Nobody cares about a couple of whiners crying about how their plastic tiecuffs were too tight. Deal with it. We care about getting greed and corruption out of our political system. WE WANT YOU MAKE THIS MEAN SOMETHING. PLEASE DON’T FUCK IT UP. PLEASE.
the cause is getting hijacked, sidetracked, and diminished by a BPD tactics discussion.
Using a massive strike force against peace protests is a discussion well worth having…and way overdue for proper framing.
Today, clashes with the police, with injuries during the protest of students at the Bologna headquarters of the Bank of Italy
http://bologna.repubblica.it/cronaca/2011/10/12/foto/proteste_alla_banca_d_italia_botte_tra_polizia_e_centri_sociali-23093264/1/
8:15……The Hundred Club of Massachusetts honors Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis with humanitarian award at annual dinner. State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan will emcee the event, with Mayor Menino, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mark Wolf and Lowell Police Superintendent Kenneth Lavallee introducing Davis……Boston Park Plaza, Boston
Protest?
on October 12th, 2011 at 11:11 am #
[…] More on Occupy Boston Arrests Like this:LikeBe the first to like this post. […]
DO NOT LET washington or Congress off the hook. They might promise new laws or regulations but this is exactly what you will get.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/volcker-rule-toothless-then-even-more-toothless-now
The new Volker Rule should be re-named Volker Exemption. You won’t believe what’s in this.
The other 98% say get a fucking job and get those tents out of our city.
Wow, poor math skills. Sad :C
i support OWS and the group in Boston OB, and i say three hip hip hooray’s to you all. keep up the great work. and yes to those who are tormenting us and harming us for our right to protest may our love for our country radiate onto you.
What exactly are your demands? You will be there as long as it takes? Takes for what? What will cause you to leave your tent city? Until you can adequately express this in a single coherent way then you don’t have my support.
Hear, hear! Not that I suspect there’s any cogent message in the first place, of course. I’ve heard some of these morons being interviewed. One even said that he deserved a middle-class lifestyle simply because he graduated from college. What, does he think that’s the sole requirement, and that, upon graduation, someone will just hand him a check? This generation expects maximum results from their expenditure of … nothing.
I feel all hopey-changey!!!!
“This generation expects maximum results from their expenditure of … nothing.”
Wall Street took hundreds of billions in bailouts and zero-interest loans. Banksters get a free pass and you characterize people that can’t find a job as freeloaders. Think before you accuse people of being lazy. Think for yourself, don’t let the Banksters do it for you.
If we invested in the health and education of our people and the improvement of our property and infrastructure we’d be better off than what we’ve wasted on war and plunder. It’s already our money. Yes, we should expect to have it spent on our pursuit of happiness.
Paul, they’re letting the memes planted by the media do their “thinking” for them. A sound byte that is easy to repeat is all they can handle, and ironically, the one they chose was “What are your demands…and make it snappy!”
Personally, jorgy, I don’t think it gets much snappier than “99%” — if you don’t know how the elite have been not only gaming the system but gutting the majority while they were at it, then get cracking! Until you can adequately express how you understand that you will always be in the 99% even if you win the lottery (which is a volunteer tax and where does that revenue go?) you …. still have my support. 🙂
Yes. It took a while but the 99% are awake. Now, let’s take back our democracy! 🙂
The Boston Herald Posted a PDF of all the protesters arrested you should look at it and determine for yourself how the information reflects upon these brats. Some live in Harvard dorms (last time i look it only cost $50K/ yr) and theirs also a bunch from Needham (Midium home price aprox. $650k). Listen im 24 and these are not my peer’s and please to not allow these moonbats to be a reflection upon my generation. I am deeply embarrassed for these lazy, unemployed, spoiled, out of touch, unrealistic, liberal art major, trust fund brats who are on a daily basis destroying the good intentions of my generation. Please stop hurting our character and more importantly stop increasing the cost to the tax payers who are far from agreement with your stance.
There’s no way in hell someone under the age of 50 uses the term moonbat in earnest.
Maybe i grew up around politics and have been an avid reader since a very young age, including the news paper. So i don’t read that trash the Metro. And yes I am 24, i was born in 1987 (which wouldmake me 24 asshole).
Perhaps you may want to consider why a group of Harvard students are supporting Occupy Boston. Those kids are pretty much some of the best and the brightest that the country has. There may be a good reason why they’re protesting, and you should think about why they’d be willing to sit outside in the cold.
theirs = belonging to them
there’s = there is
TRY OCCUPYING A JOB INSTEAD OF A PICKET LINE!!!
Harlan County, an award-winning documentary on the coal miners strike in the 70’s has been playing on cable. I highly recommend it!!!!!! In light of Occupy Wall St there is one particularly amazing segment where the miners sent some of their striking union members to Wall St to picket the stockholders. One of the policemen guarding them was sympathizing with the miners and they were comparing the benefits from each of their unions.
And I just want to say that happened at Occupy Boston, too. Some of the regular Boston cops on the scene that night…the ones putting in long hours, not the riot guard brigade…were discussing how some clauses in their contracts allowed the city to make them work insanely long shifts for this.
That movie would have been a lot better if the citizens of Harlan County discussed identity politics ad inifinitum instead of just working together against economic injustice. If women managed to be such a huge part of that action that took place 40 years ago in West Virginia, I don’t think it should be such a big deal here in 2011 Boston.
I feel your pain, Dan! Just beat your chest a little more vehemently and we might come around! <3
What a trite response, millerz. He’s not “beating his chest” – he’s making the very salient (and sad) point that Occupy Boston is obsessed with identity politics and not with the economy.
Do you want to stop the 1% from looting the country or do you want to play games? The choice is yours – and the GAs. The temperature outside is dropping, and I wonder how much momentum the self-declared representatives of the people will have when it starts to snow.
Please, please provide an example in recent American history where the Left has won while fixating on identity politics. Just last weekend the GA was becoming terrified that too many white people – horrors! – were in facilitator roles. While you folks were yelling “MIKE CHECK!” and repeating instructions over and over again the police were likely figuring out how to take down the second camp. Focus on the issue which can win you actual support from the 99%, focus on the economy.
Odd…I spent the same day surrounded by 400 people at my organiztion, and not ONE of us was arerssted….
Reminds of a time in Boston when I was standing outside a Boston public school in 1974 execising my rights and was called a racist and beaten by the then Boston police ATF.
YA? Only problem is thess punks supports the same suburban lefties that helped inact that successfull bill to bus kids around the city.
To those who believe the non-residents should leave, let me ask you this: What city is more suitable for Massachusetts protests? As the state capital, it makes sense that Boston should serve as the main center for the Occupy movement among those residing in Massachusetts.
I grew up in Westford, a town that is only now becoming known due to its growing technological parks that have replaced what were once apple orchards. But at its heart, Westford is still just that — a town. It lacks the prestige and power of any Massachusetts city, and it is nothing more than a shadow when compared to Boston. So what, do you expect me to protest outside of Westford Town Hall or perhaps in Westford’s “booming” (notice the mockery) business district that is nothing more than part of Route 110? Quite frankly, that seems pointless to me.
Power comes in numbers. Change comes with being noticed. It makes far more sense for the little-town-people to be hitting up Boston or at least other Massachusetts cities. If my point still doesn’t make sense to you, my apologies. (And to those wondering, I don’t live in Westford anymore. I’m just trying to explain from my perspective why we “random people” see Boston as a good place for protesting.)
Instead of everyone arguing with each other, instead of some Bostonians feeling that people from other towns are unwelcome, how about we unite on the fact that we are all part of the 99%? Isn’t that the whole POINT of this in the first place?
And go ahead — hit up Westford if you want 😉
Interesting idea, Valerie! Come to Quincy, too!!! Quincy would be great to occupy. It’s the City of Presidents…lots of history here, and we’re right on the red line!
YA Quincy aka The New ChinaTown
It costs an extra token to get off in Quincy square
For those who keep repeating to a large ground of individuals, most of whom are employed, that we need to get jobs & quit blaming others for our ‘problems,’ I’d like to point out that most of the blaming I’ve heard is from you all telling us to ‘look at the man in the white house.’ Many of us are not even attributing blame there – We are, however, demanding change as an entire country & economical/political system. I find it interesting that so many of you, who I am positive are struggling to some extent yourselves, choose to spend so much time on the OccupyBoston site attempting to shame & demean others. FOR THOSE OF YOU HERE OPPOSING FOR WHAT WE STAND: Thank you all for giving the movement so much of your attention, time, and energy
lol, during “work hours” no less! 🙂
😀
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” -Gandhi
This is like a trolling hate factory. Why are you people spending so much time on a website for a movement you don’t support, refuse to listen to, and actively avoid understanding?
This is like a trolling hate factory Bro….. Guy grow the fu*k up…..Get a job…..And quite you crying.
Whatever you’re going to do, you better do it before October 21. Harold Camping of Family Radio has re-re-re-calculated the day of the Rapture and October 21, 2011 is it.
Or why bother? October 22 means no more banks, corporations, marauding police or social inequalities!
It’s just heaven or hell. What could be more fair?
Dear Occupy Boston:
Here
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44872639/ns/us_news-life/#.TpX-Ypsg_UA
is who you are affiliating yourselves with by allowing Big Labor to hijack your movement. Who has more lobbyists in Washington than Big Labor? Who is more corrupt? Who is doing more to get rid of every job in the country through their witless tactics?
If you want our country back we have to take it back from Big Labor too, no just Big Business and Biog Corrupt Government
on October 12th, 2011 at 5:02 pm #
[…] people people were arrested—including members of “Veterans for Peace”—and officers used unnecessary force. The violence I witnessed is not a part of my vision for America, and underscores to me the fierce […]
I tend to see everything from a libertarian conservative perspective and see the problem as the socialist Left having already taken over much of the country. The fact is that any excessive violence on the part of police was probably not ordered by the wealthy “one percent” controllers. The Boston Police force is union controlled and the Mayor likely has no real control over whether they rough people up or not. He can order them to clear the area but can’t force them to be nice about it. (Or won’t because he is a union tool.) So the violence on the part of police against the demonstrators was actually Socialist Union violence. All true conservatives should stand with the demonstrators.
The demonstrator’s movement is endorsed by at least 10 unions. I will use my time more wisely campaigning for Ron Paul.
Stop waiting for something to be announced. If you know you are right then believe in yourself. Go down to Occupy Boston and talk to these kids and try to help them. All of the Ron Paul folks I know are there.
I like Ron Paul. He sees that our system is broken and ending the Fed is a good start. The Fed and the Banksters helped corrupt our government.
you’d be surprised how much support you’d get if you were open to dialogue.
This is in response to Losif Crumb and platypusrex256.
First, we were open to all different views when we entered into this. We were under the impression that this was a non-partisan movement that would not promote a political agenda on the side of the left or right, nor would it hypocritically align themselves with organizations who buy politicians at both the state and federal level.
We were in dialogue from the very first assembly all the way up to the endorsements from the unions which were NOT put to a vote in the GA. This was the game changer for us. We could understand the individual worker of the union, but not the organization as a whole. We believed that OB was going to remain independent of these influences. This was not the platform for this.
Being more Libertarian minded we found it difficult to have a voice. We witnessed people booed or hurried off the stage if they had anything other than a liberal view. Meanwhile, all speakers “invited” to speak were completely left views. They were welcomed with open arms. No booing. No hurrying.
While being trained how to talk to the media the first day of the occupation we were asked by one of the movements organizers what brought us there and what was worrying us about the country. After answering, we were told it sounded too “tea party” and to tone it down. Our feelings, our unhappiness, our worry, didn’t fit into the agenda and again, we were back to being silenced/marginalized. The ironic thing was this was being told to us by someone who was transgender. Do you see the hypocrisy again? Now, please don’t say I have issues with LGBT because I stated that. We are very socially liberal people. The point is, we both had to deal with things that others “might not agree with”. Our so called, “tea party” sounding views and this persons LGBT views. Ours were silenced, while theirs were welcomed.
The fact is, we were silenced because our view didn’t match the agenda trying to be put forth, although we ARE part of the 99%. Actually in the very lowest bracket of. We had stuck it out throughout all of this, including the fact that this movement had been latched onto by Michael Moore, Susan Sarandon, and Moveon.Org., but the straw to us, was the union endorsements. We are not the only ones either, as I have read plenty of other concerned peoples opinions.
This is NOT a movement we can support any longer and we DID give it time and dialogue. We even helped with it, spent hours in GA’s, marched, and donated. As I said, we will spend our time campaigning for Ron Paul. Good luck to you all. We feel for the young people there, as we have our own kids who are dealing with the pains of this broken country. We know there are alot of very well-intentioned people in this and most of them are hurting as well, but we cannot ignore the “Elephant in the room”.
Does reposting the same comment over and over count as “using your time wisely”?
@EPW I’m happy you have found the “time” to be so witty. I actually responded to the wrong post, so I had to redo it. They didn’t have a delete option or I would have used it. Have a good day : )
I want to be there when you share your theory with the socialist cops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quAK3PKQUZc
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAwP6IvIyFs&w=420&h=315%5D
How do i embed the video like the one above? Anyway here’s a short video i shot that night .. http://youtu.be/bAwP6IvIyFs
I find your own reporting of the events disingenous and a bit deceptive:
“Occupiers have been in constant contact with the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, a non-profit that manages the publicly park owned by MassDOT, and, prior to their arrests, they had received verbal consent to stay in the park.”
It has been publicly acknowledged multiple times that the Conservancy specifically asked Occupy Boston not to camp on the area that the police kicked us off of. Please don’t start selectively reporting like the mainstream media…
Where do I send my resume to get one of those Professional Protester gigs?
watch
wellaware1.com
Sorry, we’ve donated money and stuff (printers/wood), we’ve been coming around all week, etc. My husband got arrested Sunday night.
HE SAW NO POLICE BRUTALITY — there may have been something he did not see, but over all he thought the police were wonderful.
YOU ARE LOSING MY CONFIDENCE AND RESPECT with your exaggerated PR. We need to NOT do what the banks and governments do and slant PR to suit our bullshit.
When I find a group or organization that isn’t lying I’ll support them, for now I have NOT found that group. I likely will not be there on Oct 15th…………..
People really were terrorized that night and I think that is where a lot of this is coming from. We all thought the police were going to overrun the main camp. After apologizing to Dan the Bagel Man, I left at 2:30. The five mile ride home on my children’s Razor scooter was one of the most shameful times of my life. I think all of us here on this topic should set up times when we will probably be at Occupy Boston so we can talk to each other. It shouldn’t be this way in Boston.
I was there. I got arrested. I had plenty of opportunity to talk with other arrestees that night and the following morning, while we were all around the courthouse waiting to be arraigned. And you know what I kept hearing?
“I thought this might happen, so I took off work today.”
“I hope we can get this hearing done today because I can’t take off again.”
“My boss was pretty understanding when I told him I most likely wouldn’t come in today.”
For everyone you see in that park during the day, there are dozens more busting ass to support themselves who are still willing to show up and get arrested when the chips are down.
I have plenty more to say, but I’m also on a deadline at work. Take it, peanut gallery.
Thank you a2z and all others representing the rest of us. I also work and am a supporter and I know it does not mean as much, but me and I am sure thousands of working middle class Americans are with you in spirit and wishing we could be there in person.
THANKS TO ALL !! –
BTW – if you can influence the movement to start targeting and mobilizing my demographic of those who are employed with creative ONLINE or EMAIL campaigns and CALL TO ACTION, please do so while you are there). I would like to help but can’t be there in person and these young folk can’t figure out how to mobilize the rest of us…
If you allow yourselves to be aligned with the ‘labor unions’ – your “cause” will be viewed by the general public as just as whiny as they always are. Their thuglike, childlike, whiny, bitchy, bullhorn tactics are of the spoiled little kid on the playground that doesn’t get his way.
Should your group choose to follow in step with their whiny behaviors, you will lose all credibility as actually having a real cause.
Labor unions in this city are no longer about protecting the working man and all about greed and filling their coffers and bankrupt pensions at the expense of new, lied to, ‘new’ members! Don’t go there.
I don’t agree with most of the standard union positions. If it was up to me we would just outsource most of our public education to Indian online tutors. But we need to get down there to South Station and talk to each other and stand together. It doesn’t matter if you are conservative or progressive Left, we are being utterly ripped off by the banking system. I bet if you really looked into it you could find that even our Chinese creditors are being ripped off somehow.
Love you all! I am here and ready. God bless and be safe! It’s time for this to stop, and for the government to listen to the people! The boston police thing really sickens me, Assaulting ANY VETERAN is disrespectful and gross.
I’m wondering if we can leave the narrative of the arrests behind and get back to the real narrative of the movement….folks like me who have experienced bankruptcy, foreclosure, had to use all my life savings to help take care of my Alzheimer’s mom. People who are holding 2 jobs, neither with health insurance, to put food on the table for their children. For the millions of Americans who are suffering, just like me, just like you.
Thank you for holding the space.
Peace, Namaste.
I’m with peacemaker; it would be good to direct the focus away from police and back on the original broken financial/political system.
Matt Taibbi offers up some concrete suggestions at http://m.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/10/matt-taibbis-advice-ows
how many people are still at occupy boston with all this rain? like five homeless people and three trustafarians that have the best camping equipment money can buy?
So, the food festival has to be cancelled and the kids pumpkin festival because of you? You are all a bunch of arrogant jerks. Hopefully, your parents will soon see who you actually are and quit funding your violent occupation. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on all of you.
What are you talking about? Occupy Boston is like a permanent food festival and pumpkin festival. And my 14 year old son has autism. I don’t feel comfortable bringing him to any other social events anymore because he is now almost 6 feet tall and he is all over the place. I plan to bring him to Occupy Boston. He loves parades.
Loose Crumbs- Occupy Boston is a cesspool of dirty, smelly, spoiled brats. It’s nothing children should be brought to or exposed to. The occupiers are shameful degenerates who only care for themselves. I’m glad they are causing events to be cancelled because the more idiotically they behave the more people turn against them and see them for the imbeciles that they are. It also is nice that they reflect so poorly on Barack Obama. So, lead on imbeciles, lead on.
No, I will not leave my city because, in your opinion, there is some residency litmus test that must be met for authenticity. What a presumptuous ass! FYI, I was born and raised in this city that I love…..the Cradle of Liberty, it was once called. IF you had any working knowledge of the US Constitution, you would find (surprise, surprise!!) that Free Speech is protected under that nearly perfect document as is the Right to Assemble
in order to present grievances and seek redress from our government. That is what these Occupy movements entail, friend. There is much to love
about our country, BUT there is much to change and fix for a better future for all people, not just the 1% who have managed to hijack the economic system for their own betterment at the expense of the well-being of the vast majority of people. They have not worked harder, or better, or more efficiently than most others – they HAVE managed to manipulate the system for themselves and they have been very calculating and clever at distorting the rules of the game and stacking the odds in their favor. Perhaps you
find this admirable and may like the behavoir of the Bernie Madoff’s of our society, but I do not.
about
By the way, here is a link that I believe just about sums up the values of those 1% who run the tables on Wall St. Read this and then comment on the “values” of these pirates.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/10/10/financial-giants-put-new-york-city-cops-on-their-payroll/#.TpTCJ-E9E68.facebook
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/who-really-owns-nypd-turns-out-its-no
I have voted in every election, national, state and local since I was eligible to vote back in 1966. I know my legislators well, since I am in contact with their respective offices on a regular basis. I am involved in my community, have raised a great family of well-educated, socially conscious and responsible citizens, and I have always encouraged participation in their government. Who do you really think you are to paint such an insulting, demeaning picture of this movement? Occupy Boston is a 2 week old movement formed in support of what is happening on Wall St. and in response to the crimes that have been allowed to germinate there.
In my view, the central focus of the Occupy movements is the economic
system of corruption, greed, and abuse so blatantly practiced on Wall St.
Never forget the criminal activities that occurred there among the large financial institutions and banks. They created an incredibly fraudulent model of economic gamesmanship that ultimately imploded on itself AND THE REST OF SOCIETY. That is the central issue here. Banks too big to fail? I was against the bailouts – these institutions should be broken down in to smaller entities anyway, but that is an argument for
another day.) If you cannot ‘see’ the problems posed by these
institutions, or even worse, if you think that their criminal activities are
just fine and ought to be protected and allowed to continue, then no
one can help you. The middle class has been decimated by these
abuses. Our money-drenched Congress is complicit in these practices.
They are cousins to their Wall St. brethren. We have an ineffectual,
wholly-owned corporate subsidiary – called the US Congress. In effect, we have no real government of the people any longer.
The Occupy Boston movement, as stated, is just beginning. There are better ways to do things and to get out the message. That will come with time and experience. By the way, I am employed, have a responsible job; I also still have a soul and a conscience. Things must change. The people have to speak loudly and persistently for that to happen. If a few saplings and some grass were trampled, well perhaps the BPD ought to accept some responsibilty for dragging people, tents, etc. through, over and around the bushes. In any event, FREE SPEECH and the RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE trump a rose bush. Those can be replanted with care. Once we lose our Constitutional rights, they will not be so easily replaced. Think about that.
I am a Boston resident. I do not owe anyone an apology. Get over yourself, Beantown guy.
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Wow, what can I say about this video. I laughed. I cried. Then I saw the girl at the end crying and I laughed so hard I fell out of my chair.
Rather than use the Police, which would cost millions more in OT to remove you fools from the Greenway I have a better idea for the Mayor. Rather than spending the Citizens of Boston tax dollars on the police, use the native resident Townie boys to kick their asses back to their parents houses. Boston neighborhoods are fighting for more police presence for quality of life issues, but are too busy babysitting you whining babies. Thanks for eying the greenway and wasting MY TAX MONEY!
Throwing bottles and spitting on U.S. Military members walking by your camp in uniform. You should all be ashamed!
Check your facts. I don’t see any reasonable evidence to conclude that these things happened. The Coast Guard itself put out a statement saying that there was no evidence that the spitting incident at South Station was done by Occupy protestors.
the use of force to deny people’s human rights is violence. The use of riot police, mass arrests, and threats of imprisonment for up to a year are motivated by a desire to terrorize us into not using out rights. It’s not about whether people were punched repeatedly or not. It is about the fact that the police were ordered by the mayor who was ordered by the 1% (directly or indirectly) to commit violent act of terrorism against those who want real change. This always happens to people who want real change and always will until there no long is a 1% and a 99
Until then, the fight for justice goes on.
Hear hear. I think it is important to expose disproportionate police use of force, and the police actions show that the police in situations like these are acting as dogs of war for more powerful interest. In most situations, they are supposed to be protecting the public, but in a case like this, they are repressing basic rights. I do think it’s important to show the way that repression is enacted across the whole chain from police to courts to the politicians, to the wealthy interest who set their agenda. Threats of serious jail time for protesting, fines, and other hardships are as repressive as the strike of a billy club or a pepper spray in the face, and can last longer. Ten years ago, I was arrested while holding a sign in front of a Senator’s office in support of human rights, in a march of 100 people, and was charged with two felonies that were complete fabrications and my bail was set at $35,000. This caused immense hardship and crippled my life for years, more than the actual physical beating at the time of the arrest. One Veteran for Peace suffered broken ribs, however, and that was very serious. Many had a level of trauma or PTSD after the events. In that case, I think it was a mixture of an order from a higher-up, probably Lieberman himself, as well as a blood-lust on the part of the Hartford police. The cops need to be held accountable, and that if they commit violence that was clearly unwarranted, that they can face criminal charges — for example, I think that Anthony Bologna needs jail time for what he did in NYC. They also need to know that when they’re acting with integrity, and especially as ordinary citizens in their off duty lives, they are supported by the movement because it’s for all people to have more real democracy.
on October 24th, 2011 at 2:42 pm #
[…] in a way a unifying force for the continuation and growth of the movement. Like mass arrests in Boston, Chicago, and elsewhere, such actions against protestors often strengthen protest movements rather […]
Not sure what happened to the comment text, but it contained this link to news about the chemical bombing in the Occupy Maine camp: http://occupyer.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/bad-news-sad-news-maine/