Michael Moore at Rose Parade ?

Here comes trouble? Reports say Michael Moore will join in Rose Parade

Published: Tuesday, December 27, 2011, 3:38 PM     Updated: Tuesday, December 27, 2011, 8:06 PM

 By Ron Fonger | Flint Journal 
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The Jan. 2 Rose Parade looks like it will have a familiar face bringing up the rear -- after the majestic floral floats and marching bands:

Flint native Michael Moore.

View full sizeFlint Journal file photoFilmmaker and Flint-area native Michael Moore signs books for fans at The Whiting after a free book tour event there earlier this year in this Flint Journal file photo.

Reports in the Glendale News-Pressand Los Angeles Times say Moore is expected to join Occupy protesters from around the country as a part of the parade.

"Pasadena police and Tournament of Roses officials have been negotiating with Occupy representatives for several weeks on a plan that they hope will prevent any disruptions to the parade," the News-Press story said. "Pasadena officials will allow the Occupy group to march the route at the end of the parade, after all the floats have passed."

The Times story said protesters "intend to march with large banners that decry wealth inequality in the United States and to unveil a few colorful 'floats' of their own, including a giant people-powered octopus ...

"The octopus will be made out of recycled bags, stretching 40 feet from tentacle to tentacle, and is designed to represent the stranglehold that Wall Street has on the political process," an Occupy spokesman told the newspaper.

Related topics: Ron Fonger

Police beef up security for Occupy Rose Parade protests

December 27, 2011 |  7:57 am

 

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Facing a protest by Occupy demonstrators, Pasadena police will bolster their already robust presence at this year’s Rose Parade.

Pasadena police and Tournament of Roses officials have been negotiating with Occupy forces for several weeks on a plan that they hope will prevent any disruptions to the Jan. 2 parade. Pasadena officials are allowing the Occupy group to march on the parade route after all the official floats have passed.

Protesters intend to march with large banners that decry wealth inequality in the United States and to unveil a few colorful "floats" of their own, including a giant people-powered octopus, said Pete Thottam, an Occupy spokesman. The octopus -- to be made out of recycled bags and stretch 40 feet from tentacle to tentacle -- is designed to represent the stranglehold that Wall Street has on the political process, he said.

Planned speakers include Cindy Sheehan, an antiwar activist who lost her son in the Iraq war, local Occupy activists and possibly leftist documentarian Michael Moore.

Pasadena Police Lt. Phlunte Riddle declined to say how many of the city’s 235 sworn officers will work on Jan. 2, when the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game are expected to attract as many as 800,000 people to Pasadena. But the array of local police, county sheriffs and state and federal law enforcement agents will be larger than usual, she said.

“We have brought on some additional resources since learning that Occupy intends to demonstrate,” Riddle told the Pasadena Sun. “We use federal, state and local partners to make sure we have the appropriate resources on hand.”

Riddle declined to say which agencies would assist the city. In the past the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have had a presence, as have the National Guard and the California Highway Patrol. Every year the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department enters into an agreement with Pasadena to provide support. Riddle said plain-clothes and uniform officers will be on hand.