I wish this was a happier post….

[lagilman]

Today is BookDay for TRICKS OF THE TRADE.  I am so proud and happy of
this book, I wish I could spend all day kvelling over it, sharing
reviews and stories.

But something happened this morning that has taken my attention and
energy away.  Early in the morning, the NYPD raided and cleared Liberty
Square, the site of the Occupy Wall Street protest – and they did it
without a clear warrant, without allowing the press (or local citizens)
to observe.  But there were observers.

The NYPD Didn’t Want You To See Occupy Wall Street Get Evicted

Go.  Read. You may not agree with OWS’s goals, or you may think that
they are too disorganized, or too Not What You Would Do…but the way the
raids have come, in the dark, with violence and an utter disregard for
citizens’ rights, should horrify anyone but the most stanch apologist
for Corporate America.

And dudes…in addition to tents, food, and personal belongings, the
cops destroyed over 5,000 books.  The Peoples’ Library, entire, was
thrown into a dumpster.  You know who destroys books?  People who don’t
want you to think.  People who don’t want you to wonder, or question. 
People who want downtrodden masses, not those who lift their heads and
walk freely.

And I say: the HELL with that.

Originally published at Practical Meerkat: A Blog 

Comments

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

To HELL with that!! It's a shame! They already evicted the organizers of the indignés.

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

Interesting that the various Occupy camps are all getting cleared about now. Interesting. Enough to make you think the plutocrats have been Talking.

Heck, here in PDX another couple of weeks and the winter would have cut it back. But no, gotta clear it out in a hinky way...

Shades of the Bonus Army.

[lagilman]

Winter wasn't going to clear out #OWSNYC.

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

OWSPDX was already making plans to go inside. Still might happen--waiting to see what's what. At least here it seems to have fostered some dialogue about services for the mentally ill and homeless. But whether anything significant comes from that...we shall see.

I've been quietly encouraged by the number of small town Occupies. Most of those are not long-term encampments but rallies for support...bits and pieces I've picked up from the regional political blogs and commentaries suggests that some are doing the smart thing and using OWS as an organizing tool--not for any one party but for social justice activities.

[lagilman]

Yeah, the thing about OWS-NYC is that it's the centerpoint, and the folk at the heart of it know that...

and so does MiniMayor.

[signeh.livejournal.com]

When is he up for re-election? Does NYC have a recall provision?

[lagilman]

He already "stole" a third term, with political shenangians to get around term limits.

[wolfsilveroak.livejournal.com]

I believe Occupy Portland was cleared in much the same way a few days before.}:/

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

First up, happy book day.
And yeah, that eviction... Hateful.

[lagilman]

It's been a weird book day, coming 8 weeks after my last one, and my publisher not seeming to even have the damn thing up on their website....

(their 'official' date is 12/1/11, but thy can't/won't stop the stores from releasing it on 11/15.)

[jesterjoker.livejournal.com]

Woot, Bonnie 3!

That said, when I read that they destroyed 5000 books, my rage just skyrocketed. I am absolutely furious.

[lagilman]

There is word now that the books weren't destroyed, "only" carted off and put... who knows where? I doubt they will be returned to their rightful owners, though. And really, if books sit in a corner somewhere, unread, while people miss them....

That's quite sad.

[jesterjoker.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I ran across this tweet (https://twitter.com/#!/elliottjustin/status/136546566562529284) that adds more info to what happened to them. It doesn't really mitigate my anger much - there's plenty to be furious about in this.