凍結 天然氣 火車

In fact Joel gave me my first COPWATCH t-shirt which I still have.

Politically I didn't have anything in common with Joel Olsen, he was a communist, and I am a Libertarian. But still we got along and videotaped the pigs many times in an effort to stop police corruption and police brutality.

For that matter Kevin Walsh another communist I know was friends with Joel Olson. A lot of people hate Kevin Walsh because of his anti-Semitic views. I find his anti-Semitic views irrational, but I don't hate him because of them. Laro Nicol was another COPWATCH member who was also a communist. Laro also knew Kevin Walsh.

The last time I saw Joel Olson was at a party we had in Phoenix just before he left to go teach at NAU in Flagstaff, Arizona. I was homeless at the time and sleeping near the Arizona Canal.

Joel Olson was the only member of COPWATCH I know that was falsely arrested by crooked cops while we were videotaping the pigs. That was at an woman's anti-war protest in Phoenix.

As I later found out at during a court trial of COPWATCH Amy, who was a participant in the protest and also arrested, the Phoenix Police when nuts and started arresting people for no reason at all. While Amy was in the protest she was not copwatching at the time, so technically she was not arrested as a member of COPWATCH.

That was when I had my cast on after I broke my arm. Usually when we cop watch I have the camera, but because of my broken arm I did not have the camera that time.

I was a a good distance behind Joel, maybe 50 to 100 feet and that was why I was not arrested. Joel was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Joel was released the same day he was arrested, and he was never charged with any crimes.

At the trial, which was in a city of Phoenix Court, the judge dropped all the charges against Amy and all the other people arrested, because of police misconduct.

From the radio transmissions introduced as evidence at the the trial it was discovered that the police intentionally, with no good reason charged the peaceful protesters and falsely arrested them.

After the radio transmissions were played in the trial the judge took a recess from the trial, and when the recess was ended the judge announced that he was dropping all the charges because of misconduct by the Phoenix Police. That was probably 10 years ago, so I may have mixed up some of the details.

From what I was told Joel Olson was teaching in Spain and he went to a conference in London. He didn't show up at a number of the conference proceedings and somebody searched his hotel room where he was found dead. I was told that Joel's wife Amy, and his child were living with him in Spain and are still there.

Other then that I don't have any details on his death.

I think Joel Olson may have been one of the first non-Libertarians to hate me because of the lies David Dorn's has been telling people about me.

About 10 years ago I found out from Ernie Hancock that David Dorn was telling people lies about me. I have never been told what the lies are other then that they are something to the effect I am a government snitch who allegedly infiltrated David Dorn's F.R.E.E. Supper Club.

About two or three years ago when Pat was planning at staying at Joel's house in Flagstaff when he was on vactation, he told Joel that I was going to stay there with him.

Joel said that I was not allowed to stay there. And I suspect it is a result of something David Dorn said.

Prior to that I never had any problems with Joel Olson. And in fact I probably have copwatch more times with Joel then anybody else in Copwatch.

OK since we are talking about COPWATCH lets talk about a few other things.

Laro Nicol who was another COPWATCH member at the time he was railroaded by some BATF police thugs on some petty charges of having a part that could have, turned an AR-15 into a machine gun.

I said a part that "could have" turned an AR-15 into a machine gun. Laro only had the part, but he did not have any machine guns.

Laro was also charged with some major crimes because he had some homemade firecrackers he made for his kids.

While the BATF made Laro Nicol out as another Timothy McVeigh all he had was some firecrackers. Some stuff which I made many times as a child. Sadly if you make those same firecrackers in modern times, it has turned into a very serious crime which will put you in prison for the rest of your life. So the problem is not the firecrackers, but draconian laws created by government tyrants.

Laro Nicol said he was innocent, but instead of fighting the charges and going to trial, which if convicted would have sent him to prison for something like 40 to 60 years he copped a plea and spent two years in a Federal Prison.

Here are an number of letters I sent Laro Nicol while he was in prison.

Kevin Walsh was another guy who wanted to join COPWATCH, but he was not allowed to because of his anti-Semitic views.

While I disagree with Kevin's anti-Semitic views I think he was screwed over when he was refused admittance to COPWATCH. When I was a member of COPWATCH there were not rules against racists joining, and in fact a few of the people I know from COPWATCH are racists. I won't mention there names here, but at least one of them voted against letting Kevin into COPWATCH.

While I am not a racist, I think discriminating against racists is another form of discrimination that is just as wrong as racism.

Kevin Walsh was also railroaded by tyrants in the Federal government. A lot of that is documented at this website.

Kevin Walsh was at home when he received a phone call from a telephone solicitor asking him to vote for George W. Bush.

Kevin hates George W. Bush for his invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and made some comment to the phone solicitor that he wished George W. Bush was dead. A comment which is 100 percent legal, but not to bright to make when you are dealing with government tyrants.

The telephone solicitor reported Kevin Walsh to the Secret Service.

Since Kevin Walsh had not committed any crimes, the Secret Service could not arrest him. Instead the Secret Service declared Kevin Walsh to be mentally ill, and arrested him and locked him in Desert Vista Hospital, which is a mental hospital in Mesa Arizona.

Kevin tried to commit suicide when he was arrested and as a result of that he was charged with assaulting the police officers that arrested him.

Kevin considered himself innocent, but rather then go to trial and risk a draconian prison sentence of 20 to 40 years he copped a plea which caused him to spend 6 more month in jail after his plea was accepted.

For all the details on that check out this website.

Last I am not a racist and never have been. A number of jerks have accused me of be a racist just because I know Kevin Walsh. That is 100 percent BS. Just because I know Kevin Walsh doesn't make me a racist.

While I disagree with Kevin Walsh's racist views I certainly will defend his right to exist and hold his racist views even if I disagree with those views.

Source

NAU prof Joel Olson dies suddenly

HILLARY DAVIS Sun Staff Reporter

Saturday, March 31, 2012 5:00 am

Colleagues, students and friends are mourning Joel Olson, a popular political science professor at Northern Arizona University who died this week while working abroad.

Details on his death have not been released. Olson was said by friends to be about 45 years old.

Olson was spending the spring as a visiting faculty member at the University of Alicante in Spain. He gave a lecture at the University of Nottingham in Nottingham, England on Wednesday evening and died in Britain before returning to Spain.

On Thursday evening, the posts on his Facebook wall turned to shock, grief, support and admiration.

Word quickly came back to his NAU peers -- in Flagstaff, or, like colleague Fred Solop, in Argentina.

Solop, also a political science professor, was a co-worker and for a time was Olson's department chair. Solop said Olson encouraged critical thought and engagement in his students.

"He was very passionate about life," Solop said by phone Friday from Buenos Aires, where he is spending part of his sabbatical. "He was passionate about his family, he was passionate about politics, he was passionate about teaching."

FAMILY, POLITICS, TEACHING

Olson was an academic, activist and family man. He was an associate professor at NAU with scholarly interests in political theory, race and ethnicity, and social movements. His research focused on race and democracy, and fanaticism, or extremism. He had been at NAU since 2003.

He won the Outstanding Teaching Award for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in 2004-2005. Last fall, he taught an undergraduate course in classical and medieval political thought and a graduate course in critical race theory. He was teaching courses on extremism and the West and contemporary Western political thought while in Spain through the University Studies Abroad Consortium.

Olson was active with grassroots groups like the Repeal Coalition -- an organization that seeks the repeal of laws that target immigrants and uses the slogan "Fight for freedom to live, love and work anywhere you please." He spoke out critically on subjects like SB1070, Arizona's anti-illegal immigration law.

Last fall, he and other Repeal Coalition members accompanied workers who had been fired from Flagstaff's Little America hotel for not being able to provide satisfactory documentation of legal residency in a request for severance packages.

"Joel was a colleague of great kindness and decency; a teacher of unquenchable passion and inspiration; a foremost scholar of critical race studies; and an eloquent spokesman for the oppressed. Above all, he was a loving husband and father, and a much-loved brother and son," read a statement by NAU's Department of Politics & International Affairs. "While his loss will be forever, the example of his life will live on. Whether one knew him as a friend or as a teacher, he will always be our role model for a life fully and nobly lived."

WARM REMEMBRANCES

Online memorials were going strong Friday. Friends and students took to the "Remembering Joel Olson" Facebook page in addition to his personal page to eulogize the professor:

-- Kara Stone: "No words can express just how deeply Joel's loss is felt by all who knew him. He was a fantastic person to work with, always kind and thoughtful and fair-minded. His love for his beautiful family was evident to everyone around him. And his passion for his job is what makes him a legend at NAU."

-- Courtney Bellio: "He was the best professor I've had in college. He was the reason I majored in political science, and he inspired me every day in class."

-- Adrienne Martin: "Joel Olson was one of the greatest professors I have ever had the honor of studying under. He has impacted my life in such a profound way that words cannot describe. Thank you Joel for changing my life and for inspiring me, thank you for being you. You are extremely missed and NAU will never be the same."

-- T. Mark Montoya: "Joel, I wanted to let you know how much your friendship meant to me. Your kindness always made days like this a little better. You had the genius for ALWAYS doing the right thing. I only hope I was half as good a friend to you. It's people like you who make a difference in this world! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Dr. Olson!"

Olson is survived by his wife, three young children and extended family. His wife and children had accompanied him to Spain and arrangements are being made for them to come home.

"We really need to think about her and the children right now as well," Solop said.

A memorial fund has been established for the Olson family at Coconino Federal Credit Union. Details on a memorial service will be released when they become available.

Hillary Davis can be reached at hdavis@azdailysun.com or 556-2261.

RIP Joel Olson; Bring the Ruckus Disbands

RIP Joel Olson; Bring the Ruckus Disbands

Saturday, March 31 2012 @ 09:54 AM CDT

Contributed by: Admin

RIP Joel Olson; Bring the Ruckus Disbands

March 30, 2012

RIP Joel Olson

The former National Committee of Bring the Ruckus

We are deeply saddened by the loss of esteemed activist, writer, scholar, and NCV Contributor Joel Olson, who passed away while on sabbatical in Europe.

Joel was Associate Professor in the Department of Politics and International Affairs at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he specialized in political theory. A noted expert on racial politics and extremist ideologies, he was the author of The Abolition of White Democracy (University of Minnesota Press, 2004) as well as numerous articles and reviews. Joel was working on a second book, entitled American Zealot: Fanaticism and Democracy in the United States, at the time of his death.

During the 1990s Joel was involved with Love and Rage Revolutionary Anarchist Federation and later went on to form Bring the Ruckus! He was a well-known figure in the anti-racist and pro-immigrant movements in Arizona, working with grassroots groups including Copwatch and the Repeal Coalition.

Joel was a powerful voice in radical politics, a dedicated father, and someone who worked tirelessly through his words and deeds to raise critical consciousness and promote justice in the world. He will be missed by all of us here at NCV, and we ask that you keep him and his family in your thoughts.

Bring the Ruckus is Dead, Long Live the Ruckus!

Bring the Ruckus was disbanded by a majority vote of its members on Sunday, February 26th, 2012.

Many lessons can be drawn from our experience of more than a decade as a national revolutionary cadre organization, and a longer document will be forthcoming. Until then, please look for us in what we are doing rather than what we have done.

This site will be maintained for purposes of reference, but aside from reflections on our experience, no new posts will be appearing.

Remembering Dr. Joel Olson

Remembering Dr. Joel Olson: Colleagues, students and friends speak about the professor who changed their lives

April 5, 2012 By Maria DiCosola

Family, friends and collegues are mourning the loss of associate politics and international affairs professor, Prof. Joel Olson, who died last week unexpectedly while teaching abroad.

Olson is survived by his wife, Audrey Creed, and three children. Numerous events are being held in his honor. There will be a memorial service April 9 at 1 p.m. in the Cline Library. The hosts request guests wear white. Also, the Repeal Coalition, a group fighting anti-immigrant laws, is holding a march April 8 at 2 p.m. in front of the Flagstaff City Hall. There is also an account open to collect money for the Creed-Olson family, as well as an online system set up for people to donate meals. Below are quotes and memories from people who knew Olson and miss him dearly as well as information on where to make donations.

Dr. Joel Olson, a political science professor at NAU, died last week while teaching in Europe. There will be a memorial in his honor at the Cline Library on April 9 at 1 p.m.

.

“Most people viewed Joel as an excellent professor. Others viewed him as a sharp scholar. But, he was also a loving and caring father and husband. Joel was a sharp intellectual critic, able to turn down an argument with intensity that left any intellectuals dizzy. Yet, he had humility. He was one of those special people who could have fundamental disagreements with you and then invite you to his home for dinner. That’s Joel.” — Luis Fernandez, associate professor of criminal justice

“Joel and I came to NAU in the same year, and we shared an office wall ever since. A lot will be said of Joel’s teaching, scholarship and activism, deservedly so. However, what I will remember most about Joel is him as father and as a husband. I will remember times our families got together and how much energy he had when it came to the kids. I will remember the smile that lit up his face when he talked about his family. But most of all, I will remember the many days I simply watched out my office window as Joel played with his kids on the green between SBS and Du Bois. He truly seemed most joyful when he was with his family. I will miss him terribly.” – Michael Costelloe, associate professor of criminology and criminal justice

“Dr. Olson was respected and admired by students and colleagues alike, and our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.” — John Haeger, NAU President

“He was a great collegue and a great friend. He was always thoughtful and engaging and taught all of us to think deeply about the department, and to live life noble and to always think of those least empowered.” — Lori Polini-Staudinger, professor of International Politics

“He was a wonderful, supportive mentor and advisor to me and numerous other students. He shaped the person I am because he taught me to think critically and trust myself. My heart goes out to all who knew him, especially his family.” — Molly Schiffer, master of arts in political science “We lost a giant. Not only was he a brilliant and passionate professor, but he was one of the best people I’ve ever met in my life. I truly believe that he shaped the person I am, and who I will be. He taught me how to think and, more importantly, how to live. The world is a little less bright now without him in it.” — Danielle Campanella, student

“I met Joel at a graduate conference. He offered me the chance to take his graduate seminar in Critical Race Theory as an undergraduate. It was the most challenging class I have ever taken, and it is to my understanding that it was extremely rigorous, even for a graduate level course. I learned more in that class than I have in any other. This is not only because of the course and course material, but also because of the time that Joel spent with me outside of class, discussing the material and aiding my understanding of it, giving me advice about my future, and providing me with a tremendous amount of encouragement. Joel helped me get over my academic insecurities. When I first began the course, I was intimidated, but it did not take long for the intimidation to melt into admiration and love. Joel showed me so much kindness, and I considered him to be a brilliant, inspiring person, and a true friend. Joel, you will be deeply missed by all who knew you, but your legacy will certainly live on through the work of all those who you inspired in the fight for a better world.” — Krysta Best, graduate student‘

“I had the pleasure of meeting and teaching with George, Joel’s father. Even more, I had the pleasure of watching Joel and his siblings “grow” up. Joel is my best friend’s son. Joel learned life from his dad, George – friendly, caring and sincere. We are deeply saddened for all of Joel’s family and friends. They will always be in our thoughts and prayers. Audrey, Malcolm, George Emmet and Nile, there is a bright star in the sky shining especially for you for all eternity. It will be there every night!” — Roger Szeszulski, friend

According to the Dr. Joel Olson In Memoriam Facebook page, donations can be made to the following:

Donations for the family are being accepted in a benefit account at Coconino Federal Credit Union.

Checks can be made out to: Lori Poloni-Staudinger for the benefit of the Olson-Creed family OR Mackenzie Nuno for the benefit of the Olson-Creed family.

Donations can be mailed to:

Coconino Federal Credit Union

2800 S. Woodlands Village Blvd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Donations can be dropped off at the above location or at two alternative locations:

2215 E 7th Ave.

Flagstaff, AZ 86004

or

112 E. 6th Ave, Suite 2

Page, AZ 86040

Donations can be wired to Coconino Federal Credit Union as follows:

To: Firstcorp Credit Union, Phoenix, AZ

Routing # 322184578

To be deposited to: Coconino Federal Credit Union

Account #322172108

Final Credit

Lori Poloni-Staudinger or Mackenzie Nuno for the benefit of the Olson-Creed family

Account #39127

Former PE Magazine Editor Joel Olson Died This Week

We have just received word that Joel Olson, aka Joel Hippycore, AKA Doctor J passed away this week. Joel Olson was a member of the Profane Existence Collective in the early 90′s, while working on his PhD at the University of Minnesota, co-editing PE magazine issues 11-20 and contributing articles to several subsequent editions. During this time he was also the drummer for the PISSED—the band made up entirely of PE Magazine editors. Prior to joining Profane Existence, Joel was a one half of the Arizona based Hippycore magazine and record label. Joel was also a member of the Love and Rage Network in the 90′s, help co-found the anarchist Newspaper the Blast. After receiving his PhD, Joel moved back to Arizona where he was a professor at the Norther Arizona University and remained active in the social justice community. There have been countless posts regarding Joels death posted on his Facebook Page, giving a good picture of how many lives Joel touched:

http://www.facebook.com/olson.joel

Here is the announcement we received earlier today regarding Joel’s death:

Dear Comrades:

It has come to my attention that the esteemed activist, writer, and academic Joel Olson passed away while on sabbatical in Europe.

Joel was Associate Professor in the Department of Politics and International Affairs at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he specialized in political theory. A noted expert on racial politics and extremist ideologies, he was the author of _The Abolition of White Democracy_ (University of Minnesota Press, 2004) as well as numerous articles and reviews. Joel was working on a second book, entitled _American Zealot: Fanaticism and Democracy in the United States_, at the time of his death.

Drumming for PISSED, Newcastle, England

During the 1990s Joel was involved with Love and Rage Revolutionary Anarchist Federation and later went on to form Bring the Ruckus! He was a well-known figure in the anti-racist and pro-immigrant movement in Arizona.

Details surrounding Joel’s sudden and very untimely death remain unclear, but it goes without saying that his comrades in the North American Anarchist Studies Network, and throughout the North American and international anarchist community, will very much miss him, and we give our love, sympathy, and solidarity to his family, friends, and loved ones during this most difficult time.

http://politics.nau.edu/site/faculty/30
http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/%7Ejo52/

Nathan

Nathan J. Jun, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Midwestern State University

Author Joel Olson dies at 45

Author Joel Olson dies at 45

Olson was a professor at Northern Arizona University and author of The Abolition of White Democracy (2004). Apr 02, 2012

Joel Olson, an assistant professor of political science at Northern Arizona University and author of The Abolition of White Democracy (Minnesota 2004), has died. He is survived by his wife, three children, and extended family. The details of his death have not yet been released.

From the Arizona Daily Sun:

Olson was spending the spring as a visiting faculty member at the University of Alicante in Spain. He gave a lecture at the University of Nottingham in Nottingham, England on Wednesday evening and died in Britain before returning to Spain.

On Thursday evening, the posts on his Facebook wall turned to shock, grief, support and admiration.

Word quickly came back to his NAU peers -- in Flagstaff, or, like colleague Fred Solop, in Argentina.

Solop, also a political science professor, was a co-worker and for a time was Olson's department chair. Solop said Olson encouraged critical thought and engagement in his students.

"He was very passionate about life," Solop said by phone Friday from Buenos Aires, where he is spending part of his sabbatical. "He was passionate about his family, he was passionate about politics, he was passionate about teaching."

Olson was an academic, activist and family man. He was an associate professor at NAU with scholarly interests in political theory, race and ethnicity, and social movements. His research focused on race and democracy, and fanaticism, or extremism. He had been at NAU since 2003.

He won the Outstanding Teaching Award for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in 2004-2005. Last fall, he taught an undergraduate course in classical and medieval political thought and a graduate course in critical race theory. He was teaching courses on extremism and the West and contemporary Western political thought while in Spain through the University Studies Abroad Consortium.

Olson was active with grassroots groups like the Repeal Coalition -- an organization that seeks the repeal of laws that target immigrants and uses the slogan "Fight for freedom to live, love and work anywhere you please." He spoke out critically on subjects like SB1070, Arizona's anti-illegal immigration law.

Last fall, he and other Repeal Coalition members accompanied workers who had been fired from Flagstaff's Little America hotel for not being able to provide satisfactory documentation of legal residency in a request for severance packages.

"Joel was a colleague of great kindness and decency; a teacher of unquenchable passion and inspiration; a foremost scholar of critical race studies; and an eloquent spokesman for the oppressed. Above all, he was a loving husband and father, and a much-loved brother and son," read a statement by NAU's Department of Politics & International Affairs. "While his loss will be forever, the example of his life will live on. Whether one knew him as a friend or as a teacher, he will always be our role model for a life fully and nobly lived."

NAU prof Joel Olson inspired many

NAU prof Joel Olson inspired many

HILLARY DAVIS Sun Staff Reporter

Tuesday, April 10, 2012 9:10 am

Luis Fernandez described his friend Joel Olson as a kaleidoscope.

Light shone through him, and from any angle he was beautiful.

Olson, a popular Northern Arizona University political science professor who died last month, left a deep impact on colleagues, students, loved ones, friends and admirers.

Fernandez, a criminology and criminal justice professor, was one of the closest. He had an instant friendship with Olson, he told the hundreds of mourners who gathered at NAU Monday to remember the teacher, scholar, activist and family man.

Olson was his "compadre," his "intellectual twin." They were planning on writing a book together.

Fernandez was a graduate student when he met Olson, and he turned to him for help with his dissertation, how to get a job, how to teach. The men were inseparable and when Fernandez learned of Olson's death, he was emotionally paralyzed. Olson was his compass.

"I'm lost," Fernandez said "I'm literally lost."

Fernandez spoke with energy but deep sorrow in his voice. Others who spoke of Olson on Monday were also warm and passionate but visibly stirred or outright heartbroken.

Olson's death was unexpected. He gave a lecture at the University of Nottingham in England the evening of March 28 and died in Britain before returning to Spain, where he was spending the spring as a visiting faculty member at the University of Alicante.

Details on his death have not been released. He was about 45 years old.

The public memorial at NAU brought the more-than-400-seat Cline Library auditorium to capacity, and still more people watched the service live online.

INSPIRED HIS STUDENTS

Stephen Nuño, a fellow political science professor, said conversations were easy and fun to have because of Olson's varied interests. Most of all, he said, Olson was interested in people.

Nuño said that in tennis you want to play against somebody who's better than you, somebody who can beat you, so that you can grow. This is the same intellectually.

"And Joel constantly beat me," he said.

Olson was an associate professor at NAU with scholarly interests in political theory, race and ethnicity, and social movements. His research focused on race and democracy, and fanaticism, or extremism. He had been at NAU since 2003.

He won the Outstanding Teaching Award for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences in 2004-05. He was teaching courses on extremism and the West and contemporary Western political thought while in Spain through the University Studies Abroad Consortium.

Olson was active locally with grassroots groups like the Repeal Coalition -- an organization that seeks the repeal of laws that target immigrants and uses the slogan "Fight for freedom to live, love and work anywhere you please."

His students spoke of how he was a mentor.

Danielle Campanella, with whom he had a friendly repartee over the Jets (her team) versus the Steelers (his), said his "students had no choice but to be inspired."

Another former student said he was a Republican and that he wants to go into law enforcement, but he learned more from Olson than any other teacher.

"Thank you, professor," he said. "We'll take it from here."

'A BETTER PERSON'

His fellow activists in the Repeal Coalition said he stood side-by-side with them, not in front of them. One led the crowd in a chant. She yelled "Joel!" and the crowd responded with "¡presente!" -- or "present."

His sister Wendy said Joel always stood up for the underdog, and as a little boy formed the "Secret Society Against Bullies" with a friend. He washed dishes as a teen to save up for his first truck. He was always into punk rock; as a young man he wore long hair and tattered jeans.

She said she lived in his shadow and was glad to do so. In high school he was offered a full-ride scholarship to Arizona State University and a half-ride to Stanford. She said out of practicality and humility, he went with ASU.

His sister, like other speakers, spoke of how deeply committed he was to his wife and three young children.

More than one speaker also said what his colleague Nuño said, or similar: "I am a better person because of Joel Olson. Goodbye, my friend."

Hillary Davis can be reached at hdavis@azdailysun.com or 556-2261.

Memorial fund

Friends are collecting money on behalf of Joel Olson's wife and children. Donations can be made at Coconino Federal Credit Union. See www.facebook.com/RememberingJoelOlson for more information on the fund.

Joel Olson, beloved professor of politics, dies

Joel Olson, beloved professor of politics, dies

The university community is mourning the sudden loss of Joel Olson, an associate professor of politics and international affairs at Northern Arizona University since 2003, who died while in Nottingham, England, on March 29, 2012. He was 44.

Admired among his students and colleagues alike, Dr. Olson had been on an international teaching exchange this semester at the University of Alicante in Spain where he was teaching courses on extremism and the West and contemporary Western political thought. He had presented his paper, “The Democratic Uses of Manichaeism,” at the University of Nottingham on March 28.

Geeta Chowdhry, professor and chair of the Department of Politics and International Affairs, called Dr. Olson “a colleague of great kindness and decency, a teacher of unquenchable passion and inspiration, a foremost scholar of critical race studies and an eloquent spokesman for the oppressed.”

Born Nov. 4, 1967, in Ypsilanti, Mich., Dr. Olson moved to Phoenix in 1979 where he attended Thunderbird High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Arizona State University and his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Minnesota. His scholarly interests were in political theory, social movements and race and ethnicity, and he taught courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, including American political thought, political ideologies, extremism and Marxist theory. He also taught for the Honors Program.

He came to NAU in 2003 as an assistant professor and in 2004 he published the book The Abolition of White Democracy with the University of Minnesota Press. He was promoted to associate professor in 2008.

Most recently he had been working on a book on the political theory of extremism in the United States, and many in the activist community considered him a role model.

“Joel could debate an issue civilly, disagreeing while still being agreeable,” said Lori Poloni Staudinger, associate professor of politics and international affairs. “The things that made him a great friend and colleague were the same things that also made him a great teacher—he was likeable, approachable and relatable.”

It was those qualities that in 2005 earned him the Outstanding Teaching Award for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

“While we all know him as a professor and activist, Joel’s family is his biggest legacy,” Poloni Staudinger said. It is a sentiment echoed by many students, friends and colleagues on a memorial Facebook page, Remembering Joel Olson, where those who knew him best say he will foremost be remembered as a loving husband, father and friend.

He is survived by his wife, Audrey Creed, and their children, Malcolm, George Emmett and Nile Vida, as well as his parents and his four siblings, April, Wendy, Nathan and Natalie.

Melee mars Olson memorial march

Source

Melee mars Olson memorial march

ERIC BETZ Sun Staff Reporter | Posted: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 9:05 am

Somebody punched a Flagstaff police officer in the mouth during a brief melee that erupted when she tried to detain a man during the Joel Olson march Sunday.

Police say the man was blocking traffic on a downtown street during an otherwise peaceful memorial march for NAU professor Joel Olson on Sunday.

A crowd that swarmed around the officer resulted in the man who punched her being released to protect the officer's safety. He is still at large.

Police officials say they are investigating the incident and are asking for witnesses to come forward.

Meanwhile, some involved in the march have complained that the man accused of blocking traffic was roughed up by police and shouldn't have been arrested in the first place.

The man was initially charged with inciting a riot, but those charges were later dropped. The man was jailed for resisting an officer, obstruction of a public thoroughfare and possession of a suspended license.

"We thought it was going to be just a peaceful memorial march and it was, mostly, but it got turned sideways," said Sgt. James Jackson of the Flagstaff Police Department. "We are investigating what happened and why the arrest was made. If anybody has any additional information or footage from the event, please come forward."

NOT OBEYING TRAFFIC LAWS

Several officers had been assigned to monitor the march to ensure public safety but were called away when a drive-by shooting was reported nearby (see related story, Page A2). There were initially about 200 people wearing white shirts and holding white balloons on the City Hall lawn. The crowd was described as a diverse mix of people from different age groups.

By the time the female officer returned to the march, the crowd had marched east to North San Francisco Street and was returning on Aspen Avenue. The crowd didn't listen to her instructions to obey traffic laws, but she didn't engage them because she was alone, according to police reports.

At Aspen and North Beaver Street, the officer said the crowd initially obeyed her instructions until a young man walked into the middle of the intersection, signaled the crowd to cross and began chanting "Whose streets? Our streets. Whose march? Our march."

She approached the man and asked for identification. He showed a suspended license, which is a misdemeanor offense. The Arizona Supreme Court website shows that the man received a DUI in 2009 while driving on a suspended license and has since been stopped numerous times while driving without insurance on a suspended license.

Officials said that if the man had been compliant, he might have been cited and released for the offense.

"As I took out my handcuffs, he pulled away and several members of the crowd grabbed onto me and began to pull me away," the officer wrote in her report.

That's when a man, described as being 5 feet 9 inches tall, Caucasian and in his mid-20s with brown hair, struck her in the face and split her lip, she said.

CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY

Some in the crowd linked arms with the initial suspect and tried to pull him free. The crowd closed in on her and another officer who had arrived on scene pinned the initial suspect to the ground.

A supervising officer said when he approached the scene, 10 to 15 people were surrounding the officers and chanting police brutality.

The supervising officer told the female officer to let the man who had struck her go because he was concerned about her safety because the crowd was "threatening her."

The female officer then turned back to help arrest the first suspect. She had to force the first man's hands behind his back to handcuff him while the other officer stood behind her and stopped bystanders from pulling her off, according to a police report.

The officers said they then tried to leave the scene in hopes that it would calm people down.

The man was placed in a patrol car, but the male officer was blocked from getting into his patrol car by a man standing in front of his door.

The officer told the man to move, but he only replied "(expletive) you" repeatedly. The male officer pushed the man in the shoulder to move him out of the way. As they started to drive away, the officer had to stop when a woman opened the rear door and tried to help the suspect escape.

TRYING TO STICK TOGETHER

People continued to surround the car as the officers tried to drive away. Several made comments that the man was being detained because he was Hispanic.

Luis Alberto Fernandez, a close friend of Joel Olson's and an NAU professor, said that he hadn't seen the entirety of the incident, but was there when the man was initially stopped and felt it wasn't helpful.

He said the crowd was simply trying to stick together and normally police would assist them in crossing the street.

"In my opinion, she kind of escalated the situation more than it needed to be," he said.

Police officials said a number of people have come in to complain that the arrest was inappropriate and made verbal complaints about the officer.

"We're taking every complaint seriously. We're following through on all of them," Jackson said.

He added that it could be more than a week before they finish looking into the incident. Officers photographed injuries the man sustained on his arms and head. The female officer is still on active duty.

Attempts were made to contact several march participants for this story, and they either declined comment or did not immediately respond to requests.

Eric Betz can be reached at 556-2250 or ebetz@azdailysun.com.

Letter to England asking cause of Joel's death

England responds to my request for public records on Joel Olson's death

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Joel Olson died in Nottingham, England

Just what does "Open verdict" mean???

Here is one definition from wikipedia.org I only included snips of it:

The Open verdict is an option open to a Coroner's jury at an Inquest in the legal system of England and Wales. The verdict strictly means that the jury confirms that the death is suspicious but is unable to reach any of the other verdicts open to them. Mortality studies consider it likely that the majority of open verdicts are recorded in cases of suicide where the intent of the deceased could not be proved, although the verdict is recorded in many other circumstances.

Two Lords Chief Justice have cautioned that the verdict does not mean that the jury is failing to do their duty of explaining the cause of death, but that in some cases there is real doubt about how the death came about.

However, the fact that a verdict of suicide requires "some evidence that the deceased intended to take his own life" means that open verdicts are often recorded in cases where suicide is suspected but the evidence of intent is lacking. For this reason some studies of suicides have also included those deaths in which open verdicts were recorded.

The 1978 death of Keith Moon, drummer for the Who, was given an open verdict, with the inquest being unable to determine if his death was accidental or the result of suicide.

The inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot dead in 2005 by Metropolitan Police officers who mistakenly believed him to be a suicide bomber, returned an open verdict in December 2008. The coroner had specifically directed them that they were not able to return a verdict of unlawful killing, and left them the alternatives of the open verdict or ruling the killing lawful.

So perhaps "open verdict" has something to do with whether the death was by natural causes or illegal causes instead of the actual cause of the death.

Or in the Jean Charles de Menezes the piggies that murdered him were not ever charged with any crimes, so perhaps the case is considered open as to whether it was a legal or criminal death. Even though us civilians know it was clearly a murder by the pigs in Scotland Yard.

Here is another defination from thefreedictionary.com

open verdict
n
(Law) a finding by a coroner's jury of death without stating the cause

Pathologist on the slopes

Dr. Ceranski and I managed it round trip in 91 minutes, faster than usual for us.

At the summit he met a pathologist, and they were talking shop on the way down.

I asked a question about the Olson case. I asked, "Is it common for a pathologist to be unable to ascertain the cause of death of someone who has died within 24 hours?

I know of a case of a 44-year-old man who just dropped dead, and the pathologist couldn't find a cause of death."

He said that there are certain types of infarctions caused by arhythmia that if they occur 18 to 20 hours before the discovery of the body can leave no trace.

Perhaps that's what killed Joel Olson. Maybe he had some kind of cardiac arhythmia of which he was unaware.

--Kevin