Police repression? Brutality? Wha???? We’ve been having peaceful meetings and at one, the police came over and asked us to kindly take down a tent. No arrests, no ridiculousness. Whoever thinks the police are the bad guys in our society is just plain WRONG. I have seen how you harass the police on the livestreams, and I have to say, you are NOT acting on behalf of the majority of OWS’ers. You are wasting your energy and harming our movement. Please, go away.
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I would be with you had you said “some elements provoke the police”.
But “harass the police”? I simply can not see how you can derive that perspective from any of the events that I witnessed or watched transpire while streaming press was in attendance. I suppose if all you ever did was read police press releases you might get that impression. Is that the case?
Regarding last weekends FTP event. The majority of people attending went down to OPD with the intent to yell at the cops utilizing our constitutional right to free speech. It may not be graceful, but those of us from marginalized and less than privileged backgrounds have a long history with and deep emotions towards the police. Oakland doubly so.
One small faction was throwing objects and engaging in vandalistic behavior in general. I am not sure if they were merely venting frustration, or if they were deliberately provoking the cops. Also not sure if the cops werent going to beat people and arrest indiscriminately no matter what happened.
I surely dont see Occupy harassing cops by maintaining a vigil, or serving food to the hungry. Or by maintaining a tree sit (or two). In those cases, it is The OPD that is harassing us. Stealing our tables to serve food from. Stealing blankets and clothing from homeless Occupiers that have found a voice and a community through Occupy. Stealing books, tables, flyers and other material from the vigil, who I might add TRIED to play ball with the city. But the city didn’t operate in good faith.
-C