Since we talked yesterday about the dearth of main stream media coverage on the Wall Street occupation, a few things have happened. Most interestingly for me, The Nation called out the New York Times for its dismissive tone and lack of journalistic integrity. Here’s a clip:
…I’m reminded of Matthew Prowless, a 40-year-old father of two, who attended the Occupy Wall Street protest, and who is as unassuming of a man as I’ve ever seen—not someone who would have caught Bellafante’s gaze. He wore a baseball cap and stood with his friend by a group of black bloc protesters, whom Matthew was eyeing curiously like they were exotic fish in an aquarium.
When I spoke with him, Matthew called the louder aspects of the protest (the black bloc, the “protest yoga,” etc.) distractions from the far more serious cause.
“My home has been seized, I’m unemployed, there’s no job prospects on the horizon. I have two children and I don’t see a future for them. This is the only way I see to effect change. This isn’t a progressive issue. This is an American issue. We’re here to take our country back from the corporations,” he said, adding he fears for the future of the United States where corporations can now spend unlimited, anonymous dollars to elect the candidates of their choices. After the protest ended for the day, Matthew couldn’t occupy the park because he had to go care for his two children.
I also spoke with a young man named Kevin Stanley, a nurse who made the trek to the protest filled with optimism and left feeling simultaneously elated and disappointed. He was alarmed that the protesters (he calls them “kids”) are held up in Zuccotti Park without the presence of medical professionals. During his time there, he treated three cases of hypothermia and a person going through withdrawal as well as infected wounds from not being able to care for open blisters.
It’s a shame Bellafante didn’t run into Kevin, because they actually agree on the poor organization aspects of the event.
“Many times the communal nature of things will get the actual task done quickly, but all the competing views with no defined hierarchy just reminds me of Lord of The Flies,” he said.
For every batshit-crazy quote Bellafante presents, I can match it with a calm, articulate response from another attendee. I guarantee that. However, that’s not the point. I’m not a believer in the “perfect objectivity” goal for journalists because it’s impossible to ever obtain. Human beings inherently possess prejudices and biases that blind them to aspects of reality. Bellafante is less likely to see the Matthews. I’m less likely to see the black bloc…
And, our friends at NPR defended their decision not to cover the so-called occupation, stating that the protests “did not involve large numbers of people, prominent people, a great disruption or an especially clear objective.” In other words, they did not have the organization and discipline of the Tea Party, which had the benefit of Koch Brother money and such luminaries as Victoria Jackson and Angelina Jolie’s dad. Fortunately, however, it looks as though things may have tipped in favor of the protesters today, as a few “prominent people” showed up to pledge their support. So, I expect we’ll be hearing more about the protests soon on our local NPR affiliates. In the meantime, though, we’ll just have to make due with MSNBC, which has been doing a great job today outlining the instances of police brutality on the ground.
And I’m not naive enough to think that MSNBC is covering this just because they want to get the word out about the growing protest movement. I realize that violence sells, and that Lawrence O’Donnell’s ratings haven’t been particularly strong. For whatever the reason, though, I think it’s a good thing that the word is slowly getting out. As I mentioned earlier, I have my own concerns about the core group of protesters on the street in New York right now. I don’t think, however, that’s the story. I think the story is that today’s protest is at least 100 times larger than the “occupation” that was attempted on Wall Street in the spring. The story is that a revolution is brewing, and the next protest will likely be a hell of a lot larger.
33 Comments
The cop in the video should be fired.
In case others, like me, didn’t know the term “black bloc”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_bloc
I don’t find black bloc tactics particularly effective and the political messaging could use an edit, but they’re there getting their heads kicked in and we’re here in Ypsi with no skin in the game. The criticism and second guessing from do-nothings like ourselves is counter-productive and a little pathetic. At some point you just have to put your shoulder into it and move the pile.
I’m sure that Lawrence O’Donnell will book this kid on his show. Just another future Democrat:
http://moonbattery.com/?p=2778
Amen, Josh. And, for what it’s worth, I think it’s beginning to happen. I think those quotes from people watching the protests, in The Nation article referenced, are illustrative of that. It’s not all topless members of the Rainbow Gathering.
Matt Taibi agrees with you.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/occupy-wall-street-drawing-the-battle-lines-20110927
My friend Kevin Gosztola wrote a great piece on this, Why Establishment Media & the Power Elite Loathe Occupy Wall Street:
http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2011/09/27/why-establishment-media-the-power-elite-loathe-occupy-wall-street/
A journalist who attempted to interview the women who were sprayed by the police was taken into custody by the police and held for 9 hours.
http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/news/2011/09/observations-of-a-jailed-journalist/
I wonder how many of these corporate news outlets covered Nancy Grace’s nipple?
MArk!
You’re a genius.
Yes, I’ve been told.
I would so like to be there, but am unable to go to NY City. Anyone know of plans for some kind of related protest here in our area?
Well done
On “Salon,” Glenn Greenwald questions why the Left is not yet fully embracing this movement, asking: “What’s behind the scorn for the Wall Street protests?”
http://tinyurl.com/3tbq3cj
Ricky, here’s a place to look.
https://www.rt.com/usa/news/occupy-wall-street-spreads-505/
Maybe you all can grasp on what is really happening…………..maybe!
http://dailybail.com/home/dylan-ratigan-with-author-ron-suskind-tim-geithner-ran-the-w.html
Thanks Meta. Interestingly enough I can’t get to the webpage through the link you posted. Tried copy and pasting it into the browser window with no success. Hmmm……Wonder if the Yahoo gremlins are at work again…Anybody else have an issue getting to it?
Yesterday that article had a live link to a site called Occupy Together that was coordinating events around the country. I’m not sure what happened.
Here it is:
http://www.occupytogether.org/
Glad I could help.
And here’s a link to the discussion about Occupation events in Michigan:
http://www.occupytogether.org/events/midwest/occupy-lansing/
Can progressives/liberals even understand this video?
http://www.morningstartv.com/oak-initiative/marxism-america
These “Whack-o’s don’t even know where they are and why they are in NY.
http://weaselzippers.us/2011/10/01/nyc-anti-capitalism-protesters-attempt-to-march-on-nypd-headquarters-crowd-get-lost/
Every time ole’ Tater makes a post he donates $25.00 to the re-elect Scott Brown re-election campaign. Thanks Mark for the “exposure” because other conservatives are joinging in now! Again………thanks!
MSNBC “doing at good job”???? Running in last place on the “viewers list” behind CNN, CBS, ABC and of course Fox News (1st. place)……..always! There’s another $25.00 bucks for Brown. Thanks!
“Day of Fail”. What would anyone expect from liberals. They are failures and the proof is in the pudding……………his name? Barack Obama! Move over Jimmy Carter because we have found your replacement as the worst of the worst! +$25.00
http://zombietime.com/day_of_fail/
Why does the United States and every other capitalist, free market system need rich people?
http://godfatherpolitics.com/139/why-we-need-rich-people/
Why the Free Market system is the top dog when it comes to people lives and their future.
http://www.activistpost.com/2011/04/free-markets-and-socialism-alternative.html
The goal of the Barack Obama regime. No one can dispute that there are parallels between what has already been put into place and what Obama wants in the future:
http://www.morningstartv.com/oak-initiative/marxism-america
Capitalism: Private ownership of wealth .
Communism: Common ownership and control of property.
Socialism: Government ownership of industry and capital. –
“Tax the rich, feed the poor
Till there are no rich no more”
Marxism: Law is considered an instrument of oppression and control.
I called my stockbroker and asked him what I should be buying.
He said, “If the current administration is in office much longer, canned goods and ammunition are your best bet.”
Never ending! Unions and Socialists occupy Wall Street.
http://therealrevo.com/blog/?p=56956
99’ers:
http://www.reddit.com/r/the99/
And, just in case you haven’t heard it recently, here’s George Carlin’s “American Dream,” which is, unfortunately, more relevant than ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acLW1vFO-2Q
Please donate to the Herman Cain Presidential fund to defeat the socialist in the White House.
The “Occupy Wall Street” movement seems to be growing by the hour — both in terms of numbers, and geography.
Here, journalist and truth-teller Chris Hedges asks, essentially, “what are we waiting for?” as he questions why some on the left are still waiting on the sidelines, trying to decide whether or not to support this movement — in a piece that strongly echoes that most esteemed American patriot, Patrick Henry, whose famously soul-stirring speech gave us the classic line … “Give me liberty, or give me death.”
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_best_among_us_20110929/
Wall street-Here come the marines…http://www.addictinginfo.org/2011/10/01/semper-fi-marines-coming-to-protect-protesters-on-wall-street/
Chomsky as usual and a completely far out socialist but he is right on this one:
http://bigpeace.com/stzu/2011/10/02/chomsky-bush-just-tortured-obama-kills-and-is-a-creature-of-wall-street/