This is a police state. If you disagree, look it up.

“I was there to take down the names of people who were arrested… As I’m standing there, some African-American woman goes up to a police officer and says, ‘I need to get in. My daughter’s there. I want to know if she’s OK.’ And he said, ‘Move on, lady.’ And they kept pushing with their sticks, pushing back. And she was crying. And all of a sudden, out of nowhere, he throws her to the ground and starts hitting her in the head,” says Smith. “I walk over, and I say, ‘Look, cuff her if she’s done something, but you don’t need to do that.’ And he said, ‘Lady, do you want to get arrested?’ And I said, ‘Do you see my hat? I’m here as a legal observer.’ He said, ‘You want to get arrested?’ And he pushed me up against the wall.”—Retired New York Supreme Court Judge Karen Smith, working as a legal observer after the raids on Zucotti Park this Tuesday

Source.

On the west coast, a police officer, in riot gear, pepper-sprayed an unarmed, sitting group of students at UC Davis. When asked whether this was considered this excessive force, Police Chief Annette Spicuzza said that the officer was concerned for his safety:





Video of the incident. Judge for yourself just how much danger the officer was in (warning: this is pretty fucking unpleasant).

Source.

In other news, Clark Lytle Geduldig & Cranford, a D.C. lobbying firm with close ties to Wall Street, has proposed to the American Bankers Association that they should pay CLGC for opposition research on OWS—as well as on any Democratic politicians who are in any way allied with or supportive of the movement—so that they can construct negative narratives about them.

The memo also asserts that Democratic victories in 2012 would be detrimental for Wall Street and targets specific races in which it says Wall Street would benefit by electing Republicans instead.

Source. (I highly recommend reading the entire piece.)