Yesterday was Veterans Day and the American Occupation of America was focused on its members who have served in the armed forces.
In the hot front city of Oakland, Scott Olsen, the first veteran seriously injured when police fired ordinance against their fellow American citizens, was released from the hospital, and much more is going on as well. Events are being live-blogged by local news here and here.
In Atlanta, Veterans foreclosed on Bank of America.
At least one story emphasized the veterans’ usefulness as people “expert at living in tents” who “take solace in the act of being useful. [As one vet] puts it: ‘I haven’t had one nightmare since I’ve been here.'”
In New York, the slogan was “Honor the Dead, Fight Like Hell for the Living.”
Deaths and other unfortunate events at Occupation sites are being used as rationale to support the desire some municipalities had to see the protests “go away.” (In my best Seven of Nine voice: “they will fail.”)
The Occupation is not just in big cities, and small local television stations are capable of some damn good reporting. This local TV report from Niles, Indiana tells us not just that veterans are part of the occupy movement, but why veterans have particular reason to get involved. Hint: it involves some troubling statistics.
