Bellingham Washington — Four Occupy Bellingham protesters were arrested Wednesday afternoon 12/28/11, after police in riot gear swept through the park where they had set up camp. Demonstrators began occupying the park around the clock nearly two months ago, in violation of city laws. Protesters temporarily blocked Holly Street in front of the park, moving tents into the street, until officers were able to disperse the crowd.
“A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both, and deserve neither” Thomas Jefferson.
I’m am neither for nor against the 99%ers, but if US citizens want to peacefully assemble and protest their lot, I back them to the fullest extent that the bill of rights allows. The crackdown on peaceful protests in my backyard makes me more upset than the actual state of the union and economy. Things could be better, but to lose the freedom of speech that is central to the great experiment of America is more damning than the the bailouts themselves.