The mayors of our cities who are deploying riot police to squelch Occupy protesters have overlooked options that would be 'win-win' for the cities, do good for the Occupy protestors and the mayor, and support the process of democracy. I wish I could give the message I sent to Oakland's mayor Quan, to all mayors who believe themselves cornered into forcing a brutal crackdown. Below is what I sent via the Oakland City website after learning of the 500+ riot police used to arrest several dozen protesters and bust up their site this morning as they were Occupying across from the City Hall building. Guess he didn't get the message in time this afternoon because for the second time in 24 hours even more of those militarized riot police are assaulting OccupyOakland this evening, shooting flashbang grenades into the crowd, tear gas, rubber bullets and bean bags, battons, arrests.
I'm hoping to get your helpful comments on this message text and the points made. Fire away. I know I may not accurately reflect all of OWS values but as they evolve on a daily basis, I don't know that I could. I may not even be realistic in thinking this could make a difference. What I hope to do is insert into the awareness of local and state political leaders the idea they really could find a productive way of engaging their local OWS contingent. (I already realize I'd have to alter this text for the special case of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel. Yes, there's a pretentious paucity of punchy profanity as well as a flagrant disregard for the opportunities to insert emotionally-motivating provocative deprecatory aphorisms, at least of the sort which seems suitable for the muscle-bound 'big shoulders' Chicago political scene. I will definitely seek help for translating this to Rahm-ese.)
Free unsolicited advice from a citizen outside your city but inside your nation.
There was a time when real Americans honored their Bill of Rights and felt bound together by them. I am concerned to see any American city mayor resort to using heavily armored and armed police brutally to break up a peaceable assembly of people obviously seeking better government. It's very disheartening to see a mayor with a national profile waste a historic opportunity to truly lead.
It shouldn't surprise you people will have a lot of pointed questions now, like: Why have you so easily given up on these essential American ideals and choose to disrespect the rights of your fellow Americans, and fellow citizens of Oakland? Why aren't you and your staff getting out of your offices, getting into the city streets and talking with these people about their concerns?
When did real leadership that engages the public go out of style? Is engaging the public in public just too frightening for the mayor of Oakland? Is custodial 'management' and concentrating power now more important than being responsive to your electorate? What are you and the city council discussing doing to facilitate real public dialog and demonstrate good faith, public gains, and even, as possible, to stand with your fellow citizens?
Tactically, your office loses legitimacy when you feel that 500+ militarized police, many from outside Oakland, must be sent in to shut down people petitioning and seeking redress from government and, instead, you now treat your fellow citizens as invading criminals, whose property rights, bodily safety and personal rights can be invalidated, crushed and tossed aside by your office via coordinated police violence. You just established that City Hall and the public streets are not the people's, and that City Hall actually belongs to the vested interests of a few who aren't afraid to use violence to protect their hold on it, and it's a closed club to which they will not be invited.
You were successful in giving these people the unwanted brutal confirmation to the belief of some that they are already living in a police state. You will very likely have to admit this was an error publicly, and apologize. Or you may encounter primary challengers will be happy to use this issue.
What could possibly be more important than talking with a group of American people wanting better government, right in their own city, from the city's political center? Why aren't you or your staff and council members showing up at their general assembly, if even just to ask, what realistically can we do about your concerns? Taking people prisoners who seek a more honest and responsive government signals your refusal to honestly dialog.
You need to realize how the golden rule may apply to you in this. If you have resorted to using a large, callous and brutal force, what options do you leave to the hundreds and thousands of people harmed and affected by such alienating actions? Creating a huge legal liability on the part of Oakland citizen/tax payers is imprudent leadership. Creating justification for more direct and asymmetric conflicts won't make your city any more manageable or attractive to others. Then what? Spend money on 1,000 imported cops? 3,000? Can you define any scenario in which you admit 'defeat'? If you can't, you already have failed.
You should make sure everyone taken prisoner is released, is given proper medical care, has their property returned or replaced at city expense, and especially is given a quick review of legal options and settle it all up front. And especially that you and staff take a few hours to listen to them in a group. Doing that quickly would do much to help neutralize the hot abuse of power issue your actions have just created. Once you start with that group, you can follow up with the next steps I outline as a potential direction to pursue.
If you were truly wise and listened to wise advisors you would stop and reconsider how you could change the entire game today. Get out of your increasingly small box. You could change the entire playing field and rules today by announcing you want to meet with them all in a suitable setting--that all are invited gather inside a large stadium or other large public gathering place, and get everyone to caucus by interest groups--set up a few dozen microphones they can take turns using, and then let them decide which of the issues important to Occupy Oakland are matters which are truly something which your office and the City of Oakland should try to address. Parade in that group you released to help focus them and say what you learned from them.
Then you can can outline how you will proceed to address them and work with them. Tell them you'll need a week to review their input, your options and consider the resources available, and that you'll gladly include a few of their people to help during your review process, making it transparent and accountable.
And also indicate they will be asked to gather again after that week to hear what your office can do or what else needs to be figured out, and then stay honest with that process. Allow them a General Assembly time to process any proposals and action item lists.
Bring with you any petitions and forms citizens might need to run for office and put it before them to take up the challenge of public service and share in real responsibility. What could be more sane and responsive leadership than that? This could be the most defusing approach you could take, and this also might help put you on the map internationally in a great way.
Wouldn't you prefer to face a stadium of applauding people giving you credit for trying to lead effectively, rather than a phalanx of reporters pushing mics in your face about the ineffectiveness of 'police crackdowns'? Or have your halls taken over with sit-ins or perhaps even larger events? Celebrate the political activism and interest of these people. And lead fairly to get all that people power moving in positive directions. Standing in their way will cost you and the city.
And the form letter response I just received ironically comes as the second brutal assault on #OccupyOakland begins, and the people on the ground face flashbangs, tear gas, rubber bullets fired by police dressed in full riot gear and, surprise, a complete media blackout..again. Guess we can't have embarrassing pictures and videos that might end up giving legal cases legs:
Thank you for sending comments to the Office of Oakland Mayor Jean Quan. We receive hundreds of calls, emails and letters every day, and track Oaklanders' concerns in order to inform Mayor Quan and improve City services. While we cannot always respond to each comment individually, know that your message has been received and incorporated into our planning and operations.
For more information, please visit the City of Oakland's website. Listing of helpful phone numbers or call the Oaklanders Assistance Center at (510) 238-2489.
Maybe they didn't get to my ideas yet with all the crush of people offering to helpful suggests for how to sort things out.