Slog
News & ArtsSunday, October 16, 2011
Occupy Views from Occupy Seattle This Afternoon
Posted by Brendan Kiley on Sun, Oct 16, 2011 at 2:51 PM
Things are quiet down at Westlake this afternoon—people talking, ladling chili out of a big pot, singing "This Land Is My Land."
This is Juan, who is originally from León, Nicaragua. He says he's been down here for several days "para ayudar todos" and is pleased with "eso expresión del pueblo—del pueblo! La revolución es no de la violencia. Es de more jobs for the people, the little people, the 99%. We are together in this—todos. Juntos. Together."
This is Gabriel, from the Occupy Seattle legal team. When I asked if he was an attorney, he said: "I graduated from a top-tier law school but there aren't job opportunities and I can't even afford to take the bar exam. I'm almost as poor as any of the homeless people down here." He said over the past few nights, the police haven't arrested anybody but have been using "psychological warfare" by waking people up every half-hour or so, rattling their tents, shining flashlights into their eyes, and asking: Are you okay? I just want to make sure you're okay.
He says that's been especially maddening to the medical team, who want to be able to actually make sure people are okay without freaking people out. The other night, an active-duty Marine was at the protest, struggling to stay awake, because he says his job situation would be severely screwed if he fell asleep. "It was like 4 in the morning, it was cold, and this guy was really struggling," Gabriel said. "So I told him, 'you go ahead and sleep and I'll stand here and wake you up if the police start coming.'"
This is Laura, who was from Seattle, but moved to Sammamish because "the schools in Seattle suck, unfortunately."
This is Ko and Joshua, father and son. Joshua saw me walking around, talking to people, and then wanted to interview me for a school project. So now we're interview buddies.
This is Steve. He was born in the Bronx, grew up in Connecticut, and has lived in Seattle for the past year and a half:
This is a sign:
These are some other signs:
4
Yeah, the police are using "psychological warfare" when they're checking to make sure everyone's ok (which is part of their job description, btw), but if they just left everyone alone, and someone were mugged, or assaulted, or raped, or murdered, everyone would be screaming "where were the police?!?"
5
Next time there's a police funeral, they shouldn't be surprised if there's a bunch of DFH's demanding to see their parade permit every block.
6
Wow so are any of the people at the protest actually from Seattle?
Sounds like they really haven't broadened their appeal to the 90% who are working but are very concerned about issues of equity, economic growth etc.
Seattle has a long history or massive public protests that well resulted in nothing much changing. Many of us were there during the huge WTO march that got co-opted by kids from Oregon destroying property or the 100,000's of thousands who turned out to try and stop the way - this time we aren't showing up..
Ask how many of those people voted in the last election? If you want to change things you need to do more then sleep in a tent in a public park.
Sounds like they really haven't broadened their appeal to the 90% who are working but are very concerned about issues of equity, economic growth etc.
Seattle has a long history or massive public protests that well resulted in nothing much changing. Many of us were there during the huge WTO march that got co-opted by kids from Oregon destroying property or the 100,000's of thousands who turned out to try and stop the way - this time we aren't showing up..
Ask how many of those people voted in the last election? If you want to change things you need to do more then sleep in a tent in a public park.
7
Where are the virtual and digital Occupations?
Darn near all of these entities have Facebook pages and blogs.
Well?
Darn near all of these entities have Facebook pages and blogs.
Well?
8
@4, c'mon, put yourself in a cop's shoes. You observe a crowd sleeping whose stated goal is to camp overnight, i.e. sleep, and you honestly think, ooh, better wake each of them to be sure they're actually sleeping - what if every sleeping person turns out to be unconscious from being mugged or assaulted or raped when I wasn't looking? Yes, let's rinse and repeat all night long to protect them...
It may be illegal to sleep there, and this may be a chilling reminder that rough sleepers all over town get this treatment all night long from cops, but doing it at OS is a cheap and stupid move.
It may be illegal to sleep there, and this may be a chilling reminder that rough sleepers all over town get this treatment all night long from cops, but doing it at OS is a cheap and stupid move.
10
Plus, how boneheaded to take a group of people and sleep-deprive them night after night so the days will find them increasingly on edge and punchy.
It's the opposite of a policy that would be designed by a force wanting to keep the peace at Westlake: it suggests a force looking to destabilize the situation so as to give itself some excuse for action.
It's the opposite of a policy that would be designed by a force wanting to keep the peace at Westlake: it suggests a force looking to destabilize the situation so as to give itself some excuse for action.
13
@2 Terrorist pant wetters: meet someone who hasn't gotten over the last scare manufactured to manipulate Americans.
14
@8 - The only time I've ever seen the police interfere with "rough sleeper", anywhere, was when the weather service was forecasting extremely low temperatures, or a blizzard.
I'm sure there are public locations where the cops would, in fact, roust a rough sleeper, but it seems the rough sleepers have learned to avoid such places, and the cops don't bother them elsewhere, probably for reasons that have more to do with jurisdiction or lack of public complaint than Machiavellian schemes of control.
With that said, checking on tents at Westlake is definitely about reminding people that they're breaking the law, and that you shouldn't expect a nice fun camping trip with a relaxing, uninterrupted night's sleep under the stars if you haven't paid your fee to the Forestry Service.
I'm sure there are public locations where the cops would, in fact, roust a rough sleeper, but it seems the rough sleepers have learned to avoid such places, and the cops don't bother them elsewhere, probably for reasons that have more to do with jurisdiction or lack of public complaint than Machiavellian schemes of control.
With that said, checking on tents at Westlake is definitely about reminding people that they're breaking the law, and that you shouldn't expect a nice fun camping trip with a relaxing, uninterrupted night's sleep under the stars if you haven't paid your fee to the Forestry Service.
18
@15: Oh, nice to see you here. You went from whining that the movement wasn't radical enough for you to aping right-wing rhetoric about proper english in 24 hours. Bravo!
I suppose if things did heat up you would still stay away because you are as cowardly as every other scorn-filled snarker on this blog.
I suppose if things did heat up you would still stay away because you are as cowardly as every other scorn-filled snarker on this blog.
19
One of the best indications I've seen that the movement is having an impact has been the way the right-wing trolls have been falling over themselves in their efforts to discredit it. They tend to only act this batshit when they're genuinely afraid of losing.
20
@18
I've seen it noted--and firsthand observations seem to confirm this--that there's a remarkable lack of spelling errors in the Occupy signs, unlike what you see among rightwing demonstrators.
I've seen it noted--and firsthand observations seem to confirm this--that there's a remarkable lack of spelling errors in the Occupy signs, unlike what you see among rightwing demonstrators.
21
#20
Yes, their efforts are only exceeded by lib webdits who complain that the movement has no focus...and can you please click on the links in twitter to their blogs.
Yes, their efforts are only exceeded by lib webdits who complain that the movement has no focus...and can you please click on the links in twitter to their blogs.
22
@18, and how's that changing the world working out for you huh? Yeah...let me know how it's working out for you in three months when nothing has changed. But by then you will have moved on to another blog
24
I think this whole thing really comes to a head locally by Thanksgiving, if it lasts that long. The city isn't going to want people occupying Westlake on the day after Thanksgiving, i.e. the busiest shopping day of the year, when they have the parade and the tree lighting ceremony there. The police are going to be a lot more forceful in moving people out of the park the closer that day comes.
25
@ 19. No no, they act this batshit about everything. Here's hoping they get tired before long and someone puts them down for nappy time.
26
@22: Where in my post did I say I was trying to change the world? Maybe I am, maybe I'm not, but the leap to such conclusions happened purely in your own head. Yes, let's check in after three months and see what's going down. I'll put you in my calendar:
"Check in with troll who cannot properly punctuate his/her sentences." Wait...that doesn't really narrow it down enough does it?
"Check in with 'Last of the Time Lords." There. Done.
I have no problem with people disagreeing and debating, but snark and scorn are the refuges of cowards.
"Check in with troll who cannot properly punctuate his/her sentences." Wait...that doesn't really narrow it down enough does it?
"Check in with 'Last of the Time Lords." There. Done.
I have no problem with people disagreeing and debating, but snark and scorn are the refuges of cowards.
27
@24 - The protesters have, several times already, announced times at which everyone should come on down and link arms for the scheduled Final Police Crackdown. So far, however, the cops haven't held up their end of the bargain. They seem kinda flakey, if you ask me.
Thanksgiving might be too far out for everyone to work into their calendars just yet; do you think we could make it Halloween instead?
Thanksgiving might be too far out for everyone to work into their calendars just yet; do you think we could make it Halloween instead?
29
Hey, "Trollstalker."
You kind of consider yourself the Bernie Goetz (look him up in Wikipedia) of the Slog world, don't you?
I think maybe you know you're a bit of a "looser."
You kind of consider yourself the Bernie Goetz (look him up in Wikipedia) of the Slog world, don't you?
I think maybe you know you're a bit of a "looser."
31
@6 I am from Seattle, and I fully appreciate and support the OS protesters. I have a (teaching) job and can't afford to take time off to be there during the day (or sleep there at night; I am spending what time I can there after work hours and on the weekends).
I don't think this movement loses any credibility b/c of the presence of non-locals; to the contrary (and, I would say, supported by occupations in other areas in the country), isn't the point of noting that "we're the 99%" indicative of at least a country-wide dissatisfaction of 'business as usual'?
I feel these people are protesting for me and, again, I appreciate the hell out of it. Those of us who are unable, or even unwilling, to take the time off to protest and/or brave the risk of being arrested, are still part of the 99% struggling financially under our current economic system, tax structure, et al.
Thank you all, you sexy OS protesters!
I don't think this movement loses any credibility b/c of the presence of non-locals; to the contrary (and, I would say, supported by occupations in other areas in the country), isn't the point of noting that "we're the 99%" indicative of at least a country-wide dissatisfaction of 'business as usual'?
I feel these people are protesting for me and, again, I appreciate the hell out of it. Those of us who are unable, or even unwilling, to take the time off to protest and/or brave the risk of being arrested, are still part of the 99% struggling financially under our current economic system, tax structure, et al.
Thank you all, you sexy OS protesters!
32
A Nicaraguan communist and a top tier law school grad....no wonder Joe Sixpack stayed home and watched the Huskies.
At least Samamish mom got one thing right; Seattle schools under the grip of the white guilt left are a fucking disaster.
At least Samamish mom got one thing right; Seattle schools under the grip of the white guilt left are a fucking disaster.
33
All the people in these photographs look like assholes, the type of person who'd punch you in the stomach for a buck.
34
Oh Brendan. Dejáme ayudarte, hombre. Hablo nicaragüense.
La revolución es para ayudar a todos. Mr. Juan is pleased with "esa expresión del pueblo - ¡del pueblo! La revolución no es de la violencia."
Goodness, man. Next time send me an email before you post something like this. I'm here to help fer crissakes.
La revolución es para ayudar a todos. Mr. Juan is pleased with "esa expresión del pueblo - ¡del pueblo! La revolución no es de la violencia."
Goodness, man. Next time send me an email before you post something like this. I'm here to help fer crissakes.
35
@29: Good one! I'm old enough to remember Bernie Goetz. Oh, and I get it: your misspelling of loser was an attempt to bait me into correcting you! Very funny!
I must have gotten to you.
I must have gotten to you.
36
Además, quisiera saber donde estaba el señor Juan durante la revolución fracasada en su propia país. Quisiera saber qué aprendió de esa experiencia.
37
@33: Charming. My grandpa used to say, "They'll knock you over the head for a dollar." I thought it was cute in an antiquated kind of way, though I was pretty sure who he meant by "they."
Where does all that bile you spew come from?
Where does all that bile you spew come from?
38
@37 From my liver .... got a lot now thanks to the doctor's fuck ups ... want more?
Seriously, if these photos are the people in this protest, a Black Panther tee-shirt just makes it all too clear now. They don't want equality, they just want more. But so far, the people in the Seattle protest that I actually know in person, junkies, drunks, enablers of those, and a lot of con artists.
Seriously, if these photos are the people in this protest, a Black Panther tee-shirt just makes it all too clear now. They don't want equality, they just want more. But so far, the people in the Seattle protest that I actually know in person, junkies, drunks, enablers of those, and a lot of con artists.
40
@6
The WTO protest was successful in it's goal of stopping the WTO meeting, thanks in part to blocking delegates, property destruction and rioting. It also did enough damage to ensure no city (outside of middle eastern police states) would ever offer to host a WTO meeting ever again, As well as bringing to light the problems with the WTO, which was an almost unheard of organization before the Seattle riots.
@19
"genuinely afraid of losing"
I went down to Westlake yesterday morning; these idiots couldn't start a revolution on a merry go round. (much less understand simple economics, guess that’s why you are broke) I was at WTO, DNCLA, FTAA, G8, Shut Down SF at the start of the war, worked in field hospitals in refugee camp conditions. I have huffed tear gas on two continents, Occupy Seattle is a fucking joke, from its location, to its demands, to most of its participants. I got a lot of issues with the current corporate system, the bank bailout, the government and the tax system, but sitting in a park isn’t going to do shit about that, and honestly I don’t know what will other than voting with your dollars. Voting for politicians doesn’t work as both sides are owned by the same corporations; we saw that with Obama continuing most of the Bush administrations’ policies.
Real revolutions are not a sit in, they tend to be dirty, gritty and bloody. Revolution is a civil war of varying levels of intensity, Look at the soviet parliament getting shelled in the early 90s, look at what is happening in Libya, and Yemen look at a host of past revolutions, there is no such thing as a bloodless revolution. Comparing Occupy Seattle to Arab spring is an insult to those who put their lives on the line fighting oppressive regimes, and calling it a revolution is an insult to all those who have truly fought for a cause. Fuck even the 60s protest were far and above the risk that these occupy protestors take, Kent state or the DNC riots for instance.
Why is there not a crack down on this protest? Because it is not a threat. It is simply not worth the effort to put down. If the police and government were as evil as people claim this shit could be squashed by a couple of rifle squads, and I am glad that is not the case.
People have the right to protest no matter how pointless, all though most of the left (and right) are opposed to anyone voicing an opinion other than their own.
More...
The WTO protest was successful in it's goal of stopping the WTO meeting, thanks in part to blocking delegates, property destruction and rioting. It also did enough damage to ensure no city (outside of middle eastern police states) would ever offer to host a WTO meeting ever again, As well as bringing to light the problems with the WTO, which was an almost unheard of organization before the Seattle riots.
@19
"genuinely afraid of losing"
I went down to Westlake yesterday morning; these idiots couldn't start a revolution on a merry go round. (much less understand simple economics, guess that’s why you are broke) I was at WTO, DNCLA, FTAA, G8, Shut Down SF at the start of the war, worked in field hospitals in refugee camp conditions. I have huffed tear gas on two continents, Occupy Seattle is a fucking joke, from its location, to its demands, to most of its participants. I got a lot of issues with the current corporate system, the bank bailout, the government and the tax system, but sitting in a park isn’t going to do shit about that, and honestly I don’t know what will other than voting with your dollars. Voting for politicians doesn’t work as both sides are owned by the same corporations; we saw that with Obama continuing most of the Bush administrations’ policies.
Real revolutions are not a sit in, they tend to be dirty, gritty and bloody. Revolution is a civil war of varying levels of intensity, Look at the soviet parliament getting shelled in the early 90s, look at what is happening in Libya, and Yemen look at a host of past revolutions, there is no such thing as a bloodless revolution. Comparing Occupy Seattle to Arab spring is an insult to those who put their lives on the line fighting oppressive regimes, and calling it a revolution is an insult to all those who have truly fought for a cause. Fuck even the 60s protest were far and above the risk that these occupy protestors take, Kent state or the DNC riots for instance.
Why is there not a crack down on this protest? Because it is not a threat. It is simply not worth the effort to put down. If the police and government were as evil as people claim this shit could be squashed by a couple of rifle squads, and I am glad that is not the case.
People have the right to protest no matter how pointless, all though most of the left (and right) are opposed to anyone voicing an opinion other than their own.
42
@41: If Goetz is your idea of a hero, I'm okay with not being one. I'm not trying to be one anyway.
44
@41, so a guy who says, "The only way we're going to clean up this street is to get rid of the spics and niggers", and then proceeds to shoot four unarmed thugs (one in the back) because one told him to hand over five dollars, is being a "hero?" How, exactly?
47
@44 The four men he shot later admitted that they chose him to mug as he looked like "easy bait". One or more of them were carrying sharpened screwdrivers and had criminal recrords. Where the fuck did you learn the facts of that event? From those black guys downtown with the hate whitey Adam and Eve display?
49
I'm expecting LuisitaPhD to show up any moment and point out the grammatical error in my own post. Free blowjob to the first person who finds it before she does!
50
The Bank of America Wikipedia page appears to be untouched by the reality that the 99% of us live in.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_Ame…
I wonder why that is the case.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_Ame…
I wonder why that is the case.
51
@47, of course they were going to rob him. But they never brandished the screwdrivers (which make better tools for breaking into arcade games, which they'd been used for, than they do as weapons) before Goetz started firing. Again, one of them was shot in the back, which means he was running away. That, and the "niggers and spics" comment, means he qualifies as not a "hero," but rather a "nervous racist with an illegal gun."
And where the fuck did YOU learn the facts from that event? From the Tea Party Edition of Guns and Ammo magazine? (See? Two can play at that game, mister!)
And where the fuck did YOU learn the facts from that event? From the Tea Party Edition of Guns and Ammo magazine? (See? Two can play at that game, mister!)
52
"La revolución es no de la violencia."
Really? Then take off the fucking Che t-shirt, you historically ignorant jackass. (Yes, yes, solidarity and fuck-all. But that shit bugs me to no end.)
Really? Then take off the fucking Che t-shirt, you historically ignorant jackass. (Yes, yes, solidarity and fuck-all. But that shit bugs me to no end.)
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