As protests in California’s Bay Area intensified following a violent night in Oakland, Occupy Seattle held a dance party — and then got serious with a march up Capitol Hill with a stop by 12th and Pine to visit the SPD precinct that will soon be on the front lines of responding to the group’s activities as it plans a move to the Seattle Central campus. The crowd of more than 100 marchers blocked traffic and chanted as a contingent of SPD cruisers and bike officers trailed and did what it could to corral the group.
(Image: CHS)
In a previous visit to the Hill earlier this month, a much smaller group marched on Broadway attempting to recruit bystanders to join them.
In addition to the message powering the Occupy efforts, Wednesday night’s march gave residents and business owners — and neighborhood bloggers — a possible taste of more to come if the group is successful in moving its “base camp” to Seattle Central. On one hand, the marches and activities give the Hill something to be part of. On the other, things like a sad, meandering #11 bus trying to avoid the marchers by taking Pike/Pine sidestreets are a reminder that we are in for some pains in the ass. This is what democracy looks like.
It’s quite likely that our asses will be much more pained in the long run, if movements like Occupy fail to undo the corporate coup d’état.
Don’t you think? Or don’t you?
I do agree with many of the protesters grievances, but am still hesitant to participate. Not until these kids take off the Balaclavas and stop the dickhead moves like flicking cigarettes at Park Rangers. The Tea Party has publicly said that they are out to discredit you all and the more crap like that we see the more they are going to use their Mouthpiece Faux Newz to broadcast you in a poor light. Say what you want about Fox. They have a large audience. I’m not saying we have to hold hands and sing folk songs all the time. If you want to participate in “direct action” go ahead. But please pick your battles. I just dont think this is the place for it. This little movement has gained so much national attention it would be a pity to not take advantage of it and build some kind of 99er coalition. Something that benefits the rest of us working class population. Then we can really push for change.
Bellevue. Not here where we already support the cause and it will just go unnoticed. Just saying.
This isn’t the 99% – this is the 1% … the Bottom 1% – there is no one in Occupy Seattle who represents the “Mainstream.” It’s a combination of Ave Rats and Freedom Socialist Party members.
100 people in a metro area of 3 million declaring themselves “the 99%” and issuing edicts through these ridiculous “General Assemblies” just look like a bunch of loons.
And who cares – in 12 months they’ll just all go vote for Obama again like they did in 2008 (the guy who voted for the banker bailout, PATRIOT Act, and FISA and who has taken millions from AT&T and Wells Fargo).
That’s a riot! Bellevue’s government and police department would shut you down and toss you to the curb before you could bat an eye if you tried to Occupy Bellevue. And Rob McKenna would stand there watching.
Look “Tarik,” I can see you’re really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over.
I double dog dare you…
@etaoin – apology accepted
Outside of last weekend’s march against police brutality — a pre-existing event joined but not planned by Occupy Seattle — you’re describing a tiny minority. I say this from personal experience. The vast majority of people involved are not masked.
@Phil Mocek – Honestly, more of them probably should be masked. None of them are exactly in danger of appearing on a GQ cover, if you know what I mean.
If the OS people wanted to provoke Capitol Hill businesses and residents by causing some chaos prior to their proposed move to SCCC, then they succeeded. But I think this is counterproductive to their cause. There are already a number of people in our neighborhood opposed to the move, and after this march there are even more.
Tarik is a troll. Don’t feed the trolls.
Tarik is a troll. Don’t feed the trolls.
I kind of like the 99%’s, Occupy Seattle mob. Makes things up here on the Hill kind a’ fun :) I like to have fun.
You folks should have seen the party last night. I was there. I am an urban designer, and have a steady job, amd am almost 53. That doesn’t make me a punk. Oh, and I have a $1900/month mortgage, so that doesn’t make me the bottom 1%, hardly. There were young children, passersby who stopped in, and MANY in their forties and fifties. And we are all dancing.
If you think that we cause trouble, yes, we do for the banks that wanna screw you over, and over and over. We are sending a worldwide call to break that system, and I have to say that the Occupy people are in this too deep to back out now.
All we are asking is to see what we see, make a presence, make a statement, have a long and patient conversation about the way our economic and political system abuses us. If you support our cause, great! But please don’t make disparaging remarks about the intentions of what is now a worldwide movement against corporate abuse. There is no turning back. If we give up now, the corporate powers are going to come down on us harder than now, and I am afraid to think what might happen to many of us.
Time for all of us to wake up.
“I take this only so you will feel you have not left anything undone.”
Occupy is a feel-good up-with-people nothingness that serves the sole purpose of giving purpose to people with none. There are actions that have a non-zero chance of improving something. Participating in Occupy Seattle is not one of them.
you say this is what democracy looks like, I say this is what douchebaggery looks like.
I’m pretty sure they don’t want workplace reprisal. Lord knows I’d be in a heap of trouble if I participated in Occupy Seattle.
I agree,,,
They’re really taking it to those wall street fat cats! wait… they’re going to SPD? …and now a community college?
That’s really sticking it to the man!
This is what democracy looks like?? Your blog is a great source of neighborhood information, but when you simply parrot meaningless pablum you call into question your intelligence. This may be what civil disobedience looks like (or more cynically; conspiracist populism, class warfare or mob rule), but it has very little to do with democracy.
Were damed if we do, damed if we dont, so we might as well fight the good fight. :)
BTW SCC has a history of hosting protesters. The move was not made with out there being a large discussion. The move was made because a camping permit would not be granted for Westlake Park and City Hall was not large enough to house the amount of people that had arrived after that agreement was made.
As for the people that decide to cover their faces that is their choice. I read one person here say they would get fired for participating…maybe some of these people will also. Another resaon for covering your face is the mass amount of facial recognition software that is used to track and profile people in the U.S. Here
is a copy of some research done by the Carnegie Mellon Institute.
http://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2011/august/aug1_pr
In the end if you are complaining about there being noise at night on capitol hill or that these bottom 1% shouldn’t be on capitol hill you should research the area of Seattle you live in before you move. Capitol Hill’s history is spotted with political unrest. I find it sad that all that can be done to discredit this movement is to come up with unsubstantiated remarks about how they don’t have a job or don’t know what they want.. these are the same things that were said about the anti- war movement in the 60’s and 70’s. Looking back those jobless people or people with no plan made the right choice no?
this is just my two cents.
Protesting is quite different than camping.
AGREE!
UPD: This demonstration is a 24-hour occupation.
There are people willing to be part of it all 24 hours, great. So -logically- take 12 hour shifts. No “camp” required, no extra city ordinance issues interfereing with our free speech. Seems like a no brainer win win. Concur?
I’m not sure the value of a physical-space filibuster though, when the filibuster is in the one -often booked*- open space on the dense commercial strip of the 2nd densest urban village/neighborhood. Occupy the freeway, occupy the bank lobbies, occupy the MALLS or the JEWELRY STORES or the FERARRI DEALERSHIP already. OCCUPY WHERE THE 1% CAN NOTICE AND START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO SHUT YOU UP/MAKE US HAPPY.
What are you scared of that you don’t bring your message to the forefront this way? What value is timidness and pisspoor aiming at one’s target market? Don’t blame the herd ‘80%’ vote. Bold Leadership and strong character would lead a charge, rather than this tail-tucking retreat.
*including the kids halloween event Saturday and Farmer’s market sunday. And don’t insult anyone’s intelligence by pretending the OS presence won’t negatively affect attendance to these events.
Communication Design FAIL.
Somebody please buy these kids some white foamcore and Color sharpies so they can ditch those ratty beerbum low-contrast “signs” and at least catch-up with protest tactics of the 90’s.
J.F.Christ!
There’s an art store right there, right? Just sayin.