Occupy Wall Street has spread from New York to California and all across the globe. In the San Francisco Bay area two cities are having a hard time dealing with it and it has lead to political unrest. The cities of San Francisco and Oakland are having problems dealing with a massive amount of protesters that are refusing to leave the area around the City Hall. Last week, police conducted a raid that lead to tear gas being fired. This is not the first time that Oakland has had this problem. Both in the 1960's and in 2009 Oakland has been a location of great civil unrest. People are claiming that the mayor is not doing enough to combat the rising crime numbers of that city. And may of the protesters that were arrested are claiming civil rights violations against the police. Across the bay in San Francisco, the Mayor has issued a warning saying that the protesters are breaking the law and may be arrested at anytime. Nothing however has happened in that city yet.
I believe in free speech as much as anyone, however, these people are starting to push it to far. When you fight with police who have been ordered to make sure that you are not breaking the law, you are going to get arrested. Just because the city has a history of civil rights violations does not mean that you can automatically claim that it happened to you. If you are breaking the law they CAN arrest you. Peaceful protest is one thing but unruly and bloody fights called "protest" need to be dealt with for the protection of a city, in a state that does not have the best reputation. I advise that if you are protesting, please refrain from breaking the law. Make it a peaceful protest not a bloodbath.
I react this way because the first amendment is crucial in out nations History. People are however taking it to far. You do have the freedom of speech and freedom of lawful assembly, but if your are not being a peaceful assembly or did not assemble lawfully you could be breaking the law. Be smart with what you say and do, because if you are not careful your actions could backfire on your cause.
Read the article linked here and let me know what you think about it.
As always this is just my Opinion.
MAN!!! I am the person to talk to about the Bay Area. I am from Richmond, CA and have been in Joplin for about a year now. Before I left, there was a huge problem with "civil rights", a man by the name of Oscar Grant was gunned down in front of hundreds of people on New Year's Eve riding home on the BART train from the city into Oakland. Here is a link that shows the killing
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKy-WSZMklc
There are many more videos of Oscar's "gun down" you should look for them all. The officer was charged with "involuntary man slaughter" and is serving a 2 year sentence. The economic instability in this country, along with the civil inability to strive forward, has left this city with no other outlet than violence to reach out to the rest of the country to say that, HEY!!!! THINGS ARE NOT RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!