MLK events:

Today's first parade begins at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Western Avenue in South Los Angeles. It will head west to Crenshaw Boulevard, then south on Vernon Avenue. The parade ends at Leimert Park where a gospel festival will be held in honor Reverend King:

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8506969

Can these numbers be accurate?

This article from Business Insider quotes an editorial by New York Times columnist Charles Blow which can be found at this link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/11/opinion/11blow.html?_r=3&ref=opini...

Here's more of the commentary by Dylan Ratigan of Business Insider. The original article appeared in Huffington Post and credits Russell Simmons as a contributor to the piece. No attribution for Simmons in Business Insider?

“Yet when we look closer, we find that Greedy Bastards have rebranded racism and made it acceptable again, by calling it 'the war on drugs.'”

"There are more blacks under correctional control today -- in prison or jail, on probation or parole -- than were enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civil War began."

http://www.businessinsider.com/occupy-the-dream-the-mathematics-of-racis...

Thanks to Mr. Simmons and Mr. Ratigan for pointing out that these “wars” that have been declared by political interests (Reds and Blues) seem to become convenient vehicles for anything that turns a profit for those that build and maintain the infrastructure.

In other words, once there is an arrest for a minor drug offense for example, we see several profit-making interests becoming involved with the process. The bail bondsmen, criminal defense lawyers, prosecutors, prison guards, police, and often tow-truck drivers and shakedown companies like American Justice Associates, traffic schools, etc. all get their piece of the action. The system works great for those that turn a profit on it.

And as Mssrs. Simmons and Ratigan point out, the entire system appears to be a manifestation of racism in a slightly subtler form than what was seen prior to the civil rights movement of the 60's, but not by much. Of course, this results in a field of political interests that in turn hire lobbyists to represent them in legislative efforts that don't involve the victims of their systematic divestiture and disenfranchisement. 

The result is a very similar dynamic to that which has allowed the criminal element on Wall Street to avoid prosecution for their crimes, and in fact keep the profits, while those at the bottom of the legal food chain watch their limited resources trickle up the profit ladder. So what's new?

Video from Operation Skid Row (January 14 Morning Report) just in:

http://youtu.be/XrSmVo6Rnao

The #OWS message clearly descended from the civil rights movement of the 60's. The similarities are pronounced, especially the activist tactics. The issues are, in many cases, the same. This might not be as apparent to the younger #OWS protesters who only learned of the civil rights leaders of the 60's like Dr. King in a classroom. But for those of us who watched the dramatic activism of the 60's as impressionable kids that feared a nuclear attack from the Soviet Union, the movement appears to be a rebirth of social consciousness.

Many of the issues from that era are still around, and in fact have actually gotten worse because they have been institutionalized, becoming part of the infrastructure that seems to favor profiteers over people. (See the articles above).

Oppression, the suppression of free speech and the messengers like Dr. King,  has always been the foundation of class divisions that favor the rich (see NDAA 2012 and SOPA). When the poorest among us were not adequate to fill their coffers, they targeted the middle class, the evidence of which is apparent today in the form of securities valuation scams, illegal foreclosures, pay-to-play legislation, and laws that are targeted at everyone except those that become billionaires at the expense of the working middle class and the poverty-stricken. Those people get to keep their ill-gotten gains and go home to their gated mansions until they come up with new ways to circumvent the laws (or write their own) making a joke out of the basic morality that is fundamental to any self-governing society.

It is gratifying therefore to see leaders of the African-American community joining #OWS groups around the world (see Nigeria), to reclaim fundamental civil rights from those who find them an obstacle to profits; groups like the Central City Association in Los Angeles and lobbying firms that spend more time in D.C. that some legislators making sure the #OWS message does not take hold.

The media is the battlefield now because most of the encampments have been cleared. The actions, demonstrations and marches, are the vehicles to spread the message that has been in hibernation for 40 years.  So what better occasion to point this out than a celebration of Dr. King and the civil rights movement? And who is more qualified to speak to these issues than those who have long suffered the injustices caused by socio-economic inequities? Thanks Reverend Mayberry, Mr. Simmons, and others like you that have steadfastly stayed on message even when it was taking a nap for the last 40 years.

Rumors documented:

The tweets about the Occupy San Diego group being kicked off a Greyhound bus are accurate, this video footage provided by OccupySD99, one of our most reliable videographers on scene at Occupy San Diego where this sort of harassment is a daily occurrence:

http://youtu.be/2MARlk8voY4

Update from Ray Lutz, OSD:

"At about 7:50pm thirteen Occupiers since named “The Amarillo 13” which were headed to Occupy Congress for the Jan. 17, 2012 event were kicked off the bus by the driver, Don Ainsworth. They apparently were boarding the bus and the driver noticed the Occupiers t-shirts and was rude to not only the Occupiers but also the other riders. They were on the bus for about 5 min. One of the Occupiers questioned why their bags were not loaded up and the bus driver told them to sit down and shut up. The driver then locked all the passengers including the Occupiers on the bus for over an hour until police arrived. The Occupiers and other riders were getting restless. The police arrived and attempted to negotiate with the driver to be reasonable to no avail. The driver only kicked off the thirteen occupiers and stated that “Occupy will not occupy this bus.” The driver also stated that Occupy was not wanted here or in D.C."

• Call @greyhound: 1-800-231-2222. Driver name: Donald Ainsworth, bus no. 6252 license plate tx R24347 heading to Memphis, TN
• Police apologized but said it was their policy. Many on the bus were sympathic. Vivian was not allowed to get her shoes or boots. A person on the bus said she would get them for her at the next stop.
• Occupier on the ground who heard about the whole affair provided new shoes for Vivian at the next stop.
• This sort of discrimination based on political views by Greyhound must stop.
• Occupiers were interviewed by Channel 10 of Amarillo.
• From Anonymous: Greyhound CEO: David S. Leach, wife: Margaret Ann Leach. (972) 899-3053. 2820 Merlins Rock Ln, Lewisville, TX 75056
• OFFICIAL from Greyhound: If they get on the 5am bus, OSD will arrive in D.C. at 8:15PM on Jan 17. LATE.

Looks like the doxing of Greyhound CEO David S. Leach began immediately after the crude actions of one of his drivers. The corporate wiki for Leach was down and a pastebay entry may be a clue as to the reason.

http://www.corporationwiki.com/Texas/Dallas/david-s-leach/30293503.aspx

Note that just below that Google search result for David S. Leach you'll find a pastebay entry.

pastebay.com/pastebay.php?dl=286796

(Requires pasting in copy).

Occupy Congress video:

http://youtu.be/-qDAW8NDb08

Note to Sergio Ballesteros:

Please advise of circumstances of arrest and your meeting with Tea Party representatives prior.

Occupation Blog