Police chief personally takes pictures of protesters in street / LJWorld.com

Archive for Thursday, November 2, 2006

November 2, 2006

Lawrence Police Chief Ron Olin took close-up photos Wednesday evening of about a dozen members of a protest group that had blocked New Hampshire Street for less than an hour.

The group - about 20 people from the Lawrence area protesting the situation in Oaxaca, Mexico - ended its stance at the corner of Seventh and New Hampshire streets just seconds after Olin's appearance.

The protesters blocked all lanes of New Hampshire Street south of Seventh Street during 5 o'clock traffic.

They held signs that said "Justice for the People of Oaxaca" and "Governor Ruiz and Troops Out!"

"There's been an international call to block roads to bring attention to the oppression in Oaxaca," said Julia Franks, who spoke for the group.

Police officers mostly assessed the situation and never spoke directly with the protesters. Minutes after it started, an officer directed southbound New Hampshire Street traffic to turn onto Seventh Street and avoid the group who shouted for "Justice" and "Now."

Officers also blocked traffic to the south near Eighth Street.

Photo by Nick Krug

Lawrence Police Chief Ron Olin attempts to photograph a protester, who, along with others, blocked all lanes of New Hampshire Street at the intersection with Seventh Street on Wednesday during 5 o'clock traffic. The protesters handed out fliers raising awareness about oppression in Oaxaca, Mexico.

"We just wanted to avoid a situation where a car came through here and hit one of the protesters. We were trying to make it a safe situation for everybody involved," said Sgt. Michael Monroe, a police spokesman.

Before the officers directed traffic, a bus headed for The Bottleneck, 737 N.H., stopped inches from the sign holders.

The driver and passengers criticized the protesters for blocking the public road. After a tense exchange, the sign holders moved out of the way to let the bus through but then resumed their position.

"We had a successful action in which we got media attention," Franks said seconds after the protest ended.

While Olin was taking the photos, several protesters asked, "Why are you taking my picture?"

When the question went unanswered, another was heard saying, "It's for intimidation."

Monroe said the protest ended while officers were assessing the situation. He said members of "this particular group" have blocked city streets on a couple of occasions.

"Any time we have a situation like this, we just want to document the people that may be involved," Monroe said of Olin and other officers taking photos.

Members of the protest group also stood by with video and still cameras.

The protesters handed out fliers to passers-by. The fliers urged Mexican government forces to leave Oaxaca. They also advocated for Gov. Ulises Ruiz to step down and direct negotiation "with the Oaxacan people."

The group demanded that local media give more attention to the situation in Oaxaca. Mexican federal police recently had opened Oaxaca's central square after five months of violence there.

Monroe said he did not anticipate any further action from the "peaceful" incident other than officers documenting it.

Discussion

LJWorld.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.

2 November 2006
at 4:40 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Ragingbear (Anonymous) says…

It sounds to me that this situation was handled tactfully by the LPD. The pictures, although are a good practice to document violation of the law (Protest may not block traffic), it is also a mild form of intimidation. It's a power move, saying “Just a little reminder, that we are here.”. The LPD had every right to run in there with cannisters of mace and police dogs, but instead they simply minimized the risk, at the same time cutting the fire off from the fuel.

So, what happened? Must be an off day for the LPD, I would expect 4 people dead from an event from that.
2 November 2006
at 6:03 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

smitty (Anonymous) says…

Olin needed to save face after his last failed protest prosecution where he tried to be the victim. ;)
2 November 2006
at 6:48 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Reality_Check (Anonymous) says…

So, I don't get it: Of all the stuff going wrong in the america, including the war, a declining middle class, corporate domination of the media and everyday life, 2 million people in prison, religious nuts driving politics, etc., etc., these people are protesting a teacher's strike in MEXICO here in KANSAS?

What am I missing here? Is this the “we gotta protest something” movement? I will never understand the American far left's fascination with any movement in Latin America.
2 November 2006
at 7:50 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

ranger73 (Anonymous) says…

Far left, far right-it doesn't matter-either way same thing-America come help us, or send money so we can accomplish something.
2 November 2006
at 7:53 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

indythinker (Anonymous) says…

Great point RC. Someone should hold a protest for all the protesting!!
2 November 2006
at 7:58 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

aeroscout17 (Anonymous) says…

So will there be any prosecutions? Why no arrests? I'll bet if I went and blocked traffic by myself I would be in jail right now.

I appreciate that they felt the need to protest and express their views, but when they are stepping on the rights of others to use a public street by illegally blocking it there should be some type of penalty.
2 November 2006
at 8 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

BigAl (Anonymous) says…

Good post Reality_Check. However, I don't necessarily agree that this is the far left protesting. This could easily be the far right. Either way, I don't get it.

2 November 2006
at 8:32 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Rhoen (Anonymous) says…

This news event is just weird all around…

If the draft were re-instituted, young protesters might reorganize their protest priorities. It may be that, with finals looming, they are sending a message to their professors that they would admire a similar teachers' strike on the KU campus.

But what's with the CHIEF taking the photos? Doesn't anyone else know how to work the camera?
2 November 2006
at 8:43 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

monkeywrench1969 (Anonymous) says…

“Members of the protest group also stood by with video and still cameras”

It sounds like both sides had cameras. I am sure if the cops didn;t have pictureses to document a crime and they got arrested they would be asking why they did not take pictures.

In this day of reality tv and video cameras every where you look in stores, atms, Youtube, Myspace, etc…I don't see how anyone can be intimidated by a video camera. Obviously the the protestors were not intimidated by the media's cameras because they seem to be present at every protest.
2 November 2006
at 8:43 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

scritch (Anonymous) says…

Just for the record, Reality_Check, most of these same people are the ones working against the war in Iraq by supporting GI resisters and counterrecruitment efforts, are working with hundreds of prisoners across the country with legal assistance, free newspapers and other literature as well as advocating for political prisoners, and this protest was in direct response to the Journal World being owned by corporate interests (notice the location across the street from their building?) and not reporting accurate information about what is happening in Oaxaca.

We are neither far left nor far right. The people who took the street were angry with the repression happening at the hands of the governor of the state of Oaxaca against striking teachers… in which at least 15 have been killed, including a friend of some of those present at the protest, a New York Journalist named Brad Will.

Reality_Check, we all agree there are plenty of priorites to focus on with what is going on here in the U.S., but having a narrow view of what is important and excluding other realities and situations across the world doesn't make anything better. In the 80's and 90's, should people have solely focused on the labor movement in the U.S. as opposed to ending South African Apartheid?

Also, to those that say that the police had the right to come in there with mace and dogs, it sounds a little like you are in favor of how the police responded to blacks and poor people in the 50's and 60's for using civil disobediance as well.

Breaking laws is not the end of the world. We have a day of the year dedicated to a giant law breaker that everyone views as a hero, Martin Luther King, who violated hundreds of laws, advocated for others to do so as well, and went to jail and was beaten on numerous occassions.

I think all of the misunderstandings on this board that aren't directly fueled by bias on the part of the poster, are indeed the result of the failure of the Journal-World to actually report what is happening. This story is a classic example. The story shouldn't have been about the police chief… the story should have been about why in the heck are people so angry about what is happening in Oaxaca. Reality_check, your post seems to be another sign of why corporate controlled media is a major problem in the U.S.

How's that a reality check for you?
2 November 2006
at 8:52 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

monkeywrench1969 (Anonymous) says…

Scritch

Unfortunately we do not live in a “do-as-you-please” society and your drawing attention to this problem could have been just as easily been held on the steps of the journal world steps instead of across a street where you infringe on others right to move freely down the street.

The reason for stop lights and lanes on the street that you so selfishly blocked-infringing on those who had nothing to do with the situation in MExico or the lack of press coverage, is to insure people don't get hurt and things are respectful of others and wait your turn. Something most kids learn in preschool…sharing the road. It is also a way to keep society from becoming a “Take-what-you-want” society which I think you rtrue philosphy and goals would create.
2 November 2006
at 8:52 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

crazyks (Anonymous) says…

Having once worked at a newspaper, scritch, you also probably know that space is limited, and editors have to make decisions all the time on what goes into the pages, and what doesn't.

And your cause may very well not be as important to the majority of readers as things that are going on in this country.

Cheer up, the situation in Oaxaca has received lots of coverage by the national media. It's not like people aren't aware of what's going on.

Would you like to show me a newspaper of any size, anywhere in this country, that isn't owned by corporate interests? Exactly what does that have to do with your protest?

Regardless, I don't think standing in the middle of the street and stopping traffic was the wisest course of action. It put both you and the drivers, and pedestrians in the area, in immediate danger. Protesting is one thing. Putting people in danger while doing so is another. That doesn't sound responsible at all.

There are other ways to get your point across.
2 November 2006
at 9:08 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…

“There are other ways to get your point across.”

I don't necessarily endorse the form of protest they chose, but it did get people talking about the situation in Oaxaca.

What other ways would you suggest that would be as effective, given that media in this country are primarily controlled by corporate interests who don't see it in their interest to cover a long list of important issues?
2 November 2006
at 9:11 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

my2cents (Anonymous) says…

Scritch– Need a tissue?

Are you trying to convince yourself you did the right thing (although unlawful) or convince others?

And how the h*ll pull a race card?

“sounds a little like you are in favor of how the police responded to blacks ….in the 50's and 60's for using civil disobediance as well”

Are your facts that off, pride that hurt, or point of that stupid that restorting to calling people racist makes you feel better.

Great Protest (said with sarcasm).
2 November 2006
at 9:15 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…

No “race card” was played in that post.

But it does make me a little curious why you are so sensitive about it.

Would it apply to you?

2 November 2006
at 9:28 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

pilch (Anonymous) says…

feel free to leave the country you mooks
2 November 2006
at 9:31 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

monkeywrench1969 (Anonymous) says…

I don't know that people are really talking about the situation in Mexico I think it is more about:

The chief taking pictures himself

The people blocking the street almost getting hit by a bus

And how it is another protest in Lawrence

Here is a link and coverage Scritch Where's Tito

http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article…

Now you can feel like your protest meant something like the “big boys” in LA and New York
2 November 2006
at 10:03 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Centrist (Anonymous) says…

I'm off to Oaxaca to protest about the terrible roads in Lawrence, KS …..
2 November 2006
at 10:13 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Centrist (Anonymous) says…

Let's get something abundantly clear …

There IS NO “far Left” in America.
There is NO “far Right” in America.

Far Left = Communism (Soviet style)
Far Right = Fascism (Nazi style, not Bush Administration)

If anything, this country leans a little to the right, but never THAT far …

Compared to other Western nations, the U.S. would be easily considered “Center Right”, perhaps even a little further than that.

And quit blaming the “far Left” every time a situation opens up. You act like Right-wingers are quiet, peaceful types who never cause grief in any way, shape or form.

Gimme a break.
2 November 2006
at 10:20 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

skragglydoo (Anonymous) says…

Scritch, you are wasting your time. People in Lawrence know about Oaxaca. Thanks for trying to raise awareness and celebrate law breakers, but what has happened in Oaxaca is anarchy. What started out as a teacher strike for higher wages was hijacked by APPO for their own political purposes. Meanwhile, Oaxacan villagers are set back furthur because they are not going to school because teachers have received death threats by the APPO protesters if they return. Government forces were long overdue in Oaxaca.

This protest has hurt Oaxaca much more than it will ever help them. Yes, Ruiz is corrupt. But so are 100 percent of the rest of the government. Nobody is thinking clearly anymore. Both sides are dead wrong and both sides have lost. There's no reason at all to have such a pointless protest in Lawrence.

What do you think will be accomplished in Lawrence that thousands and thousands of people haven't been able to accomplish in Oaxaca?
2 November 2006
at 10:21 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

Protest for the sake of protest and the ends justify the means. At least I didn't hear anyone complain of their privacy rights being violated for being photographed in the middle of a public street.
2 November 2006
at 10:27 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…

great way to win friends and influence people: clog up downtown traffic during *rush hour*! drivers weren't cheering the little scruffies on this one. and, by the comment above, it appears these are the universal protestors, protesting anything, and not keeping a regular job.
zzz
2 November 2006
at 10:28 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Agnostick (Anonymous) says…

Gotta disagree with you, Centrist: There's plenty of extremists from both the “Left” and the “Right” in this great nation of ours. The biggest motivating factor for these extremists is religion; one side wants to cram it down our throats, and the other side wants to eliminate it altogether.

What's needed are more moderate, intelligent folks from the center, who can cut through the political labeling and mudslinging to, and thoughtfully evaluate each person, each situation, each issue… on a case-by-case basis, realizing that there is rarely, if ever, a “one-size-fits-all” solution to our problems.

Agnostick
agnostick@excite.com

2 November 2006
at 10:31 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Agnostick (Anonymous) says…

And I agree with Reality_Check's first post, too. Of all the relevant things to take issue with, these nutjobs choose something from Oaxaca???

If you wanna protest something from Mexico, protest against their complete lack of initiative in making their nation someplace that their own people actually want to *STAY* (as opposed to making a run for the border).

Agnostick
agnostick@excite.com
2 November 2006
at 10:34 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

cornflakegirl (Anonymous) says…

Problem is, this wasn't a protest. This was a publicity stunt. If you watch the 6news account of the events, the “leader” of the group states that they did it at 7th and New Hampshire because that's where the Journal-World offices are. They wanted to get their pretty pictures in the paper, and by god they did! Thanks, LJW, for encouraging these kids.
2 November 2006
at 10:42 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Centrist (Anonymous) says…

Point taken, Agnostick. There are indivuals & political groups in this country who are extreme, yes.

I guess what I meant is that we will never have a totalitarian regime in this country, either Left or Right and we ought to be thankful for that.

I don't know Bill O'Reilly has to crap on about the “far Left” so much. He will never have to live under a true Communist government.

And no, not all protesters are 'tree-huggers' or Lefties or whatever. We ought to be thankful that people show spirit by coming out in the streets and having their say, whether we agree with them or not.

What puzzles me is why they thought the people of Lawrence KS would take time off from worshipping the (over-rated) Jayhawks to give a damn about a province in Mexico.

This is not the right location for that cause! Perhaps Washington DC or NY or LA, but not here. Pointless and only caused resentment for blocking a public street.
2 November 2006
at 10:46 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Fredly (Anonymous) says…

How many of those kids are Mexican? How many of those kids are actually educated on the truth of what's happening in Oaxaca? How many of those kids have ever been to Oaxaca? The answer: maybe 1 or 2.

How many of those kids heard protest for indigenous people in MEXICO against corruption and said “Hey, yeah that's COOL. Will police and ljworld take pictures? Sign me up.”? The answer: the rest.
2 November 2006
at 10:48 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…

In case you failed to read the article, one reason they were protesting is because a friend of theirs was just killed there.

And it's important to know about this here because the corruption that is rampant in the government there is actually encouraged by the neo-liberal policies of this and previous administrations. One result of that corruption is the displacement of the population of Oaxaca, with thousands of them becoming “illegal” aliens here in the US.

It's a small world.
2 November 2006
at 10:58 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Centrist (Anonymous) says…

“” … the corruption that is rampant in the government there is actually encouraged by the neo-liberal policies of this and previous administrations. ”“

The U.S. government (now and prior) is somehow responsible for unrest in Oaxaca ?!
2 November 2006
at 11 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Fredly (Anonymous) says…

Bozo…What?! What are you talking about? Do you even know what you're protesting and what the strikes have been about in Oaxaca?!

It mentions nothing about their friend getting killed there. It does quote the 'leader' “There's been an international call to block roads to bring attention to the oppression in Oaxaca,” said Julia Franks, who spoke for the group.

So good job. You broght attention. Just what Oaxaca needed, more negative attention. Now go read about what's happening in Oaxaca before you take up another cause.
2 November 2006
at 11:13 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

scritch (Anonymous) says…

From a course introduction to Mexican Economics from the University of Vermont:

“In the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, economic globalization has weakened the ability of the
state to continue centralized socioeconomic programs and has forced the redefinition of widely circulating
notions of development and political action. Oaxacans are currently struggling with the contradictory effects this has on civil society. Indigenous communities and civil society institutions have responded in innovative ways and themselves become new sites of public authority and local governance. Emerging from deliberate histories of resistance and localism, indigenous communities are engaging in cultural politics that is challenging received meanings of modernity, citizenship, participation, education, identity, and nature.”

Furthermore, the U.S. is the one directly supplying the bullets and the weapons that the Oaxacan Paramilitaries and the Mexican PFP use to kill political dissidents in that country. The U.S. ships half a billion dollars of military goods fo Mexico almost every year, and it goes mostly to Chiapas and Oaxaca.

Thirdly, the mention of the friend killed in Oaxaca was not in the paper, true. It was indeed in the handout given to the media, but this, was of course, not reported. It was mentioned in a comment above, however.

2 November 2006
at 11:20 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

skragglydoo (Anonymous) says…

That is not current events, Scritch, and that is not at all what people in Oaxaca would tell you they are protesting. Sorry to hear about your friend but it hasn't been ruled out that he was killed by the protesters you are supporting.
2 November 2006
at 11:25 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Centrist (Anonymous) says…

I think what Scritch means is that the Mexican government has BOUGHT ammunition from American companies.

That's called “trade”.

And btw, globalization is actually helping third world countries like Mexico, because it levels the playing field by allowing foreign investment (ie actual capital) in other countries. Globalization means that jobs are moved from the U.S. to places like Mexico, China & India.

We are actually helping them improve their economies.

Ask someone in a manufacturing plant in Topeka how they feel about globalisation after they train Mexicans to take over THEIR jobs, like what happened at Adams Business Forms.

Then you'd get a real protest.
2 November 2006
at 11:30 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

scritch (Anonymous) says…

Actually, it was indeed ruled out. The Mexican paper Milenio today reported:

“The paramilitaries implicated in the murder of the American journalist Bradley Will are at large.

Even though the governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz announced that the suspects had been arrested, they have actually been missing since the 28th of October, according to the police record 1247/CR/06 on the FiscalÃ-a Especial de Combate al Crimen, Organizado de la ProcuradurÃ-a de Justicia local.

Abel Santiago ZÃ¡rate, the director of the local police in Santa Lucia del Camino; Manuel Aguilar, “council personel chief”; and the local policemen Juan Carlos Sumano y Juan Carlos Soriano failed to obey their notice to appear after the shooting, in which Oswaldo Ramirez, a photographer for this newspaper, was also wounded.

Yesterday the chairman of the local police, Manuel Moreno Rivas. sent out a notice to ask other local police around Mexico to help locate the suspects, Rivas confirmed.

This “disapearance” came to light alter milenio made inquiries and found that none of the suspects where found in any of the police buildings (jails, offices) in Oaxaca, even though the governor said that they were already arrested.

Manuel MartÃ-nez Feria, chairman of the city council (PRI), denied any responsibility of the attacks made by members of his administration. “They acted on their own,” he said.”

What events aren't current? The collapsing economy in Oaxaca (this text was from a course being taught currently) or the U.S. exporting weapons to the Mexican PFP and militaries (which happened in a Senate appropriations bill in February)?

The current reality of Oaxaca is a state that is racked by poverty caused by NAFTA and other economic policies backed by the U.S. and Mexican governments, in which thousands of workers rebelled against the corrupt Governor peacefully, took over their OWN city for the last five months, and now are being killed (as well as international reporters) at the hands of people armed by the U.S. and with the backing of the U.S.

Is that current?
2 November 2006
at 11:30 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Simpsonite68 (Anonymous) says…

I'm not sure what is sadder:

Lawrencians protesting the death of their “friend” that they probably didn't even know

OR

Using the death of a white person as an excuse/cause to protest when about a dozen Mexicans all died the same way before Will.
2 November 2006
at 11:34 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Centrist (Anonymous) says…

Simpsonite68 …. they protested the “white” friend because now an american has been killed, not a WHITE person.

Use your head before spouting racial filth.
2 November 2006
at 11:35 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

scritch (Anonymous) says…

Simpsonite, you actually raise a good point with your last sentence, but that wasn't an excuse nor the cause.

Again, the statements being handed out last night to the media and those present called for justice for all of those murdered at the hands of state and paramilitary forces, not just Brad Will.

The Oaxaca issue is one that has gotten a lot of attention and support from people like us around the country, however, ask yourself, honestly… would you feel more inclined to act in defense of people dying in another country before or after someone you knew or was more local died?

I'm not going to lie here, Brad's death definitely re-invigorated a movement to support the people of Oaxaca, but it is not the sole reason we and others are acting.
2 November 2006
at 11:38 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

skragglydoo (Anonymous) says…

Scritch, no. That still has nothing to do with the protests. You are using them as a vehicle for your own cause in the same way APPO has taken over the teachers' cause. If you call a few deaths per month, seizing of public vehicles to set on fire, graffeti on historic landmarks, uncalcuable damage to public and private buildings, robbing people of their dayjobs, and allowing thugs to roam the streets robbing people, then yes, it is a peaceful protest.

However your post proved just one thing. It's confusing in Oaxaca. Not even the protesters understand what they are still doing. You can't possibly make sense of it in Lawrence.
2 November 2006
at 11:43 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Simpsonite68 (Anonymous) says…

hahaha!!! Don't even try to convince yourself that you would have been there if Will didn't die!

Centrist, are you being sarcastic?! He was white. That is fact. Mexicans who have died are not white. That is fact. What's racist is putting more importance on his death.

2 November 2006
at 11:51 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

scritch (Anonymous) says…

Skraggly,
I think if anything, your posts show the confusion going on. APPO in no way hijacked anything, APPO is a group of teachers, workers, students, and others in Oaxaca with tens of thousands of adherents and supporters.

You are right, I'm not in Mexico, so sometimes things can get clouded up here. However, we have many contacts in Oaxaca, one of which was just killed (Brad Will) reporting on what is happening, who's involved, what the actions have been, etc.

As someone who seemingly supports the PRI, then there really can't be much debate on this topic. It's like any other topic with two sides dyametrically opposed trying to convince each other of what's going on. However, even the right wing controlled papers in this country aren't painting the picture the way you are. Only PRI supporters are.

For anyone that is indeed curious as to what is happening in Oaxaca, I invite you to read some about it:

http://www.narconews.com
http://peoplesgeography.com/2006/08/3…
http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main…

Also, one other thing to ask, Skraggly, is if the APPO really has been doing what you say it is doing, why have Federal Police been withheld for so long? If APPO has no support and is a bunch of thugs, why have they held on for so long against a state intent on seeing them destroyed?

Why did the lower house of the Mexican Federal Government overwhelmingly pass a resolution demanding that Governor Ruiz step down?
2 November 2006
at 11:55 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

scritch (Anonymous) says…

Simpsonite,

Sorry to tell you, but we were “there” before Brad died. Yesterday's protest was far from the first about Oaxaca and won't be the last.

And secondly, what's your point? Are you arguing that it's messed up that folks are hitting the streets because someone they knew or could relate to died? Or are you arguing that we are utterly racist and don't care about the Mexican's dying? (Which of course is why the banner said nothing about Brad Will, but only about Oaxaca in general) Or…? What the heck is your point?

And to everyone else, I'm going to close this here. I have more important things to do in my life than just hang out on this site in between checking the news. People are going to disagree with what I have to say, and what I do. Fine. But let's take the conversations to real life, where it matters.
2 November 2006
at noon

Suggest removal

Permalink

skragglydoo (Anonymous) says…

Scritch, I am all too familiar with those propoganda, agenda-biased online magazines.

Yes, Ruiz is very corrupt. Legendarily so. Everybody knows that. His own party knows that. My point is that these protests have compounded the problem so incredibly that the protesters are fighting amongst themselves as to why they are there.
No, APPO is not the same organization that started this protest, and no, they did not take over “their own city.” Nobody in Oaxaca City wants this. These are people from Oaxaca state and Chiapas.

Take my word for it that APPO has done what I've said they've done. There must be pictures online if you don't. The US even issued a warning a couple months ago for tourists not to go to Oaxaca because of the state of anarchy APPO had created. The police were run out of town. Why didn't the troops come in sooner? Well they tried in June but then it was obvious it would've been a bloodbath because the protesters suddenly weren't so peaceful.

There was a teacher killed just last month by protesters because he was actively against the protest and he wanted to teach.
2 November 2006
at 12:06 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Simpsonite68 (Anonymous) says…

“And to everyone else, I'm going to close this here. I have more important things to do in my life than just hang out on this site in between checking the news. People are going to disagree with what I have to say, and what I do. Fine. But let's take the conversations to real life, where it matters.”

LMAO!! you just posted a bunch of links for people to read! now you're too important to be online!! HAHAHA!

sorry to keep you from your important business of blocking streets in tribute to the white guy!!!
2 November 2006
at 12:08 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

hipper_than_hip (Anonymous) says…

“Furthermore, the U.S. is the one directly supplying the bullets and the weapons that the Oaxacan Paramilitaries and the Mexican PFP use to kill political dissidents in that country.”

Actually the Mexican govt is supplying it's own guns and bullets, as they have a license from the Germans to manufacture assualt rifles. German designed Heckler & Koch G3's to be exact.
2 November 2006
at 12:19 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

skragglydoo (Anonymous) says…

Okay Scritch. Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to educate us. Hopefully, we can meet someday for real conversation so I can explain to you that what you might learn about a situation doesn't come from a college textbook or a university course. Ironic though isn't it? That you yourself learned about this at college yet the protests have denied school children an education.

And I hope to meet you before you intend to inconvenience as many people as possible with your distorted view of the facts.
2 November 2006
at 12:56 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

kshiker (Anonymous) says…

An open letter to all the slacker protesters of the world —

Please find somewhere other than the streets of Lawrence, Kansas to stage your pathetic, ineffective protests. While you are at it, I might recommend you that you stop being students, think about finding a job in the real world, and start worrying about real problems like paying a mortgage and sending your kids to college!

Please stop wasting our time so you can feel the self-gratification of trying to solve a problem that 99.9% of the population does not care about. You want to solve problems, why don't you quit school so the government can subsidize the education of someone who will eventually contribute to society someday.
2 November 2006
at 1:25 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

crazyks (Anonymous) says…

I don' t really care what your reasons for the protest were. You put other people in danger, which is not what I would deem “peaceful” protest. It was inexcusable.

You could have done this in a more responsible way. Why not protest on the sidewalk in front of the LJW? Standing in the street, blocking traffic, and expecting no one to possibly be hurt in the process is idiotic.

If you care so much about people and their suffering, then think about the people who live here as well.

2 November 2006
at 1:33 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

bunnyhawk (Anonymous) says…

Olin imagines himself an expert in international terrorism! He was teaching a class with Felix Moos at KU a while back. He is 100% on board with Cheney's idea (assuming that W doesn't actually think) that all of our freedom are up for grabs if it makes his job more convenient!!!!! His cognitive limitations are outpaced only by his delusions of grandeur!!!!!
2 November 2006
at 2:24 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

monkeywrench1969 (Anonymous) says…

Bunny

I took that class in the '87 (under an anthropology credit I might add) at no point did either of them ever advocate the reduction of freedoms nor did the psych prof Shelly who also taught.

What they did say way back then was war will change in the next ten years and it will be fought in the form of terrorist acts in hot spots around the world.

These protestors are trying to infringe on other people's freedoms to drive down the road. Even in the anarchist communities they have a consensus-which means if a choice has to be made it goes to the majority with respect to the minority vote. Even in this discussion-the minority view point will not concede to the the rest. Why because they are selfish and what to infringe on others rights-HmMMM sounds a little like the “Right Wing W and all the “restrictions they have put on our ability to express our opinions.” I have not been repressed when I have spoken out against some Bush policies nor have i had my doors knocked down as in other countries.

Wake up. I will bet money these same people will be protesting something else a couple days from now and will be happy to infringe on others rights again.
2 November 2006
at 3:01 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Esq2eB (Anonymous) says…

Have you heard?? The mexican-military heard about the protest in Lawrence and has left Oaxacan!! The protest worked!
2 November 2006
at 4:28 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

The government of Mexico is one of the most corrupt on the planet.

Let's get the border under control and then let the Mexican government collapse.

Thanks.

Marion.
2 November 2006
at 6:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

crazyks (Anonymous) says…

That was a good one, Esq…lol
3 November 2006
at 12:13 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

lunacydetector (Anonymous) says…

this is news to me. how does one pronounce Oaxaca anyway?
3 November 2006
at 4:47 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

middleoftheroader (Anonymous) says…

it's pronounced “ wahawka”.
3 November 2006
at 10:40 a.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

monkeywrench1969 (Anonymous) says…

This is the place all of the carved animals come from in Mexico

3 November 2006
at 8:13 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

a2thek (Anonymous) says…

scritch…are you still there..or alive?
3 November 2006
at 8:14 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

a2thek (Anonymous) says…

anyone seen scritch?
3 November 2006
at 8:15 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

a2thek (Anonymous) says…

scritch?
3 November 2006
at 8:16 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

a2thek (Anonymous) says…

Hello?
3 November 2006
at 8:20 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

a2thek (Anonymous) says…

scritch….Have I got your attention yet?
I hope you dont think that I am disrespecting you by not capitolizing your name because I am not. I have to go now I cannot spend my whole life on this posted site trying to educate everybody. later-yours truly..im just a sorry white boy…that's what blacks and mexicans tell me anyway
3 November 2006
at 8:37 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

classclown (Anonymous) says…

Why not go protest in Oaxaca, Mexico scritch?
3 November 2006
at 10:19 p.m.

Suggest removal

Permalink

bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…

wow man, Scritch isn't here man!
Scritch!
who?
scritch!
scritch isn't here!