Since the beginning of the Occupy Wall Street movement the police have emerged in a certain negative light around the world. From Athens to New York City to Melbourne and beyond Police have faced off with protestors in ways that have nothing to do with the images commonly seen on American crime drama television shows. Some have a penchant for pepper spray, others for smashing people into the ground, and some for teargas. It’s been ugly in Oakland, Boston, New York, Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, London, Liverpool and other cities around the world. If you haven’t seen the police in action then blame your mainstream television stations and newspapers. Much can be found on youtube and on the sites of the occupy camps. Oakland now has a weekly Saturday night protest against police brutality. Get the feeling something has gone a bit wrong somewhere along the line? When did the police become the private army of the mayor of New York City–or any city? Who do the police now protect and serve? Here are just a few examples of police actions which were originally seen live via livestreams online—yes, livestreams not via your television screens.
Oakland
Melbourne
Bloomberg “I have my own private army in the NYPD which is the seventh biggest army in the world.” Olbermann segment.
Occupy Greece
Riot Dog
Now famous Pepper Spray at UC Davis
A montage
Occupy Oakland’s media site http://hellaoccupyoakland.org/
Occupy Oakland’s information site http://occupyoakland.org/
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