Oakland Police Critically Injure Iraq War Vet During Occupy March

[kpete]

Source: Huffington Post

POLICE CRITICALLY INJURE IRAQ WAR VET DURING OCCUPY MARCH

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/


The local police's use of force seriously injured an Occupy activist and Iraq War veteran.

Scott Olsen, 24, remains sedated on a respirator, in stable but critical condition at Oakland’s Highland Hospital after being hit in the head with a police projectile.

Olsen's roommate, Keith Shannon, 24, told The Huffington Post that Olsen is still in the emergency room.

"Right now, he's under sedation," Shannon said. "He walked into the hospital." But soon after his arrival, Shannon said, doctors found that there was swelling in Olsen's brain and put him under. He did not get a chance to talk to his friend. "They are waiting for a neurosurgeon to examine him to see if he needs surgery or not," Shannon said. If he doesn't need an operation, he'll be moved to the intensive care unit.



Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/26/iraq-vet-oakland-police-tear-gas_n_1033159.html

---

UPDATES:


Carpenter said she was told by a doctor at the hospital that Olsen had a skull fracture and was in a "serious but stable" condition. She said he had been sedated and was unconscious.

"I'm just absolutely devastated that someone who did two tours of Iraq and came home safely is now lying in a US hospital because of the domestic police force," Carpenter said.

...................

Keith Shannon, who served with Olsen in Iraq, arrived at the hospital after protesters contacted him through Facebook. He confirmed Olsen had a fractured skull, and said he had been told by a doctor Olsen also had brain swelling.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/26/occupy-oakland-veteran-critical-condition?newsfeed=true


EVIDENCE:::::
BREAKING PHOTOS: Images CONTRADICT Oakland PD Press Release on Rubber Bullets
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/26/1030222/-BREAKING-PHOTOS:-Images-CONTRADICT-Oakland-PD-Press-Release-on-Rubber-Bullets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMUgPTCgwcQ&feature=player_embedded



Video footage shows Olsen lying prone on the ground in front of police lines. A crowd gathers in an apparent bid to help him, but then scatters when a police officer throws an explosive device into their midst.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/26/occupy-oakland-veteran-critical-condition?newsfeed=true

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[Blue Owl]

2. To Protect and Serve the One Percent

:mad:

[truedelphi]

45. THAT SAYS IT ALL. Prayers and thoughts with the

man who was injured.

[seacaves]

100. whow. how true!!

[yurbud]

114. that deserves a photoshop--give me a day or two.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

162. How about:

Everybody chill the fuck out. I got this.

[yurbud]

221. I think that's what the cop said as he was beating him.

[yurbud]

222. And it should be clear by now that Obama HASN'T got this, nearly any this

His recent efforts to work around the congressional GOP through executive actions are admirable, but before that through pre-compromise and later just plain capitulation, the GOP got his lunch, his milkshake, his mojo, and just about any other metaphor of his political capital.

[lonestarnot]

160. Richie fucking Rich's army.

[wordpix]

191. that's right---"we must protect our way of life" = "we must protect the oil barons & their profits"

[wordpix]

190. excellent sound bite & totally agree!

[tk2kewl]

3. Get well soon Scott

:patriot:

[SusanaMontana41]

202. Yes, get well soon. You are a true freedom fighter. nt

[immoderate]

4. Kick

--imm

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

5. K & R. nt

[zonkers]

6. this is just horrible.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. Shit.

This news will really amp up tension in Oakland. :( Yesterday/last night was a stupid stupid stupid move on OPD's part.

[shraby]

13. From what I've read, it wasn't only stupid, it was illegal for

them to do that after the treatment of an anti-war march a few years ago. They were forbidden to use that kind of force again.
I think it's on daily kos in one of their threads.

[silverweb]

8. THIS man was fighting for our freedoms.

THIS is the first "war" since WW2 that has really been about protecting our rights and freedoms.

THIS is the war in which this Marine deserves a Purple Heart, and all the mercenaries and cops fighting the people need to get on their knees and beg his forgiveness.

:patriot:

[SpiralHawk]

9. + 1,000

eom

[lunatica]

10. I'm ashamed of the Oakland Police Department.

Sick and ashamed. When Scott Olsen gets better I hope he and others who were injured sue the city.

And I hope this police action rallies more people to come out and Occupy Oakland.

[Capt Lionel Mandrake]

50. Sue Oakland

Yes, and I hope Oakland loses, and when they have to fork up, take it out of the police pension fund.

[w4rma]

130. I would completely support taking this man's medical bills right out of their pension fund. (nt)

[Poll_Blind]

11. Survived TWO tours in Iraq to be shot in the head, unarmed, by a US policeman.

Remember, the less-than-lethal designation on crowd control devices assumes proper use of those devices. Improper use of those devices, including their use in lethal ways is not protected.

Firing a teargas canister as a missile intended to harm is an improper, criminal, unprotected use of such a device.

PB

[Fantastic Anarchist]

200. A very good point ... and one I hope finds it's way through the legal system. n/t

[silverweb]

12. Update.

He needed surgery, has fractured skull and brain damage. From a UK paper, of course.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2053502/Occupy-Oakland-protests-Marine-veteran-shot-face-police-rubber-bullet.html

[Poll_Blind]

17. +1 Thank you for the update nt

PB

[silverweb]

20. You're welcome.

Updates courtesy of my daughter. She's getting news feed from friends in Oakland.

[Divernan]

40. UK headline:Marine veteran fights for life-skull fracture and brain swelling from policegascannister

Really- check out this UK link and you will see many, many powerful photos.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2053502/Occupy-Oakland-protests-Marine-veteran-shot-face-police-rubber-bullet.html#ixzz1bvBPGRSR

I was in Edinburgh, UK at the beginning of the month and the lead story on BBC news all weekend was the NY cops beating up protestors - a huge outdoor screen in an Edinburgh square kept showing videos of this over and over. As the Brit commentators AND people I talked to said, when protesters are beaten by govt. forces in other countries, the US govt. loudly and puplicly condemns it, and the US media plays it up to the hilt. But when it's the US govt. forces beating up unarmed protestors, suddenly the US media cover it up, and the politicians have little to say about it, let alone condemning it.

[silverweb]

44. Thank you!

I have to run for a while, but will catch up as soon as I get back.

[truth2power]

167. In the comments section of that article, someone says that maybe NATO

should step up to help American civilians. I think that's a great idea.

Someone should make an official request to Hillary with her fake concern for human rights.

[StarsInHerHair]

139. please make this a separate thread in itself

[silverweb]

142. It's already been done.

Marine Olsen is a rallying cause célèbre, a patriot, and a hero.

[XemaSab]

163. They took him to Highland

That in and of itself does not bode well.

[Gregorian]

14. Just what is the rationale for using violent force against Americans exercising their 1st amendment

This is absolutely, totally unacceptable.

BASTARDS!

We are out of control. And that is why we're in the streets. Bastards.

[99th_Monkey]

23. Oh - haven't you heard? It's for "health & safety" reasons. i.e. "for your own good"

That fits the classic "justification" of any abuser of power.

[Gregorian]

34. Yeah, but it doesn't trump "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"

It's like some people want to ignore the Declaration of Independence.

[99th_Monkey]

37. I hope you didn't take what I said seriously

like I was "buying" the health & safety crap.

My point is that this is a common inner-narrative of ABUSERS = THAT THEY ARE DOING IT
"FOR THEIR OWN GOOD" . did u miss that part of my post?

[Gregorian]

82. I never miss that stuff.

It only took a few months for me to catch on. Back in 2003 or so I was wondering about this place. Then I got it.

I'm just glad tthese posts are coming out now. This is very important stuff. We spent years trying to figure out what Bush was doing. Election fraud, campaign financing, etc. But this is the stuff that's at the very foundation of it all.

I don't think most people realize that we are sitting on a time bomb with the CO2 emissions the way they are. It's the most important issue of all. Yet we can't break the cycle of fossil fuel use until either everyone spontaneously stops using it, or we get control of our government(s) and start emergency changes and repairs. Otherwise none of this stuff is going to mean anything to someone living on earth in the year 2200.

[ooglymoogly]

178. The Declaration of Independence is only meant for the top 1%

don'cha know. It is now morphed into We the 1%, in order to form a more perfect oligarch, promote fascism for the masses, use the judiciary that they are forced to pay for against them, to protect ourselves from them. etc.

[efhmc]

182. Actually it was not meant even at the time for at least

40%-50% of the population, but that's okay most of those who were excluded were only women and it only took 133 years to clear up that little democracy problem. And, of course, even males who were slaves, Native Americans or do not own property were also excluded.

[99th_Monkey]

224. Yah, it must have been "adopted" at some secret Bonesman ceremony at Bohemia Grove

oh and then ratified at the Bilderberg. :tinfoil:

Fuckers. :mad:

[Amonester]

206. Yep. It's for the own good of the people, like Veteran Olsen himself.

The level of hypocri$y of the 1% is stunning.

Not surprising, though. :grr:

[kpete]

15. SCREEN SHOT

blown up big enough to clearly see that yes, this guy is indeed Oakland PD. With a rubber bullet shotgun in hand...

http://www.dailykos.com/comments/1030222/43740166#c122

[silverweb]

16. No words.

Even the turn-the-air-blue language I want to use is inadequate for this bastard and all those like him.

[silverweb]

25. Do we have the original photo this closeup came from?

There could be claims that it's not real or photoshopped or whatever until we see the original from which this came.

Daily Kos has no attribution for it as far as I can tell.

[kpete]

29. this?

FROM PICS HERE:
(6 of 88)
A police officer raises a weapon at demonstrators during an Occupy Oakland demonstration on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, in Oakland, Calif.
Photo: Noah Berger / Special to The Chronicle
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2011/10/25/BAUB1LLTC9.DTL&object=

[silverweb]

35. YES!

Thank you!

[CoffeeCat]

157. Just how sick do you have to be...

...to be that happy-go-lucky cop who is delirious with joy about
brandishing a weapon like that against peaceful protesters, who
are merely US citizens exercising their CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO
PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLE?

Who in the hell would do that job?

I couldn't live with myself. I'd collapse in shame.

The fact that this man is SMILING--is a display of horrendous and disgusting inhumanity.

[KamaAina]

He's GRINNING!!!

:wtf: :grr: :banghead: :argh: :nuke:

[plumbob]

97. I do believe he's got wood from thinking about shooting someone.

Hope he gets what he's got coming.

And soon.

[fascisthunter]

94. I would like nothing more than to face off with him

I'd wipe that smile right off his face... but, I have promised myself never to resort to violence, again.

[EnviroBat]

185. I'm having a difficult time redirecting my utter contempt for these assholes.

I want to see the police harmed in terrible ways. I want the people of this country to start fighting them. Physically fighting them. Beating them down. I fear that is what it is going to have to come to. I have a bad temper, and can't attend these protests. If a cop touched me, I'd touch back.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

203. With People Like This:

MMA fighter and anarchist/peace activist, Jeff Monson.

[Amonester]

209. Don't worry, the 1% they adore will take charge of screwing 'em

off their pension fund and everything they have when their time will come.

How more frigging stupid these basturds can be? :mad:

[Fantastic Anarchist]

201. I haven't. I'm pro-peace, but not a pacifist.

I'd like to have a go at that cop.

[fascisthunter]

123. this is the face of a psychopath

...look at him.

[unionworks]

168. incongruity?

This photo seems to have been taken in daylight. The clip I saw on youtube of protestors rescuing Scott (under fire, and they deserve a medal for saving his life) seems to be at nighttime. Let's not give the 1% an excuse to discredit us. If I'm wrong please correct me.

[Bozita]

18. OUTFUCKINGRAGEOUS!

[No Elephants]

19. And police intervention was supposed to be for health and safety reasons.

[Donny]

30. Since there were no health and saftey reasons, they had to create their own.

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[defendandprotect]

21. ... and imagine these Iraq/Afghanistan war vets have quite some stories to tell -- !!

Best wishes for this young man pulling thru OK --

and this violence by police being stopped!

[kpete]

36. new updates from Daily Mail (sorry if the pic upsets - we should be upset...)

Clashes: Members of the Occupy Wall Street movement carry away a man, who was injured by police near the Oakland City Hall. He was later identified as Marine Veteran Scott Olsen, who is a Veterans for Peace member

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2053502/Occupy-Oakland-protests-Marine-veteran-shot-face-police-rubber-bullet.html#ixzz1bvBXQtih

Statement from Veterans for Peace
(Scott is a member):

Veteran For Peace member, Scott Olsen, a Marine Corps veteran twice deployed to Iraq, is in hospital now in stable but serious condition with a fractured skull, struck by a police projectile fired into a crowd in downtown Oakland, California in the early morning hours of today. Other people were injured in the assault and many were arrested after Oakland police in riot gear were ordered to evict people encamped in the ongoing "Occupy Oakland" movement. Olsen is also a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.
,,,/snip...

We send our very best to Scott Olsen and his family and wish him a speedy recovery to health.

We shall not be moved.

MORE:
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/news_detail.php?idx=123

[sabrina 1]

43. Crying, because his shirt, which is more clear in other photos

says, 'Veterans For Peace'! Good V Evil. Sorry, but this is truly evil.

Twitter comments were saying that some of the cops were mocking them.

In that photo of the cop laughing, I hope someone who was there can say whether he was mocking when he pointed his gun.

"THIS DOESN'T MAKE YOU TOUGH!" Sgt Shamar Thomas

COWARDS!

[defendandprotect]

59. +1000% --- k/r for your post -- everyone should see and read this -- !!

[RebelOne]

55. Why is this being posted from the Daily Mail?

Many here think the Daily Mail is a tabloid and not a credible news source. I check out the Daily Mail every day, There are some really interesting stories there despite all the celebrity stuff.

[sabrina 1]

64. Because we have to go the foreign media, even tabloids

do a better job than ours, to get news on stories like this.

[RKP5637]

204. After watching Aljazeera & Russia Today for sometime now for excellent news coverage, the

US media seems such a joke when I watch it on occasion.

[sabrina 1]

226. Yes, RT has been especially good on OWS. But overall

it's the kind of media we used to dream about. Where you can hear from all the great people who were silenced by the MSM. I love their documentaries also. We actually get both sides of the I/P situation eg, whereas here you would think there was no such thing as a Palestinian.

That has made all the difference in what happened in Tunisia and Egypt and here hopefully. People being informed.

I absolutely cannot watch the MSM without wanting to throw something at it. Current TV is also very good. I don't have time anymore to fit the MSM into my TV viewing time. We are lucky we get RT and Current, and I can see AJ online.

[geardaddy]

218. It's also reliably right-wing.

AKA as "The Hate Mail"

[pacalo]

74. OMG, he was clearly identified as a military person by his clothing!!!

And the police shot into the group of people who were trying to assist him when he was laying on the ground!

It's unconscionable.

:grr:

[Ahpook]

84. Oh man

This country has lost its fucking mind.

Get well soon, soldier :(

[Yon_Yonson]

88. As a Marine Corps veteran and Veteran for Peace member!

A speedy recovery Marine and we shall not moved, this just fills me with more resolve.

[midnight]

158. K&R fo this brave young man... So sorry you had to come home after fighting for our country to

be treated so violently... Safe and speedy recovery....

[99th_Monkey]

22. It was only a matter of time

until something like this, or worse, happens and wakes up enough people to the ugliness of unprovoked
police violence against US citizens. I just hope enough peeps wake up before another Kent State Massacre
happens.

[PatrynXX]

24. now the shit hits the fan.

this will kill morale oversees. Obama better wake up soon to police brutality... which has been going on since 2004 or so. and gotten worse. Wonder what the Ranger who was killed on his 14 deployment would have said?? Wonder if the police folks are working hand in hand with the terrorists. UBL might be dead but he's laughing in hell

[wordpix]

192. shades of Kent State shootings during Vietnam War; it turned the tide

May Scott Olsen not be injured in vain.

[graywarrior]

26. They just crossed the line now

[Goldstein1984]

39. They did cross the line, and it was predictable...

First they ignore you
Then they laugh at you
Then they fight you
Then you win

This global people's movement is on a predictable path. It was inevitable that the government would use force to protect the status quo. Inevitable.

This will help turn the military.

[graywarrior]

76. These protestors are our family.

This has become even more personal.

[Goldstein1984]

93. Yes...

personal and global. All peasants are family.

I'm just dreaming, but "imagine" that this global movement might create a global people's community, ignoring borders, horizontally integrated, with cells and diffuse, democratic leadership that makes it invulnerable to things like targeted assassinations, and that usurps authority from nation states and undemocratic organizations like WTO, World Bank, and G20/G8.

Just dreaming.

[graywarrior]

96. The photo of the dead students at Kent State caused national outrage

And that was just a photo. I cannot imagine what this is going to do.

[Goldstein1984]

106. And there will be a lot more

The decisions to use violence against protestors are local, but the images are global.

Sadly, I don't believe this revolution is going to stay peaceful because the ones protecting the status quo, as they have already demonstrated, are too willing to use violence. But the longer the peasants can remain peaceful the more images of attrocities will be distributed and the more the outrage will spread.

I wonder:
At what point Power will start limiting access to the Internet?
If there are events like boycotts, and they are effective, now long before they are labeled "terrorism?"
How long before drones are used to monitor protestors?
How long before those drones are armed?

[socialist_n_TN]

126. The second week of a general strike would be

tabbed "economic terrorism".

[crunch60]

133. The internet is already being censored, Google has had thousands

of requests by the U.S Government,for removal of certain articles, videos, information on users, anything anti-government. Google has denied many of these requests, and were forced to comply with others.

[tama]

197. Let's not paint the devil on the wall

The mayor of Oakland blinked and is now in full retreat.
Tony Baloney has been moved to other services.
Etc. etc.

Truth is they are clueless and they know it, fear and worry is all they have. They have no answers and are hoping hippies will save their asses too. They know about Peak Oil, limits of growth, impossibility of capitalistic growth etc. etc., all of us in the same boat. But they can't make the change for us, we the people need to wake up and take responsibility. Deep down "the powers that be" want to "lose" and give up control as peacefully as possible, they just go on because of old habits and because they don't know what else to do.

Elites in the old soviet block knew they had lost legitimacy and had no answers in 1989, and went away with small puff and whine. The situation with the other leg of the ancien regime is not very different. They are ready and ripe to fall, when we the people are ready take responsibility for our selves and each other.

[Goldstein1984]

225. I think that's largely true

In other forums (fora) I've been using loss of moral authority and legitimacy as the vehicle through which they're forced to rely solely on the authority of force, and keeping moral authority through peaceful action when faced by violence as how the people usurp their authority.

But I think that devil is largely real, and will become less or more so depending on how well this is played. The police are already making up ruled in the field without regard to feedom of speech and assembly and due process.

[provis99]

110. it won't do a single thing to move the American sheeple.

all over the net I'm reading how this poor veteran got what he deserved; America is the only country on earth which seems to be willingly moving towards fascism, thanks to the stupidity and degeneracy of most of its rotten citizens.

[graywarrior]

125. I think more idiots voice their opinions online

It's the silent majority we can count on. The unlikely people who keep showing up at Occupies.

[a simple pattern]

207. I think a lot of that is paid/artificial noise.

I think only about 1 in 5 have the actual disorder that manifests as conservatism, and many of them are old.

[tavalon]

169. Well spoken version of something Ghandi said.

[Number23]

153. I agree. This was beyond stupid and completely unnecessary.

There was no need for this type of reaction from the police.

[workinclasszero]

27. Survived two tours in Iraq only to be shot down like a dog in the streets

Back home in the good old USA!:sarcasm:

Please pray for this man and bring his attackers to justice!

[truebrit71]

28. But I am sure he just one bad apple.....

.....yada yada yada....:puke:

This is beyond despicable...

[Ahpook]

87. Oh thats coming

Get ready for "traitor" or any other shit.

[silverweb]

31. The whole world is watching.

Boy, oh boy! The good ol' US of A is gonna show the rest of the world all about our Democracy and the Freedoms you bad guys hate us for!

Better do it OUR way, World, or you'll see what happens!

[jwirr]

62. And to think we have been stepping into the protests in the ME to

protect the protesters. Why should any dictator over there worry about us - all they have to do is buy our congress and they can do whatever they want to their citizens. We do.

[silverweb]

113. Exactly.

The hypocrisy is mind blowing, isn't it?

[RegieRocker]

32. Terrorists in police uniform. The worst kind.

[lark]

33. I haven't said this in 20 years, but today it's appropriate

Fucking pigs!!!!!!

[bdamomma]

175. I totally agree.

there is no reason for this using violence on innocent peaceful protestors like someone else posted they have to protect that 1%. Occupiers stay out there, and those of us who can afford it give donations to this cause.

[glinda]

38. This Country is totally fucked up.

[valerief]

41. I'm sure the white shirts will say, "Whoops. Shit happens." BECAUSE THEY WORK FOR THE 1%.

AND THE 1% DOES NOT CARE.

[wordpix]

195. exactly what my repug family member said during the BP Deepwater spew

:grr:

[Dont call me Shirley]

42. Sending you thoughts of healing Scott.

To you abusive police, get some mental help, you are the textbook definition of insane.

[kestrel91316]

46. Support the troops? Sure. Until they come home. Sort of like

protecting "babies", but only until they are born.

[neoconn]

47. This Occupy Movement event is on the front page of BBC website

but still nothing from USA news outlets. This is disgusting....

[Hell Hath No Fury]

51. That was the case for the whole 8 years --

of the Bush presidency -- you had to read the foriegn press to find out what was going on in your own country. :crazy:

[certainot]

48. this is what the local and national RW radio blowhards are egging on and will excuse non-stop

are there any RW stations in the oakland area that would be good to protest at?

get well...

[TBF]

49. K&R for Scott Olsen

this should drive home the point that the police work for the 1% - as do the politicians.

This has only just started, I expect it will get worse.

[Liberal_in_LA]

52. sad. Hope he's ok

[Tsiyu]

53. Coward cops playing "soldiers' in our streets

now feel free to smash the heads of our veterans - the real soldiers?

:grr:

I cannot print here what I think about Oakland PD.

[newspeak]

199. yeah, and we the people are the ones paying them

It truly is amazing that some cops have a "us against them" mentality and must think only the 1%ers pay their check. However, every damn taxpayer pays their salaries. Well, at least they don't take an oath to protect and defend the constitution of the united states, like our military does.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

54. Assholes.

Where's Jerry Brown?

[KamaAina]

63. Really.

We actually might need the National Guard to restrain the Oakland pigs police. Note that many Alameda County sheriff's deputies were also on the scene, but the grinning asshole about to shoot the rubber bullet, as well as the shitball who threw a tear gas canister under someone's wheelchair (!!), were both Oakland PD.

edit: Gov. Brown, a former mayor of Oakland, still maintains a home there. Wonder how he feels about his tax dollars at work??

[johnson542]

66. Brown

Needs to step in in this situation.

[johnson542]

56. Don't stop

We need to keep showing up and remain non-violent. Incidents like this will only make us stronger.

[LoisB]

57. DISGUSTING!!

He does two tours in Iraq only to come "home" to this?? I hope he gets better very soon with no permanent damage.

[gort]

58. I am reminded of Ruben Salazar

This is terrible.

[FailureToCommunicate]

103. And I am reminded of People's Park victim James Rector...

"Bloody Thursday" 15 May 1969

"...At one point, the Alameda County Sherriff's deputies chased people several blocks down Telegraph Ave. as far as Willard Junior High School at Derby Street, firing buckshot into their backs as they fled. Many people, including innnocent bystanders, suffered permanent, disabling injuries.

At least 128 Berkeley citizens sought medical treatment at local hospitals for head injuries and shotgun wounds inflicted by the police. No policemen were hospitalized."


Let's hope Veteran for Peace Scott Olsen survives his injuries

[DCofVA]

60. My thoughts are with you, Scott. Keith will be talking about this on Countdown tonight

He has been dedicating the first half of his show on the protest. It's one of the few places on American television that is covering it.

Scott, I really hope you make a full and swift recovery.

[Plucketeer]

61. Sadly, there'll be more incidents like this

The 1% aren't gonna let go too easily.

[MasonJar]

65. I am surprised the police are acting this way. They are one of the main

groups under attack by the 1%.

[frylock]

68. these dumbnuts are 1 or 2 budget cuts away from being on the dole themselves

[wordpix]

194. +1 and they outght to read the news blogs and papers once in awhile

[pasto76]

69. well there is in fact a percentage of "police" who are interested more in the authority than helping

ok maybe this was an accident. I can also believe with little convincing that an officer was aiming for this guys head.

[DCofVA]

70. As a former paramedic, I use to work closely with the police

Most of them are good people and would go out of their way to help but, there is a small percentage that have what I call, the little Hitler complex. They love their position of authority and will jump at the chance to abuse it. It always made me nervous that they were allowed to carry loaded weapons.

[fascisthunter]

101. true

... it is a wise thing not to lump them all into one category. It's not rational and we need them on our side, because they are one of us.

[GliderGuider]

75. There is a percentage of police who *act out* their authoritarian impulses. However,

They all have authoritarian impulses. They are police for God's sake - if they didn't have authoritarian impulses they'd have become social workers.

Some of them have less of that impulse than others, and some of them have more ability to restrain themselves, but they all have authoritarian personalities.

Every.
Last.
One.
Of.
Them.

[Name removed]

78. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tropicanarose]

67. Sickening.

[DeSwiss]

71. K&R

The revolution will not be shown on television. Nothing will be on television... or if anything is, no one will notice.

The revolution will not provide you with political clout, a luxury car or designer antidepressants. It will render such things superfluous.

The revolution will not help you build muscle mass or tone your flabby thighs. It will make it possible for you to feel beautiful in your body, not because of it.

The revolution will not put the right people in control of the government or impose limits on the conduct of corporations. It will abolish control, government, limits, corporations.

The revolution will not give you superhuman powers of creativity, audacity, or conflict resolution. It will push aside the obstacles that inhibit you from exercising the power you already have.

The revolution will not put an end to violence, struggle or interpersonal strife. It will offer you the chance to fight for your own interests, for once, and let the chips fall where they may.

The revolution will not just put all genders, ethnicities, and nationalities on equal footing - it will dissolve the borders that distinguish them.

The revolution will not make you self-sufficient. It will equip you to take care of others, and others to take care of you.

The revolution will not provide you with the man or woman of your dreams. It will bring out the unique beauty of the ones already around you.

The revolution might not always feed or house or heal you, but hunger and thirst and cold and even sickness will trouble you a lot less.

The revolution will not mean you finally get what you deserve. It will give you treasures no one could ever deserve, just as it will sometimes hurt with a pain nothing in your life has warranted.

The revolution will not be simple or clean or easy. It will help you to find meaning in difficult things, to be courageous in facing complexities and contradictions, to get your hands dirty and like it.

The revolution is not going to happen tomorrow -- it's never going to happen. It's taking place right now. It is an alternate universe that runs parallel to this one, waiting for you to switch sides.

CrimethInc, http://zinelibrary.info/expect-resistance">EXPECT RESISTANCE

- ''In Lak'ech Ala K'in''

[tabasco]

72. Motherfuckers

Goddamn motherfuckers.

[eShirl]

73. OMG

bless that poor man

[rasputin1952]

77. As a memeber of Veterans For Peace, I am appalled that...

the OPD, or any other PD would use potential deadly force on any US citizen, (or anyone else), for what "went down" in Oakland.

See links for additional on site info:

http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/685959/six_first-hand_observations_from_last_night%27s_chaos_in_oakland?page=entire

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2011/oct/26/occupy-movement-oakland-us-pictures?fb=native

What the OPD was a series of strategic and tactical errors in an attempt at "crowd control". Not only the OPD, but the people at the top that authorized such behavior share blame and need to be held accountable for the actions that are reprehensible.

[GETPLANING]

79. The cops like to shoot people in the head

with their so-called non lethal projectiles. There are several cases of people being killed by a bean bag or tear gas projectiles fired at point blank range to their face. There is no fucking excuse to shoot someone in the face like that. It is an act of pure malice.

[tcaudilllg]

86. Agreed: the cop and their superiors should be tried and locked away.

[democrank]

80. I`m crying.

Peace be with you, Scott Olsen.

[Joey Liberal]

81. I'm sure the republimonsters will celebrate

Sick fucks that they are.

[Swede Atlanta]

83. It is increasingly clear......

that change by way of the ballot box is not going to come after the Citizen's United decision. The only way to take the country back from the 1% may be massive civil unrest. I'm not an advocate of violence but I'm not sure what other choices will be left for people. People aren't allowed to peaceably assemble as provided for in the U.S. Constitution. We have become a police state. The Soviets have nothing over on us with extraordinary rendition, warrantless wiretaps, etc. and this President has bought into it hook, line and sinker. I thought he was an agent for Hope and Change but it is more of the same old shit.

[crunch60]

136. Sorry, Hope and Change

was only a well written speech delivered by a talented orator, President Obama. Why did he keep in office the Bush Wrecking Crew if he really wanted Change. I never bought it. Different suit, same bull....! Their empire is falling, crashing, and they are afraid. They will stop at nothing to keep the Oligarchs in power.
The real courage for change is demonstrated by the OWS protester's, everyone of them, I salute you, keep it up, your future, our future, depends on it The world is watching and supporting you..:hippie:

[olegramps]

85. The Fascist pigs are as bad as the Syrian Butcher, Assad.

[riderinthestorm]

89. Get well soon Steve... To the asses who did this, so he's just another hippie bum right?

Wrong-oh. This one is gonna come back and bite you on the butt since he's a Marine Iraq War veteran. For shame.

[Enthusiast]

90. Kicked and recommended!

"The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater."
— Frank Zappa

[spicegal]

91. This young man may well survive this injury but end up

with residual brain damage that could leave him changed for life and even incapable of gainful employment. He should sue. What was the PD's rational for shooting canisters of tear gas into crowds of unarmed protestors. I hope this gets lots of coverage. There's just no excuse. This is not a war zone, but seems they're determined to turn it into one. I do think it might be time for the president to step up and make a statement. He may need to get more info first. But if you're going to defend unarmed citizens in other countries, how can you look the other way?

[KoKo]

92. Devastate a Soldier .....and YOU G O DOWN! n/t

[Octafish]

95. Scott Olsen: A hero overseas. A hero at home.

Scott Olsen: A patriot.

[fascisthunter]

102. .

[civilisation]

98. Truly sad news.,

on a respirator with a skull fracture,. and brain swelling,. . ghastly.

This will not help quash the protests,. to the contrary.

[swilton]

99. Our thoughts and prayers are with you dear brother Scott

[Bluenorthwest]

104. Oakland PD and city officials have a hero's blood on their grimy

hands. These so called police are thugs and should be jailed along with those who gave the orders.

[lovuian]

105. this is so sad ...Oakland Police used Rubber bullets

on Americans

Who are the police protecting?

My prayers goes out to Olsen and his family

The more they oppress the more they will fight back

[DaveJ]

107. Totally peaceful assembly until the cops came

Looking at the video it appears to be normal, innocent, peaceful people assembling in the streets. Perhaps annoying to some drivers but not worth KILLING someone which these murderous police aim to do.

Scott Olsen is one of our patriotic heros striving to end corruption. Keep up the peaceful protest.

[Odin2005]

108. Shit, meet fan.

:grr:

[Matilda]

109. Sometimes ...

Events like this can turn around public opinion. Like Kent State all those years ago. The public
can only be witness to so much before something gives.

I hope Mr Olsen makes a full recovery, and I also hope that some of those idiots who hide behind badges of office will be named and shamed.

[Zoeisright]

111. Those cops should be charged with attempted murder.

There is NO excuse for this. NONE. This is the kind of action I'd expect from Soviet Russia 30 years ago.

[RoccoR5955]

118. Fat chance.

The Chief of Police should be fired, and the mayor should resign, or be forced to resign.

[wordpix]

193. but, but...they were protecting the power structure, er, public

:grr:

[solarman350]

112. U.S. Marines Support the Occupy Movement

Marines support the movement. We will support demonstrators with organization, direction, supply and logistics, and leadership.

http://www.occupymarines.org

[socialist_n_TN]

127. I believe that Marine vets, not the active duty

If the active duty Marines come out for it, we might have something. Of course, if a few more Marine vets get killed or almost killed by the cops, the active duty guys MIGHT come out. We'll just have to see how it plays out.

[Yon_Yonson]

181. Semper Fi Marines ... just checking in from Occupy Madison

:hippie:

[AzDar]

115. K & R &...

:grr:

[yurbud]

116. this could be a turning point

[proud patriot]

117. Police F'd up this , I tell ya!

[benld74]

119. To borrow a phrase from the 60's - PIGS!

[KoKo]

121. YEP.... but it gives "pigs" a bad name....this is something new to OUR AGE!

What can we call them?

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

152. Domestic cops. I like the way that sounds in the above article,

The Vet friend described the police as "Domestic"
The way that comes across is somewhat amusing, labels them as somewhat inept.

[Raksha]

120. K & R

[KoKo]

122. Here Ya' Go.. "Rubber Bullets are Safe" ...except WHEN THEY Maim and Threaten Life!

Disgusting this. :cry:

[Firebrand Gary]

124. K&R +1000

[DemOhio]

128. Phony Soldier

as limbaugh would say. This is disturbing, regardless of who it happened to. I wish this brave soul a quick and full recovery. I dont like to use tragedies, war, or religion tp push an agenda....but I hope this sheds light that this movement isnt just self-righteous privileged college kids from expensive private schools who want a handout. Its veterans who fought for our freedoms and have read the Constitution.

Question: How does one utilize the sarcasm tag?

[The Doctor.]

146. Type ":sarcasm:" When in the text field, it reads;

:sarcasm:

[Better Believe It]

129. This requires a massive response and challenge by all Bay Area movement organizations.

A march of a few hundred thousand people in defense of free speech and to regain control of the streets would be helpful.

[Tx4obama]

131. Here's a DU video link with Olsen's roommate being interviews by Olbermann - VIDEO

VIDEO: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x628814

[burrowowl]

132. The Mayor is responsible

but the police should refuse to obey such orders.

[DirkGently]

134. The flash-bang thrown at the people trying to help was pure sadistic evil.

[Beacool]

135. Absolutely disgraceful!!!

Survives two tours of duty to be shot in his own country by some overzealous cop. Disgusting!!!

I hope that he makes it. Good vibes are going his way!!!

:-(

[Muskypundit]

137. This is brutality in its purest form.

He was shot with a rubber bullet. Rubber bullets drop fast and are not effective at long range. This Marine was in uniform. The damage that rubber bullet caused in that picture means it was shot from fucking close. The officer saw him in uniform. CLEARLY IN FUCKING UNIFORM and he was shot in the head (the hardest spot to hit on a body). It was a blatant kill shot, not just at a person which would be tragedy enough, but at a Marine. A Marine in uniform. I am seeing red.

[The Doctor.]

138. The police are being truly fucking stupid.

At some point, after all these incidences have been seen and heard and people have finally had enough, they'll do it one more time.

There will be several thousand protestors.

There will barely be a few hundred 'police'.

Do the math.

[Name removed]

140. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Doctor.]

147. While I don't blame you, we really don't advocate for that. I think I can speak for

the vast majority here. We are still about law and justice, not vigilantism. Leave that to the uncivilized people who post at FR or watch Faux Noise.

Once the 1% have finally abandoned all pretense of legality, that might change. But for now we still believe in being civilized with very few exceptions.

[StarsInHerHair]

141. +262

actions says it all now

[elocs]

143. This strikes close to home because he is a native of Onalaska, WI

which is just 2 miles from me here in La Crosse.

A link to the story from the La Crosse Tribune which includes a happier photo: http://lacrossetribune.com/article_2ade65fe-0023-11e1-9c94-001cc4c002e0.html

[SoapBox]

144. Outrageous...time for the 99% to take back the Police Militia Departments.

Hell...it's OUT tax dollars, paying for them to defend the Baggers, Haters and 1%!

I'm tired of it.

[chill_wind]

145. Oh my god.

U.S.A.!

[JohnnyRingo]

148. Kick & Recommend

[vanlassie]

149. Fucking Jackbooted Thugs.

[sce56]

150. Mayor Quan Contact info.. Her Voice Mail box is FULL!

Cell 510-409-7948 | Work 510-238-7004 | Home 510-539-8361 - Tell #Oakland Mayor Jean Quan how you feel. She'll be glad to receive your call.


Her Facebook page come down and comment on her Comment!
https://www.facebook.com/MayorJeanQuan

[fasttense]

172. Thanks for the link.

The comments on Mayor Quan's face book are outraged at the Mayor's disregard for the injuries of this vet.

She posted a statement saying that the results of the police attack on the protesters for health and safety were generally peaceful.

I guess if you don't consider a loyal, patriotic vet's possible death or serious brain damage, then it was peaceful. Except for perhaps the canisters shot at the crowd who was trying to help the seriously injured 2 tour war veteran, that wasn't very peaceful. And maybe all the violence just doesn't really look peaceful. Well perhaps she means it was generally peaceful until she sent out her police to attack for health and safety reasons.

Typical Oligarch response: "We are killing you for your own good."

[bdamomma]

177. good idea let her hear it.

[wordpix]

196. done, there are over 11,000 comments denouncing her and they're up on her site!

[russspeakeasy]

151. You think they give a shit ? They are on overtime....

and all the shit they can steal.

[scentopine]

154. Do not make the mistake of thinking the police are on our side - they are the enemy of justice

wall street has spent 30 years investing in a police state to serve at the beck and call of wall street.

Cops now have and infinite variety of weapons at their disposal for killing protestors. And I mean that literally.

They will kill you or cause permanent injury - brain damage, hearing loss, broken bones. They'll do it with out a moment's thinking because you are biting the hand that feeds the cops. They have been preparing for this since Reagan. Everyone knows that Washington and Wall Street have been gang raping America for 30 years and eventually we'd get pissed off. So that's why police have been loading up on weapons.

Our justice department should have been investing in wall street prosecutions. Instead they have been investing in weapons of mass destruction against citizens of USA.

This is what class warfare looks like and the police are not on the side of justice. They don't give a shit about you as long as they get paid.

[bdamomma]

179. .....................

:thumbsup: I believe that too. They will never stand up for the 99%.

[peacetalksforall]

155. self delete - wrong post subject

self delete

[red dog 1]

156. OWS--NYC Sending Protesters To Oakland// Oakland PD Were Assisted By Other Police Depts.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/27/us-usa-wall-street-protests-oa/

[primavera]

159. I must have taken a wrong turn...

... this is January 1905 Petrograd, isn't it?

[postatomic]

161. I'm numb

Words fail me and my thoughts are not good.

Just want this young man to be well.

[allan01]

164. re:POLICE CRITICALLY INJURE IRAQ WAR VET DURING OCCUPY MARCH

I hope there are law suits on this. This is way beyond police brutality. Blue code of silence , blue code of conspiracy

[AsahinaKimi]

165. Jerry Brown needs to be in the face of the Mayor and the Police Chief

They may not find the cop who did it, for several could have been carrying these weapons, but someone needs to be dressed down for this. The city will indeed be sued, and the Police Chief should lose his job over this, as well as the Mayor.

[unionworks]

166. The BASTARDS have silenced Scott

We MUST be his voice now

[Hubert Flottz]

170. Somebody needs to fight for "Democracy" in the USA!

That somebody is us!

[Dutchmaster]

171. This picture brings the fuse incredibly close to the keg.

This thing could explode any minute now. I can't stop thinking about Chris Hedges talking about how he was talking with East German officers about how they thought that people would be able to freely cross the Berlin wall within a year, and that afternoon the Berlin wall no longer existed. That's how this whole revolution is going to go down. TPTB will create one final inciting incident and this whole system that has been consuming itself for decades will finally collapse. At least, I hope so.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

173. This needs to be spread far and wide. Also, lawsuits are important. nt

[bdamomma]

174. damn police

this man was out in Iraq managed to keep himself alive and comes back home to the USA and lays in a hospital, I hope they terminate and charge those police officers.

[NikRik]

176. Mob Mentality !

Its the Oakland Police who are the mob with the lets put the hurt on those who are expressing their right to protest. What a bunch of cowards, when they are all bunched up all of a sudden they are tough guys with all their stupid weapons.Using them on the very people who pay their income. If the city leaders do not have a open investigation I feel they will have more problems coming their way !
IMHO ,NikRik

[DaveJ]

180. Should have been in Quan's "free speech area from 6 am to 10 pm"

Otherwise expect to get your skull bashed!?!?!?!? http://www.facebook.com/MayorJeanQuan/posts/291025897588660

Free Speech Area is the most insulting assault against our rights I've ever seen. Anyplace, Anytime, should be a free speech area. Seriously, the most important thing that should come of this is to allow Americans to assemble anywhere anytime. Even if it is in the streets, in the parks, whatever. Our freedom takes priority over park rules and traffic issues. The alternative is certainly more ridiculous: to arrest and/or permanently disable someone for standing or speaking somewhere they shouldn't. If we were allowed to stand and speak in a place where we can be heard, then others might pay attention.

[sandyj999]

183. This Turns My Stomach. I am so sorry. : (

America the Beautiful?

[4_TN_TITANS]

184. Colossal Fail....

This pits Vets against Police and we all know who wins that battle. If the cop that fired that had take Olsen on mano o mano, he would be the one in the hospital.

[Lovette]

186. This Is Not How It Is Suppose To Be. . .

And it brought me to tears. . .

[FlyByNight]

187. So much for "support the troops"

Bringing "democracy" everywhere else while ignoring it here. The empire must defend the 1%, after all.

Puke inducing and maddening.

:puke: :mad:

[Mad_Dem_X]

188. This is f'ing INSANE

Somebody remind me what country I'm in. :grr:

I hope the vet is going to be all right.

[RKP5637]

205. It's not the USA I was born in ... n/t

[blackspade]

189. Sounds like some cops need to be charged with attempted murder.

But they won't.
Because cops always skate on these charges.

[sulphurdunn]

198. News Speak

I was listening to NPR news on the way to work this morning. This is what the news tool said about the war veteran who was shot in the head at close range with a tear gas canister, is now in critical condition, and who laid on the street while the cops tossed grenade simulators into the crowd of people trying to render aid. The tool said, "One demonstrator was injured when struck by a non-lethal projectile."

[DemOhio]

208. But NPR is the liberal station

:sarcasm:

[Evasporque]

210. Marine from Onalaska injured in protest in California

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinal

A Marine from Onalaska, Wis., suffered a fractured skull during an Occupy Wall Street protest in California and was in critical condition Wednesday.

Scott Olsen, 24, who served two tours of Iraq, was struck by an unidentified object as Oakland police and Occupy Wall Street demonstrators clashed. Some witnesses said Olsen was hit by a tear-gas canister; others said it was a rubber bullet fired by police.

Olsen was conscious when he was taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland on Tuesday night but was unconscious Wednesday, suffering from brain swelling, said his roommate Keith Shannon, who served in the same Marine unit as Olsen.

Aaron Hinde, who knows Olsen from Iraq Veterans Against the War, said Olsen suffered a seizure at the hospital. A hospital spokesman confirmed that Olsen was in critical condition Wednesday.



Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/reports-veteran-from-wisconsin-injured-during-occupy-oakland-protest-132648173.html

---

Scott is from Wisconsin....more details about him in the short article.

[tk2kewl]

211. How many even think of their career as service to society anymore?

"It wasn't what he wanted to do for a career; he didn't agree with the war and the way it was going. He thought he could best serve people from outside the military," Shannon said.

Get well Scott. :pals: :patriot:

[Blue Owl]

212. You know with Veteran's Day coming up...

This would be a great way to frame the 1% as the freedom-hating psychopaths they are, abusing the very troops that protect their country and make possible their way of life.

[14thColony]

213. Don't read the comments to that article if you have a short fuse

Apparently veterans are only worthy of respect when they toe the right-wing line.

I also learned that the rights to peaceably assemble and to redress grievances are only applicable so long as the police say they are.

There do seem to be many out there who are "yearning for Fascism", to cite Chris Hedges.

[AtheistCrusader]

214. He was bleeding from the nose and mouth when they carried him off.

Feebly feeling around the wound on his forehead/scalp, probably wondering if the top of his head was still there.

Very disturbing to watch.

[bottom line]

215. lessons

Healing energy, prayers & meditations to Scott
When I first saw the video {s} I couldn't quite comprehend. It is so egregious. I couldn't wrap my mind around; In the US, in 2011? After watching more & then over & over & over... We are not afraid. You will not be able to confiscate evidence. We are tech & we are many. We are peaceful. The 99% shall move you. Wisconsinites, Goodness, How Beautiful you are!

[Tempest]

216. This opened a shit storm on military web sites

Enlisted men are coming out in droves in support of the movement now.

Every branch has it's own web site supporting the movement.

http://www.occupymarines.org/

[Dont call me Shirley]

217. Awesome :-) Thanks for your service to us.

[orbitalman]

219. The police ARE USING VIOLENCE...

are we going to have to use violence back????????????

[raouldukelives]

220. Every dollar invested in Wall St

Is a vote against OWS.

[Islandlife]

223. Sensational, but unconfirmed

Maybe we should wait to get all the facts before posting. I just read a article out of Florida saying police may not have caused the injury. I am still trying to investigate further. Looking for the csi report. Any help?

[No Elephants]

227. Bumping up the thread.