Come join the 99% in protest against police brutality
When: Oct. 22nd, 3pm
Where: Market Square Park
Wear all black (or as much as possible)
Why should people come out on the NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST (NDP)? “Silence is the voice of complicity.” Everybody that is outraged by the epidemic of police brutality and repression across this country needs to be in the streets on October 22.
18 Responses to “National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality, Oct. 22”
Is it Occupy Houston’s objective to:
1)convey ALL police are bad?
2)suggests NO police should exist?
Now ask yourselves:
1)is there anything Occupy Houston LIKES about the police?
2) has Occupy Houston ever used the police services for their own benefit, and if so, how?
3) if you have ever protected a friend and they turned on you at a later date, would your feelings about them change? Would you feel a little angry or antagonized? Would you be as likely to go out of your way to help them in the future, risking your life for them?
Are you all agreed in your reason for protesting against the police? What is that reason? Do you think it is simply so cool to protest, because no one else here is doing it? Or do you believe the immediate local area has a strong recent history of police rutality? And if so, what supports this belief? What else?
Be very careful about the message you are sending about the police. Make sure you carefully conveying the message you want to depict and no more and no less.
Take care.
You ask “WHAT SUPPORTS THIS BELIEF” The answer is…….The many victims of police misconduct in Houston in 2011 alone. If you are a cop and I suspect that you are you know WHY people in Houston have had ENOUGH. We have been tolerant for too long.
If you are not a cop go to http://www.injustceeverywhere.com search Houston pd 2011 you will see many many reported cases that will SUPPORT this belief.
If you are a cop then you know what supports this belief.
I once thought that the police were dependable and honorable. I thought that the police were to protect and serve . UNTIL… that one horrible night that my path crossed with a few very angry officers who obviously suffered BURTS STRESS s took out their frustrations on my pretty little face
we tell our children that Cops are the good guys BUT they are not I am afraid for my children I am afraid of cops if I am ever in a situation that I would need a cop I don’t think that I could call out of fear There have been many HPD cops in the news accused of doing such horrible things What do you expect us to believe? How can we trust and respect? How can we identify a GOOD cop vs a BAD COP? We can not We depend on the good cops to not hide behind the blue wall under the code of silence and rid the department of the Bad cops.
Yes I have a reason to not trust someone who I once held in high regard
My INJURIES SUPPORT THE PROTEST AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY
reading your post it sounds as if you believe that we should respect Cops…
RESPECT can not be DEMANDED Respect MUST BE EARNED…. SIR
Well said…
A protest against police brutality is not the same as a protest against the police. The word ‘police’ just seems to be where you stopped reading and started writing.
Unfortunately, a protest against police brutality, in this context, might as well be a protest against the local police. Each city’s protests have focused not only on the worldwide problem of corporate greed, but also on problems particular to that city. By protesting in Houston against police brutality, Occupy Houston is unmistakably suggesting — whether or not it means to — that the HPD has brutalized them. That’s how the cops and many in the public will take it. Such an implied claim makes the Houston protesters look a bit dramatic and clueless, and it undermines the validity of Occupy Houston’s other protests.
- – -
Yes, Houston has seen its share of police brutality, as has every big city. But it’s counterproductive to protest that right now.
- – -
This decision will keep potential future protesters away — and thus diminish the Houston protests’ numbers and visibility. And if no one is listening or watching, what’s the point?
- – -
Occupy Houston should work to recover the loss of protesters that will result from this decision.
It seems like Occupy Houston has a really good relationship with HPD thus far. As much as I appreciate the Oct. 22 folks, you might not want to be blackwalking until everyone in the group understands the reasons for it and understands how the police protect the unfair system of private property where real opposition to economic fascism is concerned. In other words, don’t push the comfort level of your group until you all share a political analysis that requires this kind of direct action. That’s just my organizational development perspective as an outsider. –CE
Okay, Occutards, listen up…
You are a farce. I was with you when you were protesting the banks and their bailouts. I was with you when you were demanding Washington do something about our economy, but now you have turned into an uber-liberal-leftist-anarchist-group.
I don’t want pot legalized in this country.
I don’t want to hate on the cops.
I don’t want to listen you children complain about petty nonsense like the “composting” and other such retarded comments that are brought up in GAs.
I’m outta here. You guys just devolved into a world of suck.
Regarding the responses here:
- – -
I’m not going to sever my relationship with Occupy Houston based on one misstep. I, too, think it’s the wrong time and place for a protest against police brutality–considering more pressing economic matters, considering the generally good relationship the HPD has had with Occupy Houston, and considering that cops are in the same boat as the other 99%.
- – -
The vast majority of other decisions by Occupy Houston have been good. If you disagree with this one, your opinion on the matter–your influence on the Occupation–is needed. Suggest your ideas here, or even show up at a General Assembly. But this movement is too important to just give up on.
- – -
I hope Occupy Houston will realize this decision has been counterproductive and refocus its efforts.
HERE…. HERE….
An adult, in amongst the hippy masses. A tip of the ‘ol cap to you (sir or madam, I can’t tell by you tag-line).
I am not sure police brutality is what we are taking to the streets for. The police are pretty much the people we are supporting. It would seem a better target might be the laws that are being written by and for corporations that dehumanize people and remove the protections under the law we are supposed to be able to expect. The police are just the enforcers of the laws on the books. The issue should be to restore HUMAN control and compassion to the laws and not use the law to legalize anything a bank wants to do in the name of a quarterly profit.
on October 21st, 2011 at 7:33 pm #
[...] National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality, Oct. 22 October 21st, 2011 · Cassie · Events7 comments [...]
I agree this is off topic from the main issues, but police have used excessive physical force on me twice in Houston. I will try to make it tomorrow.
We have always expressed our positive relationship with HPD. I assume the best of every person, and have great respect for the officers over at Tranquility who have been very respectful of us. However, simply because we have not experienced brutality from the police at OH does not make it a problem that doesn’t exist. The abuse of power in any form is oppression; the law itself is often subject to the whims of moneyed interests, and that is one of the reasons we are occupying at all.
Just because HPD never used excessive force on O.H. as a whole doesn’t mean that the people who’ve gathered at O.H. haven’t experienced it individually.
I’m going. Not only because of the stories in the news about police officers using excessive force, fabricating evidence, and raping/sexually harassing woman, but because people in my life(including myself) have been effected by and have experienced this.
This isn’t to say that all police are bad people but some of them do commit horrible crimes like the cops who beat that homeless man to death in California recently and that 15 year old who was beaten here in Houston last year, after he gave up running, didn’t resist, and just laid on the ground while they kicked and punched him.
I’m not going to this demonstration to show people that I support Occupy Houston. I’m going as a citizen who has been effected by some of the negative behaviors of the people who are supposed to protect us. If anyone thinks that there’s nothing wrong with police using excessive force on unarmed citizens then maybe you need to reevaluate your morals.
I’m sure no one posting here and no one even remotely involved with Occupy Houston thinks “there’s nothing wrong with police using excessive force on unarmed citizens,” as you’ve written. People here are merely debating whether protesting police brutality right now and in this context (as opposed to at another time) will help, or harm, Occupy Houston’s other causes.
- – -
Anyway, police brutality is widespread in the U.S. And this protest against it (which is happening now regardless) is a chance for you to protest something you feel needs to be addressed right now, before other protests — so by all means, take that opportunity. There won’t be many.
I would like to remind everyone that hostility toward one another does not lead to team accomplishment. ‘United we stand, divided we fall.’
I appreciate the fluid logical writing of William.
@Miss – It was not my intent to antagonize anyone that has ever been a victim of police brutality. Assuming you are being honest, my heart goes out to you and by all means I believe you should protest. I also believe this is better suited as a non-O.H. event, in the interest of the well being of the people that are staying overnight at Tranquility Park or any other overnight Occupy location. I believe a protest against police brutality is a big enough movement to sustain itself without depending on Occupy.
As ArJay succintly wrote:
“I’m not going to this demonstration to show people that I support Occupy Houston. I’m going as a citizen who has been effected by some of the negative behaviors of the people who are supposed to protect us.”
I am not a cop but I do have the upmost respect for them. I will say that there is not Police Brutality from time to time but if you don’t do stupid shit then you need not worry about it…You need to look at the Mexicans gangs if you want to see brutality and protest against something
Can we have a parade where we all drive around in little yellow buses?