The Springfield Police had a rough day on Friday:

…On this day in Springfield, the police were non-aggressive, polite and respectful and did their job without riot gear, mace, rubber bullets, and tear gas. Maybe police in other cities can learn from this… both the tactics AND the keys!

The Plum Line

Posted at 11:57 AM ET, 11/12/2011

Prediction

By Greg Sargent

The ultra wealthy will spend a whole lot of undisclosed money on a whole lot of ads filled with a whole lot of lies designed to dupe a whole lot of struggling Americans into believing that their number one problem in life is a rag-tag band of nose-ringed hippies who somehow managed to compel our media to tentatively begin a discussion about this, and the very modest actions we should take to begin to change it.

Update: And it just might work.

Also, too.

That is all.

The St. Louis Police Department removed the Occupy St. Louis folks from Kiener Plaza last night.

Via St. Louis Activist Hub and @Taunia_Adams:

@DKSheets David Sheets

OK, bring in the Clorox truck: @rlippmann Parks crew is beginning to clear the grounds of #OccupySTL protest. 7 hours ago

@DKSheets David Sheets

Kiener Plaza now cleaner plaza? #STL #OccupySTL 7 hours ago

David Sheets @DKSheets St. Louis, MO Writer, editor at St. Louis Post-Dispatch and STLtoday.com; president, St. Louis chapter, Society for Professional Journalists

[emphasis added]

Really? Anything about what’s being protested?

@CheathamKMOV Craig Cheatham

Visitor leaving #occupystl protest says “it smells like hippie!” #notquitePolo 16 hours ago

Craig Cheatham @CheathamKMOV Saint Louis Investigative reporter trying to tell stories in fewer than 140 chars. I need more time!

[emphasis added]

Because when you’re covering a story where anyone spends a significant amount of time outside, like a youth organization camp out or a professional sporting event locker room post game, you should always mention hippies.

It’s time to convene another panel on blogger ethics.

The city of St. Louis notified the Occupy folks in Kiener Plaza that they will have to leave:

Hey Hey, Ho, Ho: The Occupiers Will Not Go!

November 11, 2011

By OccupyStLouis

Official Press Statement

Contact: media@occupystl.org

Hey Hey, Ho, Ho: The Occupiers Will Not Go!

On November 10, 2011 Occupy St Louis received notification from the city of St Louis that we have 24 hours to remove all structures and obey the city curfew laws before they would forcibly remove our non-violent occupation from Freedom Square (formerly known as Kiener Plaza). Since October 1st, we have maintained a peaceful occupation in this public space, founded on the principle that large corporations have too much influence in the actions of our government. Mayor Slay and his Senior Staff have once again validated this by bowing to pressure from the Downtown Partnership of St Louis to restrict our First Amendment Rights to peaceably assemble.

Since its inception, Occupy St Louis has been a model of cooperation and non violence, and has made Freedom Square a safer, cleaner place. The city claims that in addition to violation of curfew that the tents and supplies we have in Freedom Square are a direct violation of city ordinance and provide a safety concern. We strongly disagree and believe that our encampment is a valid form of political speech justified by the First Amendment. Additionally this precedent has been set in other occupied cities across the nation.

On November 10, 2011 Mayor Slay stated in his personal blog that the city would be creating a space for a 24/7 public demonstration. On November 9th, senior members of the Mayor’s staff attended our General Assembly to propose this space to us as a possible alternative to Freedom Square. This was not a proposal, but rather an ultimatum to Occupy St Louis. The City had already made up its mind on the course of action that it would be taking. This new space would not allow for tents or occupation, which we feel are a valid forms of political speech. This proposal was blocked by a consensus of our General Assembly. The General Assembly uses consensus as our decision making process. It allows for all participants to have an equal voice. Occupy St Louis maintains that just because one states they are using the consensus process, does not mean that they are actually using it.

Occupy St Louis hopes that Mayor Slay realizes that our freedom to assemble is not limited to one space, but guaranteed to all people, in any public space, at any time. We believe that we are engaged in a vital attempt to restore the cornerstone of American ideals: equality, unity, and social mobility. St Louis City must recognize that Occupy St Louis is not mutually exclusive with public safety and the common good, but an ally in promoting social justice and in preserving order downtown. The medium is the message and our medium is occupation.

Brilliant public relations move that, removing a veteran or two from the site of a peaceful public protest on Veteran’s Day. Someone in the mayor’s office really thought this one through.

Darcy Wood:

Albert Lowe:

Fred Lee speaking at the Occupy Kansas City rally in Ilus Davis Park:

Previously: Occupy Kansas City: rally and march from Ilus Davis Park (October 30, 2011)

The one percent should probably start worrying.

“…Um, well, we were speaking on the, the ninety-nine, uh, on, on that analogy, or maybe not analogy, but on that demographic, if you will, and, um, it kind of puts in my mind that we all, we’re united whether we realize it or not. We’re all in the same boat together. We’re all living in this world and we’re all trying to make the best of it. And I feel that, uh, you know, the more that we get together and try to understand together that we, you know, we could, we could make something of it, you know…”

If the rest of the ninety-nine percent start thinking the same way…

Occupy Kansas City held a rally and march from Ilus Davis Park in downtown Kansas City on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s Not Only Our Right To Protest The Corruption, It’s Our Obligation”

Show Me Progress: What did you think of the day?

Ron McLinden: You know, it was interesting. I, I thought there might be a bigger turnout. But, my guess is that were probably about three hundred people and, and that’s a good turnout. Uh, the march, I was, uh, surprised to learn that City Hall had okayed it but the police had said no, at least that we couldn’t march in the streets. And, uh, we marched in the streets anyway and the police followed along with us for about four blocks and then just left us alone.

Show Me Progress: Uh, uh, what do you think today’s event accomplished?

Ron McLinden: You know, what does anything, what does anyone accomplish? I don’t know.  Well, there, there certainly was a media presence there and maybe part of the accomplishment will be whatever they choose to put on the air this evening. Uh, I think there was a good, um, a good spirit of coming together from people from a lot of different perspectives. Uh, maybe still not as many minority faces as the group would like, but, uh, you know, that, that will come along. Um, you know, it’s, it’s, it’s hard to know, there’s so many issues involved in this Occupy movement.

Show Me Progress: But hasn’t the, the dialogue, you know, the dialogue has changed since the Occupy movement has started.

Ron McLinden: And somebody retweeted an article just yesterday, I think, some, something on a national blog or in the press that tracks the, the occurrence of words in, in, uh, cable and other news media. And over the past few weeks it has gone from the word debt being the dominant word to the words Wall Street and occupy being dominant words. So, the, the movement has finally gotten the attention of the mainstream media. Uh, to what extent it has gotten the attention of the people that, that, uh, have offices in the capitol building in Washington and the people who are making the decisions in the, in the corporate board rooms, I, I don’t know yet.

[….]

Um, I think this movement has gotten some criticism for not having a focus and from my perspective that’s okay. I interpret the movement as evidence that there is widespread dissatisfaction among the American people, American people of all stripes, all political stripes, all races and creeds and, and socioeconomic status, that the country is headed in the wrong direction. I think there have been national, there are national polls that track that and the, the percent of the American people that believe we’re headed in the wrong direction is, has been trending upward I think.

So, the fact that, uh, people are coming together, albeit in a pretty disorganized factor, fashion, uh, is a good thing and we can only hope that, uh, some positive change will come out of it.

Show Me Progress: So, could you tell me why you’re here today?

Jim White: I’m here to show solidarity with the…ninety-nine percent that are being abused by the one percent. And just to demonstrate by personal presence support of that.

Show Me Progress: So, so what specifically, um, are some of the issues that, that concern you about this?

Jim White: I think the biggest concern we have is the loss of our middle class in this country. We’ve had a strong middle class since the end of the Second World War, it’s what built the country and it’s steadily getting eroded. Uh, the gap between the rich and the poor is getting wider and wider. The top one percent’s controlling more and more of the wealth of this country. And money buys control and money buys power and they’ve got it.

Show Me Progress: So, so, you know, we’ve, we’ve heard over time, that people talk about that their voice isn’t heard. Uh, do you think that that’s a big, big, uh part of this, that people feel that their voice isn’t being heard.

Jim White: Of course their voice isn’t being heard. Your voice is only heard if you’re able to have access to the people in power. And you can’t get access to the people in power unless you have the price of admission.

“Tax The Rich”

“Good Jobs Now”

Voices: We are the ninety-nine percent. We are the ninety-nine percent. We are the ninety-nine percent…

Show Me Progress: Why are you here today?

Eduard Lloyd: I’m, I am actually here to educate myself about what’s been going on in our world today.

Show Me Progress: And, uh, how did you hear about this?

Eduard Lloyd: Um, I’ve actually, I mean, it’s difficult for, for someone like me to not hear about because so many people, I mean, it’s, it’s thick, you know, a lot of people are talking about it. And so it just kind of, daily word.

Show Me Progress: And so, and so, what are, what are you hearing today that, that addresses some of the things? Are you, is it things that address your concerns, or what are you hearing about today?

Eduard Lloyd: Um, I, I think the, the main thing is, uh, money. I just, I think the whole thing is centered around money and, and people being, uh, unsatisfied with the, their current situation. Um, and for me I, I’ve realized that it’s about, I’m, I’m really searching for myself, you know, seeing where, what, what I’m supposed to be doing. And so I’m really just exploring, seeing like, like people like you what, what exactly, you know, what everybody’s doing just to kind of not be lost in the world. Because, you know, there’s a lot of things going on. And I there’s a lot of good, good things that, uh, could happen, you know.

Show Me Progress: So, so, you’ve heard some the things that they’ve talked about here and, and, uh, about, uh, various issues, especially about money. So, has anything really struck you?

Eduard Lloyd: Um, well, we were speaking on the, the ninety-nine, uh, on, on that analogy, or maybe not analogy, but on that demographic, if you will, and, um, it kind of puts in my mind that we all, we’re united whether we realize it or not. We’re all in the same boat together. We’re all living in this world and we’re all trying to make the best of it. And I feel that, uh, you know, the more that we get together and try to understand together that we, you know, we could, we could make something of it, you know.

Show Me Progress: Do you think that that’s happening now?

Eduard
Lloyd: I do, I do. I believe that, uh, I believe that, that, uh, peace has been seeded and, and that it will grow.

Show Me Progress: But, do, do you see this as, uh, that people here are reacting to a world that isn’t that way for them?

Eduard Lloyd: Yeah, I see a lot of people here that that’s, that’s the reason they’re here. The reason.

“Eat The Rich”

“Big Banks Are Corrupt, Strict Regulations!”

“If Only The War On Poverty Was A Real War, Then We Would Actually Be Putting Money Into It”

Watching the great unwashed from on high…

Occupy Kansas City held a rally and march from Ilus Davis Park in downtown Kansas City this afternoon. At its peak there were approximately three hundred to three hundred fifty people participating in the rally and march.

“Stop Legalized Bribery In Politics”

Location, location, location…

“Class War? Hell Yes And We’ve Been Losing”

The crowd in Ilus Davis Park, in the section overlooked by the federal court building.

Organized labor is part of the ninety-nine percent.

The sprinklers were running in the park – go figure.

“Fire The Rich”

“Average CEO Pay, Average Worker Pay”

“The 99% Are Seeing Red”

As the rally progressed the number of people in the park increased.

Signing up.

The march started from the northeast corner of the park. Occupy Kansas City had a permit from the city to march in the street, but apparently the Kansas City Police department vetoed that idea. Marchers were warned by Occupy Kansas City that the police could arrest anyone marching in the street. Most of the marchers took to the street.

In the street.

“Capitalism Is The Crisis”

A number of police cars, with lights and sirens, appeared shortly after the march turned east. After a few minutes the officers gave up on trying to get the marchers out of the street. They left as quickly as they appeared.

The Kansas City Police Department shows up.

So much for the conventional wisdom about the demographics.

“We Are One”

“We Are the 99%”

Flags.

The march headed out of the park into northeast neighborhoods and arrived back at the park approximately an hour and a half after it started.

There was a Where Are The Jobs/Occupy The Capitol rally on the steps of the Capitol in Jefferson City starting at 11:00 a.m. today. The organizers obtained the required permits and up to noon about twenty-five people showed up with signs on the south steps of the Capitol.  

Organized labor on the steps of the Capitol.

“The ‘Job Creators’ Are Taking The Decade Off” and “Thank You For Killing Aerotropolis”

Show Me Progress: So, why are you here today?

Dan Norris: I’m here just to emphasize my disgust with, uh, both political parties and, uh, what’s gone on out there recently.

Show Me Progress: Uh, so, what specifically troubles you?

Dan Norris: Uh, it troubles me that, it seems like neither one of the major parties, uh, really empathizes with, uh, the everyday working person. And, you know, there’s, there’s handouts on both sides of the political spectrum to special interests, uh, based on their lobbying power.

Show Me Progress: So, do you feel that you, you have a voice that’s heard?

Dan Norris: Uh, I feel that my voice largely goes ignored. And, uh, you know, that’s why I feel that it’s, uh, something we, we need to get out and to exercise our freedom of speech to be sure that, uh, we are noticed.

“Where Did All The Science go?” and “Banks Got Bailed Out, We Got Sold Out”

Show Me Progress: Why are you here today?

Matt Dillingham: Try and change a little bit of the system.

Show Me Progress: So what, what about the system disappoints you, that needs change?

Matt Dillingham: The fact that we have no control over anything that we do in our government. Everybody else says what we do.

Show Me Progress: Um, in, in, in what way, who’s that everybody?

Matt Dillingham: Um, we’re that everybody. All the people, you know, get screwed and, I mean, the government’s the one that’s doing it, the government and corporate power.

Show Me Progress: So, do you feel that, that, uh, you have a voice?

Matt Dillingham: No, not at all, not one bit.

Show Me Progress: And, and what do you think, uh, you can do to change that.

Matt Dillingham: This is a start. I don’t know where it’ll finish.

“Corporate Greed is Bad”

Show Me Progress: Why are you here today?

William Bradford Connor: I’m here ’cause I agree with the Occupy Wall Street people that, uh, greed and the excessive abuses that have occurred in Wall Street and have been covered up by our mass media need to come out. What Elliot Spitzer was doing should still be done. And we should throw ’em all in jail.

Show Me Progress: Um, other than that solution of, uh, throwing people into jail, what other solutions do you think can, can help the situation?

William Bradford Connor: Wall Street needs to remember about the ninety-nine percent, that we’re angry and we’ve just had it. And change has to occur in how they manage, especially jobs which are being outsourced left and right.

“End Corporate Personhood!”

“This is still a Democracy, Not a Plutocracy!”

In front of the statue of Thomas Jefferson.