I had a feeling we’d see this headline soon. I’m sad we have:

Occupy Wall Street: New York police clear protest camp
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15732661

If you want to hear specifically from the camp itself (which has already said will be reforming ASAP), go by their website, or for even more up-to-the-minute coverage, their Twitter feed. Truly, it is laughable if Bloomerbutt and Wall Street think that this is going to make the protesters quietly go away and end the saga. In fact, I think this says the truth of the matter quite nicely:

Dan Siegel: Totally futile to try shutting down ‘Occupy’ protests
www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/11/14/dan-siegel-totally-futile-to-try-shutting-down-occupy-protests/

One quote that especially sticks out to me:

“To me it seems like a totally useless and futile activity to spend millions of dollars to take people out of tents, to create situations where there is bloodshed in our streets and lots of chaos for days, because they’re going to come back…”

Because obviously, draconian measure such as not letting people be stationary with umbrellas (Seattle) or clearing the entire camp by stealth attack (Atlanta, Oakland) are going to make the already not terribly comfortable protesters finally give up and go home. I am aware that with winter impending, shelter becomes a bigger necessity; are these local governments going to let people die in the name of free speech because they’re too scared of it? I have no doubt in my mind that it would only add more more fuel in favour of the protesters, yanno?

And speaking of fuel:

Oil industry attempts to co-opt ’99 Percent’ movement
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/11/14/oil-industry-ads-attempt-to-co-opt-99-percent-movement/

I’m not even bemused by this – I am flat-out amused. Why do these industries and mayors and government bodies bought out by big m oney think that the average protester is stupid enough to believe this crap? Americans aren’t dumb, in spite of many of them behaving in stupid ways. It’s hard to think through the haze of advertising and reality shows and the haves and the have-nots, which is why people shaking off the haze and protesting is so alarming to many. Keystone XL, much like the fracking already taking place, is NOT a good thing – it’s just another permission slip handed to industry to poison our drinking water and soil. And I don’t mean that in a hippy-dippy sort of way – fracking involves pumping toxic chemicals into the ground, and causes earthquakes. Why the hell should that be happening? It shouldn’t, I maintain.

And because I want to wrap up on a bright spot – remember Scott Olsen, the Marine who was severely injured by police in Oakland? He’s doing better, which is wonderful news! You can see it straight from the source here: https://plus.google.com/101404928335199641114/posts/ZQ9LiLjfaKF

Whether or not you’re at a protest, or just supporting it with words, keep it up. The ‘man’ wouldn’t be so worried about shutting the camps down if they weren’t making an impact, which I’ll try to remember to point at yesterday. Until then, have a fantastic day.

<3