34 replies to this topic

[vic]

reportedly over 1,000 attended...i was not able to make it...the initial meeting had about 350 when i was there

and to think, it went on during the Phils playoff game (which is why i missed it:funny1: ) and still tripled in numbers

[Raynequeen]

awesome.
albanys second meeting is sunday - buses were chartered to attend todays protests in nyc - overwhelming response

saratoga springs just began their page, and protest yesterday

[Raynequeen]

http://www.timesunio...=628&height=471
heading to nyc for todays protest this morning..... a bunch of 'crazy kids'

[Raynequeen]

http://www.timesunio...=628&height=471 heading to ws

[Feck]

stay safe, from what i have seen Philly Cops make NYC's look like pansies

no offense to any flowers or plants intended

[vic]

from what i know, philly cops aren't employed by goldman sachs

[china cat]

reportedly over 1,000 attended...i was not able to make it...the initial meeting had about 350 when i was there

and to think, it went on during the Phils playoff game (which is why i missed it:funny1: ) and still tripled in numbers

This is sooooo inspiring.

why are people bashing this? is this really about mcdonald's bathrooms? or whether people should have been on a bridge? or misdirected hippies? or shadowy background Soro's figures? it is if you choose to make it about that. why are people so critical of citizens getting angry? do they even need a specific agenda or solution or can they just say something isn't working? we ALL know something isn't working. the govt is not working for us and individuals are now saying we want to stand with other citizens and let them know we're starting to pay attention. i think it's incredible.

[Jwheelz]

Wow... I think this is truly something big going on here...

[seany]

Give it time, cc. It's too early in the game with too little (unbiased) coverage for many to know what to think of it. I fully support people's right to be out there and make their voice heard, because the government has had earplugs in for far too long now. Or maybe they're just in-ear monitors dialed into the big $$ channel.

I think far too much energy was wasted on here discussing the whole bridge/arrest thing and who's to blame. In the long run, you need the police to be on your side (or at least tolerant), so better communication is needed. Keep it safe, lawful, and peaceful. Likewise, those that participate in the protests ought to be highly respectful to the local businesses that are letting them use the facilities, etc. Loitering, graffiti, etc. isn't going to win you friends for a long-term campaign.

Keep the faith. I'm tied up for the next 2 weekends, but may hit an event thereafter

[china cat]

nicely said, sean.

[DancingBearly]

nicely said, sean.

Yes it was and I also find it incredible!

[concert andy]

Do they have a permit for tomorrow? Philly is big on permits. But the following seems like a good sign?

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Ramsey: Police to meet with Occupy Philly organizers

http://www.philly.co...cmpid=125219969

Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey today said the department plans to meet with organizers of Occupy Philly and is still planning how the police will monitor the demonstrations.

Brian Abernathy, chief of staff to city managing director Rich Negrin, said top officials are also meeting now to develop a plan for dealing with the protest. He promised to make details public later this afternoon.

City regulations require a permit for any demonstration staged on city property. It was unclear if Occupy Philly organizers have yet applied for a permit.

On Tuesday night, Occupy Philly announced it would stage a protest beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday at Philadelphia City Hall.

The decision was reached by a standing-room-only crowd at Arch Street United Methodist Church in Center City.

The Philadelphia group wants to echo the Occupy Wall Street protest that started Sept. 17 in Manhattan and has spread coast to coast.

The protests are coalescing around the feeling that conditions are worsening for most Americans while the financial powers at the center the financial meltdown that brought the economy to its knees three years ago have not been held accountable.

One key concern for Philadelphia police, Ramsey said, is making sure people can navigate around the demonstration to reach jobs, businesses and Septa stations.

"Their right to protest is something we recognize and respect," Ramsey said. "And we're there to help make that happen, in a sense."

At the same time, Ramsey said, police want to make sure people can get to work. Some disruption due to the crowds is inevitable, he said. The police expect that the demonstration will be more than a one-day event, he said, but anticipate that most demonstrators will be peaceful.

"As this thing evolves, we'll deal with issues as they come up," he said. "This is all still in its early stages."

Ramsey also will be talking with Nutter about the ground rules for protestors. He wasn't sure on Wednesday whether demonstrators will be allowed to camp out overnight, as protestors in New York have done.

"That's not up to me," he said.

[Sunshower]

from what i know, philly cops aren't employed by goldman sachs

[vic]

MIC CHECK!!! ...haha just came back...went on my lunch break...GA is still going on...legal team spoke to us (at least 5-600 of us!!) about what the word is from the city...mayor nutter fully supports us and says he too is one of the 99%!! tents are allowed and so is amplified audio...the city has requested we get a permit, which will be decided at the next general assembly as to whether or not to decide on the permit or to negotiate the guidelines of the initial permit...this city is way more willing to work with the occupiers than goldmansachs henchman bloomberg and his band of whiteshirt thugs are up on wall street...thanks very much to mayor nutter and police chief ramsey for being reasonable to our cause...this is very exciting and i hope to see a bunch of my philly people there today tomorrow and the weeks and months ahead

[Joker]

why are people so critical of citizens getting angry? do they even need a specific agenda or solution or can they just say something isn't working?

Getting angry is fine but when it results in breaking laws and putting other people in danger it goes from being a group of angry citizens protesting to being an uncontrolled mob rioting.

[vic]

who is it that is really putting people in danger joker?

[Joker]

Depends on the situation you're talking about.

[vic]

what is more dangerous? the people passing through the barricade or the barricade itself?

what actual dangers have the protesters caused? none. nuisances? mayhaps prolly, but nuisances can be dealt with without batons and pepper spray, especially when the protesters have STILL not resorted to violence

the problem is that the nypd has been corrupted and is doing the bidding of their masters instead of serving their duties to the people...the evidence of this is all over this forum, with the donations and the hired private security wearing cop uniforms

it's not the cops as individuals, it's who they're protecting in nyc...99% of the blame for what's going on up there should be on bloomberg

[Joker]

what is more dangerous? the people passing through the barricade or the barricade itself?

What was the barricade there for? What were the people passing through it doing? What was their intent?

what actual dangers have the protesters caused? none. nuisances? mayhaps prolly, but nuisances can be dealt with without batons and pepper spray, especially when the protesters have STILL not resorted to violence

Well on the bridge they were disrupting and blocking traffic, that, in itself, causes a danger to the lives of anyone that might need an ambulance, fire dept. etc...

So to say they have caused no danger is completely wrong

[u.s.blues]

This is sooooo inspiring.

why are people bashing this? is this really about mcdonald's bathrooms? or whether people should have been on a bridge? or misdirected hippies? or shadowy background Soro's figures? it is if you choose to make it about that. why are people so critical of citizens getting angry? do they even need a specific agenda or solution or can they just say something isn't working? we ALL know something isn't working. the govt is not working for us and individuals are now saying we want to stand with other citizens and let them know we're starting to pay attention. i think it's incredible.

[vic]

What was the barricade there for? What were the people passing through it doing? What was their intent?
Well on the bridge they were disrupting and blocking traffic, that, in itself, causes a danger to the lives of anyone that might need an ambulance, fire dept. etc...

So to say they have caused no danger is completely wrong

the jury is still out as to whether or not they were lured onto the bridge...even still, the traffic was gone and blocked off AFTER they were on the bridge, and the police surrounding them on both sides and squeezing them into as small a space as possible and in turn turning the bridge into a giant holding pen is far more dangerous

it's either a trap or piss poor management, either way 700 arrests is in no way justified

do these cops' supervisor have no experience in something as simple as directing traffic?

[Joker]

the jury is still out as to whether or not they were lured onto the bridge...even still, the traffic was gone and blocked off AFTER they were on the bridge, and the police surrounding them on both sides and squeezing them into as small a space as possible and in turn turning the bridge into a giant holding pen is far more dangerous

it's either a trap or piss poor management, either way 700 arrests is in no way justified

do these cops' supervisor have no experience in something as simple as directing traffic?

I've seen nothing showing them being lured out into the middle of traffic. What I have seen is video showing them being warned not to do so.

If you want to go on thinking the protesters are doing nothing wrong then you just go on thinking it.

[Feck]

ok, forget the bridge

as a life long new yorker i ask, got any proof for this ?

the problem is that the nypd has been corrupted and is doing the bidding of their masters instead of serving their duties to the people...the evidence of this is all over this forum, with the donations and the hired private security wearing cop uniforms

any ideas on why they had to storm Wall St last night, 3 hours after the exchange closed, other than looking for confrontation ?

[vic]

ok, forget the bridge

as a life long new yorker i ask, got any proof for this ?

the problem is that the nypd has been corrupted and is doing the bidding of their masters instead of serving their duties to the people...the evidence of this is all over this forum, with the donations and the hired private security wearing cop uniforms

i've posted it in a few threads already...can prolly backtrack in this thread if ya want

ok fine i'll go dig it back up for ya, baller

http://www.downtowne...dmanshired.html

http://www.jpmorganc...ticle/ny-13.htm

any ideas on why they had to storm Wall St last night, 3 hours after the exchange closed, other than looking for confrontation ?

that i don't know...i wasn't there...i didn't see the GA of the day where the decision may have been made to go there

perhaps the people are sick of them and their fortresses being protected like they're some kind of kings

[vic]

anyway, i made this thread to talk about #occupyphilly...there's another thread to discuss the police

[Feck]

ok, hopefully i figure out which one it is -

good luck in Philly, stay safe

[vic]

i've been trying to make it the 'vic has arrived on wall st.' one, since that's where the bulk of the discussion was

and thanks

things are being handled quite well there...i went out there on my smoke break and they were just starting their first march, which was in the street and escorted by the police, but i had to walk back so i didn't get to join in the march...much different vibe down here, at least on day one

[concert andy]

http://www.philly.co...cmpid=125219969

Protest builds at City Hall for Occupy Philadelphia

A movement that began at Wall Street protesting corporate greed spread to Philadelphia this morning, with several hundred people of all ages flocking to City Hall.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time," said Eleanor Walker, a 70-year-old retiree who worked in human resources for corporate America. "It seems like the American people have been sleeping. When this happened, I said, our time has come."

The protest here is being dubbed Occupy Philadelphia, a spinoff of Occupy Wall Street. Similar demonstrations have been spreading across the nation.

The strategy, as in New York, is to have people stay for days, in hopes of influencing changes in policies and laws that supposedly favor the rich.

Before 9 a.m., the scheduled starting time, more than 20 police officers and their bicycles were assembled under the Frank Rizzo statue across from City Hall, preparing to help keep the peace.

Protestors were arriving at Dilworth Plaza with such signs "HUMAN NEED NOT CORPORATE GREED," carried by Calvin Morrison, 20, a Temple education student from Willow Grove.

By 10:30 a.m., several hundred demonstrators had gathered, and an impromptu jam session erupted among several musicians, including guitars, a trumpet and drums.

Other signs said: "This is class warfare, and we're losing" and "Greed can't pay my bills."

Periodically, someone would stand on a concrete wall to make an announcement, such as to tell the crowd where to find event organizers.

Those announcements were repeated loudly by others in the crowd so that those in back could hear, as has been the format for announcements in the New York City demonstration.

Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey walked along the perimeter of the protest, shaking hands with demonstrators and listening to their stories.

The police presence was unobtrusive, with handfuls of officers scattered around the edges of the demonstration.

As the morning wore on, the crowd started to chant "We are the 99 percent," the protest's rallying cry.

Walker, of Northern Liberties, held aloft a sign reading, "Is democracy already dead, or is it down for the last count?" She described herself as a child of the Sixties, and said she protested the Vietnam War.

"I'm so proud of the young people today, because they are awake," she said.

Mike Fox, 27, of Haddon Heights, who recently finished a seven-year hitch in the Army, explained the Guy Fawkes mask on the back of his head, saying it represented "Anonymous" - a name used by activists behind the recent uprising in Egypt.

Around noon, a woman led a small yoga class a little ways away from the center of the protest. Businessmen and women began passing through the square for lunch hour. As one elderly man in a suit walked by a group of young adults sitting on the steps, he said, "Just make sure you vote next year."

Three Drexel law students leaned against a wall with signs, chatting with passersby. Steve Budd, 23, said he was protesting corporate spending and the growing wealth disparity. "All movements start with someone standing up," he said. "With the wealth gap, we don't necessarily know how to fix it, but we know something's wrong."

His friend, Tom Kelly, said he has differences with many of the protestors, but was frustrated by a lack of jobs and opportunities for members of his generation. Kelly works three part time jobs while going to law school.

"Our generation is going to have to define itself as the hustle generation," he said. "We don't have a choice. The work isn't there. I worked hard, I got good grades, and I'm working part time because no one will hire me."

Kelly was pleased to see so many professionals and retirees along with students in the crowd.

"I don't want this to come off as some group of shiftless youth, or unemployed adults," he said. "These people have jobs. They're just like anyone you see on the street."

The earliest arrivals outside City Hall today were volunteer "medics," who planned to help in a variety of ways, from first aid to counseling to referring people to medical professionals, according to Xio Martin, 39, an unemployed mother from South Philadelphia.

[concert andy]

Picture gallery is quite interesting.

[u.s.blues]

I've seen nothing showing them being lured out into the middle of traffic. What I have seen is video showing them being warned not to do so.

If you want to go on thinking the protesters are doing nothing wrong then you just go on thinking it.

i have to say that while i can say that i do see both sides of this argument, that this bridge issue appears to be somewhat entrapment-esque.

i also would like to say that there have been many instances where i have personally witnessed police acting in a rude and arrogant manner that is downright unprofessional, and could easily be viewed as instigating a bigger problem. to get slightly off topic for a second, i witnessed some people having a run-in with the police outside of a music venue last night. the people were clearly doing something illegal, so i cannot dispute the nature of the arrest. what i did have a problem with was the attitude of the arresting officers.

the arrest was happening around the corner from the venue in plain sight on the sidewalk. there were a couple of police officers talking to someone and going through their pockets. as a friend of mine approached the scene, he attempted to walk around the arrest on the sidewalk, when the officer barked at him in an arrogant tone to the effect of "what the hell are you doing, you can't walk here", when he could have said "excuse me sir you are going to have to go around us".

while the aresst was happening the officers addressed the group of people in question in a derogatory tone, smirking and chuckling at them. it was if it was a big joke to them. now, had the arrestee gotten upset over the way the cops were acting and acted out, he would have been the one charged with an additional crime, even though his behavior was preceeded by immature professionalism.

the impression i left with was that the police while correct for arresting someone, did so in a completely immature manner. i could write a lengthy segment if i wanted to highlight numerous other first hand observations of police acting in such a mannor.

just because someone is doing something illegal, does not give the police the right to act in an unprofessional or immature mannor. the responsibility of respect goes both ways.

maybe someone can help me to understand entrapment a little bit better..?

[u.s.blues]

:dunno:well...by definition, the bridge thing is not entrapment...but it still seems like a grey area imo

[Feck]

i've been trying to make it the 'vic has arrived on wall st.' one, since that's where the bulk of the discussion was

and thanks

found it , all set
my liq store has an off duty cop in uniform outside too, keeps them from getting robbed i guess.

[Dr. Lostreality]

occupy greensboro is having their third planning meeting tonight...I'm the adviser for the sociology club at my university and the whole club is carpooling to the planning meeting after their regular soc club meeting So proud!!

[Joker]

i have to say that while i can say that i do see both sides of this argument, that this bridge issue appears to be somewhat entrapment-esque.

Did you see the video of the cop telling them not to go that way or they'd be arrested? I've been told there are also signs, not to mention laws, about not walking in the street or blocking traffic.

i also would like to say that there have been many instances where i have personally witnessed police acting in a rude and arrogant manner that is downright unprofessional, and could easily be viewed as instigating a bigger problem. to get slightly off topic for a second, i witnessed some people having a run-in with the police outside of a music venue last night. the people were clearly doing something illegal, so i cannot dispute the nature of the arrest. what i did have a problem with was the attitude of the arresting officers.

the arrest was happening around the corner from the venue in plain sight on the sidewalk. there were a couple of police officers talking to someone and going through their pockets. as a friend of mine approached the scene, he attempted to walk around the arrest on the sidewalk, when the officer barked at him in an arrogant tone to the effect of "what the hell are you doing, you can't walk here", when he could have said "excuse me sir you are going to have to go around us".

while the aresst was happening the officers addressed the group of people in question in a derogatory tone, smirking and chuckling at them. it was if it was a big joke to them. now, had the arrestee gotten upset over the way the cops were acting and acted out, he would have been the one charged with an additional crime, even though his behavior was preceeded by immature professionalism.

the impression i left with was that the police while correct for arresting someone, did so in a completely immature manner. i could write a lengthy segment if i wanted to highlight numerous other first hand observations of police acting in such a mannor.

just because someone is doing something illegal, does not give the police the right to act in an unprofessional or immature mannor. the responsibility of respect goes both ways.

maybe someone can help me to understand entrapment a little bit better..?

I have no doubt there are cops that act rude and arrogant and in a way that could instigate a bigger problem, I have no doubt there are protesters acting the same way.

You're correct, the responsibility does goes both ways. Perhaps those you saw getting arrested had caused problems for the cops before you arrived. Maybe they had told the crowd surrounding them to back away off the side walk before your friend approached.

If they're in the middle of making an arrest involving a group of people I can't see them taking the time to politely discuss things with everyone passing by, it would be nice but it's certainly not realistic.

I know when I've been arrested I've acted civilly to the cops and they've responded in kind. I'd imagine that if I had acted differently their actions also would have been different.

I've seen others mouth off and they got treated like they mouthed off.

[vic]

there were no arrests at occupy philly yesterday.