• Occupy LA dispersed, 200+ arrested with "minimal force", many given $5000 bail as to not immediately
    16 replies, posted
[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/police-arrest-200-at-occupy-la/2011/11/30/gIQAwR1nCO_video.html[/url] [url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/30/ocupy-la-protesters-evicted-police?newsfeed=true[/url] [url]http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/30/occupy-los-angeles-protesters-brace-for-eviction-as-police-deploy/[/url] [url]http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57333495/cops-move-to-clear-occupy-la-philly-camps/[/url] [url]http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/30/us-usa-protests-idUSTRE7AT0FO20111130[/url] [quote=The Guardian]Police clad in riot gear moved in to evict Occupy Los Angeles protesters from their camp at city hall on Wednesday morning – two days after a deadline passed for demonstrators to leave. Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck told reporters at an early morning press conference at the campsite that 1,400 police were involved, and estimated that 200 arrests were made with "absolutely minimal force." Speaking to reporters selected by the Los Angeles Police Department at the same press conference, the city's mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, said he had "never seen more professional, restrained force." "Every one of us should be proud of the police for professional way how officers handled the demonstration," he said, without answering further questions. Villaraigosa ordered Occupy Los Angeles, which began on 1 October, to leave the city hall grounds by Monday morning at 12.01am, but a strong show of defiance from protesters prompted police to delay the raid until Wednesday. While the hundreds of police officers cleared out the park of the remaining 20 occupiers, about 500 people gathered at the intersection of 1st Street and Main Street to confront police and show solidarity to those still at city hall. Some people broke through the many blockades set up on roads leading to the campsite, chanting "We are peaceful" and "Let us through". Despite the raid, some protesters said it only made the movement stronger. "It's just a happy day today because even though we got kicked out, we're still together," said Demi Chae Moore, who gathered with the hundreds on 1st Street and Main Street before the police pursued them around 2am and pushed them into the city's Little Tokyo district. However, tensions between supporters of the movement made headway as the police dispersed them from the city hall area, with some arguing that the protesters stay at the intersection while others marched east on 1st Street. The arguments and sniping among some Occupiers prompted a young woman to passionately urge them to stop the infighting. "We have to love each other because we are all 100%," shouted Victoria Buckner, alluding to the 'We are the 99%' slogan used by supporters of the Occupy movement. Although the police claimed that the police refrained from using strong force, protester Oscar Pale claimed that an officer struck him in the chest as other officers tried to push marchers on Alameda Steet away from the area. "I put myself in front of the line to be a peacemaker, and I told the officer to come on and do something, but he came at me and threatened me," Pale said. "He hit me twice in the chest with his baton." Another protester, Melissa Balin, attempted to cross one of the police blockades, but officers threatened her and forced her out. "Four officers shoved me because they wouldn't let me pass," she said. At one point, protesters marching around the police perimeter on Alameda Street blocked a caravan Los Angeles County Sheriff's buses – possibly for the transport of arrested Occupiers to processing centres. In preparation for the co-ordinated raid on the Occupy Los Angeles site, police were on a "city-wide tactical alert" and shut down streets leading to city hall. The roadblocks dismayed residents in the downtown area, as well as bar patrons and people who wanted to show solidarity with the movement. "They won't let us cross the line because it's a police state" shouted Cris Servellon, 29, a Los Angeles resident and a supporter of the Occupy movement, who waved a printout of the United States Constitution to police officers. "Don't restrict people – we are more powerful than the government."[/quote] Just the other day people from Occupy LA filed an injunction to the Mayor's orders to evict the protesters because of a referendum enacted around the time of the protests birth praising the people protesting, now with the city wanting to get rid of them that has made them feel as if the city of LA did a 180 on them. It was even discussed on the news why many of the protesters were arrested, and they clearly said "The bail amounts are so high so to not let the protesters "re-occupy" the LA capitol steps." I'm now going to quote the US Constitution, specifically the Bill of Rights. [quote=First Amendment]Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.[/quote] [quote=Eighth Amendment]Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.[/quote]
I'm actually really impressed with the L.A. Police Department, they handled it very well compared to the other P.D.'s also involved in the Occupy movements. I live just outside of the area and I honestly expected a different outcome considering the general populace have the "fuck the police" attitude.
As bad as it is, and a protest rights violation, it wasn't violent, which is good. Every group of police should handle things like this and not like [video=youtube;WmJmmnMkuEM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmJmmnMkuEM[/video] However, they still should fight for the right to do it.
The first amendment does not give citizens the right to pitch up tents and "occupy" public parks with clearly posted closing times. As well as trespassing, it creates major fire, public health, and legal problems. Seriously, whyoccupy anyway? I can't recall any major protests that involved people pitching tents.
God dammit I just noticed the other thread on this. Fuuuuuuck I need to stop posting when I wake up.
[QUOTE=SPESSMEHREN;33507198]The first amendment does not give citizens the right to pitch up tents and "occupy" public parks with clearly posted closing times.[/QUOTE] Fair point. But they still should protest.
[QUOTE=SPESSMEHREN;33507198]The first amendment does not give citizens the right to pitch up tents and "occupy" public parks with clearly posted closing times.[/QUOTE] Oh wow yes it does. That's the point of public parks, they're meant to be an instant public forum for the right to Free Assembly should someone have a grievance, hence it's a [b]public park[/b]. You know, the public being everyday normal people who wish to use this plot of land, either for entertainment or for a distinct reason, such as protesting. I mean for fucks sake this is one of the first things I learned in US Government. [QUOTE=SPESSMEHREN;33507198]As well as trespassing, it creates major fire, public health, and legal problems. Seriously, whyoccupy anyway? I can't recall any major protests that involved people pitching tents.[/QUOTE] Alright, lets bring up Occupy South Carolina, where the governor tried to disperse those people protesting on the SC capitol lawn. [quote= Nikki Haley]If these folks want to make their voices heard in an appropriate way, they can have at it. But it has to be done within the bounds of the law. They are not going to be allowed to disrespect the taxpayers or their property. No overnight stays on the taxpayer dime. No public urination. No destruction of property. This is not Oakland, California. This is not New York City. Protests are fine. But in South Carolina we believe in the rule of law, and the people of this state should never doubt that as governor, I will enforce it.[/quote] First off, the protesters there are well within the law protesting on public land. I actually laugh at "disrespect taxpayer property" when I bet everyone there has paid their taxes. And how could they be protesting on the taxpayers dime when it's again, their money coming out of their pockets. The claims of public urination are also extremely exaggerated due to the fact the protesters had portapottys. Her "rule of law" is actually unconstitutional due to the fact she enacted an illegal curfew. Occupy LA is trying to fight in Federal court on the same grounds, because the city of LA actually welcomed the protesters to begin with, then began to crack down after a few weeks.
[QUOTE=purvisdavid1;33507256]Oh wow yes it does. That's the point of public parks, they're meant to be an instant public forum for the right to Free Assembly should someone have a grievance, hence it's a [b]public park[/b]. You know, the public being everyday normal people who wish to use this plot of land, either for entertainment or for a distinct reason, such as protesting. I mean for fucks sake this is one of the first things I learned in US Government.[/QUOTE] I fail to see how saying they shouldn't be allowed to pitch up tents and set up a massive campsite is preventing them from using the park to expressntheir grievances. I am aware of the purposes of public spaces and parks, and they can hold all the protests, rallies, and demonstrations they want........ During the parks hours of operation. As I originally stated, free speech and assembly != pitching up tents. And how can the public utilize the park if it is being "occupied" 24/7? It doesn't seem very fair that one group gets to block everyone else from using it (not referring to LA here... Referring to ones like Occupy Boston, whose nonstop occupation of the Rose Kennedy Greenest has resulted in cancellations of public events and testicles.I don't know the specific of the LA encampment) [editline]30th November 2011[/editline] Excuse spelling mistakes, on my touchpad.
[QUOTE=J!NX;33507183]As bad as it is, and a protest rights violation, it wasn't violent, which is good. Every group of police should handle things like this and not like [video=youtube;WmJmmnMkuEM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmJmmnMkuEM[/video] However, they still should fight for the right to do it.[/QUOTE] To be honest, the Police at UC Davis were very professional. They spoke to each protester [b]individually[/b] and informed that if they did not move out of the pathway(which was private property), force would be used.
[QUOTE=SPESSMEHREN;33507330]I fail to see how saying they shouldn't be allowed to pitch up tents and set up a massive campsite is preventing them from using the park to expressntheir grievances. I am aware of the purposes of public spaces and parks, and they can hold all the protests, rallies, and demonstrations they want........ During the parks hours of operation. As I originally stated, free speech and assembly != pitching up tents. And how can the public utilize the park if it is being "occupied" 24/7? It doesn't seem very fair that one group gets to block everyone else from using it (not referring to LA here... Referring to ones like Occupy Boston, whose nonstop occupation of the Rose Kennedy Greenest has resulted in cancellations of public events and testicles.I don't know the specific of the LA encampment) [editline]30th November 2011[/editline] Excuse spelling mistakes, on my touchpad.[/QUOTE] Those actually are good points, but then where does that leave a movement such as this?
Okay great, congrats justice system for admitting that you are abusing the bail system. Bail is supposed to be set on a case by case basis. You are supposed to issue a bail amount that is sufficient to make the defendant return for his trial, but not so excessive as to keep him in jail for longer than necessary. People need to be released to prepare their legal defense. So when you openly admit that you are setting bail at a value intentionally larger than they can afford to pay, YOU ARE ISSUING EXCESSIVE FUCKING BAIL YOU STUPID FUCKING PRICKS. [quote=8th Amendment]Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicte[/quote]
here lets make a quick buck off of bail they can probably afford themselves
[QUOTE=purvisdavid1;33507427]Those actually are good points, but then where does that leave a movement such as this?[/QUOTE] Movements like this should not happen. Protest all you want, but dont break the law.
[QUOTE=Croix;33508526]Movements like this should not happen.[/QUOTE] Correction, they should not have a [B]REASON[/B] to happen. But they have, and that's the [B]REAL[/B] problem. So maybe focus should be put on cleaning up the financial sector for corruption, sleaziness and laziness instead of cleaning a park for a bunch of tents.
[QUOTE=Croix;33508526]Movements like this should not happen. Protest all you want, but dont break the law.[/QUOTE] How is it against the law to protest when a city openly welcomes you with no problems, then at the same time around the country as other similar protests happen, they all get squashed on. These orders from mayors and governors are unconstitutional because they're all protesting on public property, and since government gets it's money to be in power from tax payer money, they're technically public property as well. It's not like the people were protesting inside the LA Capitol building, they were in the park next to it, and the plain and simple fact is the Mayor probably got annoyed of it all and found ways to get them to leave. [editline]30th November 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Van-man;33508631]Correction, they should not have a [B]REASON[/B] to happen. But they have, and that's the [B]REAL[/B] problem. So maybe focus should be put on cleaning up the financial sector for corruption, sleaziness and laziness instead of cleaning a park for a bunch of tents.[/QUOTE] The only reason there was so much trash in the Occupy LA area is because the fucking police raided it. I don't think they could pick up all that trash with their hands behind their backs.
[QUOTE=Gordy H.;33507373]To be honest, the Police at UC Davis were very professional. They spoke to each protester [b]individually[/b] and informed that if they did not move out of the pathway(which was private property), force would be used.[/QUOTE] Then maybe it'd be better to point at OWS and the marine that got hit in the head, or pregnant women that was maced...
[quote]"never seen more professional, restrained force."[/quote] Smart move after that rubber bullet incident.
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