Occupy Wall Street: Turning violent?
A demonstrator urges his fellow Occupiers toward a violent revolution in a video that has conservatives hopping mad

The video: An Occupy Los Angeles protester has been caught on camera telling fellow demonstrators that nonviolence is a dead end. He calls Gandhi a "tumor" who created an Indian society in which 600 million people live in "maximum poverty." Instead, he says, Occupy Wall Street should use the bloody French Revolution as its model. (See the video below.) "The bourgeoisie won't go without violent means. Revolution!" the unidentified man says. "Long live revolution! Long live socialism!" His comments are met by a smattering of applause from the surrounding crowd. Is this just one guy's random rant, or is Occupy Wall Street turning dangerous?
The reaction: Leftist uprisings start with talk of justice, says Ed Morrissey at Hot Air, "but always end up demanding redistribution — and the guillotine." Note to the journalists who painted the Tea Party as violent: I've never seen a Tea Party speaker advocate the "bloody" overthrow of America, as this guy does. This Marxist "clown" certainly isn't the first Occupier to call for destruction, says Susan Duclos at Wake Up America. President Obama wanted a class war to distract from his "dismal record," and he got one. Hold on, says Katty Kay at BBC News. Occupy Wall Street may be fueled by the same frustration that has people throwing stones in Athens, but "the most extraordinary thing about the U.S. protests so far" is not the level of anger — it's "that they have been so mild." Watch the un-Gandhi-like speech, and judge for yourself:
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
A cool Canadian city break in Toronto
The Week Recommends With its world class galleries, restaurants and nearby hiking trails, Toronto makes a great alternative to New York
-
Today's Big Question Failed asylum seekers could be removed to Balkan nations under new government plans
-
The history of animal metaphors in propaganda
The Explainer Rats, snakes and cockroaches among the imagery used to dehumanise political enemies and minority groups
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy