Do you believe the violent police raid on peaceful Oakland Protesters was justified?

Non sequitor. If a protest is peaceful, there is no call for violence. The police behaved as if the protesters had been the mob scene that broke out after Vancouver lost the Stanley Cup.It is behaviour like this that gives cops a bad name in some cities.

Of course it was not justified. Then again, neither was the assault on the Bonus Army who camped in a Hoover-ville to demand their promised bonues after WWI wherein 55 veterans were wounded by bayonets. And neither was the Kent State shooting of civilian protestors by the National Guard justified.

This is rapidly becoming a police state, if we are not already there. This is how our government handles its problems; pre-emptive war. I know a thing or two about unjustified pre-emptive conflicts as I have served in two of the recent unjustified American wars.

I just hope these protestors can summon some Ghandi-like spirit and maintain their cool. Because, once they become violent, every media outlet will report that they are dissenters, domestic terrorists, and rioters. Thereafter, the response will be swift, violent, and "justified.

I agree Flora', thanks for your input, Some seem to believe this was justified and I guess I should have added what do you think should be done about this. There is a US Veteran in critical care, with massive head trauma because of this irresponsible decisions of Oakland Mayor. I hope you can add a better comment now @ Polly ;).

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.