With all the news lately about clashes with the police, I thought I'd remind everyone that not every city is experiencing that. DC has had almost no confrontations between the occupiers and the police. Based on my stroll around town in a light drizzle at lunch, both camps are still alive and well.

This is the occupy site on Pennsylvania Avenue, halfway between the White House and Congress. These guys have a permit and the city is basically saying they can make themselves comfortable here. There are half a dozen port-a-potties. Only a handful of people standing out in the rain. I didn't do a tent check to see if the others were staying dry inside their tents or if the tents were vacant.
Attachment 35358

And this is the occupy site on K Street. There were more people here. A couple dozen out in the rain. Most of the buildings nearby contain the offices of lobbyists. This site is three blocks from the White House. The city has said that they have the right to gather here, but they do not have a permit for the tents. The cops are not harassing them though. In fact, there were no police in sight at either location. I read in the paper this morning that a nearby health club was letting them use their showers.
Attachment 35359

I'd guess the difference between these peaceful sites and the sites in other cities is the response of the local government. The only time there was a problem here was when the protesters marched on the site of some meeting and blocked traffic. Then the police got involved to clear the street.

So in other words, even the protesters in DC mostly sit around doing nothing? ;)

In a rather curious event, a conference call was conducted between many mayors. The topic was the Occupy movement. Which explains why so many cities suddenly did similar actions simultaneously.

Old news, tw. They colluded and did the deed together. Good.

Perhaps now Occupy will get more serious on getting a more unified position and cohesive as a unit.

That could be the largest problem with the movement.

Let's not forget the 1960s. A peace movement was rabid across America. And as everyone now knows, it was correct. That diversified movement shared a common and obvious enemy – the Nam war. Resulting in one of the two most famous marches on Washington since the bonus army. So what happened? America elected Nixon who knew the war was lost. But who massacred the most American soldiers in Nam for nothing but his political agenda.

Why did the peace movement, instead, go quiet? Learn from history. The Occupy movement is at greater risk from same due to an even greater convoluted message. Maybe pressure will force a message. History suggests otherwise. The movement does not have a Martin Luther King.

[Muttley laugh]

"Occupy movement is at greater risk" IN MY OPINION
 

The greatest risk for the 'occupants' is being co-opted...that is: if the participants weren't pawns from day one.

More and more it seems the message (the 99% versus the 1%) is getting lost, muted, blunted, in favor of 'hey, let's just burn it all down!'.

Today is shaping up to be a turning point. Time will tell.

There was an interesting piece on last night's Daily Show, about how the Occupy Wall Street encampment had become segregated along class lines. Which is...mildly depressing, albeit not entirely unexpected.

Make of this what you will...
 

Communist style and anti-Communist iconography in the same poster. Yeah, that about sums it up.

Occupy PDX is using tactics worthy of a military campaign.
Well, not really. But it is fun to watch ;)

A group of protesters started across Portland's Steel Bridge, as advertised.
A group of Portland Police formed a line across the roadway, as predicted
A contingent of about 20 protesters reached the police line and sat down.
An officer told them the roadway was closed, and they could take the light-rail across the Willamette River.
The officer ordered them to disperse, and police started arresting those who remained seated.

While the police were occupied with the arrests, the main body of protesters,
circled around to the lower level of the bridge and walked across the bridge.
They set up their demonstrations in the Water Front Park.

Meanwhile, other protesters dressed as "customers" (suits/ties, etc) entered the BofA bank.
Once inside, they removed their coats and took out their protest signs.
The signs were pushed against the bank windows, and drew shouts and laughter from the protesters still outside.

The TV media are again talking to themselves, asking:
"Where will they go next ? We don't know and the police don't know"

:dedhors2:
If you have nothing to do for about 30 minutes, here are two YouTube videos
that put you on the streets of PDX during yesterday's (11/17/11) N17 event.

Two things happened in PDX yesterday that were different.
For the first time, pepper spray was used on one woman.
And for the first time, the police in riot gear actually charged into the crowd.
I have not yet found a video of the pepper spray incident, but there is a pic making the rounds.

The first video below is primarily about officers in riot gear with NO badge or ID
The second is the charge of the police to clear one of the streets
By coincidence, I think these two videos were taken directly across the street from one another

Riot gear, but no badge or ID PDX police


PDX police charge on protesters

.

Lobby firm plan to undermine OWS

Interesting.

Keep this in mind the next time you read a derogatory article or listen to some pundit scoffing at protestors (or any issue). You may very well be in the process of being professionally manipulated. If you really want to make up your own mind, study the issues (both sides) and get your information from multiple sources before you buy into any particular "party line".

The Hypocrisy of Occupy Wall Street

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/...ors_picks=true