When the police in Oakland critically injured Marine veteran Scott Olsen, they couldn’t have imagined the hornets nest they stirred up.
In response to this violent act committed by police against an innocent protester and fellow serviceman, Occupy Marines, Occupy Police, Occupy Navy, and Occupy Army are vowing to protect the protesters from those who would commit violence against them.
Occupy Marines tweeted the following message.
“WHEN YOU SHOOT ONE MARINE, YOU SHOOT AT ALL OF US. OORAH. Do It Peacefully Occupy We Stand In Solidarity”
All I can say is thank God for the US military and may God have mercy on the souls of those police who attempt to harm innocent peaceful protesters. They should be very afraid now because the real protectors of the American people are reinforcing the OWS protests.
UPDATE: Scott Olsen has been upgraded to fair condition according to a Nurse Supervisor..
Olsen is having brain surgery.
This should be interesting. I believe the Vietnam Veterans Against the War were a significant force in building the anti-war movement back in the late sixties and early seventies. They also provided a great deal of security for people in many diverse organizations struggling for peace and justice. Nobody knows more about conflict and violence than those who have seen combat. They can be a powerful voice for reason and restraint. I’m glad to see they “know their place”.
I wish Scott Olsen a speedy recovery and I wish to see justice served on the cowards who did this to him.
ladies come on…even if we do not agree with those hippies good for nothing, we need to agree with the marines. just because you do not agree with someone does not mean you have to treat them like criminals. even charly manson got his due process. police cannot and should not violate our right to peaceful assembly. this is america, home of jefferson, washington, lincoln and dr king. why should be go back to the bondage of tyranny. under no circumstance should the people of the united states tolerate the chipping away of american freedoms.
I’ve seen this headline several times before, and I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s time for these folks to step up to the promises made to protect! Sadly it appears that this will be the only way for the citizens of this country to peacefully voice their dissent over the way this country is being run by and for the corporations.
Police: Here to protect and serve the sh8t out of you!
It will only turn when the corps who own the vast majority of America have used all options
such as the police and they have no other alternative but to do or die. They will not give up until they have
no other method to manipulate. It is clandestine fascism at it finest… I predicted the scenario
we are encountering now back in fall of 2008 when it all started to come unglued. This movement is just getting started as far as I’m concerned.
This was a completely avoidable incident, and while I continue to hope for a peaceful solution to the crisis in our country, violence can only breed violence. Care needs to be taken on both sides to see that this conflict of interest does not explode into a conflict of arms. I hope that the injured Marine recovers quickly, and that the military Occupiers are never called upon to fulfill their vow to protect the protesters… because I hope that those in power will start displaying the wisdom to meet peaceful protest with peaceful discussion.
It’s tragic what happened to Olsen, and I hope he will make it through and be okay.
I hope it will also help to serve as a turning point for those police who find themselves in the role of doing the bidding for the interests of power instead of protecting the people. Many police *are* protecting the people, and more and more small government officials are also seeing that they are part of this movement, too.
It’s extremely important for all involved, whether police or protester (or both!) to keep check on our emotions in the heat of the moment, and avoid the “us & them” mentality that leads to this kind of thing.
I hope this incident will be a lesson for all of us, and that yet more of the 99% begin to recognize the need to stand in solidarity and stop the corporate greed machine that claims us all to do their bidding.
Maybe even some new media rebels will emerge, who find truth is more important than the story line? One can only hope. Meanwhile, live streaming and peaceful solidarity are our friends.