Michael Moore: Occupy movement "killed apathy"

Filmmaker Michael Moore addresses several hundred Occupy Oakland protesters outside City Hall in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011. Moore urged the protesters to continue demonstrating against what they see as a growing disparity between rich and poor. / AP Photo/Noah Berger

OAKLAND, Calif. - Filmmaker Michael Moore told anti-Wall Street protesters in Oakland that the Occupy movement - which has spread to cities across America and overseas - in inspiring millions who are angry about corporate excess, income inequality and the failure of politicians to address issues facing the majority of Americans.

"We've killed despair across the country and we've killed apathy," he said.

The director of the documentary films "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "Bowling for Columbine" said people throughout the U.S. were "disgusted" and "horrified" when police fired tear gas and bean bags and took other aggressive actions against protesters Tuesday night.

Iraq war veteran Scott Olsen, 24, remains hospitalized in fair condition with a fractured skull suffered from a projectile fired during a sweep of Frank Ogawa Plaza by police in riot gear. His condition has become a rallying cry at Occupy protests around the world.

Although police cleared protesters and their tents from the plaza Tuesday morning, the protesters and their tents returned the next day, and held a candlelight vigil for Olsen. The new encampment has grown to about 50 tents. Organizers said up to a thousand people were in the area late Friday night, with very few police in sight.

Addressing about 1,000 Occupy Oakland protesters in front of City Hall Friday, Moore said the week's events in Oakland will go down as a "watershed moment" in the Occupy Wall Street movement, reports CBS Station KPIX.

"Millions have seen this and are inspired by you because you came back the next night," said Moore.

Oakland protesters re-"Occupy" plaza
"Occupy" demonstrators rally around injured vet

Moore said the movement cannot tolerate violence against demonstrators. Referring to Olsen, Moore said, "It's absolutely criminal that this young man went to Iraq for a war he didn't agree with, and the only place he had to worry about was here in his own country, in Oakland, California."

He said the movement has already had "a number of victories in our first six weeks," saying, "I've never seen a movement take form so fast."

He also said the Occupy protests, which were initially dismissed by politicians and bankers, have changed the national discussion. "When was the last time in the last few weeks you heard them talking about the debt ceiling?" asked Moore.

84 Photos

"Occupy" protests: Month 2

Moore rhetorically asked the crowd, "There's no turning back, is there?" and the crowd answered with a loud "No!"

Moore urged protesters - many of whom are demonstrating against growing inequality between the rich and poor - to continue their movement until they run the country.

Meanwhile, Oakland's police chief said he takes responsibility for the crackdown on the anti-Wall Street protesters earlier this week.

Jordan defended the officers involved in the effort to drive protesters from a days-long encampment, saying they used what they believed to be the least amount of force possible to protect themselves.

"I want to ensure you that all allegations of misconduct and excessive uses of force are being thoroughly investigated," Jordan said.

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, who on Thursday publicly apologized for Tuesday's incident, said Friday that she did so because people got hurt.

[noloyalisti]

I strongly recommend that people check out the Occupy Movement Declaration. It is brilliantly written and makes 20 demands that no one (except the Top 1% who are sitting fat and happy) could be against.

Even better, it outlines a long term plan to take over the government for the 99% (as opposed to the Top 1% which it now serves).

When I read the Declaration I thought "why do they need to state such simple and obvious demands that our government should have been for all along". It is truly unbelievable what the Top 1% and their GOP minions have been able to get away with.

[marie_vi]

The Fed (along with the U.S. government) is like Robin Hood in reverse ... steal from the poor/middle class to give to the rich :( I am referring to the bank bail outs.

[OnTheCrown]

Its a bit more complicated than that. Our taxes weren't raised to pay for it, and some of the payments made to banks did not need bailing out. Some were forced to take the money to lend to the consumers (which did not happen). Also, half of the 400 billion paid out was returned anyway plus interest.

Either way, I agree that the government should not be in the business of propping up financial markets in a capitalist system. They should have let it all fail.

[noloyalisti]

National Move Your Money Day November V.

[HuntinFishin]

While it probably isn't a good idea to remove the ability to become wealthy from our legal structure, it's grossly counterproductive to allow some to own so much that they have essentially cornered the market on basic necessities for the overwhelming majority.

-------------------------------------------

Most of this country is able to get basic needs in this country on their own accord, and the government and non-profit charities are able take up the slack. Everyone has the opportunity despite their circumstances to succeed. The Constitution is working as intended.

[noloyalisti]

Michael Moore is brilliant and I highly recommend reading his speech that he gave us in Oakland on Friday and SF on Saturday. He has been waiting a long time for this like those of us who have been out on the streets since the start of the Bush Crime Family Reign of Terror.

[OnTheCrown]

I am all for economic equality. But in terms of the whole world, 99% of this country is in the 1%.

[noloyalisti]

You may be right but we cannot help the rest of the world while the Top 1% are stealing all the wealth of the country. Part of the demands of the 99% Movement will repair much of the inequality that we have rendered in this country and across the world. Occupy 99% realize that part of this is we are at a critical juncture in man made global climate change that will decimate the planet and be most disastrous for the poor (as usual).

[OnTheCrown]

noloyalisti: Actually they are not stealing "all" the wealth in this country. That is a rhetorical falsehood. There are many in the bottom 99% who are wealthy and there are some others who are comfortable.

And for those of you in the 99% who are for economic equality, they need to set the example by selling your non-essential goods and donate the money to worthy causes and charities overseas.
To expect others to do so is a little hypocritical.

[cbgibbons]

The movement needs to move it's focus to Washington DC and Occupy congress. Hold up signs saying Vote Out Every Congressperson until the tax laws change. THEN we will see some scrambling!!!!

[HuntinFishin]

"This is why Buffett made the comment - he pays 17% in taxes, his secretary pays 28%"

I ran the numbers. Even if she took only the standard deductions, at most she is paying no more than 15%. If she is paying more, then she needs to get a professional to prepare her taxes.

[Leadfootedrabbit]

Instead of staging a John Lennon-like sleep in, they should be marching down to Washington, DC, and across University campus offices, where the real culprits are. The rich can only influence the corrupt. True leaders lead, they aren't bought. Unfortunately, we currently lack that brand of true leadership. Wall Street is your scapegoat, and a convenient way to engage in class warfare.
http://www.leadfootedrabbit.com/2011/10/99-of-what.html

[Harden_Tar]

Now that the biggest hipocrite of them all has joined you, you are doomed. Did big Mike arrive in his private jet and then my limo? No doubt he will make one of his biased documentaties, make millions and go back to his mansion, laughing at you fools all the way.

[RobAla]

If Moore and the "occupy people" are against corporate welfare (the ridiculous government bailouts), I agree that the federal government should never be about deciding which businesses succeed and which ones fail. I was angry when President Bush began the bailouts, and I was even more angry when President Obama went nuts with bailouts. However, why are the "occupy people" angry with Wall Street? Why aren't they angry with the perpetrators of the bailouts - Washington?

Because of their misplaced anger at Wall Street and their determination to give the real offender (Washington) a pass, I don't think the mix of government and corporations is their real beef. In fact, I think they want more involvement of government in private sector business. It seems they want government take over of private sector business - and this is absolutely wrong headed. Government can't even manage itself effectively; hence, an outrageous $14.4 trillion national debt. This would be a total disaster.

Some of the "occupy people" are all about someone else being on the hook to pay their student loans, and others are all about someone else being on the hook to pay their medical bills. The "occupy people" have the gall to talk about GREED. These people are some of the most self centered and greedy people I have heard of.

Many of them are socialists, a philosophically flawed and silly system that is doomed to fail because it ignores human nature. Socialism has failed all over the world. They want a heavy handed federal government to confiscate wealth from one group of working Americans, and give the money to them - for doing nothing. They seem to think that a heavy handed government would never come after them one day for something. These are not smart people. They are childishly self centered and greedy, and they are childishly naive.

The Tea Party people sought legal permits to protest, and they paid the fees for the permits. After protesting, they cleaned up after themselves and went home (allowing the citizens of the community to have access to their parks - which their taxes paid for).

The "Occupy People" are squatters, who obtained no permits, they have trashed parks and streets, and they have not allowed the citizens of the communities access to their own parks and streets.

Now, which group should be the model for our children? Which group shows respect to their fellow citizen?

If 43% of the nation is in favor of the government taking wealth from one group of Americans and redistributing it another group, then:
1) The public school system has succeeding in brainwashing Americans into accepting socialism, and it has replaced education with social engineering.
2) We are well on our way of losing the independent spirit that made the people of this nation so strong.
3) We are quickly moving from a nation of individual self determination, to a nation of government dependence and helplessness.

God help us, because we seem determined not to help ourselves.

[jmca2009]

You absolutely nailed it RobAla!
The reason Capitalism works is because it harnesses Man's natural greed by inspiring individuals to work hard, start businesses, and create jobs, in the belief that they can get rich and enjoy the good life. If you try to take that wealth from the creators, then they will quit working so hard and sit on their hands, then you won't have anymore wealth to re-distribute. The protesters are just as greedy as everyone else, difference is they are dishonest with themselves and everyone around them.

"Capitalism is the unequal distribution of wealth; Socialism is the equal distribution of poverty." Winston Churchill