”Expect to hear a lot more from CT’s Occupy protesters in 2012.” If those who govern think that attempts to end occupations through continued paternalism, protests will grow and civil disorder will increase.

by Jim Marra



In October, Occupy Hartford formed at Turning Point Park to protest economic inequality in America and offer alternatives to the oligarchic forces that control American political and economic life. On December 6, the cruel realities of the oligarchy that swept Occupy Wall Street from New York’s Zuccotti Park became apparent in Connecticut’s capital (See Gregory B. Hladky, “We’ll Be Back,” Hartford Advocate, 12/15/2011 and “City Clears Occupy Hartford Campsite,” By J. Carlesso, S. Goode, M. Spencer and B. Leukhardt, The Hartford Courant, 12/06/2011). Citing alleged criminal activity, a contingent of dozens of Hartford police under orders from Mayor Pedro Segarra and commanded by police Captain Joe Buyak descended on Occupy Hartford, evicting a small group of peaceful demonstrators.

What followed was a display of authoritarianism different in extent, but not in kind, to that of billionaire New York Mayor Bloomberg and his “own [police] army.” This behavior can be understood with reference to “The Three Ps:” Patriarchy, Propaganda and Psychopathology.

Patriarchy,”…idealizes dominance rather than cooperation and partnership…. This means that any elements of difference between two groups will be used to determine “superiority” and “inferiority,” dominance and submission.” (www.safercampus.org, 3/1/2011) Given the occupier’s non-violent behavior before and during the eviction, the size of the police contingent was overwhelmingly disproportionate to any putative threat of violence. Indeed, it was unnecessary. Although authorities touted a “cooperative” relationship with protesters, a question remains concerning why any alleged miscreants weren’t headed off. Posting of an officer at the encampment would have insured public safety. How difficult or expensive is it, what untoward impact to police resource allocation occurs if officers in the area simply were instructed to complete paper work or eat their lunch near the park? Perhaps authorities consider it prudent to keep individual front-line officers out of earshot of protesters so they won’t be exposed to “subversive” ideas. Regardless of the truth behind allegations of criminal activity, Hartford authorities chose to use the threat of force to evict protesters over establishing a cooperative plan for ongoing police protection. The frosting on the patriarchy came when Hartford Police Chief Daryl Roberts parroted of Sagarra’s demeaning canard that occupiers had “lost sight of their original purpose.” Media images of a garbage truck removing “litter” from the park reflected the dismissive and degrading characterizations of the protesters by Hartford authorities.

This brings us to the second “P:” Propaganda. It is hubris to claim cooperation with occupiers when that cooperation amounted to conveniently exposing the occupation to criminal activity. Any infestation by troublemakers, real or fictitious, would provide Hartford authorities an excuse to evict the occupiers. So in the self-serving and amoral twilight of propaganda neglect becomes “cooperation.” Captain Buyak explains that “what has happened around the country” provoked concern that “police [might] get injured.” He assured all that, ”[The police] not here as thugs or any of that.” Indeed, he did not command his forces to physically attack the protesters. However, he did command a police action that physically abrogated the protesters constitutional rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. The police were not being thugs. Thugs beat up people. However, the police exhibited overpowering and aggressive behavior and used “their power to control…people…[who] may have a hard time defending themselves.” That’s what stopbullying.gov calls “bullying.” Thus, cooperative authorities depict a small group of citizens wishing only to exercise their rights as at least corrupt and at most a potential danger to a division of well-armed police.

The final “P” is “Psychopathology.” Most have heard madness defined as doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different outcome. As Hldaky’s article declares, ”Expect to hear a lot more from CT’s Occupy protesters in 2012.” If those who govern think that attempts to end occupations through continued paternalism, protests will grow and civil disorder will increase. Propaganda may serve the oligarchy in obfuscating the politics and intentions of occupiers or ease the fears of those who see the Occupy movement as a threat. But it will also further alienate protesters from police departments and especially front-line officers, many of whom are members of unions and are part of the 99%. This will allow police commanders and municipal mayors to continue to drive a wedge into the ranks of the working class. Events “around the country” should counsel officials that oligarchy leads to revolution. No other result will occur.

Let us hope that mayors and police commanders throughout America will mature as the Occupy movement expands. If so, we might be spared from the nightmare of an Iraq veteran dying from a concussion caused by a noise grenade, or an elderly woman choking to death from tear gas, or a teenager shot through the head because of an ambiguous command by a paranoid police captain.


Jim Marra,
Secretary
The Socialist Party of Connecticut
spcentralct gmail com



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