COMMENTARY | No Occupy Movement across the country has been bigger than that in Oakland, Calif. On Saturday more than 400 protesters were arrested while trying to take possession of a nearby convention center in downtown Oakland, Calif. More than 1,000 people were present at the rallies as they attempted to find a new “home” for their movement. First Amendment rights no long apply when city, state and federal laws are being broken in the process.
The Occupy movement’s general message is equality. Every person, of every socioeconomic background deserves an equal right to economic freedom. It has been billed as the haves vs. the have not’s, the 99 percent controlled by the 1 percent. The message is sound, but the methods utilized have not been. The First Amendment grants freedom of speech, freedom of demonstration and freedom of religion. Religion luckily hasn’t yet been bandied about for this cause. Speech and demonstration are at the forefront.
Occupy movements have sprung up all over the country, but the most prevalent one, in terms of “action” has been located in Oakland. There have been numerous protests, demonstrations and even a few deaths at the camps and rallies that have occurred in the downtown Oakland area.
These protesters have the right to organize, march, and demonstrate, but they do not by any means have the right to break the law. In the recent events, demonstrators are reported to have thrown paint cans and bottles at riot police, inciting the string of arrests. Protesters broke into City Hall after hours and vandalized a number of exhibitions on the ground floor.
In addition to attacking the police that were present merely insure safety of demonstrations, protestors attempted to break into the nearby convention center. Despite warnings from Oakland’s Mayor Jean Quan that any such acts would be treated in a criminal manner, the thousand protestors tried to tear down the fences that surrounded the closed facility.
After a smoke bomb was thrown at police officers, the demonstration once again spun out of control. The policed were forced to utilize tear gas and riot shields to quell the resistance. The right to demonstrate is completely legal, but as soon as someone attacks an armed officer, no one will remain safe.
It’s clear that plenty of people support the Occupy Movement; however few should condone the actions taken by a select few that led to these additional riots.
Source: David R. Baker and Vivian Ho, Oakland police, Occupy protesters clash – scores arrested, SF Gate.com