Jules Boykoff Beyond Bullets: The Suppression of Dissent in the United States
and
Kristian Williams Our Enemies in Blue: Police and Power in America

"Woah. Timely. Only a couple of days after our streets were filled with pepper spray and overturned dumpsters."

"The protests down at the port of Olympia were initially intended to show active local resistance to the war in Iraq, and to military usage of the Port of Olympia. Since that protest involved blocking the street, the police are called upon to remove the protesters. The Olympia Police Department has been under fire from certain sectors of our population prior to this -- allegations of misconduct, incompetence, bullying/intimidation and improper use of force eventually gave expression to an anti-police display daily on the westside bridge, not to mention packed city council meetings with the council themselves caught in the middle of what sometimes seems to be an intractable disconnect between the police and the downtown populace.

"The concepts of both dissent and policing are far from simple, and each has a unique legacy in the USA. Max Weber defined the state as an entity that reserves unto itself the sole legitimate use of violence. Both authors' books contextualize that legitimization and the scope of the violence. You get two for one, plus what promises to be a lively discussion."

7 pm, Friday November 16th.

I suggest Olympians everywhere heal their bruised egos (mine included), hurt feelings, anger and whatever else got stired up and spend a day meditating on the most peaceful thing known. Donuts. Beloved by cops and citizens alike, this simple pleasure can be made so many ways. From vegan whole grain sugar free to the processed and bleached flour full of corn syrup and artificial colors, or my personal favorite; sourdough donuts.

I suggest that Sunday at noon, we all spend a silent minute wherever we may be meditating on donuts, whatever donut makes us happy. And then go out and share your newfound Joy of the Donut. Through donuts, we can achieve peace.

Local blogger Gabi Clayton has a good post with reflections and resources: Giving thanks and protesting:

I don’t hate police. But I do hate the behavior of some, and I call on those police who are not okay with the acts of fellow officers to stand up and do something about it.

On Sunday night I offered free debriefing/counseling/support to the protesters who have been traumatized, and on Monday I sent some resources to friends who are involved so they can share them with folks who are dealing with being assaulted and traumatized by the police.

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Oly public bloglines

We nearly had a Governor Snively.

Washington State's 2nd gubernatorial contest in 1892 was a three-way race: John Harte McGraw (Republican), Henry Joseph Snively (Democrat), and Cyrus W. Young (Populist) all had the potential to win. Prohibition Party candidate Roger S. Greene could've easily been a spoiler. Unlike the 1889 election for Governor, this one turned very nasty and really came down to a fight between King and Pierce counties.

Henry Joseph Snively was born Aug. 17, 1856 in Virginia. His father, a German immigrant, was a contractor and builder. It appears his family lived in the part of the state that split off and formed West Virginia during the Civil War.

Snively earned his law degree in 1879 and plied his legal trade in West Virginia for seven years. In 1886 he relocated to North Yakima, where he was promptly elected to the position of district attorney for the district of Yakima and Kittitas counties. In 1889 he was on the Democratic ticket with Eugene Semple, running for the opportunity to be the first Washington State Attorney General, but he lost to William Carey Jones, 58-42%. In 1890, he was elected to the Washington State Legislature.

We found this song/video online about two weeks ago and it has been well received around here, so I thought I should share it that other OlyBlog parents could discover/relive the fun.

I really paid no attention. Given the current happenings at the port, I wonder if an "anti-war" person was voted in. Anyone?

I was reminded of something by a friend that happened during the Vietnam War (thanks Sam!), and it changed the way I think about the present activities happening down at the port:

"On May 5, 1970, over 1,000 protestors came together on I-5, blocking southbound lanes, to speak out against the US's invasion of Cambodia, and the death of four Kent State antiwar protestors, shot by members of the National Guard.

I bring this up because of the constant repetition of the mantra by some in this town that blocking or slowing the equipment from Iraq really doesn't do anything to stop the war. I don't think that blocking southbound traffic in the middle of Seattle changed anything directly related to the war in Vietnam, but it was successful in making people think.

Protesting at the port has certainly brought the issue of the Iraq War to the front of the minds of everyone who lives in this town. I hope that one message that people take home is that there are some in our community who are so upset by what our country is doing that they are willing to be pepper-sprayed and dragged through the street. If nothing else, it does make you think.