I do not think anyone in the movement expects the President to defend the movements' way of thinking..of course he should not do that because he is the President of all the citizens in the United States. But when there is obvious abuse of American citizens-whether it be Occupy or Tea Party or any group practicing their First Amendment rights-he should speak out. The President's silence is a way of condoning the brutality being done on peaceful protestors.
President Obama swore an oath to protect American citizens and to uphold the Constitution. My daughter's roommate was behind the line of protestors being beaten with batons by cops on Thursday morning in NYC. Her roommate was of course scared. My daughter has been to several protests where she felt intimidated by police. She was a witness to the 700 arrested on the Brooklyn bridge. These protestors have no weapons. They are protesting peacefully. If they are breaking the law arrest them but going in with riot gear-pepper spraying them, punching them in the face, beating them with batons, throwing them roughly to the ground, etc. should not be acceptable in a country where we are supposed to have First Amendment rights. And by the President remaining SILENT he is saying it is ok. He could say something like he said about Egypt to let people know he does not approve of violence against peaceful protestors. American citizens are supposed to have the right to peaceable assemble and redress their grievances without being brutalized. He could say "our first concern is to prevent injury or the loss of life" (like he said about Egypt). Or he can remain silent but I think his silence speaks volumes.
Here is what the President said about the abuse in Egypt (but not OWS):
"My administration has been closely monitoring the situation... and I know that we will be learning more tomorrow when day breaks.
As the situation continues to unfold, our first concern is preventing injury or loss of life. So I want to be very clear in calling upon the authorities to refrain from any violence against peaceful protesters.
The people have rights that are universal. That includes the right to peaceful assembly and association, the right to free speech, and the ability to determine their own destiny.
These are human rights. And the United States will stand up for them everywhere.
Violence will not address the grievances of the people. And suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away.
What's needed right now are concrete steps that advance the rights of the people, a meaningful dialogue between the government and its citizens and a path of political change that leads to a future of greater freedom and greater opportunity and justice for the... people.
Now ultimately the future will be determined by the people. I believe the people want the same things that we all want: a better life for ourselves and our children, and a government that is fair and just and responsive.
Put simply, the people want a future that befits the heirs to a great and ancient civilization. The United States always will be a partner in pursuit of that future, and we are committed to working with the people, all quarters, to achieve it.
Around the world governments have an obligation to respond to their citizens. That's true here in the United States.
Surely there will be difficult days to come, but the United States will continue to stand up for the rights of the people and work with their government in pursuit of a future that is more just, more free, and more hopeful.
Thank you very much."