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* Ellen Beth Gill was at Occupy Springfield over the weekend and filed a report…
I didn’t see a single [police] officer or squad car and there was no need for them. The fire department was out, but they appeared to be just passing by to answer a call elsewhere.
The entire event was peaceful and orderly from start to finish. The organizers would not let a participant jaywalk or litter. I met a lot of nice people from all walks of life. There were young people from the universities at Champaign/Urbana and Bloomington/Normal. There were several women about my age from the Springfield area and there were senior men and women.
I checked with the Secretary of State’s office, which is responsible for Statehouse security. They did have officers present and worked with the Springfield cops, but they apparently stayed back far enough so as not to be noticed. The SoS office said security was comparable to a similar event held by tea party organizers last year.
Compare this with last Thursday’s overwhelming police presence at the Thompson Center…
* Gov. Pat Quinn was asked about the occupiers yesterday and tried to bring them into the ComEd issue, but they refused…
“Last week, we had the biggest consumer battle in a generation in Illinois,” Quinn said. “It’s important if you’re doing an ‘Occupy’ movement, maybe to get down to the state capitol, help with the program y’know?” Quinn said to laughter. “We’re trying to win for the 99 percent of consumers who aren’t very happy about Commonwealth Edison’s big increase. You’ve got to be an organizer, figure out where the people are. I know the people are on our side. Consumers did not get a fair shake. We’ve got to come back and win in the days ahead. Maybe the folks outside could beat the drums for that.”
Micah Philbrook, one of the 20 protestors outside, said they would have liked the governor to come out and talk to them.
“The governor is using one [issue] to throw a red herring in the middle of the Occupy Chicago message,” Philbrook said.
He wanted Quinn to explain why 40 armed state troopers cleared protestors away from the Thompson Center during a vigil [Thursday] night.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:25 am
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What would be fun and perhaps more to the point would be: Occupy Leland Grove.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:32 am
I think a key difference in the two events was the fact that Chicago will host the G-8 and NATO summits in May. The police (state, local and FBI) are already preparing for serious, mega protests that will threaten to shut down Chicago. Springfield isn’t preparing for the mega march and swarms of professional anarchists next year, so there isn’t much to be gained by a big show of force.
I suspect a lot of the Occupy groups are training grounds and recruiters for the Big Event in Chicago next year. It only makes sense for the cops to get some practice time in now, and I think that’s what we’re seeing at the Thompson Center and elsewhere here. Thankfully, there have been no injuries from the confrontations like we’ve seen in Oakland, or the overreaction by police in New York.
I plan on being far away from home next May, which thankfully is a good time for a vacation. I’ll watch the action on CNN instead of being an unwilling participant in the chaos.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:36 am
So even OWS thinks Pat Quinn is full of it. Ouch…
Comment by Dirt Digger Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:39 am
tonight will be part two of the very funny Stephen Colbert interview with reps from Occupy Wall Street. much of last night’s episode featured how the group communicates with hand signs. let’s just say Stephen makes full use of their signs and more. quite amusing.
Comment by amalia Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:42 am
I think 47 is on to something.
Having said that, I’ve noticed in recent years that anytime there is a protest the Federal Plaza, you’ll have a significant uniformed police presence there, and an additional force at the ready, waiting in unmarked cars and vans, in the nearby sidestreets.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 11:57 am
Pat Quinn: Epic Flail.
Comment by Northsider Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:11 pm
I’d like to point out that the reference to “40 armed state troopers” is needlessly overdramatic. Troopers are law enforcement officers. They are always armed. Get over it.
Comment by grand old partisan Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:13 pm
Quinn assumes too much. Some of the occupiers are aware that updating the grid is essential to incorporating clean energy. Quinn won’t be around to live with the consequences of climate change but the young occupiers will be.
Comment by Will Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:15 pm
Two differences.
1) Springfield Occupiers have received legal permits and communicate frequently with police.
2) Capitol police are used to large rallies, have no reason to feel threatened by them, and have been cooperative with the Springfield Occupy group.
There are plenty of places in downtown Chicago where a group of non-violent campers banging makeshift drums can be easily accommodated. The city of Chicago’s approach to them is puzzling.
Comment by Will Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:26 pm
47th–Companies and building managers in the loop are very much aware of the May G-8 meetings and the potential for big trouble from “protesters”. I was told by one company that the issue of police arrests and not allowing ANY overnight camping by Occupiers in Grant Park now, is to prevent an encampment of any sort from forming that could be used as a jumping off point or hidey hole shield for the anarchists and agitators who will be in Chicago (as they are for every such summit wherever in the world it is held).
Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:30 pm
===The city of Chicago’s approach to them is puzzling.===
It really isn’t puzzling Will. If the police allow Occupiers to camp out in Grant Park, how are they going to prevent LollaPallooza people (or anyone else) to camp out in Grant Park?
The Chicago Police are setting limits on the Occupiers, who for some reason think city ordinances don’t apply to them because they’re mad, or they’re special, or somehow uniquely above the law the rest of us have to live with. The Occupiers will be treated like the rest of us, hopefully no better and no worse.
Again, there have been no ugly confrontations and let’s hope it stays that way. There is plenty of room for protest and order. They are not mutually exclusive.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:32 pm
Just an FYI - I’ll be Occupying Rochester (by my self) until about 4pm, then I’m getting a haircut. The 99% is supposed to get a haircut, right?
Comment by Occupy Rochester Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 12:35 pm
~He wanted Quinn to explain why 40 armed state troopers cleared protestors away from the Thompson Center during a vigil [Thursday] night.
I think they were asked to leave because the building was closed…not sure what other answer he is looking for. I’m sure in their eyes that’s over simplifying the issue but it is what it is.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:03 pm
~He wanted Quinn to explain
I think state property is under the control of the Secretary of State. If the Governor is cooperating with him, well it would be nice to hear he is cooperating with someone.
Comment by BigTwich Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:09 pm
===Capitol police are used to large rallies===
There are regular demonstrations at the Thompson Center.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:24 pm
47th hit the nail on the head. The only correction I would make is that the Chicago Police are not “setting limits on the Occupiers.” They are merely enforcing long-standing “limits” that were set by the democratically elected leaders of the city.
Comment by grand old partisan Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 1:27 pm
Thanks again for the coverage, Rich. Much appreciated.
Comment by Justin Boland Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 3:53 pm
WRT: “…The Chicago Police are setting limits on the Occupiers, who for some reason think city ordinances don’t apply to them because they’re mad, or they’re special, or somehow uniquely above the law the rest of us have to live with. The Occupiers will be treated like the rest of us, hopefully no better and no worse….”
———————–
Now where in the world would anyone get this idea that there is any form of “special treatment” going on in this city/country?
You mean the special treatment like the investment bankers continue to receive from regulators overlooking the frauds of the global financial system?
Okay so that one you can say is a national issue so it’s “not our job” nonsense and doesn’t belong here.
So maybe they are looking for special treatment like the “parking consideration” overlooking city ordinances for church parking ONLY in certain neighborhoods while in others the city Department of Revenue goes on a ticket writing sprees?
Or maybe we’re talking “special treatment” like the city leaders tell the homeless that don’t have access to transportation or the funds for them that they should take a cab to a shelter if the weather is bad — meanwhile the taxpayer provided funds that the city is so short of is used to provide overpaid private drivers and taxi service by the CPD to millionaires — ex-city officials and current alderman.
Or how about….$100 million dollar tax give back to Motorola Mobility, a pending $120 million tax give back to Sears and another pending $100 million a year tax break for the CME as more corporations line up — the lawmakers then cry that we need to find $320 million in social services cuts while preaching the “shared sacrifice” sermon.
Which brings us to point two with regard to NATOG8. Just how is the city preparing?
Cutting the number of 911 call takers and dispatchers? Cutting the traffic aids? Closing three police stations? Cutting the number of first responders on a fire truck? Oh wait..they want to put up speed trap cameras all across the city to “save the children” maybe that’s it. All the cameras that the city has installed hasn’t quelled the 16 shootings last Friday or the twenty-something the weekend prior to that.
Sorry but I just don’t think the people are buying this old world propaganda anymore. Social media is a game changer.
Comment by oz Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 4:23 pm
===Social media is a game changer.===
Especially for those with a short attention span and almost no historical perspective.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 4:37 pm
The OS should be down in Taylorville instead. That is where Jon Corzine, former Democrat governor of New Jersey, and CEO over a company that misplaced several million investor dollars, grew up. I mean if your whole point is Wall Street corruption, there you go.
Comment by Jack Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 5:25 pm
“Wall Street corruption” lacks scope — personally, my problem is regulatory capture, which is inherently political corruption.
Precision matters. For instance, Corazine didn’t “misplace” anything, he systematically stole it in total violation of what few regulations he was beholden to.
Comment by Justin Boland Tuesday, Nov 1, 11 @ 5:35 pm
===Social media is a game changer.===
Especially for those with a short attention span and almost no historical perspective.
————————-
Hey… don’t take it as a personal attack.
We just live in different worlds that’s all. Victims of our environments and we interpret things differently. We’ll see.
Comment by oz Wednesday, Nov 2, 11 @ 4:20 am