Iraq war vet injured during Oakland protests(critical condition)

Yahoo/AP ^ | 10/26/11 | Terry Collins

[EBH]

The clash between Oakland police and Occupy Wall Street protesters left a Marine veteran who completed two Iraq tours in critical condition Wednesday after he was struck by a police projectile, a veterans' group said.

Scott Olsen, 24, suffered a fractured skull Tuesday as he marched with other protesters toward City Hall, said Dottie Guy, of the Iraq Veterans Against the War. The demonstrators had been making an attempt to re-establish a presence in the area of a disbanded protesters' camp when they were met by police officers in riot gear.

Several small skirmishes broke out and officers cleared the area by firing tear gas.

It's not known exactly what type of object struck Olsen, currently a systems network administrator in Daly City, or whether he'll need surgery, Guy said.

"It's still too early to tell," Guy said. "We're hoping for the best."

Curt Olsen, a spokesman for Highland Hospital in Oakland, confirmed that the veteran was in critical condition but could not release any more information.

The clash Tuesday came as officials complained about what they described as deteriorating safety, sanitation and health issues at the dismantled camp.

Olsen, who completed his service last year, participated in the protest because he felt corporations and banks have too much influence on the government, Guy said.

A vigil for him is scheduled to be held Wednesday evening near the Oakland City Hall, she said. Multiple attempts to reach Oakland police Wednesday by The Associated Press were unsuccessful, but the department was scheduled to take part in a news conference at 4:30 p.m.

[trumandogz]

If Oakland Police are willing to do this to a left winger protesting, just image what they will do during a conservative protest.

[NormsRevenge]

Ironic, he had a good job too, he just got sucked into the prop wash of the USS Peacenik fleet.

[Michael Barnes]

The demonstrators had been making an attempt to re-establish a presence in the area of a disbanded protesters' camp when they were met by police officers in riot gear.

Really? It was that hardened of an operation?

The demonstrators Taliban had been making an attempt to re-establish a presence in the area of a disbanded protesters' outlook camp when they were met by police officers in riot gear Marines from the 11th MEU.

'Ol Terry needs to chill on the sensationalism a bit.

[beandog]

Well, since conservatives do not behave like this, I imagine this will never come up.

[trumandogz]

“Well, since conservatives do not behave like this, I imagine this will never come up.”

Don’t be naive, the police in this country have been known to brutalize Pro Lifers who were protesting at abortion mills saving lives.

[FritzG]

Interesting strategy by the Oakland police.

Put a protester down with a projectile. The surrounding people rush to his aid, then throw a flash bang into the crowd to scatter and disorganize them.

Doesn't really take into account of the person on the crowd, nor the possibility of blowback from their action.

[rlmorel]

You want to side with them, go ahead. That would tell me all I need to know about you. Here is a guy I would lend my sympathy to:

This guy (and five of his buddies who served with him in Fallujah) came over to stand with us (the DC Chapter of Free Republic) outside Arlington National Cemetery at the Gathering of Eagles in 2007.

These guys, who I met up with the next day while I visited my dad's grave, had lost one of their buddies over there and were paying him a visit. They saw us and our signs, and figured we were the ones they wanted to stand with.

These guys, who gave away a good part of their youth and in a couple of cases, their health, had to stand there and watch these Veterans for Peace a$$holes parade in front of them and be harangued by them.

At one point, one of the turds was arguing with these Marines, and saying things like "I have my DD214 right here...I served too" and "You were patsies, they didn't even give you vehicles that could withstand bombs or tools to do your job" at which point this guy pictured above lunged at them and had to be held back by his buddies. He said to the anti-war turd something along the lines of: "You don't speak for me...you weren't over there, you don't have any idea what went on..."

That picture was on the front page of the Washington Post the next day.

Choose a side, because you have to here. If you want to side with those low-lifes who protest outside of Walter Reed with signs like "Enlist here to die for Halliburton", be my guest. It wouldn't surprise me.

[TheOldLady]

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[rlmorel]

By the way, if you can’t discuss the issue without resorting to ad hominem attacks, go find another site to frequent. We don’t need your type here.

[buccaneer81]

Watch your mouth, noob.

[rlmorel]

That is your theory? That the police deliberately aimed to disable someone, perhaps even kill them in order to create a an environment to cause more panic and further their goal to break up the crowd?

[Callahan]

These wannabes got exactly what they were looking for. They do everything they can to toe the edge and provoke a confrontation with the cops, then act dismayed when the inevitable happens and cash in on the PR bonanza. Donny Deutsche (liberal ad man) was on MSNBC just the other day openly stating that OWS needed a “Kent State moment.” Who will their next martyr be?

[FritzG]

Yeah. I'm not saying it's right. But, its efficient. Put down one person to save the injuries from extended fighting toward the police and protesters.

It's simple practice in the military that a wounded person takes up more resources to save than killing them outright.

[rlmorel]

Do you think they specifically discussed this strategy at their briefing before they formed up, or do you think it was a couple of them acting in tandem on the spur of the moment?

[rlmorel]

First off, you are talking to yourself, since you addressed your filthy mouth to yourself, fittingly.

Second, you are about to get banned because you can’t control yourself and discuss an issue without resorting to foul language. We don’t need people like you around here.

It seems apparent to me where your sympathies lie, because emotionally, you are right in the same league with them when it comes to intelligent discourse.

[FritzG]

Shrug. I don't know if it would be a official 'policy' from the department. We will see if there is a investigation to what happened, etc.

Those flash bangs and other anti-crowd devices are accountable.

If they come out and say they don't know who threw one into the crowd, then you know its policy. If they choose to punish the guy, then you know he did it for kicks.

Like throwing a M-80 at a cat. Same mentality. Anyone who has used them or seen one go off know they aren't something to play around with.

[NormsRevenge]

These are seasoned riot police.. they get lots of practice in this neck of the woods.

The protesters have been advised to disperse and were actually read the ‘Riot Act’, Yes, there is a law in California re: unlawful assemblies, have refused to do so after multiple readings and now bear the brunt of the responsibility where this goes.

They had a local gal that took a shot to her back of her leg on news last night, left a heckuva welt.. but she’ll heal in time.

Hope the young fella recovers, if not, who is really to blame for his predicament?

[rlmorel]

Thanks, whoever you are.