Haymarket Massacre, Four Dead In Ohio, Occupy The First Amendment

Occupy America

May 4, 2012

It’s May 4, 2012.  As we watch the Sane Slowly Setting in the West it is once again the Fourth of May in Americaland.  From Ronald Reagan’s shining city upon a hill whose beacon light guides freedom-loving people everywhere, to George H. W. Bush’s Thousand Points of Light, to George W. Bush’s inspirational MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banner and codpiece on the USS Abraham Lincoln, from sea to shining sea, America pushes itself farther and farther away from the principles on which our Founders brought forth a new nation.  Congress is full of LSTea drinkers, 60% is the new 52% in the Senate, the Supreme Court is playing more partisan politics than drug addict Rush Limbaugh and the only minority the president isn’t hanging out to dry is the 1%.  Just like practically every other president.  Except this president is the only one Rick Santorum called “a nig.”

On May 4, 1886 a peaceful protest at Haymarket Square in Chicago in support of workers striking for an eight-hour work day turned ugly due to the intentionally intimidating presence of the police.  The police were there to assure that nobody got overly First Amendment-y.  You know, peaceably assembling, publicly opining, seeking redress and all that sort of commie pinko non-gun-related nonsense.   A bomb was thrown by an unknown individual, the police began wantonly attacking the crowd, and several deaths occurred with dozens of injuries on both sides.  The Haymarket Affair, Riot or Massacre, depending on your mood was the inspiration for international May Day workers’ actions from that point forward.  Many of you Americans out there might not be familiar with May Day’s dedication to workers’ rights since America has shown so little interest in workers or rights.

Ultimately eight anarchists were convicted of conspiracy.  Seven were sentenced to death, the other given a fifteen year sentence.  Prosecutors admitted that none of those convicted had thrown the bomb, but let a bunch of facts get in the way of some good old government-sponsored killings.  After the smoke and mirrors had cleared four were hanged and one had committed suicide.  In 1893 the new Illinois governor pardoned the remaining defendants and criticized the trial.  He was apparently unwilling to bring the five dead innocent men back to life.



America was stunned on May 4, 1970 when rally turned to riot up at Kent State University in Ohio.  Peaceful protestors were set upon by National Guardsmen at the behest of later-disgraced president Richard M. Nixon.  Four unarmed students were murdered by the soldiers again for the crime of exercising their First Amendment rights.  Maybe if they had been similarly exercising their Second Amendment rights it would have been more of a fair fight. 

On May 4, 2012 the Occupy Movement continues is efforts to educate, inspire and awaken the American people to Pay Attention and take an active role in revolutionizing American politics and society.  Once again we see the heavy hand and boot of our government – at all levels – sparing no expense and no Draconian effort to stifle Constitutionally-sanctioned, thoughtful and peaceful protest.  Once again we see the police, who are sworn to Protect and Serve the 99%, bought off by the 1%.  Instead of standing shoulder to shoulder with the American citizenry offering up non-violent protest and civil disobedience in an effort to reinstitute the power of We The People, are instead continuing to spray, beat, and incarcerate law abiding citizens.  In fact these are not merely law abiding citizens, they are patriotic Americans voicing opinions and adding to the public discourse.  We should thank them for their service not allow them to be treated like hoodlums.  The hoodlums are running our banks and Wall Street and they are allowed to roam free on our streets and in our towns with our money literally spilling out of their pockets.  The armed forces on the streets of our towns and cities are protecting the already protected against the poor and powerless – The 99% who don’t own banks, don’t run corporations, don’t write the laws and don’t own any politicians.

With any luck the Occupy Movement is moving us all toward a tipping point.  Though the Occupy Movement is less visible than just a few months ago it is only just beginning.  You may have to look to find it for now, but don’t give up…Occupy hasn’t.

OCCUPY THE FUTURE.

I. Mangrey reporting.

Thanks for listening. Responsible comment invited.