Vietnam vet John Nilles.

That is the sound of a man who has fought for this country, risked his life and sacrificed his freedom to protect a government that’s supposed to protect him, losing all faith in America. If someone as loyal as a veteran feels no bond to the country, how do you think the rest of us feel? -RT

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

(Source: nohetero)

occupywallstreet:

So being a Seattle native, I still have a soft spot for my fellow rabble-rousers in the Northwest. Especially when I read that Occupy Portland had 3-5,000 people marching last weekend! The last thing Seattle needs is more of an inferiority complex about competing with Portland :) so I was glad to hear that Occupy Seattle is picking up some steam this week, slowly winning over the local unions and local media (The Stranger!) alike.

However, reading about how the Seattle Police Department and the Mayor’s Office have treated the occupiers is really disappointing. Over the past few days, they have been harassed by SPD and Park Police constantly, forbidding them from setting up tents, trying to drive them from the square, and generally being assholes. It’s gone so far that the Seattle Police have been ticketing drivers who drive by the occupation and honk in support. Can you believe that? Now, fast-forward to last night:

Mayor’s office spokesman Aaron Pickus said about an hour ago that cops wouldn’t bug protesters at Westlake Park tonight as long as they didn’t have a “structure.” But other than that, things were hunky-dorey.

Cut to right now.

Police are aggressively clearing people out of the park. Cops are telling people they can’t stand underneath the awnings, can’t wrap themselves in a tarp, and can’t even sit down with an umbrella. “You can’t have an umbrella open unless you’re standing and holding it,” a cop reportedly just told a few people who were sitting down next to their umbrellas. Paul Contant, intrepid reporter, just called to confirm that person’s account. And he added, “The cops are lined up under the awnings—I tried to get under an awning to type and and they told me I cannot be under the awning at all.” Police are also telling people they can’t lay under a tarp.

That’s right: you can now be arrested in Seattle’s Westlake Park for sitting down while holding an umbrella to protect yourself from the rain. All because the Mayor’s new ‘rules’ for the park, updated a couple days ago (conveniently), forbid erecting a structure in the park. And umbrellas apparently count as a structure to the police.

So, this is bullshit, right? I’ve already written the mayor to let him know that he can kiss my vote for his re-election goodbye if he doesn’t cut this out immediately. But we need as much help as we can get. If you can spare a couple minutes today, please let Mayor McGinn’s office know that you DO NOT approve of his strong-arm tactics to break up this demonstration!

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn’s Office: Phone (206) 684-4000 or email form: http://seattle.gov/mayor/citizen_response.htm

Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes: Phone (206) 684-8200 and tell him to stick to his word and to not prosecute those who have been arrested!

Seattle Police Department: West Precinct (206) 684-8917. Tell them what you think of an ‘umbrella’ being classified as a structure!

Thanks for your time :)

- Jake

To make things easy on you, I’m making my email to the mayor available here so you can copy/paste it and modify it a bit if you wish. Thanks for any help you give us, guys.

This is concerning the harassment of the 99% protesters in Seattle’s Westlake Park and the ticketing of non-participants who voice their support.

The last time I checked, the duty of a public official such as a mayor and the obligations of the police is to serve the people and keep them safe. Actively preventing them from exercising their first amendment right to a peaceful protest with ordinances disallowing the use of structures and umbrellas is not only infringing upon their Constitutional rights, but it is putting them in danger. That’s the opposite of what you’re elected to do, last time I checked. What really worries me is the police officers who take up all the space under awnings on public property and threaten to arrest anyone who seeks cover. If the citizen who sought out shelter had a young child with them, would you still order the officers to turn them away?

I have spoken with several residents of your district and they all agree that you will lose their vote in the next election if these tactics are not put to rest.

Thank you for your time, a concerned citizen.

WHAT IS THIS. I SEE ORLANDO THERE.

IS ORLANDO BEING OCCUPIED?