The Occupy Wall Street movement added to its extensive list of crimes on Saturday. After an Anarchist Book Fair, a mob of about 25 people left the event in the mood for some anarchy, tipping over trash cans and spraying anarchy symbols on local businesses. Police arrived to a mob using eight-foot-long metal pipes in an attempt to smash the thick plexiglass window at a Starbucks and needed to call in reinforcements to subdue the thugs. The group was unable to smash the glass, but did manage to terrify some of the 99%, who dove under tables during the attack, according to the local news.
When a sergeant attempted to make an arrest, he was allegedly attacked by two men with pipes. The men fled and the officer was taken to the hospital, where he sustained minor injuries to his hands and knees.
Later, police responded to a call regarding bottles and other items being thrown from a roof, where they were able to capture Alexander Penley, 41, and Nicholas Thommen, 30, who face multiple charges, including "assaulting a police officer, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, and inciting a riot." Penley, an attorney, is a high-profile Occupy member and has been quoted in several mainstream media outlets, such as USA Today and the Guardian. Apparantly, Penley is not all that concerned about his image as a lawyer or as a part of the Occupy movement.
Ben Myers, a "mass defense office coordinator" at the socialist National Lawyer's Guild, said of Penley, "We're still working with jail support to secure his release," as reported by the Gothamist.
It would be helpful if the OWS movement as a whole, would stand up and strongly denounce the violence, instead of downplaying it or attributing it to a "plant", etc.
This crime is reminiscent of Jon Stewart's comment, back in October, when the Occupy Wall Street movement was just starting to put up their tents around the world. He said,
"I don't get it! Here's a group of Americans, disenchanted, railing against big government bailouts, angry because they played by the rules, worked hard, now they're in debt from student loans and they're unemployed... I mean, look, if this thing turns into throwing trash cans into Starbucks windows; nobody's going to be down with that. We all love Starbucks."
So, Mr. Stewart, are you down with this?
This story has been reported locally, and has not been picked up by the mainstream media.
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Comments: 17
Typical. But the Tea Party was the one to watch ... yeah ... sure.
where they were able to capture Alexander Penley, 41, and Nicholas Thommen, 30, who face multiple charges, including "assaulting a police officer, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, and inciting a riot."
Badge of belonging and honor for people like this ... It's like someone once told me, "The right wing pantywaist cowards don't have a clue about what authentic dissent against tyrants is..."
Penley, an attorney, is a high-profile Occupy member and has been quoted in several mainstream media outlets, such as USA Today and the Guardian. Apparantly, Penley is not all that concerned about his image
Probably thinks this will enhance it. And the truth is, in some circles it will.
Anyone know where Pelosi stands these days in regard to the OWS thugs?
Denounce them? Hope you don't mind ... but they've had chance after chance to denounce them. The problem is "them" is part of the main group as shown by the article and video given below.
Plants? A plant is someone you don't know who has an agenda different from your own and who tries to undermine your own message ...
But once a plant is "outed" and if that plant doesn't share your agenda (and especially if that "plant" has already done violence you witnessed and with which you don't agree), shouldn't that "plant" be ostracized and ignored and left behind and not allowed to be part of or rejoin the main group?
I think so. IF the plant is actually a plant that has a different goal and agenda.
But maybe OWS has a different definition of "plant" ...
Or maybe their "plants" are simply convenient accepted fall guys doing a distasteful but necessary part of the "protest" job as they see it. And as they seem to be in this article and video:
But for the video showing the "peaceful" marchers accepting the black bloc perps back into their midst as the march begins, most of us would still have doubts that OWS actually enables them. I no longer have doubts.
And I'm not hesitant to believe it's the same deal in this latest instance at Starbucks.
The black bloc /anarchists is/ are part of the OWS even if many OWS members don't know or believe it.
In any case it will be something better for those in Texas or planning to be in Texas ... Mark Davis will be "Master of Ceremonies for an event featuring Glenn as keynote speaker on May 1 at the Eisemann Center in Richardson", Texas.