I have a lot more to say about the incredible and horrifying things that happened in Oakland today, but while I digest the experience, I’ll just share a brief anecdote.
Around 3:30 PM, my son and I left the Move-In march as the first tear-gas canisters erupted. We decided to walk up 12th Street to catch the bus at Broadway. As we were walking towards Franklin Street, my son said ‘look, there’s Mayor Quan.’
Mayor Jean Quan was leaving some sort of event in Chinatown. She was completely unaware of the violence unfolding only two blocks away. Accompanied by a small entourage, all smiling and laughing as if it were just another day, she climbed into the Mayor Mobile wearing that red outfit she seems to wear to every City Council meeting.
As we walked past, I shouted ‘stop attacking Occupy Oakland! Peace, peace…stop attacking us!’
Her entourage looked surprised. The Mayor didn’t look at me.
Another day in Oakland, indeed.
(Cross-posted at Pickled Bologna)
They burned flags all the time in the 60s. Big deal. Get a grip, folks. All this attention to one guy burning a cloth while 400 peaceful protestors were kettled and arrested? A little perspective please. People matter, not cloth. People have been harmed by police. So one dude burns a flag and you freak out? Our country is guilty of many atrocities. Look at Bradley Manning. Look at Chile. Look at Iraq. Look at Gitmo. This flag is sacred to you?
Just going back to the original post…. right on! We all need to confront these people constantly. After I was trapped by the police and absurdly ordered to leave a place where they would not allow me to leave, I decided to confront these cops everywhere I see them. I tell them that they violated my rights, that they broke the law, and that they are a disgrace to their uniform, their city, and their country. I’m growing tired of people who claim to be “progressive” but who look past the reports of hundreds who were illegally assaulted in that park by the OPD and instead focus on a small group of people burning a flag or smashing a window. I guess it’s a more comfortable place to be at, as opposed to the powerless and frustrated feeling that I have now. But I’m looking at reality, and in reality it’s Occupy Oakland that is representing the 99%, not the blissful sleepers on the left.
I agree with the anti-flag-burning comments. However, you may feel about the flag, it is also the flag of the rest of the 99%. If you really want to represent the rest of us, I would think you would consider the reactions of those who are deeply offended by these actions. If you do not particularly care about offending many people who might like to join the movement, then the movement will simply disintegrate, as it is already doing.
Why burn a flag when you can always sell it for food?
Whenever I see a flag burned I think of all the horror America has perpetrated on the planet since its inception.
Then I go out and burn one myself.
I am definitely a law-abiding citizen, and definitely not a patriotic one, at least as it has been re-defined for us as subservience to the state, Christianity, the almighty Stars and Stripes, and the Pledge of Allegiance (post-1950s version, of course).
It is interesting how you conflate the two concepts.
Could you expand on which of ‘your kids parks’ OO has ruined? I’ve been following the movement closely since October and had a good chuckle at the many accusations hurled at Occupy, but I have not heard of any parks being ‘ruined’.
If your movement is going to continue to break the law and desecrate the flag how can you say you represent the 99%? The majority of us are law abiding and patriotic citizens. All I’m seeing from the Occupy movement is wanton disregard of how the rest of us think of their actions. At least the 1% are not burning my flag and ruining my kids parks!
Not sure what flag-burning has to do with my special moment with the Mayor, but I’m 100% in support of the concept. Flags are pieces of cloth, and I don’t see how burning one is any worse than wearing one on your tee-shirt or trucker hat. Is repeatedly sweating on a flag better than burning one?
That said, if you’re going to burn a flag, it’s important to put the burning into a clear political context. Contrary to the opinion of some, burning stuff is NOT fun, it’s dangerous, and you need to be very clear about why you’re doing what you’re doing.
that’s why it had to have been cops, infiltrators; doors to city hall were unlocked! accidental?? NOT! check out history cointelpro ’60s ’70s; same stuff; new faces
While I believe that burning the flag is a protected 1st Amendment action, I don’t think that this will help endear Occupy Oakland to the 99%. It’s becoming oh so clear that Occupy Oakland has been hijacked by the radical 1% of the 99%. It’s a shame because this movement started out strong and on target. Now the Oakland branch of Occupy is fast proving to we the 99% who are residents of Oakland that we the 99% aren’t welcome at Occupy Oakland. Unless a huge change happens, Occupy Oakland will completely alienate we the residents of Oakland who are the 99%.
This is as good a place as any to make it clear to who ever the STUPID BASTARDS were who burnt the flag today and to any and all concerned. I can barely contain my anger. I AM NOT NOW OR WILL I EVER BE PART OF YOUR 99% IF YOU ARE GOING TO PULL OFF DUMB SHIT STUNTS LIKE BURNING THE FLAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you have ANY illusion about starting ANY kind of national movement that will be taken seriously by any sizable percentage of the American public- burning the flag is ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY AND UTTERLY DEFINITIVELY NOT THE WAY TO DO IT!!!!!!!!!