newjerseynewsroom.com

BY RUTH GREENE

COMMENTARY

Congratulations to Mayor Bloomberg for clearing out the rodents in Zuccotti Park! You should have moved in sooner!

Congratulations to the NYC policemen for their restraint in the face of extreme adversity, taunting and disrespect!

In the beginning, I thought, great. It’s about time that people raised hell about Wall Street greed. It’s about time that Washington learned about the people’s true feelings and accepted responsibility for the economic chaos— actually worldwide— it has created.

But after two months, without any concrete platform, I’m tired of this nonsense.

The backlash has begun! And I am #1 on the list of those who say “You’ve protested. Your right.” But in protesting you have trampled on the rights of other Americans and repeatedly broken the law. This is not acceptable to me.

And as the Day of Action unfolded, it was obvious that you, the protesters, do not care for the law or other people’s rights.

Freedom of speech does not allow people (in this case you protesters) to very intentionally break the law and violate our Constitution.

You trespassed and “occupied” privately owned property. Trespassing is against the law. The owners of Zuccotti Park have been too kind and lenient in the face of your actions.

In yesterday’s activities you repeatedly broke city laws and the Constitutional rights of thousands. You marched without a permit. You broke the law. You obstructed traffic in various parts of the city -- both vehicle and people movement. Against the law!. Over the two month occupation, you hassled residents and businesses in the Zuccotti Park area. Harassment—even indirect—is against the law.

Under the Constitution everyone has the rights of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” You have violated these rights of thousands!

You have violated the “life” rights of hundreds of businesses in the area that want to provide services, employ hundreds and make a living. You have trampled on the rights of residents who have had trouble getting to their apartments and living in peace and quiet and of employees who want to work.

You have violated the “liberty” rights of thousands whose ability to move freely through the area of Zuccotti Park -- and other areas of the city—has been hampered.

And even more important, you have brought absolutely nothing to the table to address your grievances and solve the multitude of problems facing our nation.

Finally the media is asking the questions that should have been asked in the beginning. “What do you stand for? What do you specifically want?” The media has been delinquent in its coverage. The media’s sympathy has done a disservice to everyone.

As a young reporter, I covered race rights and the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. The leaders there had very specific things they wanted addressed and very specific things they wanted both the federal and state governments to do. The leaders and supporters marched, had rallies to educate all Americans, and went home to put pressure on government officials.

Yes, the stories of Wall Street greed abound. I just heard some unbelievable ones the other day. Yes, something needs to be done. What to do is difficult to pinpoint. But you protesters have not made even one concrete, doable suggestion. Until a definitive platform is developed, protests are meaningless and will not achieve anything positive.

However, the law is the law for everyone.

Arrested protesters should be charged simply with marching without a permit and/or obstructing traffic. These charges are easily proved as per the scenario below. Charges of disorderly conduct or resisting arrest are more difficult to prove. Also, those arrested should be given a high bail of $5,000 to $10,000 and held if they can’t meet bail.

Judges need to be strict in handling these cases, and the procedure could be as follows, with the arraignment and hearing held at the same time.

Judge: "You are being charged with marching without a permit. How do you plead? Then, you are charged with obstructing traffic, how do you plead?"

I’m assuming the answers will ‘not guilty.’

Then simple questions. Judge, “Did you have a permit?” If no, guilty. Law broken.

Judge: “Were you at (wherever arrest was made)? Did you go there of your own free will? Were other people (other than those in your group) able to move freely on the sidewalk or street?” If they admit they were there freely and blocked free passage of other people or vehicles on the street, guilty! Law broken.

These are definitive simple laws that have been broken. There can be no defense. Remember freedom of speech does not allow a person or group of people to break the law.

Even if hundreds are arrested, a five or ten minute court hearing (as shown above) for each person arrested will clear out the court docket very quickly! And the same five-minute procedure can be applied to those previously arrested.

The trampling on the Constitutional rights of others is not as definitive and clear. But I am sure Constitutional lawyers would agree with my position.

Occupy Wall Street protesters go home and do your homework. When you come up with a definitive platform others will listen. Until then we’re tired of your actions and disregard of other people’s rights.