Occupy Wall Street Joins Police-Bashing Day of Rage in NYC
- Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:29am by
Buck Sexton
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I wandered through the crowd in shock on Saturday as Occupy Wall Street joined with anti-police groups in Union Square to call the NYPD “murderers” and attempted to undermine law enforcement with accusations of widespread brutality, racism, and corruption.
A variety of anti-police groups including copblock.org, Ignite, and Occupy the Hood assembled alongside a contingent of Wall Street Occupiers to decry a “racist, sexist, homophobic, trans-phobic organization like the NYPD.”
It was the 16th national day of protest against police brutality. With only 300 or so people gathered, it was quite small in comparison to the October 15th “Global Day of Rage”, but the angry rhetoric against the police was beyond anything I had heard at previous Occupy-affiliated rallies.
So much bile and hatred was directed at the police over the course of the protest that I’m only able to cover some of it here. Of course, when I later read through other media outlet’s coverage of the protest, it was clear that some chose to gloss over or completely ignore what was really said by these groups. There seems to be a desire to distance Occupy Wall Street from this event, at least in the public eye.
But it is important that the public know the sort of organizations Occupy Wall Street allies itself with.
Indeed, many members of Occupy were present– I recognized several organizers from Zuccotti Park among the crowd– but the tables full of socialist literature and talk of revolution were mostly a sideshow. The main event was an anti-police rally that featured poetry slamming police abuse, families with lost loved ones calling for justice, and organizers calling for retribution against police and revolution in society.
Right off the bat, organizers gave a lecture on how to subvert police authority and what to do when you’re arrested. “Ask if you are free to go,” one speaker said at the podium, and remember to “treat cops like wild animals, don’t make any sudden moves around the NYPD.”
All the organizers and lecturers took to the podium to malign law enforcement to the greatest extent possible. One female speaker, who was also a veteran of the Occupy Wall Street protests, said she was ”sick of the murder of our friends by the police…. and of their policing our bodies rather than crime.”
She also held up a placard of severe beatings she apparently received from domestic violence, and claimed that the inability of police to stop those beatings was also a form of police brutality. The police couldn’t stop it, so it was their fault.
You can watch some of her remarks in the video clip here:
A group of people whose family members killed by law enforcement took to the stage and described in graphic detail the abuse and “murder” of their relatives by the NYPD. One woman referred to a “plain-clothes low-life” detective who shot a her son during a scuffle.
But perhaps the most ire of all was directed at the policies of former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. A woman at the microphone stated that the “Giuliani dictatorship sent his death squad out to kill innocent people” and engaged in a “campaign to eliminate people of color by any means.”
A special appearance in the crowd was made by ex-marine Sgt. Shamar Thomas, who has been heavily covered in the media for his confrontation with NYPD officers on October 15th. On the Global Day of Rage, Sgt. Thomas yelled repeatedly that “there is no honor in this” and “this is not a war zone” to berate NYPD officers. Thomas has since appeared on Current TV as a guest of Keith Olbermann, Russia Today, and has visited the Occupiers in Zuccotti Park.
While Sgt. Thomas is correct– there is no honor in police brutality– it wasn’t apparent then or now that anyone takes the opposite side of that argument. So the implication seemed to be that police actions taken against Occupy Wall Street should fall under the designation “brutality.”
As someone who has stood in the crowd with the Occupiers many times, I’ve never witnessed a violent act initiated by a police officer, nor seen anyone threatened for exercising their 1st amendment rights. I also know that there are hundreds if not thousands of veterans who also served in Iraq and Afghanistan currently wearing the uniform of the NYPD. In fact, the Police Commissioner himself is a decorated Marine and a Vietnam veteran.
Soon after Sgt. Shamar’s appearance, one of the protest organizers took the microphone to tie in the anti-cop crowd with the broader, Occupy Wall Street movement. “The capitalist system is the problem,” he said, “revolution is the solution.” Shortly after that, he said “You cannot sit by and let the police brutalize and murder people in your name.”
Here’s a video showing some of those remarks:
The whole affair amounted to a group defamation against the NYPD. Which then pushes us to ask the question: why are the Occupiers and their allies so focused on bashing the police?
Leftists of all stripes take an opportunistic approach to Occupy Wall Street. The gathering this past Saturday was mostly an anti-police mob trying to leverage the Occupy movement to get some extra attention for their cause. But their anti-police message is also critical for the members of Occupy who eventually want to bring down the entire U.S. system.
As we watch protestors in Greece use violent means instead of the political process to express themselves, I am reminded of a core truth in insurgency analysis: watch the cops. If police are targeted and under duress from all sides, their society stands on the precipice of very dark days.
As both the anti-police organizers and the Occupiers know, a showdown near Wall Street with the NYPD could come any day.
Should that happen, the outcome will have ramifications far beyond Zuccotti Park.
[Editor's note: the author previously worked as a counterterrorism analyst for NYPD Intelligence Division.]
























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Comments (242)
Kara_ite
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 5:23amThese tools will hold a sign to get paid by their Commander in Chief, Barach Hussein Obama.
Report Post »lapua338shooter
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 5:51amAnd, of course, all of the names on their “brutalized” list are all fine, upstanding citizens that were minding their own business when all of a sudden, the police came up & started to give them a butt wooping.
Report Post »Give me a break.
They ALL, most likely needed a good a55 kicking.
Agreed, you’ll find good & bad in every group. I don’t see where accusing the police of brutality for doing their jobs is justified. I can, however, see where most of the OWS fools need a reality check. A very long reality check.
RichNGadsden
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 6:50amLAPUA338SHOOTER, That was my thought exactly. These characters are the reason there are cops in the first place. Had they not been killed by the cops in the their line of duty, I’m sure the state would have eventually put a needle in their arms.
Report Post »TxMadMac
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 5:23amThis sounds like a job for mr holder at the doj. mabe he could smuggle a few ak’s in so those thugs could overtake those mean cops then everything will be ok ! sarcasm intended
Report Post »Bill Burns
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 5:17amYeah but do Pelosi, Obama et.al cover their full $11.66 per hour pay while they’re in jail. And the big question is will the UNIONS bail them out and pay the fines for these humble American freeloaders?
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:57amThey won’t be happy until they provoke violence and someone else is killed too.
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 5:08amThis is what you get when you coddle kids from birth, fill their heads with “your special” crap and don’t hold them accountable for anything. The politicians and the govt goons will regret creating these monsters. And “THEY” did create them. Mark my words.
Report Post »Bill Burns
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 5:30amThey are hoping for a Kent State moment.
Report Post »Kalshion
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:55amI find it rather amusing how these people list the names of some of those killed by officers, yet the few names I could pick out from watching those videos were responsible for killing cops or were involved in GANG VIOLENCE.
The worst thing? The media boasted that the Tea Party was violent – yet we saw little violence from them. Why hasn’t the media reported on the violence from the Occupiers?
Report Post »carbonyes
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 8:22amUnfortunately, the media is in bed with these cretins, and the elitists, e.g, George Soros, who are paying their way. The media, particularly MSNBC, and the deranged, and they are deranged as anyone who believes in and promotes COMMUNISM is, should not just be held up to ridicule, but arrested for promoting violence and insurrection, for they are traitors to this country, and tried minimally for encouraging and inciting violence. Chris Mathews, Lawrence O’Donnell, Al (Baby Face) Sharpton, Big Ed and the rest of the crew, are crossing the line between freedom of speech and promoting insurrection. They have long ago left the reservation of responsible journalism and are now lackeys for those who desire and promote the violent overthrow of this country and its Constitutional Republic with all of its’ freedom loving trappings.
Report Post »We are now in a war as much as any war, foreign or domestic, as much as this nation has ever been engaged. It is time to prepare for and activate full engagement. We need to assemble committees of right thinking, sold out Americans, possibly within and through the Tea Party, to meet with our Congressmen and Senators, who are or should be informed of the nature of what is happening, make sure they are on board, and make the necessary plans and actions to confront and defeat these forces that are being arrayed against us. I am not sure to what extent this counter insurgency can remain peaceful, but we absolutely must be prepared to take proper action.
NOBALONEY
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:46amNYC’s OWS and its “Visions and Goals” shows that they want to take down all institutions. The Republic is being threatened by a radical fringe, with support from many in MSM, and prominent Democrates.
Report Post »We must stand for our principles and values, and do all we can to defend our America, God willing.
conservideo
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:34amIt’s looking worse… I think you’re gonna be right again Glenn.
Report Post »MKFlyboy
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:44amYeah….somewhere Spooky Dude is sitting and watching this while stoking a cat and saying, “Oh, dis eez vedy goood, yes, my plan eez wurking!”
Report Post »SlippedThroughAWormHole
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 5:35amPolice brutality? – these people don’t know what brutal is. They need to be shown the brutality in China, North Korea, Russia, and Germany in WWII. Spooky dude knows all about it, he witnessed it and took part. What an evil person – sitting back and using useful idoits as his chess pieces, enjoying playing god.
Report Post »OperationNorthwoods
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:29amNot all police are bad but they are being turned against the citizens. I mean look at the reports that are put out about tea party types that might be terrorists. The government is training and conditioning the police to think anyone who is speeking out politically is some kind of threat to society. The government is turning the police into militarized force that sees the public as its enemy.
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 5:14amTurning them into? They already are.
Report Post »SHOWMESTATEGUY
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:14amHow many blacks kill other blacks everyday? That has nothing to do with the cops. Seems some people just want to be left alone to do whatever they feel like doing. Kill, rape, steal. If the police step in it’s brutality. I think at least 98% of the police officers in this country are good guys. Can’t say that about the general population of this country.
Report Post »Drakkhanlord
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 10:15am777 dam nice video …Ron Paul and the Constitution , the only choice for America.
Report Post »Conservophiliac
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:14amI’ve always found it interesting that if they police were gone, they would probably be the first to get robbed and shot because they are all week and ill-equipped to deal with physical confrontation that would occur when there is no one to stop it. The idiocy just runs so deep it is almost impossible to comprehend.
Report Post »HumbleMan
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:45amThe government they praise, communism requires a strong and brutal police. They won‘t get that surprise until it’s too late. They can discuss this from the gulag or worse, a mass grave.
Idiots.
Report Post »mythological1
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:10amIt is all part of the bigger picture. The Violence will start slowly at first, by april or may it will spread to the top 15 or so Major cities and by september it will be full scale riots in the streets of every city in every state. It will continue until it is completely out of control when our *Cough*“Savior” Barry will institute marshal law and suspend the elections, Television, radio and internet will be limited to state controlled and laws will be passed without the knowledge of the general public. Welcome to the beginning of the end of America as we know it. Once it gets to that point it will take bloodshed to get it back. I am not advocating violence but our 2nd amendment rights were put there for that purpose. Conspiracy theory of the paranoid? Let’s hope so.
Report Post »flatdaddio
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:07amthese sheeple want violence…it’s coming….
Report Post »UrbanCombatSurvivor
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:06amDoes anyone eve bother reading past the instant they realize it’s a bunch more “it‘s cause I’m black!” scam lines?
Report Post »Blitz
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 3:55amThe police are like an insurance policy. You never enjoy making the payments but the day the wind blows and the rains come your damn glad you have um. God bless men & woman in blue!!!
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:18amThis is actually and completely ridiculous. Giving any attention or credence to these low-life criminals and commies is like giving attention and credence to a fresh pile of cr*p. Actually the cr*p deserves more attention and credence. At least it serves a useful purpose in life while these “so-called whatever they are’s” are apparently serving absolutely no useful purpose in life. And as for this Shamar Thomas, there is no honor in him. The odds are, he is probably one of those gang members that are perverting the military. I would have to say that not a single person at this terror meeting as well as the occupy whatever terrorist meetings has no idea what the word honor means much less epitomize it. These people are the dis crowd, dishonor, disgust, discourtesy, discredit, disesteem, disfavor, disgrace, disrepute and a few other “dis’s”.
Report Post »A Conservatarian
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 3:22am10th, my point here goes like this: They (OWSers) are supposedly protesting the same damn thing other protesters have in the past and they are getting a free ride.
As you point out, they (OWSers) are attacking these same police forces with slander and more which in the other cases I’ve pointed out would foster an armed response and complete dispersal with riot police and even the national guard joining in on the beat-down orgy. Where is the similar response?! Nowhere. Yes some flea bag wanna be hippies are being arrested but after months, let me repeat, MONTHS, these flea bags are being not only PAID (and bused around!) by the powers that be, they are being encouraged and not completely neutralized. Why? There is ulterior motive, hence the false flag comment.
Ya, I’ve been pulled over too, most recently it was by a state trooper for not watching my speed and I only received a warning when I could have been taken to jail. There are good cops, yes. There is good reason for police and in your equivocation absolutely 10th, but look at what I’m pointing out. This OWS BS, the guv’t response and more is just so not right. My conclusion is we have tyranny at work selecting when and how to act by no process of law or due diligence.
Report Post »shotokan1
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 3:14amand i bet all those peole on that list they are holding up are inocent just like all the people in prison
Report Post »nelbert
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:02amI was thinking the exact same thing.
Report Post »Survivor101
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:15amyes – like the family member killed “while in a scuffle with police”….
Report Post »cosette
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 8:02amThe day is coming when the Just-Us department will institute a program of “prison parity”, which will mandate equal numbers of Caucasian inmates and inmates of “color”. Since the vast majority of convicts come from the later element of society the prison will be emptied in accordance with the mandate.This will contribute to increased crime. Think it’s sounds preposterous? Look around, assess the illegality of this entire administration, then say that. Again….. ARM yourselves, prepare for the worst, it’s coming!
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 3:10amI call the “Occupiers” the “Brain-dead” people. The USA elected a Black man as President, yet they still claim that there is some mysterious overwhelming “racism” against Black People. The last time that I heard disparaging remarks against Black People, was about 40 years ago. As for the “new” normal – we are suppose to accept homosexuality as just as “normal” as everyone else, that’s just ridiculous.
Homosexuality USED to be recognized as a mental illness, until the mental health community got all PC about it. Transgenderism is still recognized as a mental illness today, but the “PC ers” are working very hard to make these mentally ill people as normal as you and me, at least “politically”. Of course they’re not. Both females and males mutilate their bodies to “become” something that they will never be, even after the mutilation of their bodies.
The bare truth is: Only a born male can produce sperm, and only a born female can produce an egg.
This is our Creator’s plan.
Report Post »TheMediaWolf
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 3:23amHave you heard about child molesters getting together and trying to say that “we were born this way”. What they are doing is they are trying to get together and organized themselves as a group of people, who can’t help themselves they are just different or born that way.
Report Post »M 4 Colt
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:07amThemediawolf, yes the blaze even had a story about that awhile back saying that Obama’s HHS is even going to support them in their move to say that they are born that way and HHS wants law enforcement to STOP MAKING IT A CRIME for them to molest a child, i for i have a very quick cure for what ill‘s them it’s called 357 mag.
Report Post »Alan
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 3:09amI would much rather have the New York Police protecting me than trust the ragers or occupyers to help. The NYPD is far more likely to beat the bad guys attacking me, while the ragers and occupyers are more likely to be the bad guys beating on me.
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 3:02amThe color of my skin has never led me to feel the police were singling me out for anything. There are probably racists on Police forces in the US.
I’ve been pulled over 3 times by the police. Once for a break light being out, and twice for going over the speed limit. 2 of the 3 were “let go with a warning”. The one that wasn’t was because I was driving 40 MPH over the speed limit. In other words, not only did I break the Law, but I have risked turning my vehicle into a couple thousand pound killing machine. Not to mention risking my own life.
I call BS of the attack against police by this mob of fools. And I certainly have no respect for those fools carrying that sign in their little spoiled brat rants.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:54amI am Not a big fan of Revenue Collectors.I Mean police.Guess it all is about where you live.My Father was a Cop.I grew up with Adam- 12,Dragnet,The Rookies,SWAT…Then Cops on TV became leftist….Now?Real cops are storm Troopers gathering Revenue for the Government.Their job is not to serve and protect.Their job is to arrest you,get a fine,meet a quota make a DA look good.They do Not serve the people.They serve the Government.
Report Post »Mil-Dot
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 6:07amYeah, I said the same thing Smokey but the Blaze censor nazis deleted my post. I guess Glenn tells them that if you say ANYTHING bad about the cops then 86 the post. You are correct. The cops have morphed into a revenue collection squad and the personal body guards of the criminal political class. All in exchange for exorbatant wages and pensions. We have epidemic levels of herion and meth on the streets and these guys and token gals are too busy hiding on entrance ramps preying on working Joe and Jane to do anything about that.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:31amYou both still have your posts here.
Report Post »Gman0208
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 3:29pmSean, there are good cops and bad cops. This crap in Zucotti Park explodes and they will ALL be bad cops according to you. 1 in 31 incarcerated, I‘m proud to say I’m one of the 30. Remember these people who defame the police will try to take down any authority they can. Can you spell ANARCHY? No Sean, you don‘t understand what’s going on. I work my backside off, and these people want ME to work harder and EARN more to GIVE to them. They don’t want revolution, they just think they do. A real revolution tears down the nanny state, and gives REAL patriots the country that we’ve fought for and defended back. With an ENFORCED constitution, a moral compass, and everyone EARNING THEIR OWN WAY!
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:31amIs there anything , anyone they are not against?
Report Post »MKFlyboy
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 3:03amLet’s be clear about what we are seeing here. This is no accident and it is NOT spontaneous. What we are seeing is a diabolical plan to assemble an army of every flavor of malcontent and extremist in the Progressives’, socialists‘ and communists’ checklist. These useful idiots, each with their own personal causes, are being intentionally stirred up in order to produce the level of chaos necessary to cause the “fundamental transformation” that you heard our glorious leader speak of. Mindless crouds cheered as that slogan echoed from the podium. What they could not achieve by legislation they will try to achieve through chaos, and from their point of view, they’ve only got one year left to do it! Pray that we make it to November, 2012!
Report Post »liberalsflewoverthecoocoosnest
Posted on October 25, 2011 at 8:23amI think you are right, MKflyboy, but there is one thing spookydude missed…..the REAL Amreicans are free and plan to stay that way. Unlike Europe, where the people are scared of a gun, our people are armed and well stocked. This will blow up in his face in a big way. Yes, the economy will shut down completley for a while, yes, the big cities will become a war zone, but there is far more uoccupied land in America than occupied….and those folks out in the sticks know how to hide a body. This may get ugly, but Soros won;t win. There aren’t enough soldier in our military that will attack americans if told to for him to take over. Consider the last 10 year as training for our national gaurdsmen who are more loyal to community than state.
Report Post »texanpatriot
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:07amPolice officers have very difficult and dangerous jobs and perform in an excellent way. In NYC they even do well even with a numb n**ts for a mayor.
What these groups want is chaos and they must get the police out of the way. They don’t have a chance and are frustrated. Chaff as they must with rules and those that enforce them, I say tough nugies!!!!
Thank you Officers for jobs well done.
TEA
Report Post »MKFlyboy
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:13amExcellent! Very well put.
Report Post »Marci
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:25amYou are correct Texan—the police are in the way. Once you knock that roadblock down, you are free to institute chaos and watch it crumble. What most of the deadhead OWS occupiers do not know is they are mingling with violent revolutionaries, not just standing around with a sign and whining about capitalism. If the movement succeeds the way the revolutionaries want, they will get caught in the middle of it whether they want to or not. Many of these people are romanticizing and glamorizing the violence in other countries and they don’t REALLY believe it could happen here, so they talk big but have no clue that those they are surrounded by mean violence and by any means necessary. They won’t know until they are shot, stabbed, trampled to death or lost in the shuffle. Soros, Obama and the rest of them that perpetrated this evil need to be put front and center should we be able to take back some control in 2012. If we are lucky enough to see the evil axis of progressives exit the stage, that won’t be the cue to stop. We have to ensure everyone knows who the players are and what their real end game result was desired. Some will still whine and complain, some will come to their senses. Who knows? Everyone should be forced to watch that video of the interview with the woman who escaped Buckchan.
Report Post »MKFlyboy
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:06am“I have concerns about some of the language that is being used because I saw this myself in the late ’70s in San Francisco, this kind of rhetoric. … It created a climate in which violence took place. … I wish we would all curb our enthusiasm in some of the statements and understand that some of the ears that it is falling on are not as balanced as the person making the statements may assume.”
-Nancy Pelosi
I hope you’re satisfied now, Nancy. Your bunch has created this mess.
Report Post »MKFlyboy
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:24am“Be very careful who you’re standing with”
-Glenn Beck warning to the Police Unions (paraphrased)
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:04amThere is something very sinister going on when they start picking on NYPD! Those guys put their ass on the line every day, to insure the rights and safety of the protesters! Somebody has a higher objective of causing civil disorder by castigating the police! If I were in a crowd (in THIS country) and somebody suggested picking on the police, I’d leave as quickly as I could! The police are your friends–unless you’re hell-bent on causing mass riots! If you’re hell-bent on causing mass riots, then the stated purpose of your protest is irrelevant, it simply doesn’t matter, it is a front for your real mission, which is simply to cause civil unrest!
Report Post »Gypsy123
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:47amThis is one sick group of people. Who they going to call to protect them from criminals? Nobody they are criminals.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:52amIndeed, and there will be more coming in the near future with cries for blood and steel against the system.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:58amBig lack of focus by these individuals .. looks like they will join up with any radicals. Easily used is not a good thing to be .. usually ends up badly for “the used”.
Report Post »Californiasodbuster
Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:08amThey can call Marvin at the ACLU
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