Occupy Seattle protesters block traffic, shut down bridge

Posted by Letters editor

DEAN RUTZ / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Protesters, among them Occupy Seattle demonstrators and union organizers, rallied and marched in support of jobs Thursday.

Slowing traffic to hospitals risks lives
Editor, The Times:
It is one thing when the people participating in the Occupy movement take over parks and stage rallies in city plazas, but to take over and block major arterials is going too far. [“University bridge seized in rush-hour rally for jobs,” page one, Nov. 18.]
The Seattle and UW police did the right thing by refusing to allow the protesters to block the Montlake Bridge. That access is critical for getting ambulances to two of Seattle’s major hospitals, the UW Medical Center and Seattle Children’s hospital.
Do the protesters advocate putting innocent peoples’ lives at risk to simply prove their point? They made great strides with the switch from big banks to credit unions, only to have that support eroded by their latest tactics of blocking city streets and bridges.
If they want to put their own health at risk I am fine with that, but when they start putting the public at risk, then they have crossed the line, just like they are accusing the police of doing.
— Ron Hopper, Carnation
Bridges close for yachts, why not the 99 percent?
The criticism of Occupy Seattle participating in the one-hour demonstration organized by Working Washington on the University Bridge reeks of a double standard.
The protesters who took part in the Working Washington event cooperated with the police. They halted before proceeding onto the University Bridge until the police closed it, only occupied it for an hour and then left peacefully.
Every year, yachtsmen close multiple bridges during their boat parade on Opening Day for several hours. But Opening Day of yachting season is an event that’s much loved by the 1 percent, who relish a chance to show off their trophy yachts.
No doubt these critics of Occupy Seattle are unlikely to treat Opening Day as such a travesty.
— Eric Tremblay, Coupeville
March showed lack of leadership
The unlawful march by the Occupy protesters on Thursday night shows they are a mob without a leader, a cause without a plan and activists without respect for the law and the very people they propose to help.
Tying up traffic right at rush hour when people are trying to get home from work to their families is hardly a protest.
Those who closed their accounts with Bank of America and Netflix because of increased fees showed an intelligent and meaningful response to a growing problem.
Now, that’s a protest!
— Tish Gregory, Renton
Hendrix/Coltrane comparisons unfounded
When Princeton University professor Cornel West compared Jimi Hendrix and John Coltrane to the “mostly young activists” he lost some credibility. [“Mayor tells 84-year-old: Sorry for pepper spray,” page one, Nov. 17.]
When the late, great baseball manager Sparky Anderson was asked if there was any other catcher comparable to Johnny Bench he said, “Don’t embarrass other catchers by comparing them to Johnny Bench.” I think the same thing can be said about West’s analogy.
He also said, “When you have a love supreme you will stand out in the rain.” He was referring to the John Coltrane song, “A Love Supreme.” What a mockery of a great artist. I don’t understand how standing out in the rain and blocking an intersection has anything to do with writing, composing and performing great music. Anyone can stand out in the rain and block an intersection. All you’re really accomplishing is wasting time and taxpayers’ money.
Hendrix and Coltrane spent years developing their god-given talent. They spent every available moment mastering their respective instruments. There is little correlation between these great artists and the activists. They might have supported some of the Occupy Seattle protesters in their movement, but not at the risk of anyone getting hurt.
— Michael Eads, Sammamish
Occupy camps pose minor health issue
The people who are trying to portray Occupiers across the country as a health issue didn’t say a word when BP was destroying the entire Gulf Coast. Any health issue caused by demonstrators pales by comparison to the destruction caused by the corporate 1 percent who have no problem destroying the whole planet if there is a dollar to be made in it.
— Rob Moitoza, Seattle