OWS protesters arrested in DM

[rurallib]

story, video here:
http://www.blogforiowa.com/2011/10/10/occupy-iowa-update-thirty-arrested-in-des-moines/

"Seems that arresting people, bringing dogs, using pepper spray on a bunch of Iowans peacefully assembled is a gross overreaction but there is no doubt with a Branstad governorship, restraint and common sense will probably not prevail. Arresting people unnecessarily will only serve to fuel the flames of dissent and generate support and media coverage for the movement. Best coverage can be found at the Occupy Facebook pages and Twitter. Use hashtags #Occupyiowa #OccupyDSM, etc. Have not seen any national coverage of the Des Moines arrests yet but no doubt the lefty blogs will be on it soon. Just do a google search for the Iowa media coverage. Here’s the gist of things as they stand right now."

[Sal Minella]

1. Iowa Public Radio did a segment on the camp-out and arrests.

IPR aired a sound-bite of the police officer explaining that the park closes at 11 p.m. and the protesters can return and occupy at 6 a.m., but remaining in the park (directly west of the Capital) after 11 p.m. will result in arrest.

He was very matter-of-fact, not at all threatening, just presenting the circumstances (and I'm sure, if given a choice, he would rather have been doing something else at that moment).

I can see the difference between walking with signs on a public street (Wall Street) and willfully breaking a law (that already existed, apparently).

If somebody can show that no "law" exists about occupying the park after 11 p.m., we'll have a different matter entirely.

Made me smile that Ed Fallon was arrested. I liked him when I met him.