AP: Occupy Protests Have Now Cost Local U.S. Cities a Total of $13 Million
- Posted on November 23, 2011 at 6:54am by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
NEW YORK (AP) — During the first two months of the nationwide Occupy protests, the movement that is demanding more out of the wealthiest Americans cost local taxpayers at least $13 million in police overtime and other municipal services, according to a survey by The Associated Press.
The heaviest financial burden has fallen upon law enforcement agencies tasked with monitoring marches and evicting protesters from outdoor camps. And the steepest costs by far piled up in New York City and Oakland, Calif., where police clashed with protesters on several occasions.
The AP gathered figures from government agencies in 18 cities with active protests and focused on costs through Nov. 15, the day protesters were evicted from New York City’s Zuccotti Park, where the protests began Sept. 17 before spreading nationwide. The survey did not attempt to tally the price of all protests but provides a glimpse into costs to cities large and small.
Broken down city by city, the numbers are more or less in line with the cost of policing major public events and emergencies. In Los Angeles, for example, the Michael Jackson memorial concert cost the city $1.4 million. And Atlanta spent several million dollars after a major snow and ice storm this year.
But the price of the protests is rising by the day – along with taxpayer ire in some places.
“What is their real agenda?” asked Rodger Mawhinney as he watched police remove an encampment outside his apartment complex in downtown Oakland. “I’ve gone up and asked them, `What are you truly trying to accomplish?‘ I’m still waiting for an answer.”
The Occupy movement has intentionally never clarified its policy objectives, relying instead on a broad message opposing corporate excess and income inequality. Aside from policing, cleaning and repairing property at dozens of 24-hour encampments, cities have had to monitor frequent rallies and protests.
The spending comes as cash-strapped police departments have cut overtime budgets, travel and training to respond to the recession. Nonetheless, city officials say they have no choice but to bring in extra officers or hold officers past their shifts to handle gatherings and marches in a way that protects free speech rights and public safety. In some cities, officials say the spending is eating into their overtime budgets and leaving less money for other public services.
Protesters blame excessive police presence for the high costs in some places. And they note the cost has been minimal in other cities, and worth the spending because they have raised awareness about what they say is corporate greed and the growing inequality between rich and poor.
“We‘re here fighting corporate greed and they’re worried about a lawn?” said Clark Davis of Occupy Los Angeles, where the city estimates that property damage to a park has been $200,000.
In Oakland, where protesters temporarily forced the shutdown of a major port, the city has spent more than $2.4 million responding to the protests. The cash-strapped city, which had to close a $58 million budget gap this year, was already facing an uphill battle when Occupy Oakland began Oct. 10.
“The cost of the encampments is growing and putting a strain on our already fragile resources – police, public works, and other city staff,” said Mayor Jean Quan. “We will continue to be vigilant and ensure that public safety remains our first priority and that our downtown businesses are protected from vandalism. We will not tolerate lodging on public property, whether in parks or open space. It is illegal.”
Sgt. Dom Arotzarena, president of the Oakland Police Officers Association, said Occupy-related costs will soar past $3 million when it’s all said and done. The city, he said, had to pay more for mutual aid when police removed the encampment at City Hall for a second time on Nov. 14, nearly three weeks after its first early morning raid, leading to dozens of arrests.
“A lot of this could’ve been avoided if we stood our ground when we went in there in the first place,” Arotzarena said. “I know we would’ve saved the city a significant amount of money.”
Portland, Ore., has spent a total of about $785,000 – much of that in police overtime when officers enforced the mayor’s order to evict protesters from two downtown parks because of concerns about sanitation and public safety. Randy Leonard, a city commissioner and former firefighter, said he thinks the protest could have cost the city much more if not for a restrained police response.
“The amount of money we’re saving by (our) very strategic response versus sending police out en masse to arrest people and cause confrontations dwarfs whatever we’ve spent so far,” Leonard said.
In New York City, the police department has spent $7 million in overtime on the protests. But that‘s small change given the department’s $4.5 billion budget, which allots money for emergency overtime. Last year, the NYPD spent about $550 million on overtime.
“Public safety and providing essential services is what we do. So the first thing we’re going to do is handle the situation, and any situation that comes up,” Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway said. “So yes, this has been significant and it’s been going on for many days, but really in the broad scheme of things, it‘s not something that we aren’t prepared to deal with.”
Pete Dutro, a protester in charge of finances in New York City, called the NYPD’s response “completely unnecessary.”
“It’s $7 million of taxpayers‘ money that’s being spent to stifle our First Amendment rights,” he said. “You know, they’ve consistently overreacted.”
In Seattle, where the National Guard was deployed during the 1999 World Trade Organization protests, the mayor has publicly supported the Occupy protesters. But that doesn‘t mean taxpayers won’t feel the pinch later on; the city has already spent at least $625,000 on the protests, with the police department taking the bulk of the costs.
“These costs are currently being absorbed by the departments and may result in reduced service levels in other areas in the future,” said Julie Moore, a spokeswoman for Mayor Mike McGinn. She did not specify which public services might suffer.
Other cities were not too concerned about mounting costs, with officials saying they budget for events like these.
“Our view is that unexpected things happen,” said Sonji Jacobs, spokeswoman for Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “Occupy Atlanta is something that folks didn’t necessarily see coming, but the good news is that we have flexibility in our budget.”
Overall, the city spent nearly $652,000 on the protests, paying for everything from overtime for police officers and firefighters to running its mobile command center. The city has $56 million in its reserve fund.
Costs were far lower in Boston than City Council President Stephen Murphy initially predicted last month, when he said police costs for providing security at Occupy Boston for October would be as high as $2 million, based on what a police commander at the scene of mass arrests told him.
The city of Boston has spent $575,000 in overtime through mid-November to pay officers policing Occupy Boston. That‘s about 2 percent of this year’s $30 million police overtime budget.
“We have a history of starting, as well as managing, historic demonstrations,” said City Councilor Michael Ross. “We‘ve done it well and we’ve managed it well, and that’s not going to stop anytime soon, and that doesn’t cease to exist after it hits a certain budget threshold.”
St. Louis; Des Moines, Iowa; Providence, R.I.; and Burlington, Vt., were among the cities surveyed by AP that reported costs of less than $10,000.
Don Tripp, the parks director in Des Moines, said protesters camped out in a city park have arguably saved money by taking their garbage out of the park in barrels and shoveling the sidewalk after the first snow, tasks city employees normally handle.
Unlike some other cities, protesters also agreed to pay the full cost of their electricity usage. Tripp noted the protests did come with an intangible “social cost” – discouraging other residents from using the park that they pay to maintain, too.
“But at the end of the day, the thing that has been in the back of my mind is that during times of public discourse in our country parks are noted for being places where people have the chance to demonstrate their First Amendment rights,” he said. “I think their use has been consistent with that.”
But not all protesters have been the best neighbors. In Tennessee, where protesters have been camped outside the Capitol, a State General Services spokeswoman said two cleaning crew members have spent about three hours every morning pressure-washing entrances to the building using household cleaners to deodorize them.
And in Los Angeles, property damage to the park surrounding City Hall – where nearly 500 tents are jammed in – is estimated to be at least $200,000, including the destroyed lawn, sprinklers, graffiti on a fountain and damage to trees and shrubs. City Hall spokesman Peter Sanders says there’s not a definite estimate on damage yet because workers have not been able to properly inspect the site.
For police officers, the longer hours mean bigger paychecks but come at a cost, driving up their stress levels and potentially leaving less money for other initiatives in the long-term.
Unlike a parade or a one-day march, the Occupy protests are in their third month in some cities and show no signs of easing up, said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a think tank for police chiefs.
“You’re dealing with 50 to 75 cities where this is going on. In some cities it’s a minimal expense. In some cities, it’s considerable,” he said. “For a city that has slashed overtime, this has an impact. And that means they are going to have to cut back in other ways.”
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 684 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 647 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 523 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 361 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 315 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 176 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 211 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 146 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Scathing New Ad Capitalizes on Rep. Ryan‘s ’Fading Obama Posters’ Remark 124 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 176 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (65)
barber2
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 10:57amThe real purpose of the Occupies: to continue Obama’s War Against Capitalism. Loans for people who can’t repay; anti-banker rhetoric; endless tax paid protests; Occupy cities; racial/ class divisiveness . Way to go, Mr. “Uniter.“ Another one of those ” we are the 99%” Big Lies your administration graces us with. Way to go, International Marxists. WAKE UP, AMERICA….
Report Post »HKS
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:52pmI’m not sure but, has the 99 per-centers ever made a job? Is this not what they seek? Although I don‘t claim to be the sharpest knife in the drawer I’m smart enough to keep the boss happy and needing me. This whole deal, seems to me, to be totally ill conceived and hatched with small minds.
Report Post »CHIEFSMOKE
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 1:47pmO bamabots
W ant
S ocialism
The red diapers are full of excrement and are spilling over into the cradle of freedom.
Report Post »Lady Liberty is being domestically abused and can no longer clean the soiled babies.
The Father of Right Authority shall soon step in and the real crying will begin!
There will be biting and scratching, for sure. They will suffer rashes and chafing as well.
As the tantrum is broken up and the score is settled – the miscreants will be in the long Time Out;
The adults will be in charge!
B-Neil
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 10:21amSend a bill to the Occupiers. They have a treasurer sleeping for $700.00 per night. If they don’t pay sue them. Hay; you Lawyers out there; Big money to be made. CARRY ON McDUFF
Report Post »GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 10:35amSend the bill to the Federal Reserve, they CREATED over $13 TRILLION in new money, giving it to their already rich buddies.!.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 10:46amCan we get a run down on how much Wall St. crimes cost the state and local pension funds?
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 10:49amSend the bill to Van Jones.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 10:50amMake no mistake..this is what OWS wants. To collapse the system under it’s own weight. It’s classic Alinsky.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 11:00amGROUND: All part of the Obama International Marxists War on Capitalism..
Report Post »elosogrande
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 10:02amThese groups all have bank accounts. Go to court, get a judgement, and confiscate the money.
If the government doesn’t have the courage to do that, tell them that it’s the same as confiscating money from you and me in the form of taxes.
Report Post »Elaine in Baltimore
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 11:43amApparently you are not concened about the money that was confiscated from you and me for the bail out. Oh and by the way, have your checked your 401k lately?
trueblueday
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:16pmIn response to Elaine: If we turn our backs on the political process in this country, America will certainly crumble, and Obama along with George Soros (give him a Google if you don’t know him) are so looking forward to this. Soros, hedge fund billionaire manic, is betting on it. These occupier outsiders do not represent me. I did not endorse criminality in the streets, rapes, and destruction. Why tear down our system, when it is the people inside the political gates that need to be properly vetted. Yes, changes need to be made, but done properly. Did I advocate the bailouts, the “stimulus’” that went no-where, the cash for clunkers that cost taxpayers in the end with new car payments, etc. – No. But, why advocate this type of “peaceful” occupier protest that is costing states and taxpayers millions of dollars, with no end in sight. No other group (ie TEA) – not a dime – has cost the taxpayers so much. This is destruction from top down/bottom up mentality. God help us, in 2012, we will have our say at the ballot box, not sitting cross-legged in a park filled with feces and urine, TB, and STDs. Yes, our 401Ks are tanking due to our tight-knit world economies, etc. Continue on this track of self-destruction and we’ll all be sleeping in tents in the end. This is exactly what Obama wants. Get him and his comrades of destruction out of the White House – by voting him out. Occupiers are being used by our POTUS, and they’re either knowing of this, blind, or st
Report Post »djt1948
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 2:51pmUhh… a judgement? Based on what, exactly?
djt1948
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 2:57pmUhhh… a judgement based on what??
Report Post »ThomastonPaine
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:56am13 Million?
If you multiply “13 million” by “1 MILLION” you get 13 Trillion! That is still 3 trillion short of the “16 Trillion Dollar” Secret Federal Reserve Bailout that was just exposed!
16 Trillion in Secret Federal Reserve Bailouts Revealed — Many To Foreign Banks:
http://www.standupamericaus.org/economy/first-federal-reserve-audit-reveals-trillions-in-secret-bailouts/
Banks based in counties other than the U.S. also received money from the Fed, including Barclays of the United Kingdom, the Royal Bank of Scotland Group (UK), Deutsche Bank (Germany), UBS (Switzerland), Credit Suisse Group (Switzerland), Bank of Scotland (UK), BNP Paribas (France), Dexia (Belgium), Dresdner Bank (Germany), and Societe General (France).
* Remember….16 Million Piles of a Million Dollars is 16 Trillion!!!
* It’s like giving every single resident of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago a million dollars!
US Families Lost 11 Trillion Dollars in Net Worth in 2008 Alone:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/household-wealth-plunged-18-percent-in-fourth-quarter.aspx
Report Post »littlefish
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:46amNot so Ironically ….our missing in action president . . . .touts “Pass My Bill” or you won’t have the valuable first responders (police) in all the cities that need them . . .and just to exasperate the problem . . .
Report Post »He creates this Zombie infestation to suck up the little resources the cities have…..
I wake up every morning wondering what this crazy dictator has conjured into “law” in the dead of nite,. this time.
trueblueday
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 11:48amObama is loving every single stickin‘ minute of these ugly attacks to America’s way of life. Of course he hides in the shadows, while his minions (knowingly or unknowlingly) ravage our already cash-strapped cities and towns. When they can no longer pay for the overtime of our officers to control these zom-bommas (aka Obama zombies) you and I will be on our own. This has been well planned straight from the top, and I bet old George Soros is hedging his bets on a total collapse.
Report Post »I wonder if Pee-losi is shedding a tear over these demonstrations? Oh, I forgot her comment: “God bless them(!)” Makes me sick…
djt1948
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 2:47pmYes, be afraid. Be very afraid.
Report Post »Dalady
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:38amQuoting the hypocrite who stays in the swanky hotel is rich. Sad that they aren‘t fighting for everyone’s rights such as the group shut down by Schumer in Congress. Maybe if the group had defiled the Capitol steps instead of following the rules, they would have gotten support from Chuckie.
NOBAMA 2012
Report Post »GatorSkin
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:12amFinally obamao has put some people to work. Police, cleaning crews, pepper spray companies, de-lousing chemical plants. He11 the OWS have created more jobs than 3 years of obamao regime!!!!
Report Post »ares338
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:57amThey have had their time to protest and get their message out (most of them don’t even know what their message is). time to go home now and work for a living. The problem is with our government and not Wall Street. Our elected officials on both sides of the aisle have failed this country miserably.
Report Post »Conservativegirlygirl
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:46amAmerbur-……….you just got owned.. lmao
@ Deturbo- I agree…I don‘t think she’s in Starbucks’s. She’s proably in a smelly rotten tent smoking weed eating take out from the Cheesecake Factory….
Report Post »Perspective
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:42amOnce again proving that OWS could care less about the 99%. I’ve haunted their forums and the arrogance is unbelievable. They don’t care anything about people all they care about is their “movement”. The idiots are so arrogant they can’t see the only people they are hurting are those that they profess to represent.
Report Post »nobull14
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:38amMost city leaders don’t have the stones to stop this crap ?. So let them eat it !!!. The money sure could have been used for better thing.
Report Post »MommyNeedsMoreCoffee
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:43am@NOBULL14 I completely agree…Sacramento and New York being perfect examples. Political leadership made a choice, now eat it. Hopefully next election the voters will make a different choice.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:26amForce the system into collapse by having them spend it to collapse; that is what one method of operation for the #Occupy bands is, make the cities spend themselves into oblivion.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:32amIf only we had a real unifying President that would stop this foolishness. But, we don’t.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:34amWe have a President?
Report Post »trueblueday
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:22pmTop down, bottom up, inside out. We’ve been introduced or reintroduced to the many interesting characters who are on the inside of the destruction of this country over these last few years: Van Jones, George Soros, Bill Ayers. With Buddy Obama’s assistance, they’re moving right along toward their goals of a one-state initiative. Comrade, have a good day!
Report Post »johnpaulkuchtajr
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:23amI’m just hoping against hope that enough of the Obamaites were preoccupied with the “Occupy” goings-on that they failed to piss away another HALF BILLION DOLLARS on some moribund solar energy fiasco.
Think about it, Komrades, we could hire the protestors at premium union scales to raise hell and come out financially smelling like a rose! It would instill the pride of productive employment in the “Occupiers” and save my grandchildren untold amounts of debt payments to the Chinese. That’s what I call a “two-fer!”
Report Post »4X4in
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:19amThe number seems a bit low to me, how the media and math dont get along!
Report Post »singray
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:03amNo clear message. Intent on destroying the system. Intent on destroying property. Anybody see another way to overwhelm the system. Isn’t this just another piece of the puzzle being used by the radicals. Spend,spend,spend and when they demand we stop we will cause you financial pain in other ways. They are intent on destoying the system and are using these leeches to further their aims.And all the while they amass the money being stolen from each and every American. And I’m sure they are converting their weath to Gold and Silver. Then they will be the truly Elite.
Report Post »Bitter_Klinger
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:55amsure this has been costly for the cities, but look at the bright side- the cops and their unions made out like bandits with all the overtime:)
Report Post »bcope01
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:45amFind out if the police unions have been involved at all in the protests and sue them for damages. After all, there are unions behind this movement along with the support from the Democrats in Congress, the President, the Tides foundation (George Soros funded). There should be an investigation of the occupation, which is really domestic terrorism, and actions taken.
Report Post »djt1948
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 2:40pm“Domestic terrorism”? Yes, we are striking terror into the hearts of the 1% and their sheep followers. But, what are you going to do about that pesky little 1st Amendment?
Report Post »buttermilk80
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:37amThough the cost of these people can be counted by money, they are representative of the souls lost decades before. They are only a new scab on an old wound.
Report Post »animo_de_1776
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:36amNo sympathies here for the denizens of these “blue” cities who keep voting for liberal idiocy. If your cities go broke and chaos reigns, so what? You are getting what you wanted….ain’t utopia grand?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:43amUnfortunately, even if your city and state are well run, the Federal Government will take your tax dollars to bail out the disfunctional cities and states. They really have no motivation to change things.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:31amI’m not surprised. The whole movement is about getting more free stuff for the 48% that don’t pay taxes from the 52% who do.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:07amClower and Piven!!
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:28amNoBalo……
Report Post »Well, at least ‘Cloward’ and Piven. Yes ,exactly! Their idea was originally to “overload the welfare system”. There were drives to enroll as many into the welfare system, so as to overload/overwhelm the government’s ability to fund it.
Of course, then other not-so “great society” programs were introduced so as to add more burden to the US financial system. Which leads us to today’s realities.
The system became overloaded, Washington was paralyzed into not stopping the madness for fear of being ‘racist’ or ‘insensitive.’
Socialism failed in the US, just like in Europe…just like in the USSR, just like in China. The problem is…to fix it, we will be racists, or greedy Capitalist pigs, or uncaring.
It is amazing, to me at least, that it took nearly 50 years from when the “great society” was signed into law until finally even our Capitalist system could no longer support the insanity.
demint.disciple
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:30amWOW !! It’s Cloward.. I bet you had a smile on your face when you were writing that , huh ? Just like Glenn taught you ?
Report Post »toomuchgovt
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:05amWe are being attacked from within. Its the SPENDING, STUPID.
Report Post »whywonder
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 8:07amAmerica takes in 180 billion a month in revenue. Our bills are 20 to 30 billion a month. We are not broke the rednecks who don’t like education,the epa,modern life want you to believe that we are. How can america sail 11 aircraft carrier groups on constant world tours if we are broke? Soros paidme $20 to post this
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:04amHe should have trained you on grammar and sentence structure first.
Report Post »whywonder
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:45amAnnoying
Report Post »You missed the point…a bit dense aren’t we. I’m not writing a novel moron.
toomuchgovt
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 11:04amresponse to “whywonder”
That is great – they can stop taxing us all so much. Give the money back to the people that actually earn it, work for it. The only “job” of the U.S. Government is to protect its citizens. Not to provide every whim every liberal can think of.
Charity comes from the heart, not from the Government. Doing the right thing comes from within ones Soul, not by force.
Report Post »honor007
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:04amI am not a fan of lawsuits, but they have received alot of donations. Time to sue.
Report Post »Ron Staiger
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:04amThese friggin boneheads don’t make up 99%. They are the .99% of our society that identifies themselves as Marxists, Communists, Anarchists, Socialists, schizophrenics, alcoholics and drug addicted losers willing to camp out in a sea of $#IT for their five seconds of humiliation on national TV. Surprised that these losers are supported by the boneheaded Democrats in this country? It is what they want- violence in the streets for the cause. What they have forgotten is that while they have been so enthusiastically attempting to CONTROL our guns, we have been enthusiastically COLLECTING them. See you friggin’ morons in the street!
Report Post »amerbur
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 6:59amI am in the 99%, and I am not one of you. You do not speak for me!!!!!!
Report Post »deturbo
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 7:58am. Well Amerbur, speak up.,Tell us, what are you about? Your comment doesn’t really say much of anything. Now is your chance. What have you read here that isn’t factual about O.W.S? The members are quoted,the facts reported. Except in mainstream media. Who forgot to mention one of your supporters. Have you been to their site lately? http://www.cpusa.org/ or these guys http://socialistparty-usa.org/occupywallstreet.html ? Yeah, you represent the 99% my … Speaking of more things the media has non covered. The fecal and urine bombs, the racism,the people you also claim to represent by throwing them downstairs,scaring kids going to school,keeping people from their jobs and students from their classes,rape,how is that 14 yr old by the way? , murder. You are misled ,brainwashed fodder for the two aforementioned parties who will use you and get rid of you as soon as you’ve accomplished what they want! You are so right,we don’t speak for you and never will. Why don’t you tell us what your about what are O.W.S’s goals? Free speech,unless you guys win. Oh are you at5 Starbucks using your IPAD for this?
Report Post »amerbur
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 9:13amDeturbo, I was responding to the sign that said we are the 99%. I ment, I am one of the 99%, but I am not one of them. I am an American loving capitalist hoping one day I will come up with a great idea, and perhaps, move into the slot of the 1%, althougth that is not my ultimate goal in life. I intend to be one of the individuals who fights to preserve my freedom and when I die, I hope my children can say; ” our mother fought to preserve our future as free American citizen, created by the one and only God in Heaven who died for us all, Jesus Christ. I appreciate your passion though. I feel the same.
Report Post »Elaine in Baltimore
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 12:44pmLots of hate speak going on here.
Report Post »deturbo
Posted on December 2, 2011 at 8:23pmMy apologies for the misunderstanding Amerbur. Now that you point it out I see exactly what you were saying. Can you see me feeling like a jackass from where you are! No doubt you will leave an impression of good behind when that time comes.
Report Post »