The plutocrats are succeeding at changing the narrative and I don't know what to do about it.

[Ed Suspicious]

The narrative for me has unfortunately changed from the crimes of wall street and corporate influence to the "in your face" crimes of police and their "crowd control" tactics. I wonder if that's the reason police seem to have been given the go ahead to affront civil liberties. It's a David Copperfield-ian deception. it's really ingenious on the corporate and political criminal's part. It takes the power of our cameras and focuses their lenses on the police, turning our angst toward the black uniformed guys with truncheons and away from the problems we set out to address in the first place.

[nc4bo]

1. They haven't succeeded doing anything unless you call talking to sheep a success.

People are waking up. Many people are on the verge of waking up. Blinds are coming off. They can say anything they want, the reality is just outside American's windows and we're slowly but surely beginning to see what's really there and why it exists.

And we don't like it.

[Hutzpa]

3. Great point

the more the police continue their violence toward unarmed protesters the more people
are becoming aware of the movement and what they're about.

So yes, America is slowly waking up from slumber.

[Ed Suspicious]

4. I guess I've just noticed that ninety percent of my facebook activity

is about instances of police brutality. This is a big shift from what I used to talk about there. Most of my friends are in the same boat. Don't get me wrong, there are still pieces about political and corporate injustices, it's just the cop stuff is far outweighing that now. I guess I just started questioning this. Is this what I want to be talking about? Yes. Is this what politicians and wall street would like me to be talking about? I'm sure it beats the alternative in their eyes. Beats it by so much it makes me think it might be orchestrated expressly for that purpose. I guess I'm just struggling to find a balance.

[nc4bo]

10. You have to give people (as in general pubilc) a little credit..

Of course the photos are shocking and sickening but after the initial photo shock is over the logical question would be to ask is "WHY?". What did those people do to deserve this treatment?

There are those who refuse to see and choose to remain blind but then there are those who want to know more and find the lame explanations to be unacceptable. I'd like to think that the majority of Americans/humanbeings want to know more.

[Eric J in MN]

2. When people see a report which leads by describing protesters being brutalized

...and secondarily mentions that the protesters are against tution hikes, or income inequality, or corporate crime, they're still getting the message of the protest.

Better than no news coverage.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Actually they have failed, spectaculary

I was expecting, even predicted it, that the camps would be gone by today or tomorrow. After the Day of Action all attacks on camps went down by quite a bit.

If anything those attacks have galvanized the movement and brought people in. UC Davis is a perfect example, going from a hundred best case, to thousands.

[TheKentuckian]

6. I think you tie the civil rights and civil liberties abuses right back into the whole enchilada

You see what they are doing and the influence they have over the entire system so I think your solution is contained in your question or at least indicates you about see the answer.

You don't allow the two to be separate things (starting with in your own mind, which will spread to some of those you talk to), you throw all of this shit right back at the money people and add to what they owe.

[MedleyMisty]

7. Not for me

Ever see that poster with a giant capitalist looking dude named "Wall Street", holding a policeman who is beating a civilian on puppet strings? Ever seen that picture of the riot cops lined up in front of a Chase bank branch to protect it?

Police violence is just the violence of the system out for everyone to see. "Come and see the violence inherent in the system!"

They are using violence to protect and serve and defend the 1%. So I don't see how it takes the focus off the problem at all.

[Swede]

8. Fortunately,I can walk and chew gum.

You need to practice.

[Ed Suspicious]

9. guess so.

That seemed a little condescending, but I take your point.

[Swede]

11. Snarky,I'll admit.

But anyone politically aware will have a constant stream of stuff thrown at them every day.

[mmonk]

12. OWS or a similar movement. And it will take time.

It is the only game changer.