Michael Gill has produced a definitive video of the peaceful occupation of the Greenway Park by Occupy Boston last Monday night and the rough police crackdown on nonviolent protesters that followed. Notice the police trampling the flowers that Mayor Mennino was supposedly protecting. The authorities have truly lost sight of what’s important.
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/30514982 w=600&h=400]
“I will not tolerate civil disobedience in the city of Boston,”
— Thomas Menino, mayor of the city where patriots staged the most celebrated act of civil disobedience in American history, The Boston Tea Party
58 Responses to “Video of Boston Police Arresting Peaceful Protesters”
‘Notice the police trampling the flowers that the Mayor was supposedly protecting. The authorities have lost sight of what’s important.’
Question- if the protesters had stayed where they were ‘allowed’ to stay OR left when they were asked- in a peaceful way. Would the police have even been there?
Own the results of your actions.
very nice documentation of a peaceful protest. what should have happened is what happenned this morning at 7AM in Zuccotti Park. They should have left you alone. And they certainly should not have gone in at 1AM with not much media present…I was not present but watching, and supported you with letters to the Mayor, the Governor, Boston Globe and CNN that night. Thank you all who were there protesting for the cause of many.
The AUTHORITIES have lost sight of what’s important???
At about 6:45 this morning, the catastrophe that was about to happen in New York was averted when Brookfield Properties withdrew their request for police assistance to clear the park. They said that they’d work with the protesters for the time being to assure sanitation, safety, etc. in the park. What a win for free speech!
And what’s your response? Congratulations? Solidarity with NY? A resolution to rally public support around some critical banking reform / political reform issue?
NO! Just more of the same police brutality bullshit that we’ve been seeing on this site since Tuesday morning.
WHAT THE HELL’S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE???????
I support Occupy Boston. I am with you.
And I won’t swear at you (I’m a mother of two and I’ve been trained out of it I suppose). But I agree in spirit with Paul.
What about New York? What about October 15th? What about the many things that we need to think, talk about, and protest?
Posting this video on your homepage continues the massive distraction. Distraction is a favorite tactic of the 1% to keep the focus away from the gross injustices of the world, and you are falling for it as well.
I liked the video, just the timing is wrong. And as a mother of 3 (one in college) I also agree in spirit with Paul. The organizers of OccupyBoston need to learn from those of OWS how to mobilize people. I am thinking I will go to the mother ship and join that movement…You must get better organized and practical otherwise you will lose supporters. We should be congratulating NY right now and CALLING PEOPLE TO ACTION – on the streets, online, on the phones, whatever…
EXAMPLE:
“#OWS VICTORY: The people have prevailed, gear up for global day of action
Posted Oct. 14, 2011, 8:51 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
OCCUPY WALL STREET: PEOPLE POWER TRIUMPHS OVER WALL STREET’S BID TO END THE PROTESTS
MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND BROOKFIELD INC BACK DOWN ON EVICTION
WORLD PREPARES FOR DAY OF ACTION SATURDAY OCTOBER 15 IN 950+ CITIES IN 82 COUNTRIES
“
Hopefully this video will end the distraction and put it to rest and everyone will move on this afternoon, or tomorrow. That’s how i see it. I am thankful for this video as an antidote to the previous statements.
Paul. This is a video that finally shows what actually happened in a fair light, so we can put the matter to rest and move on to what is really important. I am very sure that Occupy Boston congratulates and stands in solidarity with NY, and is thankful that the battle was averted there by a wise decision by the power that be there. Yes, a victory for free speech there. Still, this is an important video and finally withdraws the hyperbole of the previous statements by Occupy Boston and puts forth a fair depiction. You can judge for yourself. I agree with you that what happened in NYC this morning is what should have happened in Boston, but it didn’t, and here is what did happen. Anyway, let’s move on, and please calm down. Your shouting is without justification. Breathe for a moment won’t you?
“Anyway, let’s move on, and please calm down. Your shouting is without justification”
Pauls the poster that inspired me to finally even bother logging in.
He’s not ‘shouting’ about one post here, its the body of work (i could be wrong, but pretty sure we both are angered most by the meandering focus of the movement- or at least its protrayal on occupyboston.com)
Well i guess i was responding to the all caps and ten question marks .. but i sure hear you, if you are judging the movement by what’s on this website.
I’ve been down there a number of times, and participated and felt the spirit in person — the camp, and the meetings. I find it inspiring, though some things i would criticize too. But if I only saw this website, i guess i could see what you mean. If you get the chance, try spending a little time, maybe catch a GA meeting if you can. I have felt both inspired and uninspired, depending on the day … sometimes both in the same day … but to me that’s okay. Participatory democracy is messy, and multi-faceted. I will tell you, it’s a heck of a lot more vibrant and real than watching the U.S. Congress on CSPAN. There’s a lot going on. It’s cultural as well as political. It’s not just discussions. There is also dancing, music, and interesting dynamic people.
Sage, I didn’t say that I thought what happened in NYC this morning is what should have happened in Boston Monday night. If that was a misunderstanding, fair enough. But if it was a deliberate attempt to put words in my mouth, I would be very offended.
This is real. This is good. Thank you so much for making this video. This is a movement I can stand with. This is the way to make ourselves understood and show how history went down. Thank you.
Lost me sage.
The issue isn’t arrests and police.
The issue is that the middle class is expressing their frustration in the middle of a recession.
I, for one, found the video rather moving. In fact, I teared up watching the part where Veterans for Peace recite their oath to defend the Constitution.
Catherine, what i am saying is that yes, the issue is NOT police and arrests … but that i found this video to finally put down that to rest. So it is another video, another ten minutes, but let it be done and done. So we can move on to the real issues. I think the Occupy website was a hard pill to swallow before, and this is sort of a correction to it.
I agree with you that people are expressing their frustration. And proposing alternatives. And even more important to me, demanding and enacting a more participatory // representative governance. That is really the issue.
The police are relevant, i think, because they are the arm of the existing power structure that puts the use of force on the street, so it’s relevant to see that they want to put down the movement. Don’t you have room for many issues? I guess when you’re doing P.R. then you need a single focus — i guess it’s like people only have time or attention for one thing then you lose them. Like “you only get one first impression”. Is that what you’re saying? If that’s so than all i can say is that i hope YOU at least hold on and allow that this is a young movement still learning how to do things, and propose your suggestions in an encouraging way, if the overall message resonates with you. It seems like the message resonates with you somewhat. I have critiques too but i am holding on and trying to be constructive and encouraging of the hopeful things.
Let me guess, you are unemployed? Get a fucking job and stop whining. If you cant get a job then go back to school to learn a trade. Otherwise just shut the fuck up!
Agree with Paul, Occupy Boston is begining to veer off into police brutality site. You are begining to loose some support because you are acting too innocent. Get back to the focus of what you are about.
Okay, maybe the video’s a few days late, and Occupy Boston could put another story above it about what happened in NYC this morning. Seems to be the popular current, eh?
OK, I see someone with a long pole lunge at the police and being thrown back… why were the occupiers lunging at the police?
I guess punching cops , throwing bottles and cups full or urine on cops in New York is your idea of peaceful protest. The leaders will brainwash you all into violence soon enough. Occupy wall street are now the modern brownshirts.
I propose that a new law be passed – If anyone throws anything at a police officer then they should be able to use deadly force because it’s obvious that the “thrower” has no respect for authority, and that will just escalate. So put them down now. And if someone throws Urine on anyone is a fucking zanimal and should be first – put in the zoo with a gorilla pack, and if he survives then he should be used for Medical Testing, and if they are still not dead then they should be sentenced to Death, and nothing wimpy like lethal injection, but a full on Electric Chair!
Occupy Boston seems to be ignoring the views of the 99.99% of the 99% that cannot be in Dewey Square. Please stop issuing press releases about police brutality – which really doesn’t seem to have occurred – and focus on the real problem: the corrosive role of money in our political system. If you don’t listen to us, then you’re just a different 1%.
on October 14th, 2011 at 10:58 am #
[…] an updated video on the arrests in Boston earlier this […]
Zucotti park which is owned by the Brookfield group. The Brookfield group has Mayor Bloomberg’s wife and Vice President Biden’s son on the board of directors. The Brookfield group donated millions to Obama and Obama gave millions back to the Brookfield group in stimulis money. All of this starts with Obama and the socialist progressives and comes right back to them. You are all tools of Obama and his big money grab, money laundering crimes. i thought you were against this kind of things. TOOLS!
ha, yiu thought wrong. its a left wing circle jerk under the giuse of 99%.
terrible.
When are the citizens of Boston going to Occupy “Occupy Boston” and demand the end of our tax dollars being used to support and manage these drifters?
Awesome job, BPD! I’m so proud to have my tax money go to a peaceful policing organization that so professionally and non-violently removes people who are engaged in unlawful assembly. You are not the 99%, occupiers, you are the 1%. Get a job and work hard like the rest of us and leave us alone.
OMG I would marry you! You just expressed exactly what I had in my head.
Get off the damn streets and get A JOB!
The video shows police following orders. I didn’t see any brutality or abuse. When you resist arrest, you are goading the police to use force. There’s too much romanticizing of confronting the police here, as the blog topics indicate. I suspect OB has been Brandon Darby-ed. Classic divide and conquer. And the 1% and their monied corruption goes on.
There was numerous amounts of police brutality, whether you can see it in the video or not and I say this as a witness and a victim. Also, a large majority of people, did not resist arrest, and kept the peace.
Good point anonymous, the video doesn’t show everything. Thanks for pointing that out. I’m sorry you were victimized. Sadly, I’m not all that surprised; when police follow orders they use force if necessary.
I still think the whole fiasco takes away from what I thought was the main point.
Now if only we could focus on the bankster, lobbyist, and CEO brutality. Doesn’t make for dramatic video or confrontation though; just a slow and steady erosion of our standard of living and political power.
Also, I just got to finish the video, and I saw plenty of brutality and unnecessary force in the video and I didn’t see any civil disobedience or resist. Everyone still would’ve remained peaceful even if they just came in arrested us, peacefully arrested us, but no, they came in swinging, didn’t matter the age, sex, gender, race, size, they didn’t care, and i find that inhumane and unnecessary.
Why are so many people here “Anonymous”? Grow some balls and show your face!
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20111012,0,114761.column
A very good article on grass roots movements in general and the Occupy movements in particular transitioning from ‘protest to policy’.
Thanks for sharing Paul – I recommend everyone read it. Now if this could just be articulated by OccupyBoston:
“For one thing, the concerns of the protesters are considerably more focused than their critics acknowledge. They involve the extreme inequality of wealth and income that has hobbled the U.S. economy over the last few decades, the imbalance between the government assistance given big banking institutions and that offered the homeowners who are their customers, and the failure to implement meaningful reform on elaborate financial strategies and instruments.”
Are you for real? The wealthy didn’t just wake up that way. It’s call HARD WORK! Something you are obviously unfamiliar with. There does NOT need to be reform. Pay your bills, or don’t take out high priced loans. You can blame yourself!
LOL – Erin, you did say below you are unemployed right? I work 50-60 hours a week so don’t tell me I don’t know what hard work is. Do you know why you are unemployed? You say you are blaming yourself. What would you do different?
I am a supporter of this movement because it doesn’t matter if we are left, right or center, employed or unemployed we just see something wrong with news like these…
Do you seriously not see something wrong with news like below – and do you honestly think the value brought to the table by CEOs who took 350,000 American jobs offshore are upwards of 10-15 million. I feel sorry for you, but do think in time you will come. Our family has a decent income, but it’s not just about us. I am actually a supporter for people like you who are probably unemployed because their jobs was outsourced or offshored. I wish you all the best Erin.
Golden Parachutes for Failed CEOs
The “reduction in workforce” telegraphed by HP a few weeks ago appears to finally be taking place…. (500) jobs are reportedly moving to Shanghai and Yehud, Israel….
http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/11/source-hps-layoffs-taking-effect-today-500-gone-from-san-diego-group/
HP CEO has received a severance package worth $13.2 million in cash and stock for his 11-month tenure
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/another-corporate-outrage-golden-parachutes-failed-ceos-153646807.html
cant help but notice all the iPhone video/pictures being taken… isnt this a little hypocritical to be supporting some of the members of the 1% while at the same time protesting some of the members of the 1%?
people would take you seriously if you just try a little harder at being serious.
bums
Please, you people are a joke. Don;’t take yourselves so seriously, we aren’t!
Get a life, a job and your tails back to your parents basement.
I totally agree! Thank you for saying what was on my mind!
Did you know the Department of Defense spends 32 million dollars on PR every year? How many jobs is that? And do you know what they do? Post comments here!
Good JOB BOSTON!
Menino and all his henchman need to be purged from Politics. If they act like dictators, talk like dictators, then they much be dictators. There is no room in America, anywhere, for people wanting to dictate lifestyles, beliefs, and livelihoods to others. PURGE this political machine mentality from our Nation!
You need to be purged from being able to post your negative BS with no evidence to back up your claims.
excellent and musical video u did good
Legal analysis of the arrests:
http://legalretainer.blogspot.com/2011/10/did-boston-police-violate-first.html
Find the similarities, not the differences. Anything that separates cannot be truth.
http://youtu.be/TX1N3opw5eI
I wonder how much this debacle cost the tax paper ? no need for this show of force ! Which illegal technicality are the these individual citizens in infraction of ? Rally , Protest , Disobedience ?
“Whoever, without right enters or remains in or upon the dwelling house, buildings, boats or improved or enclosed land, wharf, or pier of another, or enters or remains in a school bus, as defined in section 1 of chapter 90, after having been forbidden so to do by the person who has lawful control of said premises, whether directly or by notice posted thereon … shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days or both such fine and imprisonment. ”
No technicality flannery. Trespassing. Like the old saying-don’t bite the hand that feeds. They bit. They got slapped. Quit cryin’.
The greenway is not enclosed or private property , its public! I see it has cost the tax payer over 100k in overtime , ur analogy should be placed in reverse , those protesters pay n feed those overtime law officers . Now quit ur hatred n get on the winning team n enjoy the victory .
However, it is improved land as explained in the aforementioned mgl. Yes we taxpayers will pay the bill.
Keep ur ear to the grind stone frankie
Thanks for the great reporting – such important documentation!
This is why the US is so weak! Our own people don’t stand together and respect the government. Do we really need another 9/11 for us to come together as Americans? I don’t have a job but I blame myself, not the government! You people are all disillusioned! And I hope the police get SWAT to wipe you all off the streets!
You are not Peacefully protesting, you are a MOB waiting for one little thing so set one of you off and then you will become a Riot group! Just go home, get some rest and go job searching. OMG You people disgust me! I’m actually ashamed to be American!
Did you know that its becoming even harder to get a job? Surely you do… its the talk of the century. Wanna know why they can’t get jobs? Because the companies can’t afford to pay them yet these bankers and other people are earning fat sums while the general population swims in debt… and also, Erin, mind searching up some things about what your arguing about? It just MIGHT open your eyes… or make you turn it away.
So, I guess all the millions of people who are jobless (including those with degrees, and those who have countless unsuccessful job applications and interviews behind them) should “blame themselves.” The tens of thousands who are losing their homes should all blame themselves – but the bankers who were rescued by taxpayers from losing their companies and associated jobs, whose risk-taking, greed and flouting of sound financial practices almost brought our country’s economy down to long-term depression status, those folks should not blame themselves. The retirees who lost their pension money should wish they could “get a life.” The unions which are virtually all fully behind these protests – whose members know a whole lot more about what it means to work hard to support a family than a certain unemployed fanatic who considers himself certain enough about morality to advocate gestapo-like tactics – should shut up and go home. It’s so easy in a forum like this to spout unlimited amounts of hatred and ignorance, unfortunately. That only worsens problems. If you really care about this country, dedicate yourself to solving problems.
on February 25th, 2012 at 5:00 pm #
[…] https://www.occupyboston.org/2011/10/14/video-of-boston-police-arresting-peaceful-protesters/ […]
So Erin, you say the people who don’t have job due to this “recession” so they get ripped off by bankers fair and is their own fault? And also, if enough of the middle class loses their jobs due to being “their fault” for have a recession happening, then why don’t you say good-bye to Democracy and America. America is just like all other great civilizations… the “higher up” loses sight of the people and only see money… take Rome for example… all their emperors were incompetent and slowly, they deteriorated from the inside. Though disease was a big part of it, history repeats itself so much times and we humans, being ignorant as we are, don’t learn from it.