DogByte6RER
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Posted on 12/25/2011 10:01:43 AM PST by DogByte6RER
Pasadena police ramp up for Occupy the Rose Parade
PASADENA - In response to the planned demonstration by Occupy, the Pasadena Police Department has doubled down on the number of law enforcement agents that will patrol the streets and skies during the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 2, police Lt. Phlunte Riddle said.
The exact number of additional police officers, sheriff's deputies, California Highway Patrol officers and federal agents remains secret.
"We have partnered with federal, state and local agencies and have sufficient coverage for the Rose Parade," Riddle said. "We have increased staffing this year but what the number is, is something we don't share."
Riddle serves as the security liaison between the Pasadena Police Department and the Tournament of Roses. Pasadena will put all of its police force on duty Jan. 2.
"Everybody who works for the Pasadena police works. Be it day side, night side or the game," Riddle said. "We are 235 sworn officers, so it takes everybody and then some."
Pasadena will put helicopters in the air and employ a Bearcat armored vehicle during the parade, Riddle said.
Occupy the Rose Parade leader Peter Thottam characterized the ramped-up police response as an overreaction.
"I don't think it's necessary. We are going to have a peaceful, nonviolent rally," Thottam said.
The Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game draw more than a half-million people to Pasadena each year. Millions more view the events on television
This year's installment falls on Jan. 2 due to a TofR rule that doesn't allow the parade or game to be conducted on a Sunday.
The Occupy movement announced its plans to demonstrate at the Rose Parade in November.
Occupy the Rose Parade will display signs from the sidewalk during the parade. The progressive grass-roots group also will form a human float, following the official end of parade. The float in the shape of an octopus will proceed down the route after the last float begins its slow crawl down Colorado Boulevard.
Activists Cindy Sheehan, noted for her protest of the Iraq War outside of President George W. Bush's Texas ranch, and documentary filmmaker Michael Moore will join the Occupy the Rose Parade protest, according to the Occupy website.
The octopus is meant to represent the stranglehold corporations have on the country, and the protest will address what Thottam sees as the country's misplaced priorities.
"A total of nine floats are underwritten by banks. We believe the parade has not only been corporatized but militarized," Thottam said. "You have a grand marshal who is an Iraq soldier and we have nothing against him, but those two wars - Iraq and Afghanistan - were wrong and the government took money away from social services to fight those wars."
Occupy the Rose Parade's efforts to capture the public's attention and garner support has picked up steam in recent weeks.
Lauded professor and champion of liberal causes Cornel West endorsed Occupy the Rose Parade during a Dec. 18 speech at All Saints Church in Pasadena.
All Saints Rector Ed Bacon offered his support of the Occupy movement and the church will host the first phase of Occupy the Rose Parade, a social and economic justice forum from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
"I'm very happy about the economic justice message of Occupy," Bacon said. "I welcome the national debate that Occupy is stimulating."
Bacon sees a role in the national discussion on wealth disparity not just for All Saints, which has historically pressed for social and economic justice, but for the entire faith community.
"The essence of Christianity is to be on the side of the poor," Bacon said.
In the weeks leading up to the Rose Parade, Occupy has worked closely with the Pasadena police, but such cozy talks between the movement and the cops have gone sour in the past.
Violence has erupted at Occupy sites across the country, and in light of those events Pasadena police have reached out to agencies far and wide for advice, Riddle said.
"As far as Occupy, they have indicated to us they have no intention to interrupt the parade, but we always prepare for every contingency," Riddle said. "We have spoken to other agencies about their experiences to help us assess our strategy."
Occupy's presence at the parade riled conservative activists in the tea party, who planned a counterprotest, but backed out declaring that such a move would only add to the politicizing of what traditionally has been a family event.
To the contrary, Thottam said he believes the Rose Parade makes for the perfect stage for people to voice their grievances.
"The Rose Parade is one of the few available public spaces where people can be heard. Occupy is going to use the Rose Parade to be heard," Thottam said. "People are going to do our best to take back control of their government."
But they have no message.
“People are going to do our best to take back control of their government.”
Sounds more like a tea party message than the public masterbating Obama suporter.
Except they want to take back the government? from who? The big spenders/re-distributors because they are not spending and re-distributing enough?
You’d think these guys would be smart enough to go after things that are the targets of people’s rage. Now they just look like jackboots.
Edit:
“People are going to do our best to take back control of their government.”
Sounds more like a tea party message than a public masterbating Obama suporter’s message.
Except they want to take back the government? from who? The big spenders/redistributors? Because they are not spending and redistributing enough?
These OWS holes must confuse themselves???
This stupidity has to stop, can you say RICO Act?
And, these clueless wastrels will cost the Pasadena taxpayers how much in police overtime????
The crowd might take care of them and show them the error of their ways.
The OccuPunks shoule be encouraged to have their own float. They could cover it with garbage for a starter.
Only if it is “organic” garbage, mind you
I have said that in the past. They are conspiring to do all kinds of things.
Go after them; sic the lawyers on them.
Unfortunately, that's highly doubtful!! We have ben conditioned to let "those in charge" handle these things and not get involved. IMO, the same will occur hre.
Watching cops swinging their bats might liven up the parade for all the out-of-staters who line the streets.
Watching floats from Republic of Indonesia and and pro-illegal alien companies like Wells Fargo gets rather dull.
Go ahead libs. This little tantrum will make you
almost as popular as that whack sect that protests
military funerals.
We are flying in from Jersey to see our daughter who lives in SO CA on New Years - my wife always wanted to see a Rose Parade live so we added a day and sprung for Grandstand seats when they went on sale.
This will be a bonus- I understand Michael Moore is going to be accompanying the octopus float, or perhaps he will be the float. Believe me, I will be exercising my right to free expression when these bozos go by. I did promise the wife I will not use profanity, however.
“I did promise my wife I will not use profanity, however.”
Did you promise your wife that you would not use an egg
or rotten veggies?
I meant the OccuPunks themselves.
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