Scott Olsen, the Iraq war veteran who had his skull fractured at an Occupy Oakland protest in October, made his first live television interview last night (Nov. 29) on MSNBC’s The Ed Show.
Introducing him as a "tough Wisconsin kid," host Ed Schultz asked Olsen, 24, how he was doing.
"I'm doing better every day." Olsen answered. "It’s not always been a pleasant process. It’s been quite frustrating, but I’m doing better."
Olsen’s speech was at times slurred, halting and even garbled, indicating both how far he still is from a full recovery, but also how much he's come along since first waking up in the hospital after a projectile struck his head.
"I had a head full of words that I wanted to say, but I couldn’t make them come out," he said. "It was very frustrating."
Olsen criticized Oakland Mayor Jean Quan's decision to approve the October 25 crackdown, when resorted to using tear gas, rubber bullets and other projectiles in an attempt to evict the protesters.
"I don’t think it was right for her to do that," he said of his first days after the injury. "We have the right to be in Oscar Grant Plaza (officially known as Frank H. Ogawa Plaza) and to voice our grievances any time of day."
Olsen said it was "a bit overwhelming" at first to become an international news figure, but is fine now with the media scrutiny.
"I’m happy to step into these shoes and guide this movement and be somebody to look up to for some people," he said.
Olsen, who did two tours in Iraq, also said he does not regret joining the Occupy movement and would do it again.
"When I took the enlistment oath, when I joined the Marines, I swore to uphold and defend the Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic," he said. "And I’m continuing to do that.
Olsen concedes the Occupy movement is "changing a lot,” but doesn't think it's "going anywhere any time soon."
"Scott Olsen, I want to thank you for coming on the program tonight," Ed said to close the interview. "God bless you. Keep fighting hard. And keep recovering. We`ll follow your recovery. All the best to you, my friend."
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Scott you did a outstanding job last night.
and i like the way you still remembered your OATH to the country!
when you think your above the law you get what you get! next time move it when told to!
Too bad laws aren't just made up when the police decide they are. You're in a mindset that you have to listen to the police no matter what, but you don't and they still don't have the right to attack you if you don't listen.
Too bad the laws only apply to those of middle class and lower and those in the middle and the left side of politics.
When righty's and Republicons break the law there is ALWAYS some kind of excuse for it . . . just ask the drug addict Drugster Rush Limpbaugh . . . and the right wing banker criminals and the right wing wall street criminals who belong in jail but will never spend a day there . . .
Some kind of justice system hey ?
But a young man who honorably served our country comes back to fight for democracy here as he was over seas . . . and it is okay for the police to nearly kill him ?
Some kind of justice system huh ?
when you think your above the law you get what you get! next time move it when told to!
think you learned anything!
Those [peace officers ] thought that They were above 'The Law' !!!!!!
DFTT
so was the cop who threw that flash band into the people who was helping a person that needed medical attention due to the cops action at a PEACEFUL and CONSTRUCTIONAL backed protest right?
Nope i mean that`s is like shooting down or at a med vac or a medic. that is totally wrong by any ones standards, well normal people anyways.
you mean a illegal gathering after they were told to move! no one cares about there B.S. so pepper spray all of them. the people have had enough! quit whining they got what they deserved! TO BAD OBAMA DOSENT REMEMBER HIS OATH TO THIS COUNTRY!!
LOL at you little pathetic being!!!!!!!!!!
oh it seems that 99% of real Americans disagree with you and your cult of sock puppets!
i would call you a commie, but you are not one of those just a boot licking Fascist wanting attention.
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross." Sinclair Lewis, 1935 --Talk of foresight--
i think you saw the 99% on black friday! so there ya have it. i would say your part of the 2.5% Haa Haa Haa!!! ITS STILL NO TO OBAMA SO GET USED TO IT!!!!!!!!!
TO BAD OBAMA DOSENT REMEMBER HIS OATH TO THIS COUNTRY!!
LOL well all normal people know this is just a lie.
what you need to do is ask all those anti-american radical right wingers who made the oath to Grover and not the COUNTRY.
LOL but guessing you already have your canned talking points given you for the day.
Many people in this country have been hurt or killed by policemen who over react to a situation. The police should have to bare the responsibility of their actions. According to our constitution we have the right to assemble and to have none violent protest. In this case the police brought the violence. I have not seen this policeman who threw the device come forward and be accountable.
Teabagger, and the 84 yr old woman form Washington that was pepper sprayed was a threat to who? Or the 21 yr old pregnant young lady that was clubbed in Oregon?
I totally agree with you Pilotshark
its been fun schooling you dem-a-roaches but got-a-go now. remember if you want a change for the better vote republican! GOODBY OBAMA 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck with that the GOP no way.
Feeling a lil insecure about your nutcase party getting their asses handed to them in the general election? I can see a lot of desperation in all you teabaggers and rightfully so, so your only deserate defense is to make asses out of yourselves and I must say your doing a bangup job. See ya at the polls!
Actually Im feeling damned confident that the American people will no way vote people back in office who's policies over the past 30 yrs got us in this mess in the first place. And look at what the 'shellacking' got us? A downgrade in our nations credit rating, having the unemployment rate kept at 9%, not one job created by the teabagger house after campaigning on JOBS!, JOBS! JOBS! plus refusing to create revenue while whinning about the deficit but are slobbering at the mouth to eliminate Medicare. Yup, that will get the 'baggers re-elected. Reality is your friend Al, embrace it.
i think? the discharge was called a chapter11 where you resign from the service under other than honorable. i to am a vet 1967-1970 82nd airborne. hats off to you righty! (JAR-HEAD)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
how many PLF`s you made?
around 20-25 and not 1 threw the apex! (you do know what a apex is dont you)?
I am increasingly amazed and dismayed at the number of idiots in this country who actually believe that the occupy movement is wrong. How many of you American workers (who vote republican like it's part of your religion) have truly seen any trickle down effect from the republican party's job creations. Corporate America has no business dictating our government. If elected politicians (dem or repub) can be "bought", then we are in essence electing the "money changers". I guess that would mean a lot of CEO's (Kock brothers?) are actually running the country. If they've got YOU in their pocket thru election - why would they care about sending your job out of the country - what the hell are you going to do about it. Grow UP
righty you cant teach them when they refuse to learn. thats why this country is in this shape. come 2012 when obama is gone they will learn!!!!!!!!!
Nice to see the right wing nut bags back blogging here on a progressive blog !!
Welcome back !!
Were it not for the right wing twisted, angry, inhumane perspective on life and politics the rest of us might not have the chance to see the stark difference between the inhumane ANIMALS on the right and the rest of us in America !!
And which one of the keystone cops is going to be the next president righty? Bachmann? Newtie? Perry? Romney? Thats what makes this whole teabagger primary so hysterically funny. Morons backing moron teabaggers....PERFECT! See ya at the polls!
Huntsman is the only one that had enough sense not to be an idiot like the rest but no way will he win the teabag primary. He's too moderate for the psychos.
DFTT
You tools deserved to be spit on for the murders you committed in Nam. My hats NEVER off to you or your service. If you have to brag about it, then you only served your self.
YouRATool
I am a Vet and I have to say i no not agree with you! However being a Vet i can not disagree with you either as its your freedom to which many Americans die for and yes those are Vets.
as being a Vet its about defending America and the Constitution which gives you the right to speak as you did.
are you 1 of those ows's? your why america is being laughed at. your faimly must really be proud. keep on protesting Haaa Haaa Haaa LMAO!!!!!
and its you two not you tools. WOW go to school learn english!
Only fools laugh at American and sir your are a fool.
And a monster as well. Thank you for helping the rest of us see how NOT to be in this world H DORK !!
WOW your wound up! relax a little obama still has 1 more year to do damage! then hes fired!!!!!
Sassy little Girls with warped minds !!! MOSQUITOS !!!!
Would you expect anything less from a 'Teabagger' MsT?
pilotshark & righty / leaving politics out you gota sit back and laugh--if we were in country we wouldnt even be thinking of all this crap. we would be to busy watching each others a%s's / shame its not that way here. both of you have a good evening!
One thing Olsen said that is correct. The movement is not going anywhere. The american people have had enough with these whackos
True American hero LMFAO, 8yr, E-3 marine what a dip@!$%#! ROFLMFAO!!!!!!
This war veteran is now a national hero and a terrific inspiration for the occupy movement. His words about the oath he took as a Marine to defend the constitution and our rights is very moving and brings a tear to the eye. I know how it feels as I enlisted in the Navy when I was 18 years old and served in the Viet Nam confilct.
I was very moved by what Scott said about the words in the oath he took when he became a Marine. It brought a tear to my eye. How he is defending the constitution and our rights and feels the the occupy movement is part of this same thing to restore our government to truly represent us.
The Republican congress has been ignoring us and going completely against the national opinion of what we should be doing. Number one they need to pass job legislation such as Obama's Jobs bill, and having the top 1% pay their fair share of taxes to give our government some badly needed revenue.
Scott Olsen awarded OWS purple heart! Full story here:
Oregon Occupy Updates:
Also, militarization of the U.S. cops: