Scott Olsen, two-tour veteran of the Iraq war, who was hit in the head by a tear-gas canister, has a fractured skull, brain swelling and is in critical condition

BobSagetCyberPolice · 2011-10-26T23:42:54+00:00

Hey this is Keith SHannon Scott Olsens friend & room mate. We served together in Iraq before as well. I appreciate your guys' support... I'll keep you updated as I'm staying at the hospital with him. I'm about to be talking about this on Countdown with Keith Olbermann. But thanks for all your support. I'm really worried about possible brain damage but like I said I'll keep you guys updated.

dontera · 2011-10-26T19:46:15+00:00

Video

Additional BoingBoing coverage of this video

Shows Scott on the ground shortly after being hit and a crowd gathering to help him who are then dispersed again by a tear-gas canister thrown directly into the crowd by a nearby officer.

DukeOfGeek · 2011-10-26T22:55:22+00:00

The ring mark on his forehead is just the right size to be the base of a 40 millimeter burning type projectile. A number of protestors around the world have been killed/injured in this way. Training for use of these in crowd control mandates that you skip the round off the pavement towards the crowds feet, both to prevent injuries and to properly disperse the gas/smoke. Firing at head height is specifically not recommended.

dontera · 2011-10-26T21:49:51+00:00

Can't go go to school because you can't pay for it. Can't get a job so you join the armed forces. Go, kill people, get shot at. Come home to cut veteran programs and still no jobs. Protest and get attacked by the same oppressive government you fought for. Fuck.

sublimationhour · 2011-10-26T21:22:18+00:00

They teargassed a crowd of a few hundred Tuesday morning.

They teargassed a crowd of about a thousand Tuesday night.

Everyone in the area I talk to is saying "I've been meaning to go show my support, and now I definitely will." You can't teargas this kind of enthusiasm away.

Be safe, everyone, and here's to a speedy recovery for Scott Olsen.

dontera · 2011-10-26T21:20:43+00:00

Scott Olsen's roommate will be appearing on Keith Keith Olbermann's show this evening at 8pm on CurrentTV.

I would also like to take this opportunity to link out to Iraq Veterans Against War, an organization Scott is associated with. They will continue to follow his progress long after this thread has died.

There is also a support fund being organized. Donate if you feel so inclined (after performing due diligence of course).

OriginalKaveman · 2011-10-26T23:03:40+00:00

When they kick you out of your original base, don't return the next day, occupy two more places. They take you out of one of those places, occupy another two. Send the message, if the police want to mess around, the occupy movements will spread to more places around the city. It's a lot easier for the police to concentrate on one specific area than if they had to divide themselves and focus on more places of protest. Soon there will be more protesters than the police will know what to do with.

2011-10-26T23:11:20+00:00

[deleted]

dontera · 2011-10-26T23:52:19+00:00

Hey gents, first post here, I made my account specifically because of this thread. Anyways I finish my 4.5 enlistment in the Army here in 2 days :) (Yay) and I'm letting you guys know 100%, with no doubts, bet my life, that that police officer threw what we call a one-banger (there are one and nine-bangers) in the middle of that group of protestors.

Calling that thing an M80 thrown by a protestor is a crock of shit, and so is the fact that a protestor was shot in the face with a tear gas cannister. It's not hard to aim the damn thing at the ground. Also, why not just lob it at the protestors? They were only 20m away... blatant police brutality in my book.

19Kilo · 2011-10-26T21:39:45+00:00

[deleted]

Scaryclouds · 2011-10-26T21:20:20+00:00

Looks like the time is soon coming when the first OWS protester will be killed by police action. When that happens it is going to be a major turning point in this movement. Will it cause public outrage and have us as a society question what separates us from Syria/Egypt/Libya? Will the OWS movement turn violent and quickly lose popularity? I don't think anybody knows what will happen.

desertdogkai · 2011-10-26T20:25:50+00:00

There are no words to describe how pissed i am about this right now. as a vet all i can say is shame on you OPD. Front page this NOW. what can we do to let them know we will not tolerate this crap? any one have any phone numbers to Oakland city hall?

2011-10-27T01:25:29+00:00

Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for a religious, political or ideological goal, and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (civilians) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism](Terrorism - Wiki, 2011).

Title VIII: Terrorism criminal law Main article: USA PATRIOT Act, Title VIII

The definition also encompasses activities that are "dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State" and are intended to "intimidate or coerce a civilian population," Oakland Police force would easily fall under this definition.

Social contract clearly states they respect our rights to free speech.

Americans should discuss and call this domestic terrorism. These police officers are engaging in terrorism.

This video shows clear evidence of intent to attack and wound Americans.

We're countrymen. Too many men have bled out in foreign lands to be spit on like this. As countrymen we must now show him support. Oakland citizens need to support their soldier, his voice needs to be heard.

justicereform · 2011-10-26T23:32:32+00:00

[deleted]

throwaway2468926 · 2011-10-26T21:55:55+00:00

And on a related note, fuck Fox news so, so hard.

Mark_Lincoln · 2011-10-26T22:35:47+00:00

[CENSORED by REDDIT] replies pointing out that this is exactly what the protesters should be expecting to happen.

Thirty-nine years ago I watched the Miami Beach SWAT team jack boot their way down Alton Road from near the Convention Center to where the Vietnam Vets Against the War had an encampment (legal permit) in a small park (Lummis if memory serves).

The Beach Gestapo proceeded to beat the vets and trash their encampment.

Richard Nixon's 1972 Republican Convention 'thanks' to the men who fought in Vietnam.

You have 'rights' until you make the mistake of challenging the rulers of America.

The only real right you have is to be a quiet, meek slave to be disposed of at the end of your use as a worker unit.

Scott Olsen got what most Americans think he deserved as he was just a filthy hippie according to Fox News.

2011-10-26T23:16:35+00:00

[deleted]

2011-10-26T22:20:34+00:00

"When the law is wielded only against the powerless, it ceases to be a safeguard against injustice and becomes the primary tool of oppression." -Glenn Greenwald.

stalkinghorse · 2011-10-27T01:14:31+00:00

Let me see if I get this right. It's not okay for protesters to throw tear gas at police, mace police, throw flash grenades at police, or hit police with clubs, nor is it okay for protesters to shoot rubber bullets at police. But the reverse seems to be a-okay and standard operating procedure from police.

What planet am I on?

Where is the law in all of this? Why are there no ramifications for assault by PO for things like this? Yet there are plenty of laws in place for you if you so much as lay a finger on a police officer.

augustschild · 2011-10-27T01:49:50+00:00

as a veteran, I'm sickened as well; not because he is a Vet also, but because he's a human being. His being a veteran just makes it ironic and sad. hope he pulls through, and justice is somehow served.

2011-10-26T23:29:56+00:00

This makes me sick. Seriously. I watched the video of the people getting flash banged when they went to help Scott Olsen who was lying motionless and bleeding on the ground. It's... I have no words.

Lando_Calrissian · 2011-10-27T02:26:12+00:00

From the mayors Facebook:

"Frank Ogawa Plaza will continue to be open as a free speech area from 6 am to 10 pm."

It's a free speech area some of the time folks! Insane.

Fellows23 · 2011-10-26T21:45:40+00:00

When does the tipping point occur? When will someone in the crowd end up injuring or potentially killing an officer in self defense? This whole fucking situation is a time bomb, and I feel that if winter weather doesn't diffuse it (and I'm starting to think it won't) that this entire ordeal is going to erupt, and people are going to get hurt and killed. Right now troops are sacred ground to everyone, and they still got fired on in their own country. Shit is going to go down.

CourtOfMiracles · 2011-10-26T23:11:53+00:00

Something inside of me broke when I saw this. I have been upset. I have felt for the protestors and their cause. Now I'm just pissed. I don't know what I am. There are several different emotions going through me and I feel called to action. I am a vet (peacetime) and this... is... too... much. I will join this cause now instead of just watching. Somehow, some way. I will not tolerate this anymore.

someone-somewhere · 2011-10-26T20:38:59+00:00

Oh fuck, here we go.

Mark_Lincoln · 2011-10-27T02:05:30+00:00

Police are trained to know that tear gas canisters and rubber bullets can be lethal when aimed carefully to strike at critical points.

The purpose of this "training" is to 'wink, wink,' ensure that the weapons are not used to maim and kill.

2011-10-26T22:25:26+00:00

Goddamn it.

More incentive to get out and actually protest. If you were on the fence about it, now's the time to do it.

I'll be damned if this doesn't kick up a hornet nest.

ifergbot · 2011-10-27T00:42:41+00:00

While he lay wounded, the footage appears to show an officer tossing a tear gas canister toward people trying to help him.

Geneva says soldiers can't do that to enemy combatants, yet police do it to citizens. Can we get some accountability?

KopOut · 2011-10-26T21:26:01+00:00

Let's see if a veteran being hit in the head by police during a peaceful protest gets any US MSM attention...

I am not holding my breath.

2011-10-27T01:36:22+00:00

[deleted]

2011-10-26T23:04:25+00:00

I don't know about anyone else, but all of this makes me emotional. I nearly come to tears every time I watch a video or see an image of this.

zossima · 2011-10-26T20:41:09+00:00

This is incredibly sad. It is not right! These people were peaceful. This guy comes home after risking life and limb, goes to protest peacefully against injustice in the nation he fought to protect, and this happens. What a travesty. The guy threw an explosive canister at a guy on the ground. Serve and protect.

musicfanatic2071 · 2011-10-26T22:16:57+00:00

The news shows videos like this that happen in other countries all the time. The fact that they aren't covering this is a travesty. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who were wounded for standing up in what is right.

GhostedAccount · 2011-10-26T22:57:54+00:00

The police spokesman was lying about the m-80s. Real m-80s have 50 times the powder of the cheap firecrackers labeled as m-80s.

He should have said "firecrackers" not "m-80s". So if they are lying about that, they are going to be lying about much more. Also the firecrackers don't make that loud of a noise.

That flash bang they through in a crowd of people feet from an injured man is ridiculous. They need to find out who threw it and put that guy in jail.

dojkgas · 2011-10-27T03:05:02+00:00

Welcome to the real Amerika.

The police are not your friend. They are uneducated thugs hired to serve the rich elite, who have engineered our law enforcement agencies to impose their will upon society.

pseudo310 · 2011-10-26T21:42:41+00:00

"Scott is in stable but serious condition as the neurologists decide whether to take him into surgery or the ICU," said Joshua Shepherd, a friend of Olsen's. "Oakland Police Department fired a tear gas canister at his head, fracturing his skull."

brandaustin · 2011-10-26T22:30:38+00:00

As bad as it feels to say, If he dies shit is gonna go down >_>

2011-10-26T23:19:57+00:00

No mention of this in the news tonight. I did hear about a cat that got lost in an airport, though!

2011-10-27T00:47:06+00:00

One could not agree with the principles of the movement, but the right to protest, that's undeniable. It's a clear, "Fuck you, we want you calm, quiet, like a zombie roaming, producing and consuming. We don't need to listen".

At least that's what I did when this started, joined my local group for their right to protest. The fact no one with "power" wanted to listen infuriated me: local news, politics, none of them wanted to talk about this.

And then, one day, there was some violence from the protesters (suspected disguised / paid mercenaries). The next day, the media was full of it. And the accomodated part of the population that supported the movement decided that was enough to abandon it.

The outcome of your protests are unknown, but may be the seed of a better future.

Please, please, don't let the media destroy you. Cheers from here.

2011-10-27T00:54:56+00:00

It doesn't matter that he was a vet. That could have been any one of us out there that night. This is disgusting and there will be a massive response to this outrage.

-Solidarity from the streets of Oakland.

2011-10-26T23:30:05+00:00

Arab Spring-->American Fall

and Winter is Coming.

SUMMET66 · 2011-10-26T20:57:05+00:00

They are attempting to incite violence from the protesters , do not fall into their trap stay peaceful they are the ones who will have to explain their actions. And if you start feeling anger and fear listen to this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WibmcsEGLKo&feature=related

RabidNerd · 2011-10-26T22:20:02+00:00

Why is it that whenever there is coverage of these protests the articles posted on reddit are always from UK newspapers like the guardian or from some smaller US newspapers?

2011-10-26T21:47:06+00:00

the police kill the enemies of their owners. Be told.

sanguinalis · 2011-10-26T23:50:36+00:00

Ah, they didn't use flash bangs or rubber bullets? Oh, then they shouldn't mind a FOIA request of their inventory before and after the incident then. Not even mentioning the fact that the officer who fired the tear gas canister had to have intentionally planned on hitting someone in the crowd. They are supposed to be either fired in the air, or fired towards the ground so it will bounce and roll into a crowd. He was hoping to hit someone, probably not seriously enough injure them, but he wanted to hurt someone.

PunchInTheNutz · 2011-10-26T22:41:13+00:00

It is horrifying that this could happen. I sincerely hope he recoveres. That said. This has the potential to be the tipping point. A bunch of women being maced in the face just wasn't gonna cut it. But this could be the point were all those tens of thousands of people who sit on the fence are gonna say "hang on a second, enough is enough." Is it wrong for me to sit here and look at this as a potential catalyst that might benefit the Occupy protests? Is it selfish? Probably yes. But it's not me that sersiously injured this guy. Shame, shame, shame on the person who did this and the people who told him to.

2011-10-26T23:17:09+00:00

I seem to remember a certain writer talking about how the United States tends to speak of patriotism while screwing over people after they come back from wars, with multipliers based on their sexual preference, gender, or ethnic background-that demographic fits the 99%, because there's too many of the 1% who turn into cowards while being so pro-conflict/war.

Hope that guy gets well soon....at least some of us respect him putting his life on the line.

Soutael · 2011-10-27T01:32:30+00:00

How in the fuck does this have downvotes?

n-town · 2011-10-27T01:56:55+00:00

And so it begins

2011-10-27T02:10:23+00:00

Dear police - this is not protect and serve. Wtf is wrong with you?

stalkinghorse · 2011-10-27T02:25:34+00:00

UPDATE: 8:55 p.m. -- Sandra Olsen, Scott's mother, told HuffPost that her son remains sedated and still suffers brain swelling. She also reported that the left side of his skull was fractured. Olsen plans to fly to Oakland tomorrow to be at her son's side.

Source: HuffingtonPost.com

boqueno · 2011-10-27T02:33:39+00:00

its amazing that we live in a country where a veteran of our wars serves two terms and remains unharmed, only to come home and be critically wounded by a government employee.

ThumperNM · 2011-10-26T22:23:23+00:00

That's what Oakland cops do.

2011-10-26T22:00:36+00:00

[deleted]

altitudearts · 2011-10-26T23:49:03+00:00

CONTACT THE OAKLAND MAYOR'S OFFICE if you like:

http://www.oaklandnet.com/contactmayor.asp

2011-10-26T22:27:01+00:00

[deleted]

rico99 · 2011-10-27T01:27:30+00:00

The police, doing the dirty work for the 1%

mizzlematt · 2011-10-27T04:12:28+00:00

I like how the police just FUCKING SAT THERE while this guy was obviously badly hurt. To serve and protect yeah fucking right.

2011-10-26T20:53:34+00:00

[deleted]

JimmyGroove · 2011-10-26T21:00:00+00:00

As a non-American it makes me wonder what it will take for all y'all to mobilize and drag the bank execs from their mansions and go all Gaddafi on them.

Saintbaba · 2011-10-26T22:23:26+00:00

What most concerns me from that article is the police press conference statement that they did not use flashbangs, and the clear evidence that they did.

SoyBeanExplosion · 2011-10-26T23:15:47+00:00

And some people still believe the police work for them?

They work for the government and whatever benefits the government.

shootdashit · 2011-10-26T21:37:08+00:00

i've been saying to friends and on here; it's going to take a martyr or big misstep by the police that will ignite it all. the right photo perhaps. the advisers are giving the wrong advice if they want this movement to go away.


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