The Occupy Bellingham movement participants can claim the first instance of job creation as a result of their protests. The Bank of America at Holly and Cornwall has hired a private armed guard to protect its share of the 1%.
It appears the guard is only there during business hours, however, his presence raises several issues, the first of which is the problem of the "rules of engagement" under which he operates with respect to his weapon (in this case a pistol.) In other words, to what extent can he draw that pistol? What specific acts may occasion the use of deadly force? What authority does he have with respect to citizens walking on the public sidewalk? Can he ask for identification from those entering the bank? Can he search packages? Purses? Do customers have to obey his directions? Inquiring minds want to know.
One might also ask if this is just the first instance of placing private armed guards in front of Bellingham's banks. Will the practice spread? Will this be the picture visitors will take from their stay here in the future? What is then the real danger? The threat of bank robbery has always been there. The only new wrinkle is the peaceful demonstrations of the last few weeks. Has this occasioned the bank's reaction? Have peaceful demonstrators become more threatening than armed robbers?
In some sense the action of Bank of America confirms the growing effectiveness of the Occupy movement across the country as Bank of America has hired private security at many of its branches, not only Bellingham. Evidently, the banks are now immensely afraid of unarmed, peaceful demonstrators. Is this not ironic? BOO!
Armed security guard at the entrance to the Bellingham branch of Bank of America.
Bellingham Bank of America hires security guard
Occupy Bellingham is already creating jobs for the 99% - but this raises some interesting questions.
Occupy Bellingham is already creating jobs for the 99% - but this raises some interesting questions.
About Dick Conoboy
Dick Conoboy is a recovering civilian federal worker and military officer who was offered and accepted an all-expense paid, one year trip to Vietnam in 1968. He is a former Army [...]
To comment, please log in.
To comment, Log In or Register
Comments by Readers
Jack Petree
Nov 03, 2011Jack O. Petree says,
If Occupy Bellingham would change their name to Occupy Apple Orchards they would find there are already jobs available.
I understand the state is getting more than $20 per hour to supply jail labor as pickers.
Ryan M. Ferris
Nov 03, 2011“Bank Transfer Day” which I explain here: http://bellingham-wa-politics-economics.blogspot.com/2011/10/bank-transfer-day.html is November 5th. It could be BofA is afraid of their customers switching banks.
Tip Johnson
Nov 03, 2011Seems Rite-Aid now has one, too.
Tip Johnson
Nov 03, 2011Coincidentally, just found this in my junkmail:
Host: Debbie C., MoveOn member
Where: Maritime Heritage Park (in Bellingham)
When: Saturday, Nov. 5, at 1:00 PM
What: The big Wall Street banks have been getting away with killing our economy, our jobs, and the American Dream. But on Saturday in Bellingham and across the country we finally Make Wall Street Pay. We’ll protest the Main Street branches of the Wall Street banks, urging their customers to move their money to the small banks and credit unions that are investing in our communities. Can you join us?
Dick Conoboy
Nov 03, 2011Tip,
The Rite-Aid Rent-a-Cop is not armed. Businesses on hat block are more concerned with the homeless who hang out and panhandle.
Although I support the call to get our money out of these big banks, I do not support MoveOn.org. As Chris Hedges claims, and rightly so, MoveOn is “an obsequious public relations machine for the Obama White House…” These Internet-based outfits are now trying to glom onto the OWS movement for lack of other successes. I have not seen one shred of evidence that MoveOn or Bold Progressives have done anything to reshape the political conversation in the US. They collect money and run on-line petitions which are as good as the “paper they are written on”. 😊
Tip Johnson
Nov 03, 2011Precisely why I found it in my junkmail!
Dick Conoboy
Nov 04, 2011Today I visited the BoA here in Bellingham to confirm the reason for which the bank now has an armed guard. The obvious rationale is the one I mentioned in my article above. As expected, one of the bank employees told me that the guard was hired because of the demonstrations.
Mike Rostron
Nov 04, 2011Well hell! It’s a free country so we all have the right to hire security guards, right? - and those guys aren’t even that expensive! Next summer I think I’ll hire some guys to protect my bean crop - I saw some pedestrians eyeing those plump Blue Lakes this summer. I don’t think a couple of heavy dudes with AK-47s and sunglasses would be overkill, do you? Now that’s what I call a Block Watch!