You probably won't read anything about the Oakland event anywhere but here. Of course, that's because there were no arrests. No shields. No tear gas. No violence. That's for one very good reason: no police. Just a bunch of happy campers gourmands stuffing their faces with incredible bbq-ed chicken and awesome deserts, talking shit is fucked up and stuff.
We were probably violating have a dozen ordinances (pavilions, food, dogs, tarps on the ground, more than 20 people without a permit, FSM knows what else), but with no police to fuck things up by selectively enforcing stupid, petty regulations, and with Occupy Oakland's highly trained Barbeque Committee and cleanup crew, it all came down without so much as an angry word. It's called peacefully assembling, and it's in the Constitution.
Is there any doubt that if NYPD stayed away from Zuccotti as OPD stayed away from Arroyo that anything bad would have happened?
You'd almost think that, for today, Oakland was New York, and New York was Oakland.
Oakland? No, New York!
Brett Goldberg
Large number of cops mobilizing on the north side of Liberty Square. Cops, not occupiers, have instigated the shenanigans today. #ows #m17
Occupy Wall Street
Heads up.. @axb21: Big line of police approaching Liberty. #m17 #ows
Occupy Wall Street
Bagpipers just started marching into the park bringing the party mood with them, NYPD arrested one of them, and things got real heated. #OWS
Fran MercantiAnthony
And now the #NYPD are arresting the bagpipe players. Happy St. Patrick's Day everybody!
Occupy Wall Street
Police beating people NOW in #LibertySq:
Occupy Wall Street
#NYPD shutting down vendors around they park as they beat peaceful protesters inside.
Occupied Chi Tribune
RT @RDevro Police are barricading the park. It's cleared. I witnessed countless violent arrests. No way to estimate numbers.
Occupied Chi Tribune
RT @PennyRed Zucotti full of police- I came back and got thrown out by my arms. Got back in. Hundreds of nypd here. #ows
New York? No, Oakland!
Emily Loftis
Medics and #oo teaching east oakland bbq attendees how to respond to seizures & gun shot wounds. #ows
Emily Loftis
Know your rights workshop starting @ #oo east oakland bbq kickin off w "Fight The Power" on speakers. #ows
Alyssa
#OO #OccupyOakland there is ice cream. It was cute @DJ_JDot @worthoftheworld and bunch people run to get it http://img.ly/...
Perhaps New Yorkers are now closer to understanding why Occupy Oakland peeps go on FTP marches weekly.
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Photo Credits:
Oakland BBQ photo by allie123, aka alyssa011968
Liberty Square photo by Ethan Buckner
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Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 9:06 PM PT:
Tim Lohrentz @timlohrentz Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Our #OO #FTP march tonight will be in solidarity with #ows due to arrests and brutality tonight. #FTNYPD
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 9:09 PM PT:
Occupy Wall Street @OccupyWallStNYC
Beating us won't kill the movement. You can't beat an idea. #OWS #Occupy
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 9:14 PM PT: Apparently barricades have been re-erected.
Jim Roberts @nytjim
Barricades at #Zuccotti were removed in Jan. after NYCLU letters saying fences violated zoning laws. http://nyti.ms/...
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 9:16 PM PT:
Occupy Wall Street @OccupyWallStNYC
Girl having seizure denied medical attention, still convulsing. FDNY ambulance just arrived. LIVE: http://www.ustream.tv/... #OWS #M17
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 9:20 PM PT:
sick jew @sickjew
Tim: Woman had ribs cracked by police - video being reviewed #ows (live at http://ustre.am/...)
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 9:28 PM PT:
Occupy Wall Street @OccupyWallStNYC
Sidewalk chalkers arrested: 10+ Clowns arrested: 2+ Bagpipe players arrested: 1 Bankers arrested: 0 #OccupyWallStreet
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 9:29 PM PT:
Sarah Morgan @djsarahspin
George Clooney gets arrested and the world wants justice. Peaceful protesters are beat and people tell them to respect the cops.
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 9:42 PM PT:
Melissa Gira Grant @melissagira
All told, even before raid, I saw the most violent arrest today since Occupy began. Swift, brutal. And senseless.
7m Melissa Gira Grant @melissagira
Cops then retreated to park edges, but energy had shifted.
7m Melissa Gira Grant @melissagira
Earlier, as bagpipers were getting arrested, cops swept in, broke down tent with ridic force, but community affairs told cops to GET OUT
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 9:44 PM PT:
curecanti @curecanti
Everybody come to Oakland. The cops are probably worse, but there are fewer of them.
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 9:48 PM PT:
Nick Pinto @macfathom
One guy: "Everyone be cool, life goes on." Another guy: "No it doesn't! The cops just beat the shit out of that kid!" #OWS
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 9:57 PM PT:
JeffSharlet @JeffSharlet
Word is woman beaten by cops is Cecily McMillan. Wrote about her in Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/...
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 10:02 PM PT: Cindy McMillan
McMillan is Northeast regional organizer for the youth section of the Democratic Socialists of America, which bills itself as the largest socialist organization in the United States. She's been involved with the Occupy movement since August, despite sharp differences with most of the people in the park. "I believe in a constrained view of revolution," she says, by which she means putting pressure on mainstream politicians.
And for this, she says, she has suffered. "I have been called a terrorist. I have been called CIA, FBI. I have been called a Democrat!" Like Lasn, she wants regime change. Unlike most of the occupiers, she believes it requires the guidance of those, like her, possessed of what she calls "cultural capital."
She's a former cheerleader; she used to want to be a politician. She says her studies and her work – she's also a nanny – prevent her from sleeping in the park. But she's not afraid to put her body on the line. She was arrested after she charged Wall Street three times, a "direct action" that even some veteran anarchists – militant and masked – considered wildly courageous, if foolish. A cop thought so, too, blasted her with pepper spray, knocked her down, stepped on her head and snarled at her, "Shut up. You get what you deserve, cunt bitch."
http://www.rollingstone.com/...
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 10:05 PM PT:
Nick Pinto @macfathom
. @csmuncyphoto says he has shots of that Crosby Street arrest. "The cop smashed his megaphone into the back of the kid's head."
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 10:15 PM PT: Another Diary on Zuccotti Park
Zucotti Park - NYPD Mass Arrests & Worse: Videos
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 10:24 PM PT:
Air Force anonymous @OccupyAirForce
Call the NYPD terrorism hotline and let them know their officers are now domestic terrorists beating US citizens 1-888-NYC-SAFE #OWS
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 10:32 PM PT:
Shawn Carrié @shawncarrie
Officer Bovell Badge #17743 smashed a guy's head into a window and stomped on the back of Austin's neck as his head was up on a step
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 10:34 PM PT:
Kit O'Connell @KitOConnell
This isn't pepper spray anymore, this isn't batons or tear gas. NYPD engaged in acts of attempted murder on #OWS tonight. Sickening.
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 10:49 PM PT:
Anon Street Medics @AnonMedics
People are being beaten and arrested at #OWS tonight for a reason that essentially boils down to "you kids get off our lawn"
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 10:52 PM PT:
Jennifer Dowdy, MSW @dowdyspen
RT @JskaGon: I'll call this the St. Patty's Day massacre #M17 #OWS
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 10:55 PM PT:
Astra Taylor @astradisastra
Tonite I saw nypd attack: retreating protesters, peaceful marchers, limp women, people laying down, dancers, & french tourist bagpipers.#ows
Sat Mar 17, 2012 at 11:06 PM PT:
Occupy Wall Street @OccupyWallStNYC
The 1st smashed window of #OWS. Culprit? A street medic's head in the hands of 2 riot police: http://www.ustream.tv/... (at 3:30 in vid) #shame
43m mollycrabapple @mollycrabapple
I have said it, but I have to say it again- we were smiling, hugging, on a joyous spring day, and the cops decided That Could Not Stand #ows
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