Scott Olsen

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Occupy Oakland protesters carry Scott Olsen away after he was hit in the head on Oct. 25. Photograph: Kimihiro Hoshino/AFP/Getty Images - Scott Olsen injuries prompt review as Occupy Oakland protests continue | World news | guardian.co.uk

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Scott Olsen, U.S. Vet Wounded at Occupy Oakland, on Recovery, Protests, Iraq and Bradley Manning



For our last broadcast of 2011, we turn to someone who became one the faces of the global Occupy movement this year. Scott Olsen, a 24-year-old former U.S. Marine who served two tours in the Iraq War, was critically wounded after being shot in the head by a police projectile at Occupy Oakland. In a rare interview, Olsen joins us to discuss his life-threatening ordeal, his involvement in this year’s historic Wisconsin and Occupy protests, the case of accused Army whistleblower Bradley Manning and how he too had access to similar types of information, and the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. "They aren’t respecting our right to assemble, protest and redress our government for grievances," Olsen says of police repression of the Occupy protests. "They are terrorizing us from going out [to demonstrations]. That is a sad statement for our country." Olsen also says he expects to rejoin the Occupy and antiwar protests as his recovery progresses. "I look forward to being a part of the 99 percent and Iraq Veterans Against the War in 2012," he says. [includes rush transcript]

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Scott Olsen: Occupy Oakland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On October 25, 2011, Scott Olsen, a 24-year-old former Marine and Iraq War veteran, and a member of Veterans for Peace, suffered a skull fracture caused by a projectile that witnesses believed was a tear gas or smoke canister fired by the police.[36][78]

A video by protesters shows the explosion of what appears to be a flash-bang device thrown by one officer near protesters attempting to aid Olsen.[79] The Associated Press later reported that it was not known exactly what kind of object had struck Olsen or who had thrown or fired it, but that protesters had been throwing rocks and bottles.[80] The Guardian reported that a projectile found near where Olsen fell was a so-called "bean bag round".[79] Olsen was rushed to the hospital by other protesters, who were fired upon with unknown police projectiles while attempting to aid him.[37][81] Doctors said that he was in critical condition. At least two other protesters were injured.[1] The American Civil Liberties Union and National Lawyers Guild are calling for an investigation into the use of excessive force by Oakland police.[38] However, the investigation by the Citizens Police Review Board is expected to last several months.[82] ...

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more > Occupy Oakland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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see also > what next: Bradley Manning | Wikileaks | Graham Nash

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