Free Speech Gets Beat, Gassed Again

Ever since the Seattle police were out-strategized by protesters at the 1999 World Trade Organization meeting, certain police across the country have built-in over-reaction modes in large crowd situations. Here are some of the recordings of the First Amendment getting beat up and/or gassed including today's incident in Pittsburgh:

Pittsburgh, 24 September 2009 G-20 Conference

Minneapolis, September 2008, Republican National Convention

Denver, August 2008, Democratic National Convention

Denver, August 2008, Democratic National Convention

"Battle In Seattle" in Lansing November 30th

Last month I snuck away to Royal Oak to catch the movie, "Battle of Seattle," a fictional account of the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle. An all-star cast -- featuring Andre Benjamin, Ray Liotta, Charlize Theron, Woody Harrelson, and others -- tells the dramatic story from the perspective of the protesters, the police, and the politicians. I highly recommend this film as it puts a human face on the people who are struggling to bring justice to trade policy and, in return, are getting police violence as a response from the establishment.

The movie will be coming to the NorthStar Center in Lansing on November 30th. Mark it on your calendar:

Movie Showing: Battle In Seattle
Location: NorthStar Center
Address: 106 Lathrup Street, Lansing, MI
Date: November 30, 2008
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Special Note: A Community Discussion Will Follow the Movie Showing.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

"Battle in Seattle" Trailer