Today’s links are sort of in the vein of yesterday light – it’s facts a plenty, but not as harsh to process. I hope it gives you all a bit more food for thought:

National Lawyers Guild Files FOIA Requests Seeking Evidence of Federal Role in Occupy Crackdown
http://www.nationofchange.org/national-lawyers-guild-files-foia-requests-seeking-evidence-federal-role-occupy-crackdown-1321891106

The shocking truth about the crackdown on Occupy
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/nov/25/shocking-truth-about-crackdown-occupy

“How Could This Happen in America?” Why Police Are Treating Americans Like Military Threats
http://www.alternet.org/occupywallst/153170/%22how_could_this_happen_in_america%22_why_police_are_treating_americans_like_military_threats/

And in case you’re only scanning headlines, here’s one that emphatically needs to be pointed out time and time again:

Journalists obstructed from covering OWS protests
http://www.cpj.org/2011/11/journalists-obstructed-from-covering-ows-protests.php

Silencing the press is just not on. America and Americans deserve to have a free voice, even if it means that members of the government may or may not go to jail for their shady deals. Insider trading? Passing laws to profit themselves? Exploiting loopholes to make money? It’s all going on, and they sure as heck don’t want you to know. I can only hope that the increasing crackdown on the protest movement and those folks reporting it on all sides of the spectrum helps to get the Average Joe more interested. They might not be in your house cracking YOUR skull, but these people are your neighbors, your co-workers (if you’re lucky enough to have a job), your family. Do you REALLY think they deserve to be treated worse than enemy combatants, or that perinnial so-called enemy, Al-Qaeda (or the Haqqani – that’s the one we’re supposed to be petrified of now). Think about it – really think about it, and I think we’ll all come to the same conclusion – it’s not on.

Finally, for some of you newer folks (hi!), I want to point to two sites that are doing a great job of story-collecting/reporting on the Occupy movement:

Alternet
http://www.alternet.org/occupywallst/

The Guardian: Occupy Movement
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/occupy-movement

There are probably other sites with continuous coverage, but I’ve not stumbled across them yet. While the movement might be getting more widely reported upon these days, that doesn’t mean it’s all accurate or worthy of applying eyes to. I’m always happy to check out and share news sources though, so don’t be shy about sharing anything with me or with others. Information is power, and as long as we manage to keep the Internet for the people by the people, that power is ours to use. Use it – and have a good Saturday.