Security Forces moved into the demonstrations late last night to clear out pro-Democracy protestors who had been gaining momentum as they demand an end to their country's oppressive regime. Security Forces waited until the late morning hours before firing bullets and tear gas at demonstrators disperse the peaceful protest. Journalists who were on the scene were also beaten by police and had their cameras confiscated. Pro-Democracy protesters who were taken into custody by Security Forces were put into cells without food or water for hours without charge before finally being release today. One pro-Democracy demonstrator was put in solitary confinement and locked away unless $10,000 was paid in ransom. Officials for the regime claimed the pro-democracy demonstrator was standing around without proper I.D. The regime has said there will be no repercussions for the security forces who were forced to take action against the peaceful demonstration.
The above title is taken from a Western account of Syria’s actions against protestors. We cover protests in Syria as attacks on peaceful protesters but you don’t have to go to Damascus or Cairo to see that sort of violent crackdown you can just look to the streets of our cities. Oakland saw an attack on American cities that rivals crack downs on the Arab streets of despotic regimes. It’s an escalation (as repressive regimes are want to do) from previous violent crack downs at Occupy Wall Street, Boston, Chicago and Atlanta.
This is not to say that the Obama administration or any other democratic institutions in this country are the same as the dictators that fell during the Arab Spring. It's to recognize that they have so been taken over by the corrosive forces of corporate greed and legal corporate bribery under the guise of campaign donations as to have lost control. Add to that a media that is antagonistic to outpouring of democracy against the corporate regime that is responsible for the undemocratic takeover.
What should follow in a democratic society after an event like the police riot in Oakland is a discussion of what the police did with our money and in our name. If the Oakland PD should have stopped pro-democracy protesters from using OUR streets, OUR parks, OUR sidewalks to express their First Amendment rights to assembly and free speech.
What actually happened because the security forces are not bound by democratic institutions but rather the protection of the elite ruling class. They lie and cover up their actions just as they did in Egypt, Tunisia and are currently doing in Syria.
via RT.com:
Google has been asked by a US law enforcement agency to remove several videos exposing police brutality from the video sharing service YouTube, the company has revealed in its latest update to an online transparency report.They then went out and claimed they didn’t use rubber bullets.
Another request filed by a different agency required Google to remove videos allegedly defaming law enforcement officials. The two requests were among 92 submissions for content removal by various authorities in the US filed between January and June 2011. Both were rejected by Google along with 27 per cent of the submissions.
"A police 12 ga. cartridge and a rubber bullet. #OccupyOakland on Twitpic"
Just like in Egypt, we have a few Armed Service members who understand who they serve and why. If there is a clearer vision for what this country stands for, this must be it. Navy Man standing in uniform holding a copy of the constitution as police fire on him:
"Single navyman faces riot police after they fire tear gas. he... on Twitpic"
We should be just as outraged when it happens here.
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