A Queer, Tree-Hugging, Peace-Loving Anarchist's Reactions to Injustice. A Hopeful attempt at Participating in Conversations that Create Real Change. A Constant Call to Revolution!
when laws like "the national defense authorization act" are passed, it reenforces my reasons for why i truly believe that it does not matter who we vote for,
or who is in office. we are f#$%ed. some day, it's going to get so bad
that americans will no longer be comfortable enough to ignore or accept
how the government is keeping us down,
and only then can we truly have a revolution. this law was passed on december 31, 2011,
but i've noticed that an awful lot of americans do not know about the
national defense authorization act. no, we don't get to vote on this
stuff. we have a false sense of security. democracy does not work.
and what about these fema camps i keep hearing about? when americans read sci-fi books, be it "1984" or "hunger games", they must know that these books are warnings about the future...but so many see it as the distant future, or an exaggeration of our society's problems. is it really so distant? is it really exaggerated? i, for one, am not so sure.
Occupy Eugene is HAPPENING! Saturday, October 15, was the biggest march in Eugene history. Over 2,000 people participated!150-200 people camped out in the Park Blocks downtown Eugene. The energy was amazing. We met at Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza where there were many speakers, some songs, and a lot of people getting together, making signs, and talking about the movement.
There were so many people, we were on both sides of the bridge waving at each other. Once we were off the bridge we could look back and see an endless stream of people continuing on! In solidarity!
Samba Ja took the lead on the march and then stopped at the courthouse for more drums and dancing before heading to the occupation site!
It was beautiful to see how many children are involved and participating!
And of course, there were several bike cops around and some cop cars, but it stayed calm and mostly friendly between the people in uniforms and the people marching. There was a Homeland Security vehicle hanging around, too, of course...
Positive vibes and Solidarity!
The lovely little tent village.
Malik Rahim, former Black Panther and founder of the Common Ground Collective in New Orleans joined us. He and many other speakers were so inspiring! In fact, EVERYONE THERE was inspiring! Malik Rahim reminds us, "The number one issue is saving our environment, and then ending these unjust wars! We can find peace! It starts like this!" and he reminds us they may evict us from a certain site, "but they cannot evict a movement!" Malik told us that when he comes back from the 45th anniversary of the Black Panthers, he will be camping with us in Eugene. :)
Occupy Eugene is very well organized, and getting more organized as we learn how to live and work together as a community striving for change! We have several committees, including Sanitation, Medical, Communications, Community Outreach, People of Color, Sobriety Support, Children and Families, Research, Peace Keepers, Collective Visioning, Food, Facilitation, Morale, and Engineering. Many of these committees have several sub-committees, too. If you would like to be involved, please check out the website, and PLEASE, come down to 8th and Oak and show your support in person! Join the occupiers! You can alsodonate moneyorneeded items to the occupation.
7am General Assembly 10/16.
The General Assemblies have been going very well. Eugene has been using 100% Consensus and it has been working amazingly well! You can watch the General Assemblies, and many other goings-on on livestream. We have adopted St. Paul's Principles. General Assembly meetings will happen every day at 7am and 7pm.
The media is finally starting to pay attention to these movements. The Register Guard wrote a pretty good article about Occupy Eugene.
I want to reiterate, because some have expressed concern about this, that Occupy Eugene committees are discussing ways we can work with, and not interfere with, the Saturday Market.
Occupy Portland began on October 6. An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 people participated in the march Thursday. Occupations in solidarity with Occupy Wall St are happening all over the country, all over the world, even! "Occupy Together Meetups" planned or happening in 1,168 cities. Occupy Together has confirmed 68 occupations currently happening in the United States and 22 occupations currently happening in international cities. I've been involved with Occupy Portland and Occupy Eugene. I've been hearing about several other occupations planned in Oregon, and so I did some research. Here is what I found out!
Portland: The occupation began on October 6, 2011. 7-10,000 marched and hundreds occupied. The occupation site is located at the Plaza Blocks Park between 3rd and 4th Avenues. The Plaza Blocks are separated by SW Main Street, with Lownsdale Square on the north side and Chapman Square to the south. General Assemblies are every day 7am and 7pm. The website is updated daily, they are having infoshare classes, marches, and group meditations. A list of needs is regularly updated on the website.
Seaside: The occupation began Friday, October 7th at City Hall. There are 437 people who "liked" the facebook page, but they are in need of support! There is a City Council meeting at 7pm on Monday, they are hoping for a big turnout that night.
Manzanita: The occupation began Saturday, October 8. They met in front of Manzanita Library at 571 Laneda Ave. Not sure if this is still going on, or if it was simply a rally in support of Wall St and other occupations...? Salem: The occupation begins Monday, October 10, at 12:30pm, at Willson Park (on the West side of the Oregon State Capitol Building). That same day, the ACLU of Oregon will be representing Michele Darr et.al vs. the State of Oregon in a case which will be heard by the Oregon State Court of Appeals (on the East side of the Capitol Building in Salem) after 2 years of struggle to reassert the Peoples Constitutional Right to peaceably assemble 24 hours a day at the seat of government to request Redress of Grievances. The Liberation Commons Collective has been involved in organizing for this.
Eugene : Occupy Eugene is having its 4th General Assembly meeting on Thursday, October 13, at the West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue, 1274 W. 7th Ave. For those who do not have regular access to the internet, there is a phone line: 541-525-0130. You can call this number if you would like to be updated about meetings by phone. The occupation begins Saturday, October 15.
Ashland: The occupation begins Monday, October 10, 2011, 12:00 PM at Chase Bank.
Corvallis: The occupation begins Monday, October 10, at 12noon, at the Bank of America on 3rd St. and SW Adams. 324 SW 3rd St.
Cottage Grove: There are currently 23 people discussing this on facebook. This will take place Wednesday, October 12, 5pm, and 1500 Main St. It seems details may still be being worked out, please visit their page for more. Coos Bay: The proposed beginning time and place for this is Friday, October 14, 9am, at 125 Central Ave. Roseburg: There are 57 people currently on the facebook page. They are planning on beginning on Saturday, October 15. Medford: Also beginning Saturday, October 15, at12:00pm. Medford Oregon Alba Park. Bend: The occupation will begin Saturday, October 15, at 12noon. It is proposed to begin at Drake Park and march to Pioneer Park. Astoria:1st Planning Meeting is on Wednesday, October 12, at 4:30pm-6:30pm, at the Astoria Labor Hall. 926 Duane St. 3rd floor. McMinnville: The date is not yet set. The place is 3rd St, possibly US Bank Plaza. Rogue Valley: No real information on this one. Is it happening? There is a facebook page, and 93 people "like" it. Vale: No real information on this one. There is a Meet Up page. Cave Junction: There is a facebook page, and a proud grandmother, and 20 people "like" it. No real information yet. Brookings: There is a Meet Up page. No information yet. Hillsboro: There is a Meet Up page. No other information. John Day: There is a Meet Up page. No other information.
If you don't know what the Occupations are all about, please check out Occupy Wall St.'s Official Declaration. These Occupations, though many may release their own declaration or grievances, are in solidarity with Occupy Wall St.
An estimated 7,000 people joined the march Thursday October 6 in Portland, OR. It was AMAZING and INSPIRING! The occupiers are still there. They are currently occupying Chapman Square and Lownsdale Square. Mayor Sam Adams has been negotiating long term occupation solutions with our Tactical Committee.
The occupiers, their supporters, the demonstrators and protesters....we all have a common cause. Of course, we are individuals with different ideas and different beliefs, but we are united in our call for change. We are united in our outrage at the way our government serves the few greedy wealthy at the expense of the many struggling. 1% of the world owns over 50% of the wealth. We are the 99% and we are not just pissed off, we are hopeful that we can unite and create real change!
If you can't occupy, march! If you can't make it to the marches, support the occupiers! There is a list of occupier needs on occupyportland.org
Estimated 7,000-10,000 people showed up and participated in the march!
So many leaders. It is inspiring to watch people speak, lead, and inspire others to do the same. It is cooperative and beautiful. There is no single leader or single group of leaders in this movement. As one sign I saw Thursday read, "We Are the People We've Been Waiting For!"
A popular chant as well!
People cheered us on from all the buildings, clapping, throwing peace signs, and making impromptu signs!
People gathered in the Federal park before being told that the Mayor had approved the two parks next to it which were city property. We were told riot cops were on their way, but we departed to the other parks and there was no conflict.
No "Get out of jail free card" for you, BANKSTERS!
Just look around at the signs and you will see that we are all united for a common cause.
Tomorrow at 12noon, people will gather at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park, North Waterfront Park and Ankeny Plaza, at The Pavilion in Portland, OR, where Saturday Market touches the river, just south of the Burnside Bridge and we will march to the site of the demonstration. This is a nonviolent movement in solidarity with Occupy Wall St. This is an occupation, so many will sleep outside as a group, with sleeping bags, tarps, and duct tape (tents are illegal). Please go to OccupyPortland.org for details. I am going to Portland tomorrow morning to take part in this. It is our hope that this will be a peaceful demonstration. However, the occupation at Wall St. has remained peaceful on the part of the protesters, and they have been met with police brutality and mass arrests. We must be prepared.
Those of us who are trained in CPR and First Aid and other medical and health issues must especially be prepared. We must also have people available who can support people with mental health issues, panic, and trauma.
Some important things to bring:
Typical First Aid kit stuff if you have it and especially if you are trained in CPR and First Aid
Some sort of herbal courage tincture
A bandana soaked in cider vinegar (in case of pepper spray, to help you breathe)
Squirt-top bottle with 50/50 water and liquid Maalox (for your eyes, in case of pepper spray)
Squirt-top bottle with 25% Dawn dish soap and 75% water (for your skin in case of pepper spray)
An extra t-shirt in a bag
Emergen-C packets
Granola bars
Sugar packets or tube of icing (in case of diabetic emergency)
Rosehip Medic Collective based out of Portland, Oregon, has some really helpful resources for those interested in being street medics.
The Eugene occupation is also underway as far as planning goes. You can visit OccupyEugene.com for more information on that. One important thing before a huge and ongoing demonstration that is needed, however, is sleep. And sleep I must.
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.
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!
"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%"
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 atoccupywallst.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
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."
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/.
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!
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.
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, GA30334
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?
and what about these fema camps i keep hearing about? when americans read sci-fi books, be it "1984" or "hunger games", they must know that these books are warnings about the future...but so many see it as the distant future, or an exaggeration of our society's problems. is it really so distant? is it really exaggerated? i, for one, am not so sure.
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.
Protesters arrested today (including the NYC IWW chair) are being locked inside a police van outside the:
