The Police Are the 99%

Millions have been horrified watching the video of cops hosing peaceful students point blank with military grade pepper spray. You watch in disbelief. How could this be happening? What was their crime? They were sitting on the ground with arms linked protesting a recent incident of police brutality towards students. The police said they felt threatened by them. Really? They must agree with UC Berkely's Chancellor who declared "linking arms is not non-violent". (Watch a powerful demonstration against the Chancellor- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8775ZmNGFY8&feature=player_embedde)

How did those policemen come to dehumanize young students to the point where they were able to inflict serious pain so nonchalantly? How were they trained? Why are our police in full riot gear,  battle-ready against our own civilians? What does it take to get a violent cop fired?

We were in Foley last Thursday in solidarity with OWS which had been forced out of Zuccotti Park two days before. The energy was electric, (NYPD estimated 32,500) the chants impassioned, the creativity overflowing and spirits high. (video) The police were keeping a low profile, but when we began the march to the Brooklyn Bridge, there were suddenly many more, including a whole batallion of mounted police.

Mounted police seemed like overkill for people who have vowed to remain nonviolent.  During the anti-war protests pf the 60's, I was chased by police on horses and many of my friends were too. One woman, now in her late 80's, remembers a horse rearing up in front of her and she said she feared for her life. When you hear them galloping toward you, it makes quite an impression.

philly.com

So as we walked in front of this display of force meant to intimidate, we began the chant, "The police are the 99%" Some of them smiled, some smirked and some looked grim, but I think on a deep level, they know they are the 99% and that like us, they are getting screwed too.

In fact, some police officers  are wonderfully supportive of the Occupy movement- like Ray Kelly, the former police chief of Philadelphia. He joined OWS to warn about the corporate control of our country and the exploitation of the 99%. The other side of this sign read "Watch Inside Job and join us.
                                                                                

photo via Lauren Thorp

He was arrested and this picture of him speaks volumes. His courage, truth telling and principles are a galaxy away from the Anthony Bolognas and John Pikes of this world. And there are more like him than you might think.

I absolutely love the scene in the video below in which a young man speaks earnestly about injustice to a row of cops in riot gear. God bless him! I hope many of them were listening (and don't know about you, but I'm putting Inside Job on the top of my to see list).



"Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man." Ghandi

Keep Faith!