Over the past month, I have become embedded in the Occupy Philadelphia movement. Originally, I wrote an article entitled “Occupy Wallstreet? Occupy Yourself!” (www.widgette.com; October 7, 2011) From there, I traveled to Wall Street to encounter the protest in person. A few days later, I became actively involved at the Occupy Philly location at City Hall, Philadelphia.
Patty Hearst in a Symbionese Liberation Army publicity photo
When you become embedded in a story, much care must be taken to remain objective. One example would be Patricia Hearst and the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). On February 4, 1974, 19-year-old Patty Hearst was kidnapped by a “urban guerrilla group” known as the Symbionese Liberation Army. The SLA wanted to swap jailed SLA members for Ms. Hearst. The attempt failed. On April 3, 1974, Patty announced she joined the SLA and assumed the name “Tania”. On On April 15, 1974, Patty was photographed carrying an M1 rifle as she robbed a bank in San Francisco. Since this time, she has become a well-known example of a victim of Stockholm Syndrome.
With this in mind, I attempted not to contribute to the gang mentality of the Occupy Movement.
On October 23, 2011, I was witness to the protest and eventual arrests of 15 Occupy Philly members. Deeming the spectacle as unethical behavior by the protesters, I refused to give the event any press coverage. Then, on November 7, 2011, I was covering the protest and arrests of protesters at the Comcast building. Again, feeling the protesters were not acting in the best interest of the movement, I reached out to offer positive press to the Mayor and the Police Department. I contacted the Philadelphia Police Department’s Public Affairs and Media Relations office, as well as, Mayor Nutter’s Press Department. My concerns over a non-confrontational move were voiced along with two requests to ensure a smooth transition. The Mayor’s office asked if I had a dead-line. I responded, “Prior to the expiration of the permit on November 15… or it will be too late.” Both offices promised me call-backs. The phone conversations were followed-up with the following letter:
To whom it may concern:
Pursuant to today’s telephone conversation, thank you for your assistance. As you suggested, I did contact the Mayor’s Press Department.
It is my desire to coordinate press in two ways:
1) Obtain any positive *copy* covering the Philadelphia Police Department and the Mayor’s office. Any statements, press releases or related materials that can be edited and/or redistributed to news organizations would be greatly appreciated. I am looking for any information that will help substantiate that the Philadelphia Police have been doing an excellent job at Occupy Philly, as well as, being civil and cordial.
2) An on-camera appearance by representatives from the Police Department or the Mayor’s Office. Besides praising the Departments on camera, I would like to review the *move plan* offered to Occupy Philly by the Mayor. If we could shoot on-location Thursday or Friday during a picture perfect day, I would like to meet.
Questions include:
* Where can Occupy Philly move? [The area will be filmed.]
* Will there be electric?
* Does Occupy Philly need any permits? Permits to move? Permits to play music? etc.
* Can the move start this weekend?
Thank you. I shall await your advice.
Since that time, I have not heard back from either the Mayor or the Police departments. Instead, Mayor Nutter held a press conference November 13 claiming there has been no communication on behalf of Occupy Philly. Now, the encampment has no alternative but to wait for a confrontation.
Press Conference at Occupy Philly
November 14, 2011
~ 1PM
by Daniel Brouse
CITY HALL, PHILADELPHIA, PA
On November 13, 2011, Philadelphia’s Mayor Nutter held a press conference changing his posture on the Occupy Philadelphia movement. During the show, he reversed his position on the protesters being allowed to obtain a new permit when the current permit expires on the 15th. Following is the response from the Occupy Philly Press Team:
CITY HALL, PHILADELPHIA, PA
November 13, 2011
by Daniel Brouse
The infamous Jesse Jackson visited the Occupy Philly encampment to show his support. In town for the Joe Frazier funeral, Rev. Jackson advocated for a Joe Frazier statue. Saying that Rocky Balboa is a fictitious character, he encouraged a monument be dedicated to a true hero of the working class.
Unemployment remains staggeringly high at 9.2%. The national debt has surged to over $14.3 trillion and growing. The price of gas has doubled under President Obama and food prices are soaring. Forty-three cents of every dollar Washington spends is borrowed. And our most cherished freedoms and values are under attack like never before by our own government.
The Republican Party has a plan to put America back on the path to prosperity and we need the support of grassroots leaders like you for it to take hold and succeed.
Daniel, in 2010, you and millions of Americans put your faith in Republicans to get our nation’s fiscal house in order by electing a GOP majority to the U.S. House. These men and women didn’t come to Washington for a career — they came for a cause that’s bigger than you or me.
It’s the cause to get this country on the right track by paying off our spiraling debt, fulfilling the mission of retirement security and getting the economy growing again.
Republicans in the U.S. House are working hard to keep our charge. We’ve made steady progress by passing a 2012 budget that cuts spending so government lives within its means, reduces the deficit, unleashes the forces of the free market to create jobs, reforms the tax code so it’s fairer and tackles entitlement reform.
Unfortunately, our budget doesn’t have a chance of getting a fair shake by Harry Reid in the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate — let alone of surviving President Obama’s veto pen unscathed.
The only way Republicans can right our ship and get America on a sustainable path to economic growth and prosperity is to expand our majority in the U.S. House, recapture the U.S. Senate and elect a Republican president in 2012.
Daniel, the best way you can help Republicans win the fight for America’s future is by joining the one organization that is doing more than any other conservative group to elect GOP candidates at all levels of government and make Barack Obama a one-term president . . . The Republican National Committee (RNC).
Daniel, America is not down and out. We have a few problems, but we can fix them with the right solutions. This is our moment to advance a commonsense, conservative plan for prosperity and get our nation back on track.
Thank you in advance for your generous support of the RNC and for your commitment to our cause.
Sincerely,
Paul Ryan
Congressman (WI-1)
P.S. Daniel, America cannot afford four more years of Barack Obama’s never-ending trillion dollar deficits and his tax, borrow and spend big government agenda. We need real leadership in the Oval Office and a Republican-controlled Congress to get our fiscal house in order and our economy turned around. Thank you.
In general, anything I send anyone is ‘for publication’ unless otherwise noted… it’s easier to be open than to track your secrets (especially if you’re ADHD!)
Of course, this means that some whoppers of mistakes make it to the public, but that’s the risk…hiding them and being found out is much, much worse.
My State has just declared February 6th as “Ronald Reagan Day.” I’m thinking we should celebrate the way Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated–for the same reasons, ‘lest we forget.’ But unlike Guy Fawkes, in addition to hanging and burning effigies, we will have zombies running the government for the day–oh, wait, we already do that every day. Hmmm. At any rate, it’s an excuse for fireworks in February, and THAT at least, is a good thing.
Senator Joe McCarthy deserves a day too. We need a formal day to piss on his grave.
If I can get them to establish a “Bush week” I’m definitively going into the effigy business.
Wisconsin. Home of some of the best and worst ideas in government.
Chuck
Thanks for reading, you’ve been a great audience. Remember, donations are not tax free (but are appreciated!)
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