Your morning jolt: A hip-hop concert becomes weak spot for Occupy ATL
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. left, is separated from Occupy Atlanta protesters, right, by a securtiy guard as they face off during the mayor's press conference at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday afternoon. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com
The man with Ludacris’ phone number sought the high ground in the battle for Woodruff Park on Monday.
In press conference packed with weirdness, Mayor Kasim Reed announced that Occupy Atlanta protesters would be cleared from the green space “at a time of my choosing.”
He asked a cadre of religious leaders, lined up behind him, to negotiate a peaceful exit for Occupy Atlanta. If there is no deal, force will be used, the mayor promised.
But it was the way the mayor built his case before reporters – arguing he was obligated to oust a group he had sanctioned two weeks ago — that was unusual. In declaring that the city’s relationship with Occupy Atlanta had changed for the worse, the former music industry attorney based his decision largely on his familiarity with the rules of outdoor hip-hop events.
By way of background, first consider these lines from an old biography:
”[Reed] has also become a fixture in entertainment law, especially in Atlanta’s explosive hip-hop and R&B music scene. Relationships, he says, going back to his days at Howard [University], led to that role. “I went to school with a group of people who were on their way up,” says Reed, such as Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, who was “the most confident person I’ve met.”
Back to Monday. The press conference was called for 4 p.m. on an hours’ notice. In addition to reporters, a dozen members of Occupy Atlanta scrambled to the second-floor event. As did Joe Beasley, southern director for the Rainbow/PUSH organization, who has taken the group under his wing.
Reed began with an obligatory statement of respect for First Amendment rights in a city filled with civil rights heroes, living and dead. But he quickly moved to a hip-hop concert that Occupy Atlanta had planned for last Saturday.
Said Reed:
”This event promoter did not have a security plan. In fact, the team that was responsible for preparing the security plan for this event promoter quit on Tuesday of last week. So he was attempting to hold a two-day hip-hop event without police protection.
“This gentleman also submitted a $2,500 payment for the permit that is related to that event through a check, which is not an acceptable for the city of Atlanta.”
“Mayor, that’s a lie,” said Beasley, who had stationed himself within a dozen feet of the mayor. Occupy Atlanta forces, with a red-capped Tim Franzen acting as the main voice, stood behind him.
“And this is easily verifiable,” continued an unperturbed mayor:
“Most importantly, He did not have police protection at the event. As of Saturday, when the hip-hop organizers arrived at Woodruff, they had not submitted payment in the appropriate form, and did not have adequate security.”
“In the meantime, this event was advertised on V-103. It included a number of artists, and also included the hip-hop artist Ludacris, who never planned on attending, and was not attending. So you have an event that does not have an appropriate police plan, being advertised on the largest urban radio station in the state of Georgia. This created an untenable situation….”
The mayor described a Saturday that had drawn 600 hip-hop fans to the downtown park. When his communications director and chief of staff arrived to announce that the permit for the concert had been revoked, they were shouted down, and required police protection, the mayor said.
“That’s not true. That’s a lie. That’s a lie,” said Beasley.
“They were never in danger,” Franzen protested.
“Run the video, please,” the mayor said. And after a little fumbling, a large TV screen at Reed’s right hand showed local news video of the Saturday confrontation.
Franzen appeared in a frame. “We do whatever we want,” he said.
“Y’all here that?” the mayor asked reporters.
“There’s a context to that,” a defensive, real-life Franzen declared.
The mayor moved on to a second, and less-convincing, argument for removing Occupy Atlanta. The city fire marshal had banned combustible liquids from the park. That included gasoline-powered generators required by the Saturday hip-hop concert.
The protestors had smuggled a generator in anyway, in a mail bag. And when police attempted to seize it, campers formed a human chain around around the chugging machine. “Having human beings place their body on a combustible generator” was dangerous, the mayor said.
Reed quickly returned to the hip-hop concert proper. “I have always said I’m going to do what is necessary to keep citizens of this city safe. And having a hip-hop concert without having an appropriate police plan…” the mayor said.
“Then why don’t you address what brought us out here in the first place — 30,000 homeless, foreclosures,” shouted Franzen.
Reed plodded on: “What they have done is change the nature of the relationship….”
“This is an outrageous narrative,” Franzen charged. He might have said “ludicrous,” but he didn’t.
“….I believe they placed lives at risk this weekend,” Reed said to the cameras.
“Oh, my God,” said Franzen, his voice dripping with disbelief.
Said Reed:
”I believe that people showed up at a city of Atlanta park to go to a hip-hop concert. And you don’t need to do extensive research to see what can happen when hundreds of people show up for a hip-hop concert, artists who are advertised are not there, and when there are not police there to protect the event….”
Reed closed by speaking of a woman he had run into outside Woodruff Park on Saturday. She had come to see Ludacris, not Occupy Atlanta.
Ludacris, a.k.a. Christopher Brian Bridges, was a donor to Reed’s 2009 campaign for mayor. “I spoke with Ludacris,” the mayor said. “He was never coming to the park. You’ve had people killed in concerts where artists who were promised do not show up all across the country. This happens all the time.”
A reporter pointed out to the mayor that the V-103 ads didn’t say Ludacris would perform – just that he would be honored at the event. Which, to the mayor, made no difference.
“This is a spin. This is B.S.,” Franzen said loudly.
Which is when Reed re-introduced his clergy/negotiators. “We are not in a place where we can have productive dialogue,” the mayor closed.
***
Not wanting to be left out of the party, Debbie Dooley of Atlanta Tea Party Patriots says her group has sent this e-mail to Mayor Kasim Reed:
We have noticed that the City of Atlanta has waived many of your ordinances, fees, etc., in regard to the Occupy Atlanta protests. We have called in the past to find out information for events on City of Atlanta venues like Woodruff Park and have been told it would require a permit and fees and there were restrictions.
In the future, Atlanta Tea Party expects to receive the same “benefits” or waiving of fees, permits, restrictions that you have accorded the Occupy Atlanta protests. If we don’t, we seek legal action. Thank you for your attention in this.
Dooley says the tea partyers have received no reply.
***
The AJC’s Politifact Georgia today takes a look at GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul’s claim that rival Herman Cain had declared opponents of the Federal Reserve to be “ignorant.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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183 comments Add your comment
Al
October 25th, 2011
12:36 pm
It is endemic of the so called occupy Atlanta group’s failure that the media coverage is more about the occupation than the message. That’s because this group either has no message and is in fact just a hold over from the Troy Davis media event or because they don’t have the leadership to get out the message.
These blogs should be discussing the source of the discontent. (see earlier posts)
Independent voter
October 25th, 2011
12:36 pm
WoW that is not right to beat people because they are expression there freedom of speech.
That what they did in 60’s beat african american and freedom marchers.
mark
October 25th, 2011
12:37 pm
amen to that joe, amen to that!
mark
October 25th, 2011
12:41 pm
Independent Voter – check out this link http://www.lvama.org/ will prove useful.
DC
October 25th, 2011
12:41 pm
Occupy “fill in the blank” has been a true blessing for America. It’s put faces to the movement whose goal is to take money/property from those who create jobs and build the economy, and give it to folks who don’t want to have to work, and just want to be able to take from others It’s another, and very visible, reminder of where our country has been heading.
Thank goodness we have such a clear picture (along with the collapse of “welfare state Europe”), as America heads into another round of picking our govt leaders and setting the country’s direction.
the original and still the best John Galt
October 25th, 2011
12:41 pm
I still doubt that Reed will come down hard on the Herbal Tea Party AKA Occupy Atlanta. After all, they are on his side. I expect that there will be a “compromise” that will allow the illegal occupation of Woodruff Park to continue.
Mr Charlie
October 25th, 2011
12:44 pm
Joe, did it ever occur to you that the gazillion dollars of debt the Tea Party ran up over the past 30 years contributed to our homes, jobs, and security you speak of?
Now the new generation is saddled with debt, and are pretty much screwed. I don’t blame them for being pissed.
If you don’t think these wall street A-holes are just completely screwing you, me and everyone else, you have your head in the sand.
Pat
October 25th, 2011
12:44 pm
I am not a big fan of Kasim Reed, but what he is doing is right. He has actually done more than enough for these people and they are taking advantage of it. He let them break a city law, by allowing them to stay in the park overnights and has police watching over them and how do they repay him, by starting rumors about him telling them to leave (last week) and by not following his orders on getting permits.
Intown
October 25th, 2011
12:45 pm
Occupy Atlanta should have obtained a permit BEFORE their protest. It ain’t that hard and it was done in other cities.
Mr Charlie
October 25th, 2011
12:45 pm
8 years of Bush and our economy collapsed. Does anyone in their right minds dispute that?
Mr Charlie
October 25th, 2011
12:47 pm
You guys realize these bankers take huge risks with our money. When it pays off, they pay themselves millions. When it does not pay off, taxpayer foots the bill for the loss, and they pay themselves millions.
How can any sane person not have a problem with this?
View From Midtown
October 25th, 2011
12:50 pm
That Debbie Dooley, an uneducated bored housewife, can be elevated to the position of ‘political leader’ tells you plenty about the Tea Party Patriots. It’s really easy to hate government and taxes, it takes quite a bit more thought and depth to come up with real solutions to complex problems. The fact is the Tea Party is nothing more than a Koch Bros. rebranding for the Republican core after the GOP brand lost all its value post-Bush and a black man in the White House became a convenient scapegoat to divert attention from the abject failure of conservative policies.
DC
October 25th, 2011
12:51 pm
“Banker’s took risk with our money”…..and I wonder who gave them the access to “our money”…. our dear govt, of course. Politicians like Mr. Frank (D-MA) were berating banks 15 years ago for “REDLINING” (not loaning money to poor people who wouldn’t be able to pay it back), and set up Fannie Mae and FM to absorb the risk of these loans. And we blame the banks?
Damn, our politicians must laugh their tails off at how amazingly stupid, gullible, and how easily manipulated us voters are.
RGB
October 25th, 2011
12:55 pm
If they can just get John Lewis to say “Lawd, de dogs an fi hoses are comin’” then we’ll have a repeat of Birmingham.
Liberal white college student misfits combined with black legislators and “pastors” just itching to find something to protest about. If they’re not protesting, they’re not happy. And after all, that’s what government is all about: to make these groups happy.
So pay them off with a new program, add to the debt, increase taxes, screw the economy–and then wonder how we ended up in such a mess. And then they can protest the mess they created.
The cycle continues. No peace no justice. Ugh.
RGB
October 25th, 2011
12:59 pm
View from Midtown (or is it Mittown):
You’re just another victim held down by the Tea Party. And those Koch Bros are everywhere–behind every bush, tree, and shrub. They all conspired against our black president by getting a, uh, umm, black man to run against him who is now leading, um, in the, polls….did I mention NO PEACE NO JUSTICE?
No peace no justice.
Willx
October 25th, 2011
1:00 pm
Kasim barry Reid went to Howard University? LOL, that’s all you need to know about the Mayor and his affirmative action degree. The dumbing down of American City leadership explained right there.
Mr Charlie
October 25th, 2011
1:02 pm
DC, sure the government policy has a HUGE hand in it, both the republican and democratic party have an equal hand in it. But that is not the fault of the 20 somethings that are protesting, they were kids trusting us while all was going now, not they realized we screwed them.
However, the same failed government policy is letting people fleece the tax payer by paying themselves absurd salaries do really do NOTHING but flipping a coin saying tails I win, heads you lose. And you have NOO problem with that whatsoever?
Companies collapsed, millions lost jobs, yet the “leaders” were pulling millions of dollars out of these companies as they were collapsing, and not one person went to jail or is being investigated. And in many cases, taxpayers bailed them out, so they just keep putting millions in their pockets.
Open your eyes. What are you under the influence of?
Pat
October 25th, 2011
1:03 pm
@DC, too bad people do not understand that, they want to blame the banks and corporations but it was the people that made them do it who is at fault.
Pat
October 25th, 2011
1:06 pm
Mr. Charlie, and who made that choice to give them taxpayer money? The government.
Buymadeinusjobs
October 25th, 2011
1:07 pm
It is stupid of Mayor to waste all his time/police on a few people who are calling attention to the banksters, wall streeters, big oil and defense contractors, international corporations who have bought and paid for politicians. The people do not have money to buy politicians so their numbers is the only thing they have and they need to stick together.
I am surprised more of people who depend on government entitlements such as food stamps, medicaid, housins, SSI are not out their with them since Republicans are cutting them to pay for debt.
They signed no increase in tax pledge to their master Grover Norquist so they will not raise taxes on people who reduce all business expenses and have over 0ne million dollars in profits.
The tax was to be used for small business tax credits to hire injured and regular veterans. also police/teachers
It was less than a 1 % but Filibuster Republican senator Mcconnel and all his repubs, filbustered/voted no including Chambliss/Iskalon. Check voting records on c-span or on this paper
It takes 60 votes to pass most legislation in Senate and unless it has tax cut for wealthy , it does not pass.
Is there police watching the rich, banksters; criminals raping , robbing the poor/midle class.
Mr Charlie
October 25th, 2011
1:09 pm
Pat, when a company collapses and cannot pay it bills, or meet payroll, and the people in charge of these that company took millions out just before it collapses as “salary”, and nobody investigates?
Not only do we not investigate, THEN, we take tax payer money so they can meet their bills, and continue to draw absurd salaries?
Just what are you guys seeing?
Mr Charlie
October 25th, 2011
1:11 pm
Pat, yes the government, and why? Because the bankers and 1% have the government in their pocket.
Mr Charlie
October 25th, 2011
1:13 pm
If you don’t think the 1% are screwing us and laughing at us, you are really stupid. The government policy is driven by the corporations through bribery (campain contributions). It is a system that required us to continually go into debt in order to pay all the grift. Now, our kids figured it out, and they are pretty pissed.
Pat
October 25th, 2011
1:16 pm
Mr. Charlie, we are seeing that too but who should be watching over them? Maybe a government agency? Maybe someone in Washington that is not getting money on the side from them? Good luck finding someone like that. I think the people responsible are the ones allowing them to do this and giving them our hard earned money to do it.
Dash Riptide
October 25th, 2011
1:18 pm
@Basil “‘Corps?’ ‘Corpse?’ If one is picking (e.g., cotton) I believe it’s spelled ‘CROPS.’”
If one is picking, then it would be spelled “cotton.” Crops are harvested. Cotton is picked. Craps is played. But not by corpses. Capishe?
Jesus
October 25th, 2011
1:18 pm
“Kasim barry Reid went to Howard University? LOL, that’s all you need to know about the Mayor and his affirmative action degree.”
“Affirmative action degree” from a historically black college??? You’re as retarded as Trig Palin.
Independent voter
October 25th, 2011
1:21 pm
Breaking News the Occpy Atlanta ask to recall mayor Kasim Reed.
They asking other Occupy city to come and join Occupy Atlanta to protest against the eviction.
Mr Charlie
October 25th, 2011
1:23 pm
We probably need campaign contribution reform, and maybe need an overhaul of the lobbyist system.
But regardless of the answer, we should not be angry at these kids for trying to call attention to it. It is really simple, we screwed them. We have to man up to that fact.
Mr Charlie
October 25th, 2011
1:25 pm
Plus Kasim Reed was an music entertainment lawyer, the bastion of integrity, lol. But, I actually kind of like him, but he’s got himself into a pickle here.
Centrist
October 25th, 2011
1:26 pm
Makes you proud to be considered part of Atlanta:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW56Z-0xwIQ
Willx
October 25th, 2011
1:26 pm
Thanks for proving my point Jee-sus.
Eric Johnson
October 25th, 2011
1:29 pm
Someone needs to go down there with some rat spray and clean out all of the rats. The very fact that these people can afford to take days and days off at a time tells you all you need to know about them. They are living with their parents (seriously?), living free off government (rats?), or in college (nothing else to do except group think).
Looking forward to the tv images of the occupy children getting their medicine…
Jesus
October 25th, 2011
1:30 pm
What point was that, Willx?
blackhemi
October 25th, 2011
1:33 pm
Good for reed, get them baby’s out of there. All of them occupy kids, blaming everyone but themselves. Im an American, and Im NOT equal, and dont want to be equal! I work for what I have and those lazy scumbags who want what I have for nothing, phttttt!
PS. Obama is on his way out!
Tommy Jeff Erson
October 25th, 2011
1:36 pm
Here’s a formula for fines for those arrested ——Cost of police+ cost of cleanup + any additional costs divided by the number arrested ==They’ll leave quickly, since I’m sure none of them has a job nor pay and state or Federal income tax. Taxpayers end up not having to pay for these sloths
Bim Franklen
October 25th, 2011
1:38 pm
If 47% of the population pays ZERO federal income tax it’s fairly easy to see where the problem is. Also easy to correct, a flat tax or Fair tax
Penny Lane
October 25th, 2011
1:43 pm
I’m with Mayor Reed on this one. Last year in Europe, dozens of people were killed at a music festival, and the Mayor was partially blamed:
19 dead in Love Parade stampede
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/7908522/19-dead-in-Love-Parade-stampede.html
Documents seized in Love Parade crush probe
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10764983
“Investigators are examining the security plans for the event, which could possibly lead to charges of negligent homicide….”
Who needs that?
Independent voter
October 25th, 2011
1:43 pm
blackhemi you sound like the republican clowns who running for office president Obama will win 2012
MG
October 25th, 2011
1:44 pm
The Occupy Atlanta protestors should not have been allowed to stay in the park continously from day one. The mayor’s office is blatantly doing a double standard. If the perceived homeless can not stay in the city park according to the city’s so-called “urban camping ordinance” imposed some years ago, then these occupiers should not be able to stay. Mr. Reed and the supporting city council members should be very mindful of this double standard.
blackhemi
October 25th, 2011
1:49 pm
Independent voter
Im not, but anyone with common sense can see that Obama has done nothing good for this county. You can only blame Bush so long, Obama care, what a joke, the number one thing Obama supports say that he did is killing Laden. News, he did not, he does not get the credit for that.
Obama is a failure, and even he knows it. What kind of president will say, “if you love me, you will pass this bill” If you love me!!!!! gimme a break. His admin force bank bailouts, it was not an option. HE DID THIS!!!!
The list goes on.
Independent voter
October 25th, 2011
1:53 pm
blackhemi tell me what have the republicans did for this country compare to what president Obama have done in 2.5 years since he been office.
What is the republican agenda besides maken the rich more richer.
Independent voter
October 25th, 2011
1:55 pm
President Obama trying his best to help middle class and working class people. The republicans said this when he first got into the office you a one term president and most the republicans feel thay way will be not elected in 2012 watch and see blackhemi.
LG
October 25th, 2011
1:56 pm
Generation of entitlement. If I can’t have it, you shouldn’t have it either. I’m paycheck to paycheck and work closely with people who are most certainly not. I’m not angry. You won’t see me holding my hand out.
The Oldman is right, go pick some crops, mop some floors, flip some burgers. It may not be what you want to do, it’s what you have to do. If you have this kind of time on your hands, spend it volunteering and helping those homeless and struggling you are referring to. I’m sure Hands on Atlanta, Hosea’s Feed the Hungry or Habitat would love to have some help.
I understand that this started with the intent of a message change, but there is no message here. Just a mess.
Mr Charlie
October 25th, 2011
1:56 pm
Blackhemi, Agreed that Obama should probably be voted out, but the Republicans don’t seem to be able to find a remotely viable candidate. Herman Cain? LOL, I think he even thinks he is a joke. We’re pretty much screwed.
Independent voter
October 25th, 2011
2:00 pm
Mr Charlie yes just welcome president Obama another 4 more years in the White House and get use to him. All these republicans voted against president Obama agenda to create jobs will be voted out the office.
Mr Charlie
October 25th, 2011
2:04 pm
Independent, don’t for one minute think that the Republicans are for the rich, and the Democrats are for the poor. Wall Street has donated just as much to the Democratic party. You are being pig roasted.
td
October 25th, 2011
2:05 pm
Mr Charlie
October 25th, 2011
1:09 pm
Pat, when a company collapses and cannot pay it bills, or meet payroll, and the people in charge of these that company took millions out just before it collapses as “salary”, and nobody investigates?
Not only do we not investigate, THEN, we take tax payer money so they can meet their bills, and continue to draw absurd salaries?
Just what are you guys seeing?
And who was in charge of the Justice department and could have investigated? Obama? Who was in charge of the House and the Senate and could have held hearings? Democrats?
And who are you going to vote for in the next election?
Jesus
October 25th, 2011
2:06 pm
blackhemi, if he can’t take credit for killing bin Laden, then he can’t be blamed for high unemployment, right?
Jack
October 25th, 2011
2:06 pm
Been saying all along that we need more jails. I wouldn’t mind paying extra taxes if I knew for sure they’d go to building jails. These people at Woodruff have chosen to live outside our laws and rules of decency; they need to be put away in order for decent, hard working people to live their lives in peace.
blackhemi
October 25th, 2011
2:07 pm
jobs bill=TAX HIKE! even dems voted aginst it. It was a political move. Obama can now say he tried, but the republicans said no.
If we take a step back in time, and remember that the federal gov is meant for boarders, military and to oversee state government. Its not the feds job to take care of us. Over the years, our liberal schools have taught government support, as in they will support you!