Part 2: Photo Essay: Heroes Fighting for Single Payer Arrested in Philly For Civil Disobedience

SAVE AS FAVORITE

VIEW FAVORITES

By Rob Kall (about the author) Page 1 of 1 page(s)

opednews.com Permalink

For OpEdNews: Rob Kall - Writer

continuation from Part 1 Photo Essay: Heroes Fighting for Single Payer Arrested in Philly For Civil Disobedience

The police prepare-- How many cuffs will be needed.

Lt. Konczyk of the Philly Police Civil Affairs unit gives the protesters the first of the standard three warnings. Konczyk is the same officer who did the count-down for the people arrested at the Army Experience Center Protest on September 12. We think he is the one who ordered the arrest of OEN managing editor, Cheryl Biren, when she was photographing protesters. At the BC/BS protest, I could hear him and see him directing the plain clothes and uniformed police on the scene. The photographer directly behind him is from the Philadelphia Inquirer. A Daily News reporter was also there, new to the health beat-- didn't know who Wendell Potter-- a Philly person-- was. I guess it's better than not having anyone cover health care. The company that owns the Philly Inquirer and Daily News is in bankruptcy, and it's owned by right wingers. Progressives have pretty low expectations from them, except for a few writers, like Will Bunch. I mean, the Inquirer hired on John Yoo and Rick Santorum as columnists. I'm sure they're brilliant writers. NOT!!

Arrests begin. Most of those arrested seemed to be experiencing joy, laughing, being applauded by onlooking protesters who were not engaging in civil disobedience.

To me, too many of the onlooking protesters were focusing on the handcuffing when they should have been watching for the police to be taking the arrested on their perp walk, and they should have all been cheering them. One teabagger called them traitors. I replied, loudly, "they're heroes," and the crowd picked up on it, echoing my sentiments. But somehow if there was more pre-planning and discipline, even handouts given to the protesters, with instructions, the effect of cheering for those arrested for civil disobedience could have been more powerful. They deserved it. Still, it was clear that those arrested were well prepared. There HAD been a planning meeting earlier in the week.

This sense of joy, of being part of something important and meaningful, while being arrested, is oft reported.

13 were arrested altogether-- 12 of them seemed to be under 25.

photo essay continued in next and final segment

Rob Kall is executive editor, publisher and site architect of OpEdNews.com, Host of the Rob Kall Bottom Up Radio Show (WNJC 1360 AM), President of Futurehealth, Inc, (more...)

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

Contact Author

Contact Editor

View Authors' Articles

Book Recommendations for "Activism Civil Rights"

Pure Fire: Self-Defense as Activism in the Civil Rights Era
by Christopher B. Strain

$24.95

Number of pages: 264
Publisher: University of Georgia Press