200 Are Arrested as Protesters Clash With the Police

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/nyregion/protesters-clash-with-police-in-lower-manhattan.html?_r=1&hpw

Part of my (considerably longer) journal response:

In this particular article, I read about protesters who "tossed aside metal barricades," who were "charged with felony assault,"and who rushed through police lines and blockades, despite police officers "shoving demonstrators and throwing punches" and the fact that they were "pushed back by metal barricades and [met by] swinging batons."  And although I agree with a lot of what OWS wants to accomplish and I do support the movement, It is this aspect of OWS that I find the most issue with, and that, frankly, worries me. The entire Occupy movement is supposed to be a non-violent one, yet instances of violence are growing more common. To the side of  the article, there was a oicture of a young man who was at OWS earlier today. In the picture, the protestor is being held by two police officers that are much larger that he is, his eyes are squeezed shut, and it looks almost as if he may be crying. What really makes picture stand out and gives it this powerful impact, is the fact that his head and forehead are covered in blood, and the blood is dripping down from his head, over his eyes, and down his cheeks. Although it was small, the picture was imensley powerful and immediatly caught my attention. Even though this man apparently threw a battery at a police officer (though granted it was an AAA battery and pretty small) and had knocked off an officer's hat to get his attention, the author effectively changed the reader' perceptions of then so that he became the victem and not the perpetrator. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said that some protesters “deliberately pursued violence”, and that “the police maintained incredible restrait," yet 10 protestors were hurt and 7 police officers. Those at OWS have gotten non violence training, however this article, as well as the others i earlier in in the day, show ho Occupy Wall Street  - like so many other protests that began non-violently - is growing increasingly violent, and I really worry what is going to happen with the movement, and what is going to happen to thousands of people in Zucotti Park.