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From The Socialist newspaper, 16 November 2011
Riot cops assault Occupy protesters
Friday, Day 14 of Occupy Wall Street protest - camp in Zuccotti Park and the march against police brutality, walking to One Police Plaza, headquarters of the NYPD, photo David Shankbone (Click to enlarge)
Riot police in the USA attacked, arrested and evicted people from the anti-capitalist camps in New York, Portland and in Oakland, California.
The police claim that the clearances were forced by concerns over 'health and safety'. In reality, the protests were an increasing source of embarrassment and irritation to the fat cats - the very target of the peaceful protests.
The Occupy Wall Street encampment was established in September to protest against corporate greed, bank bailouts, widening wealth inequality, the pro-big business political parties and many other burning social issues.
The Wall Street tent protest imitated similar movements that had developed in Spain and Greece and which in turn had been inspired by the pro-democracy, anti-establishment movements in north Africa and the Middle East earlier this year.
Although the police action was not unexpected, it is bitterly ironic given Barack Obama's eventual wooing of the pro-democracy, anti-regime movements in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya - part of the so-called Arab Spring. Obama in October also expressed "sympathy" for opposition to inequality.
The organised US labour movement should rally in support of the evicted protesters and use its strength to help re-establish the camps by mass demonstrations and, where possible, strikes.
US socialist Emily McArthur spoke to a 1,000-strong audience at the Socialist Party's 'Socialism' event in London recently, where she brought greetings from the Occupy Boston protest (see video on www.socialistparty.org.uk).
See www.socialistalternative.org for updates
Also - 'We need jobs not cuts' 16-23 November week of action
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In The Socialist 16 November 2011:
Fighting the cuts
Strike together, Protest together, Win together
Defend the right to strike and protest
All out together on 30 November
Socialist Party workplace news
Southampton - opposing all the cuts
Electricians march to defend pay and conditions
Socialist history
The first shop stewards movement
International socialist news and analysis
Berlusconi quits as debt crisis hits eurozone's third largest economy
End the dictatorship of the markets!
Irish Socialist MEP Paul Murphy speaks out: solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza will continue
Socialist Party news and analysis
Murdochgate scandal shows need for democratic and accountable media
Stop the government austerity juggernaut
Jobs crisis - 'We can't afford capitalism'!
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Thousands say no to fees, cuts and privatisation
Riot cops assault Occupy protesters
The Socialist - Readers' comments
Cuts kill - Poverty, despair and a suicide pact
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