Mindless Destruction Is The Name Of The Game On May Day, 2012

On May 3rd, the Cleveland, Ohio Mayor's office refused to renew the sidewalk encroachment permit that has been in effect for the last seven months for the Occupy Wall Street group  there . The City stopped the "Kid Gloves" coddling yesterday, when a City Parks and Recreation Department crew entered the formerly permitted area and removed a tent that had been there for the last seven months. 


The yanking of the permit follows the arrest of five people associated with Occupy Cleveland who attempted to blow up a highway bridge "occupied" every day by Ohio residents and their families as they traveled across it in their cars. The mayor's office questioned the Groups' welcoming people who will commit such violent crimes into their group. 


Here are the group's responses to the permit refusal and the would be bridge bombers associated with them:

Statement Concerning May 1st Events in Cleveland

Media Contact:
Katie Steinmuller
(216) 202-4499

Media Contact:
Peter Schanz
(614) 704-2481

May 1, 2012 – Cleveland – While the persons arrested Monday evening by the FBI have participated in Occupy Cleveland events, they were in no way representing or acting on behalf of Occupy Cleveland. Occupy Cleveland has affirmed the principles of non-violence since its inception on October 6, 2011.

Occupy Cleveland has spoken out and worked against violence in all its forms, including:

• Wars and occupations
• Economic violence of financial inequality, unemployment, debt, and foreclosure
• Social violence of racism, sexism and homophobia
• Environmental violence of global warming and fracking

 Occupy Cleveland believes the only way to respond to a violent federal and corporate state is through active non-violence.

 It is unfortunate that this occurred on the eve of May Day, the day the Occupy movement and workers around the world have taken to the streets, demanding justice. What has happened in no way discredits the issue and the non-violent methods of Occupy Cleveland and the Occupy movement worldwide.

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But, it is impossible to maintain not having "non violent" actions of the groups' supporters. Apparently some of the non violent methods of the Occupy Wall Street 99% includes breaking into buildings, including the Oakland, California City Hall, where earlier this year they smashed display cases, spray painted graffiti, and broke windows. Over 400 Occupiers were arrested at that "protest." The same type destruction was caused by them in other cities across the country in their May Day "General strike."