samples

a sampling of better may day media coverage;  first, democracy now! - the following national segment -




and their international overview -




from detroit, an interview with reverand david bullock who gave a rousing speech, and speaking briefly about economic recovery and cutbacks to education  -  and in a city where ground zero students recently suspended for civil disobedience are now starting their own freedom school.




in new york, again, real news speaks with various demonstrators about why they are there -




occupytv has it covered, too, including the taxi cab drivers and some great marching band music -




common dreams has international video material here from reuters and al jazeera.

yesterday's protests spanned cities and towns across the united states, as well as globally.  in america, demonstrators represented a broad coalition across labor, immmigrant rights, and the occupy movement.

following some of the livestream activity yesterday, along with twitter, demonstrations swelled in new york, seattle, los angeles - where LAX was reportedly shut down for about an hour - the bay area, minneapolis, chicago, and portland oregon where protesters were especially vocal.  below, a brief clip of one portland segment confronting the police about non-violence in a macing incident:





there was some other violence reported in oakland, also seattle where bank windows were broken with sticks;  in addition,  incidents of police brutality.  in new york, on livestream with tim pool, N.Y.P.D. officers were observed by thousands throwing a man to the ground, then hitting him in the leg with batons before his fellow protesters were able to carry him away.  one of the officers beat the man and then just turned and walked off as if it were nothing.

in seattle, rough arrests were seen when protesters put occupy tents back up and blocked police access.  guardian reports that seattle mayor mcginnis made an emergency declaration allowing police to confiscate any item that could potentially be used as a weapon; seattle police then later tweeted confiscation of tent stakes and poles, presumably under this executive authority concerning weaponry.

seattle livestream reporting with plutouranesquare showed a vigorous and peaceful immigrant rights protest in seattle that wound its way through a number of neighborhoods including the international district.  marchers wore red shirts and carried american flags and signs calling for immigration reform and abolition of e-verify.  organizers spoke to the crowd about how important the day was, historically, to immigrants, and how long and hard people had worked to achieve rights.  demonstrators shouted in unison, "Si Se Puede!" ("Yes We Can!") and followed a float with a large stagecoach on a truck manned by a cowboy swinging his lasso - the crowd ultimately headed to a wells fargo bank location where occupy protesters could also be heard loudly chanting, "Banks Got Bailed Out! We Got Sold Out!" 

minneapolis' livestream showed a large, relaxed, family friendly crowd including moms with strollers and toddlers in tow;  marchers headed into one of the city's parks by the water.  on the way, the demonstration paused a bit in the acoustics of an overpass as dancers in outstanding indigenous dress with accompanying drummers performed.

tom morello and occupy guitarmy took to the stage in n.y.c., and could be heard on livestream cooking the audience up with a rousing rendition of world wide rebel song.  this must have been it -



below is another clip on tom morello and occupy guitarmy from the artisan news service -