German police officers escort an anti-capitalism protest march with some 20,000 people in Frankfurt, Germany, Saturday, May 19, 2012. Protesters peacefully filled the city center of continental Europe's biggest financial hub in their protest against the dominance of banks and what they perceive to be untamed capitalism, Frankfurt police spokesman Ruediger Regis said. The protest group calling itself Blockupy has called for blocking the access to the European Central Bank, which is located in Frankfurt's business district.
It looks like the Occupy movement is not only a live and well, it seems to be gaining support from some rather surprising places.
P.S. For those of you who are wondering how the protest is doing these days you can check here at Occupy Wall Street for updates. Though we hear little about it these days it appears to be going strong.
The U.S. is the only country that has police with over the top, better, more expensive, and more protective gear than the U.S. military who are supposedly fighting to save us (from ourselves). Why is this? Is it because some sleezy corporation has made a bundle marketing and selling this riot gear to all our cities? Who has profited from the FGH? Fear, Hatred & Greed?
ReplyDeleteThis gear makes the police think they are invincible and makes them act like animals rather than human beings. The same can be said for giving them Tasers and coming soon the computer xbox inspired killer drones.
lord have mercy!
On the topic of greed... One thing that I have been thinking about a lot lately is the saying, "be the change you want to see." What can we do as individuals? Well, I use to be a Realtor. My heart wasn't into selling large luxurious homes. I figured out why. What it takes to build them, the wood (the trees), the vinyl and other stuff (petroleum products), that support the ravaging of our earth. The banks and corporations are responding to our lust of products. The utilities-gas, oil, wood- to heat or air condition these large homes. If everyone in America had 2000 sq ft homes instead of 3000 sq ft homes, how much savings on resources would that add up to? Of course, we can't demolish homes, but we should think more when we build new ones- be smaller and efficient. And we can go on.. with clothing, toys, vehicles... WE as consumers may be the problem as well, to the corporate greed. As long as we want and buy, we help feed them.
DeleteI hear ya Anon 7:46. We need to refocus our goals as a society. The accumulation of wealth and possessions is just a substitute for happiness and it is never truly satisfying. The more we have the more we think we need. I know a lot is being made of Ronmey's lifestyle and his disconnect with the average American, but I don't think he is as disconnected as we would want him to be. Far too many envy what he has and think he has the answers as to how they might become rich as well. Its so backwards and very scary too me. I appreciate your comments. I grew up in the midwest where success is based on income. I'm now in school in Oregon where conservation and low footprint is considered success. Its not what you have, its what you contribute. I am learning about permaculture, alternative energy systems, and low impact building options that reuse and repurpose materials. These buildings have much more character and positive energy than those giant homes popping up all over our once productive farmland in the midwest. You give me hope!
DeleteI agree. Our police forces have been militarized with all the hardware and training that is based on taking a person down rather than just keeping people safe. These are not the "nice police(wo)man" that we were taught to respect, but more like a robot with little in the way of common sense and caring but with lots of attitude. No wonder the people fear police today!
ReplyDeleteKudos to the German officers in this picture. They are truly keeping the peace rather than policing as it is known in America.
This should be one of those photos of the year in Life magazine... or photo of the decade. It is short of miraculous that all the police officers were in tune together on this. I so love this show of true strength. How more appropriate to be "protecting" peaceful demonstrators than beating on them. They are light years ahead of many of the American police who are assigned to the demonstrations.
ReplyDeletePollyinAK
Look at the guy in the very center of the photo. It looks like there is a humanbeing under all that gear. What a smile (he's kinda hot too) and the woman to the right of him... compare these officers to the coward who sprayed those kids, sitting in peaceful protest at UC Davis directly in the face with pepper spray. Show us how its done Germany!
DeleteAnd I'm saddened that this article has only one comment as of 8:14am, but the Levi Johnston article already has 37 comments. Which is more important, people?
ReplyDeleteSolidarity at its best. Makes me have hope for mankind.
ReplyDeleteAmazing - Where is the pepper spray? One has to wonder what makes our police so violent. Maybe they watch too much Fox News.
ReplyDeleteIf only the American police would realize that the Occupy movement has their best interests at heart, as well as that of the middle class and poor.
ReplyDeleteOnce we reach the stage where government funded police forces are disbanded, in favor of CORPORATE funded versions (requiring much less personnel) it will finally dawn on these goons that they got screwed like everyone else, and should have been leading the protests, not bashing in the heads of those doing so.
Please, someone fax this pic to the Berkeley Police Department!
ReplyDeleteIf this ever happens in your state, expect the trigger-happy National Guard to be called in!
ReplyDeleteThis movement was an act of sheer genius, it's of the people, by the people and for the people. To see it evolve into a global movement is a pretty remarkable accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the others, putting uniforms and weapons in "the disciplinarian's" hands causes more problems than the peaceful protesters could ever do.
The photo you chose shows there are people in authority who "get it". It's ambiguity is it's strength because no political entity can overtake it's popularity for political gain.
We all bleed red, we all laugh and cry in the same language, and seeing others come to the defense of the weak kind of makes me think what we have in common is far more important than our differences.