Actually, it has already started. Have you seen the multiple videos of corporate goons (police protecting the interests of Wall Street) punching peaceful protesters in the face, or grabbing them in head-locks and smacking them against the pavement?
Stop and think for a second about this imagery: Can you imagine what would've happened if Tea Party members have been harassed the same way, or beaten, or pepper-sprayed in the face? Can you hear Bill O' or Sean, screaming bloody murder?
I would argue that the multiple images and videos of OWS protesters being disrespected, harassed, and in some cases, brutalized by the police, is a double-edged sword. On the one hand it helps rally people to the cause by the outrage of the abuse. On the other, it sends the message that authorities can brutalize these peaceful protesters by punching them in the face, beating them with police batons, smacking them against cars and/or the pavement, and restraining them with the pressure exerted against the heads of protesters by jack-booted (as it were) Police State thugs against.
I may be wrong, but as I monitor the events related to OWS around the country by attending protests in different cities, watching the live video feed, reading tweeter messages, checking out facebook pages, and OWS-related Websites, I perceive a certain naiveté about the enemy we are rising against. I perceive a certain innocence. And if my perception is accurate, then I think it raises some serious concerns (or at least, it should).
I know, and believe, that at the end of the day, OWS is indeed standing up for the 99%. But not everyone in the 99% understands it, or appreciates it. In fact there is a huge segment of people within that 99% that are animated by very dangerous instincts and beliefs. There are the extreme end-of-days religious fundamentalists, the racist ultra-nationalists, a large segment of NRA members (which fit comfortably within the aforementioned categories).
The corporate-owned media (for the most part), and right-wing personalities are engaged in a campaign to demonize OWS protesters. And when I use the term "demonize," I mean it in the very real sense of the word.
As the protests show staying-power, and spread (and they must, if we have any chance of real change), it is very likely that the corporate-owned media conglomerates (propaganda machines) will turn against the movement and join in the demonization campaign.
What the right-wing is doing is a perfect example of psychological projection... Everybody knows that the emphasis by OWS is on peaceful protests; on exercising our constitutional rights. By and large, there is no talk of violence, or of using weapons. Organizers and "facilitators" of the movement across the dozens of cities around the country are really good at keeping an eye on those agitating for violence, and on pushing them out of the movement. It is a peaceful movement that seeks to emulate peaceful resistance tactics from people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.
And yet, there is a relentless drumbeat on the right to characterize OWS protesters as dangerous, violent, Nazis, antisemitic, ungodly, hippies, lazy, socialists. Miscreants like Glenn Beck, and Andrew Breitbart actually advocate violence against OWS, with allusions to gun used.
As I pointed out above, on the right, there is a very large number of people who hold very strange and (I would argue) crazy ideas about the world, related to extreme religious fundamentalism, nativism, racism, ultra-nationalism. A large segment of these people are armed.
The danger in that situation is the combination of what in the final analysis can be described as lunacy--end of days apocalyptic battles, dominionism, and rise of the Antichrist--and a fervent obsession with guns.
To these folks, "demons" are very real indeed. And demons need to be cast away.
Under normal circumstances, most of these folks can live in society just like anybody else, raising families, working, studying, participating in their communities.
But in times of social turmoil, they can become extremely dangerous. Many of them would see social turmoil as a sign of the fulfillment of end-of-days prophesies.
And eventually the corporate-owned media conglomerates propaganda, as it turns against the OWS, could cause certain segments within the right-wing to turn violent against protesters.
If enough people who already see the world through the prism of religious fundamentalist lunacy, are convinced that the OWS movement is dangerous, socialist, Nazi-like, ungodly, wanting to forcibly take money from people in a socialist redistribution ploy, there could be a certain point that could represent a trigger towards violence.
And that's why I think people involved in the OWS movement should take these media and right-wing characterizations extremely seriously, and it should have a rapid-fire (sorry for the violent allusion) strategy to counteract the effects of those attacks. In other words, messaging, public relations, education, and even marketing strategies, should be part of the OWS movement. Think of it as an information or propaganda war. OWS should not cede any aspect of the "propaganda" war to the enemy. We should engage fully, in every aspect.
Finally, I think that collectively, the OWS movement should make a big deal any time anybody uses threatening violent language against the movement, or engages in actual violence (including police brutality and harassment).
And every instance of intimidation, threats, harassment, vandalism, perpetrated by civilians against members of the movement should be documented, and immediate legal action should be taken against the aggressor.
And from previous experience, I know that many on the Left get very upset with this suggestion, but I think it's extremely important: It is legally recognized (and also a human right) that people have the right of self defense.
I hope it never gets to this, but the most dangerous situation for any group of people is when would-be aggressors think that they can perpetrate violence against them without fear of retribution.
There should be an understanding from any group thinking that they can use physical intimidation, or even acts of violence against members of the OWS movement, that people will defend themselves (vigorously).
You've heard the comments from many miscreants in the right, including (unfortunately) politicians: "We have the guns," "Lock-and-load," "It's a good thing I can't afford a gun, otherwise...," etc.
This type of language is extremely alarming, and yes, it is extremely dangerous, and it should be seen in that light by members of the OWS movement.