As complaints rise over mass arrests by Boston police in the Occupy Boston protests, Mayor Thomas Menino decided to add a rather draconian note by announcing ” “Civil disobedience will not be tolerated.” It was a moment reminiscent of former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announcing in the 1968 Democratic Convention protests that “the policeman isn’t there to create disorder; the policeman is there to preserve disorder.”
Of course, civil disobedience has long been a respected form of protest from Henry David Thoreau to Martin Luther King. The framers seemed keen on such rights when including in the first amendment that “Congress shall make no law…abridging…the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
It is painful to watch the reaction to these protests. I remain co-lead counsel in the World Bank case (Chang) where we are still litigating the mass arrest of hundreds of innocent citizens without probable cause in Freedom Plaza and Pershing Park.
While offering passing sympathy for protester, Menino draw a bright line regarding any exercise of free speech that crosses the line into civil disobedience: “when it comes to civil disobedience, I will not tolerate civil disobedience in the city of Boston.”
Menino’s comment will only serve to heighten tensions and could be viewed as an encouragement for harsher treatment of protesters. As the home of the Boston Tea Party and John Adams, the comments seem tragically misplaced in both location and time.
Source: Think Progress
Regarding “all Americans benefit when the rich get richer”.
She means no doubt, “all Americans who matter”,
much as we said “all white males are created equal”.
Has it ever been different?
Forgot to subscribe.
Blouise: “The 1% can take the loss … it’s the politicians, lobbyists, and other underlings who get their table scraps from the 1% that stand to lose the most. The 1% will make up their loss through cutbacks in funding to the dogs under their tables. Notice it is the politicians who are screaming the loudest and those same politicians are the ones who give the orders to deny permits and give orders to the police.”
Well said.
Off Topic:
Domestic Violence Law Repealed By Lawmakers In Topeka, Kansas
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/11/domestic-violence-law-topeka-kansas_n_1006203.html
Excerpt:
TOPEKA, Kan. — Over the past month, one by one, people suspected in domestic battery cases in northeast Kansas have been set free with no charges against them. Prosecutors say they’re overwhelmed with felonies and, faced with budget cuts, can’t afford to pursue the cases.
Busted budgets have forced tough decisions by governments and law enforcement officials nationwide, but the Shawnee County district attorney’s move to stop investigating domestic abuse and other misdemeanor cases has angered victims’ advocates who say austerity has gone too far.
The advocates are also outraged by the response from the capital city of Topeka, where the City Council and mayor repealed the city’s domestic abuse law Tuesday night – a move designed to ensure the city wouldn’t be stuck with the bill for prosecuting such cases.
“I absolutely do not understand it,” Rita Smith, executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said after the vote. “It’s really outrageous that they’re playing with family safety to see who blinks first. People could die while they’re waiting to straighten this out.”
RADIO BOSTON, 10/11/2011
Occupy Boston Arrests Spark First Amendment Debate
http://radioboston.wbur.org/2011/10/11/occupy-boston-arrests-spark-first-amendment-debate
What does the arrest of 129 protestors early Tuesday say about the state of the First Amendment in Boston? When the Occupy Boston protestors began their occupation of Dewey Square about 10 days ago, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said he sympathized with their concerns about growing economic inequality in this country. And he expressed support for their right to free speech. Today, he told WBUR he’s still sympathetic, but the mayor said the day will come — and soon — when the protestors will have to leave:
I think we got to try to work with them as best as we can,” Menino said. “But there is a time very shortly where we hope to ask them to leave the encampment. These type of demonstrations have to end. It’s costing a lot of resources for the city of Boston.
Guests:
Adam Ragusea, WBUR reporter
Carol Rose, executive director, ACLU of Massachusetts
Urzula Masney-Latos, executive director, Massachusetts chapter of the National Lawyers Guild
Boston Police Attack Veterans for Peace
OS
i’d like to know how many hours of interviews o’keefe had to do before he got the one they posted.
Go Toledo!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FMi9vq6a8uMeGOYeslsuJ-TOV83YOke9RdQ-OrCviZs/edit?pli=1#
Great link OS.
Ministry of Truth (aka Jesse Lagreca) had a couple of physical confrontations with the potential to turn violent. He is no shy wallflower, having been a professional bouncer, but enough happened that he became concerned. Skulking around somewhere in the background was that pustulent boil, James O’Keefe.
Jesse writes:
Full story with pictures here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/11/1025078/-James-OKeefe-is-an-absolute-COWARD-You-got-game,-skippy-Find-me-at-OccupyWallStreet?detail=hide
Added Frank: “I wish I knew that he was willing to listen to my advice, I would have given him some: I would have told him not to impeach Clinton, I would have told his successors not to go to war with Iraq, and I would have told DeLay not to go on the dance show.”
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nifty link! Swarthmore mom …Barny Frank is just so…..frank!
The 1% can take the loss … it’s the politicians, lobbyists, and other underlings who get their table scraps from the 1% that stand to lose the most. The 1% will make up their loss through cutbacks in funding to the dogs under their tables.
Notice it is the politicians who are screaming the loudest and those same politicians are the ones who give the orders to deny permits and give orders to the police.
“i guess i never realized how scared the government was of students.
wonder what will happen if they get that scared again?” (pete,)
History will repeat itself … it always does
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/newt-gingrich-barney-frank-and-chris-dodd-should-be-in-jail.php?ref=fpa
Well said Woosty!
Geeba Geeba1, October 11, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Civil disobedience is not creating havoc, stopping traffic, interfering with the business of the day. It is peaceful disobedience, knowing if arrested you will pay the consequence of the law – something the Professor expounds daily. Remember? You have laws (made by law makers and twisted into a living form by lawyers) and they are made to obey – or get arrested and speak to the judge and jury. maybe just pay a fine.
Are there permits for these demos?
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From what I have read from the various cities yes….the OWS groups are either pulling permits or are being turned down for permits. I so disagree with you Geeba. I think these groups are doing everything right. They are being goaded and intimidated by the jack boot crowd….they have been peaceful, pepper-sprayed, ignored by th media and representatives despite the numbers and length of demonstrations. This kind of movement doesn’t pop up indiscriminately. To get this many people working together in so many places is truly a spectacular demonstration of Democracy. As far as interferring with the ‘business’ of the day….seems to me this IS the business of the day…..Big $$$business is not the governing force in this Country. If it is, then we are all fucked and at the mercy of whatever external influence Wall st and its $$$$$anipulators will choose to muster….because Washington has preferred to kowtow rather than follow law. The Government is supposedly ‘of the peeps and for the peeps’ and when it becomes deviant we are CALLED to ‘civil disobediance’. It is one of our rights….and responsibilities…..to assemble. As far as the legal tethering of your statement….it is rather moot if it doesn’t address the real lawlessness in the Country…the ‘havoc’ created by maurauding banks and big business run amok at the expense f the Country and its peoples. Why what the banks and Investment Firms do isn’t called fraud is beyond me….
so yes, I hope these assemblers can maintain thier purpose and thier cool heads….cause they really are exceptional in my eyes….
Thanks for the update OS!
Urszula Masny-Latos is the the National Lawyers Guild’s executive director for the northeast regional office.
She was wearing the usual green hat, marked clearly, “Legal Observer,” she was roughed up then arrested last night. Boston police usually respect the legal observers the guild routinely dispatches to public protests. Although she was identified clearly as a “Legal Observer,” Masny-Latos said she was the second person arrested.
http://www.boston.com/Boston/metrodesk/2011/10/boston-mayor-says-sympathizes-with-protesters-but-they-can-tie-the-city/GFmOU1qwApiGhBNsNSzMIL/index.html
Blouise, the kids were over 300 feet from the guardsmen. Even Roberto Clemente could have made that throw.