Last night, in the latest in a series of nationwide police actions designed to prolong and strengthen the Occupy Movement, Los Angeles police engaged in a focused, decisive and ultimately successful attention-gathering operation. Drawing on their storied history of overreaction as well as demonstrating their leadership status in American law enforcement, the LAPD was the …
Criminal Justice
Martyrdom Isn’t Enough Anymore
Here’s a telling detail in the most recent terrorism arrest in New York: Mr. Pimentel, 27, who lived with his uncle in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood after his mother threw him out recently, appears to be unstable, according to several of the people briefed on the case, three of whom said he had tried to …
It’s Cold Out There for Occupy Everywhere
Our Balloon Juice correspondent in Missoula, Taryn Hart,reports on a low-tech security-forces tactic suitable for harrassing even the humblest Occupy encampment: I had heard from several of the 24/7 occupiers at Occupy Missoula that the police have dropped off drunken, belligerent people at the occupation. I happened to be there when just that happened. A …
It’s Cold Out There for Occupy EverywherePost + Comments (171)
What Are They Thinking
Just getting up to speed on what went down at UC Davis, and after watching the videos of the cops walking up, flamboyantly brandishing the pepper spray, and then hosing down a bunch of kids doing nothing but sitting with their arms crossed, and all I can wonder is what the fuck were they thinking? …
Police Pepper Spray #OWS Student Protestors Directly in their Faces at Occupy Davis
This is horrifying and brilliant all at once. Today at Occupy Davis, a police officer approached a group of students sitting in a line peacefully on the ground, walked up and down the line and pepper-sprayed them directly in the face — as one would spray pesticide on weeds. What you’ll see in this video …
DHS ‘Coordinated’ Police Assaults on Occupy Everywhere Protestors
(Update from NYMag‘s Daily Intel as of 8pm: “Around 2,000 activists have marched single-file back into the newly tentless Zuccotti Park. They are spending the evening in general assembly, forging a strategy for the coming days…” and links to OccupyNYC’s livestream, which won’t load directly on my pc.) Via the Guardian, Rick Ellis at the …
DHS ‘Coordinated’ Police Assaults on Occupy Everywhere ProtestorsPost + Comments (108)
Not Confusing At All
In one of the least professional acts I have seen in a long, long time, the Oakland Police Officer’s Association has published an open letter to the community questioning the Mayor: We represent the 645 police officers who work hard every day to protect the citizens of Oakland. We, too, are the 99% fighting for …