They R Us Too

As midnight approached in New York City's Washington Square Park on Saturday, 14 occupiers sat in the center of an empty fountain playing Woody Guthrie songs. "If you would like to remain in the park past midnight, you will be subject to arrest," a policeman had just broadcast through a bullhorn, sending thousands who'd come for a political rally fleeing. Backed by some 100 riot cops in face shields, an exhausted-looking community affairs officer moved in to try to talk reason. "We marched with you guys; we treated you with respect," he said, pointing out that some officers had been on duty since 3 a.m. "We understand your cause. We understand your voice. We understand what you are saying. But all we want is for you to vacate the park."

"This is political," said a man in black glasses, between drags on a cigarette.

"C'mon guys," the officer pleaded. "Why get arrested?"

The New York City Police Department has dealt with a heavy dose of criticism for the way that it has handled the Occupy Wall Street protests, with an unprovoked pepper spraying, questionably legal arrests, and a dressing down by a US Marine at Times Square all caught on videotape. But in the interactions with police that I have witnessed and the conversations I've had with officers, a more nuanced picture has emerged: one of overworked rank-and-file cops torn between following orders and sympathizing with the movement and its goals.
~ from What the NYPD Really Thinks of Occupy Wall Street by Josh Harkinson ~

As many people have pointed out again and again, the police are part of the 99 percent. We know it and THEY know it. But they find themselves in no man's land: While I bet the majority sympathize with the assembled thousands, they take their marching orders from the elites.

What would the average person do in such a position? Speaking your mind freely might well mean losing your job -- not a good strategy in this job market. If you were able to hold onto that job, you would still face some degree of repercussions from management and/or your fellow officers. So, you bite your tongue and nod when the Man tells you to.

So, there you are day after day, possibly privately wishing you could step across the line. While you struggle with your mixed allegiances, many of the protesters are hurling all sorts of invectives at you. Some may call you a Nazi! Others say you are a pig! Others scream you are a paid hitman for the powers that be.

It would take an incredible amount of internal courage to cross the line, to become one of the occupiers. In many ways, asking officers to do just that is asking too much. It would be tantamount to professional suicide. That said, one sign that this movement is really taking hold will come when, and if, some courageous souls take those steps.

Like the soldiers who laid down their weapons and refused to fire on those in Tahrir Square, police officers around this nation single-handedly could push this movement to the point of being a bona fide peaceful revolution by refusing aggressive orders or by crossing the line.

Time will tell.