Sunday, January 29, 2012

Occupy D.C. to be Cleared Monday; Occupy Mayhem Across the Country

There are two occupation camps in D.C., one at Freedom Plaza and one at  McPherson Square, National Park Service police plastered copies of a notice at both stating that camping equipment was not allowed and that sleeping in the parks would  not be tolerated and that those who do so will be subject to arrest.

The notice said the non-sleeping and no camping equipment regulations will start to be enforced on Monday. Things could get interesting.

I spoke to one occupier at McPherson Square and he told me he had no plans to leave his tent and that the police would have to come in and get him.

McPherson Square Occupation


Another protester at McPherson Square told WaPo:
Many of us will be likely to defend the park with the passion anyone would show defending their home.We are fighting for the betterment of D.C., America and the world, and we intend to continue using our First Amendment rights to do so.
At Freedom Plaza, an occupier told me that no one slept at the occupation and that the tents were there for symbolic reasons only and that on occasion some occupiers went into the tents for "8 to 12 hour meditations".

Meanwhile, in Oakland over 300 Occupy protesters were arrested after an attempt was made to Occupy a vacant Oakland convention center. USA Today has the story:

 About 300 people were arrested Saturday during a chaotic day of Occupy protests that saw demonstrators break into City Hall and burn an American flag, as police earlier fired tear gas and bean bags to disperse hundreds of people after some threw rocks and bottles and tore down fencing outside a nearby convention center. 
Dozens of police officers remained on guard outside City Hall around midnight following the most turbulent day of protests since November, when Oakland police forcefully dismantled an Occupy encampment. An exasperated Mayor Jean Quan, who faced heavy criticism for the police action last fall, called on the Occupy movement to "stop using Oakland as its playground." 
"People in the community and people in the Occupy movement have to stop making excuses for this behavior," Quan said. 
Protesters clashed with police throughout the day, at times throwing rocks, bottles and other objects at officers. And police responded by deploying smoke, tear gas and bean bag rounds, City Administrator Deanna Santanta said. 
"These demonstrators stated their intention was to provoke officers and engage in illegal activity and that's exactly what has occurred today," Santana said. 
Interim Police Chief Howard Jordan said about 300 arrests were made.

Here's video of tear gas and flashbangs being used against protesters in Oakland:



In NYC, Occupiers appear to be going upscale. NyPo reports:
...more than 100 protesters flocked to a more upscale locale last night when they ransacked an unoccupied condo building in Williamsburg by throwing a massive party.

After about half an hour, cops broke up the 10 p.m. bash at 205 N. Eighth St. It wasn’t immediately clear how many were arrested, but officers suffered minor injuries.

The building has 10 units for sale for as much as $625,000.

The hipsters left empty cans of Schlitz beer behind and spray-painted graffiti, such as “Be the Crisis,” on the walls.

4 comments:

  1. Protesters who do not recognize and respect property rights are no better than those who violate property rights.

    ReplyDelete
  2. If you don't recognize property rights, what's there to violate? Have we all conceded that we don't even own our bodies much as the fruit of our labors. Even children are the property of the government aka society.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think the most hilarious and hypocritical are the occupiers Black Bloc anarchists.. They are by far the most violent destroying everything in sight and beating people up all over.

    These thugs call themselves anarchists but have no respect for property rights and non agression.

    i dont get it..

    ReplyDelete
  4. Flashbangs, smoke, tear gas and bean bags. It sounds like money to The Carlyle Group's Combined Systems Inc.

    http://www.combinedsystems.com/categories.php?cid=123

    ReplyDelete