Is anyone really surprised?  Business as usual in Bellingham.  Because of our proximity to the border and the absolute rule of corporate and big money interests here, we live in a very tightly policed city.  I have noticed since moving here that ANY public display of unity that results in ANY level of organization is quickly curtailed and put down by law enforcement; the leaders efficiently tied up with imprisonment, fines, and spurious charges calculated to distract their energies away from any further political efforts.  The early protests of the Iraq war were handled with surprising firmness and admirable efficiency, and it came out that a federal agent was stationed in Bellingham whose activities were not a part of Bellingham police intelligence, and whose primary duties, as far as could be determined, were centered on identifying and neutralizing any potential protest organizers.
 
On the other hand, the city does not seem to mind assemblages of people downtown for the purposes of begging, dealing drugs, and generally intimidating prospective shoppers.  Would it be to cynical to think that this is encouraged so that folks will avoid downtown and shop at the mall?  (We notice such behavior is not tolerated there.)

So in Bellingham you have the right to sell drugs, yell obscenities at passer-bys, make threatening remarks, or generally do what you will as long as you don’t assemble to discuss politics, physically obstruct traffic, or settle peacefully in a public park.  Of course the bums (as opposed to homeless) have every right to camp wherever they wish, throw their trash about and steal grocery carts, and are only apprehended if they get a little too out of hand; perhaps constructing a guillotine, raping someone, or something along those lines.

Really, Bellingham has never been a very progressive city (look at how we treated the Chinese, or how we allowed one corporation to dominate and pollute our waterfront for decades, etc.), and is currently overrun with Homeland Insecurity Agent Provocateurs; Border Patrol Officials (some no doubt with phones in their shoes “Get Smart” style); spy helicopters and drones; as well as the normal compliment of city, county, and state law officials, all tripping over themselves and most without any sort of real work to do.  And you really cannot blame the police for going after the Occupy folks.  After all, they are unarmed otherwise peaceful citizens, unlike potentially armed and dangerous criminals, who might push back.

So like the Caspian Terns earlier this year, the squatters had to go.  Welcome to the Brave New World!

It looks like this was Pike’s final thumb in the eye to his supporters before he fled town like a thief in the night.  A shabby end to a shabby act.

Movements thrive on opposition, so this is not a bad thing for Occupy.  Movements grow by recruitment, inform by persuasion, coordinate by consultation and mobilize by cooperation.

The last time the BPD engaged in large-scale political repression, the Pit Park fandango morphed into an antiwar movement that owned the streets.  The dirty hippies were right then and they are right now.  Bring on the noise, I say.

Movements evolve tactically and strategically by fissioning into competing groups pursuing different methods and goals.  It’s evolutionary selection and the successful ones grow faster.