Occupy – From Someone Who’s Been There

[Eighty-four-year-old activist Dorli Rainey, who was pepper sprayed in the face by Seattle police] said the protesters had decided to leave the intersection, and that police almost certainly knew this because of the protester’s “people’s microphone” method of communication. But before they could leave, police moved in and fired pepper spray at the crowd.
She said a “wonderful” young Iraq veteran protected her during the scuffle with police, preventing her from falling on the ground.
Rainey, who grew up in Nazi Germany, expressed her displeasure with the mainstream American media, who only reported “soft, fluff entertainment” instead of hard-hitting news.
  Raw Story

I have to say that I am not at all optimistic about the outcome of these protests, although I am highly supportive of them. The reason for my pessimism is this: the American people. Ms. Rainey, who grew up in Nazi Germany, must know what I'm talking about. The parallels between the US and Germany of that time are certainly there. And there are enough American citizens who are in the same economic and disenfranchised boat as the protesters, but who want to see them destroyed just as much as the 1% does. I happened upon a forum while looking up what happened to Ms. Rainey where there was post after post of the most vile and hateful commentary about what happened to her - commentary aimed at her, not at what was done to her. I'd like to say, "unbelievable." But it's all too believable. Humans aren't.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.