Occupy is Just a Word

Vincent Vibbert, Political Fail Blog

The fetishistic obsession with the word 'occupy' is driving me crazy. Once anyone combines it with any other word in the English language it automatically becomes an institution which demands the unquestioning, uncritical reverence of anyone on the left side of the political spectrum. The actions of these new institutions, their policies, and their ideologies become irrelevant because all good activists are expected to support the Occupation Movement.

#OccupyOakland Warns City of Future Blockades if #OPD Takes Action Against the Planned Building Occupation on #J28

Matt Gratz, Political Fail Blog

Occupy Oakland activists are warning city and police officials to back off from protesters who are planning to commandeer a vacant building or house this weekend with a promise of more direct action activism. Protesters will meet in front of city hall Saturday at noon before marching to an undisclosed location where they plan on entering and occupying a pre-determined uninhabited building or house.

#OPD Spending $50,000 Per Week to follow #OO #FTP Marches as City Prepares to Lay off Hundreds of Workers

Matt Gratz, Political Fail Blog

An #oo #FTP marcher & a line of Riot Police 1/22/12

The Oakland Police Department has racked up nearly $3 million worth of expenses related to Occupy Oakland protests according to this brief report on SFGate.

#OccupyWallStreetWest #J20; Shut Down the Banks! Occupy SF Financial District!

Matt Gratz, Political Fail Blog

Bay Area occupy activists are planning a mass occupation of the San Francisco financial district on Friday in a show of solidarity with the millions of victims who have fallen prey to predatory evictions and foreclosures. "Protesters will target banks and corporations complicit in attacking Bay Area communities, homes, education, environment, livelihood, and democracy," a press release reads.

Dozens of activist groups & organizations have joined the cause and will be targeting specific banks & corporations during tomorrow's day of action. According to OWSW organizers, "Occupy Wall St West will be the largest occupation and street protest of the SF Financial District since anti-war mass nonviolent direct actions on March 20, 2003."

California Supreme Court to Rule on Medical Marijuana Dispensary Ban; Could Allow Local Governments to Ignore Prop. 215

Matt Gratz, Political Fail Blog

The California Supreme Court has decided to clear up some of the haze around cannabis laws and will review whether cities and counties will have the right to ban medical marijuana dispensaries, The LA Times reports. During a closed door meeting on Wednesday, the court made the decision to look into rulings by lower courts on how much authority local governments have over medical marijuana stores. The ruling is likely to come in one to two years.

#OPD Heading to Court; Monitors Say Police Response to #OccupyOakland Raises 'Serious Concerns'

Matt Gratz, Political Fail Blog

The unprofessional & violent behavior officers belonging to the Oakland Police Department have displayed over the past few months pertaining to the Occupy protesters is finally catching up to them. A new report by federal court appointed monitors published on Tuesday expresses great concern for the department's ability to "hold true to the best practices in American policing."

The NDAA: Just one more link in the chain of tyranny

James Corbett, Corbett Report/GRTV/PFB Contributor

With the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act into law, more Americans than ever before are wondering how the country could have descended so quickly into a police state. Far from a unique or isolated act, however, the NDAA is just the latest entry in a long list of steps toward the codification of outright martial law.