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DARIEN, Conn. – Occupy Darien organizer Margaret Rague said the Darien Police stopping a train Wednesday morning was part of what kept people away from the first day of the demonstration.
“I think it had a chilling effect,” Rague said of the search for a double-homicide suspect that was unrelated to the protest. She said she doubted there was even a murderer on the train and accused police of pulling their guns on innocent people.
“It was a cock-and-bull story. Did they think these people were hiding a murderer in their pocket? It was a gross violation of the rights of the people on the train.”
Another likely reason that people stayed away from the first day of the event Wednesday was the rain. The sun was shining bright Thursday morning. Leif Smith, a constable and justice of the peace from Redding, was strumming on his guitar in the sunshine.
After protesters Richard Duffee and Tommy Fox came to the event Wednesday, Rague gave them $1,000 to pay for train tickets to bring more people for the second day of the event. She said many demonstrators were preparing for Christmas, and she did not think that many people would be brought from New York.
“If they show up, fine. If they don’t show up, fine.”
Rague was happy with the conversations that took place between the protesters and thinks that should be the real focus.
“It’s not about me, it’s not about Darien, it’s about what’s going on in the nation. The police state is beginning to enthrone itself at the behest of the corporations.”
Rague is still expecting more people to come out Thursday and engage in conversation and has scheduled more speakers to share their thoughts on the current economic situation.
Will you be attending the second day of Occupy Darien?
Comments (17)
The only problem is that this women will cost the town thousands in police cost. Don't get me wrong the police have to plan for the worst cast because this women said she could have thousands show up and you need to look at what happened in NY and Boston to know why the police had to be there.
From now on anyone taking out a permit in the park should put up the money to pay for extra police and clean up. This is hardly free, and if they are indeed interested in free speech they could sign up for the military and defend it.
what i don't understand: did she represent to the town and/or police that 50-5,000 may show up or was it the town assuming? if the former, isn't there some form of misrepresentation which would make her liable for the police overtime? Appreciate the help?
Picture this:
Chief Dastardly of the Darien Police Dept. sits in his darkened lair, the police station, plotting how to thwart the massive Occupy Darien protests led by the heroic humanitarian Margaret Raque. Twirling his greasy moustache he sneers, "Let's stop a train and search it for murderers!" (cue up musical theme) Dumb, dumb, dummmmmmmmmmmmmb! Theater of the Absurd at its very best.
Peace be with you.
See my posts earlier about the organizer's arrest and long list of outlandish statements. People that walk through life blaming everyone and everything but themselves for things not going their way are a) seldom right, b) destined for failure and c) exactly what is wrong with this country. Does the occupy sponsor here in Darien really think the police cared enough about this event to stop the train. Please think. The metro north commuter rail to/from Dairen is filled with the 1% coming and going to their jobs. By her line of thinking, the police are in their pocket. Hence, why would they disrupt the lives of the favored 1%. Second, how well known was the fact that a single train was stopped. Did it echo through the canyons of wall street and through all points north, south, east and west and conjure fear in the hearts of the otherwise bold and steadfast occupy crowd? These are the people being arrested by the dozen, on purpose, to express their view. Why would a single train being stopped keep them from coming here. From a single direction. Even if they heard about it. This type of thinking may make for good propaganda...but if it is truly believed by the person expressing the opinion, it's actually.. As far as I can see, this person's positions are not based on logic, reason or anything resembling what is actually happening. Someone threw a party and no one showed up. Blame the weather, blame a statewide conspiracy by the police, blame everything but the obvious...the message didn't resonate and either folks didn't care enough or were to lazy to make the trip. I too am a buddhist and practice transcendental meditation. What I have discovered along my inner journey is that it is our own focus that determines our reality and the path to true understanding and happiness is take responsibility for one's actions and the impact they have on the world. Not blame anything and everything but myself when things don't happen exactly as I want them. I am in the 1%, and m very happy. I wish you find happiness in the new year.
What a load of %^$#!
Well said brooklynmc. You fail to even attempt to counter or offer an opposing view. Perhaps that is why I'll continue to do the hiring and paying and you'll continue to do the complaining and begging. May you find true purpose in the New Year. Peace be with you.
and Feliz Navidad!
Whats beyond rediculous are these idiot protestors. Go protest in Washington on Obamas lawn if you really want to matter.
Like a lot of the people in the occupy movement Margaret blames everything on everyone else. It all seems to be the fault of authority when they cannot cope.
You know, if the article today and yesterday are about how few protestors showed up, it would be nice if they mention how many protestors were there. Also, they let the organizer spout off about how the police "made up" the murderer story, without a response from the police. Did the reporter actually go, or just let them do their own write up?
At it's height yesterday there were 11 participants in the protest. Right now there are six. Police dismissed the idea that the manhunt was made up, saying they received a tip from MTA.
Thanks!
This woman is truly delusional! Does she honestly believe the manhunt, for not one but two criminals, was a ploy by law enforcement to thwart this pitiful protest?
I agree that there seem to be some serious issues with coping as well as a breathtaking lack of judgement. To wit:
1. Giving $1000 to two fellow protestors so that more people can take the train from New York to protest.
2. Stating that folks are getting ready for Christmas and therefore probably won't come. If that's the case, why not save the cash and use it to make more of an impact after Christmas when people WILL come?
3. After handing out the aforementioned $1000, stating “If they show up, fine. If they don’t show up, fine.”
I would be curious to know the ultimate disposition of those $1000. Naturally it's her money (we hope) and she is free to use it as she likes, but a good indicator of overall judgement is how well one manages money.
For the record, I agree that the banks have overreached and that government, specifically President Obama and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, needed to be much harder on Wall Street in spite of the fact that government itself had a role in creating the financial crisis. There was a perfect opportunity for this to happen, when the banks were facing existential threats and needed the government's help to survive, but Obama let the opportunity pass by. See Ron Suskind's excellent book "Confidence Men" for the story of what happened. Dodd-Frank is on balance good but it doesn't go nearly far enough in re-implementing Glass-Steagall, and still allows the banks to behave like hot shot hedge funds when they should be boring and stable.
Unfortunately OWS and Occupy Darien have no demands or goals, so it's difficult to see how they will effect change on a system that desperately needs it.
I happened to be in the City today and the 2 guys who had the $1,000 in cash to recruit protesters were buying rounds of cocktails for all at Annie Moore's.
That is beyond ridiculous. The police ensuring public safety is not a gross violation of anyone's human rights, it is their job. Perhaps the poor turnout was a reflection of an unworthy cause, and the circus that has been the months leading up to this protest. These accusations seem like the musings of a paranoid woman, not a sane activist.