UPDATED: TPD evicts Occupy Tucson from Armory Park in the dead of night
Statue of Mexican Revolutionary Pancho Villa. (Image Credit: Pamela Powers)
Occupy Tucson has been evicted from Armory Park and the main library by the Tucson Police Department late last night. Rousting people out of their tents to ticket them is bad enough, but making them pack up their tents, kitchen, and belongings in the dead of night– after most of them have probably gone to sleep? What kind of an oppressive/passive aggressive city government to we have? What a cowardly action– making them move after dark when no one can see what the police are doing.
Who’s decision was this? The public deserves to know.
Below is a report from Alex Maldonado, one of the peacekeepers. The Occupation has moved to Veinte de Agosto Park (AKA Pancho Villa Park). You may remember that this was the original location.
Thursday night at approximately 11pm, the Tucson Police Department surrounded the perimeter of Armory Park with 80 officers and forced Occupy Tucson to vacate the park.
In two hours, Occupy Tucson had bugged-out and cleaned the park of any trash on the grounds.
The Tucson community showed up and helped during the bug-out process. Some who had only been following the movement on the internet, showed up and aided in the move.There were no injuries to report on the occupiers. Some TPD officers were even sympathetic to the forced action against the occupiers as they could not help during the move but could only watch.
The Pima County Library Park was also vacated by the occupiers after TPD forced an evacuation of that park.
Currently, there are approximately 40 tents at the new base camp with approximately 60 occupiers holding their ground after what can only be termed as a successful and well organized bug-out from Armory Park.
Occupy Tucson has found its second wind.
I can’t help but think this eviction has something to do with the call to action made on Occupy Tucson’s facebook page yesterday afternoon. The Occupiers asked supporters to call or e-mail El Tour de Tucson organizers requesting that they make a deal with the Occupiers to co-exist at Armory Park on the race day (Nov. 19). When I sent a mail to Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, Inc. (the group that organizes El Tour), I received a very long, somewhat gruff response. Occupy Tucson has more than 6,500 followers on facebook, and when they have put out calls to action in the past, there has been a deluge.
Friday Call to Action: Occupy Tucson is asking supporters to come to Veinte de Agosto Park today (Friday) at 5:30 p.m. to demonstrate your support. Our first amendment freedom is at stake. From their facebook page:
This is a call to ALL, show your solidarity with OCCUPY TUCSON and come down to Viente De Agosto at 5:30 pm tonight (Friday) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyones 1st Amendment Right is at stake , the Mayor, council memeber and TPD needs to see all of you there, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT TUCSON !!!!!!!!!!!!
UPDATE: Local MoveOn.org activists are calling for Tucsonans to show their support for the Occupiers and come to Veinte de Agosto Park on Saturday, Nov. 5 at noon to issue their own citations against corporate robber barons. Here’s the link.
From MoveOn…
Our friends at Occupy Tucson are being issued citations for standing up and speaking out for the 99% of us who don’t have corporate lobbyists.
As many of you have by now heard, the City of Tucson evicted Occupy Tucson from Armory Park and Library Park last night. While this action was regrettable, the movement itself has not been discouraged. The Occupiers have relocated the base camp to Viente de Agosto Park and remains a strong, peaceful and committed community. Let’s continue to stand up for them, as they are standing up for us, the 99% who don’t have lobbyists and corporate legal departments to speak for us!
Thanks to all who have signed this petition in support of Occupy Tucson! We have collected nearly 4,000 signatures in support of the Occupiers, which will be delivered to the City Council at their next official meeting. [Nov. 9 is the next Mayor and Council meeting. ] Let’s show that the people of Tucson support freedom of speech and freedom to peacefully assemble! Meanwhile, the 1% who control over 42% of this naton’s wealth are not being held to account.
On Saturday, November 5th, MoveOn members and our progressive allies in Tucson will gather at Veinte de Agosto Park in Downtown Tucson to issue citations of our own – for crimes against the American public – to three of the biggest corporate banks on Wall Street: Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Chase Bank.
RSVP: http://civic.moveon.org/event/makewallstpayaction/123019
At noon, we will gather at Veinte de Agosto Park at Congress and Church to show solidarity with our friends at Occupy Tucson. After Occupy’s noon general assembly, we (and any Occupiers who wish to join us) will march through Tucson’s financial district to present our tickets to the banks and kick off a “Move Your Money” campaign in Tucson.
Please note that the start of the rally has moved from Armory Park to Veinte de Agosto Park at Church and Congress, which is the new Occupy Tucson base camp. We will gather between noon and 12:30 and march from there to Chase, Wells Fargo & Bank of America for a peaceful sidewalk rally.
UPDATE 2: Here’s a link to images from the TPD raid of Armory Park.
UPDATE 3: Check out the video of the TPD sweep from the Tucson Sentinel.
[tnivideo caption=”Occupy Tucson protesters swept from Armory Park” credit=”Tucson Sentinel”]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0fxGUqDP2A&[/tnivideo]
110 comments on “UPDATED: TPD evicts Occupy Tucson from Armory Park in the dead of night”
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You protester’s need to grow up and get a job, you’re wasting your time (which appears of no value), Tucson is bad enough without scruffballs like you all. Good job TPD cleaning up the trash, the sooner this whole mess is ended the better for all.
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Agreed. Our downtown does not look like it is occupied with any type of legit protest. Looks like a bunch of homeless….actually looks worse than homeless.
The struggles we all go through to make our City a nice place to live and the tireless hard work and money that has gone into making our downtown a valid destination for consumers, and now look at the mess that is at the center of our main throughways. If you want to protest, protest…..if you make our downtown look like garbage, that is of no use to anyone. Have some respect for our community. Honestly look at the protest site, does it look like they have any message, does it look like they are bums, do they look like they have a politcial message or just a group of squatters?
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We live in a world where a very small percent of people profiteer from wars, death, fear and environmental destruction. Our current way of life is unsustainable. Our freedoms and our rights are an illusion. Our money is worthless. Our media sells lies and fear. Our government officials are puppets. Our food supply is poisoned. Our medical system feeds off illness and death. Our children are purposely kept uneducated through our public schools. They cover up environmental disasters. They place money before the lives of the worlds people. They invade countries and kill innocent men, women and children for profit. They label all foreign entities who oppose them as “terrorists.” They label all domestic entities that disagree with them as UN-American. We have the power to change this. We have to tools and the education to rise against and save our world by whatever means necessary. If THAT is not a strong enough message for the Occupiers, I dont know what is. Haven’t heard that message before? Maybe because you are looking in the wrong places, like mainstream media that are trying to down play the importance of this movement. EDUCATE yourself before you post!
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“EDUCATE yourself before you post!”
Take a dose of your own.
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Okay, so the occupiers have a plan to keep people from profiting on war, death, fear, and environmental destruction? They have a way to make our way of life sustainable? They have a plan that will make our freedoms and rights real? They have a way to make our money valuable? They can make the media accountable? They have a plan to stop government officials from being puppets, and clean up our food supply, and educate our children?
Wow! Awesome! What IS this phenomenal, all encompassing plan? When can we start? Who do we see? Let’s take the 99% and vote this plan into action!
Maybe we can start by holding hands around a bonfire and singing Kumbaya, after the parks close, in Tucson!
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See you there Rex! Ill be the guy on the flying unicorn.
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Amen, JadeOccupy. Even while I believe the contrary, I am hoping that the Occupiers are right that these wrongs can be made right in the context of capitalism.
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If you think world is that dangerous why don’t you hide your head in the sand or easier way — kill yourself so that you won’t be a useless, jobless imbecile in Tucson.
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Because they’re brave enough to stand up to the things they fear. Your suggestion that they kill themselves is indicative of your own likely reaction in the face of adversity. Get some help so that you won’t be a lifeless coward when the fecal material hits the fan.
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The things they fear such as working, attending school, breaking themselves of tobacco and drug addiction, finding a real cause to being able to form a clear thought.
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Given the incoherent nature of your last post, you obviously have similar problems in forming clear thoughts. Was that an answer or just a pack of assumptions backed by your biases?
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Yeah, everybody can just quietly go back to being screwed by the system, the powers-that-be.
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Funny, I actually have a job. But my employer does not give me health insurance or any other benefits, I’ve been laid off twice since 2009, and I make 10K less per year than I did when I first graduated college in 2003 (as valedictorian of my class) and no longer have benefits such as healthcare, 401K, paid vacation etc. To add insult to injury, as a salaried worker I’m expected to work nearly a third more hours. So let’s see, that’s 35K per year to work 55 hours per week, whereas in 2003 I was making 45K per year working the standard 40 hours per week. I’d move companies, but NO ONE IS HIRING!!! Yes, in the 50’s and 60’s working hard and paying your dues was enough to buy a home, have children, and live a comfortable happy life. That American Dream became only a dream with massive tax breaks for the wealthy and deregulation of Wall Street.
I support OT by donating small inexpensive things like food and old clothes, and helping out with cooking in the evenings. I visit on the weekend to march against the injustices of our economy. I’m tired of paying taxes to a government that only serves the wealthy and corporations. The roads in my neighborhood are practically unusable because the city won’t fix them. My government has funded endless wars for profit. They execute and torture innocents without DNA testing or a fair trial. My colleagues can’t get a quality education without going into debt nor can they hope to get a job when they graduate because there are 4 applicants for every job in this country. I’m 35 and I can’t afford to have children or purchase a home, even though I’ve worked my ass off since I was 16 and pay cash for everything. Wages have stagnated while the cost of living has risen exponentially, and CEO’s on average make 47 times the amount of the workers that design, create and produce their products. Something is wrong in this country and my elected representatives are doing nothing to fix it. So I will spend every spare moment (what little there is) to protest and fight for my rights and the rights of others who’ve suffered far worse than I have through no fault of their own.
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“So let’s see, that’s 35K per year to work 55 hours per week, whereas in 2003 I was making 45K per year working the standard 40 hours per week.”
Hey Michelle, when you hear or read that the “productivity of the American worker has reached a new high”, that’s you they’re talking about. It sounds like a good thing, but what it really means is that we are working harder and longer for less.
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Wow, I feel bad for you. Next time around make some better choices.
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“Next time around make some better choices.”
I remember hearing this phrase a lot directed towards the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Should the victims of 9-11 have made better choices in where they “chose” to work? It’s a convenient and simple argument that aims to preclude debate and blame the victim, but it is ignorant of reality.
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Ohhhh you big bad revolutionaries. You cant even call the City Parks Dept BEFORE you plan this and find out whether someone else had leggally reserved the park for something they paid for. But guess it would put you all out of your ZOC (Zone of Comfort) for hippies and left wing wingnuts, Birkenstock liberals. That Zone is all of downtown, west university, Barrio Volvo (Sam Hughes) you know all of the regular spots. Try coming out east….we would make sure you never got a night sleep. Horns and firecrackers !!
While you are next to Pancho Villa why not take him with you?? Its a small “park’ isnt it. And dont get hit by a passing car there its pretty tight for a revolution. Bet nobody has a park reservation for that piece of s**t park.
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Get jobs?? Do you have one for me, or are you just oblivious to the fact that part of the point here is that there are NO MORE JOBS ??
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We’re just using our first amendment rights, yeah!
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Best do that somewhere else, we dont need you in Tucson, big waste of time for you and all those, it’s encouraging the wrong behaviour, I agree…get a job
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I own my business, thanks for your concern. And this is my city and I will speak my mind whenever and wherever I want. My rights are guaranteed by the United States Constitution.
If you find protesting government corruption and violations of civil liberties laid out in our constitution through the freedom of speech laid out in the constitution, the “wrong behavior” then I suggest you read a book about American History and learn to appreciate your rights as an American.
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Your suggestion is duely noted. Now get back in your tent, squatter.
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If there is a group that Tucson REALLY doesn’t need or have any use for it is the Baggers who spewed the first 4 gobbets of waste comment here.
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“What a cowardly action”
Are we seriously suggesting that if a jihadist or neo-Nazi group moved in, they would have been indulged like this?
It is obvious to anyone who has spent time Downtown at the park that “the law” is not of paramount concern to those in the commune. OWS’s sophomoric representatives will pay lip service to diffuse discussions about community relations and compliance with the law, but they broadly presume their cause to be above it. Those who consider themselves the vanguard of the revolution are, entirely logically given that conceit, unconcerned with the niceties of the society whose institutions they consider it imperative they overthrow, and those who regard the commune as a microcosmic blueprint for a brave new world respond to all questions by referring to their own “institutions.”
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We do have a document called the Constitution, and it includes freedom of speech and freedom of assembly clauses.
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No one is saying that you can’t speak freely, and no one is saying that you can’t assemble freely, all they are saying is do those things legally, (e.g. – NOT in the parks when they are closed to the public) and you won’t have any contact with law enforcement. This is a simple concept: stop breaking the law, and have your protests every day legally.
Obey the laws, and I bet you won’t face any more citations, or moves beginning at 11PM (after the parks are closed).
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Sooo basically, you’re saying that the Constitution is legal only until it’s made illegal.
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I do not see where Rex says that at all? I think you are hearing what you want to hear.
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He said t
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He said that the constitution is only legal as long as the park is open. Once the park is closed, it is illegal. What are you reading? You agree that the constitution is only valid during certain hours of the day?
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I love your point. Yes, that’s exactly what Rex is trying to say, “Our constitutional rights are only valid during restricted hours of the day”! And if he had his way, those hours and locations of protest shall be determined by those who oppose the message being told. Thank our wise founding fathers for our constitution. We ARE the 99%
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Read the consitution front to back, you will not find a article or amendment anywhere that says you can be in public park past the hour of its closing because you dont like the current economy. Are you so self absorbed that you really think the constitution will provide a backing for everything you do?
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Abridging freedom of speech by imposing restrictions of time and place violate the constitution. Imposing restrictions is, by definition, an abridgment of freedom of speech.
Stop letting the government tell you when you can and cannot speak. Stop being so subservient.
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Read something, deal with the consequences of your actions……that is much too much work……maybe I’ll just say what other people are saying (no need to form my own thoughts, more time to feel like I am finaly part of a team) and whine about the penalty of my ‘protest’.
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Another point: If you truly are the 99%, then take that 99% to the polls at the next election and use it to change the world.
I am not a 1%er like you describe them, but I do not support your cause. What % am I?
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I don’t know if the previous administration’s penchant for stifling dissent through the use of so-called “Free Speech Zones” was ever challenged in court, but I would be surprised if the courts were sympathetic to the free speech argument. All rights seem to come with some limits. That is, of course, with the notable exception of gun rights, which are apparently unlimited. Perhaps the OWS movement could figure out how to make the right wing believe that limiting free speech and assembly to certain hours of the day somehow would endanger their “right” to own a thousand and one guns and 50,000 rounds of ammunition.
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No, that is not what I meant at all. What I meant was, as long the protesters are breaking the law, they will receive fines and jail time and unwanted contact with the police. The police are NOT arresting or fining people for speaking or assembling. The fines are for breaking the city ordinances regarding public safety.
So you have two options: have your profound and deeply meaningful protest legally, and you will have no problem from law enforcement, or have them illegally, and you will be penalized for breaking the law regarding staying in a city park after closing. No where did I say that free speech should be suspended at all.
I will offer one other point. The great civil rights protesters of the 60s intentionally broke the law, not so they could whine about it, but so that they could show injustice by NOT whining about it. When you break the law, and then whine or try to weasel out of the consequences, it shows that you are not fully committed to your cause, because if you were, the consequences would be irrelevant and only the cause would matter.
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So which is it? Is the constitution and exercising your right legal or illegal on a public park after hours?
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lrn2read
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Just as soon as you “lrn2think”.
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Ok… wow… I read this whole string of comments. We really cant get along, now can we?? I hear those who oppose whats going on for its lack of clarity. I’ve agreed with this point from the beginning, although I believe those involved are very sincere. I think whats stopping this movement is that the left is unwilling to sacrifice their sacred cow, OBAMA, on the alter of Democracy. They still want to be Democrats, when their party is just as guilty of taking BRIBES from corporations. Until the 99 get it that Republicans and Democrats are just two sides of their ONE PARTY OLIGARCHY / KLEPTOCRACY… nothing will happen. Its some sort of “psychic judo” where you dont want to criticize YOUR guy because you are afraid of the alternative party getting the gig next time around. back and forth it goes. Its like they give you YOUR flavor of SHIT this time and the opositions flavor of SHIT next time….when its just all the same SHIT…. “the lesser of two evils” we like to say… Man, are we ever fucked…
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Sorry- Last paragraph in reply – Charles C.W. Cooke
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I just drove by Armory Park and no campers are left there, all appear to be moved now to Veinte de Agosto Park, with higher visibility between Congress and Broadway at Church Avenue. Also no campers left at Jacome Plaza (outside of the Main library downtown) where Green activist Jon McLane and others? were camped. I wonder why TPD had to do the “move” at 11 p.m. at night after many of the campers were asleep, when they could have waited to this morning.
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The city has bungled the handling of the Occupation on so many levels.
Not putting the Occupation on the Mayor and Council agenda… twice despite a flood of calls and e-mails to City Council members.
Issuing hundreds of unconstitutional citations at an expense of tens of thousands of dollars (and mounting as the Occupiers go to court).
And now a midnight eviction?
I’m sure if someone from the city government– like Karin Ulich who said she “agreed with their ideals”– had come down and negotiated with them and/or put it on the City Council agenda, the Occupiers would have moved to Pancho Villa Park peacefully. In my opinion, it’s a better location anyway. More visible.
Actions like this only make the protests stronger.
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Pretty funny that you think being cited for breaking the law is unconstitutional. I wonder what your grounds might be?
And, I noticed nowhere in the article the mention of the reason for the midnite ouster…? The fact that law-abiding citizens had LEGALLY requested the use of the public space (that THEIR taxpayer dollars had paid for) well in advance, and the ILLEGAL occupiers were in direct conflict.
Please, be as strong a protest as you see fit, as long as you don’t get violent and don’t impede the progress of ongoing society. And, again, one cannot step outside societal norms and then complain about not being accepted. Capiche?
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The law is unconstitutional, genius.
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I am amazed you can spell that word. Now, step 2, read a book and realize the law is not unconstitutional at all. If reading is not fundamental for you, have your parole officer explain.
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If a law interferes with a person’s constitutional rights, then it is indeed unconstitutional. But nobody should expect a never-was radio hack to understand that point.
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If they negotiate with them then they legitimize them. And besides, who would you negotiate with? These guys have no leadership, want no leadership, distrust and despise all leadership, so there is no legitimate authority to recognize, thereby making negotiations only foolhardy, futile, and unproductive.
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You’re making a whole lot of assumptions, and make no clarification as to what you’re basing that on.
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I have merely been listening and observing. If you can’t make sense of all this then join the club.
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It creates confusion and limits the ability of the protesters to organize and repel any forceful action by the police. It also, no doubt, was to make sure that nobody took pictures. But I would suspect they were simply doing their best to prevent a riot.
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Because Carolyn it’s not against the law to be there during daylight hours.
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Pamela you write as if all Tucsonans agree with your views, you cant seem to believe that this could happen to a progressive group so you start throwing the word oppressive around.
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This kind of thing happens to progressive groups all the time, since the beginning of humankind.
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It is quite humorous that those of the OSW movement are so ignorant of the self depricating nature of their actions. Not only are the participants either not employed or on hiatus from employment, but they are continually costing cities, states and the federal government money. How can you possibly garnish a bigger slice of the pie if you are perpetually downsizing the pie? This movement is a serious disrespect to the concept of revolutionary change, as such disorganization and mishap has never nor will it ever be progressive.
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So you would suggest what?
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If this group expects to provide any change, it should go the path of organization, appointing leaders who speak for the group not allowing every member to whimsically comment without any real agenda or purpose. Additionally, constantly causing social disturbances and breaking laws whether they are menial or not will do nothing by harbor negative attention. Furthermore, they should be focusing on achievable change, expecting corporations to stop lobbying or a major wealth change to occur because you squat in a park is absurd.
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Major shifts of policy in our nation has never happened using your tactics. Your tactics only play to the advantage of those persons who are using their power to get what they want for themselves. Read history: The labor movement, civil rights, womens rights, the end to Vietnam aggression were all brought about by brave Americans who challenged the staus quo much to the dismay of those who were happy with how things were; So, to all those in the Occupy Tucson movement I say “Keep on, keeping on”. You are not alone; We ARE the 99%! From Houston
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If you knew history you would know many portions of women’s rights were only supported and put through for alterior motives. For example, the Rockefeller family only supported women’s right to work so that the other half of the population could be taxed, not because they so purely desired the right for women to labor. The civil rights movement had leaders in MLK, Malcolm X and notable others, who were intelligent and brandished a level of civility that allowed for their protests to be respectable. The end to vietnam aggression came as a result of us continually losing, and those that sat in parks and caused trouble were as useless then as you are now.
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Apparently opponents of OWS Tucson are fearful that their message of inequality, injustice, a political system that is corrupted by the influence of corporate money etc. are messages that will take root with the masses. If the messages are as you say, without merit, then why are the politicians so opposed to it. Its on fire and spreading all across the globe. We ARE the 99%
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Ok, you can stop reading me the brochure now and start having some independent thought.
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Commentors from Texas and Arizona, our nation’s finest centers of education. They must know what they are talking about.
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If you squatters would stop gazing at your navels for a moment, you could answer the question of “why clear out the camps at night and not during daylight hours”. The answer to that $$$$$ question is – ta da – because the cops finally were enforcing the park regulations concerning park hours of use. No brainer, that.
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Finally the TPD scraped the gummers out of the park. Here we go again at PV park.
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Please PLEASE keep spewing the “GET A JOB” theory, really? Can’t you come up with a better reason to hate us? Maybe you should start using cuss words, to describe our “terrible actions!” But I hate to tell all that oppose that most people down there HAVE JOBS and some have more than one job! So please, continue to sit back in your homes spewing your hatred from your computers. Everyone has opinions and all are respected, this is about the people of this great Nation and helping your fellow citizen. We all have differences, but everyone needs to look at it as, “We The People” as a whole…
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Your post is as convoluted as the movement…..
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Please keep talking.
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Solidarity goes out to all those persons with Occupy Tucson. Keep up the fight for American justice. These complainers and whiners who are writing disparaging remarks towards you are just a few Americans who think that only their voices should be heard. You are under their skin as they are used to controling the messages to the public and their selfish ideas are not often challenged. Well, I say, teach them that they do not own the country. It belongs to all of us and we will not be oppressed nor will we allow our hardships to be exploited for gain by those with money and power. From Houston; You are not alone! We ARE the 99%!
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Notice how you did not once actually describe what you are trying to change or accomplish? All you did was demean other people, then exclamate a tag phrase. You are right, you are the 99%…..
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So are you, my friend. So are you. Welcome to the 99%
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Not only does sardonic humor escape you, but I would never associate myself with anything this sophomoric.
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Joseph if you can’t figure out what the movement wants; You either aren’t listening or you are in denial. So I ask, how can you be against something that you do not even understand??
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That is laughable, I never stated I dont understand I was simply illustrating the majority of this movements lack of ability to communicate clearly what they actually want.
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What do you think the movement wants and what part of their demands for change are you opposed to???
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The movement claims to want more economic equality, less convolution in economic areas common to the public like taxes, healthcare and education. Although I firmly believe there is always room for growth in any area, my issue is with the way this movement carries itself. There is no direction, the only thing you all share is a title, and all of your efforts so far have done nothing but put a drain on the economy you suggest we fix. If im trying to fix a leaking pipe for you, but you keep turning the water main back on, where are we going to end up? Im not suggesting political activism is bad, or that our system is flawless. All I am saying is that poorly executed political activisim is worse than none at all.
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“All I am saying is that poorly executed political activism is worse than none at all.”
This point above all else is why their “movement” is over. They just don’t realize it yet.
Forcing social change is extremely difficult. It takes a focused determined unified motivated committed articulate group that will willingly accept penalties to demonstrate the injustice of the situation. I see none of these attributes in any of the occupy protests, least of all in Tucson.
It seems to me that they saw some protest footage in an archive somewhere and it looked like fun, so they figured they would give it a try to see what the government would hand out to them. It is NOT working, and they are alienating a ton of people. This is definitely not the way to conduct a social change campaign.
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It looks to me like all that needs to be done is issue a position statement which clarifies that along with a modicum of social and economic justice, one of the goals of the movement is to drive the AWM to distraction. Clearly, on that basis alone, the movement could then declare progress has been made.
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If you believe achieving distraction is progress you are just further illustrating why this movement is such a sham. Unless you are trying to raid the coffers while they aren’t looking, you certainly wont see any reform out of distraction. If you do want progress however, I suggest you have a clearly identifiable issue and a solution with an agenda of enactment.
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“If you do want progress however, I suggest you have a clearly identifiable issue and a solution with an agenda of enactment.”
The Occupy Movement being democratic, I am sure that you would be more than welcome to go to any of the daily meetings and put your suggestion before the people in attendance.
But believe me, they will not be dissuaded by your disparaging comments online from holding the meeting in the first place, so I have to wonder exactly what is your “clearly defined” objective in making those comments.
That aside, I take it as a matter of faith that anything which irritates the right wing must have some merit to it. And that, while perhaps not qualifying as progress, is certainly worth to minimal effort it takes to accomplish for all the warm, fuzzy feelings it gives me.
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There is a stark difference between what they want, and what they’re trying to change and accomplish. What are they trying to accomplish? It certainly depends on who you talk to and what city they’re in, because they’re goals seem to change depending on those variable.
What are they trying to accomplish? Instead of pulling the old “WHAT DO YOU THINK” they want trick, why don’t you tell us. Do they want the elimination of 1 percenters? Yes or no? If yes, that’s never going to happen. Do they want the 1 percenters to pay ‘their share?’ What is their share? Why do they have a share and the 99 percenters that camp out and have no jobs don’t have any share????
This ‘movement’ is just that…a big movement.
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No, they don’t want the “elimination” of the 1 percenters, just the arrest and prosecution of the ones who’ve looted our treasury. And as long as that doesn’t happen, you’ll continue to see “movement” everywhere you look. And deservedly so…
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I’m ashamed of those that hide behind the Constitution.
Don’t get what you want? Mention the Constitution.
The Constitution does not guarantee rights that infringe on other people. The Constitution does not guarantee you get heard ABOVE everyone else. Constitutionally, the law is behind the Tour del Tucson.
You have the Constitutional right to stand up for your right so long as it doesn’t trample all over my rights.
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Harumph!
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Haarmph? Love it!
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Exactly WHAT rights are the “occupiers” trampling? Are they telling El Tour de Tucson NOT to be at the park? You honestly THINK that?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yOsEzqt1U0&feature=related
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Funny! I posted two video links. Have a look! Touche!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ld867O-57U&feature=player_embedded
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Wisconsin’s workers standing up for the 99% – Our voices WILL NOT be silenced!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oHRdiklTlU
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Blog for Arizona has picked up this story of the eviction from Armory Park:
http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2011/11/tpd-evicts-occupy-tucson-from-armory-park-call-to-action.html
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For those who would cast aspersions and make general statements about the occupiers, you have no idea who has a job or what kind of life they lead. such comments should not be taken seriously.
Now read my next comment which I will post seperately.
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“The universal rights of assembly and free speech must be protected and the United States stands with all who exercise those rights.” -President Barack Obama
This was said earlier this year about the protesters in Iran.
The italics are my own. Perhaps it should say some instead. Apparently that doesn’t apply to those in our own back yard.
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They are not being cited, arrested or moved for assembly or free speech. They are however being cited, arrested and/or moved for not obeying the law. The park they were moved from in the article closes at 11 pm, hence the time of the forced movement. If you cannot read a sign as to when you are supposed to be out of a park, it is quite easy to see why you cant organize a movement that even has a chance to be progressive. Furthermore, what exactly would staying in that park prove anyways? Not like stock trading happens there, or some sort of economic exploitation occurs. At best you are in the way of people trying to walk their dog or have a picnic.
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Mic Check! This is What Democracy Look Like! – Occupy Boston – Occupy Wall St.
http://www.youtube.com
”1%, Your money’s spent to circumvent the People’s intent… You jacked the rent, caused this descent ‘cuz you broke our sacred covenant. I’ll pop a tent and…
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So as long as “a law” infringes on our constitutional rights, then it’s “OK”? Huh… and I thought this was the USA.
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It is not an infringement, that is a gross misuse of the word. The law in question is clear and simple, the park is closed to the public after a posted time. Furthermore, it certainly wasn’t put in place specifically to disallow political activism, any such claim would be narcissistic and absurd. You clearly do not comprehend the constitution or its purpose, and your outright shameful misinterprations will only continue to misinform and mislead this already asynchronous movement.
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@ Entropy: The First Amendment guarantees some great things. It does NOT however, render one immune from any law. You are not losing any rights by being cited for TRESPASSING in a public park after closing. You still have free speech and the freedom to *peaceably* assemble even as you are being arrested for violating a city ordinance. Those rights are not being abridged or denied. You seem to think that if you are protesting, that you are immune from any law. That is not the case.
You should really brush up on your Constitutional law, especially if you plan to use it as a defense against city ordinances.
That is unless you are being deliberately obtuse. Being deliberately obtuse won’t help your cause either.
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And you seem to feel that if one makes enough money, they should be above the law. What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander-as soon as the bankers who’ve committed theft and fraud against this nation are arrested and incarcerated, then you’ll have a moral and logical leg to stand on. Until then, you are a hypocrite too obtuse to understand either the Constitution or the situation our country faces.
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ummm… not obeying the law?… what… about the government AND the bankers who have robbed this country blind?? Where’s the cops arresting them?? Where’s anybody even asking about this. could it be that the great majority of these people are no longer even citizens of a specific country? That they have maneuvered themselves to positions above the law. Man, I prey for ALL of you here on this board criticizing these people for taking a stand. I hope you never lose your job or your way in the future. What will you say when lunch costs $100 bucks or worse when you can just wipe your ass with your money? Oh… you will probably blame OWS for ruining the economy. Holy CHRIST… SAVE THE AMERICANS
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Whatever I say when that happens, I pray it will be phrased better than your statement.
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The Occupation is alive and well and stronger than ever at Veinte de Agosto Park. The media knew in advance about the police sweep last night. Who ordered it and whether or not the City Council and Mayor knew in advance are unknown at this time.
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At the height of the great depression in 1930’s unemployment was 33%, at its lowest level it ran around 14%, 1/3rd more people live in USA today than then, takes no rocket scientist to figure out if we have a real unemployment rate of 18% to 20% counting them folks no longer on the unemployment insurance check rolls, were in deep trouble, now if one is lucky, employed today, its but merely by grace of god and one cannot swear one will not get one of them pink slips tomorrow! Be arrogant as much as one wishes, but arrogance/pride proceeds the fall!
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The only reason we are not having violent riots in the streets as they are having in Greece and some other countries experiencing high unemployment/citizen disatisfaction is we have these social programs, unemployment insurance, food stamps, welfare, social security, etc., if one does a bit of research during great depression military had to be called in to stop some protests such as the veterans who marched on Washington, camped out there demanding their rights, McCarther sent in troops and broke it up, but in the end FDR a democrat fixed the issue, which was casued ironically by a free market idiot name Herbert Hoover who famously said let the free market fix it, we all know how well that went, historians write history not the cyber peanut gallery bloggers of the world or the wanna-be journalists, historians will write this era down and I venture a bet the republican party will not fare well in that writing!:-)
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No, the only reason that we’re not having violent protests is that people here are smart enough to realize that they still have power to affect change, until they become violent. I’m willing to bet that most of those young, single protesters don’t qualify for unemployment or most other social welfare programs anyway. Your analogy is disjointed, it speaks more to society’s debt to our war veterans, not the great unwashed. I could expound on your other points, but I won’t waste my time on you.
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Don’t want to get technical, but it is Gen. D. MacArthur- And he did not send anyone in anywhere- Since he follows orders, that’s the way it is set up here.
Speaking of writing, reading or researching history, calling President H. Hoover an “idiot” is more telling than you will ever be able to comprehend.
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>calling President H. Hoover an “idiot” is more telling than you will ever be able to comprehend.
I don’t think he’s alone in that assessment:
10 Worst Presidents of all time:
http://www.usnews.com/news/history/articles/2007/02/16/worst-presidents-herbert-hoover
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He may have been by some opinion, a poor President, but not “an idiot”
Stanford educated engineer, humanitarian, his programs in post-war Russia were considered earth-changing…Idiot? hardly.
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But then, I doubt he would sit in a soggy tent in the middle of a public park, either.
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He certainly was a lousy President. As far as “idiot” goes, in current Repub usage that seems to be considered a compliment, if not a requirement.
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