Column: Lawsuits could end Occupy nuisance

USA Today, DavidRivkin.com ^ | 11/30/2011 | David B. Rivkin Jr. and Lee A. Casey

[american_steve]

They are not what democracy looks like and are looking less and less like a serious protest movement. Nevertheless, much can be learned from the Occupy Wall Street crowd's protracted seizure of New York's private Zuccotti Park, similar unlawful tactics around the country and the much delayed official response. The most important lesson is that when government fails to do its duty in a timely manner, ordinary citizens must consider using existing laws to protect themselves from unruly Occupiers.

The park protesters have been camping out in the urban environment, unsuitable for such activities. They have created sanitary problems and noise pollution by beating drums and other instruments. Crime has shot up in and around the park, including rapes and physical assaults. Police officers have been injured in confrontations with protesters — problems that are not limited to Occupy protests in New York City. Yet, for weeks, public officials — afraid of being labeled as hostile to the First Amendment — have gone to great lengths to avoid confrontation with the protesters.

[american_steve]

Casey and Rivkin are the voice of reasons. These occupy wall street hipsters should be occupying the Constitution than camping out in a park or in front of the mayors' driveways.

[Libloather]

Who gets the $13 MILLION bill? The parents?

[jessduntno]

Why can't this man find work?

[SuzyQue]

“That is what democracy looks like. The Occupy campers should try it sometime.”

No, actually the Occupiers are practicing democracy, and that IS what it looks like. Rivkin is advocating using rule of law instead.

[isthisnickcool]

The park is private property owned by Brookfield Properties. The surrounding property owners should pool their money and sue Brookfield for damages.

[Eagle of Liberty]

I think that the Richmond Tea Party has the right idea here. Either charge them the proper permit fees or refund all of fees paid for the Tea Party rallies at these locations.

And while the OWS protests go on without law enforcement occurring, this is happening to the Richmond Tea Party:

VA Tea Party Group Faces Audit After Accusing Mayor of Giving Occupiers Preferential Treatment

A Tea Party group in Richmond, Virginia is being audited after it accused the local mayor of giving preferential treatment to the local Occupy movement. They say the audit is “an obvious attempt to intimidate and harass us.”

Roughly two weeks ago, Richmond Tea Party spokeswoman Colleen Owens told the Richmond Times-Dispatch her group sent Mayor Dwight C. Jones an invoice for about $10,000 it paid the city to hold three Tax Day rallies in a local park. Occupy Richmond protesters have been using the park without paying since October 15. Yesterday, Ms. Owens wrote a blog post for Andrew Breitbart’s conservative news site BigGovernment.com accusing the mayor of punishing her group for making a stink.

“This audit is an obvious attempt to intimidate and harass us for standing up against the unfair treatment and discrimination against our Tea Party,” Ms. Owens wrote.

[dsrtsage]

Thought you guys should know. I got a malware warning for that site, so I did not go to it.

[Paine in the Neck]

The park is private property owned by Brookfield Properties. The surrounding property owners should pool their money and sue Brookfield for damages.

I suggested just that back on Nov.5:
I would suggest that all the neighbors who’ve had to put up with Zoo-cotti band together and sue the Park’s owner for damages. Seems like a good opportunity for some enterprising class-action lawyer.

[IndePundit]

“I know the American People are much attached to their Government;—I know they would suffer much for its sake;—I know they would endure evils long and patiently, before they would ever think of exchanging it for another. Yet, notwithstanding all this, if the laws be continually despised and disregarded, if their rights to be secure in their persons and property, are held by no better tenure than the caprice of a mob, the alienation of their affections from the Government is the natural consequence; and to that, sooner or later, it must come.” - Abraham Lincoln, Lyceum Address, 1838