St Paul’s protest ‘can stay until new year’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15568253

One thing that I love about the United Kingdom over the United States is that I feel the UK is a lot more sincere about letting people have a voice. And while it looked like there was going to be the same attempt to wipe the protesters away, I am pleased to see that there is room for negotiation and consensus. This obviously ties into my desire to see more of my American brethren stand up and make their voices heard, which they are doing again. Of course, there are so many ways that ‘the man’ is trying to take that away again, such as:

1. Stealing the name!

‘Occupy Denver’ trade-name filing withdrawn
http://www.9news.com/news/article/227018/188/Occupy-Denver-trade-name-filing-withdrawn-

The Mayor and the Governor, of course, deny involvement. Still, kind of redonk, ne pas? Insidious, but redonk – if they owned the name, they could sue the relevant protest for breach of copyright.

2. Using methods not permissible in warfare:

Marine Says Oakland Used Crowd Control Methods That Are Prohibited In War Zones
http://www.businessinsider.com/marine-with-crowd-control-training-points-out-oakland-used-methods-prohibited-in-war-zones-2011-10

As a veteran, I am conversant with the Geneva Convention, if not the Law of War itself (my unit didn’t start deploying until right before I finished my term due to squabbles over who we worked for… long story). I continue to be aghast at any police force so out of order as to attack peaceful protesters. I understand part of why, and have stated it before – it’s an overreaction somewhere up the line because, holy crap, people realize they’ve been shafted and are demanding fair treatment. It is a threat to the status quo, and that scares people. Having said that, I sincerely hope that any officers who have engaged in illegal behavior serve appropriate sentences, because you CAN say no:

New York cops defy order to arrest hundreds of ‘Occupy Albany’ protesters
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/10/24/new-york-cops-defy-order-to-arrest-hundreds-of-occupy-protesters/

Yeah, I know, I’m dredging up old stories, but they work in my narrative sense. *grins* This pleased me quite a bit, even if it was just exploiting a loophole of sorts. But having said that, even the judicial system recognizes that the stuff going down is crazy:

Federal judge orders TN to stop arresting Occupy Nashville protesters for curfew violation
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111031/NEWS03/111031013/Federal-judge-orders-TN-stop-arresting-Occupy-Nashville-protesters?odyssey=mod

It’s just one city, mind, but it’s a start. It sets the bar, as it were, for what is ‘right’. And even as many cities attempt to clear away their camps, it doesn’t make them permanently go away:

Occupy Atlanta General Assembly – after the arrests, and moving forward
http://atlanthro.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/52/

The end decision, as stated on the Occupy Atlanta website, is that they’re going to reoccupy the very space they were forced from. I wish them luck – the city warring with them only adds fuel to the fire.

Having said that, it doesn’t’ all have to be squabbles and police brutality. Occupy Dallas continues to enjoy a good relationship with both the police and City Hall:

Why Occupy Dallas is different
http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/10/31/occupy-wall-street-dallas/

There still aren’t porta-potties on site (boo!), but the tone continues to be pleasant and cooperative. Even with some arrests occurring at Chase Bank, the protesters are still supporting and even marching in solidarity with the police. I’m not sure what the local impact is overall (my best friend has been kidnapped by a social life, and I’ve not chatted with my mother), but at least they’re keeping it proper Texas friendly.

All in all – everyone should keep making their voice heard. Change will come if we keep asking for it and working towards it, so it’s a worthwhile fight to keep going.

<3