Officer struck by brick as mounted police clear Occupy DC tents from federal park
Protesters held a general assembly Saturday evening and vowed to continue the movement. One of the speakers acknowledged the injured officer and urged everyone to practice nonviolence.
Police insisted they were not evicting the protesters. Those whose tents conformed to regulations were allowed to stay, and protesters can stay 24 hours a day as long as they don’t camp there with blankets or other bedding. Police threatened to seize tents that broke the rules and arrest the owners.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/mounted-police-converge-on-park-in-washington-dc-1-of-nations-remaining-occupy-sites/2012/02/04/gIQAxH82oQ_story.html?tid=pm_local_pop
I hope the stupid asshole who threw the brick was identified.
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Joe the Revelator
(14,915 posts)Winning hearts and minds on a daily basis.
RufusTFirefly
(8,812 posts)Do you have any idea what sort of requirements you need to meet in order to become part of Occupy?
None.
That's a plus. A big plus.
But it's also a minus when some agent provocateur or some free-lance, screwed-up violent person -- of which there are many (thanks to Iraq and Afghanistan) -- decides to cause trouble.
So, you're willing to criticize the entire Occupy movement as a result?
Go ahead. I'm sure you'll find lots of support in the corporate media.
creeksneakers2
(7,473 posts)sce56
(4,828 posts)Standard tactic to start a police riot!
limpyhobbler
(8,244 posts)They use undercovers and try to provoke violence so they can have an excuse to start shooting and using teargas.
DUIC
(167 posts)Don't look for zebras when you hear hoof beats.
think
(11,641 posts)
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)creeksneakers2
(7,473 posts)I'm not keeping score.
Tunkamerica
(4,444 posts)I remember voting on whether occupy should throw a brick at a cop. I voted no. But obviously if the majority of the group voted to do it, it's alright to condemn the movement.
Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?
creeksneakers2
(7,473 posts)its easy to see why they attract hooligans. First of all, they call themselves "occupy" which is a hostile ,foreceful act. Then they take over places that don't belong to them and use them for a place to live, which those places aren't designed for. Street people move in too. When problems come up, "occupy" is asked to leave but they refuse. That escalates the situation to where the police have no choice but to use force to remove them. Then "occupy" screams about how they are being abused.
The entire pattern attracts beligerent people, and the persecution fantasies push people over the edge.
So yeah, I can blame the movement.
kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)Apparently you can also generalize, use logical fallacy, and resort to smears too.
Just whose damned side are you on?
creeksneakers2
(7,473 posts)You don't point out any specific logical fallacies. What in my post is a smear which isn't true?
"Whose side are you on" is a smear. Its an attack on me and not on what I wrote.
I don't decide right and wrong based on whose side I'm on. Throwing a brick in a cop's face is wrong. Setting up violent confrontation is wrong. Is that how you decide right from wrong? By whose side its on?
I don't know what feh means.
kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)Reporting every scant and vauge chage against OWS is a smear.
Projecting that onto the whole movement or that somehow the whole movement should have magic brick control powers is so absurd it doesn't even rise UP to the level of logical fallacy.
Asking "whose side are you on?" Is a question. Care to actually answer it?
Feh- Is sort of a colloquial yiddishism that expresses disapproval or disgust. In this case with your opinion
Joe the Revelator
(14,915 posts)agent provocateurs? Maybe, just maybe, the fact that there are no leaders in occupy has allowed it to turn into an ugly, disorganized, Frankenstein of a 'movement', if you can even call it that.
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)and you're going off about one brick from one protester?
Brilliant.
tabasco
(22,974 posts)See how you feel about it then.
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)
Tunkamerica
(4,444 posts)tabasco
(22,974 posts)Or are you spinning a weird fictional narrative?
Tunkamerica
(4,444 posts)
KansDem
(28,498 posts)Just asking...
JackRiddler
(24,979 posts)The news coverage of the nationwide, systematic, violent police crackdown on Occupy (as with many protest movements before it) is selective and disgusting. Starting with this headline, about yet another militaristic action to terminate the right of assembly.
truth2power
(8,219 posts)with a brick. It isn't. It's about who threw the brick in the first place.
There's ample evidence that a favorite tactic of the police is to seed protests with agent provocateurs. Why shouldn't that be the case here?
randome
(34,845 posts)The more likely explanation is that, in a leaderless group of people, someone lost his or her cool and threw a brick.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)tabasco
(22,974 posts)understanding ability is rather "limited."
I side against people who throw bricks at other people and horses.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)China that stand in front of tanks?
OWS is part of a movement against the oligarchical rule of this country. I would hope that all Democrats would be part of the movement. I am curious why there are those that do not support the movement. But I cant get an answer, other than the "dirty hippy" answer.
Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)Then you must really be against the police. Because they have done FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR worse than throw a single brick at somebody's head.
I love it how you anti-OWS trolls are prefectly willing to ignore the massive and corrdinated violence and assault of constitutional freedoms directed at OWS by police but are so quick to condemn everything about the movement because of single, isolated incidents of violence directed at police. Not to mention that you never seem to acknowledge the fact that the overwhelming majority of OWS protesters maintain a committment to non-violence and often condemn these incidents.
Now, why would that be?
Downtown Hound
(12,618 posts)Let that pepper spray make you cough your lungs up. Let that flying tear gas canister hit you in the head and put you in a coma (Scott Olsen). Let those flexicuffs dig into your wrist to the point where your whole hands turn purple. Let that baton crack you in the skull. Let that smell from your cellmate's shit permeate your nose. Let that flash bang grenade blow up right next to your head and make you deaf for a while. Let that taser shock you right good.
Experience all these things that OWS protesters all over the country have experienced, and then come back get all high and mighty about one fucking brick being thrown at the cops.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)So how stupid is it Joe?
The police are known to engage all sorts of sleazy garbage too.
There are most likely problems on both sides...BUT, I still can't help but look at how
many of the police departments took all their actions in the middle of the night
and how there were those "behind the scenes" conference calls (coordinated
by the Portland, OR mayor, was it?). The Occupy Movement, being a movement
of the citizens (and actually now worldwide) that have no riot gear, tear gas, jails,
handcuffs, courts, courts, courts...and hundreds of "laws and regulations" to draw
upon. They simply have themselves.
We all would be interested to hear your non-Frankenstein thoughts, about how to
rein in the corrupt political system and the like. America is rotting from the corruption
of money and the powerful.
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)The police went back on every negotiation and let loose on peaceful protesters. All day.
This brick isn't even cherry picking. It's more like finding a needle in a haystack.
Fucking embarrassing, seriously.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)The trolls come out in a suspiciously well-coordinated mass, wailing, covering themselves in sackcloth and ashes, crying that the movement is dead, and demanding that Occupy stop everything and observe a hundred days of penance and silence before daring to protest again.
But when the cops cover their badges, then beat the shit out of protesters and smash their cameras, lock them up for days or weeks, deny them medication and treat them as if they were at Abu Ghraib, the same trolls will say "Hey, cut your friendly kitten-rescuing police officers some slack! They're just doing their jobs!"
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)We won't even know until tomorrow how many people were laid up today in DC.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)Are that many people that afraid of Occupy that they all jump up go all keyboard commando whenever they can find something negative to say?
It is kind of weird isn't it.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)
Hissyspit
(45,788 posts)Yeah, I imagine you do.
joshcryer
(62,270 posts)...who dismiss the errant behavior of some Occupiers have made similar accusations about the Arab Spring.
ie, when a small group in the Arab Spring did something abhorrent, it meant something on a larger scale.
Note: I dismiss this incident as I do the other Occupy incidents, and as I do when it happened in the Arab Spring.
I cannot diminish or insult an entire group based on the actions of a few.
The person who threw the brick may or may not have been an agent provocateur. However, assault is assault whether or not it was paid provocation, and it seems like a rather stupid thing for a provocateur to attempt to do, if the victim died it would be very nasty for the agency who hired them. I think it's more likely the person who did it was an idiot hooligan, and will likely be denounced.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)fasttense
(17,301 posts)beat up and shot opposition members, assault and spit on Congressmen. That's what a well organized movement looks like.
Because the "leaders" of the teabaggers sure did not prevent the assault on Gifford. In fact they encouraged it. Just ask Palin.
truth2power
(8,219 posts)needs a leader. Perhaps they're hoping the idea will catch on.
I suggest you read, "The Starfish and the Spider: The unstoppable power of leaderless organizations" by Brafman and Beckstrom. If you cut off the head of a spider, it dies. If you cut off the leg of a starfish, it grows a new one.
I was part of a leaderless organization in my own community back in the day. This was long before "The Starfish and the Spider" was even thought of. Looking back, I'm amazed at how the dynamics played out exactly as described in the book and what we were able to accomplish, due in part to not having a leader. "The proof is in the pudding", as they say.
Occupy derives its power from the fact that it has no leader. In my view, the PTB would love to see it morph into a more hierarchical organization, the better to contol it.
I'm assuming that your stance regarding 'leaders' is born of ignorance of where the power lies and not anything else.
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)Sounds good. 
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)randome
(34,845 posts)...is not very smart, either.
The OP posted an opinion. Agree or disagree, you should question why you find the opinion offensive enough to be angry.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)stupid as it is to say it is stupid to blame all the bullshit that comes out of occupy on agent provocateurs?
He gave his opinion and I gave mine. I never said he was using right-wing talking points.
kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)Citing all the worst possible rumors, half truths, and allegations of crime perpetrated by OWS while taking the side of law enforcement at every turn is what comprises right wing talking points.
The only thing missing are accusations of communism.
Oddly though the right wing is careful not to mention Occupy too much. I think they are a bit nervous about people powered politics agains the banks and the wealthy. They fear genuine populism after their faux populist tea party BS fell apart. Maybe we should consider that for a moment.
throneoflunacy
(9 posts)keep from having positions of power to be usurped by corpgov puppets to turn the whole movement into Democrat cheerleaders. And if you think the mass of occupiers following a leader is ugly, you should go wiki aristocracy, you might like what you see. And don't think for a second there isn't loads of organization to Occupy just because it doesn't operate like a business or bureau.
Oh no, humans of disagreeing ideologies met and there was violence! The scandal!
boppers
(16,588 posts)Yeah, welcome to *actual* democracy. It's not easy, or pretty.
The Doctor.
(17,266 posts)You seem pretty sure that it was an OWS person what did this.
That means you don't understand OWS at all.
Let me try to help you.
If a 'Tea Party' moron stands up and says "Hey, Obama is probably a US citizen and he's not a socialist.", Are they still a fucking teabagger?
Answer that and you know that 'occupy' didn't do a single fucking thing wrong.
coalition_unwilling
(14,180 posts)carla
(553 posts)paint the movement with the actions of ONE PERSON. Troll seems too soft a word for someone who is looking to discredit the ONLY legitimate people's movement in the world. I just had a revelation; you don't know anything about it. Winning hearts and minds is also telltale language, G-man?
Joe the Revelator
(14,915 posts)Was brought on by problems that rational people saw from the first march.
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)Oh, the terrible downfall of losing favor with people who never supported you.
lol
kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)Either the original Ochs version or Jello Biafra an Mojo Nixon's cover
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Me%2C_I%27m_a_Liberal
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)Hestia
(3,818 posts)
Deep13
(39,154 posts)throneoflunacy
(9 posts)all the 6 foot Conan-style bearmen in the movement to camp around a giant fire in viking gear and see if the Park service has the cojones to evict them.
midnight
(26,624 posts)No doubt from the many different angles they should be able to discover who did this... Chances are it could be a provocateur and they will stay mum....
"The 'agent provocateur' who infiltrated Occupy Wall Street
Among the protesters pepper-sprayed while storming a D.C. museum this weekend was a conservative aiming to "mock and undermine" the movement"
http://theweek.com/article/index/220144/the-agent-provocateur-who-infiltrated-occupy-wall-street
CBHagman
(16,984 posts)...I was in favor of their being there, and more than a bit proud that the Occupy movement and the Park Police seemed to take a mutual live-and-let-live attitude (I read things were mainly peaceful and cooperative at Freedom Plaza, the other Occupy DC site).
But all that was before the reported rat infestation, the attempted construction of a wooden building, and more.
There's a long history of public protest by occupation, including in the nation's capital. There's even a one- or two-person protest of very long standing at Lafayette Park (across from the White House).
But I think it's time for the protesters to take up some other means. The occupation and not the message has long since become the story, and on top of that there are health and safety risks to consider.
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)Should the movement become politically correct, so as not to risk health and safety? There has never been a revolution without this risk.
Or, do you mean, "enough..." 1% gets the message, and we don't want to stir up the possibility of anything messy....
That wouldn't be a revolution, IMO. If we do not stand up and revolt, we may as well devolve (if that's a word)... just fade up and let everything else that has put most of the world's working and middle class at high risk and unsafe.
Tunkamerica
(4,444 posts)?
Also, someone tried to build something! This is getting out of control. I'm embarrassed by all of it. Why can't they just protest on the internet? It obviously works much better and the arrests are much easier to write about when they happen one by one and anonymous or porn or some other buzzword is invoked.
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)EFerrari
(163,986 posts)shooting them in the face or gassing them?
Seriously, if we don't take the commons back now, they will be a story we tell our grandchildren. The occupation is the message.
tabasco
(22,974 posts)You're posting on DU.
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)EFerrari
(163,986 posts)in a number of places tonight, where occupiers listened or read about the polce violence in DC all day today.
atreides1
(16,076 posts)The place where I work has rats and mice...and no food is served there.
The rats were already there...all this camp did was to bring them all together in one place...once the camp is gone the rats will return to where they were before...and maybe the D.C. health department should be conducting inspections of all the restaurants and food service properties in and around MacPhereson Square.
randome
(34,845 posts)truth2power
(8,219 posts)
That idea borrowed from NYC Mayor Bloomberg, no doubt. But here's a little levity in that regard from economist Prof. Richard Wolff www.rdwolff.org
In response to Mayor Bloomberg's concerns about health and safety, Prof. Wolff states that NYC has, perhaps, the filthiest subways anywhere in the US, and that the Mayor's answer to the garbage situation is to have city residents set bags of garbage at the curb where all manner of critters, in the wee hours, tear into the bags and scatter the garbage all over. And he's worried about health issues, re: occupy.
Prof. Wolff lives in NYC and he's said this in all manner of venues.
Health and safety. The all-purpose excuse.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)Gotta keep associating protest with filth and dirt for Murdoch's propaganda outlets.
throneoflunacy
(9 posts)is the favorite word of tyrants everywhere.
WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)Having said that, let me be clear that I don't condone the actions of the cops in any way, quite the opposite.
If I have to prove myself, lets just say that I support the Occupy movement all the way. I have been active and on the front lines, so to speak, since 1961 in the civil rights and anti-war movements and lately helped organize and took part in Occupy protests in our town.
Occupy needs to grow and become a worldwide movement, to do that, it needs to win the hearts and minds of a lot more people, it's going to be a long haul and it's not just about being reactionary and fighting cops in the streets.
We have to police ourselves, to be on the lookout for trouble makers, surround them, talk them down, convince them that they don't help Occupy by being violent. That was the way it was handled in the past. Was it perfect? No. But it worked more often then not.
Yes, the press will lie, yes, the police will be violent, yes, it will take time, and yes, there will be injustices, but did I assume too much when I thought that you realized all that?
We ARE the 99% and we
Occupy everywhere!
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)over outliers who want to heave a brick. Let's be honest.
But the one brick heaver who is obviously an outlier doesn't deserve more attention than the concerted violence against Occupy leveled against it all over this country. Let's be honest 2.
WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)judging by the responses here on DU, a group that should be more enlightened in the practice of non-violence.
Contrary to public opinion, being non-violent and directing a crowd to be non-violent in a charged emotional setting, is a task that's hard to accomplish.
Expect the cops to overreact, expect Occupy to be infiltrated. But if handled correctly, expect Occupy to win over the hearts and minds of the 99%.
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)What is needed is for people here on DU who should know better to use their brains and recognize when they are being manipulated into focusing on one minor incident of violence by a protester instead of a whole day of violence by the state. Over and over and over.
I have no interest whatsoever in lecturing OWS on how to be correct. Zero.
WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)and we all will be better off if they do.
Maybe that's what makes us different.
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)throneoflunacy
(9 posts)when those who decide what the nation pays attention to doesn't like the moral message of Occupy.
WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)Keep using flash mobs, the public loves them.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)Which people IN THE FUCKING SQUARE SAID WOULD BE THE ONLY COVERAGE ON THE MAINSTREAM NEWS and they SAID the only message "ignorant anti Occupy folks would take out of it" would be "a cop got hurt" quote-unquote
And here you have DU ANTICIPATING Fox News spin before it happens.
"Thank" you very much.
A 15 year old girl got her face smashed in tonight. Where is the front page article on DU for that?
A church I work with put up some of these people. What did you do for Occupy?
I bet you didn't even know DC was the original planned Occupy before all you people got on (and jumped off) the bandwagon. I bet you don't even live in the area and don't know about the people that have been sleeping in Franklin Square park for 30 years and the rat infestations there. I guess it's permitted on the New DU to advocate evicting the homeless from nearby Franklin Square, since you advocate the same for the progressive movement.
This is the thanks we get from an uncaring electorate. One that has been totally screwed over (or is in with the screwer-overs, a 53%er who sincerely believes that it benefits them to enrich others who they identify with, due to an irrational animal social instinct that motivates beta males to compete for the favor of alpha males). One that constantly parrots MSM rhetoric even as they claim they hate the MSM and only watch cable because there's no alternative news source on TV. One that is quite willing to take the benefit from Occupy changing the national debate so long as the Administration can wash its hands of responsibility for clearing them out just as they did in Egypt.
joshcryer
(62,270 posts)I personally feel that the various homeless evictions that permeated practically every city in the US during the peak of the recession was one of the lead-ins to Occupy. It was an epidemic, and barely got any coverage on DU at the time (there are posts, but they are low reply-count, etc).
boppers
(16,588 posts)We didn't, because it wasn't.
The original Adbusters campaign was about speaking to wall street, not DC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupy_Wall_Street
Amonester
(11,541 posts)See here: http://october2011.org/
And it wasn't initiated by a campaign from a Canadian organization.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)ODC in MacPherson Square -- some folks actually had to make a conscious decision to stand in support of Freedom Plaza (October2011) "because they stood in support of us". There's a lot of culture clash over organizing methods between the two groups. /)-__-
"I hear they... vote... on things over there."
cstanleytech
(26,290 posts)After all its not out of the realm of possibility that someone whos not really a part of the movement could have done the brick throwing in order to discredit it.
JSnuffy
(374 posts)...
All of this coulda/shoulda/whatever BS just turns people off.
Anyone with two brain cells to rub together can piece together that there are going to be assholes in every group and especially in a group that claims to represent 99% of the population.
All of this must have been someone else talk seems like a 4 year old caught with their hand in the cookie jar and covered in crumbs.
WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)Occupy to train monitors in the practice of non-violent crowd control.
randome
(34,845 posts)But they would also need to disown violent and unwarranted acts. That would seem to require someone to be in charge, IMO.
WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)Reason: Duplicate
(please continue discussion on "Officer Struck By Brick"
News source: first-hand witness.
Article: Sorry, the mainstream media refused to cover it,
So once this post is done, the story will be gone from the public record.
And so it is.
Along with the following photos from the secondary news source provided in my LBN thread:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2096588/Police-clear-Occupy-DC-camp-riot-gear-cleaning-nations-protest-sites.html
Response to Host: (Transparency)
Please identify duplicate thread on the subject of the 15 year old girl who was injured (bloodied) across the face. I anticipate a response.
Also, the title of the OP matches my reporting on the thread, as I attended the event as a citizen journalist.
The AP article is provided as additional information.
Sincerely, Leopolds Ghost
My reply to sabrina: (Transparency: thread locked before reply went thru, was told to continue discussion on the Host-approved thread)
To clarify, the GA respondent's prediction was in the context of an appeal to nonviolence
He was stating that it was a shame any physical retaliation at all took place since the movement is about nonviolence and that is all most people will care about, that a police officer was hurt by the "criminals" in the park; not whether protestors got hurt. Note that many of the people urging nonviolence were radical activists of various stripes wearing masks, while others were religious activists and one woman who was an ordinary homeowner who decided to get involved after hearing about the resources that were being devoted to the eviction, after reading about a string of unsolved murders of women in her neighborhood.
This reply will be of no interest to anyone but sabrina, since they are unlikely to have any interest in the subject of the "duplicate" thread.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)> Post the latest news from mainstream news websites and blogs. Important news of national interest only. No analysis or opinion pieces. No duplicates. News stories must have been published within the last 12 hours. Use the published title of the story as the title of the discussion thread
This is the latest news. The AP article is provided as background information and is not the source, as you know from reading the OP.
> Your source for the article is the AP/DailyMail Your title does not match it. The AP story is already covered in the other thread.
Incorrect: My source for the article was my own reporting. As stated in the OP, the subject of the article is the injury of a 15 year old girl.
Per academic standards of journalism, when no secondary source is available, which is the case, primary sources are acceptable reporting.
The other thread does not cover the subject at all. The other thread is about a police officer who was injured by a criminal, and whether or not the perpetrator was brought to justice. Totally different story. The AP story is not about either topic.
> "Citizen Journalist" does not meet the criteria for "mainstream website and blogs"
Yes it does.
>The event occurred more than 12 hours ago as the article refers to Saturday Morning.
Incorrect: The event occurred Saturday evening. I arrived on site at 2 PM. The eviction happened at 4-6 PM.
>Please continue on General Discussion
This is news of national interest, not General Discussion. It is not related to politics. It is related to an important national news issue with multiple stories related to it. No opinion analysis was offered on the subject.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)It is obvious that the injury in question is not news that belongs on DU but instead should be published on an appropriate (private) forum.
Injury of non-public officials is not national news, and is therefore off-topic on a breaking news forum.
Since it is on-topic for the OP, perhaps the OP can tell us if the child abuser who struck this girl across the face has been brought to justice.
This is the last I will say about it. Since you will not hear it reported on from any print news source, feel free to do your own reporting on the subject.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)Reposted not as a point of process (this is not Help/Meta) but because it might shed some light on journalistic discussions regarding Occupy.
> > > "Citizen Journalist" does not meet the criteria for "mainstream website and blogs"
> >
> > Yes it does.
> > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Not in this forum
LBN follows standards of journalism I assume.
Per academic standards of journalism, when no secondary source is available, which is the case, primary sources are acceptable reporting.
> > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The article you linked to says "Saturday Morning" Your own limited OP does not even mention any time other than from the the article you linked "Saturday Morning"
Are you aware of the issue in question? I am sure the AP article, included as background info, mentioned that police arrived in the morning but it is public information that protestors were cleared from the park in the evening. The article appeared in the Daily Mail which is in a different time zone also.
> > This is news of national interest, not General Discussion. It is not related to politics. It is related to an important national news issue with multiple stories related to it.
>
> I understand it an important news issue, however, your very limited reporting of the event seems to be only your headline and a link to an AP story. The only information you added is "15-year old girl injured in face by baton"
> It's implied, but you did not report the police hit the victim with a baton.
Yes.
> How badly was the girl injured. Was there blood. A contusion? A cut? Bruising, etc?
Yes. Do you wish me to do in-depth reporting on it? I considered doing an in-depth story at the time; however by your own standards you would not accept reportage from Occupy citizen journalists. Perhaps you could suggest a publisher who would be interested in funding it.
> Did the 15 year old seek or get medical attention?
Further reporting would be needed on that issue. Did the police officer seek or get medical attention?
> What was the girl's name and where is she from?
I have access to that information from witnesses, it is inappropriate to give it to anyone else since it was an assault on a minor.
> I am assuming there were other witnesses around. Did you interview them? Why is that not included in your report?
Yes. Are you requesting names and faces?
The reporter (me) will be unable to interview them a second time in all likelihood since they are going to be arrested and removed from Freedom Plaza (without witnesses, since no other persons from the DC area were in attendance to observe, report on, or cover the story) Sunday morning.
> Did you get a photo of the victim?
> Did you interview the officer?
> Did you ask for a statement from the police?
> Did the girl fill out a police report?
I'm not sure you're aware of the context here.
> Most journalism classes would tell you to the the who, what, when, where, how. I am just not seeing that information in your post/report at all.
>
> Thank you.
I am really not sure why similar questions were not asked (by editors across the country) of the story posted above. Why was the same brick story posted in every major publication, web or print, that is available on Google when you do a news search on DC occupy? How were people at the GA able to predict what would be said on DU, a forum most of them do not follow? I see no information given for the brick that was thrown at the officer, where and whether the officer was hospitalized, although, following basic journalistic principles, I have no reason to doubt it happened.
One idea is that Occupiers could get together and send the officer flowers at the hospital. I am serious about this. It would help heal the divisions between Occupy and police, who are also members of the 99%.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)I am referring, of course, to persons beside Occupy participants and citizen journalists affiliated with or doing in-depth reporting on Occupy.
There were not even casual passers-by. And that evening, when Occupy stood vigil outside the White House to ask Obama why Occupy DC is being removed by the Administration, participants were accosted by a crowd of well-dressed Republicans -- the only pedestrians visible downtown -- who shouted "Fox News is the best!" and "this is democracy, asshole!" and "J.O.B! J.O.B!" and "my father is the biggest farmer in the State of Alabama!"
One person (a hotel worker) expressed support for Occupy the entire day. The low-paid hospital workers who attended the injured protestors were mostly hostile to Occupy, according to first-hand accounts.
So it is not surprising that many DUers would be hostile to Occupy or that the vast majority of persons in the liberal DC area (including acquaintances of this poster) would express contempt for Occupy with statements like "they had their chance to protest." They are just reflecting the national mood, as I noted yesterday in commenting on what a Romney candidacy would mean. Say hello to Humphrey vs. Nixon.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)At the vigil in front of the White House to mark the date the Administration agreed to permit the disbanding of Occupy encampments.
So there was more than one non-political DC resident willing to express sympathy for the right to peaceful protest.
I am surprised they were so kind, given the alleged menacing act by a protestor that occured recently in Lafayette Square (which I only heard about later, or I would have expressed second thoughts about attempting to join a vigil there). I can only conclude that SSAgents are trained to distinguish between individuals and not operate on gang turf logic, unlike some people here. (on the internet, that is.)
By the way, the law the Park Service was enforcing was designed to stop the Poor People's Campaign of 1968, and shut down MLK's effort to camp out on the mall that year, after he died. It was an expansion of the law designed to stop the Bonus Army march, I believe.
Rats and drug use were a major issue reported on as the reason. How do I know? We were taught about the Poor People's March in history class -- just like everybody else on this forum.
I wonder how many folks on DU would fess up to opposing the Bonus Army if they were alive then... Why ever not? Just because the history books say it was something positive and that MacArthur used undue force doesn't mean we have to agree.
I don't remember if rats were a major issue with the Bonus Army or not.
unionworks
(3,574 posts)...CNN just showed footage of Occupy DC, COPS WERE PULLING OTHER COPS OFF WHO WERE GOING APE SHIT BEATING PROTESTERS
And no offense meat to you by the above flip remark. It was intended for the op poster.
Darrell Issa instigated this. He needs to be held responsible.
There is no excuse for this kind of violence against Americans exercising their first amendment rights. NONE.
boppers
(16,588 posts)Cops stopping cops because the shit was just.... wrong.
randome
(34,845 posts)Makes as much sense as anything else, I suppose.
Response to randome (Reply #57)
Post removed
randome
(34,845 posts)...it starts to look ridiculous.
There is a reason left-wing media gives scant attention to OWS. Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Rachel Maddow -when they mention OWS at all, it's in passing.
Or it could be part of a larger conspiracy, I suppose.
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)And if you ignore that, your position is irrational.
Using the behavior of outliers to characterize the whole movement truly is ridiculous.
And there is no left wing corporate media in this country.
randome
(34,845 posts)I'm saying that few outside some isolated corners of the Internet are paying any attention to OWS.
Again, where is Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Rachel Maddow? They barely mention OWS. There is a reason for that.
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)There was a march in Oakland last night and the major papers were all there.
And the talking heads you keep bringing up are not reporters. They are entertainers who work for big corporations.
Do you honestly expect them to give OWS airtime?
randome
(34,845 posts)But they don't. You seem to think that the word 'corporation' itself is a bad word. There are liberal minded corporations out there, you know.
But they don't seem to be taking OWS very seriously, do they?
You said the major papers were there so why weren't the liberal-minded media there as well?
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)But it is "bad" when corporate interests decide what you see on the teevee and what you don't see, which is what happens in the US at the moment.
Sounds like you need to do some research on who owns the media and why it matters. You might start with "Orwell Rolls in His Grave.
RufusTFirefly
(8,812 posts)-- Robert A. G. Monks.
EFerrari is right. Corporations aren't "bad" and neither are sharks. But both can be extremely dangerous by their very nature.
There's a discouraging amount of cognitive dissonance surrounding the goals of a corporation. We all know very nice, caring people who work for corporations, perhaps even in high-level positions. But corporations transcend the people they comprise. The purpose of a corporation is to maximize returns on shareholder investment. That's it. End of story.
randome
(34,845 posts)Corporations are mindless greed machines. I've been saying that for months.
My point, though, was to question why left-wing media aren't paying much attention to OWS. I think it's because it has lost its focus and is more intent on camping in public parks and taking over public buildings for their own use.
Media personalities we all respect -like Stewart, Colbert, Maddow, etc.- don't have much to say about OWS. And they won't until OWS gets its collective act together and gets much better organized.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)that's a formula for success. The movement is bigger than OWS. Those that are organized can take advantage of the spotlight OWS is shining on the oligarchy. OWS is only one tactic in this war. It's fine if you dont want to support them, but why are you spending so much energy trying to disparage them?
randome
(34,845 posts)Without leadership and a consistent message -and I don't see 'Fix the system' is an effective message- OWS will forever be in the state it's currently in -a kind of limbo where groups occasionally clash with police over camping rights or public building use.
OWS has been effective in changing the conversation, no doubt about that. But it could be so much more.
RufusTFirefly
(8,812 posts)Comedy Central is owned by Viacom. MSNBC is ultimately owned by General Electric.
The latter is especially problematic. Both corporations will continue to provide "liberal" programming as long as they consider it profitable and, even more importantly, as long as it doesn't threaten other crucial aspects of their business. There's nothing remotely "left-wing" about these big corporations. "Left-wing" is simply a market for them.
If you haven't seen this Bill Hicks routine, you might find it illuminating.
randome
(34,845 posts)So I don't think your premise stands.
RufusTFirefly
(8,812 posts)Murdoch's Harper-Collins published Stupid White Men by Michael Moore.
Why? Because it made him a bundle.
On the other hand, Disney tried to stop Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 from being distributed. (See "Disney Is Blocking Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush", New York Times, May 5, 2004)
Why? Because, according to the Times, "The film, Fahrenheit 911, links Mr. Bush and prominent Saudis -- including the family of Osama bin Laden -- and criticizes Mr. Bush's actions before and after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks."
Murdoch probably realized that people sitting in their easy chairs reading Moore's book didn't constitute a serious threat to his business. Quite the contrary. On the other hand, Disney probably realized that distributing Fahrenheit (through Miramax) could jeopardize its relationships with key allies who were essential to its profitability.
Mere mention of OWS by no means constitutes endorsement.
Sorry, but my premise still stands.
Robb
(39,665 posts)I am fond of quoting Slavoj Zizek on this, and I will do it again and again:
"The ultimate show of power on the part of the ruling ideology is to allow what appears to be powerful criticism."
notundecided
(196 posts)of the occupy movement, as is the rest of the World of 1% ers, and well they should be because a tidal wave of a shitstorm is coming down on them.
randome
(34,845 posts)As I've posted many times before (and I'm sure some of you are tired of seeing it), the 1% are still sitting on their beaches in Tahiti and drinking margaritas. They aren't afraid of groups squabbling over 'camping rights'.
And they will never change their ways just because we tell them to 'behave better'.
notundecided
(196 posts)your'e over there with them.
randome
(34,845 posts)Last edited Sun Feb 5, 2012, 09:50 PM - Edit history (1)
That's JUST what my corporate masters told me you'd say!
throneoflunacy
(9 posts)have in their contracts with hosts that when CC or MSNBC doesn't want a story shown or the establishment to be rubbed the wrong way, it either doesn't happen or the host goes bye-bye. What do you think happened with Cenk Uygur and Keith Olbermann? Both were let go because they asked the wrong questions and said the wrong things.
My weekly newspaper and the state newspaper in Oregon has weekly information on Occupy.
WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)I have had proven personal experiences with these tactics from earlier anti-war actions.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)I told you that if said news item was deemed off-topic in LBN and directed to post in this thread instead,
it would disappear from the public "consciousness" entirely.
In 1 year's time, who here will remember that a 15 year old girl was bloodied across the face by a baton?
I bet you will remember that a police officer was hit by a brick, though.
unionworks
(3,574 posts)...has fled the country.
Response to tabasco (Original post)
Enrique This message was self-deleted by its author.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)I hope the stupid asshole who threw the brick was identified.
Please tell me they got his badge number...
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)I don't believe a word of what the police say, fuck them.
Generic Other
(28,979 posts)We got a lot of supporting evidence in the form of eyewitness accounts. Where is that evidence here? No picture of a wounded cop? No video? No eyewitness accounts?
I vote to wait for real evidence before I become judge, jury and high executioner.
randome
(34,845 posts)But I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that an arrest was made regarding the incident.
Earth_First
(14,910 posts)So if yotu read it somewhere, it exists somewhere.
So link it.
lynne
(3,118 posts)Quote from story:
On Saturday a police officer suffered "serious facial injuries" when he was struck by a brick tossed into a crowd during a flare-up between protesters and law enforcement, said Sgt. David Schlosser, a public information officer for the U.S. Park Police.
The brick thrower, who Mr. Schlosser didn't identify, was charged with felony assault on a police officer. Others were arrested for disobeying a police order and crossing a police line.
Link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204369404577205463664054598.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
gregtownsand
(43 posts)No doubt about it. Just like with the flag burning. ALl that does is discredit what the movement is about,.
Badsam
(180 posts)to willing to hide the truth from the people, they are lucky it was only a brick.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)at some point. As if standing around getting pepper-sprayed is going to get us anywhere over the long haul.
Javaman
(62,521 posts)one cop gets hit in the face with a brick and it's "major" news, yet dozens of people protesting get beaten up by the cops and that's no tragedy.
We live in a fucked up society.
unionworks
(3,574 posts)started by black bloc anarchists (infiltrators?)
ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)Oh wait, I think that already happened.
