POLICE STATE WATCH: First-Ever National (Coordinated?) Sweep of Occupy Protests

Is this a moment which will go down in infamy in our nation's history? The last I checked the Constitution, the people have a right to peaceably assemble and petition their government for a redress of grievances. It's right there in the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights of our Constitution:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Yesterday, as the media raged about the PSU sexual abuse tragedy, it was a perfect diversion for mayors across the nation to deploy their anti-riot police units against the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators. There ensued a clean sweep of OWS encampments in what could well be described as a coordinated action by the mayors and their "elite" police teams. It would be no surprise if we subsequently learn that Homeland Security was involved in some way — at the very least in the loop — as the OWS protesters were rounded up and evicted from their encampments.

Was it a dry run for the suppression of anti-government demonstrations — of any kind? Sure had that "feel." They can run exercises against mock terrorist events and civil disturbances, but there's no substitute for doing it against thousands of real demonstrators, even when they are peaceful and pose no threat whatsoever to constituted authority. Next stop: The courts, injunctions, and a change in tactics to larger, more targeted demonstrations, including perhaps but not limited to, a march on Washington, and: Occupy the Mall? Occupy Congress, the Supreme Court, and/or the White House?

Here's an incomplete rundown of this unprecedented POLICE STATE sweep:

• Mayor Bloomberg, New York's pretend progressive mayor, evicts original OWS demonstrators from Zuccotti, aka "Liberty" Park in police sweep; over 200 arrests.

• Oakland, CA: Predawn sweep and eviction; 32 arrests.

• Portland, OR: Camps at Lownsdale and Chapman Squares dismantled; some protesters resisted and were arrested.

• Chapel Hill, NC: Police Swat team sweeps vacant auto dealership, wearing riot gear and brandishing their assault weapons against peaceful, terrified kids branded as "anarchists." Un-fucking-believable.

• Berkeley, CA: Historic birthplace of the 60s "Free Speech Movement" is the site today of a demonstration — is another police crackdown in the offing?

PASTORAL SCENES OF POLICE TAKING DOWN OWS FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA: LET FREEDOM RING!