Occupy DSM Arrests: Rhetoric vs. Reality
October 11, 2011 3 Comments
As I am sure you are by now aware, thirty-two protesters were arrested last night at the Occupy Iowa protest at the Iowa State Capital. Now, in an attempt to deflect criticism, participants and supporters of the rally are attempting to claim victimhood. They are attempting to control the dialog to make it appear as if they had been wronged by a bullish government intent on silencing their voice. Fortunately there are those of us that are rational enough to see what truly happened are and are willing to shed light on the subject.
Last night shortly after the events unfolded The Des Moines Register’s Regina Zilbermints reported that after repeated warnings to vacate the park by 11P.M the Iowa State Patrol began arresting the assembled protesters. According to Zilbermints several of the protesters intentionally resisted arrest by linking arms and sitting down; thus forcing the Troopers to carry many of the protesters to the awaiting vehicles.
In the hours since the chaotic turn of events occurred the protesters and their supporters have come up with all sorts of excuses for what happened last night. Some, such as the Marion County Iowa Democrats, have attempted to claim that the protesters did not know that the park was closed after 11 P.M. I have since learned that this is an entirely fictitious statement based upon this post that I found on the Des Moines Registers Facebook page. Just before 6 P.M. the protesters commented that they expected the Iowa State Patrol to kick them out at 11 P.M. when the park closes.
Facebook Screenshot
In spite of the rhetoric that we are hearing, no one’s Constitutional rights were violated last night. The protesters that were arrested were provided ample time to, five hours to be exact, to relocate their protest to another spot. The thirty-two protesters that were arrested could have simply done as their fellow protesters did and move across the street. Instead they intentionally disregarded a lawful order from multiple Iowa State Patrol officers in accordance with the law. And due to their arrogance they were arrested. I hope that they will come to understand the consequences of their actions, but somehow I doubt that they will.
This whole article is a lie… that FACEBOOK page is phony…….. I was there…. I was a witness…. there are no posted hours for the park…The reason I support Occupy Dsm is because I believe we are raising awareness to the general public about the corporate corruption in our government.
So Natalie, were you one of the 32 arrested for violating the law?
No Natalie, this article is not a lie. If you were unaware of the parks closing at 11 P.M. it is because your fellow protesters did not inform you of it. For heaven’s sake, Ed Fallon was among those arrested. He of all people should have known the closing time of the park from his time as a state representative.
As for the screenshot I took. No it is not a phony. It belongs to a left wing group from Des Moines.