Intimidation intent
More on Occupy from Glenn Greenwald, who points out that the true purpose of institutional violence against dissenters is to intimidate others from participating:The genius of this approach is how insidious its effects are: because the rights continue to be offered on paper, the citizenry continues to believe it is free. They believe that they are free to do everything they choose to do, because they have been "persuaded"-- through fear and intimidation -- to passively accept the status quo. As Rosa Luxemburg so perfectly put: "Those who do not move, do not notice their chains." Someone who sits at home and never protests or effectively challenges power factions will not realize that their rights of speech and assembly have been effectively eroded because they never seek to exercise those rights; it's only when we see steadfast, courageous resistance from the likes of these UC-Davis students is this erosion of rights manifest.
It's not a winning public relations strategy for law enforcement to assault peaceful protesters with tear gas, clubs, pepper spray, rubber bullets, or assault rifles. It elicits greater sympathy for the protesters and complicates legal matters. Yet they do it anyway, and this is the larger reason they do. The video of a police assault may engender feelings of anger or sadness on behalf of the protesters' fellow citizens, but if it intimidates most of them into staying on their couch and not joining the movement, the assault will have accomplished its goal.
Greenwald links to the extraordinary video of UC-Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi walking to her car aside a silent vigil by students intended to shame her for her actions in ordering the police action. (I'll directly link to the YouTube clip as well.) Katehi will soon be out of a job, and that will be justified, but the greater significance of the silent protest will be the viral presentation of the power of non-violence. For all of the extraordinary courage being demonstrated by Occupy members across the nation-- and there is little that I find more courageous than sacrificing one's body for the cause of the First Amendment-- there is a helluva lot of creativity being demonstrated as well.
posted by CM @ 5:55 PM
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