Kasim Reed, Occupy Atlanta, and a fresh wave of history
Derrick Younge of Atlanta holds a sign next to Occupy Atlanta leader Tim Franzen, left, during a press conference at Woodruff Park discussing their next move Thursday afternoon in Atlanta. Jason Getz, jgetz@ajc.com.
Fifty years ago, when Shirley Franklin was still a high school teenager, she slipped away from her Philadelphia bed – without telling her mother – for an anti-nuke march on the Pentagon.
The biographical tidbit is necessary to any assessment of last week’s decision by Mayor Kasim Reed, Franklin’s successor, to clear Occupy Atlanta and its tents from a downtown park – and send the bonded-out protesters against corporate greed and economic disparity on a nomadic trek across the city, like some Lost Tribe of Ishmael.
Atlanta may not have realized the implications at the time, but the city crossed a generational divide when Reed was elected two years ago. Born in 1969, he is the first mayor in nearly 40 years who did not spring from a culture of protest.
However inevitable, it was not a fact that some were willing to ignore last week.
“If he wants to be like Bull Connor, then so be it,” one of Reed’s elders, state Sen. Vincent Fort of Atlanta, said shortly before he and 51 others were arrested at the park.
To call up the specter of Birmingham was a vast – the mayor might argue slanderous — exaggeration. No injuries were reported Monday night. No fire hoses were turned on schoolchildren. No German shepherds were sicced on the defenseless. No skulls were cracked by batons. This wasn’t Alabama. It wasn’t even Oakland.
That said, Fort’s 48-year-old reference point was revealing. As was Reed last Monday, when he put Occupy Atlanta on 24-hour notice.
In front of reporters, the mayor first said grace over his city’s reputation for tolerance and the right to free speech. But Reed – a former music industry attorney – then drew on more recent history.
He pointed to a flawed hip-hop concert that Occupy Atlanta had attempted to stage at the small park. With inadequate security and radio spots that advertised at least one rapper whom concert promoters couldn’t deliver.
“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,” Reed said. The mayor judged Occupy Atlanta to be a danger to themselves and nearby residents, and ordered the impromptu campground shut down.
The Occupy Atlanta decision may be the first real evidence that the city is being governed with its changing, more conservative demographic in mind.
In a recent post on “Blogging While Blue,” Democratic strategist Cabral Franklin, son of the former mayor, noted that the three of the four fastest-growing districts in the city were in downtown Atlanta, Midtown and Buckhead – “areas where people vote more conservatively.”
“Midtown in 2011 is not Midtown in 1990,” he said in an interview. Franklin’s assessment of Reed, who stands for re-election in 2013: “I don’t think he wanted the Occupy movement to be that one thing that he didn’t play right. I think he was trying to govern as close to the center as he possibly could.”
Criticism of Reed has been muted, but it exists. Eric Robertson, political director of Teamsters Local 278 and a Reed supporter, consulted with the mayor throughout the confrontation – and disagreed with the decision to resort to force.
“My hope is that we can get into some sort of dialogue where he can understand what’s happening with the movement,” Robertson said.
But if Reed is new to an era of protests, so is Occupy Atlanta. “There have absolutely been mistakes made,” Robertson said. His union members brought U.S. Rep. John Lewis to speak to the protesters in the first days of their occupation of Woodruff Park – only to see the civil rights icon turned away. “Disastrous,” he said.
Occupy Atlanta’s insistence on unanimous decisions paralyzed any attempts to give the movement a sharper focus that the public could latch onto, the union official said.
One of the more nuanced reactions to the removal of Occupy Atlanta came from Michael Julian Bond, a 10-year city councilman and son of ’60s activist Julian Bond.
“I really don’t know why the mayor didn’t act sooner. I believe in civil disobedience. I grew up in a household full of activists,” said the younger Bond. But he also represents the downtown residential district, and spoke of a recent neighborhood meeting.
While sympathetic to Occupy Atlanta, his constituents “pointed out a stark contradiction to me,” Bond said. After years of complaints, police only recently had swept aged, homeless black men out of the park.
“But when it’s twenty-something white kids, it’s allowed to go on. That kind of stuck with me,” he said. “If [police] had been allowed to go out on the first night when the park closed, there probably wouldn’t have been but about five or 10 people who were willing to go to jail that night, and the cost of it would have been considerably less.”
Bond also said Occupy Atlanta may have a rose-colored view of history. Arrest and jail are central points of civil disobedience, he said.
“I don’t know if that’s been forgotten over time, or just romanticized. But there were real arrests in Atlanta,” Bond said. The difference between Birmingham and Atlanta, he said, was how protesters were subsequently treated by police.
As for the prospect of growing conservatism in the city, Bond was unimpressed. “Atlanta’s always been a conservative place. We have a culture here that’s deeply rooted in church. Atlanta’s always had this very conservative undercurrent, even though – at the same time – it’s been very progressive mentally. But the values have been conservative,” he said.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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243 comments Add your comment
Centrist
October 29th, 2011
10:15 am
Mr. Jim Galloway couldn’t quite take even a weekend off from promoting the leftist “Occupy” mess.
Lighten up, don’t be so serious and politically biased – enjoy the weather and the football. Try writing about something different next week besides Occupy and ranting against Republicans – it might even lower your blood pressure.
Centrist
October 29th, 2011
10:22 am
Since Mr. Jim Galloway likes Herman Cain related humor – here’s one for you, buddy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSlC7BxmSqYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSlC7BxmSqY
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
10:38 am
Kasim Reed should have a private meeting with the occupy atlanta. Tell them the true why he have go by the law.
Corporate is really going to have Kasim lose the election 2013 because people are mad what going on in this city.
Ben Russell
October 29th, 2011
10:45 am
Lived in Metro Atlanta now for two years now, and felt Mr Reed was worthy of being mayor of this fair city. He certainly showed a side of himself with “Occupy Atlanta” that I was unaware of, and disappointed in. How can a Black man whose race was so mistreated turn around and behave just as those that were his persecutors? Lost a good deal of respect for the man.
Frederick Douglass
October 29th, 2011
10:51 am
Ben Russell
So is it fair to surmise that you really have some fundamental issues with Herman Cain?
the original and still the best John Galt
October 29th, 2011
10:54 am
Reed was scared by the man with an AK-47. Exercising one’s First Amendment rights is OK to Statists like Reed, but the exercise of Second Amendment rights is scary. That’s all it was.
oldfart
October 29th, 2011
10:57 am
It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
10:59 am
Ben Russell I was thinking the same way. Kasim seem like a angry black man who is for the corporate business in Atlanta. I bet the corporattion told Kasim get rid of the Occupy Atlanta at the park.
I had watch the news and seen helicopter following occupy atlanta wherever they go in the city.
This tell me about Kasim does not have anything else to do but harras the marchers.
Kasim need to have the helicopter flying over Ga Tech to protect the college kids from crime.
double
October 29th, 2011
11:03 am
The city has rules,regulations,laws.The mayor is bound by those laws whether they be black or white.To resolve the occupy without violence,he done well.
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
11:03 am
That man with the AK-47 prolly was with the police dept it was setup to make occupy atlanta look bad so Kasim would have reason to mess with the protester.
alston
October 29th, 2011
11:09 am
The roots of civil disobedience that made it possible for Kasim Reed to be Mayor grew out ot the lunch counter sit-ins and the freedom rides. That is the era when the participating, heroic,activists –blacks and whites together– first shared equal rights. Unfortunately, those equal rights dosed out were the right to equally be arrested. To equally be beaten. To equally be firebombed. To equally be murdered. Perserverance in the struggle against the opposition of all white city hall officials and police departments all over the South is how now, in 2011, Kasim Reed is in the position to OCCUPY ATLANTA CITY HALL. He can use a big dose of history. He is under the control of the downtown power elites at CAP and the Chamber of Commerce, thus making a decision to “do it their way” and on the dime of the taxpayers pay for a military operation with a cast of thousands to arrest 54 peaceful people in the park who were sitting in a circle singing– and that could have been done with ten officers. During that operation, downtown traffic was snarled by street closures and our crime ridden neighborhoods were lacking police, since most of them were down at the park, the safest place in town since Occupy came along.
Eric Aslakson
October 29th, 2011
11:12 am
Stop harassing the Occupy protestors. The Mayor should be prosecuted for misuse of city funds to fly helicopters around harassing citizens exercising their rights. Last time I checked, there was a right of assembly guaranteed by the constitution!?! Perhaps the mayor, the police department, and the city council should all should read it to refresh their memory! And all this in the city that claims MLK!
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
11:17 am
I voted for Kasim Reed last election and I know several of my friends in 2013 we not voting for him.
Kasim I dont trust the police dept because of the raid at a gay bar, police raid who kill a 92 year old lady. Marta police killing of a 19 year old. Kasim having police road block to gain money for the city.
Steve
October 29th, 2011
11:29 am
You don’t have to wait until 2012. It apparently is pretty easy to recall a sitting mayor in Atlanta. You only need 10% of the number of voters in the last election –doesn’t have to be the same voters, just registered voters– in Kasim’s case that would be 8400 (84,000 votes cast in 2009 mayoral election).
Look for a recall Mayor Reed petition near you.
Centrist
October 29th, 2011
11:48 am
Maybe you can get Mr. Jim Galloway and the rest of the AJC staff to promote a Mayor recall effort. That would seem to fit them both politically, and give them some sensational news to help with their advertising revenue.
Sonny LIED!
October 29th, 2011
11:49 am
I LIED, and everyone including Galloway knows it!
Rich
October 29th, 2011
11:53 am
All of these “Occupy AJC” commenters are nuttier than any old John Birchers. “CONSPIRACY”, they cry. “CORPORATE SELL-OUT”, they lament. How ’bout this? Bunch of anarchist, no-message, union-puppet, poser rabblerousers that felt like they could urinate on the sidewalks and endanger the public in the name of “protest”. Good for you, Mayor Reed. What took so long?
rotten
October 29th, 2011
11:54 am
Wow!
You have no clue. These were not protesters. These were law breakers who went past the normal definition of what the Constiution specifies. They were costing a fortune and getting nothing accomplished. I love how your liberal paper is making these spoiled whiners out to be heroes. They were not there to protest war, give people a vote, protect the unborn, or give people civil liberties.
Keep brainwashing…..It is only a matter of time that we will be behind the iron curtain that we despised thirty years ago.
yuzeyurbrane
October 29th, 2011
12:02 pm
What worries me is when I see Centrist and Kasim Reed on the same side.
zgoldatl
October 29th, 2011
12:04 pm
STOP supporting these losers and calling it journalism. There wasnt one arrest at any tea party nationally in the last 3 years. The occupy people are pathetic. I’m 25 years old, and I work my butt off 40 hours a week, and their daddies drop them off down there to protest capitalism. How do they think daddy bought them their iphones and computers? Its called capitalism. These people are a joke. They need to get a job. And I’m sick of the AJC acting so sympathetic towards these cowardly losers. I was in Washington Dc on 8-28-10, with 1 million fellow conservatives(more people attended than the” I have a dream” speech.), and the AJC and mainstream media didn’t pay as much attention as 60 want to be hippies in a park? Out of one million people, zero rapes, zero arrests, and we left the place nicer than we found it. Terrible journalism. I should cancel my subscription. Hey occupiers, get a life, and don’t you dare tread on me
Karen
October 29th, 2011
12:05 pm
Occupy shot itself in their foot or feet. No focus and just shoddy PR. The guy in the red stocking cap is a joke. And to turn away John Lewsi, you just threw credibility out the window. No leadership at all with Occupy which made them look like punks. So Mayor Reed did the right thing in this situation.
zgoldatl
October 29th, 2011
12:09 pm
Eric, its not a legal protest, because they didn’t get the proper permitting, insurance, porta-potties, etc. If they apply and are granted permits, then fine, until then, throw them all in jail. Thays my park too, and I don’t support those loons
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
12:10 pm
LOL! The Tea Party was named after one of the most famous acts of civil disobedience in this nation’s history! You same people have a problem with a peaceful protest!
I think I’m going to cancel my subscription to the Tea Party Crazies Gazette.
mike
October 29th, 2011
12:10 pm
It sounds like the drivel is trying to make the Occutards into our founding fathers. I do not agree with his politics but the Mayor did his job when cleaned these protestors out of the park. The annointed leader of leader of the rabble, Mr. Franzen, forced the Mayors hand when he made his wonderful statement of “We do what we want”. I think the protestors should have had the tent city cleared the first night. The protests are fine but the rules of the park are no camping. The Occutards got a lot more liberties than the Tea PArty protestors would have gotten if they had done this stunt. Yes, I am calling names and probably little juvenile on my part but these people are just plain dumb. They are the same old “Rent a Mob” crowd just protesting something new. They are just puppets dancing to the master for the classic Democrat Party tune of the politics of envy. They are hypocrites of the highest order. If they decry wealth and detest acheivement then why renounce all of their wordly posessions and work for free in the soup kitchens and charities, never going to happen. They just want the world handed to them at the expense of others, let them move to one of their Socialist utopias and be happy. Oh wait, there are none so I guess we are stuck with them for now.
Cfruzin
October 29th, 2011
12:11 pm
The Occupy Protesters are nothing more than socialist who believe that someone else’s hard earned money is rightfully there’s. They are lazy anti-capitalist people who should have been tossed out from the get go.
mike
October 29th, 2011
12:11 pm
Sorry for my typo’s
Harold
October 29th, 2011
12:11 pm
Congrats to the Occupy Atlanta kids. They got Woodruff park cleaned up when nobody else was able to get the job done for at least the last 30 years! I can leave my office and go enjoy lunch in the park now that all the homeless deadbeats got cleared out. Thank you Occupy Atlanta! You made this businessman’s lunches better!
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
12:12 pm
Where in the Constitution does it require a permit to protest? Please show the actual paragraph.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
12:15 pm
“Sorry for my typo’s”
We need to protest those that are responsible for your education.
Occupy mike’s school!
mike
October 29th, 2011
12:17 pm
The Tea Party was named after an act of Social disobediance but if you will note the people involved in the historical movement and the current day movement were fighting an oppressive government who wanted total control. The people in both eras were not looking for hand outs like the Occupy movement. They just wanted to be left alone and to live their lives without the long arm of the government intruding. Study your history, sir.
Vote for Pedro
October 29th, 2011
12:17 pm
Dawgs gonna occupy Jacksonville today!!!
Smoke
October 29th, 2011
12:18 pm
Another break before kickoff. Even Clarence Thomas would agree that the United States constitution explicitly provides for ‘the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances’” in the First Amendment. Posting park hours relates to vagancy, not peaceful assembly. As for the second amendment, it was not about someone walking around with an AK-47 (Made in Russia), but rather the bullets. Finally, Dixiecrats love grandstanding, so for once they are defending John Lewis, even though they call him a liar about the “alledged” spitting incident.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
12:19 pm
The real Boston Tea Party riots were nothing but a bunch of lawbreakers, they didn’t have a permit.
Old Farmer
October 29th, 2011
12:20 pm
The good news is that the Occupy movement is going strong across the country. When the occupations are over, it will continue as a movement on the homefront.
The people of America are waking up. We want the free market for everyone. As it is, only the poor and middle class are subject to the free market. The rich get special tax breaks, susidies, corporate welfare and bailouts. Enough of this socialism for coporations and the rich.
Centrist
October 29th, 2011
12:21 pm
yuzeyurbrane posted “What worries me is when I see Centrist and Kasim Reed on the same side.”
That’s because you are so left wing that almost everyone is to the right of you.
Mason
October 29th, 2011
12:21 pm
The Tea Party purchased the proper permits. When the permits expired they left the area. I would say that by allowing others to protest without permits everyone who has ever been made to acquire a permit should get a 100% refund. Just because it’s peaceful doesn’t mean it’s legal.
Aubrey
October 29th, 2011
12:21 pm
What has been learned and confirmed since the first of the mindless Drones tried to string together a couple words is that the squatters represent the bottom 10% of society and there they will stay.
mike
October 29th, 2011
12:22 pm
I guess I am on wrong side, my Alma Mater is The Citadel. I am sure you would be welcomed with open arms Danny X. LMAO.We started the Civil War and by the way the issue there was States rights and not slavery which is another great misstatement. of history. The South did not want the Federal Government assuming unwarranted powers.
Aubrey
October 29th, 2011
12:23 pm
Old Farmer
Nothing is holding you back but your own ineptness. Quit complaining.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
12:24 pm
“Dawgs gonna occupy Jacksonville today!!!”
Have you seen the mess left behind after tailgate parties?
Speaking of socialists. College football is socialist. That’s right. The Georgia Bulldog football team is a socialist institution.
Benie Matt
October 29th, 2011
12:25 pm
Michael Bond was a spoiled P_SSY at Douglass High and he’s still one today! Making a living off of his coke snorting Dad’s name.
yuzeyurbrane
October 29th, 2011
12:28 pm
Centrist, name-calling anyone? My my, you are violating your own ethical standards.
Benie Matt
October 29th, 2011
12:30 pm
Cabral Franklin, seriously! Who gave this punk some legitamicy! His whole family is supposed to be in the PEN! All of them, including his momma were aware and active and or complicit in his king pin sister and brother and laws activities. More proof of the class divide! IF you got drug money and a recognizable last name, you are somehow credible. Boy, sit you punk A$$ down next to that $I$$Y Mike Bond! AJC should be ashamed to have published what these 2 have to say!
zgoldatl
October 29th, 2011
12:31 pm
Danny- I wasn’t saying a permit was required in the constitution. I was saying that they aren’t following local laws, which do require permitting, bathrooms, security and insurance. I think the occupy movement has missed it’s chance to be relevant in a electoral sense with the 4 rapes, sidewalk defecation, and violent behavior that turns off all but the true extreme left. They won’t put one person in office, because they wont turn out to vote. I know many people who sympathized with them, but are now so turned off by the antics, that even the liberal people I know are distancing themselves from this tiny movement. Follow local laws, and respect the place you use to protest. Two simple pieces of advice courtesy of the Tea Party
Bernie Matt
October 29th, 2011
12:31 pm
My bad, this is Bernie! Not hiding, just typing too fast!
Smoke
October 29th, 2011
12:33 pm
Numbers rule. Conservatively, the 1963 I have a dream march on Washington had about 200, 000 people. The 1995 Million man March had 400,000 people. The 2010 march, presented by Fox News, had 300,000 people. So, correct the Glenn Beck rally had more people, but will only be an extremely minor footnote in history, unless revisionists decide to fudge the numbers, content or context of the event. The US population in 1963 was 100 million less than 2010, and most IHAD marchers’ lives were endangered by threats from Dixiecrats for even trying to get to DC. The real historical significance about the 2010 was 300,000 Dixiecrats complaining about the lack of sufficient public transportation!
findog
October 29th, 2011
12:33 pm
Fort is a joke.
OA is aimed at Wall Street, not the set aside scandals of Atlanta’s government.
Is he afraid that if the Caucasians in the banking industry are held to a higher standard that it might trickle down to people of color gaming the minority set-aside scams that is Atlanta’s additional burden on tax revenue?
Tebron Fames
October 29th, 2011
12:33 pm
It is a free country haters. The Centrists and Td’s are jealous. That is all there is to it. They do not care what impact their words have on others. They are absolutely noodles! Screw them! There are plenty of good people out there who are afraid to come out and help society because of eccentrics like republicans. They have shat on America and will continue to do so until people are as dismal as them.
Markus Justice
October 29th, 2011
12:34 pm
Occupy Atlanta, Wallstreet, Oakland are all part of the Democratic Socialist movement and its historical roots are in Marxism. This demonstration is not different from the early 20’s and 30’s when the movement was started in the US however they went underground once people realized their true aim was to install a European style socialist government. Now they are progressive using class warfare as part of their arsenal of weapons. All of these clowns have products made by corporations, some work for corporations, some were given educational grants by corporations but all are too stupid to realize they are being pimped by the Marxist movement in the US.
Ray ray
October 29th, 2011
12:37 pm
I just do not understand why people like George W. Bush are protected. They set the world on fire and let everybody else fight eachother. Bush should not have immunity. He was worse than any dictator to ever live. I would compare him to the likes of Hitler and Pol Pot. Screw that man! I cannot stand Obama but would choose him over Bush anyday! That is America. Let us charge Bush with war crimes!
Centrist
October 29th, 2011
12:38 pm
@ yuzeyurbrane – No name calling – just observing that even Mayor Reed is to the right of you politically. Do you deny it? Is there any politician, blogger, reporter, or poster on this board politically to your left?
Georgia is a red state to the right of the political center. The city of Atlanta is very blue (including Mayor Reed), yet you are even “bluer”. That sure puts you on the minority leftist fringe in Georgia.
Smoke
October 29th, 2011
12:39 pm
Pass the pipe and quit hogging it all for yourself. I couldn’t help myself. Just think, if this was Mississippi and the rape is true, and the woman get pregnant…She would forced to have the baby, and Dixiecrats would then be whinning about increased entitlements to care for the child.
Mr Charlie
October 29th, 2011
12:39 pm
They would target BOA foreclosed properties to set up camp.
zgoldatl
October 29th, 2011
12:40 pm
Mike - You are spot on. I was history major at College of Charleston, and was proud of the Citadel and the entire city of Charlestons response to the War of Northern Aggression, or The War for Southern Independence. It was solely a fiscal matter, and that unfortunately is a fact lost to history for many people.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
12:40 pm
zgoldatl, I don’t agree with a lot the Occupy Atlanta message. I do have a big problem with obstructing their right to assemble protest peacefully.
I also don’t agree with a lot of the Tea Party message, I totally support their right to assemble and protest peacefully.
I don’t agree at all with the KKK, I totally support their right to assemble and protest peacefully.
Smoke
October 29th, 2011
12:41 pm
Centrist is a 1%’er, Centrist is a 1%’er. That’s a liberal way of name calling…Heh…Heh.
Atlanta Native
October 29th, 2011
12:42 pm
Once again, Occupy Wall Street supporters failed to overcome the trivialization and misunderstand associated with their grassroots message. And thus once again, everyone misses the point. It is not just about jobs and “mo money” and such, it is this: Corporate greed is intimately tied to political decisions in this country, and it is what is turning the U.S. government into a sham. The corporate “mob” is being paid off by our government (bailouts, handouts, tax-funded boondoggle projects) to keep the corruption channel flowing. Large corporations are at odds with what is fundamentally ethical; for instance, war is GOOD for companies that build and supply and distribute war supplies and weapons; gas-guzzling vehicles are good for big oil companies; mandated healthcare coverage is good for large health insurance companies; get it???
Mr Charlie
October 29th, 2011
12:44 pm
They should go into high dollar neighborhoods and stay in foreclosed properties. That would:
1. Piss off the rich living in the neighborhoods
2. Force the APD to enforce the laws for BOA, making them look even worse
3. plus they could live in a cool house
4. Try to use squatter laws/the bailout argument to try and take ownership of the homes.
Mr Charlie
October 29th, 2011
12:47 pm
Native, it just goes back to the fact that our entire political finance system is based on legalized bribery.
zgoldatl
October 29th, 2011
12:47 pm
Danny, then we agree on everything, except if they are actually protesting peacefully. I would point you to the 4 rapes, thousands of arrests, millions of tax payer dollars spent, and the businesses that have been stormed across the country. If it was peaceful, I would totally support their right to assemble.
Whoever compared Bush to Hitler on the last page is part of the occupy movements problem.. even mainstream liberals can’t get on board with that kind of talk
Mr Charlie
October 29th, 2011
12:49 pm
If I am a taxpayer, and taxpayer funds were given to BOA, then I own BOA assets, ie, foreclosed home. I have as much right to ownership to foreclosed homes as BOA does. I can see a court case.
findog
October 29th, 2011
12:50 pm
Zgoldatl,
Really, I guess restoring honor does not include Judea-Christian principals like though shall not lie? I don’t even thing that you can squirm by with an exaggeration claim by trying to bump that number up to a million. Maybe those sixty are getting credit for not astro-turfing a grass root cause with free publicity from the 24/7 Fox News
td
October 29th, 2011
12:53 pm
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
12:40 pm
zgoldatl, I don’t agree with a lot the Occupy Atlanta message. I do have a big problem with obstructing their right to assemble protest peacefully.
I also don’t agree with a lot of the Tea Party message, I totally support their right to assemble and protest peacefully.
I don’t agree at all with the KKK, I totally support their right to assemble and protest peacefully.
Well dang there is something we agree on. I am sure you will see this differently. I would add that they must obey the law while they are protesting. This includes leaving the area when time is up and getting the proper permits.
Delonte West
October 29th, 2011
12:53 pm
..occupy ‘brons momma
Robert E. Lee
October 29th, 2011
12:56 pm
Man, being involved in finance must seem too good to be true.
Not only can you make an obscene income that has absolutely nothing to do with your value to society, you can completely screw up the economy for millions with little to no personal responsibility.
And get THIS, some of those millions you screwed over will be your staunchest defenders. Those knuckle draggers will call everyone who opposes your obvious BS a socialist!
You couldn’t write this stuff.
Listen, no one wants to make you fat arsed, over-invoicing rural contractors pay any more in taxes than you have to. Thus isn’t about you.
td
October 29th, 2011
12:57 pm
Mr Charlie
October 29th, 2011
12:49 pm
The only part of your argument you forgot is that BOA has paid all the money back to the tax payers (with interest) so therefore they are again not under government control.
Allyanaz
October 29th, 2011
12:57 pm
The whole occupy thing was a load of garbage. It was a bunch of people who wanted to talk to one another about the frustration of nothing ever changing for them or the frustration of life being hard for them. And maybe their lives don’t change and maybe their lives are hard because they spend their time hanging out in a park talking instead of getting out into the world and working their asses off – like the rest of society. If there any one of those people accomplished something, it was adding another problem to the growing list, i.e., the expense of cleaning up after them, the clogging of the court system with arrests, the use of public officers for control and the expense of it. Y’all don’t even know how to protest properly.
Tom (Independent)
October 29th, 2011
12:57 pm
Tim Franzen, the self-proclaimed leader of Occupy ATL, is a paid Community Organizer. Does that qualify him as a candidate for the Presidency? Think I had rather have a former CEO this time around!
td
October 29th, 2011
1:00 pm
Robert E. Lee
October 29th, 2011
12:56 pm
And who made you the judge to tell a person they make to much money and there skill set is not worth the money? Please tell us what skill sets are worth what amounts of pay?
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
1:01 pm
“I would point you to the 4 rapes, thousands of arrests, millions of tax payer dollars spent, and the businesses that have been stormed across the country. If it was peaceful, I would totally support their right to assemble.”
Really????? When did any of this happen in Atlanta??
Businesses stormed by angry customers canceling their accounts? Mass arrests from people peacefully crossing a bridge?
Are you counting the unconstitutional mass arrests in Tenn? The break up of the peaceful demonstration in Oakland?
Where in the world does the Constitution limit protest because of cost to the taxpayer. You think those Tea Party rallies were free???? Listen up Tea Party, you can no longer protest because it costs the taxpayer money!!!
As Herman Cain would say, HOGWASH!
findog
October 29th, 2011
1:03 pm
Hey Mason, who paid for those permits?
All of you, “Tea Party is a grass roots movement,” that finally awoke to the problems that the republican RINO’s that were given free reign of our country for eight years caused need to seek counseling for your delusional reality disorder.
Phils fan
October 29th, 2011
1:04 pm
man, al qaeda is missing a golden opp here eh?
td
October 29th, 2011
1:05 pm
Robert E. Lee
October 29th, 2011
12:56 pm
“screw up the economy for millions”
Why are banks the only ones responsible for “screwing” up the economy? Is the fact that people bought way more house then they afford not a factor? Was it not the government rules forcing the banks to loosen the loan application process not a factor? How about the government writing a law telling the banks that all there loans would be backed by the full faith and credit of the US, is this not a factor?
Lucille Anne Jefferson
October 29th, 2011
1:07 pm
Kasim, you can bet your grannie’s drawers you will not be occupying space in city hall in 2013.We made the mistake of voting for you once and we will not make that mistake again.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
1:08 pm
td, don’t forget Bwaney Frank. Bawney pinned Tom Graves down and forced a huge 2 million dollar signature loan down poor ol Tom’s throat. Disgusting.
Phils fan
October 29th, 2011
1:10 pm
..the american dream is the problem here. which translates into. got get yourself into crazy amounts of debt to “educate” yourself and then go out and suceed by any means neccessary. even if that means getting yourself into more debt and causing others to get into more debt to do so.
Allen
October 29th, 2011
1:12 pm
For all calling this a peaceful protest, how peaceful would you find weeks of drumming, chanting and p issing and milling around in your front yard. Those of us who work in the area were sick of it quickly – and we work in human services serving poor people. I can only imagine the irritation of those who live in the area. I suggest an occupation of the yards of the occupiers. Not sure if they will be able to hear us from their mom’s basement, but it would be worth a shot. Oh, and thanks for the environmental damage to downtown. Dr. King’s marches, like the movement, always had a destination. These people still have no idea what they want, they just know they don’t want to work for whatever it is.
Walter Little, Jr.
October 29th, 2011
1:12 pm
You folks that are bashing Mayor Reed make me laugh . . . because you’re playing right into the hands of the “Occupyers”. My opinion is their entired “protest” and encampment was for nothing more than to embarass the City. I say lock them all up all up!
Off de Plantation
October 29th, 2011
1:15 pm
@Centrist, 10.22am; Thanks Centrist a million times over! I am going to get this thing going viral. As a Cain supporter (and a CAUCASIAN!), I’m damn sick and tired of the national media and the Al Jazzera Chroincle and it’s idiotic writers (guess which one I’m referring to?) getting away with the nasty, filthy racial epithets, racial innuendos and other biased remarks while denouncing any one who dares to call out the Communist, oops, I meant the COMMUNITY Organizer if we happen to disagree with him.
I hope I can see the day when Herman and Obummer square off in a debate:
Flashy words, teleprompters, hooping, hollering, gushing, gurgling fans versus a good, decent, honest, hard-working black man who made it in society in spite of his color – not BECAUSE of it.
As the bumper sticker says:
If you voted for Obama in 2008 to prove you’re not a racist, please vote for someone else in 2012 to prove YOU’RE NOT AN IDIOT!
John Doe
October 29th, 2011
1:16 pm
Seriously… Where has Senator Fort been? He only seems to be out on the stump when he has the opportunity to jump in front of a camera.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
1:16 pm
” drumming, chanting and p issing and milling around in your front yard.”
At least no one was wearing any of those crazy Tea Bag hats. Now those are a crime.
findog
October 29th, 2011
1:19 pm
Danny, or calling themselves “tea baggers” without understanding what that phrase had already been coined for…
td
October 29th, 2011
1:19 pm
I love it when you libs are fighting with each other. Looks like there is going to be a fight between the plantation owners and the brain washed plantation field hands coming. I think I am going to root for the plantation hands so that they can lift off the yoke and break for the communist.
Jack
October 29th, 2011
1:21 pm
The Facts are These:
1. But for Mayor Reed’s Executive Order, the Occupy protesters would have been violating the law.
2. The city has spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars and resources to police this effort.
3. Occupy protesters were shouting that they did not have to obey any laws.
4. The Mayor put everyone on notice that he was revoking his executive order (even when he didn’t have to) and gave the protesters the opportunity to negotiate with clergy members before acting.
5. Atlanta has handled the “occupy” movement with more grace than the majority of other American cities.
Kudos to the Mayor and his team.
Vincent Fort
October 29th, 2011
1:24 pm
Jim, you have written an interesting column but I have a couple of concerns. I wish you would have consulted as you wrote your article. In fact you saw me on Thursday and did not ask me any clarifying questions. Indeed, you have multiple numbers for me and I did not hear from you. From reading the article it is apparent you spoke to the mayor and/or his staffers but not to any Occupiers or their supporters. As a journalist it seems to me you would speak to the subject of your story.
Regarding the Birmingham reference, the core issue remains: Mayor Reed used his authority, at the direction of his corporate masters, to reinforce an unjust economic system. Just this week a US Census study showed that income equality in Atlanta is greater than any other city in the country. I wish Reed would devote as much time and energy to issues of homelessness, poverty and predatory lending. Reed is the first African-American mayor to quash an Occupy movement. I would submit that Reed is in a way worse than Bull Connor-he has betrayed the movement that helped to create him.
By the way the Occupy Atlanta, is a racially diverse movement. If one spent any time observing they would have observed that black, white, Latino and Asian young people coming together to fight corporate greed, joblessness, homelessness, and political corruption.
td
October 29th, 2011
1:25 pm
Jack
October 29th, 2011
1:21 pm
Yes the mayor did everything right except for telling the police to break out the pepper spray, billy clubs and the fire hoses.
Mike
October 29th, 2011
1:28 pm
Vincent Fort is what he is. He is an appeaser, an opportunist, a politician of no good. His intentions are selfish just like the so called protesters. They protest the so called greed of corporations, whereas the difference between themselves and the corporate world is that the corporations will work diligently, intelligently and very hard for their profits and they decide to keep their profits as they choose, the so called protestors are greedy also, they just want to not work for anything and just take from those who work hard. That is stealing. They are liars and thieves. Why are we giving these malcontents so much attention? Mayor Reed screwed up when he allowed them to break the law the first night. It they want to protest, go get the proper permits and for a Representative, Vincent Fort to put his name out there, then he is saying it is OK to break the law too. This is even worse since he should understand that he should have more respect for the laws that he helps to promote. Shame on the protestors for their greed and for Vincent Fort’s lack of self respect.
Dan Daly
October 29th, 2011
1:28 pm
No dogs. No firehoses. No horses. No billyclubs. No National Guard. Occupy doesn’t even have a focus. The Tea Party wants less government. The Civil Rights movement wanted equality. Occupy wants to get handouts and they want to try to capture the aura of the ’60s protest movement that has been romanticized by professors who were there and those who wish they had been. (The dregs of America’s first middle-class generation who grew up without having to work for anything, many of whom still feel entitled.) Kasim did the right thing and he and the police handled it correctly, albeit a couple weeks too late. Perhaps Bloomberg should reassemble his Georgia investigative unit to come figure out how to clean his streets. (Giuliani he ain’t!)
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
1:32 pm
“Yes the mayor did everything right except for telling the police to break out the pepper spray, billy clubs and the fire hoses.”
Is that what you will be praying for in church tomorrow? .
td
October 29th, 2011
1:35 pm
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
1:32 pm
Why do you think I go to church? I thought Jim said it was the weekend and to have a little fun. That picture would have been more fun to watch then any football game today.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
1:37 pm
“Marine veteran Scott Olsen suffered a skull fracture Tuesday night”
Funny stuff td. Very funny. LMAO!!
Who would Jesus shoot? LMAO!!
Parrick M.
October 29th, 2011
1:38 pm
OFF DE PLANTATION
“If you voted for Obama in 2008 to prove you’re not a racist, please vote for someone else in 2012 to prove YOU’RE NOT AN IDIOT!”
Please post where I may be able to get one of these! I LOVE IT!!!
Raquel Morris
October 29th, 2011
1:38 pm
Jim, you know as well as I that Kasim Reed led the student sit-in movement at Howard University when they were protesting South African apartheid. Obviously, Kasim has chosen to downplay that portion of his resume as he angles for his statewide ambitions.
Mayor Reed, you barely won your office. Stop governing as if you had a mandate. You may be within the good graces of the business community for now, but pretty soon you will have to choose between pandering to them and standing up for the base that elected you.
td
October 29th, 2011
1:39 pm
It is time for the daily public educational announcement:
For anyone thinking of going to the polls next year in Georgia just to vote for Obama, then you need to know that your vote will not be counted. All 16 votes from Georgia will be cast for the Republican nominee and Obama will receive zero votes from Georgia. Unless you want to vote for local issues then it really is not be worth the time and gas money to go to the polls.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
1:43 pm
“The Tea Party wants less government.”
You do know that every single major poll now has the Tea Party approval rating at between 28%-29%.
Since they are no longer popular I guess they should not be allowed to protest any longer.
td
October 29th, 2011
1:43 pm
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
1:37 pm
“Who would Jesus shoot? LMAO!!”
I think it is very clear that Jesus shall return one day to crush the evil in the world. That would include the communist and the atheist.
Then again this is a guess from my reading of Revelations.
Phils fan
October 29th, 2011
1:44 pm
..occupy people smell show so badddddd. you can can smell them everywhere. i can smell the people of “occupy atlanta” all the way up in here philly. and the people of “occupy philly” smell worse than homeless people. even the subway rats have filed complaints. i get the theme. but just give them whatever they want. as long as includes a bar a saop.
Filthy Rich
October 29th, 2011
1:47 pm
Why do people hate rich peopleso much, yet everyone wants to be rich. The fact is, I work for a wealthy person and provide for my family.
A poor person never gave me a job.
findog
October 29th, 2011
1:50 pm
td,
You need to read George Will’s 10/28 column
Just like with Bush I he is sowing the seeds of discontent that doomed the republicans in 1992
A year from now Will will be writing that if Romney is not elected the world will end, albeit too late…
Nagger
October 29th, 2011
1:50 pm
I hate all of the protesters that are always nagging others – I hate naggers!
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
1:51 pm
Right td, one only needs to open their Bibles. It’s full of references based on those evil Occupy protesters.
“Poor people should sell all of their belongings and give the money to a job creator.”
“Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a poor man to enter the kingdom of God.”
“The rich shall inherit the earth.”
“Blessed are the tear gassers.” Just for you td.
Smoke
October 29th, 2011
1:53 pm
A person and their Blackberry. Canton Mayor Hobgood and all those great Cobb folks have shown Reed how great they do things. $80 million down the drain so far and still no water
Dan Daly
October 29th, 2011
1:55 pm
Not a Tea Partier, but they did it correctly and left no footprint. Sad that you want this Occupy movement to make a lasting impression. Remember Woodstock? Jimi Hendrix? Of course you do. What do we remember about Woodstock 2? Not enough bathrooms, riots, burning and looting. Don’t even remember what bands were there and I think they don’t want to be connected to it anyway. Take your own path!
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
1:55 pm
Teaparty is racist they call the president hitler
Phils fan
October 29th, 2011
1:59 pm
i guarantee you all the tea party people are sitting home thinking. “yeah, the occupy people do stink. how do they expect anyone to take them seriously when go around occupying everything and smelling like that. i’m glad we were smart enough not to smell like that.” riigghhht…..
Patrick P.
October 29th, 2011
1:59 pm
Mr. Jim Galloway got it right. His article sums up the truth about Occupy Atlanta (OA).
I am a resident at the Muses Lofts across the street from Woodruff Park. From the first day of the occupation, I watched and listened very closely to the OA protesters.
In the first week of the occupation, I wrote Mayor Reed a letter offering my views and possible solution. I suggested he request the protest move voluntary to the location where the Civil Rights museum would be built in Centennial Park. I also encourage Mayor Reed to enlist the help of the more established Civil Rights organizations to mentor the “children” of the protest.
I call the OA protesters “children” because of their naiveté. The groups age range from teens to senior citizens. I estimate the average age of the group to be between 25 and 35.
The OA protesters are diverse and have different levels of commitment; The core group of about 75 persons who participate in there General Assembly, A group of about 75 followers made of up of persons who just want to be involved in something, and the homeless witch numbers from 50 to 75 who are just there for the free food.
I was dumbfounded by the group’s ignorance and arrogance. OA downfall is that its core group has no practical organizational skills and is extremely ignorant of past civil rights, economic, social moments, general American history, and basic law.
I was in the park when Rep. John Lewis came and was turned away. I am 41-year-old white man. I explained to a group of OA black protesters who Rev. Lewis is and what he had done in his life. They had no clue! They said, “He was what they were against, that he was part of the establishment and had the establishment’s interests at heart”.
Any advice, move, request, or suggestion made by Mayor Reed was immediately rejected. Any advice from established Civil Rights, Religious, Labor and Progressive groups was dismissed. They were unable to make or consider compromises until they were arrested. Jail did them some good.
I predicted no good would come of the Hip Hop concert. I knew of the planed concert before OA began its protest. The Hip Hop concert gave me concern because of past problems when Woodruff Park was used for similar type of events. During past events with good organization and security, I have seen fights, drugs, panhandling, and prostitution. The concert was a powder keg that just needed a spark to ignite a riot.
I commend Mayor Reed and the Atlanta Police handling of the situation. I believe Mayor Reed handled the situation correctly and at the right time. In comparison to other Occupy Protest in the US and worldwide, I believe Atlanta has handled the occupation better than anyone else has. The actions, discipline and restraint of the Atlanta Police was most impressive to me. Their good handling of this problem has raised my respect for them in light of past mistakes.
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
2:04 pm
The teaparty show so much hateful and they have signs say leave our country Obama they call him hitler. If the teaparty dont like our president pack yall bag and leave our country.
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
2:06 pm
Td are you going to march with the teabaggar
td
October 29th, 2011
2:06 pm
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
1:51 pm
You just had to make me pull my Bible out to give you a little more food for thought:
“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty”
“Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense”
“The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor”
“A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.”
Phils fan
October 29th, 2011
2:10 pm
they tried to leave. but no one would have them. so they came on back, mated with each other, ate some bar-b-que and then yodolled themselves to sleep.
LizBeth
October 29th, 2011
2:20 pm
Who was the man with the AK-47? Was he with Occupy Atlanta or one of the many people who came down to argue and recruit within Occupy Atlanta to more extremist points of view?
JWC
October 29th, 2011
2:21 pm
Its gotta be tough spreading 50,000 people around the entire country and calling it a grassroots uprising. Yeah right….
I only wish NATO hadn’t zipped Gaddafi last week or Obama’s numbers would be even lower this week. Now he’ll have to buy votes with free student loans and cheap refi’s for underwater homes.
Keep it up tin hatters. Wave hello to the mother ship for me.
See you in November 2012.
td
October 29th, 2011
2:23 pm
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
1:51 pm
A couple more of my favorite:
“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” -2 Thessalonians 3:10
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread…” -Genesis 3:19
bob from account temps
October 29th, 2011
2:24 pm
jim’s lack of marble juice must have caused him to forget that reed spoke of a potential for violence due to a “person”, wandering thru the park with an assault rifle as some of the reasoning for running the people out of the park.
findog
October 29th, 2011
2:26 pm
Yo Dan, that was Woodstock 3
bob from account temps
October 29th, 2011
2:26 pm
you know atlanta handled the situation properly because the media didn’t write about it.
mike
October 29th, 2011
2:28 pm
I guess the occupiers are rebelling becasue they have repressed rage over too many wedgies in gym class, lol
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
2:29 pm
“A couple more of my favorite”
That must be why Jesus fed the hungry. Try bringing up some Jesus quotes on the poor td. Just one. Can you do that td?
Just one?
Jim Sutherland
October 29th, 2011
2:30 pm
But he IS aware of Atlanta’s history. This was shot ONE week before he cleared the park: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Fj7-3R3gxQ
pete
October 29th, 2011
2:31 pm
nothing to do with right or left,thats why you do not get it.Wake up people and drink some coffee.
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
2:32 pm
Cain tells Paul supporters to ‘be respectful’ during speech
Posted by
CNN’s Kevin Liptak
(CNN) –- Herman Cain spoke to a rowdy crowd of supporters in Alabama
Filthy Rich
October 29th, 2011
2:33 pm
DannyX: Please quit posting quotes from a fictional book.
DR GONZO
October 29th, 2011
2:34 pm
Did Tim Franzen recently escape from Team Zizzou?
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
2:34 pm
I just found that on cnn.com that Ron Paul supporters booed Cain at a republican rally.
DR GONZO
October 29th, 2011
2:36 pm
Independent Voter…
Get a life and feel free to brush up on your grammar.
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
2:37 pm
Td we know you have around 300 names on here since 2009
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
2:39 pm
Why the republican party going agianst each other and some of the republicans are turning to democrat because of the bickering.
Nick
October 29th, 2011
2:39 pm
What I learned….That there are people who are very intelligent in this world who will never contribute at all to society. Who will waste much of their life complaining about everything. There is no doubt that there are many things wrong in this world but there are ways to work for change and there are well occupy ways.
freddie
October 29th, 2011
2:41 pm
Give them what they want..line ‘em up and knock em off
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
2:41 pm
“I guess the occupiers are rebelling becasue they have repressed rage over too many wedgies in gym class, lol”
Did you even go to school? lol.
Actually it is the cool liberals giving us the modern culture that conservatives eat up. The Tea Party types are giving us the likes of Pat Robertson and Justin Beiber, Glenn Beck, Victoria Jackson and the Fox News morning crew.
Liberals are giving the world things like Apple products, the internet, Google, popular music, computers, Facebook, tv, and Hollywood movies.
Conservatives are not cool. Name one cool conservative contribution to modern culture. Just one. Can you do that mike?
Just one?
Kino
October 29th, 2011
2:43 pm
The advent of a generational divide in city politics is a connection that most people won’t make. The mayor and I are about the same in age and I’ve often wondered what would happen when politics began to be populate by those from Gen-X.
Now we know.
Realist
October 29th, 2011
2:44 pm
Occupy Atlanta was nothing but a bunch of HOMELESS PEOPLE being paid to hang out together.
Reed gave them time to make their point, then move on.
Filthy Rich
October 29th, 2011
2:45 pm
Walmart is a conservative contribution.
DR GONZO
October 29th, 2011
2:46 pm
DannyX…you obsession with “cool” shows a certain level of intellectual nihilism and immaturity. Good luck with that…
honested
October 29th, 2011
2:48 pm
Filthy Rich
One reason I never, ever go into a walmart.
honested
October 29th, 2011
2:49 pm
realist,
How dare anyone question the authority of the moneyed oligos in this country!
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
2:49 pm
“Walmart is a conservative contribution.”
They sure are, you can get one of those made in China Tea Bag hats on sale all this week.
Walmart is sooooo cool.
Willie B
October 29th, 2011
2:50 pm
Occupy Atlanta is the most trash we have had in Atlanta since the last Freaknek.
td
October 29th, 2011
2:51 pm
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
2:29 pm
There is nothing wrong with feeding the hungry for a day, a week or a year when they are down on their luck. There is everything wrong with feeding a person for their entire life.
honested
October 29th, 2011
2:51 pm
dr gonzo,
I think DannyX is simply pointing out that liberals are now and always have been pointing the way into the future.
Conservatives on the other hand, seem paralyzed to accept change and would sacrifice their brethren to hold onto whatever warped view of the past in which they find comfort.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
2:53 pm
“DannyX…you obsession with “cool” shows a certain level of intellectual nihilism and immaturity. Good luck with that…”
Lol. So far one poster has come up with Walmart. What is next? Exxon Mobil?
Conservatives are not cool. They sure try, bless their hearts.
td
October 29th, 2011
2:56 pm
honested
October 29th, 2011
2:48 pm
Filthy Rich
One reason I never, ever go into a walmart.
You also have never purchased anything made by the Koch brothers. LOL
Willie B
October 29th, 2011
2:56 pm
conservatives or conserative because they have Something worth conservative. Liberals or liberal because they want something worthwhile without having to work for it.
td
October 29th, 2011
2:57 pm
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
2:53 pm
Well Danny, you could not wipe your a$$ if it were not for the Koch brothers. That may not be cool but it is important to the civilized people.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
2:59 pm
Exactly honested.
Conservatives hate liberals but couldn’t go one day without liberal contributions.
Try it Dr Gonzo. You conservatives wouldn’t last a day. I can’t imagine the agony of a Rush Limbaugh marathon, followed by 12 hours of the 700 Club.
DR GONZO
October 29th, 2011
3:02 pm
Henry Ford…conservative…We like cars.
Thomas Edison…Light is good…
GE has generally been a conservative company and their current green initiatives are fairly good if not fully developed.
IBM is a VERY conservative company with some good inventions…such as the computer.
Coca Cola…conservative company…people like COCA-COLA no??
I agree that “liberals” have some excellent ideas and tend to be creative…my point is that conservative people do.
Your black-and-white arguments show a lake of creativity and open minded-ness…oddly enough.
Lots of people lead in different ways and come up with different ideas.
Can we please get past race, politics, etc???
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
3:03 pm
“Liberals or liberal because they want something worthwhile without having to work for it.”
Sure, Google, Apple, and the whole Silicone Valley are made up of lazy non producers. Because liberals only sit at home waiting for their food stamps.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
3:04 pm
Wow, you sure are stuck in the past Gonzo.
Thogwummpy
October 29th, 2011
3:04 pm
What we’ve learned is how biased city governments and journalists are. There is NO WAY that the kind of behavior we see daily from the Occupy demonstrations (many being held illegally without permit) would have been tolerated from the Tea Party (although the Tea Party was slandered with a blizzard of false accusations). To heck with all you snotty “objective” propagandist enablers!
td
October 29th, 2011
3:04 pm
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
2:59 pm
Sorry guys, I gotta take a porn brake. Be back in a few!
DR GONZO
October 29th, 2011
3:04 pm
Also…I do not believe that the point for many “conservatives” is to be “cool”.
It is often to be effective in what you do.
“Cool” is a facade…the key is does your walk match your talk pal?
Thogwummpy
October 29th, 2011
3:07 pm
Oh, a quick footnote. Every time I hear “charge Bush with war crimes”, I accurately counter: Bill Clinton conducted air war on Iraq over Saddam’s WMD, bombing an untold number of people to death. Charge HIM with war crimes! And incompetence…because if he’d not shrugged off Saddam’s violations after that, Bush wouldn’t have HAD to go to war—Iraq would have been dealt with.
td
October 29th, 2011
3:07 pm
td
October 29th, 2011
3:04 pm
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
2:59 pm
Sorry guys, I gotta take a porn brake. Be back in a few!
I see the biggest coward on the blog is back.
honested
October 29th, 2011
3:08 pm
tiny dog
Why are you so obsessed with promoting the koch comrades?
Why are you so unable to realize that with appropriate selection, an individual can carry on a fully civilized life and never spend a penny that finds it’s way to the kochs, or ever set foot in a walmart?
Are you so divorced from reality that you believe it is somehow ‘patriotic’ to fund those who would destroy your life?
DR GONZO
October 29th, 2011
3:08 pm
DannyX…computers cannot run without electricity bud…just saying.
Man you are one narcissistic dude who is obsessed with Silicon Valley.
News FLASH…the sun does not shine out of the butt of Silicon Valley.
GaBlue
October 29th, 2011
3:10 pm
Good weekend, people! Why aren’t you watching football or enjoying the sunny outdoors? (Just stopping by here on my way to relevant information.) Good grief, some people don’t ever give it a rest, so I’ll offer only the following comment:
Heh… as IF she actually ever feeds anyone but her own hate-spewing PIE HOLE! That’ll be the day!
That is all. Carry on!
honested
October 29th, 2011
3:13 pm
gonzo,
Forget cool, proceed to ‘civilized’.
Many confused who label themselves ‘conservative’ are stuck in the ‘law of the jungle’ mentality. Having said that, many cons are not aware of collective behaviors in the wild (such as wolf packs, elephant herds, etc.) wherein the ‘jungle’ inhabitants have come to grips with the clear fact that working TOGETHER provides a better result that attacking one another to see who comes out with the most of whatever is left at the end.
So, if a confused ‘conservative’ believes that competition for survival of the fittest is a natural order of reality, they have already missed the communal evolution that trumps their contention.
Unless they see the eventual end as dining on the rich.
td
October 29th, 2011
3:14 pm
honested
October 29th, 2011
3:08 pm
Well, please tell us all how you buy gas that was not refined in a Koch facility or sent to your local gas station in a Koch pipeline? What do you use as paper products that were not made by GP (Koch brothers) or cut down in a Koch owned Forest?
You are the one making the claim that you do not use Koch products and I am saying you are not telling the truth.
td
October 29th, 2011
3:14 pm
GaBlue
October 29th, 2011
3:10 pm
Why watch football when there is porn tube?! HAHAHA!!! Back to reality. I will say, however, that eating a hotdog, typing on this blog, and jackin at the same time can get out of hand quick. We are all dudes though so it is cool!!!!
Off de Plantation
October 29th, 2011
3:14 pm
DR GONZO, 2:36pm
Independent Voter…
Get a life and feel free to brush up on your grammar
Hey, Doc, “Independent Voter” is a screen name for some brain-dead Dimocrat. Wait…not even a Dimocrat could be THATdumb! Then…
But, see this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWpU8sX10_4
Does that clear it up?
Karen
October 29th, 2011
3:17 pm
I dont like the Tea Party and I dont like occupy Atlanta. They have more in common then they think they do.
yuzeyurbrane
October 29th, 2011
3:18 pm
td-you know your pal Centrist claims to an atheist. Does that mean Jesus would shoot him?
td
October 29th, 2011
3:19 pm
honested
October 29th, 2011
3:08 pm
“Are you so divorced from reality that you believe it is somehow ‘patriotic’ to fund those who would destroy your life?”
That is in your belief system. I believe that they are trying to help save the world from pure evil (communism/socialism).
Jim Bean
October 29th, 2011
3:20 pm
I do not understand you td. One second you are a terrorist, then the next second you become a pervert…get help bud.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
3:21 pm
I never said conservatives are good for nothing. Like td said, conservatives give us a great way to clean our butts.
Liberals give us movies to watch, computer games to play, software for our computers, music to listen to, search engines, fancy i phones, you know, all the cool stuff.
We do need oil, and something to wipe with.
Have you hugged your bank today?
yuzeyurbrane
October 29th, 2011
3:22 pm
Centrist, I don’t really mind your labelling and name calling. I get a good laugh out of them. Actually, I kind of enjoy your posts. They reflect a pretty smart guy. If you could only get past your ideological biases and into pragmatic fact based analysis, we might even agree on some things.
td
October 29th, 2011
3:22 pm
yuzeyurbrane
October 29th, 2011
3:18 pm
“you know your pal Centrist claims to an atheist. Does that mean Jesus would shoot him?”
Jesus was a carpenter moron. He would stab or throw something! They did not have guns back then!
td
October 29th, 2011
3:22 pm
yuzeyurbrane
October 29th, 2011
3:18 pm
Maybe, I do not know, because I am not to judge the sinner just denounce the sin.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
3:22 pm
“I believe that they are trying to help save the world from pure evil (communism/socialism).”
How many times has Governor Deal been to China this year?
Screw red state
October 29th, 2011
3:26 pm
I would advise you to be careful td. You are pushin it.
td
October 29th, 2011
3:30 pm
Screw red state
October 29th, 2011
3:26 pm
What are you going to do about it big boy. I will let you know what I am going to do right after this commercial break. PORN BREAK! YYYYOOOOO HHHHHHOOOOOOOOO!
td
October 29th, 2011
3:33 pm
Jim Bean
October 29th, 2011
3:20 pm
The conservative is the real me the other is a coward that thinks its funny to hi jack a persons screen name. Just another typical lib tactic. If you do not have the intellectual capability of defending your philosophy then find a way to bash your opponent. Same tactics Obama will use next year because he can not defend his record and will lie about his true philosophy.
Next years Presidential campaign will be the dirtiest, meanest and nastiest since Andrew Jackson ran for President.
Carla Hayden
October 29th, 2011
3:33 pm
Eww
td
October 29th, 2011
3:37 pm
td
October 29th, 2011
3:30 pm
You doubt if you would be smart enough to know what to do on a “porn break”. Well maybe I take that back. You libs are good at producing things to make the rest of us take care of.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
3:40 pm
Conservatives love to watch pornography.
Another liberal contribution that conservatives eat up.
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
3:51 pm
Td dont vote because Obama going to win 2012
td
October 29th, 2011
3:59 pm
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
3:51 pm
Td dont vote because Obama going to win 2012
I have every intention in voting because I know my vote will be counted. Your vote for President is not going to be counted.
td
October 29th, 2011
4:05 pm
What if judges were replaced by constituent assemblies?! Judicial review is suppressing everybody! The court system worked in the beginning, but times are calling for a modern justice system. Instead of giving a judge the power to decide a person’s fate and basic laws, let accumulate the masses for a more perfect society! Everybody deserves a chance! Just imagine how much better of a world we would have if people were able to decide their own laws. Considering the fact that we live in a civilized society, constituent assemblies would benefit everybody.
double
October 29th, 2011
4:54 pm
Thought Eve was a carpenter.Guess TD goes to Hall county for his porn break.Before Koch’s we used corn cobs.Reason they are red/white.
Michael Marr
October 29th, 2011
4:56 pm
I enjoy how the pundits say the protestors are not protesting correctly. Hey pundits, they are protesting against you, the 99%! Get it?
cartoon
October 29th, 2011
5:08 pm
I simply wouldn’t have put it quite that way.
Double
October 29th, 2011
5:23 pm
I have decided to come out of the closet and tell everyone I am jealous of td. He is smarter than I am. The conservative way is the best way and democrats are just a bunch of people that only want welfare and keep the blacks on the plantation.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
5:25 pm
td is right. I am a 25 year old college dropout living on foodstamps in my parents basement. I do not want a job and I will vote for Obama if he promises to give me more welfare.
Independent voter
October 29th, 2011
5:28 pm
td is right and I am not goin to vote next year. I will tell all friends not to vote for Obama too because our vote will not count.
GaBlue
October 29th, 2011
5:32 pm
After careful consideration, I have decided to come on this blog and tell everyone that td is 100% correct. If you are voting for Obama next year then you are just wasting your vote. The only way our vote will be counted is for all of us to move to Florida or Ohio. I call on all Democrats in Georgia to leave the state during the next year and move to one of these states or just to not worry about going to the polls next November.
luangtom
October 29th, 2011
5:33 pm
I still have one question that does not seem to get answered….why are the Occupy protest leaders in Atlanta not from Atlanta? Why import protestors? Are NYC protestors being led by non-residents? I am just curious……
honested
October 29th, 2011
5:36 pm
I am one of those liberal white plantation owners td talks about. I want all blacks to stay brain washed and keep voting for us so that we can turn the United States into the next greatest communist country.
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
5:41 pm
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
5:25 pm
Thanks for the attention! I feel honored. One other thing, if Obama agrees to throw in some free video games I will vote for him 48 times, I’ll register 10 new names.
td
October 29th, 2011
5:52 pm
DannyX
October 29th, 2011
5:41 pm
Looks like we have more than one coward on these blogs.
Patrick M.
October 29th, 2011
6:23 pm
DannyX: Conservatives love to watch pornography.
Word on the ‘net is that you do more than get your jollies as you watch it with them! Shame on you and your deviant sexual desires, “DabbyX!”
double
October 29th, 2011
6:39 pm
Hey I’ve never doubted TD being smarter than me.(notice than)If you are wealthy, or upper middle class, then the conservative way is best for you,or if ge or coke,any corp.Democrats are more for us poor dudes that live in a trailer.I have never wished anything except good for the poor Black any color.We can identify we travel the same road.And I would never talk down to you,try to tell you how to vote,or confuse you,and hope I stopped you from voting.Yeah TD I’m so dumb I thought you and Centrist were the same person.
td
October 29th, 2011
6:48 pm
double
October 29th, 2011
6:39 pm
You do not have to come after me. If I have something to say then I post it under my screen name. I am not a coward that will hi-jack others screen names. I am proud of my philosopy and will stand up and defend it to anyone.
Kasim Reed, Occupy Atlanta, and a fresh wave of history
October 29th, 2011
6:55 pm
[...] Article source: http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2011/10/29/kasim-reed-occupy-atlanta-and-a-tide-... [...]
Denise Caldon
October 29th, 2011
7:50 pm
Before you judge those voicing their concerns in protests across the nation, please take a moment and read the article about our own “State” of affairs. Perhaps then you may begin to understand why our state’s higher education system is known throughout many of the halls of USG campuses as the “Southern AIG” – http://www.atlantaunfiltered.com/2009/10/05/university-execs-deferred-pay-often-hidden-tops-7-million/
JR
October 29th, 2011
8:02 pm
Kasim Reed 2013!
John
October 29th, 2011
8:18 pm
Sen. Fort is nothing but aloud mouth poverty pimp. He will never get my vote again!
John
October 29th, 2011
8:20 pm
Sen. Fort is nothing but a loud mouth poverty pimp. He will never get my vote again!
Ray
October 29th, 2011
8:28 pm
I just don’t get it. Why do critics of the Occupy Atlanta (and all the other locations for that matter) feel so threatened, or so quick to give advise about how “the group” can become a political force that would more respected? Why can’t we just accept the various expressions for what they are, opinions? If this country stands up for something ,overall, it should be for the 1st Amendment. Peaceful demonstrations should be celebrated and encouraged, as it only takes one passionate person to change the world for the better.
Dr. J. Williams
October 29th, 2011
8:40 pm
Kasim Reed has put the city on its soundest fiscal footing in a generation. Under his watch, Atlanta’s reserves has grown from $7.4 million to more than $70 million. While many cities were cutting services, Mayor Reed has managed to reopen recreation centers and pools, added 100 new police officers to city streets and even instituted a modest pay raise for police and firefighters. The City is safer and cleaner. Kasim Reed is doing a great job! He has earned my vote in 2013!
Sick of Vincent Fort
October 29th, 2011
8:56 pm
Sen. Fort is a joke.
Kfinley
October 29th, 2011
9:04 pm
Why aren’t these occupiers protesting at the state and federal levels? Why aren’t they occupying the GA Federal Reserve, The State Capitol, Nathan Deal’s estate and/or Buckhead, Georgia (the richest section of Atlanta)? Every state in this country is made up of a conglomerate of cities with hundreds of Mayors. The governors, congressmen/women, and state senators have much more political and legislative power. These are the individuals that these “occupiers” should be targeting. I have posed these questions several times on the Occupy Atlanta Facebook page. Not only did my questions remain unanswered, but they blocked me and deleted all my comments. Can someone please answer my questions intelligently??? #notholdingmybreathe
Jackson
October 29th, 2011
9:10 pm
As a African-American, I am embarrassed by the antics of Vincent Fort, Joe Beasley, and Derrick Boazman. Each of these crooks pretends to stand with the poor while pocketing $1000s of dollars under the table and living lavish lifestyles.
Jesse
October 29th, 2011
9:19 pm
The three stooges – Fort, Beasley, and Boazman – go away, please!
Julie Atlanta Taxpayer
October 29th, 2011
9:29 pm
Who paid for the damage done to Woodruff Park – Atlanta Taxpayers. Exercise your first amendment rights on someone elses dime.
Sick of Vincent Fort
October 29th, 2011
10:06 pm
Sen Vincent Fort was included on a list of lawmakers in 2009 who failed to pay their taxes.
Another Atlanta Taxpayer
October 29th, 2011
10:08 pm
@Julie
Yeah! Screw the Constitution! City tax revenue should only be spent on things that benefit you directly, because you’re a harder worker and better citizen than everyone else.
Julie Atlanta Taxpayer
October 29th, 2011
10:19 pm
@ Another Atlanta Taxpayer -Your constitutional rights end where mine begins. I should not have to pay for your protest.
Another Atlanta Taxpayer
October 29th, 2011
10:32 pm
@Julie
I’m not a protester but a proponent of democracy and the First Amendment. Please educate me: What constitutional right ensures that your tax dollars will always be spent on projects you support?
td
October 29th, 2011
11:34 pm
Make room for constituent assemblies. It is called a system of “weak constitutionalism.” This is real political science. Face it…if it were up to me, tenacious d, society would not even exist. This means that instead of making the constitution your guide, we replace it with something more reasonable. Our constitution is hundreds of years old. It is rotten. It allows aliens to commit war crimes without ever being held accountable. We are in 2011. Religion is a thing of the past. We are all equal. Gone are the days of hiding and oppressing people. Just think about how stuck we are because of the ancient court system in place. It simply is time to change.
Jack
October 30th, 2011
7:41 am
Some dude walking around with an AK-47 in a tenderbox should make everybody a little uneasy: like yelling fire in a crowded theatre.
Frederick Douglass
October 30th, 2011
7:52 am
Haul George W. Bush, and Dick Cheney up in front of a war crimes tribunal now!
I love conservative whiners
October 30th, 2011
8:43 am
Critics of the OA are actually jealous of these protesters. Let’s face it, these kids have commitment. We’ve had some pretty bad weather and they persevered. They’ve been arrested and they go right back to protesting. I admire their grit. I support their efforts, heck I may even send em some money.
Here’s their web site:
http://occupyatlanta.org/
Alexander
October 30th, 2011
9:15 am
Excellent story Mr. G. The growing redistribution of wealth to the top 1% is an issue worth protesting, but this group couldn’t coalesce around this single message and ultimately became a danger to themselves and others.
The poster who called this article slanted should take a reading comprehension course.
honested
October 30th, 2011
11:41 am
The republicons want Atlantan’s to ignore the facts and the elimination of taxation at the top.
They want us to quietly pay our taxes to fund pointless wars because hey, they own the defense contractors and profit handily.
They insist on continued ‘free’ security for petroleum extraction and transportation as they shudder at what the cost per gallon would be if oil companies had to pony up for the protection. When that finally happens, the miles per gallon will go up and the gallons consumed will go down. Bad for profits at the top.
So make fun of the people with the tenacity to bring attention to the truth. The established order is totally dependent on preventing CHANGE.
Randy
October 30th, 2011
11:59 am
To the Racist Fool using several names. Do you have nothing better to do than than to bash Vincent Fort, Derrick Boazman and Joe Beasley. Taking a stand on something is better than doing nothing. What stand have you taken? Seems to me you need a life Fat Man.
TruthBe
October 30th, 2011
12:54 pm
Markus Justice
October 29th, 2011
12:34 pm
Occupy Atlanta, Wallstreet, Oakland are all part of the Democratic Socialist movement and its historical roots are in Marxism. This demonstration is not different from the early 20’s and 30’s when the movement was started in the US however they went underground once people realized their true aim was to install a European style socialist government. Now they are progressive using class warfare as part of their arsenal of weapons. All of these clowns have products made by corporations, some work for corporations, some were given educational grants by corporations but all are too stupid to realize they are being pimped by the Marxist movement in the US.
AMEN, AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Off de Plantation
October 30th, 2011
12:56 pm
Some of you supporters of the Occupy Atlanta “movement” (dont bowels do the same thing?)should feel good about the calibre of those in attencance. This person is one of the better ones in explaining what is the main purpose of the “Occupy Atlanta”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW56Z-0xwIQ
TruthBe
October 30th, 2011
12:57 pm
Frederick Douglass
October 30th, 2011
7:52 am
Haul George W. Bush, and Dick Cheney up in front of a war crimes tribunal now!
If you do that than haul Obama’s ass up there with them.
Big Papi
October 30th, 2011
1:59 pm
And the loser here is …….Woodruff Park. Its been through two multi-million dollar renovations. One in excess of 10 million before the Olympics and another 5 million dollar one in the last 5 years or so. No telling how much damage has been done to the park by these LOSERS, most of whom do not reside in Atlanta. Mayor Reed needs to get serious and clean up Barbara Asher Square leading to 5 Pts Station. That area is a bastion of illegality. Remove the planters and drive out the loiterers, drunks and dope dealers. make the area safe for downtown residents and workers, what a novel idea.
Jude
October 30th, 2011
2:16 pm
I feel my heart fall in my chest when I read through some of the very selfish comments. Don’t we care about each other anymore? The Occupiers and the Tea Partiers all want the same thing…. an end to this oppressive life we are forced to live. Whenever you start calling people names you play right into the hands of those who have always had control… and I’m not talking about those in public office. Every time we divide ourselves we keep the current regime in power. GET SMART… IT’S ABOUT LOVE… it’s always been about love. That is the ONLY way out of this mess.
The Homeless Are Also In The 99%
October 30th, 2011
3:01 pm
OWS has received $500,000 in donations but refuse to share their food with the homeless. OA has settled into an Atlanta homeless center taking up space that the homeless sorely need. Looks like the homeless are taking it in the shorts while the “Occupy” folks carry on their wealth envy campaign.
Home Sweet Home
October 30th, 2011
4:25 pm
“The Occupiers and the Tea Partiers all want the same thing…. an end to this oppressive life we are forced to live.”\
Excise me? Just who the hell is forcing this “oppressive life” on you?
Is that (if ture) their fault or maybe just the fault of your lazy ass?
Home Sweet Home
October 30th, 2011
4:27 pm
I was so irate I had a type: EXCUSE is the correct spelling, and, “if true”.
I need to get some meds right now.
double
October 30th, 2011
5:17 pm
So religion is a thing of the past.Belief in God,Bible just been a hinderance to scientific progress.Is this what you are saying TD?
honested
October 30th, 2011
6:21 pm
home sweetie
Who decided the price of electricity and food this year?
Was it based on the need of the consumers or the greed of the controllers?
I wish the Occupiers had a better understanding of ‘European Socialism’ as the wrong wing nuts on this blog are prone to parrot.
It might help us all develop a more livable less kleptocratic society.
DannyX
October 30th, 2011
6:24 pm
“kleptocratic society.”
Good one!
Big Dog 98
October 30th, 2011
7:27 pm
Jim Gallaway and the “Occupy Atlanta” are both losers.
Stating the obvious...
October 30th, 2011
7:30 pm
Hey Gallaway,
Why not write an article about the Tea Party being told they would have to pay to use the park and the racist mayor allows this group of misfits and losers to use the park for free.
td
October 30th, 2011
9:10 pm
honested
October 30th, 2011
6:21 pm
What is the average gas prices in Europe? Are there food prices cheaper than ours?
What do you think the prices of food would be if we got the government to stop paying people to not grow food and let the free market take over? What would oil prices be today if government was out of the way and stopping drilling?
The free market would prevail with less government intervention.
m vale
October 30th, 2011
9:39 pm
You have the right to express your views.
You do not have the right to camp out in a public park. Our parks are for everyone, not a special group. Thank you, mayor, for cleaning up Woodruff Park.
m vale
October 30th, 2011
9:42 pm
If I don’t like my stock company or my bank, I can change stock or use a credit union.
This what our country is all about, freedom. I can’t control the billions of dollars this government wastes on useless spending. This hurts everyone. They should be in Washington D.C.
Nadia
October 31st, 2011
3:30 am
@The Homeless Are Also In The 99% – Individuals experiencing homelessness were welcome residents of Occupy Atlanta’s Woodruff Park encampment, were free to share in any of the meals delivered to the camp, and were offered tents and blankets when they were available. Many chose to take active part in the movement… but from what I observed, those who didn’t were still treated with dignity and respect. We may have struggled to support those struggling with addiction or mental health issues (as we obviously have limited training and resources, and had rules against having alcohol & drugs in the park), but we did our best. And the current “occupation” of Peachtree & Pine is of a floor in the shelter that has been unused for years. Much of the reason for going there is to stand in solidarity with a shelter that is on the verge of being shut down. Occupy Atlanta participants definitely consider the homeless part of the 99% and have no intentions of taking resources from those who need them most.
Jezel
October 31st, 2011
6:12 am
Galloway…many relevant points as to where Atlanta of 2011 is and where it might be going. Nice job.
Jezel
October 31st, 2011
6:19 am
If someone took something from you…why is it not appropriate to protest and call attention to that.
mike thompson
October 31st, 2011
6:32 am
Rethink the problem I believe that Fox News the Minister of propaganda for the rich deserve attention. Corporate headquarters or the affiliate stations would be appropriate. Maybe they’ll invite you in for some hot cocoa and some cookies.
Jackie
October 31st, 2011
7:51 am
Liberals are the new bigots. If the Tea Party was trying to demonstate downtown wihtout a permit, breaking the law, the “broad minded” liberals would go nuts demanding that they be jailed for their protest.
It seems the new liberal motto is “Free Speech for Some”.
nasir
October 31st, 2011
8:35 am
Reading through this article and the posts that have followed, some light is shed on the mood of our city and country. Within the Occupy Movement, there seems to be a sense of distrust for political leadership across the board; a sentiment that was exemplified in the turning away of Rep. John Lewis. This can be counterproductive for all of us, as leaders are being forced to choose between doing what they believe is best for their constituents and avoiding being on the opposite side of a rapidly growing international movement. Mayor Reed had to make a tough decision that some may or may not agree with, but that’s what it means to be a good leader. It’s taking decisive action for the greater good, even in the face of great opposition. He executed the expulsion without any major disasters and prevented Atlanta from being added to the list of other major cities that have experienced bloody clashes between protestors and the police. Well done Mayor Reed…
vote for cain because he is black....
October 31st, 2011
10:23 am
occupiers need to go and occupy some jobs
Susan Punden
October 31st, 2011
1:49 pm
Can’t make it down to the protests?
Reach 700+ million people from home and do your part in a HUGE way:
http://occupyinboxes.weebly.com
Too Much Truth Recap: Michael Julian Bond Sets the Record Straight « CBS Atlanta
November 2nd, 2011
12:39 am
[...] Mayor Kasim Reed, Micheal Julian Bond, News and Talk 1380 WAOK, Occupy Atlanta In a recent AJC article, Micheal Bond stated “I really don’t know why the mayor didn’t act sooner. I believe [...]
Jesse Lee Cable
November 2nd, 2011
12:12 pm
Kasem Reed, a corporate lawyer for the union busting firm Holland & Knight, promised to deal with downtown “panhandlers” in a muscular fashion. He and his wealthy real estate backers are attempting to close Peachtree and Pine Homeless Shelter, where Occupy Atlanta is sleeping since their eviction from Troy Davis Park.
He represents the interests of wealthy real estate backers who use the cover of Black Leadership to line their coffers. Occupy!
Georgia Family Council - Occupy Atlanta and Representative Government » GFC Blog
November 2nd, 2011
12:49 pm
[...] Reed, decided that the time had come to evict the Occupiers from Woodruff Park. Some noted the apparent irony of an African-American mayor, who was in some sense the heir of a successful civil rights movement, [...]
Georgia Family Council - Occupy Atlanta and Representative Government » Center for Policy Studies
November 2nd, 2011
12:50 pm
[...] Reed, decided that the time had come to evict the Occupiers from Woodruff Park. Some noted the apparent irony of an African-American mayor, who was in some sense the heir of a successful civil rights movement, [...]