Bottom of the Barrel

Occupy Burlington members march on Main Street

The Occupation is being smeared.

From it's beginning just a few months ago; to the tragic suicide in Burlington's City Hall Park; to the tearing down and destruction of the community of Liberty Plaza; there have been continual and coordinated efforts on the part of the powers that be to smear the occupiers as everything from dirty hippies, to criminals, and (now that NDAA is safely through the Senate) as would-be terrorists. The powers that be are both relentless in their struggle to defeat the Occupy Movement, and infinite in the depths of moral deficiency to which they're willing to slither.

It was no surprise a few months ago, when all of this started, that Occupiers were hearing shouts of "get a job", "take a shower", and the wide variety of other smelly slurs that have been repeatedly slung their way in numerous attempts to de-legitimize and undermine the ever-increasing population that proudly refer to themselves as "The 99 Percent". We were, after all, living outside in tents. Neither the occupiers, the slur-hurlers, nor the passive public were impressed or caught unawares at the mass media equivalent of one 3rd grader point at another and shouting "Oh yeah? Well you smell funny!"

It was no surprise when the mass media; the pundits; and the talking heads immediately pointed to the Occupy movement's lack of demands. Admit it, we all thought (and many of you out there continue to think) that the movement was a tad bit rudderless. But time and some careful research has shown that a lack of hyper-specific demands is actually effective. General demands can't be co-opted, watered down, or made to dance on the puppet string for the pretty politicians as they stoop over the macabre stage of national burlesque that they've always longed to dominate. General demands like "END CORPORATE GREED" are the contemporary descendants of "I AM MAN" that were seen across the country as civil rights protesters and activists struggled for equality and dignity. "END CORPORATE GREED", like all of the other demands that have surfaced and subsequently been criticized for being to vague and unrealistic is monumental in it's demand as well as it's force. One can't partially end corporate greed. To quote Robin Williams, this is like partially circumcising somebody. You either go all the way or you forget it.

The 99 Percent is unlikely to forget. Understanding this, the mass media, in a genuine reflection of those that write their checks and pay for their suits, continue to ham-handedly beat away on the dead horse of granite... desperately hoping, to no avail, the damn thing moves at least a little.

The Occupy movement has not been surprised by these things that have transpired. They even expected, and mischievously welcomed a few of them. There are some things however that have been a bit of a surprise. Not in recent memory have we seen the vast machine of corporate journalism so lowly conduct their business. Not in recent memory have we seen so a blatant dereliction of duty on the part of those whose very job description is to inform us about what is happening in the world around us. Not in recent memory have we seen such a flagrant disregard, amongst professionals, of the facts they were once dedicated to reporting.

In Burlington, several media outlets reported that Joshua Pfenning committed suicide after heavy alcohol consumption. This is an error. According to both eyewitness accounts as well as toxicology reports, which the well meaning journalists took it upon themselves to comment on before the tests were even run, Pfenning was NOT under the influence of alcohol at the time of his suicide.

A occupier at the vigil for Joshua Pfenning

In another story of journalistic "fairness", one media outlet reported on the "tremendous waste" of tax payer dollars that the Occupation of City Hall Park has inflicted upon the city of Burlington. During the story which aired only this week, the reported approached people on the streets of Burlington and asked "How do you feel about the outrageous waste of $9,000 that the City spent on cleaning up after the Occupiers?"

Oh, well now... so much for context. Records show that the majority of this was spent in police overtime. Police, fellow members of the 99 Percent, should never have overtime after all, that would be too expensive.

This story is looking at the tiniest possible piece of the great systemic pie. If the corporate news outlets would like to talk about tax payer waste maybe they should start talking, at long last, about the $14.5 million that mayoral candidate Miro Weinberger, loyal democrat, spent without any plans of repayment on the BTV parking garage. But hold on, that's just one candidate who made a bad decision... there's always that other guy right? Not really.

Tim Ashe, also hoping to be Burlington's next top dog, served on Burlington's Board of Finance just a few years back, during the period when that body approved of the $17 million loan to Burlington Telecom. And, as we all know, that totally worked out (FBI investigations aside). That's over $31 million wasted by just two guys who've now positioned themselves to charge headlong into the mayor's office. Go team.

A homeless protester makes an appearance at the Burlington Democratic Caucus

At the national level, Occupy Boston has been accused by the Boston Police Department of "significantly increasing drug traffic in the downtown area". Their evidence to back this up? A single arrest report in which one individual was arrested for selling medication for high blood pressure. There does appear to be some blood flow problems... but it seems to me like the BPD could use that medication more than those pesky tent-monsters.

All this goes well beyond the pot calling the kettle black. All this is frantic digging on the part of the corporate media to smear, undermine, and de-legitimize a movement that is beginning to genuinely threaten the status quo. To the 1 Percent'ers: if you continue to scrape the bottom of the barrel so vigorously you're going to get splinters under your fingernails.

November 10th, 2011- Black Thursday

The following is as close to a factual recap of the events occurring on 11/10/11 in and around the Occupy Burlington movement at City Hall Park in Burlington, Vermont. This is neither commentary nor in-depth political analysis. This is merely an attempt at a faithful recap of what occurred during those difficult hours based on the information available to this reporter at the time of this writing.

- At approximately 2pm an occupier of City Hall Park allegedly took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. At least 2 other occupiers attempted resuscitate him but were unsuccessful. The occupier, known throughout the movement locally (but not immediately to this reporter who has also been occupying), was a 35 year old veteran of the United States armed forces. He is survived by a 2 year old daughter.

- Shortly after the incident investigative police arrived on the scene, cordoned off the majority of the encampment, and began forensic analysis of the tent in which the incident occurred as well as the surrounding area.

- Approximately 4pm, a reporter named Keith McGilvery of WCAX-TV interviewed and deliberately harassed an occupier by insisting to continue a line of inappropriate political questioning that the occupier was repeatedly stated she was uncomfortable with. There is informal but general agreement among the Occupy Burlington movement that McGilvery actions were a gross display of unprofessionalism and a blackening of the trade of journalism.

- 5pm, The Occupy Burlington Movement convenes a General Assembly at City Hall Park to address the events of that afternoon and express the sadness of their tragic loss as well as the outrage at the unacceptable actions of McGilvery and others representing the mass media at City Hall Park.

- Approximately 5:15pm, Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss and Chief of Police Mike Schirling announced to the Occupy Burlington movement that the 35 year old occupier had indeed passed away and informed those gathered around the fountain were they spoke that there would be a meeting at 6pm in City Hall to discuss the matter further.

- 6pm, meeting at Contois Auditorium begins between Occupy Burlington and Mayor Bob Kiss, Chief of Police Mike Schirling, and a commissioner of the Parks and Recreation Department in Burlington.

- Approximately 6:15pm, meeting is interrupted by unconfirmed announcement of the clearing/sealing off of the encampment and the sealing off of the entirety of City Hall Park. A group of occupiers immediately rush outside to intervene and 2 occupiers were quickly placed in handcuffs after questioning the police about their actions. 1 occupier was released upon the orders of the Mayor Kiss, one remained detained and was officially arrested and processed shortly afterwards. The situation reached a near boiling point when during the occupiers attempted intervention several police officers were seen loading and brandishing a variety of weapons with apparent intent of turning them on the non-violent occupiers.

As this is unfolding just beyond the walls of City Hall, Police Chief Schirling remained indoors in an attempt to continue talks with what Occupation participants and supporters had not rushed outside. "We will not be taking down or removing any tents" stated Schirling repeatedly and exhaustedly. Additionally, Schirling stated that any tents or belongings within tents may be retrieved by occupiers immediately on the condition that the tents in question be searched in advance by police investigators.

"The landscape has changed significantly" stated Schirling in response to repeated questions regarding the continuation and/or possible eviction of the occupiers and continually asked the remaining participants in Contois for deference to the police and their ongoing investigation. "My primary concern is public safety, and there is now a big question about in regards to what is happening inside opaque structures such as tents" an increasingly harried Schirling stated.

He was unable to clearly answer several questions about the continuation of the occupation of City Hall Park saying that any protest, demonstrations, and other activities may continue in the park but the continued allowance of tents in the park is now under "serious discussion" between city officials, fueling concerns the occupation will face increasingly inhospitable weather with little or no shelter.

- Approximately 10pm, Occupiers convene an additional General Assembly at the Unitarian Universalist Church at the top of Burlington's Church Street Marketplace. Most Occupiers then returned to City Hall Park for a midnight vigil for the deceased that was held in solidarity by a number of other occupations around the country including Boston.

Other events are being planned at occupations for 11/11/11 as well as the coming week around the United States and around the world as the Occupy movement mourns in solidarity with Burlington, Vermont.