Here's the deal, people - I am local and have been watching local media on this today. I just watched some footage from the 5pm and 6pm newscasts - from what I saw on there, there is a low level class of hoodlum who are busting store windows, trashing public property, and wearing masks trying to incite things outside the regular protest march.
I can't speak for the main body of protesters (who didn't get hardly any coverage on channels 5 or 9 thanks to 100 people wearing tutu's, fairy wings, and gas masks) - but there was definite footage of the anarchists who were busting up benches, turning over Dumpsters, throwing 2x4's thru store windows, etc.
They threw themselves in front of police horses and nearly got trampled. They trashed things like city benches for NO REASON other then to block buses coming into the Center. - They got as hostile as they could be without being physically violent and a few got peppersprayed.
I can't speak for Arielle or her kid or the media, but if things are getting a bit heavy for protesters outside the protest zone this evening, it's because they were trashing our city this morning....FOR NO REASON!
They had no message, and slashed tires on media vans and cop cars alike - they hide their illegal deeds behind scarves and masks, and are not Democratic protesters, but anarchists trashing things and engaging in illegal activities.
Sorry for those who are close to the action who are getting blowback - but they're gonna clamp down now thanks to the idiots who are hopping to and fro trying to start fires (literally and figuratively)
Not saying this is perfect, or any raid/action prior to this is justified, but that was a hostile crowd this morning, and I'd say the police have done as best as they could given the circumstances.
Now I hear they're calling the national guard -
this doesn't help end the war.
I'm with Obama all the way to the end, but these guys generating the most heat are not ok in my book. The guys trying to protect this city have kids, families, and they're doing the best they can - it's not a police state, it's not Kent State,
it reminds me of when those college assholes get drunk and trash their town when their team wins - nothing to be proud of here folks.
RB