Engaging With OccupySD in Downtown San Diego

Last November, I accompanied Rhonda Deniston, to a Press Conference at the Occupy San Diego encampment.  Rhonda was denouncing the violence directed at her by the fringe element of the Occupy movement (see video here--NSFW).    Rhonda called a press conference and asked me to attend.  What I didn't expect was a full-blown news conference with 10-12 different media outets. 

The San Diego Union Tribune covered the press conference:

Surrounded by a group of Occupy San Diego protesters Tuesday, Brian Brady, another Oceanside Tea Party member, urged people in the two movements to focus on what they have in common, such as anger over bank bailouts, and denounce violence, such as that which was displayed against Deniston "by some of your fringe element."

"My suggestion to you is please police your movement ... like the Tea Party had to," Brady said.

Rhonda asked me to address the crowd (see video here--I come in about 4:20).  I tried to find common ground with the protesters about the bank bailouts (and did).  I spent approximately 40 minutes after the press conference engaging with the protesters.  I learned two things from that experience:

1. there are a lot of nice, idealistic, young people there who are despondent.
2. unions and the institutional left are organizing the movement.

All in all, it was a scary but good experience.  I was thankful the San Diego Police Department were near by, thankful that Jim Miller, Jr (candidiate for Superior Court Judge) was there, and VERY thanksful that I had a retired Marine at my flank, the whole time I was speaking.  There were absolutely no Republicans in this crowd but it was instructive to understand that the organized Left is exploiting well-intentioned people.  A few of the smart young people were asking lots of questions about the Federal Reserve Bank and how (and why) TARP was enacted.

Photo from OB Rag,  Photo credit Annie Lane

Comments

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I always preferred to read this kind of article.in which own thought is shared.it was a scary but good experience.