Exactly where in the 1st Amendment does it state that you have the right to violate the law?

"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. "

If the American people do not have the right to protest...what is the point in voting?

DaveWH

Exactly where in the 1st Amendment does it state that you have the right to violate the law?

What SouledGuy said... or maybe that's just a part of the 1st amendment that you weren't familiar with, Dave?

Learn the difference between protest and occupy

I guess there should be an asterisk next to the first ammendment; there must be a footnote at the bottom of the page that says you can only assemble during regular park hours, Mon-Fri, and until 4 on Sundays. "Health and Safety," what a bunch of nonsense.

LiberalLies et al

Protest: an organized public demonstration expressing strong objection to a policy or course of action adopted by those in authority.

Occupy: enter, take control of, and stay in (a building) illegally and often forcibly, esp. as a form of protest.

Please enlighten us as to the meaning of your statement. Was it just an ignorant snippet, are you purposefully misunderstanding the English language or are you emphasizing some philosophical point.

:

Protest can take many forms. Occupation of parks and other spaces is a form of protest, just like the lunch counter sit-ins and freedom-rides of the early civil rights movement were forms of protest. The teaparty disruptions of town hall meetings were a form of protest. I think we will soon see the OWS movement adopt other forms of protest.

The Pigs are the ones messing up the parks, Syria LOL a bunch of Muslim brotherhoods, try voting in Syria

nutbag.....You do not have a right to occupy or take over anything. Once you do you are breaking the law and it is not a peaceful protest....easy enough for you to understand??

Ok ... let me play devil's advocate here ...

So, you're saying that as long as you're protesting, that you are exercising your first amendment rights, and that it should be allowed, regardless of any laws, city ordinances, rules, regulations, safety and or sanitary violations you may be breaking?

Where do you draw the line? First it was occupying parks, then buildings, then colleges. Groups have disrupted business, traffic, and mass transit.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a HUGE believer in first amendment rights. But the fact is that you aren't getting the attention you want unless you are causing controversy. The injured veteran and the pepper spray incident were two examples of the types of things many occupiers are hoping for! Anything to bring attention to your cause!

The general OWS support, depending on which polls you look at, has dropped to about 33%. Too much "occupy", not enough substance.

I am not a supporter of the Occupy movement, but I think some of the core ideas behind the movement are valid. I, too, am frustrated with the balance of power, and money, in both Washington and the absurdly rich individuals and corporations that are playing by their own rules.

But, I'm also disappointed in the millions of people in this country that don't put forth much effort to earn their own keep.

I personally am tired of all of the occupy sh!t. They say they have right to over take a park or a city street to protest, but they seem to forget about the rights of others that want to use that city park or drive down that street. It's not alright for them to destroy property or dirty up property trying to get their point across.

I blame our big government more than I blame big corporations for the mess we have in the USA. We have to get our government back in control before we can take care of big business.

We the people need to take back our country and make the government work for us not us work for the government.

Occupy is here to stay get use to it. Does that make you nervous?

Doesn''t make me nervous, it makes me angry that there are so many people feeling entitled in this country. They need to get off their hind ends and work for a living! There are jobs out there for people willing to work their way up the ladder!

You protesters think your right to assemble trumps all other laws and restrictions, it doesnt. If you think you have the absolute right to assemble anywhere you want, go try to occupy the Oval Office, let me know how it works out for you.

Pig nazis are try to suppess our 1st amendemnt rights. I thought this was America, not 1935 Germany or 2011 Syria!

You forgot to say "Liberal" pig Nazis....seriously...Oregon...LA...New York....

Honestly....the liberal against liberal policy is laughable....a liberal group that will condone a sexual assault just to keep their efforts untainted...just absolute hypocrisy among lunacy. The liberal victim should sue the organizers for not providing a safe place to protest.

There is NOTHING wrong with the idea of taking the protest to the doorsteps of the corrupt, self serving, treasonous bankers who destroyed the economy in 2008.

______________________________________________________

THEY have already reached into the homes of the American Middle class, stolen their homes, destroyed their jobs and families, corrupted our system and Constitution. Absolutely destroyed lives.

I have no pity for the fate of the corrupt rich tied to bailouts, the destruction of the economy, or board of the disgusting, evil, treasonous "Federal Reserve", nor our worthless politicians on their payroll.

According to a government audit last summer, the "Fed" gave out some 16 TRILLION in secret loans administered by the same thieves who crashed the economy. This audit and story has been successfully swept under the carpet by our corrupted media.

Obama administration sure as hell as done NOTHING to prosecute the thieves who ruined our economy nor to protect the public in any way. In fact, he has kept the same wall street rats that infested the White House under George "W"(orst president in history) Bush!!!!!

___________________________________________________________

This protest will continue to grow. These protesters are actually doing more to fight for our country, our freedom , and our constitutional rights than all of our brave, honest soldiers being misused in two immoral, USELESS wars started by the same republican criminals who own (and are owned by ), our CORRUPT BANKING SYSTEM.

LONG LIVE THIS PROTEST & THANKS TO ALL OF THE PROTESTERS !!!!!!!

Ranman87

I see the money Wall Street is paying to silence people is working

Ranman87,

You are absolutely correct.

The police are part of the 99%. Yet, they are arresting the very people who are try to protect the middle class and the poor. No one, but the 1% wants to see America's middle class heartlessly vanished and the the poor brutally annihilated. This can be the only reason for these continued swat team raids.

Ironically, these "sweeps" verify the Occupy Wall Street movement's political position that - "the 1% make the undemocratic decisions for all of America.

...what a sad night for Democracy.

It's really a sad day in America when the United Nations questions our Government's lack of protection of American protesters, as afforded all of us under the Constitution. A sad day only because the failure is true.

Ranman...Im no fane of Wall Street but you need to look at who is braking up the occupations. These are all Leftard controlled cities

OWS needs to get organized and start a Political Movement, instead of spending their energy sitting-in, camping out and singing Kumbaya. Both Republican and Democratic parties suck $ off of the Wall Street teet.

OWS, go the route of the Teaparty and become a sub-movement within the democratic party! Start by nominating a presidential candidate who can challenge Obama for not cracking down on big business when he had a chance (FOR TWO YEARS). GE doesn't pay taxes because they donate so much to the political system. It is all about the money.

These are all Leftard controlled cities

Can't you carry on an intelligent discussion without resorting to infantile name calling? That's the whole problem in this country today. Whatever happened to civil discourse when we could carry on a heartfelt discussion and then agree to disagree without acting like children?

Up Uranus

Well, for starters the adults have abandoned the GOP it seems. It is a sad state of affairs. I remember when the right had deep thinkers who weren't afraid to be seen thinking in public.

nutbag...i remeber when the Left knew how to behave in public

LiberalLies

I guess the irony of your statement escapes you. Did you open with an insult for comedic effect? Thanks for proving my point though.

There's a reason they're throwing insane amounts of money to try to silence these protests.

Obviously, to silence the protesters.

And in LA last week; $5000 bail each for those arrested practicing their 1st Amendment rights to peaceful protest. What's that tax rate calculate out to? Isn't that taxation without representation? Because it requires that you prove your innocence as opposed to the government proving your guilt; again, where is the Federal Government? Where's the National Guard? Deployed and war weary. There are some great big constitutional laws being broken right now, and the courts are going to be filled with these cases. But the National Guard won't be coming because Barack Obama is a black president. He's not going to add fuel to the fire that he's a communist, a muslim, a radical non-white, non-American. The right would have a field day with that.

Instead, the right knows that it can throw its' temper tantrum, and many in this country will be foolish enough to follow. At least it's been that way in the past. This time around, the electronic media will crucify your party once and for all. You'll be bombarded with your own words, your own actions, as never before, in a light that none on this planet will soon forget.

It's how you will react once you have to face that cold, naked truth that frightens the rest of us.

An occupation and destruction of private and public property is not a peaceful protest

It is all wasted time, energy and money if OWS doesn't start a political movement. That begins by having candidates running against the system.

Occupying (fill in the blank) does not equal a real political solution. It is mostly annoying to the 99% for being in the way and costing us taxpayers even more money. OWS! Become a REAL political solution! OR GO AWAY!

Obviously, you don't know what they are doing right now...notice any of the new legislation being introduced? OWS has changed the convesation, they have put the spotlight on the crooks. This is just the beginning, the police removing the encampments got OWS out of the cold, gave them a big platform from which to speak, much publicity. Its winter time in NY and OWS has moved inside and are planning...Get used to it they are not going away and they are already a political force to be reconed with.... They have had a big effect, and continue to... I am very proud of this generation of young people who stood up and said "NO". History will show them as the beginning of real change in this country... Its happening now, I guess you just have to be open minded enough to see it...prepare.

Part of the "pressure" that protest can exert on target groups is the cost of policing protest. Yes, it costs cities money to police the occupations, marches, and rallies. It also costs jurisdictions money to process the court cases. It even cost money to police the Teaparty rallies and marches. Without such costs, any protest can be safely ignored and there is little reason for the target groups to seek accommodation with the protest groups.

The OWS movement has only been in existence since September. A bit soon to become a fully organized movement sponsoring a slate of political candidates. Although, I think they are working on it.

LiberalLies

An occupation and destruction of private and public property is not a peaceful protest

In that case, what would you call the Tea Party Republicans in congress who dared to hold the American government hostage when it came time to raise the debt ceiling? Everyone with a brain knew it had to be done or we faced getting our AAA credit rating dropped, costing us billions. But the Tea Party Republicans did it anyway! It may have been peaceful, but it was far more destructive to our economy and infrastructure than any single move the Occupy movement has done to date.

Toasted...kind of ironice thats its all leftard cities tossing these occutards...lol

LiberalLies

I am a very conservative individual who finds very little common ground with these occupy people, so I find myself generally agreeing with the things you say.However the way you say them pretty much takes away all credibility that you might have had. Throwing "tard" on the end of every person that you don't necessarily agree with just makes you look like a little kid in a playground name-calling game. So like I said while agreeing with the pretense of your messages it would be much appreciated if you would stop giving other conservatives a bad name with your immature posts.

Thanks,

CommonSense in MI

And pray tell, Jeff, what rights of yours are being superceded? Unless you think that anyone who steps onto public property is somehow denying you your rights because you can no longer stand on that same two square feet of sidewalk...

One thing. They tore down a fence and moved onto private land in Oakland.

Walker25

These parks have rules and regulations, just because you are protesting, you do not get to break the city ordinances, ie, laws. Those are the laws you are breaking. There are restrictions to the first amendment right to assemble that have been decided by the Supreme Court decades ago, they didnt just make them up to deny the OWS. If I wanted to protest laws against armed robbery, do you think the cops would look the other way just because I say Im protesting?

Freedom of Assembly Clause restrictions

The right to assemble is not an absolute right. There are some restrictions on this right as there are with other rights. The right to assemble is not as strongly protected by the government as other rights, such as the freedom of speech. This is because groups that assemble often do so, not with just speech, but with some type of conduct, such as picketing, protesting, marching or gathering in a park, which may disrupt the peace.

The courts have ruled that, while it is the responsibility of the government to protect the people's right to assemble, it is also the government's responsibility to keep the peace. Because of this, the courts have allowed governments to make reasonable restrictions on the time, place and manner of these assemblies. The government may place restrictions on the right to assemble that will maintain law and order, facilitate traffic, protect private property and reduce noise congestion.

http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/freedom-of-assembly-clause.html#ixzz1cHs37Gka

Steve-2081387,

You talk much junk.

You want to talk about laws?

There are many laws against securities fraud, insider trading, toxic investments, complicated and deliberately misleading Derivatives and all the other scams that Wall Street conjured up - to rob the American people. There are laws against the illegal banking practices that the Big Banks engaged in that caused Millions of Americans to unnecessarily lose their homes, and oftentimes caused the home owner - to owe more on the outstanding mortgage - than the home was actually worth. There are laws against "Robo Signing" that the Big Banks used to "reclaim" rather "snatch back" our citizens' only dwellings.

There are laws against the Tax schemes that Corporate America uses to cheat the America public and there are laws against creating "phony offshore headquarters" in strange and exotic faraway places that Corporate America drifts to - to avoid paying U.S. taxes.

Steve, do you know that all of the above "cons" by Wall Street, the Big Banks and Corporate America has caused investors to incur "losses" reaching billions of dollars, caused millions of U.S. homeowners to be forced to live in trailer parks, with relatives, in lower standards of housing - or to simply "sleep" on the streets of this land? Are you aware that the Corporate Tax loopholes and scams have drained our treasury by Trillions of dollars?

Yet, some see the problem as...the Occupy Wall Street protesters - sleeping in parks to decry economic, political and social inequality.

Your focus is ALL wrong.

The "trampling" on the grass by the Occupy Wall Street demonstrator is far less serious - than the substantial economic damage that our country struggles with because of the theft by the 3 above law-breaking financial "stewards."

It is the Occupy Wall Streets protesters' message that is the major cause of their arrests.

You need a better focus Steve.

http://www.sec.gov/about/laws.shtml

http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/rules/8000-1250.html

Steve, you can check to see if corporate crime - has suddenly been made legal.

LOL

Heck they ought to bill the ows things directly. And if not throw them in the clink. This is the biggest bunch of bs yet to take place in this country this owe. You do the fighting at the ballot box.

And more and more of these bums should Occupy a Desk by getting a job.

Time4aPurge

Here's to hoping Portland (and other like cities affected) send the expenses to police these operations to Barack Hussein Obama, the DNC, SEIU, Soros, the "New" Black Panters, The Communist Party, ACORN, MoveOn.org, Van Jones, etc. (The backers of this planned movement).

Time4aPurge,

The actual dollar cost of America's economic collapse is HUGE and unknown.

Due to the fraudulent behavior of Wall Street, the Big Banks and Corporate America - our citizens have lost their investments, retirement and pension funds, homes and jobs. Because of lax regulation and TAX loopholes these 3 shameless entities have caused an endless drain on the U.S. treasury - reducing our ability to meet the people and the country's needs.

If you want to send a bill - anywhere - appropriately it should be sent to Wall Street, New York, NY.

Sam,

You're deluded if you think your vote counts for anything anymore. Our politicians are not put into office by our votes.

It's all about money and political connections, the rest is all a charade meant to pacify the masses.

Well good maybe these ows slackers will get their new home away from mother earth. LOL

or hopefully, the 1%

thank you dan...you nailed it.

I'm sure the shoppers had permission to camp overnight on private property.

Spending money - good, breaking law - bad, resisting arrest - felony.

The ignorance I see here is astounding. It is clear you have no idea what this is about or who these people are.

Kim-3137919

The ignorance I see here is astounding. It is clear you have no idea what this is about or who these people are. Sun Dec 4, 2011 5:24 AM EST

Kim the ignorance is not only astounding - it is staggering.

The posters that are criticizing the brave Occupy Wall Street protesters are too blind to realize that they are fighting against their own well-being. The Occupy Wall Street demonstrators want to hold accountable the law-breaking entities that collapsed our economy. The demonstrators also want to make our economic landscape moral and fair. Unfortunately, the blind posters do not realize this fact.

Yea, I'll bet these same police don't patrol these parks at night any other time to rid the parks of drug dealers.

Kim, if it was a A WHOLE LOT of drug dealers in A WHOLE LOT of tents for two months in a row, you can bet they sure would.

Oh wait, that's what OWS is.

why don't we all occupy our own lives, thanks.

This is not just a group of kids hanging around in parks because they have nothing to do. This is a global movement by people who who see corrupt government and are trying to cause change.

Kim

If youre trying to change something, youre going about it in the wrong way.

Kim.... A GLOBAL movement?

Why may I ask, if it is a "global" movement, is it pointed then at Wall street and AMERICAN political structures? Why are protesters not then in Tienamen Square (worried about tanks?), or in front of the exchanges in Berlin, London, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, Moscow, Tokoyo to name a few?

EXACTLY WHAT ARE YOU Protesting. I thought it was about the "unfairness of AMERICAN taxes" . If so, why is it global?

XDm9mm, well done.

There are three ways to silence an OWSer:

1) ask them to substantiate any one of a million ridiculous talking points they throw out randomly

2) ask them what they're protesting, exactly

Shuts them up every time. Though they'll keep their tents up in public parks until forcibly removed, unfortunately.

3) Then, ask them why they shouldn't be responsible for cleaning up their mess after two months. Once again, you'll be met with silence.

you're right...they don't represent me either...but you got to understand their frustration and look at the bigger picture...we all been screwed by money-mongering greedy leeches...seriously, even the military's greedy for money...we're paying way too much for way too many things that just don't make sense sometimes...like, relief for foreign countries? what's up with that @!$%#? americans need help, mother@!$%#er!

Why aren't they in Washington DC (in full force) focusing all their effort there? All the things you mentioned are controlled there, not Wall Street.

I agree with the Foreign Aid point you make, but I have yet to hear that in the mdeia as one of OWS's plateform items.

well, i guess wall street's just the tip of the iceberg and everything else, including what we discussed, would be the rest of the iceberg...gotta start somewhere, right? course, i'm the least qualified to make such speculations, i'm just a spectator and don't really care one way or another, i'm just trying to get by like everyone else...

Joe,

Right, an awful lot of people are just trying to survive and can't get to these events. I'm glad there are people out there who are standing up to the injustices to the American people by corporate america, wall street and yes, even out own government.

tirefofitall

The parks are public land, I pay my taxes which means I own a part of that park, I have the right to be there, just like anyone else.

I'll can guarantee you there is drug dealing going on in our parks at night that the police don't even bother with, so why would they bother a peaceful protest?

Tiredofitall,

The important social and political changes don't come about in a nice neat orderly fassion. Rosa Parks ring a bell?

Yes, you do have a right to be there as I do, but when there are posted hours that the park is available, I abide by those, why shouldn't you have to. You know what else you taxes are paying for, the overtime for the police to maintain civility, and oh yea, those extra trash collectors that have to come behind all of these slobs and pick up their tons of trash, that they leave.

Again, you bitch about your right to be there, but make no mention of the other part of my post. So I guess that means it is all right for the criminal activity that is going on?

Yes Dan, Rosa Parks rings a bell with me, but I never remember hearing about her being sexually molested while she was in the back of the bus.

Comparing the Occutards to Rosa Parks is pathetic

Kim

You pay your taxes, that means you own part of the Oval Office, do you think you have the right to occupy it?

Good idea, I think I will petition for a "Right" not to see and OWS pos pooping in the parks!

Tired,

You seemed to have missed the piont of my last 2 posts.

A sexual assault or act of vandalism does not represent the OWS any more than it does in any community unless it happens at a high rate of occurence. For one, was the perp connected to OWS? What does happen frequently in today's political discussion is that an incidence like this is used to paint a picture of the other side with negative connotation. It would be like me describing the Republican party as a group of homosexual child molesters because of the acts of Glenn Murphy Jr.. and Mark Foley, and Ted Haggard, and Larry Craig, and Bob Allen.

The dog poop comment was reference to a ridiculous "Right" of being able to walk your dog while not having to view something you personally disagree with. Calling it a good idea didn't help your argument.

Sorry for having to explain..

dan you should be sorry; your post is idiotic. for starters the left DOES try to use the acts of any wayward republican to paint the whole Party as being like that. the reports of vilence and drug use are rampant at OWS camps

Rufus,

It is clear where the intelligent posts are, Dan has legitimate comments. The fact that you call his post idiotic only goes to show your ignorance.

Gary K-2697770

Keep these idiot's in your cities, we don't want them smelling up the countryside!!!!

Hey Gary, what town do you live in so we can set up camp there?

LMAO these idiot's have been in existence over 2 month's now. Haven't seen one of these idiot's yet.

I live in the country of course but my heart is downtown NYC, ROFLMFAO!!!!!!!

All these negative, ignorant posts....

I'm beginning to think you are being paid to post this garbage. Maybe it was one of you that went in and assulted that woman. You sound sleazy enough.

Kim, at the rate you won't answer 13.5 and 13.6 above, you're starting to look like the most prolific paid shill on the board. You just toss out talking points, don't back them up, and trash-talk anyone who disagrees with you.

Gary K-2697770

soros+van jones+obama+ows=republican's in 2012!!!!

Koch+Fox News+Gingrich or Romney or whatever corporate Republican=throwing out both parties lobbyist fed candidate in 2012!!!!

What a joke...the GOP/TP will have to steal another election (which they are already trying to do) to get in...Do you support that?

Let me know how that works out for ya?????

Tim I support getting obama out of office!!!