Dismantling Occupy

Posted at 9:27 AM on December 10, 2011 by Bob Collins (11 Comments)
Filed under: Economy

Of all the cities where officials have dismantled the Occupy protesters, Boston may be the most symbolic, it being the home of the Freedom Trail and the place where patriots took a stand against a system they considered unjust.

But irony wasn't much of a concern when the cops moved in this morning, after informing the media they'd be allowed to watch.

As the Boston Globe tells it...

As police entered the site, they forced most members of the media to stand on the sidewalk on Atlantic Avenue, on the outskirts of Dewey Square. A line of about a dozen uniformed officers stood between them and the square, where at least 46 people were arrested.

Boston Police Superintendent William Evans said this was done so members of the media wouldn't interfere with the operation.

If there's one thing that the police around the country have discovered in the Occupy protests, it's that letting people see what's going on -- peaceful or not -- is not in their best interests.

What did the Occupy protests accomplish? Nothing, a Globe columnist contends:

The Occupiers, and many in the media, will argue that at a minimum they provoked discussion about the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few and the decline of the middle class. I'm not sure that's correct. The debate was already under way. Democrats have been harping on tax cuts for the wealthy over the last couple of years. Occupy was more a consequence of that discussion than its provocateur.

But whether one gives the Occupiers credit for the conversation or not, it's hard to see how they've played any role in figuring out a solution. The principal impact of the Occupiers' leaderless, agenda-free movement was pretty much to persuade everyone else that leaderless, agenda-free movements don't work. The Tea Party activists, with whom the Occupiers are often compared, turned their anger into political action. But much of the rhetoric from the Occupiers specifically rejected participation in voting and politics, leaving one puzzled as to how anything meaningful was to be accomplished.

The columnist complained the protests were making it impossible for anyone else to use the park. After the raids this morning, police erected metal barricades around the park.

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Comments (11)

Metal barricades around the park? How the hell is this ok?

Posted by Vjacobsen | December 10, 2011 10:27 AM

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We're all one big family(?) I hardly recognize this country any more. Bob, didn't you make your last post about six posts ago? Enjoy your week off.

Posted by Bonnie | December 10, 2011 11:06 AM

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The occupy movement did a lot more than this reporter is stating. Politically we have been pussyfooting around this issue of class, wealth and taxes for years, decades and longer. This year we peacefully came out in large numbers, nation wide, to show our disgust. Key word, PEACEFUL.

They want us to really show our disgust? It will happen if politically things go unchanged.

Posted by T | December 10, 2011 11:39 AM

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To say that the Occupy movement accomplished nothing because the debate over income disparity was already underway is a joke. Of course income disparity has been discussed in some circles but the Occupy movement clearly pushed the issue onto the front page and into the mainstream consciousness like never before. It's not too surprising that a former private equity guy who got rich buying up nursing homes before moving to the for-profit education biz doesn't see any value in a "leaderless, agenda-free resistance movement" less than three months old.

Posted by John P II | December 10, 2011 1:10 PM

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The Occupiers, and many in the media, will argue that at a minimum they provoked discussion about the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few and the decline of the middle class. I'm not sure that's correct. The debate was already under way

"This movement spread across the world and faces and bodies were present -front and center-of those institutions to physically see. They were given the opportunity to see the outcome of their greed of taking away the livelyhood (or means of survival)-food, shelter, clothing- for their own gain."

Posted by This is NOT lucy | December 10, 2011 6:12 PM

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The Occupiers may have had some role in spurring discussion, but I have to agree with the Boston Globe columnist that they had little effect. Face it, they really didn't 'occupy' any places of consequence. Look at Minneapolis for example. They occupied the land around the Hennepin county office building. So are there a lot of people in that building who should be held responsible for the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few? I dare say not even 1% of the 1% give a hoot about squatters hanging around outside the Hennepin County government building. I can't even imagine the vast majority of state and federal elected officials care all that much about that land as long as there isn't a riot goign on.

If they want change to change this nation they should engage those in power and those with money. They should be encouraging people to be responsible citizens and vote. However, most people who are working hard every day to provide for their families aren't inspired to responsible citizenship by a bunch of people sitting around in a park for weeks on end who are not working and not actually engaging those in power.

Posted by Alison | December 11, 2011 2:32 PM

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"This year we peacefully came out in large numbers, nation wide, to show our disgust. Key word, PEACEFUL.

They want us to really show our disgust? It will happen if politically things go unchanged.

Posted by T"

http://www.fogcityjournal.com/wordpress/3095/occupy-wall-street-protesters-shut-down-wells-fargo-over-foreclosure-crisis/

Alison,

What would you suggest in keeping a peaceful attention getter for the 1%. What you are saying is that peaceful approaches do not work.

"However, most people who are working hard every day to provide for their families aren't inspired to responsible citizenship by a bunch of people sitting around in a park for weeks on end who are not working and not actually engaging those in power."

And there lies the problem, these people cannot find work or secure a suitable position for employment. Perhaps they do not have the connections or Kin that some chosen others do, ie the Wonka Golden Ticket or the desire to lodge their noses up a potential employers wha-toot to get a job.

Posted by Linda | December 11, 2011 5:04 PM

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I'm not saying that peaceful approaches don't work. I'm saying they don't work if you aren't talking to the people who are in a position to do something about it. There is noone working in the Hennepin County Government Center who has any meaningful influence over global political and financial systems. Why are they protesting there??? Go to where the stock brokers live and work. Camp outside the US Capitol or your US representative's or senator's office. Camp outside Geihtner's office. Protest at a bank that received a bailout.

Better yet, learn something about economics, come up with a sensible plan and schedule meetings with your representative and senator. Attend their town hall meetings. Request more town hall meeting in your district. Bring friends who are well informed and can help you make the case when you go. They do meet with constituents you know. Squatting outside the Hennepin County Government Center? I don't get it. Who are are they talking to?

Also, I know it's difficult to find meaningful employment these days. However, one sure way to NOT get a job is to spend weeks under a tarp in a park holding a hand scrawled sign and chanting whatever the person at the front is shouting.

Posted by Alison | December 11, 2011 8:54 PM

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"I don't get it. "

Alison, clearly you do not.

The Peoples Plaza was the visual site, there were activities going on around that that weren't apparent for the eye to see.

Posted by linda | December 12, 2011 9:26 AM

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\\there were activities going on around that that weren't apparent for the eye to see.

Nor for the most of media to see or pay attention to apparently. Thus, those activities aren't peaceful attention getters. They aren't attention getters at all. Please enlighten us on these invisible activities that will cause meaningful changes to the political and economic structures of this nation. Please let us know about the specific intended outcomes of these activities.

Posted by Alison | December 12, 2011 10:30 AM

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We're all one big family(?) I hardly recognize this country any more. Bob, didn't you make your last post about six posts ago? Enjoy your week off.

Posted by Bonnie | December 10, 2011 11:06 AM

It would not be Bob Collins but the nominal Bob Collins

Posted by m | December 12, 2011 3:30 PM

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