December 2011
“Idealists are foolish enough to throw caution to the winds. They have advanced mankind and have enriched the world.”
—Emma Goldman
hiiii, question, do you have your ears pierced?
Yes I do! I have two piercings on each ear.
“After the tear gas, many previously non-violent demonstrators turned much more active, much more militant and in some cases violent in response to the violence they experienced. We saw what looked and felt very much like a war zone over the next three days and in effect we started it. The cop in me had made that decision not to step in and stop it. But as police chief, I should have done precisely that, and I will regret forever that I didn’t do it. What we see now is even the tiniest rural police department dressed out in battle fatigues and Swat uniforms, sometimes driving armored personal vehicles and making every marijuana bust a military operation. It is clearly an abuse of tear gas when it is used against passive demonstrators who are taking part in acts of civil disobedience which are such a rich part of our democracy. Today it is being used indiscriminately and that is really appalling. We should recognize that we are a tool of community in the advancement of public safety and good. Police today have lost sight of their purpose.”
—Ex-Seattle police chief, Norm Stamper, discussing with the BBC the 1999 World Trade Organization protests, the militarization of police departments after 9-11, and using teargas on peaceful Occupy protesters
(via wespeakfortheearth)
(via wespeakfortheearth)
