Naomi Wolf: The shocking truth about the crackdown on Occupy

[marmar]

The shocking truth about the crackdown on Occupy
The violent police assaults across the US are no coincidence. Occupy has touched the third rail of our political class's venality

Naomi Wolf
guardian.co.uk, Friday 25 November 2011


US citizens of all political persuasions are still reeling from images of unparallelled police brutality in a coordinated crackdown against peaceful OWS protesters in cities across the nation this past week. An elderly woman was pepper-sprayed in the face; the scene of unresisting, supine students at UC Davis being pepper-sprayed by phalanxes of riot police went viral online; images proliferated of young women – targeted seemingly for their gender – screaming, dragged by the hair by police in riot gear; and the pictures of a young man, stunned and bleeding profusely from the head, emerged in the record of the middle-of-the-night clearing of Zuccotti Park.

But just when Americans thought we had the picture – was this crazy police and mayoral overkill, on a municipal level, in many different cities? – the picture darkened. The National Union of Journalists and the Committee to Protect Journalists issued a Freedom of Information Act request to investigate possible federal involvement with law enforcement practices that appeared to target journalists. The New York Times reported that "New York cops have arrested, punched, whacked, shoved to the ground and tossed a barrier at reporters and photographers" covering protests. Reporters were asked by NYPD to raise their hands to prove they had credentials: when many dutifully did so, they were taken, upon threat of arrest, away from the story they were covering, and penned far from the site in which the news was unfolding. Other reporters wearing press passes were arrested and roughed up by cops, after being – falsely – informed by police that "It is illegal to take pictures on the sidewalk."

In New York, a state supreme court justice and a New York City council member were beaten up; in Berkeley, California, one of our greatest national poets, Robert Hass, was beaten with batons. The picture darkened still further when Wonkette and Washingtonsblog.com reported that the Mayor of Oakland acknowledged that the Department of Homeland Security had participated in an 18-city mayor conference call advising mayors on "how to suppress" Occupy protests.

To Europeans, the enormity of this breach may not be obvious at first. Our system of government prohibits the creation of a federalised police force, and forbids federal or militarised involvement in municipal peacekeeping. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/nov/25/shocking-truth-about-crackdown-occupy

[ixion]

1. Yep, it was a very apparent co-ordinated effort.

Glad to see Ms. Wolf digging into it, but I'll bet you don't hear a word about it on the MSM.

[RKP5637]

3. Yep, one has to be really asleep not to see this was a top down coordinated

effort, with shock and awe, than a localized response. This was war against peaceful protesters, the next step would have been live ammunition.

What many might not get, comfy in their homes, is they are next on the list if they disturb this fascist country. IMO it was also used as an example of this is coming to your doorstep too, so STFU.

[sendero]

5. The only good thing about it..

.. is that it is not going to work, it will in fact be counter-productive to the aims of TPTB.

OWS is now in the "then they fight you" stage.

[Junkdrawer]

55. Kick

:kick:

[SpiralHawk]

2. Recommended reading

k and r

[defendandprotect]

34. Everyone should READ it -- and in case anyone missed this part of it ....

Chris Hayes --

Exclusive: Lobbying Firm's Memo Spells Out Plan to Undermine Occupy Wall Street (VIDEO)


Sat Nov 19, 2011 8:53 AM EST.by Jonathan Larsen and Ken Olshansky
(crossposted from MSNBC's "Open Channel" blog)

A well-known Washington lobbying firm with links to the financial industry has proposed an $850,000 plan to take on Occupy Wall Street and politicians who might express sympathy for the protests, according to a memo obtained by the MSNBC program “Up w/ Chris Hayes.”

The proposal was written on the letterhead of the lobbying firm Clark Lytle Geduldig & Cranford and addressed to one of CLGC’s clients, the American Bankers Association.

CLGC’s memo proposes that the ABA pay CLGC $850,000 to conduct “opposition research” on Occupy Wall Street in order to construct “negative narratives” about the protests and allied politicians. The memo also asserts that Democratic victories in 2012 would be detrimental for Wall Street and targets specific races in which it says Wall Street would benefit by electing Republicans instead.



http://upwithchrishayes.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/19/8896362-exclusive-lobbying-firms-memo-spells-out-plan-to-undermine-occupy-wall-street-video

[xchrom]

4. Recommend

[Ikonoklast]

6. WE haven't seen anything yet. The 1% are not getting scared, they are terrified.

They see this movement as the greatest threat to their hegemony of both political and economic control in this nation. They will stop at *nothing* to maintain that control.


Frightened people with money in nations that are in upheaval do one of two things, have people killed, or flee.

People will be killed here mostly to be made examples of, to see if that works first.

Millions of people have died around the world so a select few can be wealthier than the Pharaohs of Egypt; killing a few thousand American citizens means nothing to them, they will just flee this country to the next place of refuge if things get too hot for them here, buying the government in the process so it will do their bidding.

[RKP5637]

7. Yep, exactly what will happen, and propaganda will be used to build up OWS as

traitors, and the uninformed will gladly sign-up to rid the country of OWS and sympathizers in the name of god, country, motherhood and apple pie. Except, this time it might not work ... but in the process they will try to censor all communications so only the propaganda is aired to the masses. We've seen this pattern over and over in history, technology and communication vehicles are different, but the methodology is the same.

[AntiFascist]

14. What I fear is that OWS will be painted purely as socialists...

if this isn't already happening on Fox News. There are plenty of socialists to pick and choose from, and the M$M could find plenty of spokespeople, including government instigators who may push the meme as well. This would then be used to divide America and make the "99%" movement appear as the enemy to their consumer-oriented way of life. Such tactics worked well to create Nazi Germany, but this would evolve into a more subtle, friendlier form of fascism.

[RKP5637]

16. I have absolutely no doubt that in some circles psych-Ops agents are already

working on what you've said.

[fasttense]

42. Do you really fear the "socialists" as much as you seem to by your post?

I think we need to rehab the word socialist because I really have no fear of a group of people that want an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy. That is the text book definition.

Social ownership means We the People own it. And cooperative management means We the People get to manage our national wealth instead of corporation and a few uber wealthy, greedy psychopaths.

People who don't know the meaning of the term socialism, fear it. And they mostly include RepubliCONS and idiots.

[dotymed]

44. fasttense, you are correct.

We do need to "rehab" and educate everyone about the true concept of Socialism, which IMO, is a much more "just" system, than capitalism. Unfortunately, the corporate owned MSM and privatized education system will not consider being fair, it would cut into their profits.
How can we reach average Americans about Socialism and the way it benefits people in other countries. That is why most European countries are much more equitable and their "99%" have a much more balanced life. This includes family time, work time, paid vacations, universal health care, etc. Our citizens have been so mislead by the "best country in the world" nationalistic propaganda perpetrated by the 1%, that it might take a generation or longer to open their eyes even if the MSM and educational system were honest with us.

[nxylas]

51. They seem to be going more for the health and safety angle

Perhaps they realise that "socialism" is no longer the boogeyman word it once was, with several opinion polls showing that it now has more favorable connotations than "capitalism" for a slim majority of Americans. Instead, the court media's attacks on OWS tend to employ words like "filth", "stench", "defecating" and "squalor" - words designed to provoke a visceral reaction to the dirty hippies. It's a technique that's also been successfully used to demonize successive waves of immigrants for most of America's history.

[dotymed]

43. Yes, and people will probably disappear.

They can't let those FEMA camps go to waste. It will create guard jobs, privatized of course.

[russspeakeasy]

18. "buying the government" is something they are familiar with.

[Doctor_J]

50. What do they have to be afraid of?

nothing is being done to curb their behavior. Why would people kneeling to get beaten and pepper-sprayed scare the 1%? I will admit that they are trying out some mild brutality to see how much it takes to snuff out the annoyance, but they certainly are not afraid. Until they ARE made to fear, nothing will change.

[newfie11]

8. If this movement is suppressed this country is screwed

The America that once was will become a country like Mexico. Very wealthy and dirt poor.

[RKP5637]

17. IMO it's the last gasp of what was once a democracy. If OWS fails, I really

shudder to think what is coming next in this country. It will not be good, not at all, for the 99%.

[Major Hogwash]

9. There's another thread on the front page of DU about this.

Yet, this one can stay on the front page a little longer for those who are just waking from their turkey-induced naps.

So, I K&R'ed this one, too.

[BlueToTheBone]

10. I find it especiallly troubling

that President Obama was out of the country during it all.

[meow2u3]

11. Sounds like Peter King waited until Obama's back was turned

I wouldn't put it past that scumbag King to sic DHS on Occupy behind the President's back.

[woo me with science]

15. I find it vastly more likely

that he was conveniently out of the country.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2384150

http://election.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2367396

[shanti]

38. do you know what else is funny?

jerry brown was also "out of the state" (of california) when the whole uc davis fiasco was going on.

[Luminous Animal]

25. Peter King has ZERO power to direct the DHS to do anything.

[defendandprotect]

33. "DHS is answerable to C-of-C, first -- NY Rep. Peter King...."

Rather, DHS is answerable up a chain of command: first, to New York Representative Peter King, head of the House homeland security subcommittee, who naturally is influenced by his fellow congressmen and women's wishes and interests. And the DHS answers directly, above King, to the president (who was conveniently in Australia at the time).

[freedom fighter jh]

39. How does a congressman get into the chain of command?

DHS answers to the president. Both are in the executive branch. Congress is a separate chain of command.

[defendandprotect]

45. If you head the subcommittee on DHS and help fund it, I presume you have some control

over it --

but that's a presumption and we need to know more about this.

Agree on that!

[freedom fighter jh]

47. Realistically I think you probably do have *some* control over it,

but according to the separation of powers principle in the Constitution Congress's role is limited to making laws.

Congress can and does have members of the executive branch come and talk about what they're doing, and having worked in the executive branch I can tell you that when a member of Congress starts snooping around everyone freaks out, but they are not supposed to be part of the chain of command.

I love Naomi Wolf. I am awed by the courage she showed at OWS when she stood her ground and let a cop arrest her rather than obey his unlawful order. But I will question anyone who says something that doesn't seem to make sense. Would like to know why she said Peter King is in the chain of command.

[defendandprotect]

52. Power of the purse -- and committees -- I would guess have some intimidation power????

Obviously, Naomi Wolf isn't dumb -- tho anyone can make a mistake.

There are many here denying that this is even happening --


Don't know when you were working in the Executive Branch, but let's face it,

corporations are the ones now running our government.

Congress is under the control of the oil and coal industry -- presume that's big time

Koch Bros. -- and I don't think they're too much interested in seeing a major revolution

like OWS across the country and internationally take hold!??

[freedom fighter jh]

54. Yeah, I was assuming separation of powers is still intact . . .

. . . but with the rest of the Constitution shredded, I think that may not be a valid assumption.

[freedom fighter jh]

27. I wonder what control Peter King should have over DHS.

The Dept of Homeland Security is part of the executive branch of the gov't. That means they answer to the president. Congress's control is limited to making the laws; aside from making laws they're not supposed to be telling government departments what to do.

I know Naomi Wolf said Peter King told DHS to crack down. I'd like to know her basis for saying it.

[lovuian]

12. In Iraq the most deadly job was being a Journalist

you died if you had an opposing view

Journalism has ended up being a deadly occupation

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. This needs to be copied and kept from disappearing off the 'net.

On the one hand, I am pleased that TPTB are taking OWS so seriously.
( Interesting that they did not take the Tea Party seriously, which may be proof of how artificial the Tea was...)

On the other hand, this is definite proof of how captured the media, police, government is by Corproate/bank $$$$$$$.
Which is NOT to be underestimated.

It really is now or never time, you know.

[russspeakeasy]

19. "There Will Be Blood" a great movie and very apropos.

[Duct Tape]

20. Everyone should take a look at this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x821842

We can't let false stories get traction because it will be detrimental to the left's image. Don't ever give the right wing ammo!

[Number23]

29. DU on the weekends is like reading The Onion, the National Enquirer and Pravda

with a little dash of Harry Potter's The Quibbler thrown in for flavor.

The stupidest, craziest, most inane stuff gets posted on the weekend and rides the homepage until Monday morning. I just saw the home page and yep, you can tell it's the weekend.

[SidDithers]

21. Kick...nt

Sid

[Luminous Animal]

22. Alternet's take down of Wolf's blog post...

Naomi Wolf’s ‘Shocking Truth’ About the ‘Occupy Crackdowns’ Offers Anything but the Truth

http://www.alternet.org/story/153222/naomi_wolf%E2%80%99s_%E2%80%98shocking_truth%E2%80%99_about_the_%E2%80%98occupy_crackdowns%E2%80%99_offers_anything_but_truth?page=entire

[Vattel]

23. Some evidence would be nice.

Wolf offers no evidence that "congressional overseers, with the blessing of the White House, told the DHS to authorise mayors to order their police forces – pumped up with millions of dollars of hardware and training from the DHS – to make war on peaceful citizens."

[Luminous Animal]

24. Why let evidence get in the way of a good fact deficient conspiracy?

(P.S. Joshua Holland at Alternet agrees with you.)

http://www.alternet.org/story/153222/naomi_wolf%E2%80%99s_%E2%80%98shocking_truth%E2%80%99_about_the_%E2%80%98occupy_crackdowns%E2%80%99_offers_anything_but_truth?page=entire

[WinkyDink]

26. "possible federal involvement".... Who is President, again?

[Tx4obama]

28. I wish folks would stop posting this OP over and over again. The Naomi Wolf article is FALSE.

What Naomi Wolf said has been debunked!

See the OP here for more info: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2385188

[The Wielding Truth]

30. "Mayor of Oakland acknowledged that the Department of Homeland Security had participated

in an 18-city mayor conference call advising mayors on "how to suppress" Occupy protests."I was hoping this was not the case.I would really like to hear exactly what was said.

[MarcoS]

31. Still waiting patiently for Occupy Fox News

anyone?

[Tx4obama]

35. Your comment subject line is FALSE

The mayor of Oakland never said such a thing.

The Naomi Wolf article is FALSE.

What Naomi Wolf said in her article has been debunked.

For more info ...

See here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x821842
and here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2385188

[The Wielding Truth]

48. Thanks. I was skeptical, but if Naomi says it. I've read other report

reports after I posted this. That's why I wanted to hear the exact wording of the conversation of original proof.

[defendandprotect]

36. Here are links -- from Associated Press and Washington Blog --

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/?s=Mayor+of+Oakland+

also --

Oakland Mayor’s Legal Adviser Resigns Over Raid and Says: “Support Occupy Oakland, Not the 1% and its Government Facilitators”


and

Rick Ellis of the Minneapolis edition of Examiner.com has this, based on a “background conversation” he had with a Justice Department official on Monday night:

And according to one Justice official, each of those actions was coordinated with help from Homeland Security, the FBI and other federal police agencies.

<...>

According to this official, in several recent conference calls and briefings, local police agencies were advised to seek a legal reason to evict residents of tent cities, focusing on zoning laws and existing curfew rules. Agencies were also advised to demonstrate a massive show of police force, including large numbers in riot gear. In particular, the FBI reportedly advised on press relations, with one presentation suggesting that any moves to evict protesters be coordinated for a time when the press was the least likely to be present.

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/11/homeland-security-coordinated-18-city-police-crackdown-on-occupy-protest.html


AP/Las Vegas Sun

Mayors, police chiefs talk strategy on protests
The Associated Press

Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011 | 3:22 p.m.

Interim Police Chief Howard Jordan said he participated in a call organized by Wexler's group and has talked with officials in the New York police department's civil disturbance unit and high-ranking police officials in San Francisco.

Jordan said that he and other police brass and city officials began planning last week for officers to remove the camp outside City Hall for a second time after collecting enough evidence that gang activity and an open-air drug market had emerged at the park.

Mayors of mid-sized and large cities held similar calls twice last week, one of which was organized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/nov/15/us-occupy-cooperation/

[The Wielding Truth]

49. Who to believe?

[Norrin Radd]

32. kr

[defendandprotect]

37. Two separate problems -- coordination at Federal level --- and polcie brutality ...

which has not been stopped by the Mayors --

Both very serious and very damaging to citizens and what we now laughingly call

a "democracy" --

:puke:

[nxylas]

40. Men with clubs dragging women by the hair

Did they go home and paint pictures of it on the walls of their caves?

[tavalon]

41. That was a very good article.

Naomi Wolfe is a goog ally to have,indeed!

[SteveM]

46. Strange incident I had with a friend, listening to NPR...

We were listening to how demonstrators were being beaten back and tear-gassed; injured folks being carried off.

We looked at each other:

Cairo or OWS?

[JJW]

53. I'm siding with Wolf on this one

An honest and intelligent person can connect the dots. A police state is apparent at any airport where one can observe infants, toddlers, grandma and grandpa getting patted down. In PA, DHS has proclaimed normal concerned citizens who oppose fracturing with unknown toxic chemicals, potential Eco-terrorists. The Democratic Governor of PA, passed special laws to define, prosecute, and pre-emptively deal with Eco-terrorists that might somehow threaten the profits of mega-corps who want to pay no taxes and use the least expensive means to destructively remove the public's' natural resources. We're talking fracturing gas wells and mountain top removal here.

We also have the Fed moles or they pay contractors (ex-military) to infiltrate peaceful groups like the Amish and Grey Grannies against war.

Let's not forget, the current President proclaims he can assassinate anyone he declares a threat to the US without any review or trial.

Who was it that cut WikiLeaks funding?