‘I’m a Freedom Fighter’: SF‘s Accused May Day Occupy ’Brick Thrower’ Speaks Out
- Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:37pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Image source: KGO-TV
The Occupy protester accused of throwing bricks into a crowd during a May Day demonstration said he’s a “freedom fighter” who’s “fighting for the freedom of everyone.”
San Francisco police arrested Jesse Nesbitt last week after he allegedly hurled bricks off the roof of a vacant building at police and protesters below. Two demonstrators were hit, and Nesbitt now faces charges of felony assault, assault on a police officer and vandalism, KGO-TV reported.
Jesse Nesbitt (Image source: KGO-TV)
In an interview published Tuesday with the San Francisco Bay Guardian, Nesbitt, 34, revealed he is a homeless Army veteran who suffers from schizophrenia. Diagnosed at 16, he joined the military two years later and was deployed to South Korea.
Since returning, Nesbitt said he’s had a number of stints in prison, having done time for assault, theft, weapons possession and vandalism, and has been in and out of psychiatric wards. He became addicted to methamphetamine, and that’s when a friend suggested he join Occupy.
“A friend of mine who was shooting heroin at the time said, let’s go join the revolution. It will help clean you up. It helped pull me out of a drug addiction and keep me healthy,” Nesbitt told the Bay Guardian.
“I’ve always had revolutionary beliefs,” he said of the movement’s appeal. He described friends who wouldn’t let him go to the G20 protests in Pittsburgh in 2009 for fear he would be moved to violence. “I’ve been involved with anarchists for a long time. They pointed out documentaries I should watch, things I should read.”
Image source: KGO-TV
Image source: KGO-TV
Image source: KGO-TV
Image source: KGO-TV
He said he recovered from his addiction at Occupy Berkeley, but continued to get into fights and have run-ins with the police. Finally, he ended up at the San Francisco May Day protests.
“I was getting an episode the day before it all happened,” he said. “I was afraid to go by myself to sleep because I was hearing voices. Normally those voices tell me to hurt people. I try to keep around people I love and trust that wouldn’t let me do anything.”
He sees what he did as defending the Constitution, having sworn a military oath to protect the U.S. against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
“They’re passing the NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act], Patriot Act, and other bills I don’t know about. They’re intentionally taking away our constitutional rights. We’re supposed to defend those rights, not lie down and take it,” he said. “I think Abraham Lincoln said, if the government betrays us, we’re supposed to take them out.”
“I’m a freedom fighter,” said Nesbitt. “I’m fighting for the freedom of everyone.”
The brick-throwing was caught on camera during a live news report on KGO.
“So far it’s been relatively peaceful,” the reporter said. “There’s a gentleman on the roof right now, I want you to see this, he’s got a brick in each hand. And he’s throwing it now into the crowd! He’s throwing bricks into the crowd and trying to hit police with that.”
Watch that report below, via KGO-TV:
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Comments (103)
infortheride
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:45pmIdiot
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 5:07pmHe sounds mentally ill and living out a fantasy.
Report Post »Patriot Z
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 5:34pmyou forgot to add “useful” in front of idiot. but yep he sounds like your typical ows looser, a crazy person on drugs and easily influenced by years of conspiracy theories and self entitlement. he is like the ows version of the ‘super soldier’ “captain OWS” The first derangeder LOL
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 5:39pmIn “future news”, Jesse Nesbitt will land himself in jail where he will become a political threat to Obama’s campaign just like Keith Judd http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/President/2012/0509/Ouch!-Obama-loses-41-percent-of-W.Va.-primary-vote-to-federal-inmate
ANY idiot can be president these days.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 5:40pmDrugs have fried his brain, just like the other useful idiots out there, they have not a clue in the world!
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:23pmHe said he was fighting for freedom … and I have seen a whole lot of people on this site say they are locked and loaded and ready to take up arms to defend the constitution … what’s the difference ?
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:45pmI wonder who he planned on voting for?
Report Post »DIR
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:07pm4truth2all. That’s an easy question. He threw the brick as a threat, like when a ship fires a warning shot across your bow. You either make a run for it, surrender or get ready to fight. Repondants here claim they have taken up arms, but non have opened fired, that I am aware of.. However, if numnuts or some idiot like him throws the brick in their direction with intent to harm, the people you cite will likely open fire in self defense. That’s the difference. One is intiating an attack the other is responding to the attack.
Report Post »the_truth_or_not
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:09pmNHWINTER
He stated that he was crazy “voices in my head tells me to do harm” (A paraphrase)
“They’re passing the NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act], Patriot Act, and other bills I don’t know about. They’re intentionally taking away our constitutional rights. We’re supposed to defend those rights, not lie down and take it,” he said. “I think Abraham Lincoln said, if the government betrays us, we’re supposed to take them out.”
Sounds like this guy had the right intention, he just got caught up in the wrong group. I dont see any reason to not believe this statement. I kind of feel bad for the guy.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:37amNancy is proud…..so is bho……their voting block
Report Post »bekhiet
Posted on May 14, 2012 at 3:40pmWow, Meth using convicts, that occupy group has some real classy people in it.
Report Post »xyfbx
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:45pmWhy didn’t the police shot the ass hole after he threw the first one?
Report Post »Bro Geo Too
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 5:35pmDamn right!
The bricks were a weapon and the police should have shot him to protect the people below. Clearly their inaction is dereliction of duty and potential grounds for a lawsuit.
Report Post »harley3
Posted on May 11, 2012 at 8:17amExactly!!!!! He should have been shot the second he cocked that arm back.
Report Post »bekhiet
Posted on May 14, 2012 at 3:41pmThe police in the video were standing by and watching…craziness.
Report Post »ColoradoMaverick
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:39pm“So far it’s been relatively peaceful,” the reporter said. “There’s a gentleman on the roof right now, I want you to see this, he’s got a brick in each hand. And he’s throwing it now into the crowd! He’s throwing bricks into the crowd and trying to hit police with that.”
Great quote from a stupid reporter! Gentleman?? Relatively peaceful? Relative to what? Complete anarchy? Idiot reporter.
Report Post »ColoradoMaverick
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:37pmFreedom fighter huh? Let’s send him to the middle east to fight for freedom. When they lop his brainless head off like a head of cabbage, he might change his mind. Never mind, he has no mind.
Report Post »The Sergeant Major
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:37pmFreedom Fighter? Terrorist yes! Get him the medical care he needs and then throw the book at him.
Remember our Fallen Warriors, remember Soldiers with TBI and PTSD!!
Report Post »joey g
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:33pmi been laughing so hard…hope he hit pelosi,,,hahahahahahahahahahh
Report Post »infortheride
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:31pmHi, I am an anarchist. I am proud of what I do. I take nothing from anyone, I will set the world free.
But, wait, I must cover my face and shroud my body as I am really just a little scared POS.
These (so called men) AFRAID to show their face!! Chicken Sh it little bast ards
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:28pm1 look @ him makes me crazy.
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:17pmFreedom fighter? Omg this man brain is bass ackwards…………………
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:08pmAnd since he‘s an Obama OWS Occupier useful idiot they’ll give him a slap on the wrist and they’ll make it all go away. Just like they dismissed the rapes and deaths that were happening at these OWS chaotic pot-smoking gatherings where they took over entire cities and defecated on police cars!
Of course, just as Hitler conducted his Night of the Long Knives and killed all his ardent supporters who were beating people to a pulp in the streets and who created the chaos Hitler needed to gain the power to exterminate, so will these OWS useful idiots be the first to go!
At some point the Obamanistas will determine that they‘ve served their purpose and they’ll start distancing themselves from their useful idiots, and then sugar-coated radical Marxist Van Jones, who has shed the radical means for the radical ends, will take over. All violent revolutions need their terrorist arm (the OWS) and their Muslim Brotherhood arm (Van Jones). And for a reason!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:05pmHe is not fighting for my freedom: I want the Freedom to be Free of him!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:10pmHe’s a domestic terrorist …
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:15pmStop there money there food & they will stop there madness.
Report Post »brother_ed
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:04pmThe problem with the OWS movement is that in some respects they have mimic the Tea Party’s frustrations.
That is what Glenn is warning us about.
The adversary is trying to siphon off people who have these issues with the government from the other side – the Tea Party.
The devil has always used this tactic.
God is good, the devil is evil, but we can be tricked into thinking that the direction we are taking is God’s direction, but is in fact the exact opposite.
An example would be the difference between love and lust. Another is joy and pleasure.
They seem so identical sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. But in reality they are polar opposites.
Be wary. Very, very wary.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:13pmYou can count on NO HANDS, the number of brick thrower’s at TEA Party events.
Report Post »brother_ed
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:44pm@13TH IMAM
My point exactly!!
I was in D.C. for the 8/28 rally, it was like a giant church picnic. I anticipate Restoring Love to be even better, but the haters will be there, too.
I am concerned that some who share the same frustrations as the Tea Party will be misled by those in the opposite camp that OWS is the same – indeed, some of their talking points may be appealing to them.
We need to continue to distance ourselves from these pretenders, it should be easy enough.
Don’t go off the cliff with everyone else.
Report Post »Just in time
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:03pmHe cannot be for freedom if he is destroying other peoples property. One of our freedoms is to own property. He is actually hurting people when he destroys.
Report Post »McNamara
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:58pmSomeone should have picked him off the rooftop.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:58pmThat officer should have bean bagged him the moment he threw the first brick.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:57pmHe is not a freedom fighter; he is a anarchist and a law breaker, now watch that nothing will be done against him due to the Occupy connection, even though the usage of bricks being thrown deliberatly at people shows the truth of his actions – he meant to cause harm, deliberate and premeditated.
Report Post »randy
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:15pmSince returning, Nesbitt said he’s had a number of stints in prison, having done time for assault, theft, weapons possession and vandalism, and has been in and out of psychiatric wards. He became addicted to methamphetamine, and that’s when a friend suggested he join Occupy.
“A friend of mine who was shooting heroin at the time said, let’s go join the revolution. It will help clean you up. It helped pull me out of a drug addiction and keep me healthy,” Nesbitt told the Bay Guardian.
Sounds just like the Tea Party…. sarcasm OFF now.
Report Post »burke
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:56pmI hope the cops shot their rubber bullets at this jerk.
Report Post »Huks
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:56pm“Homeless with schizophrenia”
Report Post »Doesn’t that describe about 90% of the OWS movement?
wolverine
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:55pmI think all Obamoron supporters are schizo
Report Post »cuinsong
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:55pmThis is sad. He needs medical help for his mental illness!
Report Post »TheBurningTruth
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:52pmFinally, the face of OWS.
What we need is a poster with Nesbit’s picture along with President Marxist, Prince Harry and Queen Pigloski all together with a select caption under each picture. Say:
Nesbit: “I always was a revolutionary” along with his prision stats
Barry: His quote about supporting OWS
Harry: His quote(s) about supporting OWS
Pig: Her numerous quotes about how great they are.
Now THAT would make for an excellect campaign poster.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:52pmWhat does Occupy look like? This is what Occupy looks like!
A schizophrenic drug addict who hears voices telling him to hurt people and then does so by throwing bricks off a roof at police.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:51pmAnd I’m forced to provide this insightful piece again…
Drugs, Guns and Madness in the Ron Paul Revolution http://www.aim.org/special-report/drugs-guns-and-madness-in-the-ron-paul-revolution/
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 4:18pmHow many times on here have I read the same or similar statements from your average Ron Paul supporter. This is where the OWS meets the Ron Paul mentality…
“I’m a freedom fighter, claiming to be/or former member of the Military (obvious dead-enders, not professional Military), extreme paranoias, drugs, anarchism, the Government is out to get us (NDAA, Patriot Act), defending the Constitution, revolutionary beliefs, taking away our Constitutional rights, anti-Law Enforcement, fighting for the freedom of everyone… yada, yad, yada…
Report Post »Churchill
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 5:15pmYou’re obsessed! Why do you have to make everything about Ron Paul? Why are you so scared of him? I know you neocons are petrified of big bad Iran, but they won’t hurt you. They know if they even tried to attack us we’d wipe them off the map. You can come out from under your bed.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 7:47pmCHURCHILL. Why don’t you address what I wrote? Your deflection talk just ain’t cutting it.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:49pmTypical criminal obama-supporter … this is what they are told to do …. this is what they do … this is all they know.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:42pmI’m glad their not on our side.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:49pmthey’re
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:58pmThe thing is that if this man would have said he was of the Tea Party then the news would have been loud, long and calling for his head on a platter while all Christians, conservatives and the like would be once again considered as little better than bandits and terrorists…kind of as Napoletano and the administration see us as anyhow.
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