Marine Critically Injured at Occupy Oakland
As “Occupy” movements swell across the country, it seems local police are becoming increasingly violent in their attempts to restrain the generally peaceful protestors. One of the most devistating incidents yet took place at Occupy Oakland yesterday, when a Marine was critically injured by a police projectile. Only 24 years old, Scott Olsen survived two tours in Iraq only to be fighting for his life while participating in a non-violent protest.
Business Insider reports that Oakland Police claim Olsen may have been injured after trying to attack them, but judging from this video (he appears at 3:30), that doesn’t seem to be the case:
Occupy Oakland Tuesday October 25 from Raleigh Latham on Vimeo.
After Olsen fell to the ground, a police officer threw a flash grenade into the crowd of people who attempted to come to his aid. He is currently said to have suffered a skull fracture and swelling of the brain. One of Olsen’s fellow Marine men posted this heartbreaking picture of his response to his “brother’s” injury. These are truly disturbing times we are living in.
Good intentioned, legitimately upset and angered people of America: Instead of standing and protesting a government that cares less if you live or die, and will continue to use BRUTE force to control these things(a lot of this was predicted a long time ago in detail) look to your left, look to your right at those people your standing with and help one another. Take back your power instead of throwing pebbles at a cold heartless throne thinking your gonna get a result. The time for that type of protest working is over (if it ever did without major violent reaction from the gov’t and police system and LOTS of loss of life). For every unfortunate man and woman experiencing these violent protest experiences I’m positive they have resources and abilities to help one another to get through these tough times. It’s cool to stand together to complain but to actually help one another through these situations forreal I guess is too much. BE PROACTIVE! The government is not gonna help you! Get over that and help yourselves. Those with more resources than others help your fellow man. As simple as carpools and potluck dinners. We have to rely on each other and it will continue to get more and more imperitive that we do so. This is just the beginning yall…come together or suffer. There’s way more power in numbers 99% is waaaaay more than 1% marinate on that.