Motivated by the current (2011) political climate in Wisconsin it seems reasonable to devote some time and effort to comment on issues and some of the hyperbole. So we in the public should do what we can to help focus "journalists" on delineating real facts versus spin. If you accept the spin you do not understand the policy implications.
The other day I started following Ann Maria Bell because she was traveling from Madison to participate in various events in Washington DC. She has obviously become quite involved!
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6:10pm 10/8 update
At about 3:30pm, Madison time (it is now 4:30), I was just checking up on the latest Twitter news and started seeing notes about mace (pepper spray) and started looking at some the material to see what was developing. I am still not sure I know exactly what happened but ... here are some of Ann Maria's tweets and a YouTube video from another source!
There are many other tweets that one can call concurrent validity evidence that something happened ... so I will leave it there!
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Here is a report from another source - Lisa Simeone - (out at 4:41 Madison time?)
At a demonstration by the October 2011 Movement at the National Air &
Space Museum, Smithsonian Protection Services security officers pepper
sprayed protesters as soon as they entered the museum. They
pepper-sprayed a young woman from Woodlawn, VA who is not part of the
protest.
Demonstrators were protesting the drone exhibit at the museum, which
represents the glorification of extra-judicial executions and the
military industrial complex at a public institution.
The police closed the museum and have been telling the public that the
building was closed due to a bomb threat.
Video from Op-Ed News, one of whose correspondents was also pepper-sprayed.
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Lisa Simeone
October 2011
It was embedded in a piece from WashingtonNBC with a some what different slant on what happened!
Several hours later this is what AP reports ...10:30 pm
DC museum closed after protest; pepper spray used
By JESSICA GRESKO Associated Press
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- The National Air and Space Museum in Washington was closed Saturday after anti-war demonstrators swarmed the building to protest a drone exhibit and security guards used pepper spray to repel them, sickening a number of protesters.
Smithsonian spokesman John Gibbons said a large group of demonstrators, estimated at 100 to 200 people, arrived at about 3 p.m. and tried to enter the National Mall museum. When a security guard stopped group members from entering, saying they could not bring in signs, he was apparently held by demonstrators, Gibbons said. A second guard who arrived used pepper spray on at least one person and the crowd dispersed, he added.
A number of groups have been demonstrating in the city in the past week. The group that arrived at the museum Saturday included individuals taking part in the October 2011 Stop the Machine demonstration in the city's Freedom Plaza, which has an anti-war and anti-corporate greed message. The group also included protesters affiliated with Occupy D.C., a group modeled on the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York City. Occupy D.C. has been holding marches and meetings in Washington's McPherson Square.
David Swanson, 41, of Charlottesville, Va., said he was among dozens of people sickened by the pepper spray. He said he got sick even though he was outside the building when the spraying began.
A mini report from Freedom Plaza from WORT Reporter Cristalyne J Bell ... this is a slight update of some of that content and the original was broadcast last night as part of "In Our Backyard" at 6:30pm.
Click the title (above) and get or listen to WORT Podcast programs and specifically for "In Our Backyard" ... about 20% of the way into the program ... all of the program is interesting ... the first part tells about how the Republican controlled Wisconsin Legislature has imposed itself (or tried to) on the Governmental Accountability Board (GAB) to try and give Governor Scott Walker control over his soon to be pending recall ... so by his fiat there will be no RECALL
Interviews - Margaret Flowers (Was in Madison @ Democracy Convention in Aug 2011 )
Heard - Dick Gregory, careers - comedian & civil rights activist
Listen on line or on the radio at Noon (Madison Time) Today (Thursday) to Public Affair w/moderator Allen Ruff - Cristalyne Bell, onsite reporter for WORT, will be calling in to talk about what's going on in DC by various groups and protests happening there this week!
A Public Affair
A Public Affair aims to engage listeners in a conversation on issues of international, national, & local importance with some novelty shows thrown in. The guests range from local activists and scholars to notable national & international figures. The hosts alternate throughout the week as do the focuses and topics. It is a call-in show that airs Monday through Friday from 12:05 to 1:00 pm.
Hosts:Mondays - Norm Stockwell / Brenda KonkelTuesdays - Cynthia Lin Wednesdays - Mike Moon / Tonya BritoThursdays - Allen Ruff Fridays - Esty Dinur
Someone from Madison WI to follow ... I'm sure there will be more ... keep the link and keep looking ... just working out the kinks in technology! Guess battery was not fully charged.
The sign says "Occupy DC Now".
The ads are not too bad!!
Quote from source ...
... are going to go get something [more] for internet and try to stream tomorrow [10/6 Thur] . Tonight was awesome. Tomorrow is going to be better. And then maybe Occupation Wall Street on Saturday.
Britt. She looks sweet but she's a hardcore peacekeeper & medic who was on the frontlines today.
