Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, February 7, 2012
Money Three Capitol Hill Banks Hit By Vandals Last Night
Posted by Cienna Madrid on Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Note: I began writing this post at 8:something and then got busy doing other things and/or weeping gently in a broom closet somewhere. Some of you might regard this as slightly-stale news by now but as I'm confident that half of slog commenters awake at noon or after, I thought I'd post anyway.
As Grant noted in the morning news, vandals smashed windows at three banks on Capitol Hill last night—a WaMu, Key Bank, and US Bank—continuing Seattle's months-long trend of hatin' on banks.
Police are pretty positive that last night's incidents were all related—the banks are all within waltzing distance of each other, the calls came in simultaneously, and the suspects have all been described as a mask-and-hoodie-wearing crowd.
These incidents build on a trend that goes back to last November, when two banks were vandalized, including a US Bank branch sprayed with "Occupy Oakland" tags. In January, two more banks banks were hit—a Wells Fargo "Occupy Oakland" tags and broken windows and a Chase Bank ATM found armed with explosives.
Two obvious questions jump out: Are the (now) seven cases of bank vandalism reported since November related? And are they the work of Seattle's gasping Occupy movement?
The short answer is, police aren't sure, as they currently have no suspects to question. Last night's vandalism included graffiti on some walls, according to SPD Detective Mark Jamieson, including "typical anarchist symbols and things like that" but "I don't believe there was anything that said, 'Brought to you by Occupy Seattle.'"
3
And while I'm pointing out the straws you're grasping anyway, how does the vandalism from last night connect to the rest of the vandalism you mentioned? There are no tags pointing to occupy from the three most recent banks.
4
Whatta buncha maroons...
Oh yeah, "anarchists", stuff like that is totally gonna win hearts and minds to your side, oh yeah...
Idiots.
Oh yeah, "anarchists", stuff like that is totally gonna win hearts and minds to your side, oh yeah...
Idiots.
6
The revolution has begun! One more can of spray paint and the capitalist global order will collapse, I'm sure of it!
9
Well in the past, it was impossible to tell if this was the work of one person, or many. Last night it was obvious that this was the work of several people, the police almost got the suckers, but they escaped through neighborhoods, which means someone is helping them ditch into their apartment to hide out from the cops.
Theres one group that I know of, thats willing to shit in their own front yard and thats Occupy Seattle. This would not be beneath them to do this, as they voted down non-violent acts and fully endorse these actions. But like all drama surrounding the group, they will never accept any responsibility for their members.
Theres one group that I know of, thats willing to shit in their own front yard and thats Occupy Seattle. This would not be beneath them to do this, as they voted down non-violent acts and fully endorse these actions. But like all drama surrounding the group, they will never accept any responsibility for their members.
11
Kinison, don't be such a tool. Occupy Seattle is not automatically responsible because you hate them.
12
Amazing, you nailed it Emor. I totally hate people who smash up windows, taunt the cops in a very childish maner and blame everyone but themselves for the problems that have cause the very demise of Occupy Seattle.
If they cant listen to reason, cannot compromise on anything, even the most trivial things, then they are a lost cause and I hope they get long jail sentances.
If they cant listen to reason, cannot compromise on anything, even the most trivial things, then they are a lost cause and I hope they get long jail sentances.
13
@9 So when you insinuate that the Occupy Seattle "group" did this, are you referring to the many hundreds of people who participated in the protest at the Seattle ports in December? Or the three thousand people who marched past Pike Place Market in October? Or the vast multitudes of people in the region who support the Occupy movement and have ever participated in a GA or other Occupy event?
You're supposing that that whole "group" did this? Like, together? Or maybe "they" all voted to do it in a GA, and then assigned a few operatives to vandalize these banks?
In your view, is it not likely that a few individuals decided to do this act entirely on their own? Individuals who may or may not have any affinity for the Occupy movement?
Hmm. So let's say that after a Seahawks game, someone gets mugged near the stadium by some guys wearing Seahawks jerseys. Would that mean that "Seattle Seahawks fans mug people"? And that the whole "group" of ALL Seattle Seahawk fans mugged this person?
Clearly it does not mean that. And clearly your post is so much bullshit. (Also, there are no "members" of Occupy. There are supporters and participants, even organizers. But not "members".)
There has been animus over the profiteering and societal destructiveness of financial institutions since long before Occupy existed. Many people have channeled their demand for accountability and remedy into the Occupy movement. Apparently a few others turn to vandalism as a means of redress. (And you can never dismiss those pesky provocateurs. Nor can you discount the possibility that the vandals have a personal yearning to destroy, and use the offenses of the banksters as a cover to moralize their destruction.)
I believe that most supporters and participants of Occupy do condemn acts of vandalism (myself included). Questions about vandalism, defense from police brutality, and controversial tactics are actively debated within the movement. Yesterday Chris Hedges posted a piece on these very concerns, and it was met with considerable agreement, and some debate:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_…
More...
You're supposing that that whole "group" did this? Like, together? Or maybe "they" all voted to do it in a GA, and then assigned a few operatives to vandalize these banks?
In your view, is it not likely that a few individuals decided to do this act entirely on their own? Individuals who may or may not have any affinity for the Occupy movement?
Hmm. So let's say that after a Seahawks game, someone gets mugged near the stadium by some guys wearing Seahawks jerseys. Would that mean that "Seattle Seahawks fans mug people"? And that the whole "group" of ALL Seattle Seahawk fans mugged this person?
Clearly it does not mean that. And clearly your post is so much bullshit. (Also, there are no "members" of Occupy. There are supporters and participants, even organizers. But not "members".)
There has been animus over the profiteering and societal destructiveness of financial institutions since long before Occupy existed. Many people have channeled their demand for accountability and remedy into the Occupy movement. Apparently a few others turn to vandalism as a means of redress. (And you can never dismiss those pesky provocateurs. Nor can you discount the possibility that the vandals have a personal yearning to destroy, and use the offenses of the banksters as a cover to moralize their destruction.)
I believe that most supporters and participants of Occupy do condemn acts of vandalism (myself included). Questions about vandalism, defense from police brutality, and controversial tactics are actively debated within the movement. Yesterday Chris Hedges posted a piece on these very concerns, and it was met with considerable agreement, and some debate:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_…
14
@9, Kinison wrote, "[Occupy Seattle] voted down non-violent acts and fully endorse these actions."
Each of those statements is false.
Each of those statements is false.
15
Fuck Chris Hedges. If you're going to read his piece of trash, you should read some of the NUMEROUS criticisms as well. Here's a start:
Hedging Our Bets on the Black Bloc: https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/zakk-f…
The Folly of Christopher Hedges: http://anarchistnews.org/node/21630
And here's something from the anti-Olympics campaign in Vancouver:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oesjegD1-…
or in print: http://riselikelions.net/pamphlets/14/10…
Hedging Our Bets on the Black Bloc: https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/zakk-f…
The Folly of Christopher Hedges: http://anarchistnews.org/node/21630
And here's something from the anti-Olympics campaign in Vancouver:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oesjegD1-…
or in print: http://riselikelions.net/pamphlets/14/10…
16
The problem with the bank smashings is that people have a problem with it. They are banks! Helloooo! A few windows--who the hell cares! If you also hate the banks and think something other than window-smashings should happen, DO IT. At least these people have some courage. I just can never understand how people get so bent out of shape when something like this happens (a modest strike against the institutions that are screwing us all over) when the world is as fucked up and awful as it is. Get your priorities straight.
17
@16 -
Courage is not the first quality I look for when judging someone's actions. By your same standard, the 9-11 hi-jackers should be admired. At least they had some courage, right?
Courage is not the first quality I look for when judging someone's actions. By your same standard, the 9-11 hi-jackers should be admired. At least they had some courage, right?
18
Genius, WaMu was stolen by those bastards at JP Moron Chase. There is no more WaMu and hasn't for going on four years.
19
If someone broke into a bank and spray painted "hitler was here" all over would you immediately assume that hitler has risen from the grave and spray painted those words? You know what it means when someone breaks into a bank and spray paints "occupy" all over? That someone broke into a bank and spray painted "occupy" all over. Not that it has anything to do with anyone affiliated and/or coordinated with the "occupy movement". I suggest to the culprits to start writing police officer's names with the spray paint. OH MAI GAWD GUYZ THE POLICE ARE DESTROYING THE BANKS AAAAA
20
How do we know these weren't thugs hired by other banks to destroy other banks and make them look like a bunch of street kids did it? These assholes are willing to smash entire economies for their own gain. Why aren't we suspicious that they'd break each other's windows? Oh come on they have class right? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
Portland Voters Are Stoopid by Goldy
-
An I-5 Bridge Over the Skagit River Has Collapsed by Paul Constant
-
Why They Break Windows by Unpaid Intern
-
Did You Steal Our Unpaid Intern's Camera? by Goldy
-
Usually When I'm Sent a Photoshopped Image of a Gun Pointed At Me... by Dan Savage
-
The Only Thing More Tragic than a Bridge Collapse Would Be a 10 Cent a Gallon Increase in the Gas Tax by Goldy
-
Tornado Truthers by Dan Savage
-
Star Trek Releases Deleted Scene of Benedict Cumberbatch Showering to Counter Claims of Sexism by Cienna Madrid
-
Boy Scouts Lift Ban on Gay Members by Paul Constant
-
Should I Buy One of These? by Goldy
Stranger Personals
The Stranger
RSSSeattle Art & Performance Quarterly
A complete guide to Seattle's current art, film, dance, and theater season.
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (20) RSS