Political Activist Dick Gregory Says Occupy Wall Street Similar to 1960s Civil Rights Movement, Police Violence Will Lead to Mass Protest

Political activist and comic Dick Gregory says Occupy Wall Street movement bears resemblance to 1960s civil rights movement and police violence will catapult it into a mass protest.

Comic and political activist Dick Gregory said the "Occupy Wall Street demonstrations are "reminiscent of the 1960s civil rights movement and police violence will catapult it into a mass protest." Personally, I never lived in this country during the 1960s so I can't speak for the similarities, but it seems to me that the struggle then was against discrimination and the fight for equality.

"Listening to this is like listening to the early days of the civil rights movement. What's going to really tip it off, is a cop is going to make a mistake," Gregory, one of the first crossover black comedians, told Reuters late on Sunday before a sold-out show at the Riot Act comedy club.

"The difference between this movement and our movement is that white people -- rich, poor, educated -- are born with 300 years of white privilege," he said.

"So there are certain things that you don't do to me when you're born with privileges. When it was us, the cops could do anything they wanted to. You can't do these children like this." Source: Reuters

Well, let's see if Mr. Gregory's words are prophetic and we will see police violence rise as a result. He certainly has the scars from the civil rights era and paid his dues, but I have to differ with him on his assessment of this movement. Somehow, I don't see it that way, but hey, that's just my opinion.