Occupy Tulsa Trials: “The first Amendment doesn’t need a curfew.”

Occupy Tulsa protesters who were arrested in early November 2011 will begin their trials today, July 23rd at 9:30 AM. The first Occupy protester set for trial is Ms. Lindsey Scotney, mother of five, who was arrested while pregnant last fall. Mrs. Scotney and others feel good about the opportunity to present their cases at trial by jury.

Pam Huey, an Occupy Tulsa member and supporter, had this to say:

I was infuriated when I saw the way that the police pepper sprayed the protesters. Certainly it’s in our tradition as Americans to stand up and say something when we feel wronged. The Occupy Tulsa people were engaging in this time honored tradition when the city police came at them in force and pepper-sprayed them for doing nothing but engaging their rights. What we see is that Citizens United has turned money into speech in such a way that anyone who wants to have a voice has to buy one, or a politician.

Ms. Scotney, in addition to being a mother of five, has volunteered with the Tulsa Police Department, a registered Republican and has no priors.

John Harlien, who will be reporting to court on Tuesday, said:

The first Amendment doesn’t need a curfew, and as an American, it’s my right to peaceable assembly at any time of day. What those officers did in response to people sitting peacefully on the grass is atrocious, and they should be ashamed of themselves.

Occupy Tulsa protesters were arrested on their fifth day of encampment in protest against large banks getting corporate bailouts, the
continued expansion of government powers for overseas wars, the marginalization of the middle class and working poor by government interests, bank abuses, and a lack of response by the government to global financial fraud and economic corruption.

Central to their message is the idea that corporate money has robbed the citizens of this country of their voice in government..

The following four Occupiers are ordered back Tuesday, July 24th at 9:30 a.m. in Division 2 of Tulsa’s Municipal Court to hear when their trials will begin. Each of them, including Mrs. Scotney face up to 90 days in jail–if convicted:

1. Thomas G. Miller,
2. Joe Briggs,
3. John VanZant, and
4. John Harlien.

The 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states:

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.

All other Occupy Tulsa trials are expected to begin on October 19, 2012.

– xx

Raw video of the November 2011 arrests:

23 Occupy Tulsa protesters were arrested between November 2 and 3, 2011 for violating a city curfew. At least five were pepper sprayed, reportedly to ensure their compliance. Occupy Tulsa maintains that the pepper spray was excessive given the peaceful nature of their resistance.

– xx

Joanne

Kaptain Kook

I’m just going to sit back and enjoy this for a while.

#occupydc mic checks outside Obama fundraiser

#Occupydc marched down K Street Monday night, Jan. 9, 2012, to the corner of K and 16th streets to protest outside an Obama fundraiser at the Capital Hilton. They chanted and utilized the peoples’ mic to let the 1 percent participants inside know their actions are not going unnoticed.

For additional videos of the #occupydc action, you can visit my Ustream archive at http://ustream.tv/channel/Korgasm

Earlier in the evening, I read on Twitter about a mass of police a couple blocks from McPherson Park, where #occupydc is located. I took a walk and streamed what I saw.

Approximately 50 Metro PD rollers and vans were situated from the corner of K and 15th streets, down to K at 16th Street, and along 16th Street to L and M streets. On M street I overheard an officer tell a curious couple that M street was “completely blocked off.”

Indeed it was completely blocked off to vehicle traffic — but not to foot traffic. I successfully streamed the police presence in the area without being approached by them.

At M and 15th streets was a scooter brigade of approximately 20 scooter cops. More rollers and vans lined 15th, down the corners on 14th Street at both M and L streets.

I asked two cops at the corner 14th and L streets why M Street was blocked off. “An accident,” one replied.

Funny, I saw no accident.

I continued back to McPherson where I warmed up and tried to figure out via Twitter if there was some type of event occurring. Indeed, there was.

[Source:  http://twitter.com/DCSophie/status/156535582170943488]

After I learned this, I tweeted that #occupydc should mic-check the fundraiser. Curiously enough, they decided to (whether they were spurred by my tweet to do so I don’t know). After about half an hour, #occupydc journeyed back to McPherson.

No other media presence could be seen at the corner of K and 16th streets, except an NBC satellite truck with no reporters present outside. I was the only media present. Why? Perhaps they are too busy basking in the glow of their corporate overlords, who are busy stuffing the pockets of the politicians who continually neglect the American people on the whole. Do as you’re told and no one gets hurt. Right?

According to ABC News, Obama graced his donors’ presence at two different fundraisers that night, raking in over $1.2 million. One event was closed to not only the public but to media (o noes!) as well:

Earlier in the evening, Obama attended an exclusive fundraiser with 25 supporters at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington.  Each paid $45,000 to attend, according to a Democratic official.  The event, which was closed to all press coverage, was dubbed a “roundtable discussion” by a White House spokesman. — ABC News

Monday night’s fundraiser at the Capital Hilton benefitted the Victory Fund and the Democratic National Committee. As OpenSecretsBlog reports, the Victory Fund is a joint-fundraising committee for Obama and the DNC. Top benefactors include the employees of Goldman Sachs, DreamWorks, Comcast and Disney.

Who else volunteers to raise funds for the President (“bundlers”)? Hollywood heavy hitter Harvey Weinstein, UBS Americas CEO Robert Wolf and Comcast Executive Vice President David L. Cohen, among others. The full list released by Obama’s campaign is here.

It’s no wonder we see legislation introduced like SOPA. Pay off a president and it seems he’ll let anything pass.

Remember kids, as Thomas Jefferson said, “Monied interests are more dangerous to our civil liberties than standing armies.”

Protest on, #Occupy.

[source]

Happy Tenth

Today is the tenth anniversary of the USA PATRIOT (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) Act.

As seen from a nearby office building, here’s footage of Oakland, California celebrating. It appears someone mislabeled the fireworks and festivities kicked off a few hours early, but no mind.

Caution: language (and, if that bothers you, consider finding another blog to frequent).

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Oakland Police Department issued a press release early on October 26 defending their actions. Curiously, the press release claimed, “[t]hose who chose to stay were removed without any reported injuries.”

This video is graphic – it purports to show Marine veteran Scott Olson (the man is wearing a “Veterans for Peace” tshirt but is unable to identify himself) after he was shot by plastic bullets. The most I can attest to is that the man is being carried, is unresponsive, and is indeed bleeding from the head.

Of note – there were reports that the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) ‘sound cannon’ was on-site as well. LRAD is a non-lethal crowd control weapon developed for military use. It was used against protesters at the 2009 G-20 summit in Pittsburgh and can permanently damage hearing. No media has yet emerged confirming that LRAD was used in Oakland last night.

–xx

Also getting in on the celebration were Atlanta and Albuquerque.

Albuquerque

Twenty people had volunteered to be ‘arrestibles‘ after the University of New Mexico refused to extend the permit for Camp Coyote, (Un)Occupy Albuquerque’s name for their site at Yale Park.

University of New Mexico police have confirmed that 35 protesters were arrested on site and an Albuquerque Police Department spokesperson confirmed another two arrests by the department.

–xx

Atlanta

A veteran of the Iraq war tied himself to a tree in Atlanta’s Troy Davis Park as protesters rallied.

53 OccupyAtlanta protesters were arrested overnight after volunteering to remain in the park after the midnight eviction deadline. Early reports say the arrests were largely peaceful, though some protesters were dragged out. Among the arrested were State Senator Vincent Fort, who represents part of Atlanta.

Baltimore had been rumored to be a target for eviction as well, but the Occupy Baltimore account confirmed there was no attempt at enforcement and the camp remained intact as of midday on October 26.

–xx

By the way, if you’ve actually read the text of the PATRIOT Act, you are in the minority. The bill was introduced on October 23, 2001 and passed the next day, with President Bush signing it on October 26. Though Democrats and others, including Ron Paul, later ‘expressed extreme displeasure‘ over not having time to read, deliberate, or debate the bill, it passed in the House 357 to 66 (of 435) and in the Senate by 98 to 1.

Both houses reauthorized it in July 2005, March 2010, and May 2011. For his part, President Obama extended the Act, unchanged, in 2010 and again signed the May 2011 reauthorization.

–xx

Joanne

Photos courtesy of @Adreadonymous, Global Grind, @H_O_G, @northoaklandnow, and Shanna Schultz.

A letter from Mexico

Charlie spoke at the GA meeting today. He arrived this morning from Mexico and brought a letter from the Don Sergio Mendez Arceo Foundation, which annually presents a human rights prize.

Pericón is a Mexican marigold.  In the tradition of milpa agriculture practices of the Nahuas, Charlie tied crosses made of pericón to trees on the four corners of Liberty Park.

Video: Arrests – September 20