'Occupy' Protests

[hitchcockgreen]

Just curious what kind of coverage everyone has seen.

I was just speaking to HitchcockBlue this morning and he knew nothing about it. I know there is kind of a mainstream blackout of info in the U.S....

[Sno]

Haven't noticed anything, but there was a flash-protest in NY that shut down the Brooklyn Bridge. They are/were protesting Wall Street.

[Blunt Force Trauma]

Are we getting the American version of the Islamic Spring?

[Dx.]

What happened, civil war break out in the streets already?

[Ded10c]

It's remarkable how long it's been happening, but I'm not suprised by the overuse of force by the authorities somehow.

[Sno]

Certainly wouldn't matters any worse. The only planned "media blackout" I am aware of is http://www.blackthisout.org.

[hitchcockgreen]

Haven't noticed anything, but there was a flash-protest in NY that shut down the Brooklyn Bridge. They are/were protesting Wall Street.

It wasn't a flash protest. Like I said, protesters have been there over a week.
The NYPD lead the protest march to the bridge, where they had traps set (orange fencing to contain protesters). They later admitted it was a trap. Basically leading the peaceful march somewhere where they would have to arrest them (the Brooklyn Bridge).



There have also been cases of police brutality, unnecessary pepper-spraying, and in the Brooklyn Bridge event, a 12 year old was cuffed and arrested.

Are we getting the American version of the Islamic Spring?

Looks like it's heading that way.

As it stands right now, Facebook is still deleting posts (within the U.S.) that people put up about the protests. Twitter is blocking it from trending (again, only in the U.S.). Additionally, the U.S. government has been issuing requests to YouTube to have protest videos taken down, which Google has complied with in many cases. We're talking hundreds of videos.

Gil Scott Heron was right. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGaRtqrlGy8

It's not just New York, which is why I'm blown away there isn't more coverage in mainstream media down there.

Here's a list of cities in America alone: http://www.occupytogether.org/ (check the right-side link panel)

[Dx.]

Oh, looks like there is one in Pittsburgh too, what bunch of nonsence is going on?

[hitchcockgreen]

Protesting big bank corruption and illegal activities. People are sick of getting poorer and poorer, I guess.

I had read one of the big American banks now wants to start charging it's members $5 for using their debit cards? Yow.

[FirBirGir]

They can't, fees are now regulated. The only way the fee could be enacted is if the regulatory board institutes it so it's not bank's choice any more.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111h ... 173enr.pdf

Eddy

[Sno]

Welp, there we have it. American Revolution 2.0 is underway.

[Driving Park]

Finally...

[hitchcockgreen]

occupytogether.jpg

Seems to be catching on. They're missing some of the Canadian cities that are protesting (any west of Southern Ontario, it seems) as well as some of the international cities but yeah, it's getting big. Can they keep ignoring this?

[Sno]

This they cannot ignore, I wonder if these people realize they're actually following what Ron Paul said to do (ending the Fed).

[hitchcockgreen]

While I don't think most protesters are asking for an end of Fedgov involvement in everything, they certainly are asking for a complete restructuring and maybe even having law enforcement agencies actually go after white collar criminals....

Collecting no taxes begs some pretty serious questions (that these Tea Party protesters haven't thought to ask, apparently )

Zero Taxes.jpg

Love that one sign: "Cut Taxes, Not Defense"

But....where do you think money for defense comes from?

[Dx.]

That's NOT the Tea Party.

[hitchcockgreen]

That actually was a Tea Party picture...at least it was credited as one when I found it.

CmJtW.jpg

[Ded10c]

The tea party is full of idiots and it will reflect very badly on the average American citizen if they ever get taken seriously.

[hitchcockgreen]

Which is unfortunate. I believe that they have some very legitimate concerns and questions (some of them, anyway) which weren't being answered by anyone because they are looked upon as a lunatic fringe. Those questions have been answered, but they are kind of a cloistered group and probably wouldn't take the answer unless it came from Glenn Beck....which is funny, since he is admittedly a comedic shock jock (he's compared himself to Stephen Colbert).

[FirBirGir]

If you put some thought into it, there's not much difference between tea party and occupy protestors. They have different beliefs and values but ultimately both organizations want change, both organizations are a mix of regular people and idiots and both groups will draw more fringe extremists as they get media attention. People will do stupid things in the name of this cause or that cause. If you really want to make a difference, use your most powerful tool - vote.

I have to chuckle when I see the google map. If 100 people show up at each and every one of those dots, how many people are we really talking about? More people bought an iPhone today than have protested in the last 12 months... I'm a firm believer that everyone has a right to protest - more power to 'em - but is this another Million Man March?

Eddy