NYTimes Downplays Occupy Oakland Destruction; Will Violence Show Up in Print?
The New York Times’s coverage of the left-anarchist Occupy movement has been very favorable, pushing the group’s vague aims of “fighting economic inequality” while downplaying the anti-Semitism, violence, vandalism, and general squalor of the leftist campouts. Now that undeniable violence has broken out at an Occupy Oakland protest that blocked the city port and halted commerce, how will the Times respond?
A report on Occupy Oakland by Maria Wollan in Thursday’s paper, “Oakland’s Port Shuts Down as Protesters March on Waterfront,” only hinted at the simmering violence.
Thousands of Occupy Oakland protesters expanded their anti-Wall Street demonstrations on Wednesday, marching through downtown, picketing banks and swarming the port. By early evening, port authorities said maritime operations there were effectively shut down.
“Maritime area operations will resume when it is safe and secure to do so,” port officials said in a statement, asking marchers to “allow your fellow 99% to get home safe to their families.”
Despite the disruption of work, the crowd at the port was peaceful.
Not until paragraph 20 could we read that things weren’t exactly “peaceful” in Oakland, a sign of the increased mob violence to come later that night.
Ms. Quan, meanwhile, urged protesters to patronize and not penalize the downtown businesses that remained open. The mood at the protest remained jovial throughout the day as ice cream vendors, pushing their carts, joined the marchers, though some graffiti appeared on the walls of banks and there were reports of several broken windows at banks and other businesses.
On Thursday morning, Wollan posted an update on the vandalism that transpired later Wednesday night: “Protest in Oakland Turns Violent," though even there Wollan took pains to emphasize it was "a small group" of violent vandals who broke off from a "peaceful march" of protesters.
Tear gas hung over Oakland for the second time in two weeks after a small group of demonstrators faced off against police early Thursday following a peaceful march of thousands of Occupy Oakland protesters.
A roving group of about 100 mostly young men broke from the main group of protesters in a central plaza and roamed through downtown streets spraying graffiti, burning garbage and breaking windows. The police said some in the group briefly occupied a building on 16th Street near the port.
After warning the group to clear the building, which according to local media reports was vacant, officers in riot gear fired tear gas and bean bag rounds shortly after midnight local time. Dozens of protesters “wielding shields” were arrested, the police said; the building was cleared by around 2 a.m.
The spasm of violence early Thursday morning came after thousands of Occupy Oakland protesters had expanded their anti-Wall Street demonstrations on Wednesday, marching through downtown, picketing banks and swarming the port. By early evening, port authorities said maritime operations there were effectively shut down.
Now the question is: How prominently will the Times play the Occupy Oakland violence in Friday’s edition?
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Comments
Picketing destroys property. Who knew??
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 2:01pm.
So I'm guessing they didn't show any of THIS
Scroll down the page to see the "Father of the Year" (as the caption says) taking a picture of his son in front of a painted wall that says "Don't F**k with Oakland."
That one's going in the family album, for sure.
Or THIS
Just a few shots of the "picketing banks."
Funny how those Wells Fargo windows got broken by "picketing."
The NYT is a disgrace. As is the mayor of Oakland.
“We support many of the demands, particularly the focus on foreclosures, fair lending practices and making capital available to low-income communities,” Ms. Quan said at a news conference.
Police officers needed to be on hand, she said, to protect everyone’s free-speech rights in balance with legitimate public safety concerns.
The Orchestrated Socialist Revolution
Submitted by MrShy on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 5:26pm.
Is now upon us, motherbelt. All of this is truly frightening. I compiled a list from just one article and one day's sad collection of events (from MSNBC, no less, that can't avoid this stuff -- although you have to read through several soft paragraphs trying to neutralize everything before you get to the real news.)
FYI, I did this in another battle with my leftard brother. He, btw, is twisting himself into a pretzel to explain it all away and maintain the "OWS has credibility" meme. Like a good commie soldier, he's also claiming all the violence is....... right-wing plants. I'd laugh, but this truly is not funny anymore :(
Here....
*** OWS LIST OF SPREADING VIOLENCE, CHAOS AND ANARCHY ***
DISRUPTING AND FORCING CLOSURES OF BANKS AND OTHER BUSINESSES, HARASSING/ INTIMIDATING CUSTOMERS, VANDALIZING, FIST FIGHTING, RESISTING ARRESTS, ETC:
- protesters plastered signs and blocked customers from using ATMs at downtown banks
- marchers pounded on the windows of a Bank of America branch
- and used markers to write on the glass.
- Many downtown businesses closed for the day.
- hundreds of people surrounded a Chase bank
- that branch was closed.
- they started another march after also shutting down Comerica, Wells Fargo, and Chase branches for a time.
- Windows were smashed at one Wells Fargo office.
- agitators dressed in black with masks threw paint balls
- ripped up a picket fence
- tried to break windows at a Whole Foods market before about two dozen people forced them to stop.
- There was lots of shoving and punches thrown.
- Occupy Seattle protesters shut a Chase bank branch
- five people… were lying on the bank's floor, arms linked, ***waiting to be arrested***
- As police took the group to a paddywagon, other protesters lay down in front of the van
- In Philadelphia, police arrested about a dozen protesters…. inside the lobby of the headquarters of cable giant Comcast. Officers moved in after ***they refused to leave.***
- In San Diego, more than 60 people marched to a Bank of America branch and urged people to transfer accounts from major banks to credit unions.
PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARDS:
- Maryland officials cut power to outlets in downtown Baltimore park where protesters have been ***living for the last month*** … the city has to alleviate a public safety hazard … a city official visited earlier this week and found fire and electricity hazards.
SEIZING OF AN ENTIRE CITY PORT (NATION'S 5TH BUSIEST) IN ATTEMPT TO BASICALLY CRIPPLE PORTLAND'S ECONOMY:
- Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan said he expected about 5,000 people to march to the Port of Oakland
- Occupy Oakland organizers said they want to halt "the flow of capital" at the Oakland port
- chanting ….. "Take the port!"
- Protesters milled about intersections at roads leading in and out of the port,
- blocked trucks
- climbed atop containerized cargo the trucks were hauling.
- Port director Omar Benjamin said ***the port was effectively shut down***
SAFETY OF WORKERS A REAL CONCERN:
- He asked protesters to allow workers to go home safely, the Tribune reported.
UNIONS ARE GETTING INTO THE ACT WITH STRIKES:
- "About 40" workers did not show up for assignment Wednesday morning at the union hall
… INCLUDING TEACHERS -- SCHOOLS ARE NOW BEING TARGETED:
- About 360 Oakland teachers didn't show up for work
- CONCERNS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC SAFETY:
- "Police Chief Jordan and I are dedicated to respecting the right of every demonstrator to peacefully assemble, but it is our duty to prioritize public safety," she said.
- sad sad sad shy
Join Mr. Shy and The 1* Percent
My fears realized
Submitted by jon_torlin on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 6:51pm.
You just proved my fears as I posted them below, Mr. Shy. These anarchists aren't doing this for anyone, but themselves to cause as much social unrest as they can, and if the citizens who were impacted by all this crap had any guts, they should go to war against these anarchists. These are the domestic enemies of the country that seeks to destroy the Constitution.
As you say, it's not funny anymore. The police need to be helped in this regard to stop them and anyone who is on the side of these anarchists like some city (and congressional, even the bogus potus) should be removed from office, forcibly if need be, or we're going to lose ourselves as a country.
This is hardly the same kind of "revolution," this is an attempt to overthrow the country with the blessings of a Marxist bogus potus encouraging them, even siding(or backing) with them. Soetoro knows full well what he's hoping for, asking for, when he's siding with the anarchists.
It's not about Wall Street anymore(never really was in any case). It's about our country and our way of life.
-Jon
Well, this is just depressing.
Submitted by Kaleidoscopic God on Fri, 11/04/2011 - 11:32am.
.
How will the times respond???
Submitted by DumbCanuck on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 2:04pm.
Why, the same way the LA times responded, of course... by whitewashing these incidents.
You see, according to the LA-LA times, it was only about 60 or 70 anarchists that showed up that stirred up trouble for the rest of the 6 or 7 thousand "peaceful" fleebaggers.
Meanwhile, at a tea party rally, 300,000 people showed up -- no crime, no trouble with the police, no arrests, no violence whatsoever, and the Mall in Georgetown was left spick-and-span.
But what do the lame-brained media write about the tea party? I think you already know the answer to that question.
"There... Are... Four... Lights!"
They also don't mention that
Submitted by motherbelt on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 2:36pm.
They also don't mention that Mayor Quan has had a recall petition filed against her, for her failure to preserve public safety.
And she continues to fiddle and make excuses while Oakland burns.
The Jewish problem
Submitted by CO2Maker on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 2:31pm.
You know, with all the outcry about how the Jews are the cause of the banking crisis and loss of jobs and control of the media and gummint, and with the fact that the Occupy This'n'That is worldwide, how come there's no rush to Occupy the West Bank and Occupy the Golan Heights? What about Occupy the Gaza Strip?
Overthrow plot
Submitted by jon_torlin on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 2:50pm.
You know, after reading some more accounts of what's going on with these "protests" and how they are getting more violent, I'm absolutely convinced that this is just something to start a state of anarchy in this country especially in the large population centers like LA, NY, Chicago and other places.
Think about it, we've already seen stuff like this in the Middle East such as Egypt and Tunisia. Those were started by the Muslim Brotherhood. In this country, there are several factions, including CAIR, Bro'Hood, and even Soros and a few other minor players. But instead of trying to overthrow the government, they are trying to overthrow the people. These maggot infested protestors don't want anything peaceful, they are just waiting for an excuse to go crazy such as when they finally wear out their welcome(as if they ever were) and when the cops move in to move them out, they go apesh*t and cause even MORE mayhem, such as what we are seeing in Oakland.
Think about it this way, the Bro'hood in Egypt were just taking an advantage of a situation over there and seemingly wanted to help even the Christians until they finally got their way. Those innocents were just puppets. That's what's happening at these OWS protests, there are some people who really feel like they are protesting the Wall Street people, but they are just innocent dupes caught in what will eventually become a deadly wave of violence that will leave scores injured or even dead, all caused by the organizers.
And remember, even O'Bambi said he's on the side of the protestors, what do you want to bet that they'll rally behind him as a "voice of reason" when things get really bad and out of control? After he declares a state of emergency or something of course.
I think Oakland is the dry run and if those protestors aren't pushed back and sent home, the other cities will start doing the same thing and there will be anarchy in those cities.
Initially when all this started happening, I viewed it as a bunch of nonsense, but after thinking about it and remembering Egypt, it's more than nonsense, it's a warning sign that we better pay attention to.
-Jon
Jon,
Submitted by Agnostic on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 3:11pm.
While I don't disagree that the results of the protests may be what you describe it is my opinion what you are seeing is the physical reaction of those who can not articulate their arguments to win a debate. It is the equivalent of name calling, slandering and talking over your opponent in a more formal debate.
It's hard to see any
Submitted by jessieH on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 3:00pm.
It's hard to see any violence, with your head up your ass.
Just amazing Slimes whiteash.
Submitted by eaglewingz08 on Thu, 11/03/2011 - 7:01pm.
Just amazing Slimes whiteash. Misusing the passive voice to imply the closing of the port was a voluntary action unrelated to the activities (violent/criminal) of these commies and anarchist thugs.
60s and OWS
Submitted by Agnostic on Fri, 11/04/2011 - 1:02pm.
Is it just me or is anyone else rethinking their opinions on the 60's social movement. I've always believed that coverage, especially Hollywood depictions, were heavily slanted but after witnessing the OWS and the related media coverage I wondering now if I was still giving too much credit to the 'cultural revolution'. Useful idiots -sure, but I always gave the bulk of the protestors (with the exception of the hard anti-war crowd) the benefit of the doubt of searching for their place in a rapidly changing and expanding society. I'm starting to believe that selfishness played a much larger roll than I originally thought.