When we talk about people who spray-paint and break windows and start bonfires in the street and shove people and scream and run around,… let’s keep one thing in mind: they didn’t send anyone to the hospital, drive any seniors from their homes, spread despair and debt among the young, snatch food and medicine from the desperate, or destroy the global economy.
From The Truth About Violence at Occupy
While the [Occupy Oakland] camp was in existence, crime went down 19 percent in Oakland, a statistic the city was careful to conceal… Pay attention: Occupy was so powerful a force for nonviolence that it was already solving Oakland’s chronic crime and violence problems just by giving people hope and meals and solidarity and conversation.

From The Truth About Violence at Occupy

Here’s the source mentioned for the statement “crime went down 19 percent”.

listofnow: gravity-rideseverything: 14kgoldnyc: thedailywhat: Occupy Wall Street Movement News Update of the Day: 24-year-old Iraq vet Scott Olsen, who has become “a figurehead of the Occupy Wall Street movement” since being hit in the head by an as-yet-unidentified police projectile, is awake and alert after being unconscious for 12 hours. According to Highland General hospital spokesman Warren Lyons, Olsen is “able to write and hear but has a little difficulty with his speech.” Doctors will likely perform brain surgery to reduce swelling, but are holding off for the time being to see if it eases on its own. Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, who reportedly met with Olsen, released a statement earlier today expressing support for the goals of the Occupy Wall Street movement, and announcing a reduction in police presence at the plaza where Occupy Oakland protesters congregate. Interim police chief Howard Jordan promised a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, telling reporters “It’s unfortunate it happened. I wish that it didn’t happen.” Around the country vigils were held for Olsen, who is a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. “I think people would have been outraged even had this been a civilian,” said the group’s executive director Jose Vasquez, “but the fact that he survived two tours of duty and then to have this happen to him, people are really upset about that.” The Obama administration has released no official statement on the matter, except to say that the Justice Department is not investigating potential abuse of power on the part of the Oakland PD. An Anonymous member has taken matters into his own hands, offering $1,000 for the name of the officer directly responsible for injuring Olsen. Both Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace have started funds to help Olsen and his family members cover their medical expenses. The Occupy Oakland General Assembly, in front of whom Quan is expected to speak tonight (livestream here), passed a proposal last night calling for a city-wide strike to commence next Wednesday, November 2nd. Elsewhere: — San Francisco police called off their late-night raid on Justin Herman Plaza, where Occupy SF protesters have set up camp. Police spokesman Carlos Manfredi said his department was concerned that Occupy Oakland protesters would join their San Francisco counterparts in an effort to thwart the raid. Mayor Ed Lee appeared to have reversed course on the threat to remove protesters, saying officials would be “dialoguing” with demonstrators. — In New York, Occupy Wall Street protesters marched through downtown Manhattan in solidarity with sister protest, Occupy Oakland. Police intercepted some 400 protesters walking toward City Hall, causing the march to about face toward Union Square. After running into a police barricade, organizers attempted to call the whole thing off, but some demonstrators decided to force their way through the line of cops. The police officers pushed back, but were ultimately unable to prevent protesters from reaching Union Square. 10 people were arrested before the crowd eventually made its way back to Zuccotti Park. — Across the pond, Rev Dr Giles Fraser has resigned his post as canon chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral over the decision to seek the protesters’ eviction. “I resigned because I believe that the chapter has set on a course of action that could mean there will be violence in the name of the church,” Dr. Fraser said in a prepared statement. Further Reading: Occupy Wall Street surpassed the Tea Party in online search interest on September 24th, and has remained higher ever since; a New York couple has filed an application to trademark “Occupy Wall St”; Occupy Portland is throwing a “Cuddle Party” this Saturday. [photo: guardian.] Thank goodness… Wow. A lot powerful/empowering stuff is happening right now as a result of the Occupy protests everywhere. The conversation about class and economy in our country has been permanently changed and is evolving still. I still can’t believe the brutality at Oakland even happened and there isn’t more of an outrage, but I’m relieved to see it being addressed as much as it is. And I’m so, so relieved that Scott Olsen is doing ok.
View Separately

listofnow:

gravity-rideseverything:

14kgoldnyc:

thedailywhat:

Occupy Wall Street Movement News Update of the Day: 24-year-old Iraq vet Scott Olsen, who has become “a figurehead of the Occupy Wall Street movement” since being hit in the head by an as-yet-unidentified police projectile, is awake and alert after being unconscious for 12 hours.

According to Highland General hospital spokesman Warren Lyons, Olsen is “able to write and hear but has a little difficulty with his speech.” Doctors will likely perform brain surgery to reduce swelling, but are holding off for the time being to see if it eases on its own.

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, who reportedly met with Olsen, released a statement earlier today expressing support for the goals of the Occupy Wall Street movement, and announcing a reduction in police presence at the plaza where Occupy Oakland protesters congregate.

Interim police chief Howard Jordan promised a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, telling reporters “It’s unfortunate it happened. I wish that it didn’t happen.”

Around the country vigils were held for Olsen, who is a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. “I think people would have been outraged even had this been a civilian,” said the group’s executive director Jose Vasquez, “but the fact that he survived two tours of duty and then to have this happen to him, people are really upset about that.”

The Obama administration has released no official statement on the matter, except to say that the Justice Department is not investigating potential abuse of power on the part of the Oakland PD. An Anonymous member has taken matters into his own hands, offering $1,000 for the name of the officer directly responsible for injuring Olsen.

Both Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace have started funds to help Olsen and his family members cover their medical expenses.

The Occupy Oakland General Assembly, in front of whom Quan is expected to speak tonight (livestream here), passed a proposal last night calling for a city-wide strike to commence next Wednesday, November 2nd.

Elsewhere:

— San Francisco police called off their late-night raid on Justin Herman Plaza, where Occupy SF protesters have set up camp. Police spokesman Carlos Manfredi said his department was concerned that Occupy Oakland protesters would join their San Francisco counterparts in an effort to thwart the raid.

Mayor Ed Lee appeared to have reversed course on the threat to remove protesters, saying officials would be “dialoguing” with demonstrators.

— In New York, Occupy Wall Street protesters marched through downtown Manhattan in solidarity with sister protest, Occupy Oakland. Police intercepted some 400 protesters walking toward City Hall, causing the march to about face toward Union Square.

After running into a police barricade, organizers attempted to call the whole thing off, but some demonstrators decided to force their way through the line of cops. The police officers pushed back, but were ultimately unable to prevent protesters from reaching Union Square.

10 people were arrested before the crowd eventually made its way back to Zuccotti Park.

— Across the pond, Rev Dr Giles Fraser has resigned his post as canon chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral over the decision to seek the protesters’ eviction. “I resigned because I believe that the chapter has set on a course of action that could mean there will be violence in the name of the church,” Dr. Fraser said in a prepared statement.

Further Reading: Occupy Wall Street surpassed the Tea Party in online search interest on September 24th, and has remained higher ever since; a New York couple has filed an application to trademark “Occupy Wall St”; Occupy Portland is throwing a “Cuddle Party” this Saturday.

[photo: guardian.]

Thank goodness…

Wow.

A lot powerful/empowering stuff is happening right now as a result of the Occupy protests everywhere. The conversation about class and economy in our country has been permanently changed and is evolving still.

I still can’t believe the brutality at Oakland even happened and there isn’t more of an outrage, but I’m relieved to see it being addressed as much as it is. And I’m so, so relieved that Scott Olsen is doing ok.

(via amodernmanifesto)

Source: thedailywhat

androphilia: Egyptians march from Tahrir Square to support Occupy Oakland protestors | Boing Boing By Xeni Jardin Friday, October 28, 2011 As they vowed earlier this week to do, Egyptian pro-democracy protesters marched from Tahrir square to the U.S. Embassy today to march in support of Occupy Oakland—and against the type of police brutality witnessed in Oakland on Tuesday night, and commonly experienced in Egypt. In this post, photos from Egyptian blogger Mohammed Maree, who is there at the march live-tweeting these snapshots. He is a journalist with Egytimes.org, a human rights activist, and a veterinarian; all photos are his. The larger demonstration back at Tahrir was about issues closer to home: Egyptians are demanding that the military transfer power quickly to a representative civilian government, after the death by torture of a 24-year-old political prisoner named Essam Ali Atta. As the Guardian reports, critics say his death proves that the junta is failing to dismantle Mubarak’s brutal security apparatus: Essam Ali Atta, a civilian serving a two-year jail term in Cairo’s high-security Tora prison following his conviction in a military tribunal earlier this year for an apparently “common crime”, was reportedly attacked by prison guards after trying to smuggle a mobile phone sim card into his cell. According to statements from other prisoners who witnessed the assault, Atta had large water hoses repeatedly forced into his mouth and anus on more than one occasion, causing severe internal bleeding. An officer then transferred Atta to a central Cairo hospital, but he died within an hour. His funeral took place today. Follow live tweets from the memorial at #esamatta. Journalist Reem Abdellatif, who is there, tweets: His sister just passed out screaming they took my brother from me. [photo]. The scene is devastating at the morgue #essamatta’s mom and sister keep calling out to him like he’s still alive. Essam was 24. As some protesters noted, that is exactly the same age as Scott Olsen, the US vet injured at Occupy Oakland. They see both men as victims of state brutality. Above, guards outside the US embassy block protesters from advancing closer. After all that they’ve gone through, I’m so amazed and humbled that they are supporting us.
Pop-upView Separately

androphilia:

Egyptians march from Tahrir Square to support Occupy Oakland protestors | Boing Boing

By Xeni Jardin

Friday, October 28, 2011

As they vowed earlier this week to do, Egyptian pro-democracy protesters marched from Tahrir square to the U.S. Embassy today to march in support of Occupy Oakland—and against the type of police brutality witnessed in Oakland on Tuesday night, and commonly experienced in Egypt.

In this post, photos from Egyptian blogger Mohammed Maree, who is there at the march live-tweeting these snapshots. He is a journalist with Egytimes.org, a human rights activist, and a veterinarian; all photos are his.

The larger demonstration back at Tahrir was about issues closer to home: Egyptians are demanding that the military transfer power quickly to a representative civilian government, after the death by torture of a 24-year-old political prisoner named Essam Ali Atta. As the Guardian reports, critics say his death proves that the junta is failing to dismantle Mubarak’s brutal security apparatus:

Essam Ali Atta, a civilian serving a two-year jail term in Cairo’s high-security Tora prison following his conviction in a military tribunal earlier this year for an apparently “common crime”, was reportedly attacked by prison guards after trying to smuggle a mobile phone sim card into his cell. According to statements from other prisoners who witnessed the assault, Atta had large water hoses repeatedly forced into his mouth and anus on more than one occasion, causing severe internal bleeding. An officer then transferred Atta to a central Cairo hospital, but he died within an hour.

His funeral took place today. Follow live tweets from the memorial at #esamatta. Journalist Reem Abdellatif, who is there, tweets:

His sister just passed out screaming they took my brother from me. [photo]. The scene is devastating at the morgue #essamatta’s mom and sister keep calling out to him like he’s still alive. Essam was 24.

As some protesters noted, that is exactly the same age as Scott Olsen, the US vet injured at Occupy Oakland. They see both men as victims of state brutality.

Above, guards outside the US embassy block protesters from advancing closer.

After all that they’ve gone through, I’m so amazed and humbled that they are supporting us.

(via amodernmanifesto)

Source: androphilia

liberalsarecool:

Scott Olsen Being Shot By Police

Watch at the 1:42 mark when a police officer throws a teargas canister at crowd trying to attend to the injured man.

In-fucking-credible.

Keep filming. Keep posting. THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING. The more digital ammunition we have, the more power we will have. These crimes will not go undocumented by the people.

(via amodernmanifesto)

Source: liberalsarecool