Of course , since he’s a billionaire, too, it wouldn’t be very surprising for Bloomin’ Rich Mike to do what he can to shut down the protest and protect his fellow Wall Street billionaires. He’d just be protecting his fellow billionaires. But is it too late for the protests to be shut down? Would it really be stupid to try to shut them down? I kind of think that lots more people will suddenly be interested and will show up in New York City and other places if Bloomin’ Rich Mike sends the police and there are problems. What do you think?

Kevin Gosztola is stopping by #OccupyPhilly this afternoon on his way to New York. Occupy Philadelphia launched last Thursday at Dilworth Plaza, and today issued a press release indicating that there are about 80 tents currently set up on the west side of City Hall. Kevin will be livestreaming his visit and interviewing the protesters.

Today’s events include a concert from 1-4pm organized by Parliament Funkadelic’s Bruce Mays featuring JiLil Timmons, Jason Balmer, GQ, Tre Austin and Amada Gilson. There will be a 3:30 solidarity march with the State Hands Union of Philadelphia (IATSE 8), and a 7 pm general assembly meeting at 15th and JFK.

You can follow #OccupyPhilly on Twitter.

I am in Freedom Plaza. The sun has set. An evening program is happening. Comedian Lee Camp is on the stage making jokes about Afghanistan and the version of US history we teach children in schools. About 200-300 people are down in the plaza tonight.

FDL’s Kevin Gosztola, Jon Walker and Ryan Cook will be livestreaming the #OccupyDC march from Freedom Plaza to the State Department today starting at 12:50 pm. The protesters plan to join the Keystone XL pipeline protesters for the final public hearing on the matter before deciding whether to allow construction to proceed. I’ll be liveblogging the protest here.

Livestream from October 2011

You, the FDL readership, helped make this coverage possible. Because of you, a movement that the mainstream press confidently predicted would fizzle out after a day or two has not only endured, but spread. It is fast becoming Occupation Everywhere, and while you may or may not be able to stand next to Kevin as he sends out his widely-praised dispatches, you can do something every bit as important, and help him as effectively as if you were carrying his backpack for him.

Kevin Gostzola has been tirelessly liveblogging the Occupy Wall Street protests each day since they began on September 17, and we want to bring him to DC on October 6 when the Occupy Wall Street protesters make their way to DC to join the October 2011 protest in Freedom Plaza.

Krugman and the Firebaggers: Will they be asked to play the White House?

Why did the Prime Mister forget about Egypt and the things he said to Hoser Mubarak? It sounds like someone needs to tell him the same things he told Hoser. Instead of fighting and stopping Twitter and instant messages, maybe he needs to do something to make a “future with greater rights”, because right now he only seems to be protecting the rights of the rich, not the rights of everyone.

It is with great excitement that I welcome you to The Dissenter, a Firedoglake blog that will cover civil liberties and digital freedom issues. It will feature regular coverage of the torture scandal that continues to wear on and the ongoing US government war on WikiLeaks, along with coverage of the Orwellian expansion of the surveillance state, Internet privacy rights, the mass incarceration of people of color in this country and the current and historic repression of dissent.