Why are people so quick to forgive police for their violence and intimidation? On Firedoglake I look at how police behavior parallels an abusive relationship:
All through the three days of celebration of the first anniversary of OWS, police made targeted and random arrests, snatching both protesters and journalists alike off sidewalks and out of other public spaces. Occupiers were dragged, kicked, and beaten. They lost their shoes, so that jail support put out a desperate call for donations of flip flops. Though there were many arrested in deliberate acts of civil disobedience, others were grabbed purely for intimidation.
During September 17, a member of the mainstream media saw my press badge and stopped to chat with me at a gathering outside the American Indian Museum. The gist of our conversation was that he felt NYPD had become gentler in their treatment of protesters. This was an attitude I’ve seen almost anywhere that the threat of police repression looms large.
I’ll have more reports from my wonderful time in New York City over the coming days. If you want more in the meantime, check out the Firedoglake S17 Liveblog.
