Opinion: Next steps for Occupy L.A.
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One month after the Occupy L.A. movement began downtown, politicians are stuck trying to politely get the protesters to move on. But as our editorial board writes, breaking up a group without leaders or a hierarchy could prove challenging. It describes the group as
[A] viral demonstration that prides itself on a lack of leadership or central organization. In the past, police and public officials have often been able to negotiate a peaceful end to major demonstrations by engaging in a kind of theatrical performance in which the leaders agree on who will be arrested to make a political statement, and police agree not to use their batons. But it’s hard to negotiate with a headless group united only by its resentment toward bankers, corporations, Congress, the media and others in positions of power -- including the police.
While videos of protester clashes with Oakland police earlier in the week have only encouraged the group, their encampment is causing disruptions and public health concerns. However, as our board notes:
The protesters, meanwhile, have made it clear that they don’t intend to leave. ‘As a time stamp for our departure, there is none,’ they wrote in a joint statement Wednesday night. It would be best for everybody, including the demonstrators, if the impasse could be resolved without resorting to police in riot gear. Another location for the protest should be found, and if the participants are organized enough to put out a joint statement, they’re organized enough to negotiate a peaceful departure.
The editorial quickly drew substantial reader response, with comments encompassing everything from the tenets of civil disobedience to the resilience of trees and grass. Here is a sampling from the discussion board:
Head for the Hills
The occupiers should camp out on the yards of Hollywood’s rich and famous. After all, Hollywood’s top 1% Democrats support the occupiers and should not mind a few hundred guests.
--penguinista
Police have stoked the fire
The occupiers around the world will not be leaving. We will only be growing. The atrocities that the Oakland PD have caused at their attack on innocent protesters has sped up the movement. This author doesn’t even understand his 1st amendment rights and he’s writing news articles? WOW this is spooky! Happy Halloween!
LOVE and PEACE to the WORLD!
--SPIRIT IS REAL
A chance for Villaraigosa to stand up for constituents
If Antonio knew what was good for him, he would continue to stand with the folks camping out at City Hall. Go raise $50k for the grass and stop whining about it. This is a pivotal moment for re-energizing a mass movement that stands for real working people and not the rich and powerful. Antonio could be a hero, but instead he’s bloviating and sounding like the corporate sell-out he’s become. Stand for the people who elected you in South and East LA! And liberal Westsiders: donate to the #occupyLA folks, and to the LA Parks Foundation for the darn dying grass. When the occupiers leave after victory, maybe the city can replace it with native and drought-tolerant plants?
These ‘occupiers’ are not a nuisance: They are standing up for the causes of the 99%: jobs, democracy, and an economy that works for all; although the movement is not as focused as it could be, at least they have the guts to stand up for what they believe in. Maybe they’ll help the rest of you wake up!
I come to expect this kind of condescending rubbish from the LA Times, so I’m not surprised. They did it to the anti-Vietnam and brown- and black-power protesters, too. But maybe Antonio and the rest of ‘liberal’ city hall should stop thinking about their next election and actually try to help the communities they represent. Wow, wouldn’t that be a surprise! I won’t be holding my breath, though.
-- onewhobelievesinjustice
Is there a cleaner way to protest?
If the movement was smart, they would move to a nearby location, let the city clean up the area, and then move back. In that way the protesters would still have a presence in downtown, still be able to push their message, and the city could directly address the pollution problem. It would be nice if the situation could be resolved without force, but the protesters refuse to be considerate or cooperative. If police are needed to clean out the area, then it’s the fault of the protesters.
-- Tommy99
Civil disobedience means not following the rules
You are obviously unfamiliar with the concept of civil disobedience. It is supposed to be disruptive and inconvenient. That is how you get a people’s attention- even the ruling authorities.
As long as the assembly is peaceful, they have a right to do so- grass, fig trees and park curfews be damned.
-- sean7k
Priorities, anyone?
The grass can be replaced!
I guess tax payer’s money spent on the Mark Ridley-Thomas office remodel was a much better use of OUR TAX payers dollars
‘While California in general and Los Angeles in particular are hurting, Mark Ridley -Thomas envisioned a $707000 office remodel.’
Politicians and bankers love to spend money on themselves but when the money that belongs to the tax payers actually goes to the tax payers the bankers and politicians get VERY angry.
-- Hollywood Guy
Don’t equate Occupy L.A. with Vietnam demonstrations
Occupy LA has turned into a filthy, nasty hell hole. Most people there are not friendly to older white people, and no one wants to bring children in strollers or elders to the site. If you can’t include everyone non-violently your movement will fail....... Many people there are just homeless malcontents, drug addicts and scumbags that need an bath. We ended the Vietnam war but we did it mostly with love for everyone. There is little love in that place. It has become a bad idea with misdirected anger at the city of LA. Go occupy the banks, stock brokerage firms, and the homes of the greedy that caused the financial mess, not City Hall!
-- RichDavid
The fig trees can take care of themselves
‘Majestic fig trees,’ oh puh-leeze!
EVER TRY TO GET ONE OF THESE OUT OF YOUR YARD? THEY ARE IMMORTAL, THEY CAN’T BE KILLED!
-- carmen slade
*Spelling errors in the above comments have been corrected.
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--Julia Gabrick