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Subscribe to RSSLos Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says he is empathetic to Occupy LA protesters and urges them to take alternatives to protesting on the lawn of City Hall.
Update at 8:55a.m. ET: NBC affiliate KNBC reported that at least five protesters were arrested early Monday after the 12:01 a.m. deadline imposed by city officials for Occupy Los Angeles to leave its tent-city passed.
Police Commander Smith said the encampment would be allowed to stay put until at least daybreak, according to Reuters, but he said protesters who block traffic had to move or face arrest.
"We have no plan at this time to go into the park and evict people," Smith said. "That could change in the near future, but right now we are hoping to clear the streets, and that'll be the end and people can relax for a little while."
Officers set up a perimeter around 1st and Main Streets as they started clearing the streets of protesters.
"Monday is a big traffic day, and there are thousands and thousands of workers who are trying to get to their jobs down here, so we really need to have these streets open," said Smith.
Update at 8:40a.m. ET: Police arrested three people early Monday after ordering Occupy Los Angeles protesters to leave a downtown intersection hours after a deadline passed to vacate a City Hall park encampment.
Water bottles were thrown at officers as officers in riot gear started clearing 1st and Main streets just after 5 a.m. PT Monday, the Associated Press reported.
The police department has been on tactical alert, meaning the late night watch was held over, since midnight.
At 4:50 a.m., police on loudspeakers declared an unlawful assembly and protesters were told to get out of the street within five minutes.
Commanders corralled demonstrators back to the City Hall park, telling them they won't be arrested there.
Earlier, a celebratory atmosphere filled the night outside City Hall and the encampment near it: a group of protesters on bicycles circled the block, one of them in a cow suit, while organizers led chants with a bull horn.
"The best way to keep a non-violent movement non-violent is to throw a party, and keep it festive and atmospheric," said Brian Masterson.
Shortly after the 12:01 a.m. PT Monday deadline, there was only a small police presence, about two dozen motorcycle officers who remained across the street from the camp.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said earlier that the grounds would be closed after the deadline, while Police Chief Charlie Beck promised that arrests would eventually be made if protesters did not comply.
Villaraigosa said police and social workers will walk through the park handing out information on the closure and services available, and expressed hope it would happen in a "spirit of cooperation."
But many including the protest's chief organizers said they had no intention of cooperating, and only a handful of campers cleared out over the weekend.
Scott Shuster was one of those breaking down his camp, but he said it was only to protect his property and he planned to remain.
"I just don't want to lose my tent," he said.
Updated at 11:56 p.m. ET: Earlier, in Pennsylvania, a deadline set by the city for Occupy Philadelphia to leave the plaza it has occupied for some two months came and went without scuffles and arrests as police watched nearly 50 demonstrators lock arms and sit at the entrance of Dilworth Plaza.
The scene was far different from other, previous encampments in cities elsewhere where pepper spray, tear gas and police action resulted in the decampment of long-situated demonstrators, but Occupy Philadelphia has managed to avoid the mass arrests and conflict that has arisen at other sites nationwide.
Sunday night, there was hope that Philadelphia would continue to be largely violence-free.
"Right now, we have a peaceful demonstration," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan, nearly 45 minutes after the 5 p.m. deadline. By 11 p.m., the crowd had thinned a bit, but the calm remained.
Along the steps leading into a plaza, about 50 people sat in lines with the promise that they would not leave unless they were carried out by authorities. For a time, they linked arms. But as it seemed that a forceful ouster was not imminent, they relaxed a bit. A police presence was heavier than usual but no orders to leave had been issued.
A few dozen tents remained scattered on the plaza, along with trash, piles of dirty blankets and numerous signs reading, "You can't evict an idea."
Several hundred supporters surrounded those who were prepared to face arrest for one of the Occupy movement meetings known as a general assembly.
"There are some shelters that some of us are going to go to, some of us are going to end up on the street, some of us are going to be able to find a family member to take us in and others might go to jail," a protester told NBC Philadelphia.
"We can definitely claim a victory," said Mike Yaroschuk, who was in the process of dismantling his tent. "We've opened a lot of minds, hearts and eyes."
Yaroschuk said he was leaving the plaza not because of the city-issued deadline but because of a request by unions whose workers will be involved in the long-planned construction project there in the coming weeks. He said it made more sense to pick and choose when it comes to Occupy and its efforts to draw attention to the 99 percent.
"This place is not a key battle for me ... This is a marathon, not a sprint," he said.
Diane Ackerman, a member of the group's legal collective, said the movement itself will remain strong regardless of what happens. Occupy Philadelphia has been largely peaceful since it began. Despite a few dozen arrests, there have been no violent confrontations with police.
Philadelphia's eviction notice is unique in that protesters are being asked to move to make way for a construction project.
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A government of the people by the people has been corrupted by the government of the almighty dollar by the almighty dollar. The occupy movement is starting to recognize that because I think they are shell shocked at the overwhelming number of the gustapo police force on the public dole. I think the outcome will be that a lot of them realize that to get ahead in this Country you need to get a government job. I did.
Upper class =anyone who was lucky enough to exploit cheap goods from cheap labor abroad, middle class =anyone lucky enough to have government employment off the taxes generated by the upper class, lower class =anyone not afforementioned.
I love the conservative people who write on this website, in regards to pretty much ANY subject- quoting Limbaugh, many times directly, then denying they listen to him....as if they ALL had the same exact idea, worded basically the same way, at the same time. Perhaps THOUGHT might be a change for the better....
LA is NOT the last Occupy camp. Houston is still going strong! Take the camps, you will not stop this movement. The people are fed up with the complete lack of representation on the federal level. Whether you are out there or not, you know Washington is wrong and something MUST change.
"The people are fed up..."
Suggest you use the word 'Some' rather than 'The'.
If you people had any clue, it would be painfully obvious. The MAJORITY of people supporting and participating in the Occupy movement have jobs. Good jobs. Unlike you, they do not have the mentality of "I got mine, so I'm not going to waste my time worrying about everyone else". You, and I, as successful people have a moral responsibility to ensure those who have been unable to succeed have the opportunity to do so. But you're right, keep listening to those who tell you that you don't need to care. It will help you sleep better at night.
Occupy Los Angeles is the last remaining 'Occupy' encampment in the U.S.
When did this happen?
The "City wide tactical alert" is nothing more than a management tool used by the LAPD, the media like to use the term to add drama, but its nothing more than a personnel management tool for the department. LAPD is divided into 19 divisions which are grouped into 4 bureau's which make up the city of LA. When an event or incident occurs within a division which requires a large amount of manpower the division goes on "TAC-ALERT" which means adjacent divisions will supply patrol staff to come into that bureau and handle routine calls for service or provide the extra manpower for the incident/event. If it is of a larger scale then they go to a "BUREAU" wide tactical alert, then other bureau's will provide extra manpower. Next up the scale is a "city wide tac-alert". all shifts are held on duty, and preperation is made for 12 hour shifts.
This is the first time I've gone all the way to the end of posts like this to respond to blatant lies about a group that is following our USA history of protesting when things are wrong with our government and our lives.
I missed one early about how someone wrote that war didn't cost us anything. Why do you think the lobbyists are out there trying to keep the automatic cut to the military? They are making billions selling weapons to our government. They don't want the money to stop. The war in Iraq alone has cost billions of dollars and thousands of lives, not even mentioning the 30k+ injured Americans. I guess lives mean nothing to you? Money wasted on a lie is nothing to you? You must be very wealthy indeed.
It's not just the lives of our servicemen that have been effected. Many of our servicemen are now part of the Occupy protesters. It's the families of the servicemen that are effected by the wars. The families and homes of people in other countries that have been effected or destroyed.
President Obama has at least learned while in office that it's better for us and other countries to be consultants, not invaders. Even though the economy still has a long way to go, it has improved since he took office. It would have improved more if Congress and the Senate had worked FOR the people instead of just against anything he said.
All these OWS folks want is not to have to pay back their student loans.
@Peter you really don't listen to what they say do you? The student loans is a minor subject in what the protest is about. It seems you only see what you want to see.
Deborah, the website has all kinds of messages from environmental issues to no foreclosures and forgiving all debt. Which ones are "major" and which ones are "minor?" Which ones should people listen to?
@Jax A - That is one of the most beautiful parts of the Occupy movement, you can make that choice as to what you feel is needing the most support. They aren't trying to rule the world or tell others what to do. They are showing you what is wrong with the world and asking for your help in determining where you want it to go from here. Most people don't get them because they have NO political agendas. They just want us to work together for change. Change to improve our country and make it what it once used to be...great and fair to most of it's citizens.
I myself feel that corporations buying our politicians is one of the major problems. Banks that steal money from you by putting fees on your using your own money. There are major problems as I see it. It's your choice as to what you feel is the most important and work with them to make it better.
But Deborah, you just said "Peter17 wasn't listening to what they had to say." YOU said student loans was just "minor" and that he "was just seeing what he wanted to see."
NOW you're saying we can "choose as to what we feel is needing the most support." So why was Peter17 wrong and NOT listening to what they say and "seeing only what he wanted to see?"
So with their approximately 25 points on their website (which student loan forgiveness WAS one of them BTW) it's up to people to pick and choose which ones they support, and then have people like YOU say Peter17 is criticizing a "minor" part of OWS?
Why is student loan forgiveness "minor," exactly? Why is Peter17 "seeing only what he wants to see" when student loan forgiveness is on the OWS website and when YOU yourself say that the "beauty of OWS" is that people can "choose whatever they want as to what is wrong?"
Can you clarify why, exactly, forgiveness of student loans is "only minor" and not "the major part the protest is about?"
No Jax...no she can't...it's easier to just criticize those whom do not think exactly like she does...Just sayin'.
The best news I have seen :
"Occupy Los Angeles is the last remaining 'Occupy' encampment in the U.S."
I guess nobody wanted to "occupy" anything but a dinner table during Thanksgiving.....I think it is also hysterical that the one guy claims a "victory" for all of this crap over the last few months..."we've opened alot of minds..."...Uh, no, no you didn't.
It's called extortion. They borrowed thousands of dollars, and are demanding American workers pay it back for them.
@ZungFOo - When you grow up and learn not to talk like a child calling people names...people might take your thoughts seriously. It's gotten a lot of results. The results they wanted...discussion and hopefully a better outcome when the next elections come around.
@Mark - Just because you prefer to complain, which is funny if you don't listen to them. It doesn't mean others aren't listening. Many people hear their voices daily and agree with them or with at least part of what they say. As citizens of the USA we don't have to agree with everything everyone say, but it doesn't mean we have the right to take away their Freedom of Speech either.
@Arizona Tumbleweed - They haven't extorted anything. They are requesting jobs so they can pay their loans or loan forgiveness which most of what people owe ends up be more than they borrowed often doubled from interest. They need a job that pays a decent wage to pay for living expenses and pay back their loans. It's funny how so many of you claim they aren't educated and then complain because they want to be able to pay their student loans.
Most of your don't seem to know what the real issues are and just like an ostrich put your head in the sand when someone says something you don't want to hear. Things like corporations need to stop buying off our politicians, restrictions need to be put back in place so there is fair trading/wages/home prices/rentals/healthcare. You look at one thing and say oh that is all they are saying before sticking your heads in the ground or covering your ears because you don't want to face the realities of our society now.
It's very simple. If you don't like corporations, boycott them. It's hard to take you seriously while your typing on a corporation made computer.
@ Deborah - where did I write that these idiots (and they are IDIOTS) do not have the right to peacably assemble? I absolutly beleive they have that right. I just don't think too many people actually care about them, or their cause. And when they started blocking traffic and hindering other citizens, they crossed the line from "peaceable" to "nuisance".
So what great change has occured? Or will occur because of this protest???? I don't think anything at all. You?
@Arizona Tumbleweed - You seem to keep missing the part of not all corporations are bad and responsible capitalism isn't what they are protesting about. It's the abuse in power that they are protesting about.
As far as you know, I might have build this computer from scratch. You assume too much.
@Mark - Name calling has always been a sign of a small mind in any generation. If you want people to take you seriously don't call people names. I on occasion become small minded myself, but try not to.
As to my post, I never stated you said anything like that. I just made a point of they have that Right.
@ Deborah - so you made a point about.....nothing (nobody said they didn't have their constitutional rights). And I do beleive these people are idiots. At the very minimum they are naive and misguided.
And FYI - I do not prefer to complain. I prefer to handle my own business. I don't have a problem with "corporate greed", or "the man", or "the men in black", or "the Illuminati", or any other faceless concern that goes really well as a soundbite on the news....
But that is the great part about America...You can have yours, I can have mine, and we don't have to agree.
Congress and Americian polioticians{conservatives} can support the protesters in Arab countries that hate America but can not support Americian protesters.
What's wrong with that picture?
Quiney - you are as stupid as the OWS's. Those politicians that have been the most vocal in supporting the Arab countries have been from the liberal side - OBAMA, and his mindless followers
OWS "true believers" are, and have been, in denial. Nobody gives a horse puckey what these smelly, nair-do-wells want or think. Pound that out in your drum circle.
@Jeff - speak for yourself not others. I do like what they have to say and if they weren't making a point I doubt you would be here complaining about them.
Simply following for the comic relief (what coherent, rational point is being made? - "Gimmie!" doesn't count). It would be more amusing if it wasn't so pathetic.
@Jeff You show you won't see what you don't want to see. If you did, you could look and see what they are say or maybe even speak with one of them to find out.
But you have your mind made up and only look at information spread by other people who wish to make it go away.
If I thought you actually wanted to know something....I would tell you.
Thank Commerce that Jeff-803009 still gives good horse puckey!
These OWS's are idiots, and why is five people being arrested news worthy? If the press did not give these people the coverage it has, the parks, etc. would have been re-opened to the American public much sooner. I am so sick of hearing these people whine about be the 99%. What are they 99% of? Certainly not those of us who go to work every day, pay our taxes and take responsibility for our own needs without blaming the government for what we don't have. My message to the OWS's - Take a shower, get a hair cut, keep your pants pulled up, and get a job - any job that is legal and not immoral - and don't whine about not having what you want or someone else having more than you as being immoral.
Funny how if they weren't making a point you wouldn't have heard about them or paid enough attention to actually comment so often about them.
They are making a point and the point is being heard even by deaf ears who seem to feel they have the right to take away their Freedom of Speech.
An incredible amount of fuss- and press- over VERY few people. No matter how much the press desired- and blatantly advocated- otherwise, the number of people involved in this never got out of the low 5 digits nationwide and hs dropped dramatically. And the number were even more pitiful after you subtract the traditional homeless people who only showed up only for the free food.
Then why do you care?
As long as the protesters are peaceful, no problem. If they throw bottles at the police, they should be shot!
@Ron Van Kirk - We aren't in a country that shoots first and asks questions later. Most of the true peaceful protesters take action against anyone trying to cause trouble. For those that say that the protesters were throwing things...watch all the live video on youtube and you will see most times it was the police throwing things at the protesters. Pushing protesters into a position of trampling others isn't a way to keep the peace either, but the police officers did that too. Military officers who are part of the Occupy movement have had to save more lives from Police than police have saved from the people who were peacefully protesting.
Deborah S....It is also funny that the OWS seems to keep bragging about how intelligent and educated they are, but seem to always keep making the wrong decisions in life and want to blame it on someone else. Nobody forced them to take out excessive loans to go to the college of their choice. There are many choices in life and I was not able to attend my 1st choice because I knew it would be too much of a burden to pay back that loan. Going to a Ivy League University is not an entitlement or right.
BTW.....They ARE interfering with my right to get to my job when they block access to it. Do YOU know what a job is?
@Trilliondollar No one said they all went to Ivy League schools either. But they do need a job to pay back those loans. The loans are not the major point of the protest, but I see you have trouble with your education following what the main point is.
Overspending to help make rich corporation wealthier has caused the downfall of our once great nation. But you overlook that 4 people cannot fill one job. That the heads of most corporations have made record profits while the rest of the country are losing their homes, jobs, and medical care. That most the medical insurance out there is less than what is needed to pay for some of the most basic of medical needs. You overlook all of that to complain that you think all the protesters are protesting about is student loans and they they must all be going to Ivy League schools when the basic colleges costs tens of thousands for just one year.
If you want them to work to pay back their loans...give them a job.
Deborah S....You don't owe $100K for an undergraduate degree unless you go to an Ivy league school and thats 1 thing these idiots were complaining about in Zucotti Park. Like I said before, there are choices in life and they have made bad decisions. Compounding the problem is that they can't find a job because they majored in Interpersonal Communication. There are jobs out there, but not for these kind of degrees.(Another bad choice in their life). Many jobs are not in their home town so it requires relocation to another state that they may not like. Too bad!!! Move.
Going to college is not a "right" and they need to FIND a job, not be "Given" one. You take out a LOAN, your expected to pay it back!. Starting with a bath, haircut, brush your teeth, maybe remove the 10 lbs of rings and bolts from your face would go a long way for a start. This is nothing more than primarily, a big whine-fest of lazy do-nothings complaining about losing life's "lottery" and then demanding a "level playing field" (re-defined as "gimmie,gimme,gimme")
@trilliondollar - You haven't been to many schools lately have you. One year at most schools costs around 15-20 thousand dollars and I am talking community colleges or even those that do the quick study for one specific job. If they are taking 4 years in a college or university it easily adds up to $100K or more because of interest being charged on those loans each year.
@Jeff - You don't listen much do you. One of the things they are protesting about is there not being any jobs out there to get. The average job opening today is 1 job for every 4 people applying. That makes it hard for anyone to get a job.
@ Deborah - "but I see you have trouble with your education following what the main point is." - Now now Deborah, I thought "name calling" was the first clue as to the intelligense of the one posting it...hmmmmm can you say hypocrite?
"intelligence"...love when I spell that one incorrectly!!!!
Although my finances are great and I am gainfully employed, why would I approve of the screwing the financial sector doles out to the middle class?
More to the point why do you trilliondollar?
We managed to switch the parties in power in DC to no effect.
The underlying problems (Like corporate self policing) are intact and will be for the foreseeable future.
If you have suggestions on how to fix this problem, this would be a good time to come out with it.
I support OWS because the usual political activities don't seem to be getting us anywhere.
As I recall, everyone got to work by the way.
Oh, these people are still whining? I thought they realized that mainstream American thinks they are the lunatic fringe...
@Steve Right back at you. You are still whining about a movement you claim is dead and over with, but still post over and over and over again about it. I believe that is lunacy there. Complaining about something you say isn't even there or making a difference. If it wasn't, you wouldn't be talking about it. Steve, I don't think you are mainstream America.
I am talking about it because it does make sense to have Freedom of Speech and to discuss those things that are destroying our country.
I also find it funny that many who complain about the protesters not having an education have trouble with spelling and grammar. I guess you cannot use your computers auto fix for spelling?
I am pointing out the fact that this silly 'movement' is being met with a great, big yawn.
I have noticed numerous spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors; they come mainly from the 'educated' liberals. I can spot a victim of the liberal 'whole language' disaster a mile away.
Why do liberals whine and complain about those who have worked hard to achieve success? You seem to know all of the answers...
It is the Congress which has spent so much money we don't have that is the problem. The country owes more than it can pay and you ain't seen nothing yet. Inflation is coming back big time and it is gonna hurt.
If you have a job, keep it. Save you money and pay off all credit card debt. If you have an adjustable rate mortgage then refinance to a 30 or 40 year fixed rate mortgage. Get out of the stock market. Sell your house if you can and buy gold. The next two years is gonna be like nothing anyone has ever seen.
We cannot afford medicare and Social Security anymore. Everybody in Washington know that but it is NOT politically popular to say so or to do anything about it.
@skilife I believe you are over reacting a little bit. Most signs show the economy is slowly coming back. I do believe most people should pay off their credit card debts. Pay a little more on any payments if you can to get out of debt, then you should be able to pay for more of the things you want later. I don't use credit cards, I just have a check card from my credit union and don't spend money I don't have.
But I am still on the poor side of life because of this economy and the non-restricted way of life we live in.
Don't panic, because fear only causes things to get worse. As people feel they have the money to spend more, the economy will start to recover and hopefully jobs will become available for everyone again.
The occupy wall street protestors are probably 1%. So we have 1% of our society asking the other 1% of our society for their money.
@John Houser - Wrong. Just because you only see a few people out there doesn't mean there aren't many more that work that support their cause. Many protesters work and then go back out there on their days off or like myself...I am support their cause, but do not go out to be seen.
Make many assumptions, but that doesn't make them true.
Many of the folks posting here are just disgusting....
Funny how the "occupy people" will protest 24/7...then when they get a job they will bitch and complain about having to work more then 40 hours a week and god for bid work on Saturday or Sunday.
A recent poll update conducted by left-leaning Public Policy Polling concluded that the Occupy movement is losing public support. A month ago the results were 35% supported Occupy's goals and 36% opposed it. That more or less reflects the breakdown between dedicated progressives and dedicated conservatives among the electorate. The 40% in between are the moderates who actually cast the deciding votes in the national elections.
One month later PPPs updated poll shows a slight decline in supporters 33% now instead of 35%, but a significant increase in the percentage of those who oppose Occupy's goals. It's now 45% in opposition, up from 36%. Taking the decrease in supporters plus the increase in opposition those are some pretty big numbers to occur in just one month.
To whatever degree this poll is reflective of public opinion it looks like the political moderates are fed up with Occupy's antics and that the movement is not growing. There will be no Arab Spring in the U.S., the populace will not rise up and the business of business will still continue. So far it looks like the political progressives remain progressive, the conservatives remain conservative and the moderates are still apathetic to Occupy's goals at best, trending to opposing it as time passes.
Taken to its logical conclusion the moderates' reaction to Occupy could wind up being a negative for progressive politics in the next election cycle, which is still several months away.
Meanwhile, Occupy has been unable to significantly affect the retail deposits at any of the banks they hate. They were unable to "occupy" NYCs subways, unable to disrupt the business of the retailers on Black Friday.
If their organizers were smart they'd quit while they're ahead.
www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2011/11/occupy-wall-street-favor-fading.html
Yet you still feel they are making enough of a point to come here to talk about them. It seems they aren't losing attention as much as you think.
Most polling like that is aimed at people who read those news stations or channels that post them. No one has asked me what I think. I am in support of them. But with all protest movements time does make people lose interest. But that doesn't mean they won't have a resurgence around voting time.
"unable to disrupt the business of the retailers on Black Friday"
not only were they not able to disrupt black friday it was the biggest turnout in history, that's because they do NOT repesent 99% of the population.
You should go read the article I referenced. This wasn't an online poll that is aimed at any one group of users or subject to external manipulation. It was a phone poll conducted by a professional polling org that has ties to the Democrat National Committee. You can't even blame Fox News for this one.
On most days there is no mention of Occupy on any of the front pages of the major news outlets. Sometimes there's no mention of Occupy anywhere at all in most of these news outlets. Most of the articles that do show up - like this one - are not about Occupy's goals or Occupy's message; they're about either Occupy's activites or about Occupy's clashes with the cities when they tun out of patience and go to move them out. Like it or not, the public has decided that if Occupy isn't fighting with the police they aren't newsworthy.
You're obviously a supporter. I'm obviously ambivalent. I daresay we both hold the same worldview today that we did when OWS first took to the streets. You taking their message to heart means they are being successful in preaching to the choir. But if the results of this poll are even halfway accurate it portrays a glaring failure to draw in any converts.
IMO, Occupy's biggest problem isn't opposition from these cities. It's public apathy. Reasonable people may disagree, but this ain't no revolution.
@sickandtired - They weren't trying to stop shoppers they wanted to promote buying from US businesses and made in the USA products. There is a difference between trying to stop something and promoting something else.
@CBad760 - I doubt most supporter of the Occupy movement were at home to take those calls. I do work from home and I didn't receive a call. I am saying that most polling is biased unless it takes information from all involved.
Now I will admit that some support has died down in some areas, but support has grown for them in other areas. It's hard to say how that evens out or not.
The support of all groups grows and dies over time and sometimes has resurgences. I am saying just because a poll show some loss of support doesn't mean they message isn't getting through and that they aren't changing as we speak to other ways of getting the message out.
Yes, I am a supporter and no, you are not ambivalent unless you wish to be. I read what other people say and try to judge them individually. But I make up my own mind about the information given to me instead of just saying that because one poll says something that it's correct for all.
All groups evolve. Look at the Tea Party people. There first protests were very similar to the Occupy protests. They evolved to be more conservative and corporation based from what I've read.
I don't feel shutting anything down without correcting the mistakes made by it is the way to do things. Discussing things and working together to solve them is...in my opinion.
Winter and the holidays takes a lot out of many people's minds what others are saying. When the weather gets warmer and more people are out it will change. I wouldn't be surprised if the Occupy protesters do start going out to get people to register to vote before the next election.
Make sure they vote for wall street's number 1 benefactor and beneficiary, NOJOBAMA!!!! Oh wait, the owEs riots are selective, right?
Deborah S.
Go ahead and tell yourself whatever you like. 1/3 of the electorate and shrinking ain't no revolution. BTW, if you read that poll it touched on other issues, too, like the public's negative reaction to the performance of the new House majority. That's also a fact, whether it's convenient or inconvenient to someone's world view.
Occupy Los Angeles is the last remaining Occupy encampment in the U.S.
Then in the next paragraph they are talking about the 2 month encampment in Philly
Get it together, Occupy LA isn't even close to the only one and more are popping up daily
Bo....Like the one I saw in Reno over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with 5 people standing around a fire? I wonder how that working for them?
You are correct. Locally there is a Occupy Harrisburg, Scranton, Lancaster, Philladelphia and on and on and so forth. MSN is to real news what the Cartoon Network is to serious science.
At least with the cartoon network you know it is all for fun and they have no facts they need to keep organized.
OWS wants to do something constructive I suggest the following:
1: Conduct a national voter registration event. Less than 50% of the adult population eligible vote is actually registered and only 53% of them actually vote.
2: Inform: Be more clear and concise about what their mission statement is and how they intend to accomplish those goals.
3: Convince only 50% of the armchair quarterbacks in this country to get on the field and get their heads in the game. In other words be more involved in the politics that drive their local communities. Exercising your rights to vote is on eway of letting those in your employ i.e. government officials that you are no longer willing to put up with the status quo and things will change for the better. Or they can find employment elsewhere.
On the lighter side: Where was OWS on black friday? Stuck in line at Toys R Us for that must have Scratch and Sniff Elmo?
Retired SFC...They can not do something constructive like you mentioned because it requires work and effort which is most likely why they have been overlooked during job interviews.
Point taken. As my grand ma used to say you can't plant potatos without getting your hands dirty. Seems as though all these folks want to do is sit around and carp over how bad things are without putting forth any effort. I've got a news bulletin for them: No fairy god mother is going to wave her magic wand and fix things. Those of us who are involved in the affairs of our communities can get more done in a week than these people will accomplish in a lifetime given the direction they are going.
With their government stipend checks in hand...
Someone enlighten me please.
I do not understand how people can set up camp on public property which would seem to have code against camping and or camping overnight in the first place? I would love to save some money and spend a night or two in a public park while traveling across country on my motorcycle. Hell! just throwing out my sleeping bag in some quiet corner of a park and Bam! cops are asking you what your doing and that no camping is allowed.
Selective enforcement sends out mixed signals to people especially in these cases.
Laos Deo.....you are correct.....You can't even camp in a National Park for more then 2 weeks at a time without having to move on. The right to assemble has nothing to do with camping in a park for 2 months.
Public parks are for the people/public. Using them isn't against the law. Yes, the protesters push the point a bit, but since when do most people use public parks in the fall and winter cold months. Who are they hurting...no one.
Just those that want to stop them from making a point.
More than that - now that the cities have indulged Occupy's trespasses on these facilities they have set themselves up for claims of discrimination when other groups decide to "occupy" campgrounds and public parks or march down the middle of city streets under the guise of freedom of expression.
Anti-abortionists "occupy" the public park - on an indefinite bases - across the street from an abortion provider? No different than OWS antics on Wall Street. KKK Klan members marching 500 skinheads through downtown Atlanta and seizing one of those parks? No different than if Occupy Atlanta does it. The message doesn't excuse the misconduct.
Where does it end? What are the unintended consequences? Have any of these hipsters even thought about the long game?
Deborah S....Are you that naive? People use parks in the fall all the time to look at the fall colors and to sit on park benches for a nice break from the summer heat. Granted that most people may not use the parks in the winter when there is snow on the ground, but I suspect that the majority of the OWS protesters will not either.
Granted, public parks are for the public. Although, I've never seen a public park that allows people to stay after curfew, which is typically 10:00 PM. Also have never seen a park that allows camping overnight, let alone a two month stay.
Deborah, you never did answer my question from the previous page, so I'll ask again:
The OWS website has all kinds of messages from environmental issues to no foreclosures and forgiving all debt. Which messages are "major" and which ones are "minor?" Which ones should people listen to?
True, but we have rules in this country to protect the best interests of everyone when it comes to health, sanitation and safety. The OWS protests have trampled on peoples' rights to enjoy the park in the way it was intended. Where's the outrage in that?
OWS has the Right to Free Speech.
They do NOT have the Right to Vagrancy.
@Jax A - I am sorry it did take me a while to get back to where you posted, but I did answer you. You just have to go back to that post to see it.
@PH - Yes we have rules about many things, but when those that enforce the rules are also breaking them it makes it difficult to keep order anywhere. Most of the Occupy protesters clean up after themselves and clean up after other people who use those same parks and litter daily.
@Obamanation - Who is to say a peaceful protest is vagrancy?