was hosted by very good friends of mine -you know the one... the one disrupted by the "renegade" group from occupy - you know the ones - the jerks all in black...
Bar Tartine manager Vinny Eng said they were able to go on with the pop-up dinner they were hosting there, which ended before 11 p.m. The small section of window that was smashed was in the newer, side portion of the dining room. "Luckily no one was seated over there tonight," he said. "So there was a little glass on the floor but no one got hit."
Few if any arrests were made, and all the businesses plan to be open today.
Though members of the Occupy movement quickly tried to distance themselves from the chaos, it was hard not to make the association, given the planned May Day actions today, and calls on the May 1st Strike Day website for anti-gentrification actions. "We were hijacked and it was an utter clusterfuck," wrote one Occupy organizer on his blog.
those are MY friends - NOT the 1% - but very hard-working people who have invested their futures to start a small business - who pay their few employees well above minimum wage - who are struggling to make a go of their business. that was THEIR event - at great expense - to promote their new product.
THEY are the ones who were "harmed" by the irresponsible actions of those hiding behind the occupy movement - those that SOME on this site defend for "only damaging property" (not the majority - just the disillusioned few, to be clear)
that "hosted" dinner was expensive to my friends - but necessary to expand their business. their guests were excited, happy, and having a great time - until, that is, some *sshole with a crowbar decided to attack that OTHER small business, bar tartine, and break out their window.
when that "small group" of "protesters" decided to try to smash windows of cars, break windows of businesses and start a "mini-riot" - the guests inside who had, up until that point, been excited by my friends' presentation now became victims of those who promulgate violence. funny how raw fear has a way of destroying ambiance, isn't it.
do i hold ALL of those who believe in "occupy" responsible? well, to a large degree - yes.
UNTIL the occupy movement decides to rid themselves of those who willingly engage in domestic terrorism (ask the people at that dinner if they think this phrase applies, btw);
UNTIL occupy decides to openly denounce EVERY act of vandalism and destroyed property;
UNTIL occupy decides to act as adults and join in effective political change instead of "excuse makers" for the actions of those around them - i will hold occupy responsible for what happens.
this idea of a "leaderless" movement is exactly that: leaderless and ineffective.
what a tragedy and wasted opportunity - why? because you are alienating the very people who should be supporting the ideals originally put forth by occupy.
you (occupy) have let this turn into a runaway train that is destroying support and allegiance to a just cause: income inequality.
there are not enough excuses in the world for what happens in violent acts - none. nada. not one single one.
when i see the callous disregard for harm that is being done to those who are NOT the 1% (not that i would ever condone this type of violent "harm" done to them, either), i want nothing whatsoever to do or say regarding this failed movement.
i am sad to see how it is being touted high and low on this site - i am embarrassed by that.
there is NO excuse - none.
it is time occupy either stand up and turn these violent individuals into the police before some innocent person is harmed yet again. it is time occupy grow up.
[footnote: the FTP crowd is JUST as culpable for generalizing and grandstanding to gain attention instead of working for real change, such as holding individuals accountable. i really wonder sometimes if this site has any mature adults left...]
now: keep the bickering, insults, dickishness OUT of this diary - either discuss how to fix this disaster or just go away and play in your own pens.