District settles protest lawsuit The District said Monday it has agreed to pay more than $13 million to settle a lawsuit by protesters arrested during demonstrations nine years ago. The preliminary agreement includes a maximum payment of $18,000 to each of the 680 people who were arrested at the April 2000 protests tied to meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. D.C. Attorney General Peter J. Nickles said the maximum payout, including attorneys’ fees, is $13.3 million. Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, of the Partnership for Civil Justice, said that in addition to the $13.3 million for the class, there are some additional payments for specific plaintiffs who claim they were beaten, bringing the total to $13.7 million. According to the class-action lawsuit, protesters and bystanders were trapped on all sides by police and then arrested in a calculated attempt to disrupt days of planned protests. But Mr. Ms. The case is known as Becker et al. v. After the arrests, Mr.
Noam Chomsky: My Response to #OccupyWallStreet With #OccupyWallStreet, the linguist and political critic sees a reason for hope that lies closer to home. By **Noam Chomsky** When Guernica interviewed Noam Chomsky in 2009, it seemed notable that he was emphasizing “hopes and prospects.” But in the #OccupyWallStreet movement, Professor Chomsky apparently now sees a reason for hope situated a little closer to home. “The #OccupyWallStreet initiative and the efforts it has spawned throughout the country are among the rare really hopeful signs that we might find a way to escape very dark times, not just the criminality and thuggishness that Wall Street has come to exemplify, but also… the vicious cycle that has been gaining strength for over 30 years, undermining the prospects for decent life for the large majority while spectacular riches are pouring into very few pockets, and the remnants of real democracy are being shredded by highly concentrated wealth and power. Spotlight photograph by Duncan Rawlinson.
Keith Boykin: Everything The Media Told You About Occupy Wall Street Is Wrong After 10 days out of town, I finally made it to Occupy Wall Street on Tuesday and had a chance to see for myself what's going on. My conclusion: almost everything the media told me about the protest is wrong. Based on my observations, here's what I consider the Top Ten Myths About Occupy Wall Street. Myth #1. The Movement Is Violent. One of the most striking images I witnessed at the demonstration was a young black man holding a sign that read "End NYPD Violence!" The officers quickly challenged his accusation. In fact, one of the first things I noticed was a sign posted on a wall that embraced "Kingian Nonviolence," the peaceful principles that guided Dr. Myth #2. Although I supported the concept of the Occupy Wall Street movement when I first heard of it, I admit I didn't think the group had much to offer me. I was wrong. What I found was a wide-ranging group of people from various backgrounds, young and old, male and female, black, white, Latin, Asian and mixed. Myth #3. Myth #4.
Police Mace Two Non-Threatening Female Protesters at Occupy Wall Street Police Mace Two Non-Threatening Female Protesters at Occupy Wall Street Sunday, September, 25th, 2011, 12:35 am Share on Tumblr Police Mace Two Non-Threatening Female Protesters at Occupy Wall Street was written by Sarah Jones for PoliticusUSA. © PoliticusUSA, Sun, Sep 25th, 2011 — All Rights Reserved About Sarah Jones (2,398 Posts) Since joining PoliticusUSA in February of 2009, Sarah has been quoted by The Atlantic Wire, The Week, The Richard Dawkins Foundation and more. Sarah graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a major in Psychology & Latin. Connect with Sarah Jones
Dennis Kucinich and Chris Hedges on the 99 Percent - Truthdig Radio Dennis Kucinich and Chris Hedges on the 99 Percent Posted on Oct 6, 2011 This week on Truthdig Radio in collaboration with KPFK: Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Chris Hedges explain why the 99 percenters are “the best among us.” Plus: Occupy L.A., Obama’s “secure communities” and modern midwifery. A full transcript is available below. Listen to the show: Segments Chris Hedges on “the best among us”: Rep. The occupation on Wall Street has spread to cities across the country, with protesters camping out in downtown Los Angeles since Saturday. The White House is trying to thread the needle on immigration by reprioritizing deportation rules. Ina May Gaskin, author of “Birth Matters: A Midwife’s Manifesta,” has been an advocate and innovator of natural birth for decades. Transcript Peter Scheer: This is Truthdig Radio in collaboration with KPFK Los Angeles. Let’s begin with Chris Hedges. Chris Hedges: Thank you. Peter Scheer: How are you? Chris Hedges: Princeton, about to leave for Washington.
OccupyWallStreet Protests Coming to a City Near You Corporations were deemed people by the Supreme Court of the United States; politicians have declared publicly as such while self interest groups weakened the middle class. We could no longer remain ignored. Our elected politicians are no longer listening and so, we/they Occupied Wall Street. Reports poured in today of protesters becoming targets of police brutality, including taser use, reports of using gas on protesters and mace. While roaming around Facebook in search of news the MSM has blacked out, I found this page, which led to another, then another, then another and so forth. We have felt the need to act quickly as more Occupy events are popping up all over the country. This website and Facebook page, began today and thus far, thousands have joined — tomorrow is another day. I leave you with this for your listening pleasure; an oldie but goodie, which is certainly appropriate at this time: [youtube] Tags: Occupy Wall Street, Protests
Le fantastique succès d’ « Occuper Wall Street » Le mouvement « Occuper Wall Street » – car c’est aujourd’hui devenu un mouvement – est le plus important événement politique intervenu aux Etats-Unis depuis les soulèvements de 1968 dont il est un prolongement, sinon le descendant direct. Pourquoi ce mouvement a-t-il démarré aux Etats-Unis à ce moment-là, et pas trois jours, trois mois ou trois ans plus tôt ou plus tard ? Nous ne le saurons sans doute vraiment jamais. Etape n°1, les premiers jours : le mouvement a consisté en une poignée d’audacieux, des jeunes gens principalement, qui cherchaient à manifester. Ce qui nous amène à l’Etape n°2 : la publicité. Ce qui nous conduit à l’Etape n°3 : la légitimité. Le mouvement est devenu respectable. Mais la seconde et plus grande menace vient du succès même de ce mouvement. Quant à l’avenir, il se pourrait que le mouvement continue de monter en puissance. © Immanuel Wallerstein, distribué par Agence Global.
Live Blog of #OccupyWallStreet: NYPD’s Crackdown on the Protest Fifty to eighty people have been arrested in New York City as part of the Occupy Wall Street protest. The NYPD is cracking down on those involved in the action and the NYPD is surrounding Liberty Park (Zuccotti Park) where people have been occupying for the past week. Suspicions are high with many believing those in the park will be forced to disperse or arrested. Firedoglake’s live blog of #OccupyWallStreet continues. 11:10 PM Police violence makes NY Daily News front page. 11:07 PM Recorded two interviews that will run in tomorrow’s blog. 11:06 PM The crowd at Zuccotti Park right now 10:14 PM There’s a library at the occupation 10:06 PM Ryan Devereaux of Democracy Now! 9:09 PM Occupation has lined the park with candles 8:47 PM Video of Marissa Holmes, who was part of the livestream crew, being targeted and arrested: 8:43 PM Now at the park, police arriving on north and south side. 8:37 PM From earlier, police handle protester so roughly he gets a concussion: 8:31 PM They are surrounded
Wall Street protesters cuffed, pepper-sprayed during 'inequality' march Jefferson Siegel for News Women screamed in pain after police rounded them up and sprayed them with pepper spray. Scores of protesters were arrested in Manhattan Saturday as a march against social inequality turned violent. Hundreds of people carrying banners and chanting "shame, shame" walked between Zuccotti Park, near Wall St., and Union Square calling for changes to a financial system they say unjustly benefits the rich and harms the poor. At least 80 people were carted away in police vehicles and up to five were hit with pepper spray near 12th St. and Fifth Ave., where tensions became especially high, police and organizers said. The National Lawyer's Guild, which is providing legal assistance to the protesters, put the number of arrests at 100. Witnesses said they saw three stunned women collapse on the ground screaming after they were sprayed in the face. As night fell, those detained were hauled out of vans and buses and into police precincts to be processed. cboyle@nydailynews.com
Occupy Wall Street Sep 242011 It’s 8:37 Saturday night, September 24, 2011 and I’m watching history in the making. Eight days into the “global revolution” – emanating from the Occupy Wall Street movement – and the NYC Police Department is showing their worst side. This afternoon, as hundreds of peaceful protestors marched from Wall Street to Union Square, the cops became violent. Watching this video of a group of young women penned in by orange netting, then hit with a strong blast of pepper pray made me ill. I’ve not been able to describe the screams that came from me when I was sprayed while in the Broward County Jail. After the protestors got back to “Liberty Square” they were joined by many, many more. History is happening before our eyes. Somehow, I can’t help but think the protestors have won. Watch for yourself.
NYPD is Taking Out #OccupyWallStreet Live Stream Team - Luke Richardson Arrest Here's video of Camera man, Luke Richardson being arrested. An hour or so ago, the LIVE STREAM Coordinator Marissa Holmes was arrested. Shame on NYPD A Message From Occupied Wall Street (Day Seven) CLICK TO LEARN ABOUT #OCCUPYWALLSTREET. As the curtain of delusion slowly sinks to the ground, the reality unfurls. These arrests are NOT American Exceptionism. IF YOU KNOW HOW TO SCREEN RECORD and upload to YOUTUBE, do so. To watch the Live Stream, go here. To watch the Live Stream, go here. For DAILY KOS COVERAGE of Occupy Wall Street, join our group. PRINCIPLES OF SOLIDARITY – working 9/23/2011 - Occupy Wall Street Slideshow 9/17 - 9/22 9/21/2011 - The NYPD announce they will take the SIGNS from the Liberty Park protestors.
Live Coverage: Occupy Wall Street The seed planted on September 17th in New York City has grown into a national and international movement. Occupy Wall Street has branched out into hundreds of groups organizing in their own communities. Reader Supported News will highlight some of the more significant actions from around the country here. Share this page with your friends and associates and come back often for the latest developments. Use this address: ows@readersupportednews.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it By OccupyWallSt.org 24 October 12 In a move sure to send shivers down the spines of activists and civil liberties advocates everywhere, the Spanish government is taking steps to prohibit the filming and photographing of on-duty police and security forces, the New York Times reports. By Reuters 18 October 12 By Jake Olzen, Waging Nonviolence 16 October 12 5 Sessions! On Debt and Race! By OccupyLondon 15 October 12 By Chris Hedges, Truthdig By RT By Associated Press
Protesters march in Manhattan, criticizing Wall Street