Attacks on Occupy fuel the fire

The previous day, hundreds of police stood by – in a clear attempt to intimidate – as Occupy Sydney held a peaceful rally and concert, attended by around 1000 people.

It was a strange scene: armed police, with stun guns, dogs, horses, and scores of ambulances and police rescue vehicles, stood at both ends of the rally in whicfh up to 1000 people - young and old – enjoyed speakers, music, workshops on a sunny Spring afternoon.

The NSW police were clearly set up for a major clash. They didn't get one, and at the end of the day snatched two people – later alleging that one had attacked a police officer with a torch (although eyewitnesses dispute the police account).

Before dawn the next day – with no mainstream media to witness – the police attacked.

Headlines such as "Occupy protest turns violent" simply generate more support for the Occupy movement. Too many people can see the hypocrisy of governments here hailing the Arab Spring protests as a "flowing of democracy" while authorising the trampling of rights here.

This hypocrisy is not only bringing more people into the movement, they come with a clear understanding of corporate power – and how it's preserved. This is a worrying phenomenon for some corporate mouthpieces such as Murdoch's Australian, which has even editorialised against restricting people's freedom of speech.

Violent attacks on peaceful Occupy protests have not only helped galvanise support, they have delivered a forceful, if bruising, lesson to some who are new to politics. It has clarified the role of the police – to protect the rights and property of the 1% – with force if necessary.

Conservative commentator Gerard Henderson, who also supports the police violence, has disparaged Occupy protestors for their "sense of entitlement". How dare they expect so much, he asks.

After 35 years of profits-first orthodoxy – cuts to social services, ecological vandalism, intensification of work practices, loss of job security and wage cuts as corporate profits and CEO's pay soars – the 99% are fed up. We, the 99%, are entitled to better.