Sean Penn to the rescue of Occupy LA

I thought this was the best story! I love Sean Penn anyway and this is a perfect example of why.

Check out this post on today's Occupy Wall Street News 

When rumors become reality, you know you must be living in the occupation zone. Many had accused Mayor Villaraigosa of raiding the Occupy LA camp on City Hall lawn to make room for the Hollywood movie, Gangster Squad. Back in early October, this film began shooting at City Hall and curious occupiers were greeted warmly by the film crew. Occupy LA, still a fledging, remained out of sight on the north lawn. As the camp grew, Occupy LA took over the entire space of City Hall park and remained there for two months. Relations between Occupy LA and the city fell on hard times in recent weeks due to concerns about health and safety regulations. Instead of sending in support to help Occupy LA remedy these issues, the Mayor chose other means (1400 of them in riot gear as a matter of fact). All told though, the raid was inevitable with or without a pending movie shoot.

On Sunday morning, some trouble started on the west steps. While, the Mayor had deemed the west steps a free speech zone for Occupy LA to continue their meetings and hold the nightly General Assembly (GA), the Women’s Circle of Occupy LA was told by LAPD that there was a permit to film there and that they should move “anywhere else.” The women chose to stay and ignore the orders of the Commanding Officer. In fact, the women even pitched a tent for the children attending the meeting. As Sunday wore on, Occupy LA conducted more meetings and the GA without much ado on the west steps.

However, Monday was a different story. The LAPD were enforcing the filming permit and telling occupiers that the “free speech zone” was moved to the east steps for the day and night. While it is fine for the LAPD to make such a decree, Occupy LA works on consensus, so the GA was unable to move without discussing it first. As the start of GA approached, some of the occupiers sat down on the sidewalk in protest, while others held strong against a police line that blocked entry on to the west steps. Tensions were running high and several were ready to risk arrest for free speech.

…And then my phone rings. A scruffy voice says, “Hello Joan?” and I reply, “Yes.”

He responds, “This is Sean Penn. Where are you? What is happening?”

Read what happened next 

below is the first time I've heard a police officer use the people's mic.
Things are-a-changin!