Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Monday, November 28, 2011

Can There Be Solidarity Between Movement Activists And Police Officers?

Recent days have seen the increasing use of police violence against peaceful Occupy demonstrators around the country, including the gone-viral merciless pepper-spraying of students at UC Davis as well as that of 84-year-old Dorli Rainey in Seattle, and the critical wounding of Iraq war veteran Scott Olsen at Occupy Oakland. Police often refer to such episodes as “non-lethal intervention” and “pain compliance.”

They are intended to make people respond to their demands in particular situations, and more broadly the notion can be expanded as an effective working label for the apparent overall strategy of police in relation to the Occupy Movement everywhere.

The basic idea is that if authorities apply enough force, fear will increase and people will stay home rather than mobilize.

More

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The police have their day coming too. You can only abuse people so long before they strike back. And I believe it is coming.