Hundreds marched in Philadelphia Nov. 2 to show solidarity with
the general strike called by Occupy Oakland. The target of the
demonstration was cable giant Comcast, whose headquarters is located
in the largest skyscraper in the city.
Comcast recently reported an astounding $908 million profit, 4.7
percent higher than last year. Despite this, the company pays no
property taxes for the Comcast Center as a result of a tax break
passed by the city to benefit wealthy property developers. While the
working class suffers, the capitalists at Comcast are insulated from
the crisis they helped create.
After the march arrived at the corporate headquarters, nine
demonstrators entered the building and held a sit-in. They were
eventually taken away by police officers, along with one other
protester who was brutalized and arrested outside of the Comcast
Center. Yet again, the police proved that their role in capitalist
society is to protect and serve the 1 percent.
This action was part of a broader trend of escalation and
radicalization taking place in Occupy Philadelphia. On Oct. 22, 15
occupiers were arrested at a sit-in in front of Philadelphia police
headquarters to protest police brutality. Occupy Philly has recently
captured headlines by confronting national political figures,
including Eric Cantor, Bill Clinton and Mitt Romney.
The movement in Philadelphia is now at a critical point. A
construction project is scheduled to begin at the site of the
occupation on Nov. 15, and discussions are currently underway to
decide whether to relocate or resist eviction.
Since the occupation began Oct. 6, Mayor Nutter and Police Chief
Ramsey have attempted to portray themselves as sympathetic to the
movement. However, an understanding of their real interests is
sharpening, a process that is accelerated by the brutal repression
and inspiring resistance in cities like Oakland.
