Comments

1
http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/citizen_res…

Email the Mayor, this needs to end. Innocent bystanders are getting caught in the crossfire. The city is begging for a lawsuit with that pregnant woman who got maced.
2
That is exactly the sort of picture that changes things.
3
Fuckers.
4
Josh Trujillo is as well. So glad he's still doing work for what's left of the PI.
5
I think you found your cover photo for the next print issue of the stranger...
6
fyi, there's a broken link to this post.
7
That's a Pulitzer Prize photo.
8
Great work Josh.
@2 exactly, exactly

Ms. Rainey...wow. Words fail - in a good way?
I'd thank you for being there, but...I'll just thank you for motivating myself and others instead.
9
SPD, you must be so proud, you pack of craven little pigdogs.
10
Dear SPD, you are officially dicks.

Yeah, yeah, I know, you needed to clear the streets, because we can't impede the precious commuters in any way. But pepper spraying pregnant women and 84 year old ladies who survived the Second World War is totally a dick move.

Whatever point you were trying to make, you just lost the argument.
11
Dorli is an awesome, engaged citizen. Just spend some time at City Hall and you're bound to see her testify.
12
"Screw us and we multiply."

Thank you, Dorli.
13
What a terrible photo... It almost made me cry.
14
@5 I think not. That photo is the property of seattlepi.com, protected by copyright. Not to take anything away from Josh or this amazing photo, but I'm sure the Stranger editors are smart enough to know they have no right to use it.
15
While I genuinely, sincerely wish Dorli Rainey a speedy recovery let's keep her "Oops an old lady got caught in a tussle" in proper perspective.

Dorli (our former mayoral candidate) is known for being habitually arrested during her "Oops a little old lady got caught in a tussle" schtick (Bangor, Hanford, Nickelsville, etc. Look it up.)

Stranger's omission of that kinda' thing is the worst kind of one-sided reporting.

Being 84 doesn't give you a hall pass to exercise your lungs and opinions on your terms, flouting the law to assert your belief in a supreme national plan. (Ironically, as an Austrian, you'd think she'd appreciate that.)

If you wanna' protest. Go for it. But accept the legal consequence.

Before you all get pissed-off: If you're going to factor age and gender into the equation of exercisable rights, please feel free to tell us where that discrimination stops. 70? Men? 62? 55?

Anyone with genuine concern for Dorli as a frail 84-year old would see to it that she not be used as a human shield for the interests of Occupy.

Dorli, we won't insult you by treating you like a little old lady. Please don't insult us with "Oops, a little old lady" routine.

Get better. But please stay outa' the street.
16
That's some money shot?
17
I cried.
18
"If you wanna' protest. Go for it. But accept the legal consequence."

Legal consequence of non violent assembly and protest = pepper spray to the face. Right.

"Anyone with genuine concern for Dorli as a frail 84-year old would see to it that she not be used as a human shield for the interests of Occupy. "

How was she used as a human shield. It seems she was just there, along with many others.

19
@15: "human shield"? What the fuck are you talking about? Eat shit, you pathetic troll.
20
15 is spot-on. She actively seeks out situations like tonight. Great that she's trying to make a difference and putting herself on the line, but let's not pretend she was a poor hapless victim who had no idea what sort of situation she was entering.

Her "About Me" page:
http://www.oldladyincombatboots.com/?pag…

"About the Old Lady

I’m Dorli Rainey, political activist and all-around troublemaker. This is my blog. I believe change begins in the streets, and all citizens have the power to make a difference. Together we can make our voices heard in the ivory towers of government, so lace up your combat boots, log in and turn on!"

From 2009 re: Nickelsville:
http://westseattleblog.com/blog/wp-conte…

22
Hmm, @15, actually, being from Austria she might know a thing or two about what happens when citizens don't speak truth to power and take action against a fascistic government.
23
Oh her. Jesus. Dom, you got scammed again. We're you, like, there?
24
Asshole @20,21...

So because she's an activist she somehow deserves to be pepper sprayed?

Does that apply to ANYONE who protests, or just her? How about that First Amendment to the US Constitution?

Not enough jerks in this world are there?
25
@22 I totally think she's sincere. She ran for Mayor, she's engaged in her community, and she speaks her mind. She should make pro-OWS couch potatoes feel ashamed, and rightly so.

The Bambi-in-the-headlights routine, however, is totally disingenuous.
26
Monday: Seattle City Council passess resolution supporting Occupy Seattle.
Tuesday: Seattle Police Department attacks Occupy Seattle.
27

Chill the fuck out Schmacky @19. Just because you're the gullible douche who fell for the "Old Lady in the Street" gag. What a dumbass, to believe that horse shit excuse.

About 99% of the 99% can't wait to see the cops go completely ape-shit on your tired, do-nothing, wah-wah complaining asses. But they're patient and professional police so, damn, not likely gonna happen. But if you want to balance the City books, put the deserved head-kicking of the Occupy shitbags on pay-per-view. For once, you'd be right: "The whole world is watching."
28
What's horrific is that they pepper-sprayed her after the intersection had already been cleared and protesters had moved to the sidewalk-- WHERE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE. It was disgusting.
29
@24 Dude, I don't even know where to begin with you. This is probably a good start:

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e…

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e…

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e…

30
@29...

We got peppersprayed in the U-District in '69 for exercising our First Amendment rights...we had brothers and sisters die at Kent State exercising our First Amendment rights. Twerps like you don't get drafted because of the stink we raised then. Why do you want to bitch about the venerable Ms. Rainey? What kind of Police overreaction do you endorse and why? Just WHAT do you want to tell me about freedom of expression, sonny?
31
@27: I feel sorry for you, but not so sorry as to continue feeding you.
32
@22: Fascist government now? I thought the protest was against Wall Street greed mongers.
And just who is fascist? Obama? McGinn? The Seattle City Council who just gave Occupy Seattle their blessing yesterday?
Or, did you recently watch ‘The Sound of Music’ and are blending Dorli Rainey with Maria Von Trapp?
33
@30 What do I want to tell you about freedom of expression? That you are free to express yourself, and I'm free to express myself, but please don't put words so freely in my mouth. And posting angry responses to arguments I didn't make.

I never said she, or anyone else, "deserved to be pepper-sprayed." I wasn't there. I have no idea what happened. I don't know if she was on the sidewalk straining to see over other people's shoulders, or if she was in the middle of the intersection mooning the cops.

I *do* know, based on all the citations above and her own letter to Dominic and her blog page, that she frequently and actively seeks out publicity for her orchestrated acts of civil disobedience, and that the whole "Poor Defenseless Granny" angle presented in this blog post is a sham.

If you'd bothered to read what was in posts 15, 20, and 21, instead of opening with "Asshole" and a bunch of straw-mans and inaccuracies, I wouldn't have to restate it here.

Also, you're free to lecture me about the history of the American protest movement and your important place in it, and I'm free to express to you that you're a condescending and narcissistic shit with poor reading comprehension and impulse control skills.

Peace.
34
Damn. @33 FTW.
35
Dorli is no little old lady; she is indeed a civic treasure, a bright shining light unto all other people who work for justice, and she's done this for most of her very long life. Anyone who criticizes her for doing what's guaranteed by the frigging Constitution, in demonstrating for liberties that everyone wants to enjoy (but usually at no cost to themselves), should live to be 84 and then count their own contributions to a free society. If they're honest with themselves, they'll feel shame.
36
@32, yes that's what they will call it, rise of fascism. And then ironically still endorse McGinn and Obama when they come up for re-election in 2012 and 2013.
37
As an OS supporter I can certainly tell you I never have and never will support either McGinn or Obama.
38
@36
As an OS supporter I can certainly tell you I never have and never will support either McGinn or Obama.
39
@34, now are you going to be honest with us and update your post to "@35 FTW"?
40
And if Ms Rainey is a civic treasure has the Stranger done an in depth story about her civic activities?
41
http://youtu.be/Xhl03fZ9Q2w check out these other "unruly " threats that the SPD pepper sprayed
42
Fucking.AWESOME.

this is what we've been waiting for.....
43
The SPD hasn't heard about something called "The camera", a new fangled contraption that takes images and sends them around the world. The proper response is a larger crowd of peaceful protesters. Your cause is just. Your efforts laudable. Make history for a better future, not only for yourselves but for your children's children.
44
Dorli Rainey has a much better understanding of her rights as a United States citizens than most natural-born citizens. You could tell by her willingness to stand up for what is right instead of hiding behind a computer screen and making up her own conclusions about the situation based on tiny scraps of film here and there.

Seriously, if you're watching this at home at that is the only involvement you have had thus far, it shows in your complaints :)
45
@20/@21 thanks so much for posting the link to her terrific blog! I wouldn't have discovered it on my own, and everything you and the troll wrote made me like her even more. She is clearly an awesome human being.
46
@45 You're welcome and I agree that her activism is inspiring and admirable.
47
What are the limits of acceptable police violence? Pepper spray is ok, but cattle prods aren't? Why not? Clubs are ok, but not dogs?

Who makes the rules?

In a case like this, public opinion. I think the public is going to look at Dori's picture, and the opinion is going to be that the police over-reacted (and let's face it, it's unusual when they don't.) And whether Dori is a naif or not, score one for OS.
48
Well, don't be a douchebag, and you won't get pepper sprayed. it's that simple, no matter how old you are. She got what she expected to get, and I for one hope they use batons next time.
49
Jesus, Seattle. What a bunch of loser cops you have working for you. Shoot somebody dead without provocation and get fired... once that's acceptable, everything else they do is a footnote.

This beautiful town has a lot of wonderful, progressive people in it. Why does it tolerate snarling dog cops?

@#15 Who's paying you to propagandize here? Hmmm?
50
Twerp @33..

Sounds like you need your diaper changed.
51
LOl at Libtards
52
Conservative trolls just don't get it. Just because a little old lady is a political activist who seeks out non-violent protests to participate in doesn't change the fact that the police use violence on little old ladies who are doing nothing but standing on a street or sidewalk or in a park. The whole point of non-violent protest is that they're not doing anything to hurt anyone. If the police (or conservative rent-a-mob, I expect that to roll out soon) choose to pepper spray, beat, taze, and shoot at people who's only "crime" is standing, walking, and thinking then it's clear the police are acting immorally.

However, since the conservative trolls don't have a concept of morality beyond an us-versus-them tribalism they can't get their heads around it.
54


You keep repeating "non-violent" protest as if repeating it over, and over, and over will delude people into believing it.

When you're told to get outa' the street – and don't – you're gonna' get "moved." You don't have to like it. But that's they way it's always worked, and always will work. (Enjoy the hot sauce and a bike on your foot.)

Your indignation over whatever student loan you took out, lack of skills you've acquired, home mortgage you over-leveraged, or substance preference you've acquired doesn't entitle you to obstruct others in the course of their everyday lives. Sitting in the middle of the street in fact DOES hurt people. People who have jobs to get to, kids to pick-up after school, teams they need to coach, evening class exams they need to go take, doctors appointments they need to get to.

Occupy doesn't represent the 99%, it represents the "Other 1%"." People who can only seems to blame others for their condition. And want others to pull them out of it. In fact you aren't what Democracy looks like. You're what Statism looks like.

That, and some other marvelous impressions you're making:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=758_13213…
55
For those who would like to contact the Mayor directly:

Mike McGinn
(206) 233-3881

Mike.McGinn@seattle.gov
56
For those who would like to contact the Mayor directly:

Mike McGinn
(206) 233-3881

Mike.McGinn@seattle.gov
57
Mutant strain of exceptionally low-grade morons today. Pepper spray should be used against those posing an actual threat. What threat was she posing to anybody? How retarded do you have to be to get accepted onto the Seattle police force? Officer Cletus sees a woman on the sidewalk and thinks "Halp! Imma spray this Gestapo granny 'fore she git me!" These idiots really make six figures? That is so disheartening.

You slimy litttle conservative maggots were annoying at first, but I can't hate you now. I like watching as you desperately use spite to try to save (ugly) face. It makes me smile. Not just because you are on the wrong side of history, but because you know it.
58
By the way, not 10 minutes after this photo was taken, she was out helping and comforting other people who had been sprayed. Truly an inspirational woman.
59
Dorli doesn't put herself out there as a little granny. She stands up for what she believes in. It's the media that plays the little old lady card, because the media always goes for the angle. Dorli's as old as she is; should she stop protesting just because her age gives the sensationalist media a hook for their stories?
60
Thank you for attempting to set a criteria ("pepper spray should only be used when...) by which only your argument can prevail. Always he hallmark of intellectual rigor.

We're not on the wrong side of anything, as civil order and individual rights are on our side as well. Your right to speech, assembly and the redress of grievances does not -- not matter how much you want to believe it -- trump everyone's else's right to freedom of association. And more specifically freedom FROM association, with Occuppiers who want to compel us to their speech, and restrict our free movement. You don't have the right to make your priority everyone's priority. So its just as much government's job to assure that we can move about our lives without some rank imbicile obstructing a road. If you don't like something, then vote, march, or go to court. But don't have fucking temper tantrum about your student loan in the middle of the road, and then your feelings hurt because someone uses a non-lethal, temporary remedy to your asshat behavior.

61
57, The police didn't specifically target Rainey. She was mixed in with a rowdy crowd with folks who were disobeying a police order. You may not agree that the police order was right, or you may believe that pepper spay was too much force for the disobedience at hand, but don't make it out to be something it was not.
62
@Zok - it's funny how critical mass can jam up the roads FOR REAL yet I can't recall the last time they maced an old woman during the demonstration nor do I recall seeing you foaming at the mouth about it. You make so many condescending comments about everyone elses IQ yet you yourself couldn't argue your way out of a paper bag without resorting to cheap insults - exactly like the people you are arguing with yet obviously feel so far above.

It's highly amusing. Carry on :)

63
@54/60 - Exactly, so tired of being lumped in with the other 1%. OWS does not represent the 99% (although it is a cute slogan).

I do certainly respect her convictions and, ironically, she seems to be one of the few who isn't shirking taking responsibility and acknowledging her actions. Perhaps a lesson for the other "99%"...?
64
More iconic images from last night:

http://www.demotix.com/news/926678/occup…
65
Boo-hoo Sidekick @62.

The Venn diagram of Critical Mass and Occupy is nearly a perfect overlap. So - CM is getting sprayed, plenty. And if they stop in the road, they probably deserve reasonable time to yield to others who want to use the public amenity. And when they don't, then I really won't give them any sympathy for their spicy eyes and hacking cough.

If your logic is "They didn't mace me at Critical Mass -- so why are they doing it to Occupy?" they I'm certain you've found your cognitive equals at Occupy: The intellectual giants rummaging around town, shitting in planters, baiting the police, stretching the limits of patchouli's masking powers – and still wondering why The 98% think you're pathetic.

For some reason, you think YOUR interests and concerns take a priority over everyone else's, and then get your panties in a twist when you find-out that civil society takes a dim view of your incivility.
66
#60 "And more specifically freedom FROM association, with Occuppiers who want to compel us to their speech, and restrict our free movement. You don't have the right to make your priority everyone's priority."

Sorry, #60, but the Constitution guarantees the RIGHT of the people to assemble, not your right to not be inconvenienced by that on your way to get a latte or go coach your kid's soccer team. You certainly have the right, with all the publicity about when and where protests are happening, to route your business about it.
67
66, right to assembly is not absolute, and doesn't include blocking streets.
68
@61, Rob wrote, "The police didn't specifically target Rainey. She was mixed in with a rowdy crowd with folks who were disobeying a police order. You may not agree that the police order was right, or you may believe that pepper spay was too much force for the disobedience at hand, but don't make it out to be something it was not."

Rob, to what order did you mean to refer? I was there, across the street, videotaping. Much (most?) of the chemical weapon use targeted people who were on the sidewalk.
69
@66

You're right that I don't have the right to be inconvenienced, which why we have ordinances and processes to establish (and communicate) where and when protest will be held. I'll happily move my schedule around anyone that wants to assemble peacefully, according to any kind of a reasonable social contract. And a kids soccer game or latte run does seem to fit neatly with the inconvenience narrative. But the people late for their doctor's appointment, or having a hungry kid stuck in a closing daycare that fines you for being late, or borrowing a car from a friend who needs it to get to work. That's not an inconvenience. That's a fucking injustice, and -- for those people -- the Occupiers deserve an ass-whooping for it.

The Occupy movement is as narcissistic as they come, and so don't be surprised when a city bites back.
70
Rules. There are only two: For the occupiers - build your movement; and for the 1% it's protect your interests. Anything else is up for grabs.
71
@69 it's whupping not "whooping" ... but nice malapropism ...
72
Whateva.

“In October 2011 a Reuters story titled "Soros: not a funder of Wall Street protests" was published after several commentators pointed out errors in an earlier Reuters story headlined "Who's behind the Wall St. protests?"with a lede stating that the Occupy Wall Street movement "may have benefited indirectly from the largesse of one of the world's richest men [Soros]". Reuters' follow-up article also reported a Soros spokesperson and Adbusters' co-founder Kalle Lasn both saying that Adbusters – which was the catalyst for the first Occupy Wall Street protests – had never received any contributions from Soros, contrary to Reuters' earlier story which reported that "indirect financial links" existed between the two as late as 2010.[59][60]”
—Wikipedia (OH NOES!)
73
Whoop my ass Zok. Doctor ever get in you in on time? Kids gonna fade from lack of an afternoon snack? Can't keep your own car running? Those are injustices? You sound like a real pussy and poor provider to me.
74
68. The police order being given in the video I saw was, "Move back". I'm not saying the pepper spray was the way to go, but the police obviously wanted to at least open part of the side walk up for pedestrians not involved with the protests.
75
73, what about an ambulance trying to reach a heart attack victim? I'm for the protests, but this kind of stupid shit isn't winning anyone over.
76
Although it seems clear that the growing protests sweeping across the USA are comprised of different factions , some of which may be anarchist or irrational , great numbers are legitimate people who have lost trust in a corrupt governmental and corporate cabal...
The police are increasingly seen as an army of occupation, defending a regime against popular revolt ...Further economic deterioration , unemployment , poverty and living cost inflation will swell the ranks of protest , resulting in escalated police violence
The outcome can only be one of three possibilities :
!- Reform ? ..( LOL )
2- brutal fascist suppression of the public ( Tienamen square , anyone ? )
3- Overthrow of the "system" ( wait ...that can't happen here ...of course not ...
this is "AMERIKA " ..The police are invincible
77
The big winners will be the manufacturers of tear gas , rubber bullets , water cannons , barbed wire , pepper spray ...and of course a windfall of overtime pay for the legions of of the American police ....In theory there is a so-called "bill of rights"...in practice ..EVERYTHING is illegal except that which is specifically permitted by the police.
78
I hate myself for compulsively reading these threads. Online news forums always attract the craziest people. A few things:

It's disheartening to see so many people trying to justify the actions by the police. You make assumptions about what happened. Read an actual account of what happened and then make up your mind, instead of taking a few scraps from the main stream media and shoving it into your ideological box of choice to come up with an opinion. The protesters were in the street, were given the orders to move, and had made the decision to move (democratically) right before the bike copes surrounded them, penned them in, and pepper-sprayed them. That is what happened.

Those who say that the protesters deserved it or should have known what they were getting themselves into are the ones who passively accept the authority of the police and the mayor. Again, please look beyond the main stream media to form your opinions. I saw this today: "If you're not angry, you're not paying attention. If you're paying attention and you're not angry, well...the problem is not with the World, the problem is with you."

It doesn't matter that it was Dorli who was pepper-sprayed, it matters that pepper-spray was used at all. The use of chemical agents against nonviolent protesters is as absurd as the Israeli army using fighter jets and highly-trained military commandos against the Palestinian rockets and rag-tag freedom fighters. The protesters have flags and gas masks, the police have guns and pepper-spray. Do the math.

Protesters occupying an intersection is not killing anyone. You know what is? The US army occupying Iraq and Afghanistan. The federal government cutting social service programs is killing people. The federal government cutting education, thus condemning millions of Americans to poverty, is killing people. The state government passing an all-cuts budget year after year with no regard to the human suffering created is killing people. Wall Street scamming millions out of their homes with loan-shark schemes is killing people. Corporations polluting our land, sea, and air is killing people. Protesters occupying a park is not killing people. Sorry for inconveniencing you, we are trying to WAKE YOU UP to the fact that it isn't my fault, or your fault, or "the poor"'s fault, it is the economic system we are living under that is at fault. The police are only a symptom of this problem, insofar as they are used to keep it in place and crush dissent.

Seattle needs an independent, elected police civilian review board!
79
I hate myself for compulsively reading these threads. Online news forums always attract the craziest people. A few things:

It's disheartening to see so many people trying to justify the actions by the police. You make assumptions about what happened. Read an actual account of what happened and then make up your mind, instead of taking a few scraps from the main stream media and shoving it into your ideological box of choice to come up with an opinion. The protesters were in the street, were given the orders to move, and had made the decision to move (democratically) right before the bike copes surrounded them, penned them in, and pepper-sprayed them. That is what happened.

Those who say that the protesters deserved it or should have known what they were getting themselves into are the ones who passively accept the authority of the police and the mayor. Again, please look beyond the main stream media to form your opinions. I saw this today: "If you're not angry, you're not paying attention. If you're paying attention and you're not angry, well...the problem is not with the World, the problem is with you."

It doesn't matter that it was Dorli who was pepper-sprayed, it matters that pepper-spray was used at all. The use of chemical agents against nonviolent protesters is as absurd as the Israeli army using fighter jets and highly-trained military commandos against the Palestinian rockets and rag-tag freedom fighters. The protesters have flags and gas masks, the police have guns and pepper-spray. Do the math.

Protesters occupying an intersection is not killing anyone. You know what is? The US army occupying Iraq and Afghanistan. The federal government cutting social service programs is killing people. The federal government cutting education, thus condemning millions of Americans to poverty, is killing people. The state government passing an all-cuts budget year after year with no regard to the human suffering created is killing people. Wall Street scamming millions out of their homes with loan-shark schemes is killing people. Corporations polluting our land, sea, and air is killing people. Protesters occupying a park is not killing people. Sorry for inconveniencing you, we are trying to WAKE YOU UP to the fact that it isn't my fault, or your fault, or "the poor"'s fault, it is the economic system we are living under that is at fault. The police are only a symptom of this problem, insofar as they are used to keep it in place and crush dissent.

Seattle needs an independent, elected police civilian review board!
80
I hate myself for compulsively reading these threads. Online news forums always attract the craziest people. A few things:

It's disheartening to see so many people trying to justify the actions by the police. You make assumptions about what happened. Read an actual account of what happened and then make up your mind, instead of taking a few scraps from the main stream media and shoving it into your ideological box of choice to come up with an opinion. The protesters were in the street, were given the orders to move, and had made the decision to move (democratically) right before the bike copes surrounded them, penned them in, and pepper-sprayed them. That is what happened.

Those who say that the protesters deserved it or should have known what they were getting themselves into are the ones who passively accept the authority of the police and the mayor. Again, please look beyond the main stream media to form your opinions. I saw this today: "If you're not angry, you're not paying attention. If you're paying attention and you're not angry, well...the problem is not with the World, the problem is with you."

It doesn't matter that it was Dorli who was pepper-sprayed, it matters that pepper-spray was used at all. The use of chemical agents against nonviolent protesters is as absurd as the Israeli army using fighter jets and highly-trained military commandos against the Palestinian rockets and rag-tag freedom fighters. The protesters have flags and gas masks, the police have guns and pepper-spray. Do the math.

Protesters occupying an intersection is not killing anyone. You know what is? The US army occupying Iraq and Afghanistan. The federal government cutting social service programs is killing people. The federal government cutting education, thus condemning millions of Americans to poverty, is killing people. The state government passing an all-cuts budget year after year with no regard to the human suffering created is killing people. Wall Street scamming millions out of their homes with loan-shark schemes is killing people. Corporations polluting our land, sea, and air is killing people. Protesters occupying a park is not killing people. Sorry for inconveniencing you, we are trying to WAKE YOU UP to the fact that it isn't my fault, or your fault, or "the poor"'s fault, it is the economic system we are living under that is at fault. The police are only a symptom of this problem, insofar as they are used to keep it in place and crush dissent.

Seattle needs an independent, elected police civilian review board!
81
I hate myself for compulsively reading these threads. Online news forums always attract the craziest people. A few things:

It's disheartening to see so many people trying to justify the actions by the police. You make assumptions about what happened. Read an actual account of what happened and then make up your mind, instead of taking a few scraps from the main stream media and shoving it into your ideological box of choice to come up with an opinion. The protesters were in the street, were given the orders to move, and had made the decision to move (democratically) right before the bike cops surrounded them, penned them in, and pepper-sprayed them. That is what happened.

Those who say that the protesters deserved it or should have known what they were getting themselves into are the ones who passively accept the authority of the police and the mayor. Again, please look beyond the main stream media to form your opinions. I saw this today: "If you're not angry, you're not paying attention. If you're paying attention and you're not angry, well...the problem is not with the World, the problem is with you."

It doesn't matter that it was Dorli who was pepper-sprayed, it matters that pepper-spray was used at all. The use of chemical agents against nonviolent protesters is as absurd as the Israeli army using fighter jets and highly-trained military commandos against the Palestinian rockets and rag-tag freedom fighters. The protesters have flags and gas masks, the police have guns and pepper-spray. Do the math.

Protesters occupying an intersection is not killing anyone. You know what is? The US army occupying Iraq and Afghanistan. The federal government cutting social service programs is killing people. The federal government cutting education, thus condemning millions of Americans to poverty, is killing people. The state government passing an all-cuts budget year after year with no regard to the human suffering created is killing people. Wall Street scamming millions out of their homes with loan-shark schemes is killing people. Corporations polluting our land, sea, and air is killing people. Protesters occupying a park is not killing people. Sorry for inconveniencing you, we are trying to WAKE YOU UP to the fact that it isn't my fault, or your fault, or "the poor"'s fault, it is the economic system we are living under that is at fault. The police are only a symptom of this problem, insofar as they are used to keep it in place and crush dissent.

Seattle needs an independent, elected police civilian review board!
82
woops, It kept saying that it didn't post and then it posted a bunch at once...
83
Always innnnteresting to see how much the 1%'s boot lickers go out of their way to try to pick fights on these threads. I suppose some are paid, but speculate that most are sad and pathetic lost souls who derive the only thrills they really get in life by these impotent jabs. By their comments it's obvious that they know nothing of what they speak (student loans? You think this is about STUDENT LOANS dumbshit??!!) and are programmed by repignikkin hate radio to repeat their little sound bites and then wander off to beat their families. Really lovely people. And BTW - GO DORLI! So proud to live in a city where we have heroines like her.
84
I was there, on my way to my bus stop after work. The protestors were completely blocking the intersection. They were asked to move. They did not. They were asked REPEATEDLY to move out of the way of traffic. They did not. Someone decided it was a good idea to throw shit at a bunch of cops in riot gear, armed with tear gas. The police officers, in turn, decided they would no longer request people to move. Ms. Rainey, being a part of that street-blocking, no-longer-peaceful group of protestors knew damn well what was coming and she chose not to move out of the illegal blockage of traffic. This is not her first time to the rodeo.

Can someone please tell me what point they were proving by blocking other average citizens on their way home from work? Is Occupy not supposed to be about the corruption of banks and the wealthy paying their fair share of taxes?

Sorry protestors, but you knew what was coming at you and you didn't peacefully move. Don't play victim. You're not. You're instigators. And you're assholes. And you've lost my sympathy.

85
I was there too, on my way to class. The only people who got pepper sprayed were people actively trying to get pepper sprayed in order to make a point, this woman included.
86
@84-85...

Sure you were. You guys saw EVERYTHING. You have first hand knowledge of an 84 year old woman brazenly baiting police.

Good job trolls...nice trolling there.
87
@86 Lol, nope. I didn't see everything, but I was there. And I didn't get pepper sprayed, because I wasn't trying to get pepper sprayed.

And yes, she's an 84 year-old woman who baits police. She admits to that. See #15, 20.
88
Those horrible awful protesters inconvenienced me! I'm going to cry about it on the Internet! Because they were in the street, I was late getting to Wal-Mart and all the 4-liter buckets of Diet Mountain Dew were gone by the time I got there! What about my right to convenience, protesters? Huh? Isn't that in the Constitution too?
89
Yes 86, I was. And yes, I watched the whole thing from a safe distance. And, exactly what 87 said. I didn't get sprayed because I wasn't behaving like an instigator.

And 88, way to be a drama queen. I was trying to get HOME. My home that I work my ass off to pay for. I am the 99%. And I believe strongly in the original message of Occupy, but these assy theatrics and ridiculous behavior that ISN'T CREATING CHANGE, have made me angry, jaded and tired and, as a liberal, I'm ashamed of you.
Creating Change - You're doing it wrong, Occupiers. You're proving nothing other than you can camp on concrete in shitty weather conditions, block traffic, and hold signs.
The people who are actually creating change are buying locally, moving their money to credit unions, taking actual action that actually effects the banks and big retailers...not sitting around a park bitching about it or blocking people trying to get home and causing civil disobedience. You get more response when you behave like a civilized, educated public rather than a bunch of fit-throwing toddlers.
90
Stupid 84 year old professional troublemaker gets hit with pepper spray?

Yawn...

Please wait...

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