Many here have been debating whether or not DHS or some Federal agency has been involved in coordinating the crackdowns on occupations. Whether are not the Feds are involved in the crackdown, the silence emanating from Washington D.C. is complicity with the violent actions themselves. And this ought to clearly be communicated to Congress and President Obama. If as elected officials you aren't prepared to defend the rights of Americans under the Constitution, we will replace you. We will protest you. We will hound you. We will make your lives miserable, in addition to reinventing our own futures free of your tyranny.
The deafening silence emanating from Congress and the White House over the abuse and violent crackdown of civilians in occupations across this nation should give one pause for concern over the status of our democracy.
There are a sizable number of brave folks who believe that democracy must involve the public expression of those freedoms. And there are those who seek to quell that public expression for their own benefit, or ignore it.
Let us review some of the recent events regarding protest within the Occupy movement:
An 84 year old woman and a pregnant woman are maced, along with with many others in Seattle during a march.
A young man is violently arrested and loses feeling in one of his arms.
Berkeley students and a professor are beaten by police with batons.
Zuccotte Park is cleared, protesters roughed up and arrested, a media blackout imposed, and reporters arrested.
Macing 84 year old women legally exercising their right to protest, to freedom of assembly and speech? Really? This is how far we have fallen. You could trace back in time the last few weeks and list many more such events that ought to make us realize that our democracy, without these freedoms, is on life support. An injury to one is an injury to all.
The deafening silence from Congress, from both the Democratic and Republican parties, and President Obama on the abuse of civilians exercising the right to assemble, and the right to freedom of speech, speaks volumes as to the priorities, concerns and goals of the political class in D.C. We should be very, very concerned and angry over this silence.
Silence is in fact, complicity.
The Democratic party must not be given a pass over this. They are as much responsible for non-action, for not taking action, as they would be if action were taken in response to the abuse.
No more passes. That is, if you believe in democracy.