Today I watched the videos of the Occupy Oakland crackdown and had tears in my eyes.
I sent letters to my Senators (Feinstein, Boxer), Congress Rep (Jackie Speier), the President, CA governor Jerry Brown and the CA AG Kamila Harris.
"I am absolutely disgusted..."
more below the fold.
Here's the letter I sent:
I am absolutely disgusted by the way the police in Oakland and other cities have blatantly violated the rights of peaceful protesters.
While the "little people" get zero tolerance, batton rounds, tear gas, maced in the face and billy clubs, for nothing more than exercising their MOST sacred right, the richest are getting away with murder, torture, theft, fraud and political corruption.
Suddenly "sanitation", "tents" and "permits" are such a horrific crime and threat to our safety, that we can't tolerate some mess and disruption to allow people to legally vent their anger? How about dropping off some porta-potties instead of beating men women and children?
What the hell is happening in this country? Do we have to have another Kent State before you wake up? Today a protester, an Iraq War Vet is in critical condition from a rubber bullet to the face. Our veterans are rightly appalled that US police are showing less restraint against unarmed americans than our troops showed against armed Iraqis.
AG Holder is shutting down pot clubs and poker clubs, while the rich get away with mega-million-crimes. I don't want to hear another speech on "respecting rights", while police are bashing heads.
WAKE UP.
While we musn't forget that the police are a distraction from the more important target (Banks and monied corruption of our democracy), the lack of accountability and double standard when it comes to the "rule of law" just serve to highlight the disparities in this country. It's not just economic disparity, it is also a fundamental lack of justice and disparity in law.