Occupy Portland! Get Involved Now!

From OccupyPortland.org:

On Oct. 6th, 12:00 pm, thousands will gather at the Waterfront near SW Ankeny and Naito Parkway (http://tinyurl.com/44rl474) to march to Pioneer Courthouse Square. This is in support of Occupy Wall Street, where thousands have been staying near the Wall Street stock exchange to protest the corruption of Washington politicians, misdeeds of big banks, and the cancerous rein of corporate lobbyists. Bring friends, family, passion, and supplies for the night because we will be in this for the long haul. Once we are done for the day we will then march back to the Waterfront and set up for the night.

Get involved in planning for this occupation!
Discussions and logistics on the community page- http://www.facebook.com/OccupyPortland
A group page for sharing ideas and documents- http://www.facebook.com/groups/284344344909229/
And the event page, which seems to be mainly for inviting people to join in: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=232437856804769

If you don't have facebook, the website is now up and running, and very useful! http:/OccupyPortland.org
On the website, you can find flyers, the march route, the livestream, and a list of the needs of the occupiers. See how you can be useful!

The March Route:

We are the 99%!

"We are the 99 percent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we're working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent."

 

"I was deployed to Iraq 4x

5 of my friends are dead
1 of my friends is missing his arm
1 of my friends killed himself
I've been blown up 2x by roadside bombs
hearing fireworks makes me nervous
I can't sleep at night

All so bankers and war profiteers could get richer
I am the 99%"

We are the 99%. OccupyPortland.org!

Human Needs, Not Corporate Greed!

For those of you in other states, go to OccupyTogether.org and see what is being planned near you!

In Solidarity with Occupy Wall St and October2011, WE OCCUPY TOGETHER!

So much is happening in NYC on Wall St right now, it is appalling that the media is barely covering it. It is appalling that so many people I have spoken to have not heard anything about it.  Here is a great article on Occupy Wall St. If you don't know much about it, please take the time to read this. On September 17, the occupation on Wall St began. Please also look at occupywallst.org where they post regularly every day about what is happening in Liberty Plaza in NYC.  Recently, police have been reacting violently toward peaceful protestors. Much of this can be found on youtube videos and live streaming. 80-100 protesters have been arrested today. Police have been asking people to move to certain areas, and as this is a peaceful protest, they complied. When they comply a net is thrown over them, they are arrested, and sometimes maced. This is all over the internet, but the mainstream media will not cover it. Five Tea Party members  protesting the protest make the news, but the thousands that have been on Wall St for seven days do not.

Here is the latest news from Occupy Wall Street:
This report came in half an hour ago from the chair of the NYC IWW chapter.
Protesters arrested today (including the NYC IWW chair) are being locked inside a police van outside the:
1st Precinct Police Station
16 Ericsson Pl.
New York, NY 10013
+1 (212) 334-0611
They've been there for over an hour. One has a very bad concussion, possibly life threatening.
Right now the NYC IWW chair he is calling on us to send people NOW for help out and to demand medical care for our comrades.
If you can't make it in person then please call these numbers:
1st Precinct - (212) 334-0611 - 16 Ericsson Place
6th Precinct - (212) 741-4811 - 233 West 10 Street
NYPD Switchboard: 1-646-610-5000

Follow 24 hour live stream to see what is really going on at http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution.

On October 6, 2011, an occupation has been planned in Washington D.C. Here is the website for organizing this, we have been working toward this for months: october2011.org. In Solidarity with the October 2011 "Stop the Machine! Create a New World!" movement and in Solidarity with the occupation on Wall St, cities all over the country are planning to join in and occupy together.

Occupy Wall Street has released a statement explaining what we are protesting: Ending Capital Punishment. Ending Wealth Inequality. Ending Police Intimidation. Ending Corporate Censorship. Ending the modern gilded age. Ending Political Corruption. Ending Joblessness. Ending Poverty. Ending Health-Profiteering. Ending American Imperialism. Ending War.

October2011.org has also released a statement: http://october2011.org/statement. "It is about courageously resisting and stopping the corporate state from destroying not only our inherent rights and freedoms, but also our children’s chance to live, breathe clean air, drink pure water, grow edible natural food and live in peace."

The occupation in Chicago, IL has begun. Follow their livestream here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/occupy-chicago. 

Here is a list SO FAR of cities we will occupy:
Washington D.C.
Portland, OR
San Diego, CA
Atlanta, GA
Portland, OR
Tulsa, OK
Minnesota (city to be determined)
Sacramento, CA
Chicago, IL
Dallas, TX
Salt Lake City, UT
Salem, OR
Seattle, WA
Los Angeles, CA
Austin, TX
Cleveland, OH
Tampa, FL and their facebook page
Phoenix, AZ
Boston, MA
Houston, TX
Philadelphia, PA
Omaha, NE
Lansing, MI
Columbus, OH
Denver, CO
Toronto Market Exchange
San Francisco, CA
Orlando FL
New Orleans, LA
Mississippi (city to be determined)
Kansas City, KS
Madison, WI
Las Vegas, NV
St Louis, MO
New Jersey (city to be determined)
Lexington, KY
Nashville, TN
Georgia (cities to be determined)
Indiana (cities to be determined)
Indianappolis, IN
Nebraska (city to be determined)

More occupations are being planned by the minute! Check out facebook and google+ to find out what is being organized near you! Also, check out http://occupytogether.org/.

The Poor, the Homeless, the Hungry: More Statistics!

If you're not outraged, you're NOT paying attention! Here are some more statistics and charts...this is a huge part of why we are occupying Wall St, why we will be occupying DC on October 6, 2011, and why more occupations are being planned all over the country!
These are some charts that I had meant to include in my previous post: Outraged Yet? The Poor, the Homeless, and the Hungry.

 Another post to come soon about Occupying Wall Street and the other Occupations being planned around the country!

Troy Davis Denied Clemency, to be Executed Tomorrow

It is easy to remain in a state of Outrage at the injustice of our country's government and "justice" system. It is not so easy to remain Hopeful. Especially on a day like today, with the news that the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied Troy Davis clemency and he is to be executed tomorrow, May 21, 2011. Here is my previous blog post about the Troy Davis case.


Click here to view the disheartening message I received from Amnesty International this morning.

If  you have not already done so, you can sign the petition to stop the execution of Troy Davis.

You can contact the Chatham County's District Attorney's office by phone or fax: Telephone: 912-652-7308 Fax: 912-652-7328.

Here is a new petition from NAACP to tell District Attorney Larry Chisolm to petition the judge to withdraw the death warrant against Troy Davis.

Today is a Day of Protest. Tomorrow is a Day of Vigil. You can organize events to have your voices heard, and send your prayers and hopes. There is power in Solidarity. Spiritual strength. I encourage everyone to do what you can to stand in solidarity with Troy Davis and his family.

Here is the event in Georgia:

Gather at the State Capitol at 7:00 pm to Demand that the State of Georgia halt their planned execution of Troy Davis!

Georgia State Capitol

206 Washington Street

Atlanta, GA 30334

United States

A few recent Acts of Solidarity:

(from cbsatlanta.com) An Atlanta pastor has chained himself to a flag pole in front of the building that houses the State Board of Pardons and Paroles in protest of the board's decision to deny clemency for death row inmate Troy Davis ... Rev. Marvin Morgan, of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, said he will remain chained to the post, fasting, as long as he can.

People Occupying Wall Street (which I can't believe I haven't blogged about yet!) are also showing solidarity with Troy Davis:

There is a huge protest in Atlanta right now, and others are protesting and organizing around the country:

Singing "we shall overcome"

About 500 marchers, led by Martin Luther King III, center, Larry Cox, Executive Director Amnesty International USA, right, and Georgia NAACP President Ed DuBose, second left, walk past Ebenezer Baptist Church, the spiritual home of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., in support of Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis on Friday, Sept. 16, 2011 in Atlanta.

Amnesty International activists demonstrates outside the U.S. Embassy in support of death row inmate Troy Davis in Rome

Italy

Paris, France

 It is easy to be Outraged, it is so very hard to remain Hopeful. But if we don't have Hope, what do we have? 

URGENT: Execution Date Set for a Man NOT Proven Guilty!

Twenty years ago, a cop, defending a homeless man, was shot and killed. The investigation by the police department was of course emotionally charged and more than anything they wanted to find the killer. As soon as Sylvester Coles told the police that Troy Davis was the shooter, they had wanted posters all over Georgia. He was tried and convicted and sentenced to death. But that's not the end of the story, not in the least. There was no material evidence. There were only witnesses. 7 out of 9 of these witnesses later admitted that they had been coerced, threatened, and harassed by police to falsely testify against Troy Davis, and that their testimony was not true. Nine people have signed affidavits stating that Sylvester Coles was the killer. One of the two who have not come forward about their testimony being false is Sylvester Coles himself. Here are the affidavits admitting that the testimony was false, and the affidavits stating that Sylvester Cole was the actual murderer: http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/affadavits.pdf. Please read these. It is enough to throw out the case. I believe, based on what I have read, that Troy Davis is innocent. But the point is that he has not truly been proven guilty. Georgia is set to execute Troy Davis on September 21, 2011. Injustice, indeed! People all over the world are in solidarity with Troy Davis, and oppose the execution of an innocent man.

 

  
Watch the four-part series "Examining the Troy Davis Case" here. It is very informative, very worth watching.

The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles will hold a clemency hearing for Troy Davis on Monday, September 19, two days before he is scheduled to be executed at 7 pm on September 21.

WHAT WE CAN DO:   
*This Friday, September 16, is the International Day of Solidarity for Troy Davis. This is 3 days before his Final Clemency Hearing, the last chance to stop his execution.
Here are some solidarity actions I have found information about so far:

• In Atlanta, GA there will be a march and rally at Ebeneezer Baptist Church.
• In Seattle, WA there will be a solidarity action 5-7pm at Westlake Park. http://amnestyseattle.org
• In New Orleans, LA there will be a rally and vigil from 7-8pm at the World Trade Center of New Orleans. Here is there Facebook Event page.
• In London, there will be an event outside of the US Embassy. Here is their Facebook Event page.
• In New Mexico, there will be a march and protest at UNM tomorrow 9/13. Facebook event page.
• On September 19, 2011, at the UCLA, they will have a booth set up with petitions and phone banking sessions at the Enormous Activities Fair from 10am to 2pm. More here at their facebook event page.

*Sign the Petition to oppose the death penalty (click here)

*Organize A Rally to Stop Troy Davis' Execution

*Make the weekend of the 17th-18th a time for reflection or prayer:  for the Davis family, for the MacPhail family, and for justice to prevail.

*AND SPREAD THE WORD!!!!

Just, PLEASE, don't sit by and do NOTHING.

Outraged yet? The Poor, the Homeless, and the Hungry

In the United States, there are currently about 18,400,000 vacant homes. That's 11% of the houses in Amerika (this is the most recent # I found, from February 2011). There are about 671,859 homeless people in Amerika (according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness). That means that there are 17,728,141 more vacant homes than there are homeless people. How does that make sense?!

 Unemployment, we all know, is at record highs.

According to the food security report (as a result of an annual survey conducted by the US Department of Agriculture), 15% of US households experienced a food shortage at some point in 2009. That doesn't count our homeless brothers and sisters. US authorities say that figure is the highest they have seen since they began collecting data in the 90s. Those suffering the most (not taking into account the homeless) are single mothers. About 3.5 million said they were at times unable to put sufficient food on the table. Latinos and African Americans also suffer disproportionately. Welcome to Amerika.

Hunger statistics from 2009:

• In 2009, 43.6 million people (14.3 percent) were in poverty.
• In 2009, 8.8 (11.1% percent) million families were in poverty.
• In 2009, 24.7 million (12.9 percent) of people aged 18-64 were in poverty.
• In 2009, 15.5 million (20.7 percent) children under the age of 18 were in poverty.
• In 2009, 3.4 million (8.9 percent) seniors 65 and older were in poverty.
• According to the USDA, over 17 million children lived in food insecure (low food security and very low food security) households in 2009

This past January, CommonDreams.org published an article titled "People Die From Hunger While Banks Make a Killing on Food". This past spring, Oxfam warned that prices of staple foods will more than double over the next two decades unless urgent action is taken to change the rules of world agriculture.

In Boston, doctors have reported seeing more dangerously hungry and thin children coming into the ER. In 2007, 12% of children 3 and under in the ER were significantly underweight. By 2010, that became18%.

Recently there was an article in the New York Times about Urban Foraging. This practice has become necessary for many. Concrete Jungle in Atlanta has created a database of locations of fruit trees on abandoned property and foreclosed homes, and donates the food they collect to the homeless. Technically, this is illegal, as the banks own that property. The bank isn't going to eat that food, but the police might stop real people from eating what will otherwise go bad, on the banks behalf. Who is it the police serve and protect? What a joke. Today my nine-year-old daughter learned that putting coins in other people's parking meters is illegal. She was baffled. Rightfully so. We had a brief and sad discussion about how sometimes the government makes laws so that people cannot help each other.

Another example of the law preventing people from helping each other is Food Not Bombs. Earlier this year in Orlando, a federal appeals kourt ruled that city officials can enforce an ordinance restricting weekly feeding of the homeless in downtown parks. The Orland Food Not Bombs chapter is currently meeting at City Hall while still fighting against this unjust decision by the kourt. 29 people were arrested for participating in Food Not Bombs in Orlando this past June. That is, 29 people were arrested for feeding the hungry. On their website, they state:
We Act...

Because Food is a Right not a privilege!
Because there is enough Food for Everyone!
Because Scarcity is a Lie!
Because Food grows on Trees!
Because Poverty is Violence – unnecessary and unnatural!
Because Capitalism makes food a source of Profit not a source of nutrition!
Because we need Community not Control!
Because we need Gardens not Lawns!
Because we need Homes not Jails!
Because we need...

Food Not Bombs!!

This website shows the history of police arresting Food Not Bombs volunteers, attempting to silence and break up Food Not Bombs.

 This is nothing new in Amerika. In January 1969, the Black Panthers began their Free Breakfast for School Children in Oakland, CA. In the next year, the Black Panthers had set up kitchens in cities across the U.S., feeding over 10,000 children every day before school. A few months later, J. Edgar Hoover declared that the Black Panthers were the "greatest threat to the internal security of the country."

There is so much more. Mother Jones published an article in their March/April 2011 showing the Income Inequality in the United States. "It's the Inequality, Stupid." It has wonderful (terrible) and educational charts, one of which I will post here:

 

 The bottom 80 percent of American households have lost ground in share of income since 1979. The top one percent, meanwhile, has seen its slice of the pie increase more than 120 percent. The top 10 percent of Americans earn nearly three-quarters of all income in the country, leaving the poor with whatever is left.

These statistics are disgusting! What can you do? Feed people. Ignore any and all laws that prevent people from helping each other. Participate in or organize Food Not Bombs in your nieghborhood or city. Volunteer for community kitchens. Cook a big stew and bring it out to your neighbors under the bridge. And then get involved in Action to make change! Organize for and/or participate in the Global Day of Action on October 15, 2011. Go to Washington DC on October 6, 2011 and be a part of the Revolution! Get involved with other organizations and movements to fight the system so that we the people can help each other, so that social services are available to everyone, so that food is available to everyone, so that the government is run by and for the people, not by and for the corporations and the top 1%.

Take a look at Tom Stone's photography project on the Homeless In America.

 

  

 

Why shouldn't these people have shelter?

Why shouldn't these people eat?

Uprising on the West Coast

As October 6, 2011 comes closer, I am realizing how hard it would be for me to get to DC. I am unable to get there without causing harm to my family. I would have to miss work, I would not be able to afford a plane ticket, and I would not be able to take enough time off to travel in other ways without losing my job and being away from my wife and children too long. Before I had children, I would certainly have been willing to quit my job and hitchhike to Washington DC. However, my conundrum is the case for many, and so, there is now discussion about organizing a rally coinciding with the DC rally, on the West Coast. It is likely this would take place in California. The discussion is happening. Please be a part of this! Pledge to be there, and then you will get an account on the October2011 website, and you can join the discussions and help us organize a West Coast uprising.

We the People! A People's Congress. If You Are Indeed A Patriot...

Independence Day. This red, white and blue flag-waving holiday always makes me cringe. Blind Patriotism is not something to be proud of. Personally, I will never wave a nationalistic flag of any sort. I am a citizen of Earth. The Earth is my mother, people are my siblings, and animals are my guides.

My personal idealistic vision is for governments to be abolished altogether and for people to live together in harmony in a social-anarchistic society. However, whether you are an anarchist or believe in democracy, we all have to recognize that we are not living in a true democracy. Corporations run this country. It is a machine. Obama promised change that we have not seen. In order to see this change, we must take back the government and give power to the people,  just like it is written into the Constitution. That is why people are currently organizing a People's Congress.

The Declaration of Independence states, "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security." The definition of despotism is: The exercise of absolute power, esp. in a cruel and oppressive way. Thereby not only is a revolution necessary, it is our constitutional right and duty.


The "founding fathers" so many celebrate today were aware of this threat. James Madison said, "I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurptions." Thomas Jefferson said, "I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country." So, are you Patriotic? Will you try to save this country, maintain our ideals of Freedom? We are not Free. Ralph Nader points out, "Presently, about 1,500 large corporations control or block the votes of most members of Congress on very important matters. It is not beyond the realm of realization to look forward to a time when a few millin modestly organized Americans, representing the values of much greater numbers of their fellow Americans, turn the national legislature into a Congress of the people, by the people, and for the people." The time is now. The People's Congress will take place the week(s) preceding the Congressional Summer Recess, 2012.

Please go to http://peoplescongress.org/ to learn more about this. There are many ways to be involved, many committees forming to organize this, and the more people take part in the People's Congress, the better.

From PeoplesCongress.org:
Peoplescongress.org is calling for a week long action in which We the People pass specific legislation which, when enacted by Congress, will put an immediate end to the corporate take-over of our government, revitalize and re-democratize elections,  allow for a more responsible and open media, and end the secrecy in policy making. Until we reform these institutions and the laws governing them, our goals for a just and sustainable world will remain elusive at best. An earnest national dialog about our future cannot happen until we re-balance the wheels of democracy. It is the intention of the People’s Congress to secure that change directly in accordance with the will of the People and the principles established by our Constitution...

...all legislation will be developed and posted in our Forums for review several months before the People’s Congress meets on the Mall.  Please read this legislation before coming to the Congress. 

The People's Congress Mission Statement:
It is the intention of the People’s Congress to secure change directly in accordance with the will of the People and the principles established by our Constitution. We seek an end to the systemic dysfunction within our government by demanding and securing the Common Sense remedies required to re-balance the wheels of Democracy.

We seek a just and sustainable Society through specific reforms.
We demand an end to the Corporate takeover of our Government.
We demand a truly representational and transparent Electoral System.
We demand a more democratic media accountable to the People.
We demand open and transparent Policy making.

To this end The People’s Congress will write the fundamental legislative remedies and with the full force and vigor of the People’s Congress present them to our Representatives for ratification.

The People’s Congress will remain in place, united voices, to express our collective will and determination, with continued vigilance, until true Democracy has been restored to our Nation. 

This could be a huge part of the change we need, a giant step towards freedom and justice. The discussions are just beginning and we need everyone involved in the discussions, so that the people are truly represented! Already I have found flaws on their website (no organizations representing people with disabilities and mental health issues were included) and already they have taken steps to correct this. If you are not involved, your voice will not be heard. But your voice CAN be heard.

I have recently written about and truly believe in a People's Revolution, and I think that an uprising preceding a progressive event like the People's Congress could create the change we are all looking for. The October 6 revolution has stated its demands and is planning a massive protest, the People's Congress is beginning its discussions. The way I see it, the more action the better. We are talking about the same revolution!

Don't Give in to the Machine!

I've been talking a lot about the upcoming Revolution here in amerika. I have to tell you, I'm stoked about it! Some people I've spoken to jump right on board, are ready to go, but most...well, not so much. So many people point out that we are such a large and spread out country compared to Tunisia, Egypt, Spain, Greece, etcetera. I agree that has made large protests harder to organize, but look at the numbers we've racked up at the kapitol for other causes (go on, look! I posted a bunch here!). Many good people I have spoken to sigh and admit that they have little faith that enough people will show up. To them I say, if you don't show up, then maybe you're right! But why surrender and be a part of the problem? I understand how one gets to be burnt out and pessimistic. It can be exhausting going to anti-war protest after anti-war protest (for example) and seeing nothing change. You know they want us to give up, and if we do, than they win. The Machine wins. Don't let the Machine win! The Machine has so many tools they use to keep us down! Even the "liberal" media constantly reminds us that we should not have faith in our fellow americans, that americans are stupid and lazy and don't care about anything but themselves. Look around at the people you actually know--this is not true! The Machine thrives on this pessimism, this hopelessness. It thrives on drug addiction, poverty crime, and so many of the problems they pretend to be fighting. It thrives on fear, filling up the jails with all our revolutionaries. The mainstream media is a tool used against us--filling us with fear, self-doubt, self-hate, despair, misinformation, and distracting us with bullshit capitalist desires...most everybody gets stuck in this trap sometimes. But to sit at home and go about your daily routine because you don't have faith our fellow humans, well, that is giving in to the Machine. This is why YOU need to show up on October 6, 2011 and protest with the rest of us at Freedom Plaza in D.C.! This is why we need to spread the word and be very persuasive, enthusiastic, Optimistic. Give those burnt out and pessimistic potential activists the push they need to join in the Revolution! All of us can be leaders. All of us can be Revolutionaries.
In Solidarity,
Coco Pan.

As Mario Savio said in 1964:
 

  ...Those words have an even greater urgency today. We face ongoing wars and massive socio-economic and environmental destruction perpetrated by a corporate empire which is oppressing, occupying and exploiting the world. We are on a fast track to making the planet unlivable while the middle class and poor people of our country are undergoing the most wrenching and profound economic crisis in 80 years.

"Stop the Machine! • Create a New World!" is a clarion call for all who are deeply concerned with injustice, militarism and environmental destruction to join in ending concentrated corporate power and taking direct control of a real participatory democracy. We will encourage a culture of resistance—using music, art, theater and direct nonviolent action—to take control of our country and our lives. It is about courageously resisting and stopping the corporate state from destroying not only our inherent rights and freedoms, but also our children’s chance to live, breathe clean air, drink pure water, grow edible natural food and live in peace. --from October2011.org's call to action.

Protesters will gather the morning of October 6 on Freedom Plaza, located at the corner of 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The plaza is named in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., who worked on his "I Have a Dream" speech in the nearby Willard Hotel. Demands of the protesters will include ending the illegal war in Afghanistan, ending corporate control over people and government, human rights, health care for all, economic justice, and the environment. Many believe that this will be the most massive protest in U.S. history to date.