A twenty four year old USMC Iraq war veteran, Scott Olsen, is in critical condition tonight after being shot at close range with a tear gas canister or rubber bullet by law enforcement during protests in Oakland last evening. An active member of Veterans For Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War was engaging in peaceable assembly along with hundreds of other protestors supporting the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Ironic to risk your life to defend the constitution in a foreign land only to have your own country shoot at it you.
A Special Comment
The following is not a political piece, rather to show this entire system is broken beyond repair, I resent the constant harping on the GOP, not a hairs’ difference between the two. It will never repair itself.
Apparently, the US supports freedom of assembly and peaceful protests in other countries, just not their own. The Obama administration has reprimanded governments in the Middle East over the past several months for excessive force and abusive treatment of pro-democracy protesters. Obama said in a speech, “So I want to be very clear in calling upon the Egyptian authorities to refrain from any violence against peaceful protesters. The people of Egypt have rights that are universal. That includes the right to peaceful assembly, association, the right to free speech, and the ability to determine their own destiny”.
And Clinton stated, “We have sent a very clear message: We want to see restraint, we do not want to see violence by any security forces.”
BUT IF THE SAME THING HAPPENS IN OAKLAND?
crickets.
And Obama was right across the bay in San Francisco that day I believe, not one word. If we wear veils will Obama care about our freedom of speech?