I am in Denver today, but before I head down to #OccupyDenver I want you to look at this.
Look at Oakland. This is what a police state looks like.
Look at this policeman in Oakland launching a flash grenade at protesters who were going to aid and injured American citizen.
Here is more video of the class war in action. Notice how working class people have NO WEAPONS, we come in peace, and we are greeted with violence. I weep for America today.
The silence emanating from the Democratic Party, The Republican Party and our complicit corrupt media is deafening.
I will NOT allow the Democratic Establishment to co-opt this movement. If you want our support why don't you try defending us from the rubber bullets and tear gas that have been thrown at us over the last few days.
I will NOT allow the GOP Establishment that is hell bent on "Reverse Robin Hood" and their propaganda arm at Fox, CNN and the rest of the corrupt media complex to smear this movement.
As the constitutional rights of protesting Americans are denied, Fox News shrieks over ACORN. Idiots.
EXCLUSIVE: ACORN Playing Behind Scenes Role in 'Occupy' Movement
Seriously, there is nothing left for them to steal from us. Wall Street is a crime scene. If you are as "tough on crime" as I am you would support #OccupyWallStreet, but since many of these shills are corrupt to the bone they will defend Wall Street and corporate greed. They can not help defending the crime that exploits the other 99% of America and working class people around the world because that is their gravy train. Our job is to de-rail that corrupt gravy train.
So you can shoot me with rubber bullets, you can choke my lungs with tear gas, you can beat me with clubs, arrest me, evict me and oppress me. You can try to silence our voices. You will fail. You can try to co-opt this movement for your petty political purposes. You will fail. You can try to smear us, denigrate us and lie about #OccupyWallStreet. You will fail. We are the majority. We are not going away.
More below the fold
It is with great sadness and regret that I feel the need to address the uncalled for police violence that has occured in Oakland. Just as police in Oakland were set to use tear gas and rubber bullets against peaceful American citizens I was in Seattle giving a speech to their General Assembly about peaceful, nonviolent civil disobediance. I find it intolerable that the American military is Occupying Afghanistan under the pretense of protecting Afghani women from violence while the American police in Oakland are firing tear gas and rubber bullets at the men, women and children of America here at home.
This is the interview I gave to Ross & Burbank at KIRO radio in Seattle
And this is an impromptu interview I made while waiting for my flight from Seattle to Denver.
In Seattle I met an elderly woman who has gone bankrupt after medical costs incurred after a botched surgery that left her partially paralyzed destroyed her ability to keep her home and provide for her loved ones.
In Seattle I met a young man, Ross Grimshaw, a college student, who was appalled that his taxes are going UP as our corrupt politicians discuss how they can make taxes on the wealthiest 1% lower than they have ever been in American history. This kid is brilliant, and I will be working with him cross country to create the change we need.
In Seattle I met a veteran named Doc who told me he has not got much time left on earth. He wouldn't tell me what his medical ailment is or how severe it is, he only told me that he served our country abroad and witnessed the police brutality in Seattle during the WTO protests in 1999. He told me that he fears history is repeating itself. After last nights events in Oakland, I fear Doc is right.
In Seattle I met a mother and son, Amanda and Martin. Amanda works full time, Martin is an intelligent young man with a bright future. They see their future being stolen for tax cuts for the rich, but they are committed to OccupyWallStreet because they know that our future is at stake.
There are many stories like these from all over America, millions upon millions of Americans are suffering so that the super rich can have lower taxes and another ivory backscratcher. As police attack peaceful citizens Wall Street oligarchs continue to go free despite the damage they have caused America. This must stop. Until it does, we will continue to Occupy.
So the corrupt who oppose us can do whatever they will. We aren't leaving. This is OUR STREET, this is OUR HOMES. We are here to stay. It is the corrupt and complicit whose time is at an end, and if they respond to our peace with violence then they have forfeited the right to claim that they stand for justice, and those who stay silent as American citizens are attacked by their own law enforcement agencies for the audacity of fighting corporate corruption have forfeited their right to claim that they stand for justice as well.
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Here is the rest of my travel schedule. As of now I intend on returning to Manhattan and #OccupyWallStreet after this trip, but who knows, plans change.
Oct Weds 26 - Denver, Colorado
Oct Thurs 27 - Chicago, Illinois
Oct Fri 28 & Sat 29 - Washington D.C.
If you'd like to support my travelling journalistic road trip, please consider making a donation to WeAreTheOther99%'s media fund
Peace and love to all.
Be a better person to your brothers and sisters around you.
You can follow me on the series of tubes they call Twitter @JesseLaGreca