Intro: "Over the past ten days, more than a dozen cities have moved to evict 'Occupy' protesters from city parks and other public spaces. As was the case in last night's move in New York City, each of the police actions shares a number of characteristics. And according to one Justice official, each of those actions was coordinated with help from Homeland Security, the FBI and other federal police agencies."

The NYPD clears Occupy Wall Street protesters from Liberty Plaza, 11/15/11. (photo: Craig Ruttle/AP)

Occupy Crackdowns Coordinated With Federal Law Enforcement Officials

By Rick Ellis, Minneapolis Examiner

16 November 11

ver the past ten days, more than a dozen cities have moved to evict "Occupy" protesters from city parks and other public spaces. As was the case in last night's move in New York City, each of the police actions shares a number of characteristics. And according to one Justice official, each of those actions was coordinated with help from Homeland Security, the FBI and other federal police agencies.

The official, who spoke on background to me late Monday evening, said that while local police agencies had received tactical and planning advice from national agencies, the ultimate decision on how each jurisdiction handles the Occupy protests ultimately rests with local law enforcement.

According to this official, in several recent conference calls and briefings, local police agencies were advised to seek a legal reason to evict residents of tent cities, focusing on zoning laws and existing curfew rules. Agencies were also advised to demonstrate a massive show of police force, including large numbers in riot gear. In particular, the FBI reportedly advised on press relations, with one presentation suggesting that any moves to evict protesters be coordinated for a time when the press was the least likely to be present.

The FBI has so far failed to respond to requests for an official response, and of the 14 local police agencies contacted in the past 24 hours, all have declined to respond to questions on this issue.

But in a recent interview with the BBC, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan mentioned she was on a conference call just before the recent wave of crackdowns began.

"I was recently on a conference call of 18 cities who had the same situation, where what had started as a political movement and a political encampment ended up being an encampment that was no longer in control of the people who started them."

At the time this story was updated, Mayor Quan's office had declined to discuss her comments.

Comments

We are concerned about a recent drift towards vitriol in the RSN Reader comments section. There is a fine line between moderation and censorship. No one likes a harsh or confrontational forum atmosphere. At the same time everyone wants to be able to express themselves freely. We'll start by encouraging good judgment. If that doesn't work we'll have to ramp up the moderation.

General guidelines: Avoid personal attacks on other forum members; Avoid remarks that are ethnically derogatory; Do not advocate violence, or any illegal activity.

Remember that making the world better begins with responsible action.

- The RSN Team

+51 # BradFromSalem 2011-11-16 09:02

If the Federal government is encouraging locations to send in storm troopers, evade the press, and use minor law violations to trump the US Constitution's protection of free speech and assembly, then whoever made that decision should answer to their boss.

If it was Eric Holder, then he needs to explain himself to President Obama. It it was Obama, then he needs to explain himself to the American people.

In any case, the decision maker(s) should resign. That includes President Obama.

The Occupy movement poses a threat to only those who believe the 1% is more important than the welfare of the 100%

Do the laws apply to 99% or to 100%?

Royalty is distinctly called out in the U.S. Constitution as not allowed.

Again, laws are for all or only 99%?

+13 # Bluesguy 2011-11-16 10:18

yes; I was wondering about this; actually, waiting for this.
Obama's silence speaks, I fear.
It's time for full PUBLIC calling-out of Obama.
I hear nothing but acquiescence, lack of real will, just the lowest road possible.
Obama and E. placeHolder instruct Napolitano, who choreographs locals-this all proceeds from 9/11, incl robbing us.
Cowards, "men" of low and mean, dark, outlook and sentiment;beref t of ideas or even words so brutality rules.
They don't like the sunlight, these creatures, that run him.
But, their way is the old way of fear and ignorance; like reptiles.

LibLib is right; we must have a PUBLIC position by the Pres.
Make him say it out loud; or be damned by his silence, desire to cavil, or whatever makes him weak.
There are some things that ONLY the Pres. can do, esp. speak out loud to those who are against us, (or would he be talking to himself ?)
Will he ? Nope, would have done so at least after Scott Olsen got shot,NYC girls/84yr old grannies got peppered;Termin ator drone kills citizen for words alone.
We're being conditioned
Individual lawsuits by the thousands for OWS illegal police/gov't actions; maybe Congress. Local level, which is where we need to work anyway, especially when the breakdown comes.
Obama's gone to us. Save yourself about 11 months or so, and accept it now.

+4 # RLF 2011-11-16 13:12

Obama is not silent...He is letting his appointees do the job for him. Obama=1% Obama=corporate control. Oh bummer!

+3 # in deo veritas 2011-11-16 16:31

The nonly thing Obama cares about is getting re-elected. The Repugs have made it clear that the only thing they care about is getting him out of office even if they have to destroy the country to do it. Really? If he was not giving them everything that they want, why has there been no resolution of impeachment started in the House? There are certainly enough actions to justify it? We hear what he says but his inactions speak louder They are all in it together.

+1 # Buddha 2011-11-17 08:51

Dude, our entire political system is the bought and paid-for tool of the 1%, that is the core argument OF the 99% Occuptation protests!! So of course Obama's administration is against these protests. Sure, he's given some campaign-season lukewarm supporting comments for the protests, but don't worry, his puppet-masters know that is just political theater. The groundwork has been laid for the authoritarian takeover of our democracy...Pat riot Act...Homeland Security...you see its beginnings in the San Francisco BART shutdown of communications to "stop" a planned protest, you see it in Bloomberg's goon-squads arresting the press and even a NY City Councilman. The 1st Amendment isn't worth the paper it is written on, and much of that fault is ours, we have LET these rights be eroded by our own government, fearing "terrorists", not realizing that at the end, these laws were implemented to imprison US...

+15 # pernsey 2011-11-16 09:31

Yeah they have to cook up some kind of law to shut the people up and out. But we wont be shut down, the more they try to shut us up the bigger OWS will grow!

+22 # gentle 2011-11-16 10:28

Homeland security is officially defined by the National Strategy for Homeland Security as "a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur". I am to infer: OWS = terrorism. The pundits of 2002 said giving up some dubious rights for safety was a wise and necessary trade. I thought not then as I do now.

+6 # RLF 2011-11-16 13:15

Homeland Security or Fatherland Security?

+7 # in deo veritas 2011-11-16 16:24

Those willing to trade freedom for security deserve neither. Despicable cowards.

+21 # Adoregon 2011-11-16 10:29

Democracy?
I don't think so.
Government of, by, and for the people?
I don't think so.

Faux democracy.
Faux freedoms.
Faux Bill of Rights
Faux justice.

Whose faux is it??

We have a top-down vertical hierarchy:
in the military...
in corporations...
in government...
Very few people call the shots and hold the rest in thrall by controlling jobs and paychecks. The fear, of course, is if you speak out you will lose your job and status.
This is the U.S. equivalent of being sent to Siberia.

Stop living in fear of your employer.
Stop living in fear of your government.

Stop being mythtified.

You are being lied to, intimidated and pushed around.

As many of the OWS folks will attest, freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.

Stand and (non-violently) resist or bend over and allow the hosing to continue.

Your choice, everyday.

+8 # joyster 2011-11-16 10:40

These evictions are very frustrating to hear about. So much for the first amendment. While traveling in Colorado Springs last month, I noticed that the Occupy people there closed up shop at night. Since most of us are not around in the wee hours and the chill of winter is coming on, I hope that the protesters everywhere consider assembling during the day and going home at night. I'd think that they'd still get all the press from their presence and take away a "reason" for the 1% supporting establishment to attack and remove them...

+19 # John Locke 2011-11-16 10:44

President Obama was briefed, and supported the evictions, these things don't occur without the highest level being informed...its time to stop living in a fantasy world, Obama is part of the problem not a part of any solution, he was bought by wall street and soros before he became president, lets be realistic, No one can achieve the office of president or congress unless they sold their soul to wall street, its time for a real american party the peoples party with candidates for the 99% and protect them form assassination like the kennedy brothers were...the 1% play with guns, the Police are brutal because that is their nature, they are not going to back down, because they don't have that level of intelligence to think for themselves, this was set up by the 1% they wanted people who would follow orders when it became necessary...don 't think for one minute they never expected a revolution, they are well prepared for it, the only difference is that we can win by staying non violent and getting millions to see the tyranny we live under... some will never wake up... this reminds me of what Lincoln once said...you can fool some of the people all the time and all the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the poeple all of the time... its time to wake up america...the world is watching what we do, we can be an example to all oppressed people...and now is the time

+21 # davidhp 2011-11-16 10:59

What jurisdiction does the FBI have over demonstrations in individual states. Are the FBI servants of the people or of the corporate entities robbing the people - the answer seems obvious here. The overseers of homeland security and federal law enforcement better start listening to the voices of the people instead their moneyed supporters in the corporate elite. Change is coming whether those in power both politically and economically like it or not - the people are tired of greedy corporate pigs and their bought and paid for lackeys in Congress screwing up the economy and destroying the middle class and poor. The end to this reign of greed is coming to end.

+14 # John Locke 2011-11-16 11:10

The FBI has jurisdiction when an activity crosses state lines, but that is the question isn't it... but homeland security was set up like the German Gestapo, and that is how they act... they are watching us not any potential threat to us...

-14 # AnastasiaP 2011-11-16 11:12

While this is scary-alarming and appears to confirm our worst fears, this article also panders to those worst fears. It would be more compelling if such a radical contention were not being made on such flimsy sourcing and the article didn't include baseless speculation, for instance, on what Mayor Jean Quon was talking about on a conference call.

+9 # conniejo 2011-11-16 14:18

While I suppose it is possible that a mayor of a city with a large "Occupy" encampment was discussing with 18 other mayors of cities with large "Occupy" encampments the likelihood that there will be no NBA season this year, I doubt that the topic of conversation was anything other than removing the occupiers. I'd be happy to be proven wrong . . . but don't hold your breath. The silence of the mayors, Homeland "Security," and the FBI on this topic speaks loudly and clearly to me.

+5 # in deo veritas 2011-11-16 16:21

Pewndering to fear is the trademark of the GOP. Look how well it worked for them after 9/11 with the setting up of the New Gestapo (Homeland Security). Those who are willing to trade freedom for security deserve neither and we are paying the price for their cowardice.

+5 # jwb110 2011-11-16 11:13

FEMA was set up to put a heel on the necks fo Americans. Those who saw this were vilified and now vindicated.
The 1% have to take into consideration that if they use things like FEMA to get rid of the 99% they are going to be scrubbing their own toilets, mowing their own lawns, and trying to put their heels on the necks of one another.
Congress has decided to make war on its own people. Wake UP!

+3 # Bluesguy 2011-11-16 16:00

I am a little reluctant to say this, and do not do so to be the "first" or "right" Cassandra; but, the seeming...I don't know what to call it...dismissive /"amused"/patie nt/measured written and spoken..respons es to OWS and similar grps/indiv's is calculated.
As are the twin charades of the Supercmte, and that 3rd rate carnival/roadsh ow of crazy liars; I am returning to things I was thinking about when I read Jim Marrs "Rule By Secrecy"-(DEBT and fear) these creatures are not immoral, but amoral; industrial psychopaths-chi ld abuse is but one their privileges, at their level.
I believe that the really big hammer is poised, until sufficient preparations have been made.
Internet, cell phones-they can and will be shut down; we will once again do what others before us had to do, for ,oh, about 3000 years.
I hope we find that we can still depend on each other, and Hope I'm wrong about our gov't.

+15 # sandyboy 2011-11-16 11:22

Holyone, so you think the Feds only giving advice means they have nothing to answer for? If the advice was to come in force and hide it from the press while using some obscure byelaw as an excuse to clear protesters, then I think they DO have mud on their hands. Re joyster's suggestion that protesters go home at night to improve image and chances of staying, here in London UK the fact that many were going home at night was used to vilify them as uncommitted dilletantes who should be evicted. Beware trying to placate those who want you silenced - they'll only take it as a sign of weakness.

+8 # Carolyn 2011-11-16 12:39

American violence is coming home.

+9 # Lulie 2011-11-16 14:32

Somehow I knew that all this homeland-securi ty, war-on-terror crap would end up being used against our own citizens.

+8 # Lolanne 2011-11-16 15:25

I would love to see the residents of NYC, and cities around the nation, invite OWSers into their homes to spend nights so they can get some rest before being back out on the street the next day. No tents? No problem! I think people will come through in some way to support this movement. No matter what the mayors and riot cops do, OWS is not going away. And that's exactly what the 1% is scared shitless about. Good! I hope they're quivering in their boots!

+3 # in deo veritas 2011-11-16 16:16

How hard is it to see that Obama and the Repukes are on the same page. He hasn't done anything to stand up to them. If he had done the job we elected him to do, there would have been a resolution of impeachment introduced in the HR long ago. No matter how much they may bluster they are very pleased with his performance. It looks like a win-win situation for them. None of the clowns looking for the nomination is even qualified for dog-catcher so with him in for another four years they can complete their destruction of the country. We need a REAL leader to represent the Democratic Party in 2012 but no one is emerging to carry the banner to victory for the people. Unlike the election of 1932 there is no one to do this. If not, we will soon be able to experience what our ancestors would have had to endure with four more years of Hoover and God help us.

+2 # mdj777 2011-11-17 06:08

Quoting RLF:

Homeland Security or Fatherland Security?

Both terms are un-American. And that is not casting aspersions; it is fact. And both have got to go.

http://www.marvinjones.blogspot.com/2005/02/words.html

Refresh comments list
RSS feed for comments to this post

THE NEW STREAMLINED RSN LOGIN PROCESS: Register once, then login and you are ready to comment. All you need is a Username and a Password of your choosing and you are free to comment whenever you like! Welcome to the Reader Supported News community.