Cognitive Dissonance

“Nothing is true, everything is permitted.” - William S. Burroughs

Posts tagged Occupy Everywhere

67 notes &

My friend Charles posted this not too long ago. True story, right here. This is referencing the pepper-spraying of UC Davis students this week: “There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious—makes you so sick at heart—that you can’t take part. You can’t even passively take part. And you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you’ve got to make it stop. And you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you’re free, the machine will be prevented from working at all.” - Mario Savio

My friend Charles posted this not too long ago. True story, right here.

This is referencing the pepper-spraying of UC Davis students this week:

“There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious—makes you so sick at heart—that you can’t take part. You can’t even passively take part. And you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you’ve got to make it stop. And you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you’re free, the machine will be prevented from working at all.” - Mario Savio

Filed under UC Davis Pepper spray police brutality police protest Occupy Wall Street Occupy Everywhere California

156 notes &

Is it a radical statement to say the president should have issued this statement long-ago in regards to Occupy Wall Street? Because he hasn’t. I’d like to take this moment to point out how much Wall St. gave Barack Obama in 2008… Goldman Sachs: $1,013,091 JPMorgan Chase & Co: $808,799 Citigroup Inc: $736,771 UBS AG: $532,674 General Electric: $529,855 Morgan Stanley: $512,232 Latham & Watkins: $503,295 Total: $4,636,717 Here’s the top two recipients of donations from the financial/securities and investment sector since 2012: As far as Wall Street, Obama’s already received over a third of what they donated in 2008 for the entire cycle. Though we can see who Wall Street’s favorite is for the GOP side. I don’t think it’s possible to deny the influence of corporate Wall Street dollars in our elections.  Let’s take Goldman Sachs as an example. Here’s their break down for 2012: They’ve donated a total of $1,858,958 thus far, $508,609 to Democrats and $1,350,349 to Republicans, for a 27%/73% split. Compare to 2008. By the end of the election cycle, Goldman Sachs donated $6,025,681. Of that, $4,489,893 went to Democrats, and $1,525,448 went to Republicans for a 75%/25% split. This is why I laugh nearly uncontrollably when I hear Fox News talking about Obama’s occupiers. He’s not on our side, guys. Essentially, we’re supposed to support democratic movements elsewhere, not here at home. God forbid you actually participate. Gotcha.

Is it a radical statement to say the president should have issued this statement long-ago in regards to Occupy Wall Street? Because he hasn’t. I’d like to take this moment to point out how much Wall St. gave Barack Obama in 2008…

  • Goldman Sachs: $1,013,091
  • JPMorgan Chase & Co: $808,799
  • Citigroup Inc: $736,771
  • UBS AG: $532,674
  • General Electric: $529,855
  • Morgan Stanley: $512,232
  • Latham & Watkins: $503,295
  • Total: $4,636,717

Here’s the top two recipients of donations from the financial/securities and investment sector since 2012:

As far as Wall Street, Obama’s already received over a third of what they donated in 2008 for the entire cycle. Though we can see who Wall Street’s favorite is for the GOP side. I don’t think it’s possible to deny the influence of corporate Wall Street dollars in our elections. 

Let’s take Goldman Sachs as an example. Here’s their break down for 2012: They’ve donated a total of $1,858,958 thus far, $508,609 to Democrats and $1,350,349 to Republicans, for a 27%/73% split.

Compare to 2008. By the end of the election cycle, Goldman Sachs donated $6,025,681. Of that, $4,489,893 went to Democrats, and $1,525,448 went to Republicans for a 75%/25% split.

This is why I laugh nearly uncontrollably when I hear Fox News talking about Obama’s occupiers. He’s not on our side, guys.

Essentially, we’re supposed to support democratic movements elsewhere, not here at home. God forbid you actually participate.

Gotcha.

Filed under Occupy Wall Street OWS Occupy Everywhere brutality Obama Barack Obama Politics protest free speech democracy 2008 Wall Street Bought and paid for Goldman Sachs JP Morgan Chase Citigroup GE General Electric GOP Republican republicans Democrat democrats campaign contributions

2,741 notes &

In this photo from The New York Observer, Former Philadelphia police Captain Ray Lewis, sits in zip cuffs after being arrested today in conjunction with the Occupy Wall Street protests. Another photo of Lewis protesting can be found here. Drew Grant of The Observer writes: “There is simply nothing more bizarre than looking at images of a man in police uniform arrested and handcuffed by people wearing lower-ranking NYPD garb.” Lewis’ arrest was captured on video: Lewis knew his arrest was a possibility. In a rousing speech last night, Lewis criticized the NYPD and its use of force, along with New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. An excerpt: “You should, by law, only use force to protect someone’s life or to protect them from being bodily injured. If you’re not protecting somebody’s life or protecting them from bodily injury, there’s no need to use force. And the number one thing that they always have in their favor that they seldom use is negotiation – continue to talk, and talk and talk to people. You have nothing to lose by that. This bullrush–what happened last night is totally uncalled for when they did not use negotiation long enough. “They complained about the park being dirty. Here they are worrying about dirty parks when people are starving to death, where people are freezing, where people are sleeping in subways and they’re concerned about a dirty park. That’s obnoxious, it’s arrogant, it’s ignorant, it’s disgusting.   [The NYPD], they’re trying to get me arrested and I may disappear OK? But as soon as I’m let out of jail, I’ll be right back here and they’ll have to arrest me again. All the cops are, they’re just workers for the one percent and they don’t even realize they’re being exploited.” Capt. Lewis truly understands what it means to protect and serve the people, and for that sir, I thank you. 

In this photo from The New York Observer, Former Philadelphia police Captain Ray Lewis, sits in zip cuffs after being arrested today in conjunction with the Occupy Wall Street protests. Another photo of Lewis protesting can be found here.

Drew Grant of The Observer writes: “There is simply nothing more bizarre than looking at images of a man in police uniform arrested and handcuffed by people wearing lower-ranking NYPD garb.”

Lewis’ arrest was captured on video:

Lewis knew his arrest was a possibility. In a rousing speech last night, Lewis criticized the NYPD and its use of force, along with New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. An excerpt:

“You should, by law, only use force to protect someone’s life or to protect them from being bodily injured. If you’re not protecting somebody’s life or protecting them from bodily injury, there’s no need to use force. And the number one thing that they always have in their favor that they seldom use is negotiation – continue to talk, and talk and talk to people. You have nothing to lose by that. This bullrush–what happened last night is totally uncalled for when they did not use negotiation long enough.

“They complained about the park being dirty. Here they are worrying about dirty parks when people are starving to death, where people are freezing, where people are sleeping in subways and they’re concerned about a dirty park. That’s obnoxious, it’s arrogant, it’s ignorant, it’s disgusting.  
[The NYPD], they’re trying to get me arrested and I may disappear OK? But as soon as I’m let out of jail, I’ll be right back here and they’ll have to arrest me again. All the cops are, they’re just workers for the one percent and they don’t even realize they’re being exploited.”

Capt. Lewis truly understands what it means to protect and serve the people, and for that sir, I thank you. 

Filed under Ray Lewis Captain Ray Lewis hero politics protest Nov 17 NYC Philadelphia police police brutality injustice inequality Mike Bloomberg Occupy Wall Street OWS Occupy Everywhere

2,402 notes &

This is a big deal. Dan Siegel, legal adviser to Oakland, Calif. Mayor Jean Quan, resigned over the brutalization of Occupy Oakland protesters and says he now supports the Occupy Wall Street movement. Approximately an hour ago, he wrote on Twitter, “No longer Mayor Quan’s legal advisor. Resigned at 2 am. Support Occupy Oakland, not the 1% and its government facilitators.”

This came after he encouraged people to mobilize to Occupy Oakland late last night, where another raid resulted in upwards of 32 arrests, according to Occupy Oakland leaders. Police declared the park a crime scene Monday and forced media to leave.

If more high-ranking municipal officials have an attack of conscience and do the right thing, what then? It appears city and state governments are already a titch frightened of the Occupy movement. If their own people refuse to obey or resign in protest, perhaps it will be time to take this a little more seriously. Change from the bottom on up, folks.

(Source: cognitivedissonance)

Filed under Dan Siegel BFD Jean Quan Mayor Jean Quan Occupy Oakland Oakland California politics protest injustice inequality Doing the right thing 1% 99% Occupy Wall Street OWS Occupy Everywhere

847 notes &

From @WilbotOsterman: Cops empty out Occupy Chapel Hill with assault rifles like it’s Baghdad. They really love protecting banks’ property This is beyond disturbing. Do they think this is Call of Duty or something? The militarization of the police force in the US is ridiculous. It’s almost as if some of these cops want to be military, but not deployed.  It’s sick.

From @WilbotOsterman:

Cops empty out Occupy Chapel Hill with assault rifles like it’s Baghdad. They really love protecting banks’ property

This is beyond disturbing. Do they think this is Call of Duty or something? The militarization of the police force in the US is ridiculous. It’s almost as if some of these cops want to be military, but not deployed. 

It’s sick.

Filed under Chapel Hill Occupy Occupy Chapel Hill North Carolina politics protest Occupy Everywhere OWS police militarization police brutality

44 notes &

Also controversial was the collision between three Occupy protesters and a car outside the convention center. [Clare] O’Connor reports that the protesters set up makeshift blockades on streets surrounding the center. One driver, identified as Shawn Valentine, plowed through the blockade, injuring protester Heidi Sippel, her thirteen-year-old son, and her wife Brandy Sippel, who is three months pregnant. According to Occupy, he also hit a fourth victim who is still hospitalized.

Police did not charge the driver — Lt Christopher Micciche says the Sippels “either ran toward or jumped in front of the moving vehicle.” He adds that “it was essentially an accident where three individuals were injured but they were in violation by being in the roadway.” The Sippels, meanwhile, say they were charged with a traffic violation and fined.

Anna North, “Police Bravely Defend Man’s Right To Hit Pregnant Protester With Car”

Jesus. This guy hits a kid and a pregnant woman, plus two other people and is NOT cited?! Adding insult to injury, the people he hit were cited. According to The Telegraph, they were cited for “for obstructing traffic and being in the road in contravention of a ‘do-not-walk’ sign, both of which carry fines.”

Fuck everything about this - can you folks imagine the outrage if a doctor working at a Planned Parenthood got angry at the protesters blocking the exit to the parking lot and then plowed into a few? Operation Rescue used this very tactic of blocking streets and parking lots. From the Supreme Court of Florida:

As traffic slowed on Dixie Way and began its turn into the clinic’s driveway, the vehicle would be approached by persons designated by the respondents as sidewalk counselors attempting to get the attention of the vehicles’ occupants to give them anti-abortion literature and to urge them not to use the clinic’s services. Such so-called sidewalk counselors were assisted in accomplishing their approach to the vehicle by the hesitation or momentary stopping caused by the time needed for the picket line to open up before the vehicle could enter the parking lot.

The outcry would be tremendous. Fox would be on the scene within minutes. Now, Operation Rescue was prevented from doing this later by federal injunction. Later, police would direct traffic if need be at Operation Rescue rallies in order to prevent protesters getting hit by cars or traffic snarls. 

Why didn’t that happen in DC? Where were police? I live in Laramie, Wyoming. When we have huge sporting events connected to the University of Wyoming, our city’s population can effectively double for the day. Before and after football (or basketball) games, there’s masses of people running across the road, walking on the road, sometimes slapping the hoods of cars that come close, and generally making the busiest road in town absolute hell. Guess what? Police direct traffic. When there’s people in the road, you address the traffic situation in order to avoid people getting hit.

Or you can send the message that as long as you are driving a luxury car, like Mr. Shawn Valentine, you can hit all the people you want. As long as they’re Occupy protesters. Or poor.

Filed under Occupy DC Occupy Wall Street OWS Politics Shawn Valentine protest Heidi Sippel Brandy Sippel Occupy Everywhere 1% 99% police injustice inequality

51 notes &

Traders From Chicago Board Of Trade Dump McDonald’s Applications On Occupy Chicago Protesters

Ah, yes. The Chicago Board of Trade keeps it classy. Remember this? They posted the “We are the 1%” sign in their windows to mock Occupy Chicago. The sad truth is that they’re probably not in the 1%.

The truly asshole move is not the dumping of applications themselves. It’s that McDonald’s most recent hiring day resulted in 938,000 applicants being turned away from even part-time employment at McDonald’s. Plus, the traders appear to have violated state law in regards to the Illinois Litter Control Act.

It’s cool, though. Because these hippies just need to get a job, amirite?! There’s one job opening for every 4-5 people looking, but you just need to TRY HARDER! LULZ! </sarcasm>

Filed under Chicago Board of Trade Occupy Chicago Politics inequality protest economy McDonald's For fuck's sake Asshattery 1% 99% Occupy Wall Street OWS Occupy Everywhere

69 notes &

Meet Cheri Honkala. She&#8217;s running for sheriff of Philadelphia as the Green Party candidate, and she&#8217;s amazing. Her statement: My name is Cheri Honkala and I’m running for Sheriff of Philadelphia to keep families in their homes. Every 7 seconds in this country a family is going into foreclosure. The banks received billions of dollars in taxpayer bailout money and yet they refuse to help out struggling homeowners and continue to increase blight and homelessness in our communities. Well, I&#8217;m here to act as the people&#8217;s bailout! When I&#8217;m elected Sheriff, I will refuse to throw anyone out of their home. We live in the richest nation in the world and there is no reason why we can&#8217;t house every man, woman, and child. I&#8217;m also working to establish community land trusts. There are over 40,000 vacant properties in our city and having democratic community-based control over these properties offers the potential for housing people in need of homes and creating more urban gardens, farms, and public spaces. I will refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). We are a nation of immigrants and must work together and not against one another if we’re going to survive this economy. In the past 10 years our civil liberties have been degraded through legislation like the Patriot Act. As the people’s Sheriff I will uphold the US Constitution. I believe in transparency. The previous Philadelphia Sheriff’s office cannot account for 53 million dollars. I will ensure that the financial records and activities of the Sheriff’s office are public and accessible. I&#8217;m a formerly homeless mother who, for over 25 years, has been fighting for economic human rights alongside poor and homeless people in Philadelphia and across America. Together we&#8217;ve been working on the sources, not just the symptoms of our problems, to create a more compassionate and sustainable economy. My campaign for Sheriff is a rare opportunity for us to do something real and significant about the crisis we are facing. Let&#8217;s make history again in Philadelphia. Please support my campaign. Please Donate, Volunteer, and Spread the Word&#8230; Another Philadelphia is coming November 8 If you live in or near Philly, spread the word. Visit her site for videos of her debating and discussing Occupy Wall Street. Remember, it&#8217;s not the worst idea to occupy the polls as well as the streets.

Meet Cheri Honkala. She’s running for sheriff of Philadelphia as the Green Party candidate, and she’s amazing. Her statement:

My name is Cheri Honkala and I’m running for Sheriff of Philadelphia to keep families in their homes. Every 7 seconds in this country a family is going into foreclosure. The banks received billions of dollars in taxpayer bailout money and yet they refuse to help out struggling homeowners and continue to increase blight and homelessness in our communities. Well, I’m here to act as the people’s bailout! When I’m elected Sheriff, I will refuse to throw anyone out of their home. We live in the richest nation in the world and there is no reason why we can’t house every man, woman, and child.

I’m also working to establish community land trusts. There are over 40,000 vacant properties in our city and having democratic community-based control over these properties offers the potential for housing people in need of homes and creating more urban gardens, farms, and public spaces.

I will refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). We are a nation of immigrants and must work together and not against one another if we’re going to survive this economy.

In the past 10 years our civil liberties have been degraded through legislation like the Patriot Act. As the people’s Sheriff I will uphold the US Constitution.

I believe in transparency. The previous Philadelphia Sheriff’s office cannot account for 53 million dollars. I will ensure that the financial records and activities of the Sheriff’s office are public and accessible.

I’m a formerly homeless mother who, for over 25 years, has been fighting for economic human rights alongside poor and homeless people in Philadelphia and across America. Together we’ve been working on the sources, not just the symptoms of our problems, to create a more compassionate and sustainable economy. My campaign for Sheriff is a rare opportunity for us to do something real and significant about the crisis we are facing. Let’s make history again in Philadelphia. Please support my campaign.

Please Donate, Volunteer, and Spread the Word…

Another Philadelphia is coming November 8

If you live in or near Philly, spread the word. Visit her site for videos of her debating and discussing Occupy Wall Street. Remember, it’s not the worst idea to occupy the polls as well as the streets.

Filed under Cheri Honkala Philadelphia Sheriff Occupy Sheriff protest politics power to the people activism you're doing it right Occupy Wall Street OWS Occupy Everywhere Occupy the polls