My Occupy LA Arrest, by Family Guy writer Patrick Meighan

[Riot]

One of those "dirty jobless hippies" - a famous screen writer - involved with the Occupy Movement

Tuesday, December 6, 2011
My Occupy LA Arrest, by Patrick Meighan

My name is Patrick Meighan, and I’m a husband, a father, a writer on the Fox animated sitcom “Family Guy”, and a member of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica.

I was arrested at about 1 a.m. Wednesday morning with 291 other people at Occupy LA. I was sitting in City Hall Park with a pillow, a blanket, and a copy of Thich Nhat Hanh’s “Being Peace” when 1,400 heavily-armed LAPD officers in paramilitary SWAT gear streamed in. I was in a group of about 50 peaceful protestors who sat Indian-style, arms interlocked, around a tent (the symbolic image of the Occupy movement). The LAPD officers encircled us, weapons drawn, while we chanted “We Are Peaceful” and “We Are Nonviolent” and “Join Us.”

As we sat there, encircled, a separate team of LAPD officers used knives to slice open every personal tent in the park. They forcibly removed anyone sleeping inside, and then yanked out and destroyed any personal property inside those tents, scattering the contents across the park. They then did the same with the communal property of the Occupy LA movement.

For example, I watched as the LAPD destroyed a pop-up canopy tent that, until that moment, had been serving as Occupy LA’s First Aid and Wellness tent, in which volunteer health professionals gave free medical care to absolutely anyone who requested it. As it happens, my family had personally contributed that exact canopy tent to Occupy LA, at a cost of several hundred of my family’s dollars.

As I watched, the LAPD sliced that canopy tent to shreds, broke the telescoping poles into pieces and scattered the detritus across the park.

Note that these were the objects described in subsequent mainstream press reports as “30 tons of garbage” that was “abandoned” by Occupy LA: personal property forcibly stolen from us, destroyed in front of our eyes and then left for maintenance workers to dispose of while we were sent to prison.

More about the arrest and imprisonment here:

http://myoccupylaarrest.blogspot.com/?mid=5490

"Then the LAPD officer would grab the protestor’s right foot and twist it all the way the other direction until the non-violent protestor, in incredible agony, would shriek in pain and unlink from his neighbor."

"It was horrible to watch, and apparently designed to terrorize the rest of us. At least I was sufficiently terrorized. "

"he LAPD chose to keep those peaceful, non-violent protesters in prison for two full days… the absolute legal maximum that the LAPD is allowed to detain someone on misdemeanor charges."

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Riot

More about the arrest and imprisonment here:

http://myoccupylaarrest.blogspot.com/?mid=5490

"Then the LAPD officer would grab the protestor’s right foot and twist it all the way the other direction until the non-violent protestor, in incredible agony, would shriek in pain and unlink from his neighbor."

"It was horrible to watch, and apparently designed to terrorize the rest of us. At least I was sufficiently terrorized. "

"he LAPD chose to keep those peaceful, non-violent protesters in prison for two full days… the absolute legal maximum that the LAPD is allowed to detain someone on misdemeanor charges."

They werent sent to prison and he failed to mention the fact that the protest impeded people from going to their jobs as they Occupied dowtown L.A. they also fail to mention that some buisness couldnt open and some couldnt recieve supplies. I thought L.A. handled the situation very well they told them when they had to leave and even after that they gave them additional time to get their crap and go. No sympathy from me. They knew the score and made their choice.

[dellinger63]

Reminds me of a story I once heard about a guy named 'Potato Salad' who got kicked out of a bar for wearing a hat.

The Family Guy should have invited everyone to his yard to sit in a circle and lock arms and the they still could be there.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Honu

They werent sent to prison

For a misdemeanor.

and he failed to mention the fact that the protest impeded people from going to their jobs as they Occupied dowtown L.A.

Really? People sitting outside city hall on the lawn at midnight, which is when the raid occurred, impeded people going to their jobs?

they also fail to mention that some buisness couldnt open and some couldnt recieve supplies.

Really? Which?

I thought L.A. handled the situation very well they told them when they had to leave and even after that they gave them additional time to get their crap and go. No sympathy from me. They knew the score and made their choice

No, that's not true: the police gave them no warning, they came out of City Hall, surround the protesters on the lawn, broke them into four separate sections, and would NOT let them leave with their stuff. See .. this was shown LIVE on multiple UStream feeds, and the press was there - and removed from the site so they couldn't film and observe directly.

Fourth Amendment matter to anyone?

They made the choice to not resist arrest for a misdemeanor - not moving when ordered to by a policeman. So do you consider being forced to kneel on cement for 7 hours, with your hands ziplocked behind your back, police brutality or not? How about vomiting repeatedly and passing out with zero police help while in custody? Do you think that should be legal in the United States of America? Or do you think a militarized, fascist police state is just what is needed in the USA right now?

I thought you guys were supposed to be big, basic, freedom-loving Conservative American patriots? Dell? As a self-professed Libertarian, you should be infuriated at this. But you are not. Why not?

So you guys think that peaceful legal protest with civil disobedience over a misdemeanor should result in nerve damage for a professional writer? And that's okay with you guys?

[dellinger63]

No worries. When they grow up they'll learn to listen to police or anyone with a gun for that matter. Riot weren't you just a few months ago pushing for Fed money to distributed so teachers, police and firemen could retain their jobs? Or was that then and now is now?

You should give Occupy that idea and come up with a sign saying "Support our Police" could give that dying Occupy movement the shot in the arm it needs.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

No worries. When they grow up they'll learn to listen to police or anyone with a gun for that matter.

So you think the police should be able to brutalize protesters? Violate their legal rights? Refuse to bail out those with bail in their hands? Do whatever the police wish? A facist police state is okay by you, as long as it's against a group of people or a sect or a religion you don't personally like?

Screw the Constitution, huh?

You're no libertarian.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Riot

So you think the police should be able to brutalize protesters? Violate their legal rights? Refuse to bail out those with bail in their hands? Do whatever the police wish? A facist police state is okay by you, as long as it's against a group of people or a sect or a religion you don't personally like?

Screw the Constitution, huh?

You're no libertarian.

I'm all for protesting, during day light hours, and not interfering with the general public. Especially the general public going and coming from work. The General Public, most 99%ers, who are ultimately paying for the unemployment and or social handouts of the downtrodden 99%. (Presuming none of the 1%ers are on food stamps or unemployment but you never know)

The protesters should ask themselves one question next time when setting up. Do the local laws allow overnight camping? If so, bingo that's the spot. For instance in Chicago, lower Wacker Dr. would be an ideal choice. Blocking bridges and roads are no nos. It's not really that hard to protest w/o problems. Maybe look to the Tea Partiers among the Occupy hoard for some guidance. They seemed to do it right the last time.

Also not that they'd want to but protesting specific events at specific times frees up a huge amount of time, as opposed to sitting in a park, and you can even maintain a job, if that's not too much of selling out for them.

While they sit in a park imagining they represent the 99%, they watch 90% of the 99 pass by on the way to work each weekday.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Riot

I thought you guys were supposed to be big, basic, freedom-loving Conservative American patriots? Dell? As a self-professed Libertarian, you should be infuriated at this. But you are not. Why not?

So you guys think that peaceful legal protest with civil disobedience over a misdemeanor should result in nerve damage for a professional writer? And that's okay with you guys?

Plain and simple. Because he was told to move and didn't. If he felt his civil rights were violated than he should have gone home and prepared a lawsuit. Instead he acted like a child throwing a fit when told what to do and was laid down in the bed he made. BTW There's no way he kneeled on cement for 7hrs. You forget I'm catholic and familiar with kneeling and its limits.

Kneeling for 7hrs on concrete > holding your breath underwater for 7 minutes

[Riot]

If he felt his civil rights were violated than he should have gone home and prepared a lawsuit. Instead he acted like a child throwing a fit when told what to do and was laid down in the bed he made.

What the hell are you talking about? What "fit" did he throw?

BTW There's no way he kneeled on cement for 7hrs. You forget I'm catholic and familiar with kneeling and its limits.

So you say that he, and the other Occupy people arrested that day that also said they had to kneel, are liars?

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Riot

So you say that he, and the other Occupy people arrested that day that also said they had to kneel, are liars?

For seven hours? Absolutely!!!

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Riot

What the hell are you talking about? What "fit" did he throw? ?

Sitting in a circle with arms interlocked singing is the adult version of a child laying down kicking and screaming or becoming limp and yelling LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA.

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Riot

For a misdemeanor.



Really? People sitting outside city hall on the lawn at midnight, which is when the raid occurred, impeded people going to their jobs?



Really? Which?


No, that's not true: the police gave them no warning, they came out of City Hall, surround the protesters on the lawn, broke them into four separate sections, and would NOT let them leave with their stuff. See .. this was shown LIVE on multiple UStream feeds, and the press was there - and removed from the site so they couldn't film and observe directly.

Fourth Amendment matter to anyone?

They made the choice to not resist arrest for a misdemeanor - not moving when ordered to by a policeman. So do you consider being forced to kneel on cement for 7 hours, with your hands ziplocked behind your back, police brutality or not? How about vomiting repeatedly and passing out with zero police help while in custody? Do you think that should be legal in the United States of America? Or do you think a militarized, fascist police state is just what is needed in the USA right now?

I thought you guys were supposed to be big, basic, freedom-loving Conservative American patriots? Dell? As a self-professed Libertarian, you should be infuriated at this. But you are not. Why not?

So you guys think that peaceful legal protest with civil disobedience over a misdemeanor should result in nerve damage for a professional writer? And that's okay with you guys?

Listen you werent here so you only know what you read. They Occupied 4 blocks of Fig. St which is the main 4 lane street thru L.A. running north and south there are multiple buisness's along that route. Fig. St. was not the only one closed the surrounding side streets were also closed so you do the math of how may buisness's were affected.
The L.A. P.D. did more than just than close down the streets for them they made sure their march was peacefull, they also warned the squaters who on purpose put tents up in the streets that if they put them up they would be arrested. Also the City of L.A. told them they had to move but there was another place they could go to continue their protesting. The freaking loser Mayor came out and told them on T.V. that they had to move, that they couldnt obstruct the City Hall lawn. I dont oppose anyone's right to protest as they like but when it directly affects the lives and buisness's of people going about their daily lives I have a problem with it.
Riot are you so blinded by your bleeding heart that you cant see?

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Honu

Listen you werent here so you only know what you read.

Actually, no. I watched it happen live on multiple UStreams, with live comments from people there.

Were you there? I doubt it. Because the night of the arrests there was no march. The marched on the sidewalks around the city hall (which blocked no one). Police set up a perimeter and wouldn't anyone in (clearly visible from the news helicopters covering the story). So yeah, those businesses were affected: at midnight. But it wasn't due to the protesters. It was due to the police coming in. Coming in to make arrests over something they allowed for 2 months. In fact, the LA PD liason officer to Occupy, the officer that works with Occupy, at 10:30pm, was broadcast saying, "No, there will be no arrests tonight". Of course, the arrests came at midnight, so he was not lying.

But the validity of Occupy isn't what this thread is about. It is about what the police did to the protesters and how they treated them during and after the arrest process. What do you think about that?

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Riot

Actually, no. I watched it happen live on multiple UStreams, with live comments from people there.

Were you there? I doubt it. Because the night of the arrests there was no march. The marched on the sidewalks around the city hall (which blocked no one). Police set up a perimeter and wouldn't anyone in (clearly visible from the news helicopters covering the story). So yeah, those businesses were affected: at midnight. But it wasn't due to the protesters. It was due to the police coming in. Coming in to make arrests over something they allowed for 2 months. In fact, the LA PD liason officer to Occupy, the officer that works with Occupy, at 10:30pm, was broadcast saying, "No, there will be no arrests tonight". Of course, the arrests came at midnight, so he was not lying.

But the validity of Occupy isn't what this thread is about. It is about what the police did to the protesters and how they treated them during and after the arrest process. What do you think about that?

No I wasnt there, why the hell would I be downtown in the middle of the work day? Not much pay in that.
They marched down the middle of Fig. St at 7 am in the freaking morning, they put up tents in the streets after they were told they would be arrested.
Half the freaking police force of L.A. were there making sure everything went down smoothly. People got to march and they got to be heard, they Occupied 4 lanes of a public thoroughfare and the surrounding streets and they got to camp out and protest for days, with no police officer impededing them.

They were fair warned that they needed to move and they didnt care......you cannot just freaking take up public space forever and if you dont believe that the whole Occupy L.A. protest didnt affect people's forward progress you are blind.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Honu

They werent sent to prison and he failed to mention the fact that the protest impeded people from going to their jobs as they Occupied dowtown L.A. they also fail to mention that some buisness couldnt open and some couldnt recieve supplies. I thought L.A. handled the situation very well they told them when they had to leave and even after that they gave them additional time to get their crap and go. No sympathy from me. They knew the score and made their choice.

yeah lets promote police violently infringing on the constitution.

[Danzig]

the police aren't infringing on the constitution! lol how ridiculous!

people have the right to free speech and free assembly. they do not however have the right to squat on private land, block traffic, impede others, trespass, build structures, litter, damage property, etc, etc.

go back and look at everytime the police were called in to remove protesters. it had nothing to do with right to speech or assembly. had everything to do with ignoring no 24 hour stay laws, camping rules, etc, etc


i doubt their rights would worry some on here quite so much if they didn't agree with the protest in question! i don't recall certain posters always backing protesters (whereas some of us do-i defend the aclu on a regular basis as well, gets me grief) regardless of their stance. i guess some protesters are more equal than others?
much like your right to speech doesn't include yelling fire in a crowded theatre when there isn't one, one hasn't got the right to congregate wherever they please, for however long they choose, for whatever reason however noble they may feel it is.

protesters are given ample opportunity to remove themselves before being removed by force. it's a fact that some of them actively seek arrest so that they can help portray cops as attacking innocent protesters and get headlines, and get people bewailing their fate. many others get their point across just as well but move when told to. an arrest isn't a violation of their rights. a trial without a jury is, or a long incarceration without formal charges brought.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Danzig

the police aren't infringing on the constitution! lol how ridiculous!

Nonsense. The ACLU and others say that in a lot of instances (not all, but yes in certain towns of the 200 sites) in Occupy they most certainly are.

We are not owned nor controlled by a militarized police. They cannot order us not to protest on public property, to move along, to be quiet. Guess what? It worked for Ghandi, and it worked for Martin Luther King, and it's being used here to draw attention to the movement. And it's certainly worked - the national conversation has changed. But we in America have the right to protest, and to peacefully assemble, and to address our government and ask for redress: "they" cannot make special rules to tell us that 4 or more cannot be on the public sidewalk at the same time, or that we have to leave a public sidewalk after 11:00pm, or that we need a permit to walk into a public building without disruption.

Guess what? This is America, and if someone doesn't like that everyone has the same rights (includings Occupy, Muslims, blacks, and The People of Wal Mart in South Beach, Florida) too bad.

go back and look at everytime the police were called in to remove protesters. it had nothing to do with right to speech or assembly. had everything to do with ignoring no 24 hour stay laws, camping rules, etc, etc

That is factually not true. Many it was just last-minute bullshiat rules suddenly made up to yank people out of there. Several times they yanked them out, then made up charges. They have arrested people who were there but not involved in the protests. They have arrested bystanders. They have arrested journalists doing their jobs.

There are independent legal observers at every Occupy (NY even arrested a bunch of them and forbade them to watch, which got NY into a huge amt of trouble). There are lawyers advising the protesters. Constitutional rights have indeed been violated in some instances.

That is exactly what the lawyers are fighting over in court: defending our rights and liberties. And they are winning so far. Check the court cases involving Occupy.

If you don't stand up for your rights, you won't have any. Congress just this week passed a bill that allows you, an American citizen on American soil, to be detained indefinitely if you are suspected of being a terrorist. Have a cache of food for several months? A few guns? Better watch out!

You'd better pray Obama doesn't sign it. Patriot Act ring a bell?

You think those people being pepper sprayed in Oakland were being treated according to their rights? Hell no! They were NOT.

The people in LA who were denied bail when they had the money in their hands? No - their Constitutional rights were violated. Were they allowed lawyers? No - their Constitutional rights were violated.

And yes, the Lawyers Guild, and the ACLU, is providing tons of free legal service to the Occupy movement, due to the terrible rights abuses of many of the PD departments and the cities.

This, the below, is when the LAPD first moved into Occupy LA. Notice the deliberate and determined destruction of private property - which the city denies (they didn't get all the videos out of there before they started, although they moved the press several blocks away - another Constitution issue that is going through the NYC courts now with OccupyWS and the NYC press)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=qmtBFAk1864

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLNFb...eature=related

i doubt their rights would worry some on here quite so much if they didn't agree with the protest in question! i don't recall certain posters always backing protesters

Baloney. No more so than some here are defending the police because they don't like the protesters. The KKK is a bunch of hate-filled idiots, but yeah, they have the right to demonstrate in this country.

it's a fact that some of them actively seek arrest so that they can help portray cops as attacking innocent protesters and get headlines, and get people bewailing their fate.

Yes, peaceful non-violent, non-resisting protesters are willing to get arrested for minor civil disobedience like refusing to move. They are briefed by legal teams, and some choose to get arrested, and some do not. They should be arrested, booked, fined, etc. Minor misdemeanors.

That does not entitle the police to physically or mentally abuse them or treat them differently, or abuse their constitutional rights.

I've worked with and known and cared about lots of cops, FBI agents, etc., and I have the greatest respect for law enforcement. But when they screw up, they have to be called on it.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

yeah lets promote police violently infringing on the constitution.

How you cousin doing? How's Occupy NC (?) doing?