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    Arrests Stop Occupy Boston Expansion

    Today's Occupy headlines include one from the Washington Times that implies a nationwide crackdown, and the Boston Herald's, Police arrest 100 in Occupy Boston sweep, claims that arrests were limited to a piggyback protest by anarchists. What is clear is that while the original Occupy group was successfully occupying the old Dewey Square, additional protestors were trying to occupy other parts of the Rose Kennedy Greenway:

    [Boston Police Commissioner Edward] Davis acknowledged that the arrests marked a shift in the once harmonious relations between the group and the police.

    “The group that was here for the first ten days was working very closely with us,” Davis said, “but they warned us yesterday morning that a new group, the anarchists, wanted to take control.”

    By nightfall, at least 40 tents had been pitched on this second site, which is just north of the group’s original occupation site.

    Boston police and Mayor Thomas M. Menino asked the leaderless group, which is rallying for a more equitable tax structure in the U.S., to leave that second site by midnight.

    Police said the park’s patrons had just spent $150,000 to spruce it up.

    Protesters refused to move.

    As midnight came and went, the 300 occupied stayed there, chanting, singing and delighting in their staying power.

    “Mayor Menino told us to leave by midnight,” one of the occupiers shouted as the rest of the group cheered. “It’s 1 a.m, and we’re still here.”

    A wave of police arrived on site just after 1:30 a.m.

    Update 2: WHDH has a video up with Commish Davis claiming, "We had a great relationship for about ten days but this last 24 hours have been tough,” Commissioner Ed Davis said. “A group of anarchists have started to run the agenda and they weren’t listening to us or working with us.”
     

    But in, Boston Beatdown: Police rough up Veterans for Peace, arrest 100 in retaking second #OccupyBoston location the Phoenix makes no distinction between the two camps, and has Davis trying to mend fences with the movement:

    As the cops moved in, Chief Davis was on the scene, and he briefly spoke to reporters afterwards, telling them that the police would have a long-term relationship with the Dewey Square encampment, and acknowledging the national movement of which it is a part. Throughout the evening, Superintendent in Chief Daniel Linskey could be seen giving orders. Around 11 pm, Linskey arrived at the new encampment and began passing out leaflets apprising the protestors of their rights. A legal advisor for the Occupiers refused to receive it, but many copies were handed off to individual occupiers. In an impromptu interview, Linskey told reporters that there was no midnight deadline for the Occupiers to leave the site, and that the Globe's reporting of such a deadline was inaccurate. He was clear that the protestors needed to move, but suggested that the timeline might be days as opposed to hours. Of course, by then he knew quite well when his men would be moving.

    The Crimson's, Boston Police Arrest 100 Protesters in Dewey Square puts the arrests back in the original Occupy Boston site, then clarifies that it was a northern part of Dewey Square (which actually seems to outside the traditional square):

    Boston Police arrested about 100 protesters affiliated with the Occupy Boston movement in a swift raid on Dewey Square in the early morning hours on Tuesday.

    The arrests were the culmination of a standoff between protesters and police after a weeklong protest in downtown Boston expanded into the northern part of Dewey Square. The protesters have permission to occupy the southern portion, but when they expanded into the northern part on Monday, Boston police decided to take action.

    On Monday, the Boston Police Department released a statement saying that it respects the right to protest peacefully, but statements by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino on Sunday, just a day before, indicated that the occupation would soon be required to disband.

    As of Monday, a second tent city emerged in a northern part of Dewey Square, and this new camp reportedly drew the attention of city officials for lacking necessary permits. It was this camp that was the site of Tuesday morning’s arrests.

    Update 1: There are more pictures at Occupy Boston and Occupy Boston Globe:

    Occupy Boston has not mentioned that separate group of anarchists per the Herald quote of Commish Davis, but they are complaining that the police dispatcher denied that the police were moving on the protestors. Not sure why they'd expect the police to tip them off on their own raid.


    Update 3: In the Boston Globe, a legal observer questions the need for force:

    According to the National Lawyers Guild, 65 men and 35 women were arrested and then were booked at stations in the South End, Mattapan and Brighton.

    The men were held in custody or ordered to appear in court today. All of the women were released by police and are due in court Wednesday and Thursday, said Urszula Masny-Latos, executive director of the Guild, a national non-profit that often represents people engaged in civil disobedience.

    Masny-Latos, who was on scene as a legal observer, said no protesters fought with police. She said police could have employed a technique routinely used at other protests – police approach a protester, tell them they are violating the law, and the protester then submits to being taken into custody – and still achieved their goal of clearing the area.

    “They really attacked,’’ Masny-Latos said of the police. “They used force that was completely unnecessary. … It was just brutal. I have no idea why they arrested us with u such force.’’

    To her shock, Masny-Latos herself was among those arrested. She said Boston police usually respect the legal observers the guild routinely dispatches to public protests.

    However, even though she was wearing a green hat with the words, “legal observer’’ clearly visible, Masny-Latos said, she was the second person arrested by police.

    “It was very surprising,’’ she said of being arrested. “Boston police usually respect our legal observers. And they usually leave us alone… I was legal observing. I wasn’t even chanting anything.’’

    Masny-Latos added, “They know what role we play. This is the first time’’ in some 15 years that a Guild legal observer was arrested in Boston, she said.

    “Four officers grabbed me and dragged me,’’ she said. “I begged them to stop, [told them that that] they were hurting me. I have no idea why they arrested us with such force.’’

    Comments

    I'm sorry, but you've bought the propaganda.  There were no dangerous "anarchists" to hijack things--unless they were planted by the police.  The Anarchist community in Boston is incredibly peaceful.  The people arrested on the Greenway were not just "anarchists" but people of every background.  The move was inevitable, due to the growing size of the encampments.  The Conservancy managing the Greenway gave permission to use the location, provided that the plants were cared for.

    The Herald is great at pandering.  Don't rely on them for accuracy


    I'm sorry but I'm not buying anything. Do you have a link or were you there?


    Why would Veterans For Peace sacrifice their bodies in an attempt to protect hundreds of anarchists? Those were peaceful protesters who were swarmed upon by police in riot gear.


    This is only the timid beginning of something huge, much bigger than the anti-war movement of the Vietnam era, because in those days, if you weren't drafted, it was "fat city", but today, masses of people with student loans to pay back are looking at a future of pouring coffee at Starbucks.

    Coming soon to a park or protest near you

     

     


    There is a difference between a peaceful protest and conducting civil disobedience.  I'll go out on a limb and say that most of those on both side - the police and the protesters - have not had much if any experience in non-violent direct action / civil disobedience.  I seriously doubt in this era of budget cuts, the police are given any special training on how to deal with civil disobedience. 

    There is not much video of the arrests, but it sure doesn't look like the protesters were putting themselves in a prone non-threatening posture.  Police officers, especially those with little or no training in such matters, will take the slightest gesture of resistance to arrest as a threat, with the potential for things to get much more rough than is necessary.

    It also sound like the protesters were denying the right of the police to arrest them after the park closure at 11 pm and the request to disperse.  One may disagree with the right of the police to make the arrests, but one must also accept it.  If anything, the whole event is a matter of PR, and nothing will undermine public good will (and keep potential supporters from showing up) then the impression that the protesters are of the angry and violent kind.

    "Getting arrested" from a non-violent direct action point of view is harder than it sounds.  It takes more than just good relations with the police prior to any actions, since most of what is gained in the past is lost in the heat of the moment as the police try to do their job while trying to avoid any injuries to themselves and their colleagues.  I suspect that Masny-Latos knows that, too. Or at least she should.  Nothing so far indicates that the protesters had not only devised a plan on how to conduct the civil disobedience, but also communicate such a plan to the police force. 


    It also sound like the protesters were denying the right of the police to arrest them after the park closure at 11 pm and the request to disperse.

    If you were homeless; where would you go?

    You couldn't go to a privately owned land without being charged with trespassing. That leaves the only place left, a publicly financed park.

    Unless ; public excludes the homeless.

    The public doesn't want to hear your problems and it sure doesn't want to address your homeless status? Find another place?........ Where? 

    Jean Valjean (a.k.a. Monsieur Madeleine, a.k.a. Ultime Fauchelevent, a.k.a. Monsieur Leblanc, a.k.a. Urbain Fabre, a.k.a. 24601, a.k.a. 9430) – Convicted for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s seven starving children and sent to prison for five years

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables


    Even if we assume that everyone who was arrested and pitching a tent there were actually homeless, the tactics and strategies of a non-violent direct action don't change, nor do the dynamics of the PR of such actions.   A well-conducted NVDA can go a long way toward bringing the plight of the homeless to the non-homeless.  But we all know that many of the non-homeless are looking for the slightest reason to disregard the plight of the homeless - giving the appearance of resisting arrest is one of those reasons.


    Something new


    While they were doing that, I was introducing myself to prospective customers, and finishing up my invoices.


    I'm lucky to have a job, too.


    With respect, I've never once gotten a job through luck.  It's hard work getting work.  I sure never got paid for storming a barricade.


    on the other hand, the reason we have a civilized 40 hour week, with lunch breaks and work environments that don't threaten to take our lives just by showing up is a result that some decided to "storm the barricade" (and some of them lost their life in the process). 

     moreover, the planet, your drinking water, etc is better off because of those who stormed the barricade.

    with that said, the current protests are in my opinion not particularly effective, but let's not undermine the fundamental strategy.


    The fundamental strategy seems to be, in my opinion, "Make an ass of yourself."  Some of these posters here on teh awesome Dagblog seem to think it's time to start turning over police cars.  Bloody revolution.  We all know how that will turn out.  Quite poorly for the "revolutionists." 

    Of course the USA will not last forever.  Something will take it's place.  I've said before, I'm as frustrated as you are.  But if you're out of work, start cleaning houses.  Put an ad in the paper.  Do something.  There's a reason the right-wingers are calling it the "Flea Party."  And this will not work out well for Democrats in 2012.

     


    But if you're out of work, start cleaning houses.  Put an ad in the paper.  Do something.

    This is solid advice. After graduating college with a Bachelor's in Physics, I was having a really hard time finding a job (physics is too abstract, people want engineers, not scientists), so I took a job as a temp doing clerical work. They had me doing data entry, but after a few days on the job I decided their databases needed some significant improving and they were happy for me to help with that as well. Meanwhile, I kept on looking for a "real" job. Several weeks later, I got hired as a computer programmer (despite not having taken more than one computer class, I was hired after showing what I was capable of). Much later, my boss told me that one reason he took a chance on me was because I had shown I was willing to do what it took by taking the temp job. (Different company mind you, but he checked my references.)

    On the other hand…

    As many others have said, we need those willing to stage a "revolution", even if it doesn't always work out well for them.


    In Physics class in high school we had to build and present to the class a homemade clock of our own design.  Mine was the Cigarette Clock.  Stood in front of the class and smoked a cigarette for seven minutes.  Got an A.


    If you can smoke, thank a teacher.


    Where's DD with that award?


    Just a quick follow-up.

    99% of Americans are watching much less than 1% shit on police cars, violate laws, and act like they deserve something for nothing.  They are actually harassing private citizens at their homes.  Scaring their children.

    Hey, I got a joke.  How many virgins does it take to screw in a light bulb?  An infinite number, because virgins don't screw.  cheeky


    I suspect you are luckier than you admit. A lot of people work hard and still don't get work.


    You did get the benefits though, when you did find a job.

    Thanks to union members forcing the issues, getting their heads smashed in, during strikes, Fighting the blackballing system, fighting for minimum wages, benefit packages, child labor laws. 

    So your wrong, you did get paid,  because someone else had the courage to storm the barricades during lockouts.

    People doing something to help others.


    My dear sir.  I didn't find a job, I made two jobs.


    I have made dozens of jobs over the years and re-invented my self countless times, if I were dropped into the jungle with only a pocket knife I could probably survive, but I don't look down on people who couldn't do that and I certainly don't believe that a world where that is necessary to go through what I've gone through in order to survive is a good world. If it takes a revolution to bring about a good world then so be it

    I couldn't have said that better myself.

    There are great divides among people and you have just described one of them. The people who have worked hard to get where they are can be divided into two broad groups. Those who feel the need to criticize others for not having achieved as much, and those who  don't. I long ago gave up trying to understand the first group. Maybe it comes down to one's upbringing and parents. My Dad was a self made man and he was absolutely the first guy who would help someone else in need. He did not die rich but he gave me some values which I cherish.  


    Richard, I noticed A's remark had been directed to you. I in no way was implying anything about you in my comment. I just thought A's statement was very good, especially as I have remade myself so many times, all due to my choices, I have lost count.


    It's all good.  I just don't like the word "luck."  Plus I was drinking vodka when someone said unions are the greatest thing.  Bad combination!


    You're correct, it is a bad combination; booze dulls the mind and makes people say stupid things.

    Although Unions are not the greatest thing; without them we had no voice.

    There is power in numbers. (Unions) United we stand, divided we fall.

    Unions are a tool in our struggle.


    The wonderful thing about Dagblog is there are producers here, and users, too, and we can all talk, and I like that a lot.


    The IBEW told me I had to wire twelve hot lights in an hour, eight hours a day, against union rules, and against all safety concerns.  So don't tell me about unions.  Unions are the voice of the elite.  My apprentice never has to do that.  I would not let him. 


    The OWS protest lacks a vision thing, as Bu$h would say. And that leaves it open for those anarchists to disrupt the message and make a mockery of those trying to stand by their principles. I suspect the only way to get the attention of Wall Street and Congress would be for the public to show up at their respective OWS gatherings instead of going to work. I believe it's the only way to send a loud and clear message the limits have been breached and the public would prefer not to participate even if it means loosing ones' job. If people refuse to participate in the commercial process that means businesses aren't producing products or giving services which means they're not earning revenues which in turn means they're not going to meet investor expectations. That hits them in the pocketbook. However, the only problem is with so many people out of work the employers have a field of tens of millions of applicants to select from to fill vacancies left by those engaged in the protest. It's a vicious cycle that pits the employed against the unemployed over the very reason why the employed are protesting and unemployed can't find reasonable jobs.


    B-juice, The medium is the message here. The important thing is that masses of people are coming out into the street and meeting many other people who think like they do they find a beneficent herd to belong to... What Ortega y Gasset called "the warmth of the wool". People see that they are not alone, that their problem isn't a private affair but a failure of the system itself. They thus become the raw material for political action. Programs and leaders will appear as if by spontaneous generation, because there is a "public" for them. Don't be impatient, just go to the assemblies and wiggle your fingers in the air... Your patience will be rewarded.

    However, the only problem is with so many people out of work the employers have a field of tens of millions of applicants to select from to fill vacancies left by those engaged in the protest.

    "A survey by ManpowerGroup found that a record 52 percent of U.S. employers have difficulty filling critical positions within their organizations -- up from 14 percent in 2010."

    From a Reuters story today.


    Wearing my IT manager hat, I stood at a booth to help promote my employer's tech savvy at a technology conference in Harrisburg back in the mid 1990s. I had time to sit in on a few presentations. At one, many of the attendees were griping about finding trainable workers, but I left wondering how many of them championed spending money on better schools to educate those workers.


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