COMMENTARY | The Huffington Post reports that more than 300 people were arrested in the latest Occupy Oakland protest on Saturday, which has largely been quiet in 2012. The Occupy Movement swept the nation in late 2011, but has started to dwindle in support after many of the camps have been dismantled by law enforcement. The Occupy Oakland protestors do not realize how much they are hurting the overall message of the Occupy Movement, especially with the latest violent situation.
The Occupy Oakland protestors broke into the City Hall building in Oakland, Calif., which is just another violent act these protestors have committed. The protestors broke out the glass in the City Hall building, damaged property inside of the building, and then claimed that they had the right to do so. When you have a group of people breaking into a local government building, it becomes a more serious issue than just having a civilized protest, and is a criminal offense. There is nothing wrong with protesting something you believe in, but you should not be damaging the property of other people. There was also graffiti spray painted around the building, which serves no real purpose, and hurts the cause of the Occupy Movement. If the Occupy Oakland protestors would just stop damaging property, it would be easier to support what they are trying to do.
The Occupy Oakland protestors also burned American flags, which should be a federal criminal offense, and those that took part should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. It is fine to disagree with the political or economic system in America, but burning the American flag should not be tolerated at all. It seems like the Occupy Oakland protestors do not realize that it is the Constitution that gives them the right to protest, so burning the American flag just does not make any sense. If these protestors were in another country besides America, most of them would be sentenced to jail or death due to their actions, especially when it comes to burning a flag. Terrorists in other countries burn the American flag, so these Occupy Oakland protestors should be treated as domestic terrorists, since they are basically calling for the destruction of America.
What these protestors never seem to understand is that violent uprisings will never create positive change, and only hurt the overall message of the protest. If these Occupy Oakland protestors could behave in a civil manner, and bring the concerns to the American government in a respectful way, then maybe more people would be willing to listen to them. When you are damaging property and burning American flags, all you are doing is hurting yourself, since you will probably end up in jail, and then have a harder time getting a decent job. Some of the protestors have valid concerns and should be heard, but some of them are just there to start trouble, and this is the very concerning part of the Occupy Movement.