Spokane7
59°
October 2, 2011 in City
Local protest stays peaceful
As their cohorts in New York City were arrested in droves Saturday, organizers of the Occupy Spokane protest, which began Wednesday, say there have been no arrests locally and conflicts with police have been minimal.
“They’ve done an awesome job,” organizer Jessica McPhail said of the Spokane Police Department. “One person received a ticket. Other than that, the police have been very respectful.”
McPhail said community members have dropped off food and water, while teachers, firefighters and others have offered support to the group of about a dozen people protesting across from the U.S. federal building in downtown Spokane. An American Medical Response ambulance driving by the group Saturday night honked its horn in apparent support.
The protesters are there in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protesters and to speak out against economic injustice and the social ails that accompany it.
“People must realize every issue boils down to the current monetary system,” she said. “We no longer have a choice of ignoring this.”
An Occupy Spokane general assembly will be held at 10 a.m. today near the protest site at Riverside Avenue and Monroe Street to discuss the group’s objectives.
- Chelsea Bannach
1992 murder trial begins against sex offender 
ChefGus/ John Olsen on October 02 at 5:54 a.m.
This is a very very important time in the “life” of our Nation… the deeply true Christian Principles of caring for the poor… the homeless, the downtrodden and speaking truth to power, as did Christ have long been submerged and forgotten at the political level….The budget cuts…which now will eliminate drug treatment facilities, halfway houses, and medication and needle exchange are but one recent example of this lack of caring…. and the practical side is that the elimination of care for our disadvantaged will in the long rung cost us so very much more… in incarceration and crime increase that the money saved will seem a pittance.
Bravo for the folks helping.. and serving those willing and able to protest the actions by government and our supposed leaders… Keep up the “good works”…. with your boots on the ground in peaceful protest…. It worked with Dr King, and Mr Gandhi, and Christ…. no need for violence… just active peaceful resistance
Thank you to the Police for being reasonable… I know many of these folks and there is not a violent one among them…( Vocal maybe…as Mr Billingsly (sp) might be… but on point and not a mean bone in their bodies.. John
drywitt99 on October 02 at 6:13 a.m.
Well said John.
Just shows that political or social issues can be brought before the public in a peaceful manner……without the racist/ethnocentric invective which has typified numerous Tea Party rallies..
And a rare shout-out to the SPD. REASONABLE is not a word which has often be used in connection to them over recent years,
-Frank
ChefGus/ John Olsen on October 02 at 7:52 a.m.
If anyone out there actually spent a lot of time downtown…. as I do… in and among the low income and the drug and alcohol affected folks we serve at House of Charity… and having observed the interventions and actions of our Police Officers…. that are non violent…and as best can be respectful when dealing with a complex and likely mentally ill person…. you would find I feel that the “bulk” of the interactions that our Officers have are with positive outcome…If I make a call… and officers show up, and I merely tell them that the “perp” is in need of a mental health eval…they will first take them up the Hill to Sacred Heart for an assessment…
In 6 years, being downtown I have observed but one occasion of possible “over reaction”
You must remember too, that in spite of prohibition that a preponderance of the homeless/street folks are potentially very very dangerous.. armed, or highly trained from their prior Military experience… so our Officers are at high risk on Every interaction… Every one…. just as those of us that serve them food are at risk… it is Not scary… just a fact of our lives… Think about every time you as an officer go to work…that your life is on the line…. incorporate that into your “fight or flight” Limbic/Reptilian part of your brain….
So it may be easy to be critical… but from where I stand every day… i am much more forgiving and thankful for their presence and daily dutiful service….. John
The_Seer on October 02 at 8:12 a.m.
It’s time for an American Spring. These actions will spread in size and scope across the land because there are so many young people who see a bleak future in this land (check the unemployment figures for the 21-34 age group) and they aren’t going to be bought off like their parents and grandparents. No cold comfort for change this time around.
My first concern is how long it will take for the troops to be called out and ordered to fire upon fellow citizens (like they have DOZENS of times in the past) and if they will follow orders (like they have DOZENS of times in the past)?
I don’t agree with john’s characterization of the police force one bit. When they are being watched they act accordingly and even then they are complete jerks. I’ve watched them deal with homeless people when they think no one is watching (because I actually live downtown and don’t just come here to volunteer) and chefgus’ depiction isn’t a one size fit all accounting of police interaction with the citizenry. I also have a problem with anyone who espouses the Xtian principles while knowing he dropped dime on a “friend” which resulted in a life ruining conviction and incarceration.
misjustice on October 02 at 8:58 a.m.
I hope that this action stays “civil” on both sides; the protestors and the SPD. Time will tell.
Where’s my tax cut?
The_Seer on October 02 at 11:04 a.m.
Instead of taking my word for it, why not rely upon the words of an ex-cop who posts on these threads all the time. Kivaari left this post about the protesters in NYC:
Kivaari on October 01 at 10:21 p.m.
There are these fields in Cambodia well suited for these counterrevolutionaries. The central government under Pol Pot decedents will gladly issue them a shovel or rake to work the rice fields. Then when they are weak, are educated, wear eyeglasses and can no longer rice farm. The open graves are calling. It is a fitting place for all those that want to destroy capitalism. They can go there and live in a workers paradise.
Everyone is equal, except the party bosses. In Kampuchea medical services are equally poor for all. With enough money for bribes you can fly to Saigon and visit the Frech privatge hospital. Very expensive, but it has European level care.
There are no good socialist countries that don’t require large taxes. Israel is socialist - freemarket socialist - but it is supported by a small mostly cohessive population with common enemies the dirty PLO. The slime in Gaza breeding like rats and treating dogs better then women and girls. They barely survive because of welfare from America. Socialism sucks.
I think my depiction of who, when it all comes down to it, the police will “support” is more realistic.
misjustice on October 02 at 11:46 a.m.
This local Wall Street Protest, as well as larger ones across the nation, offers a counter response to a prevailing mindset that “governments don’t rule the world, Goldman Sachs rules the world.”
ChefGus/ John Olsen on October 03 at 4:07 p.m.
So… I am in Toronto Ontario Canada this week with Mary for the Green Build Conference…and back in the room watching the CNN News… and they just announced SPOKANE as one of the active “sattelite protests”….. on the new Erin Burnett Show…. Hot Dog…. Keep it cool folks…. do it the Gandhi way… best john