Sunday, November 20, 2011

http://occupywallst.org/

http://occupywallst.org/

Egypt Rising Against Military Rule. Security Forces Descend on Tahrir Square

Posted 14 hours ago on Nov. 20, 2011, 12:04 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

99 Comments

Occupy Oakland Calls for TOTAL WEST COAST PORT SHUTDOWN ON 12/12

Posted 1 day ago on Nov. 19, 2011, 8:35 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

West Coast Port Shutdown

Proposal for a Coordinated West Coast Port Shutdown, Passed With Unanimous Consensus by vote of the Occupy Oakland General Assembly 11/18/2012:

In response to coordinated attacks on the occupations and attacks on workers across the nation:

Occupy Oakland calls for the blockade and disruption of the economic apparatus of the 1% with a coordinated shutdown of ports on the entire West Coast on December 12th. The 1% has disrupted the lives of longshoremen and port truckers and the workers who create their wealth, just as coordinated nationwide police attacks have turned our cities into battlegrounds in an effort to disrupt our Occupy movement. Read More...

671 Comments

Drum Circle headed to Bloomberg's Mansion. Liberty Square to be Occupied with Voices of Immigrant Women and Elders from the Civil Rights Movement

Posted 1 day ago on Nov. 19, 2011, 7:03 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Sunday, November 20th:

12:00pm: Liberty Square -"We, Spanish-speaking immigrant women of New York City, call on all women to join us ... to stand up, speak out, assemble and make our diverse voices heard with dignity and strength as we demonstrate in solidarity with the Occupy movement for democracy, dignity and equality for all people." Details Here

2:00pm: 24 hour "Occupy Bloomberg's Mansion Drum Circle Protest And Love-In Art Show " in front of Billionaire Bloomberg's massive mansion on 17 East 79th Street. Details Here

3:30pm: Liberty Square - "Elders from the Civil Right's Movement will be sharing the torch of social justice and equality with our movement, a symbolic act by which they recognize OWS as the transformative movement of the 21st Century." Details Here

89 Comments

DC, Other Cities Liberate Unoccupied Buildings for the 99%

Posted 1 day ago on Nov. 19, 2011, 6:38 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Occupied Franklin School

Today, Occupy K St./DC liberated the empty, city-owned Franklin School. The school was closed several years ago and initially reopened as a homeless shelter. Despite widespread public opposition, the city government later closed the shelter. Next -- in blatant disregard of social safety net programs that are necessary for the very survival of the people who are most directly impacted by economic injustice -- announced plans to turn the building either into luxury condos or a hotel for the 1% lobbyists on K St.

In a move similar to other recent building occupations in Oakland, Chapel Hill, New York, and London, dozens of occupiers entered the building with sleeping bags and food and declared their intent to stay indefinitely. Occupy DC announced plans for an open forum to be held at a church next Monday to discuss uses of the building with the public. Inside, they began cleaning the building to make it usable for the community. From the roof, occupiers chanted "We are the 99%!" as others dropped a banner reading "Public Property under Community Control" over the school. Meanwhile, hundreds rallied in support outside.

Read More...

192 Comments

Spotted at New School Occupation: Mili-tents

Posted 1 day ago on Nov. 19, 2011, 5:39 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

At the New School Occupation in NYC.

 



Congrats and solidarity to our brothers and sisters at the newly established New School Occupation! In the wake of the raid on Liberty Square, they established a 24/7 occupation in the student study center here in NYC. Statement below and more information here.

Read More...

46 Comments

Whom Do You Serve?

Posted 1 day ago on Nov. 19, 2011, 12:23 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

UC Davis Pepper Spray Incident

This incident took place at UC Davis. See below for video of this incident, as well as more examples of state repression against the 99% movement across the U.S.
*TRIGGER WARNING: Graphic images. Read More...

535 Comments

November 17: Historic Day of Action for the 99%

Posted 3 days ago on Nov. 18, 2011, 1:11 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

November 17 Day of Action:

  • Over 30,000 People Rally in New York City (NYPD estimated 32,500), including organized contingents of workers, students, and other members of "the 99%"
  • Actions in at least 30 cities across the country and around the world
  • Commemoration of 2-Months Since Birth of the 99% Movement, Festival of Lights on Brooklyn Bridge
  • Blockade of all Entry-Points to NYSE; hundreds participate in nonviolence civil disobedience
  • Sense that a powerful and diverse civic movement for social justice is on the ascent

Tens of thousands took action Thursday, November 17 to demand that our political system serve all of us — not just the wealthy and powerful. The NYPD estimated tonight's crowd at 32,500 people, at the culmination of the day of action. Thousands more also mobilized in at least 30 cities across the United States. Demonstrations were also held in cities around the world.

"Our political system should serve all of us — not just the very rich and powerful. Right now Wall Street owns Washington," said participant Beka Economopoulos. "We are the 99% and we are here to reclaim our democracy."

New York led the charge in this energizing day for the emerging movement. In the wake of billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg's predawn raid of Occupy Wall Street at Liberty Square, 1:00am Tuesday morning, thousands of people throughout the five boroughs and the greater region converged to take peaceful action. Following Bloomberg's action, the slogan "You can't evict an idea whose time has come" became the new meme of the 99% movement overnight. The mobilization today proved that the movement is on the ascent and is capable of navigating obstacles.

Read More...

620 Comments

The World Is With Us—Occupy Lives On!

Posted 3 days ago on Nov. 17, 2011, 10:29 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Athens Action
Athens, Greece

Today, November 17th, over 30,000 New Yorkers took to the streets to resist austerity, rebuild our economy, and reclaim our democracy. It was our largest action to date.

Our will was only emboldened by Mayor Bloomberg's heavy-handed attempt to eradicate Occupy Wall Street; our brutal eviction from our homes at Liberty Square has strengthened both our resolve and our legitimacy. Together, we raised our voices to declare: "No to evictions! No to the 1% that profits from our collective impoverishment." We showed the world we are not a fringe group of naive idealists—we are truly a people's uprising embodying the revolutionary spirit of economic justice, mutual aid, and participatory, consensus-based democracy. We are the 99%.

And the world responded. 

Read More...

543 Comments

Over 30,000 take Foley Square, Brooklyn Bridge.

Posted 3 days ago on Nov. 17, 2011, 4:41 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Foley Square

At 3PM, thousands of students, workers, and other supporters gathered in Union Square chanting "Shut the city down!" and using the People's Mic to share stories of how banks and corporate greed have impacted the 99%. Simultaneously, Occupiers took to multiple subway stations in all five boroughs. The day of action culminated when the student strike, labor unions, and various OWS groups took over a number of streets in Lower Manhattan on their way to Foley Square before marching across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Students chanted "CUNY should be free!" and "Student Power!" as they took to the streets along 16th and 5th Avenue, shutting down traffic and leaving police powerless to respond. Police attempts to erect barricades along 5th Avenue failed to block the march, as banners reading "OCCUPIED" were seen along New School buildings.

Huge crowds marched down Broadway toward Foley Square to join another large contingent of labor unions and fellow Occupiers. Despite a massive police presence and helicopters circling overhead, protestors took Foley Square, as marchers converged and supporters poured from the subways. Over 30,000 joined as one, marching across the Brooklyn Bridge, and proving to the world that an idea whose time has come cannot be evicted. The 1% might steal our homes, but they cannot steal our truth.

Live Updates

  • 8:40 pm: People's Assembly currently happening on Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge; several hundred others are returning to Liberty Square
  • 8:23 pm: There is now a people's library, a marching band and a projector on the Brooklyn Bridge, according to @occupywallst people on the ground
  • 8:05 pm: SEIU President Mary Kay Henry being arrested at the Brooklyn Bridge
  • 8:00 pm: City councilor Jumaane Williams may have been arrested at the foot of Brooklyn Bridge
  • 7:54 pm: General assembly held at 8 at the Korean War Memorial Park, just past Brooklyn Bridge.
  • 7:52 pm: From @John Harkinson, thousands of people with music, signs, honks of support. Everything peaceful.
  • 7:30 pm: The column marching on Brooklyn Bridge stretches about a mile long. From http://www.emergencystream.com/video_streams/NY/NYC3/a.html
  • 7:22 pm: chant: "we are unstoppable, a new world is possible!"
  • 7:15 pm: a massive banner reading "Occupy Wall Street" was dropped from the overhang of the pedestrian walkway on the Brooklyn Bridge in full view of traffic; hundreds of cars seen honking in support
  • 7:09 pm: A Light Show on Brooklyn Bridge is projecting "99%", "Occupy Earth" "we are winning" and other slogans of support on the side of the Verizon Building. Followed by "Happy Birthday OccupywallstNYC" Reported by @occupywallst
  • 7:06 pm: Police scanners estimate the crowd at 32,650 people. Reported by @jstetser
  • 7:01 pm: Entrance of Brooklyn Bridge City Hall station closed.
  • 7:00 pm: One source gives around 2,000 protesters on Brooklyn Bridge
  • 6:44 pm: https://twitter.com/?photo_id=1#!/AnalectFilms/status/137290008620052481/photo/1 - Taking Canal St.
  • 6:42 pm: http://twitpic.com/7fjlrc - On the Brooklyn Bridge.
  • 6:35 pm: From TheOther99, reports of NYPD intimidating the press, told Tim Pool he would have his press card revoked if he was arrested.
  • 6:30 pm: City Hall is locked down, from @JoshHarkinson
  • 6:15 pm: 20,000 marching towards Brooklyn Bridge from Foley Square, chanting "Whose Bridge? Our Bridge!"
  • 5:30 pm: #OWS shuts down Canal St.
  • 5:25 pm: NYPD cavalry begins to be appear on Centre Street.
  • 5:16 pm: 90 Fifth Avenue occupied by students from Pratt, Columbia, NYU, Hunter pic.twitter.com/lBNwUwpJ
  • 5:07 pm: more police sirens heard headed toward Foley
  • 5:00 pm: chant: "Bloomberg beware, Liberty Square is everywhere!"
  • 4:57 pm: thousands more run south on 7th Ave, evading NYPD barricades to meet Union allies and thousands more who are continuing to mass at Foley Square
  • 4:53 pm: Ydanis Rodriguez, NYC Council member who was arrested during raid on Liberty square, spotted at Foley
  • 4:52 pm: marchers headed from west end of 14th after cut off by police barricades
  • 4:47 pm: 5th ave has been shut down!
  • 4:42 pm: thousands outmaneuver Billionaire Bloomberg's publicly funded private army at 14th and 5th ave and head West on 15th
  • 4:40 pm: music and chants can be heard emanating from Foley Square
  • 4:32 pm: as other marches continue heading down Broadway and from Liberty Square, 7th and 6th st are reported to have been taken by protesters
  • 4:26 pm: Foley reported full of protestors, NYU students still on their way; other feeder marches (including from Liberty Square) also en route
  • 4:26 pm: face off between marchers and a small number of police who are trying to prevent access onto 5th Ave
  • 4:13 pm: headed toward Foley Square, thousands of students and friends stream out of Union Square and into the streets chanting, "Whose streets? Our streets!"

491 Comments

Inspiring Words from Redditor Aniadrift

Posted 3 days ago on Nov. 17, 2011, 4:29 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Sorry for gushing, but I feel the need to right now. When the mass evictions started happening, I was filled with a sense of despair. Now that I see this, that despair has been replaced with inspiration. My heart bursts with it. I want you people to know, all of you who have been in the streets fighting, that you have given me hope for the country that I never thought I would have before. That before this movement started, I was one of the apathetic, ready to give up on the system and just try to leave the country as soon as possible. That because of your movement, I am now alive again, ready to fight for my country, ready to change this corrupt system. That because you have done this for me, I know you have done this for millions of others as well. People will tell you that you fight in vain, that you are accomplishing nothing, that you have no direction, that your actions are pointless. But your actions are far from this. You have destroyed the greatest enemy to freedom, and the greatest ally of the ruling class: Apathy.

I see these people out in the streets and I know now that this movement cannot be stopped. That this is the climax of a decades-long battle for the soul of humanity itself. Cynics will laugh at me for saying this, and the loyalists will call me a dirty hippie and a criminal and all the other things they have grown fond of calling us. But these people do not matter. To history, they will be irrelevant. To history, there is only you. Ignore the loyalists, ignore the cynics, keep fighting. Shut them down. Shut the entire god damn system down. No one can stop this. I love you all.

original post

163 Comments

URGENT: to the 72% of NYC Residents who Support Occupy Wall Street: WE NEED YOU NOW!

Posted Nov. 17, 2011, 2:50 p.m. EST (3 days ago) by OccupyWallSt

NYPD Swarming Liberty Square in Bloody Assault.

Posted 3 days ago on Nov. 17, 2011, 2:05 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Live Updates

  • 3:26 pm: video of bloodied protestor *warning: graphic content
  • 3:12 pm: thousands marching down both sides of Broadways toward Union Square; others taking subways throughout the five boroughs
  • 2:38 pm: march gathering to join student strike at Union Square.
  • 2:28 pm: videographer reports assault by undercover cop, video coming soon.
  • 2:28 pm: surrounded by media, occupiers inside Liberty Sq chant "the whole world is watching"
  • 2:26 pm: heavy police presence continues, occupiers undaunted
  • 2:18 pm: Liberty Square reopened, occupiers return inside to see blood on the ground
  • 2:11 pm: multiple victims reported. Witnesses confirm man tackled from behind by NYPD, bloodied, stripped of clothing.
  • 1:56 pm: at least one medic reports protestor bleeding from the head inside the Square. NYPD is preventing medics from helping.
  • 1:53 pm: for no apparent reason, police have invaded Liberty Square and began indiscriminately shoving people and reportedly hitting people with batons
  • 1:49 pm: paddy wagons approaching; more and more police surrounding the square; no way in or out; imminent mass arrests anticipated
  • 1:43 pm: police using metal barricades to seal off Liberty Square; peaceful protestors are being told they are not allowed to leave; widespread reports of violence inside
  • 1:38 pm: helmeted police are raiding Liberty Square, batons drawn; they have closed off the entrances and are not letting people in or out
  • 1:26 pm: reports that riot police are mobilizing just outside Liberty Square; NYPD attempting to search Wikipedia "Free Bradley Manning" truck

Live Video

191 Comments

Thousands Occupy Wall Street: All Entry Points to New York Stock Exchange Blockaded

Posted Nov. 17, 2011, 12:35 p.m. EST (3 days ago) by OccupyWallSt

Watch Wall Street Shut Down. Live.

Posted Nov. 17, 2011, 7:32 a.m. EST (3 days ago) by OccupyWallSt

Occupy Wall Street Against the Mafia

Posted Nov. 17, 2011, 2:50 a.m. EST (3 days ago) by OccupyWallSt

#OWS calls for nonviolent solidarity on November 17th

Posted Nov. 16, 2011, 7:14 p.m. EST (4 days ago) by OccupyWallSt

From Those Inside Of Central Booking

Posted Nov. 16, 2011, 5:24 p.m. EST (4 days ago) by OccupyWallSt

#N17 Global Day Of Action!

Posted Nov. 16, 2011, 4:40 p.m. EST (4 days ago) by OccupyWallSt

Mass Day of Action on 2-Month Anniversary of Occupy Wall Street

Posted Nov. 16, 2011, 3:27 p.m. EST (4 days ago) by OccupyWallSt

#OWS holds Action Council and Spokes Council Tonight!

Posted Nov. 16, 2011, 3:19 p.m. EST (4 days ago) by carbonogram

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg's New York

Posted Nov. 16, 2011, 3 p.m. EST (4 days ago) by OccupyWallSt

100 March on NYPD 1st Precinct to Demand Dignity;
 Women in Custody Being Harassed, Police Protocols In Question

Posted Nov. 16, 2011, 12:54 a.m. EST (5 days ago) by OccupyWallSt

This Is What Democracy Looks Like: Huge General Assembly in Progress at Liberty Square

Posted Nov. 15, 2011, 8:40 p.m. EST (5 days ago) by OccupyWallSt

NYPD Occupying Liberty Square; Demands Unclear

Posted 5 days ago on Nov. 15, 2011, 6:51 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

New York, NY — The NYPD have been occupying Liberty Square since 1:00am Tuesday morning, with the brand new occupation now set to enter its second day in just a few short hours. But will anyone listen to them when their message is so incoherent?

"What are their demands?" asked social historian Patrick Bruner. "They have not articulated any platform. How do they expect to be taken seriously?"

Critics of the new occupation allege that meddling billionaire Michael Bloomberg is behind the movement. Others question the new occupiers' militant posture, concerned about the potential effects on the neighborhood.

"I suppose they have a right to express themselves," said local resident Han Shan."But I'd prefer it if instead they occupied the space with the power of their arguments."

ABOVE: a rogue NYPD affinity group occupying the NY Stock Exchange

139 Comments

URGENT: EVERYONE TO LIBERTY SQUARE! NOW! WE ARE RE-OCCUPYING!

Posted 5 days ago on Nov. 15, 2011, 5:59 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Liberty Square is our home. The 1% stole the homes of thousands, but they will not steal Liberty Square! Reoccupation begins NOW!

If you're in the NYC area: join the thousands gathering to defend our home, our movement, and our rights! Come to Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park) now!

If you're elsewhere: blast this call with every form of media the 99% can muster!

how to fight back nonviolently

402 Comments

Judge REJECTS Temporary Restraining Order to Allow Liberty Square Reoccupation

Posted 5 days ago on Nov. 15, 2011, 4:56 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

from the ruling:

The movants have not demonstrated that they have a First Amendment right to remain in Zuccotti Park, along with their tents, structures, generators, and other installations to the exclusion of the owner's reasonable rights and duties to maintain Zuccotti Park, or to the rights to public access of others who might wish to use the space safely. Neither have the applicants shown a right to a temporary restraining order that would restrict the City's enforcement of law so as to promote public health and safety.

Therefore, petitioners application for a temporary restraining order is denied.

click here for full text of ruling

298 Comments

Help Occupy Wall Street, Liberty Square, From New York and Afar

Posted 5 days ago on Nov. 15, 2011, 4:02 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park), home of Occupy Wall Street for the past two months and birthplace of the 99% movement that has spread across the country, was evicted by a large police force in full riot gear. NOW is the time to help. If you feel as deeply about the Occupy movement as we do, show your support by taking real steps today! We are counting on people all over the country to come out and support us to keep this movement going!

Come to GENERAL ASSEMBLY tonight at 7pm in Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park):

They can kick us out, but they can't stop us from reassembling. Let's show them that truth by showing up at Liberty Square with the biggest General Assembly yet! Come to GA tonight at 7pm!

Help the Occupiers Get their stuff back:

Supposedly, all the stuff that was taken by the police from the square will be available for people to pick up at noon EST today. WE NEED PEOPLE TO GO TO MIDTOWN MANHATTAN AND HELP THE OCCUPIERS GET THEIR STUFF BACK TODAY! If you can help gather the stuff, especially if you have a van or can rent a U-Haul for the effort, please call or text 617-406-8299

Support the Occupiers by giving them a place to stay:

Live in New York City? Want to support the Liberty Square arrestees? We are looking for safe spaces where folk who have been arrested can go after they are released to rest, tend their wounds, take a shower, have a meal, etc. If you can offer your house, call Hannah at 802.359.3628. Tell us how many people you can have over, for how long, where you live, and a return number. Thanks!

Medical Needs Supplies:

The medics lost all of their supplies last night along with everyone else. We urgently need all basic medical supplies. Things such as gauze, bandages, bandaids, vitamin C, heat packs, cold packs, gloves, asprin, AND ANY OTHER THINGS THAT YOU CAN THINK MAY BE NECESSARY FOR MEDICAL NEEDS!

Medics ALSO need new tent, headlamps, cots, battery-powered lanterns

Please bring supplies to S.I.S (OWS Shipping and Storage) at 52 Broadway, NYC. 

Mailing Address:

118A Fulton St.
PO Box 205
New York, NY 10038

Call assistant Attorney General with the Civil Rights Division:

http://interoccupy.org/CivilRightscomplaint.pdf is a complaint submitted on behalf of the Occupy Movement to the Department of Justice in response to the increasing antagonism of police against peaceful protesters. It was formally submitted to the Department of Justice on 11/10/2011. It is addressed to a Mister Thomas Perez, the assistant Attorney General with the Civil Rights Division. Mr. Perez's office number is (202) 514-4609. Let us call, tie up his lines, and demand that every citizen has a right to peaceably assemble without the threat of police violence.

Link To Potential Actions

Contact movementbuildingny@gmail.com for potential additions to this list.

63 Comments

OWS Awaits Ruling to Reoccupy

Posted 5 days ago on Nov. 15, 2011, 3:49 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

59 Comments

A Call to Occupy

Posted 5 days ago on Nov. 15, 2011, 8:23 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

#OccupyWallStreet Convening 9 a.m. Sixth Avenue and Canal Street.

New York, NY — We are a global movement that is reclaiming our humanity and our future. We have stepped into a revitalizing civic process, realizing that we cannot fix our crises isolated from one another. We need collective action, and we need civic space. We are creating that civic space.

To occupy is to embody the spirit of liberation that we wish to manifest in our society. It is to exercise our freedom to assemble. We are creating space for community, values, ideas, and a level of meaningful dialogue that is absent in the present discourse.

Liberated space is breaking free of isolation, breaking down the walls that literally and figuratively separate us from one another. It is a new focus on community, trust, love and hope. We occupy to create a vision of equality, liberty and social justice onto the blank paving stones of public parks, in the silent hallways of abandoned schools, banks, and beyond. Public space plays a crucial role in this civic process and encourages open, transparent organizing in our movement. As we have seen in Liberty Square, outdoor space invites people to listen, speak, share, learn, and act.

Last night, billionaire Michael Bloomberg sent a massive police force to evict members of the public from Liberty Square—home of Occupy Wall Street for the past two months. People who were part of a dynamic civic process were beaten and pepper-sprayed, their personal property destroyed.

Supporters of this rapidly growing movement were mobilized in the middle of the night, making phone calls, taking the streets en masse, and planning next steps. Americans and people around the world are appalled at Bloomberg's treatment of people who peacefully assemble. We are appalled, but not deterred. Liberty Square was dispersed, but its spirit not defeated. Today we are stronger than we were yesterday. Tomorrow we will be stronger still. We are breaking free of the fear that constricts and confines us. We occupy to liberate.

We move forward in the grand tradition of the transformative social movements that have defined American history. We stand on the shoulders of those who have struggled before us, and we pick up where others have left off. We are creating a better society for us all.

Occupy Wall Street has renewed a sense of hope. It has revived a belief in community and awakened a revolutionary spirit too long silenced. Join us as we liberate space and build a movement. 9 a.m. Tuesday morning at Sixth Avenue and Canal we continue.

Global actions will be posted on this page.

563 Comments

9AM Post-Raid Rally and General Assembly

Posted 5 days ago on Nov. 15, 2011, 6:57 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

New Yorkers! Meet at 9am at Canal and 6th Avenue. Spread the word...

This movement can't be contained in one square block in lower Manhattan. It is bigger than that. You can't evict an idea whose time had come.

Show your support. Turn out en masse....

317 Comments

You can't evict an idea whose time has come.

Posted 6 days ago on Nov. 15, 2011, 1:36 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

A massive police force is presently evicting Liberty Square, home of Occupy Wall Street for the past two months and birthplace of the 99% movement that has spread across the country and around the world

The raid started just after 1:00am. Supporters and allies are mobilizing throughout the city, presently converging at Foley Square. Supporters are also planning public actions for the coming days, including occupation actions.

You can't evict an idea whose time has come.

Two months ago a few hundred New Yorkers set up an encampment at the doorstep of Wall Street. Since then, Occupy Wall Street has become a national and even international symbol — with similarly styled occupations popping up in cities and towns across America and around the world. A growing popular movement has significantly altered the national narrative about our economy, our democracy, and our future.

Americans are talking about the consolidation of wealth and power in our society, and the stranglehold that the top 1% have over our political system. More and more Americans are seeing the crises of our economy and our democracy as systemic problems, that require collective action to remedy. More and more Americans are identifying as part of the 99%, and saying "enough!"

This burgeoning movement is more than a protest, more than an occupation, and more than any tactic. The "us" in the movement is far broader than those who are able to participate in physical occupation. The movement is everyone who sends supplies, everyone who talks to their friends and families about the underlying issues, everyone who takes some form of action to get involved in this civic process.

This moment is nothing short of America rediscovering the strength we hold when we come together as citizens to take action to address crises that impact us all.

Such a movement cannot be evicted. Some politicians may physically remove us from public spaces — our spaces — and, physically, they may succeed. But we are engaged in a battle over ideas. Our idea is that our political structures should serve us, the people — all of us, not just those who have amassed great wealth and power. We believe that is a highly popular idea, and that is why so many people have come so quickly to identify with Occupy Wall Street and the 99% movement.

You cannot evict an idea whose time has come.

130 Comments

NYPD IS RAIDING OCCUPY WALL STREET

Posted 6 days ago on Nov. 15, 2011, 1:20 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park), home of Occupy Wall Street for the past two months and birthplace of the 99% movement that has spread across the country and around the world, is presently being evicted by a large police force in full riot gear.

We will reoccupy!

Updates

  • 6:05 a.m. Liberty Square has been cleared. General assembly under way at Foley Square.
  • 3:36 a.m. Kitchen tent reported teargassed. Police moving in with zip cuffs.
  • 3:16 a.m. Occupiers linking arms around riot police
  • 3:15 a.m. NYPD destroying personal items. Occupiers prevented from leaving with their possessions.
  • 3:13 a.m. NYPD deploying sound cannon
  • 3:08 a.m. heard on livestream: "they're bringing in the hoses."
  • 2:55 a.m. NYC council-member Ydanis Rodríguez arrested and bleeding from head.
  • 2:44 a.m. Defiant occupiers barricaded Liberty Square kitchen
  • 2:44 a.m. NYPD destroys OWS Library. 5,000 donated books in dumpster.
  • 2:42 a.m. Brooklyn Bridge confirmed closed
  • 2:38 a.m. 400-500 marching north to Foley Square
  • 2:32 a.m. All subways but R shut down
  • 2:29 a.m. Press helicopters evicted from airspace. NYTimes reporter arrested.
  • 2:22 a.m. Frontpage coverage from New York Times
  • 2:15 a.m. Occupiers who have been dispersed are regrouping at Foley Square
  • 2:10 a.m. Press barred from entering Liberty Square
  • 2:07 a.m. Pepper spray deployed -- reports of at least one reporter sprayed
  • 2:03 a.m. Massive Police Presence at Canal and Broadway
  • 1:43 a.m. Helicopters overhead.
  • 1:38 a.m. Unconfirmed reports of snipers on rooftops.
  • 1:34 a.m. CBS News Helicopter Livestream
  • 1:27 a.m. Unconfirmed reports that police are planning to sweep everyone.
  • 1:20 a.m. Subway stops are closed.
  • 1:20 a.m. Brooklyn bridge is closed.
  • 1:20 a.m. Occupiers chanting "This is what a police state looks like."
  • 1:20 a.m. Police are in riot gear.
  • 1:20 a.m. Reports of Police are bringing in bulldozers.

Phone

  • Call 311 if you're in the NYC area.
  • NYPD 1st Precinct: 212.334.0611
  • NYPD Central Booking: 718.875.6303
  • NYPD Internal Affairs: 212.487.7350
  • City Hall: 212.788.3058

More

292 Comments

Poster for N17 Mass Direct Action: Print and Post Freely!

Posted 6 days ago on Nov. 14, 2011, 10:53 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

N17 Direct Action

High-quality, print-ready versions (11x17, 15x24, 23x36) are available as a freely downloadable .zip file.

Let's get these posters everywhere! The artist's only stipulation is that they cannot be sold, only given away.

Props to r.black for his amazing work!

Click here for more on November 17 actions planned for NYC.

538 Comments

Thousands Rally to Resist Occupy Portland Evictions

Posted 1 week ago on Nov. 13, 2011, 2:04 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

10,000 filled the areas around the Occupy Portland encampments last night as the deadline approached for eviction. 12:01 am came and went but the cops could do nothing: too many supporters blocked their path. It was peaceful.

The cops waited it out and are clearing out the Chapman and Lownsdale Park camps this morning, tearing down the remaining tents. There is a General Assembly meeting at Pioneer Square at noon today. Occupy Portland will continue. The whole world is watching!

http://occupyportland.org/

#opdx #occupyportland

Livestreams

235 Comments

Occupy Denver Under Attack: Occupiers Take Streets Facing Tear Gas and Rubber Bullets

Posted 1 week ago on Nov. 12, 2011, 7:41 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

UPDATE 8:44pm 16 arrests confirmed. The march is headed to the courthouse by Civic Center Park.**

UPDATE 8:29pm The march is heading to the "Justice" center at 1331 Cherokee st.

UPDATE 8:20pm Live feeds lost after entering a parking garage at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Last words were that riot cops have surrounded them on all sides.

UPDATE 8:15pm Mayor Hancock has been found at Starz Film Festival. Occupiers are chanting and letting him hear it, since he's tried to shut Occupy Denver off.

UPDATE 8:01pm Protesters are now moving down the street, not to Skyline Park, on a "confirmed" report that the Mayor Michael Hancock is down the street at 15th and Larimer.

UPDATE 7:55pm Protesters need water and supplies. Please help with what you can. I imagine there are medics on the scene and need medic supplies. There was also an announcement to give to the DABC for the bail fund. The police continue to pursue the protesters.

UPDATE 7:32pm Police are surrounding a group of protesters on the block of 16th and Champa. They are trying to head to 15th and Arapahoe. If you have contact with people down there, please tell them to stay together and stay out of the alleys.

UPDATE 7:17pm Protesters on the move up the 16th Street Mall, currently at Arapahoe and 16th. I can't confirm, but I believe they are attempting to move camp to Skyline Park. There is a police presence following them and "boxing" them in. If you have Occupations materials from the Civic Center Park, please stay tuned for further updates on where to take those materials.

UPDATE 6:45pm Pepper bullets and tear gas launched into crowd.

UPDATE 6:27pm Police a chanting "MOOVE BACK" while the protesters rebut with "PEACEFUL! PEACEFUL! PEACEFUL!"

UPDATE 5:44 p.m. Protesters are chanting at police. Police continue to move. Unsure if chemical weapons have been used yet.

UPDATE 5:11 p.m. Police tape is up around the perimeter.

UPDATE 5:01 p.m. It looks like this raid is imminent. This is the "largest police presence ever" for one of the smallest gathering of protesters. It seems at minute they are going to bust in and take everything out.

Now on the Livestream you can see the police moving in to enforce an eviction notice that was served to Occupy Denver early Friday morning.

The Denver PD eviction statement:

It is illegal to place any encumbrance on the public right of way. An encumbrance is defined as "any article, vehical or thing whatsoever" which is on "any street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or other public way or place." D.R.M.C. 49-246 et. seq. The manager of Public works may order all encumbrances in the public right-of-way to be removed. The failure to remove items so ordered is a criminal offense; the maximum possible penalty for which is up to one year in the county jail and/or up to $999 fine.

PLEASE REMOVE ALL PERSONAL ITEMS FROM THIS AREA.

If personal items are not removed immediately, you may be subject to an order of removal at which time all items will be subject to removal by the Denver Police Department.

Agency- Denver Police Department

If you can make it down there to help move stuff, you should.

Watch the #OccupyDenver hastag on twitter. Switch the setting to "all" from "top" tweets to see it live.

Additional Livestreams

Audio:

239 Comments

Direct Action Training

Posted 1 week ago on Nov. 11, 2011, 4:17 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Action Preparation & Training for November 17th, November 30th and Beyond. Direct Action Trainings: build affinity team, train to do actions and civil disobediences, meet new allies and friends and have some fun with us.

Action Preparation and Training

Monday Nov. 14 and Tuesday Nov. 15 1:30-3:30 and 4:30-6:30. Meet at the Red Cube

Wednesday Nov. 16 5:30-7:30 UFT 52 Broadway 6th Floor

www.occupydaysofaction.com

110 Comments

11.11.11 Veterans Day Concert and Rally for the 99%. Foley Square 1pm.

Posted 1 week ago on Nov. 10, 2011, 2:16 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

"Honor the Dead, Fight Like Hell For the Living"

When: Friday, 11/11/11, 1 PM

Where: Foley Square, New York City

Who: Sergent Shamar Thomas, Joan Baez, Ryan Harvey, Joseph Arthur, Max Rameau from Take Back the Land, a speaker from OWS, and a speaker from the Iraq Veterans Against The War.

Other amazing artists and speakers to be announced soon. Stay Tuned.

256 Comments

A victory for the 99% in Ohio

Posted 1 week ago on Nov. 9, 2011, 2:56 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Stop the War on Workers

It is a better day for the 99% in Ohio. Yesterday on Tuesday, November 8, Ohio voters overwhelmingly Repealed Senate Bill 5. The bill, just passed by the Ohio legislature in March, removed the ability of public employees to engage in one of the most fundamental rights known to working people — collective bargaining.

Occupy Cincinnati was active in this struggle. From Occupy Cincinnati:

"Ohio voters sent Governor John Kasich a clear message about restricting public union rights and denying their right to strike. SB5, the bill he initiated last spring, was struck down by a 60% to 39% margin. We, the people have spoken. This movement is not going away."

Jackie DiSalvo, a member of Occupy Wall Street's Labor working group said:

"Occupy Cincinnati was among the thousands of people fighting for the referendum. Proposition 2 was supported by Americans for Prosperity, heavily funded by right wing billionaire, David Koch, and Senate Bill 5 was designed by ALEC, the Koch funded American Legislative Exchange Council, which brings together legislators with the 1%. At the same time, we have been motivated by struggles like the fights to defend labor rights in Ohio."

619 Comments

Occupy Wall Street and Teamsters to Occupy Sotheby's Tonight

Posted 1 week ago on Nov. 9, 2011, 2:41 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Biggest Art Auction of the Year Draws Protest in Support of the 99%

Union Art Auction Handlers Have Been Locked in a 3-Month Battle Against Wage Cuts while Sotheby's CEO Takes Home $60K a day

About 100 protesters from Occupy Wall Street will join a Teamsters picket line at the Sotheby's auction house in Manhattan tonight (Wed, Nov. 9) to back the union in an important battle to fight wage cuts. The action, called OCCUPY SOTHEBY'S, will picket the 1% in support of locked-out Teamsters art handlers at one of the biggest art auctions of the year.

WHEN: TODAY, Wednesday, November 9th, 6:00pm

WHERE: 1334 York Avenue (between 71st and 72nd St.) *A contingent of NYU students, faculty and alumni will meet at 5pm, by the fountain in Washington Square Park

VIDEO: Occupy Wall St. Protesters Crash Sotheby's Auction: 

Sotheby's, the art auction house for the very wealthy, has locked out its union art handlers for the last three months. The company is demanding wage and benefit cuts and the replacement of good union jobs with part-time, temp jobs. Sotheby's clearly has the money to maintain good jobs. The company made $688 million in profits last year, and CEO Bill Ruprecht takes home $60,000 a day.

Wednesday's auction is one of the two biggest of the year, where Sotheby's makes the bulk of their money. Four pieces of art alone are expected to sell for $50 million. Please join us in supporting Teamsters Local 814's fight against corporate greed — a concrete struggle of the 99% against the 1%.

For background on the Sotheby's struggle:

VIDEO: Picket of a Sotheby's auction in London:

230 Comments

Federal Reserve Global Phonecast

Posted 1 week ago on Nov. 9, 2011, 2:19 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Imgur

At 7PM EST this evening, November 9th, occupiers around the globe are invited to call +1 (712) 432-9945 and listen to a moderated discussion with Dr. David Korten and #ows occupier, Harrison Schultz. Dr. Korten will speak to the Federal Reserve's role in the corrupt and dysfunctional systems of financial malfeasance that caused the global depression and discuss alternative systems to serve the American people. Throughout the discussion listeners will be invited to ask Dr. Korten questions via the hashtag #askFed on Twitter

"Anti-Fed" sentiment runs deep in the Occupy movement. "The Federal Reserve has acted as an enabler of the economic injustice that affects everyday people in this country and around the world. It's time that everyone learns about the anti-democratic, pro-1% nature of the Fed, and how it works towards redistributing wealth upwards" said Amelia Clark, 20, from Washington DC. "The actions of the Fed in bailing out big banks has stymied the economic growth of America and the world. The Fed has caused millions to lose their jobs while fatcat CEOs see their bonuses grow by millions. The Fed only cares about billionares and their jobs," said Patrick Bruner, 23, from Brooklyn.

Dr. David C. Korten is the author, most recently, of "Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth", and "The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community." His previous books include the international best-seller "When Corporations Rule the World;" and "The Post-Corporate World: Life after Capitalism."

"How to Liberate America from Wall Street Rule" a report from the The New Economy Working Group authored by Dr. Korten, can be downloaded free of charge by clicking the preceding link.

Dr. Korten is board chair of YES! Magazine; a board member of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE); co-chair of the New Economy Working Group, founded in late 2008 with the Institute for Policy Studies; founder and president of the People-Centered Development Forum; a founding associate of the International Forum on Globalization; and a member of the Social Ventures Network, and the Club of Rome. He holds MBA and Ph.D. degrees from the Stanford Business School, has thirty years experience as a development professional in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and has served as a Harvard Business School professor, a captain in the US Air Force, a Ford Foundation Project Specialist, and a regional adviser to the US Agency for International Development.

Harrison Schultz is a sociologist and anarchist occupier at #occupywallstreet

Federal Reserve Awareness Day

122 Comments

Join the "Occupy Your Block" Sidewalk Chalk Campaign

Posted 1 week ago on Nov. 8, 2011, 10:22 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

The Outreach Group of the NYC General Assembly has an idea inspired by this story of unity between strangers using the original social media: chalk. It's a creative, anonymous and exciting way for supporters of all ages to show support everywhere.

to join in:

  1. Draw on your sidewalk a cool message about support for Occupy Wall Street, strength in the 99%, etc.

  2. Leave chalk (maybe in a box) and write a note asking people to write on other parts of the sidewalk.

  3. Take before and after pics, and send them to OccupyYourBlock@gmail.com

  4. Outreach Group will make a music video montage of all the pics sent in, post it and share it widely on for the new Occupy Your Block coming up in one week.

Nothing is more raw, more visceral than using rock on rock to communicate. Chalk has helped us launch major leaps in human evolution, perhaps more than any other tool; from cave drawings, to symbols, to language. It's a fast, guttural, fun way to share your voice with everyone who passes, and there's something about sidewalk chalk that makes every passerby want to take a look.

In a time when your message is either being ignored, ridiculed or demonized by traditional media, #occupy sidewalk may do the trick... Social media is anything but new.

172 Comments

Urgent Help: Occupy Edmonton In Need Of Winter Equipment

Posted 1 week ago on Nov. 8, 2011, 6:28 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Occupy Edmonton has a strong and growing community of supporters. Over the past 21 days we have been able to set-up and serve the needs, not only of our community, but many others as well. We have been giving clothing donations to many members disenfranchised by our society and have provided an active food service. We also provide a base of resistance in Alberta, generally referred to as the "Texas of the north" and less than 200 km from the tar sands the largest and one of the most destructive energy developments on the planet.

Donation Link

Over the winter we are hoping to continue our occupation and providing these services. In order to do that we will need some supplies to last Edmonton's freezing, harsh winters. We have tried to solicit donations both from the general public and from unions and other larger organizations. Despite active attempts we have only been able to raise around $4,000. The majority of this came from when we first started the occupation and has been harder to get since we set-up. This money will be used for the on-going needs of the camp throughout the winter and further winterization items not included in this proposal ie. food supply staples (not donated), arts supplies (not donated), winter sleeping bags and sleeping pads (not donated), smaller personal winter tents, lanterns, sanitation needs (portapotties for the site), etc. etc. We do have an active finance committee that oversea our finances, to provide transparency and accountability, and all spending over $100 needs to go to our general assembly for approval.

We do have some supplies that have been donated or acquired that we will be setting up in the next few days. Members from the Treaty 6 First Nation, whose traditional territory we are occupied on have given us permission to be on the land and will be erecting a Tee-pee on Monday. The tee-pee will help spiritually ground the camp and provide us a firm foundation from which to move forward with. It will also provide us a warm space in which we can gather and hold general assemblies.

We have some warm sleeping bags and blankets that have been donated from local hotels, warm sleeping mats and supplies for our arts, information tents and food supplies that continue to come in for our food tent.

However we are missing a few essential items that without will make it very difficult if not impossible for us to continue the occupation.

Winterization Needs

  • 2 Large Tent Stoves and 2 Large Canvas Arctic tents.

    One of our biggest needs right now are warm spaces we can use to continue to provide for the food needs of the camp and to retain our 24-hour presence at the site. We are hoping to use one tent as our winter cooking tent. This tent will allow us to continue to feed the occupiers and other vulnerable community members that need support.

    The other tent will be used both for sleeping accommodations during the night and for a meeting/arts space during the day.

    The stoves are to keep the tents warm. As we are without power at the site (the 'owner' of the park turned off all power outlets) the stoves are essential for providing protection against the cold 24-hrs a day.

  • 2 Gas generators.

    As mentioned above we do not have power at the site. The generators are to help alleviate the power needs at the site and are primarily for the kitchen and media tents. They will be used as a power source and to charge the power packs (see below).

    The kitchen needs power throughout the day to cook warm meals, to provide warm tea and coffee and to ensure we all have happy, warm bellies.

    The media tent needs power so we can facilitate on-site/off-site communication, so we can send out media and action alerts and so we can continue to main on-going contact with the outside world.

  • 2 Power packs

    These packs are to give us the ability to store power. As we want to be as environmentally conscience as possible we want to use the generators as little as possible. The packs will allow us to have power on site and to also be able to use it for outdoor activities and actions.

  • 2 Medical Kits

    We have several nurses and medics as part of our action team. We also have medical supplies but they are unfortunately quite diverse and do not provide a solid medic kit for us to use throughout the winter. Also winter contains specific medical needs that we wish to be prepared for. These medic bags will allow us to provide for and attend to any medical needs.

  • Internet stick

    This stick will allow us to have internet on-site. This will help facilitate on-site/off-site communication, give us the ability to send out media and action alerts and allow us to continue to main on-going contact with the outside world.

  • Building supplies

    We are also hoping for a variety of building materials. Due to the limitations imposed on our site we are not able to build 'structures' but do require some materials to further insulate, to build safe lock boxes for materials, to build bunk beds to lift people off the ground, etc. We are trying to get many items donated but will likely need some support to complete our needs. 1 Lift of 12' 2X4's, 1/2 Lift of 12' 2X8's, 1 Lift of 3/8" 4X8' Sheets of OSB, Several 18X24', Insulated Tarps, 3" Nails, Several Bags of R20 Insulation, 3 Rolls of, Industrial Grade Poly, Several Boxes of 3/4" Staples, Several Rolls of Tie Wire.

Bank Account Information: We do have an account through a local non-profit at a credit union. The non-profit is called Edmonton Small Press Association.

Finance: We have a 6-person finance committee that are able to make spending decisions below $100. For items above this amount it must go to a full general assembly for consensus. The finance committee also gives daily reports so that we know the books are in line and all donations are accounted for.

97 Comments

Everyone has the Right to Occupy Space, Safely

Posted Nov. 8, 2011, 4:07 p.m. EST (1 week ago) by OccupyWallSt

Planting Change: Guerrilla Gardening and the Occupy Movement

Posted Nov. 8, 2011, 1:35 p.m. EST (1 week ago) by OccupyWallSt

Tonight: A Dialogue with Occupy El Bario & OWS

Posted 1 week ago on Nov. 7, 2011, 9:02 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

A Dialogue with Occupy El Barrio & OWS
"Dignity is an Echo in the Heartbeat of the People"

(Unanimously Endorsed by the General Assembly of Occupy Wall St, The People of Color working group (POCCUPY), Immigrant/worker working group, Outreach working group, Spanish working group (OWS en Español), Labor Outreach Committee & the Anti- Racism Allies Group)

The humble and simple community of El Barrio (East Harlem), NYC opens its arms to all the good-hearted people of Occupy Wall St. and invites them to join us in our corner of the world for an evening of dialogue. We will share our stories of resistance and memories of victory, as we bring to life our dreams of a world of justice, dignity, and democracy.

Movement for Justice in El Barrio is an immigrant- and people of color-led, grassroots community organization that fights for dignity and against neoliberal displacement from East Harlem to Chiapas and beyond.

For seven years, Movement has built a 700-member-strong, local movement for dignity that has taken on and defeated multi-national corporations and corrupt politicians. Committed to the principles of autonomy and self-determination, Movement practices participatory democracy and horizontal decision-making on a community-wide scale. As part of the Zapatista-initiated The Other Campaign, Movement fights for liberation of all marginalized groups from below and to the left.

Monday, November 7th, 7pm 
Julia De Burgos Latino Cultural Center
1680 Lexington Ave 
Between 105TH & 106TH ST 
(6 Train to 103rd ST.)

For more information contact Movement for Justice in El Barrio at movementforjusticeinelbarrio@riseup.net

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=255406524510441 

126 Comments

Occupy The Highway: The 99% March to Washington

Posted Nov. 7, 2011, 5:30 p.m. EST (1 week ago) by OccupyWallSt

Spokes Council Meeting Tonight

Posted Nov. 7, 2011, 5:14 p.m. EST (1 week ago) by OccupyWallSt

Dallas Calls for General Strike: Nov. 30th

Posted Nov. 7, 2011, 2:07 p.m. EST (1 week ago) by OccupyWallSt

OWS Teams Up with the Street Vendor Project

Posted Nov. 7, 2011, 9:23 a.m. EST (1 week ago) by OccupyWallSt

"End to End for 99%" — 11-mile Neighborhood March of the 99%

Posted Nov. 7, 2011, 9:17 a.m. EST (1 week ago) by OccupyWallSt

Too Small to Fail: Occupy Mosier

Posted Nov. 6, 2011, 5:27 p.m. EST (2 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Guest Post from an Arrestee of the 99%

Posted Nov. 6, 2011, 1:29 a.m. EST (2 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Sunday: Global Uprisings--Egypt, Tunisia, Iran & Activists @ OWS

Posted 2 weeks ago on Nov. 6, 2011, 12:35 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

GLOBAL REVOLUTIONS: The U.S., Middle East and North African Uprisings

Sunday, November 6th, 5pm
Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park) - under the red sculpture
(directly after the multi-faith service.)

We are honored that three Middle Eastern and North African activists: Esraa Abdel Fattah - Egypt, Jamel Bettaieb - Tunisia, Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh - Iran, will be with us at OWS.

Esraa Abdel Fattah - Cyber activist and creator of the April 6th Facebook page which called for the first successful Egyptian general strike in 2008. Jailed for her efforts, she quickly became one of the most recognizable and prominent spokespersons for the Egyptian opposition. She was short listed for the 2011 Nobel Peace prize.

Jamel Bettaieb - Tunisian activist and labor leader from the birth city of the Arab Spring - Sidi Bouzid. He recently won the 2011 NED Democracy award.

Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh - Iranian women's rights activist, journalist, and filmmaker - one of the founders of the Iranian Green Movement, the Stop Stoning Forever campaign, the Iranian Women's Charter Movement, and the coordinator for Meydan Zanan Network, Former Director of the women's NGO Training Centre (NGOTC), and editor-in-chief of Farzaneh Women's Studies Journal.

For further information please contact: Kobi Skolnick, kskolnickATgmail.com

107 Comments

The 99% visit Governor Walker

Posted 2 weeks ago on Nov. 4, 2011, 10:16 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

834 Comments

Transforming Harm & Building Safety: Confronting Sexual Violence At Occupy Wall Street & Beyond

Posted Nov. 4, 2011, 7:22 p.m. EST (2 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Occupy Wall Street: Improving Quality of Life for the 99%

Posted 2 weeks ago on Nov. 4, 2011, 2:53 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

The participants of Occupy Wall Street are working for a better quality of life for the 99%. We are everyday Americans who want our voices and every voice to count in the political process. We want policy that looks out for all of our health and economic well-being — not a system that's rigged to look out for only the interests of the very wealthy and powerful.

While we work for these goals, we also occupy a physical space in lower Manhattan, and we work hard to create a safe, secure, and positive environment for everyone who comes to Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park). We have been working diligently to be good neighbors to area residents and businesses. Here are some of the ways we have been making measurable progress on quality of life issues:

  • Toilets: Installed. Despite denials of permits by the City, Occupy Wall Street participants have worked diligently with the help of local officials to secure 24/7 access to toilets within reasonable distance of Liberty Square. Starting today, OWS is providing access to porta-potties in a private, well-lit space with 24-hour security, only 2 blocks away from the square. The portable toilets will be maintained by a professional service, and OWS volunteers are blanketing Liberty Square with fliers directing people to the facilities.

  • Sanitation: Active and effective. Occupy Wall Street has a volunteer sanitation working group that has included hundreds of participants who maintain the park, making sure that anything left discarded is disposed of, sweeping, and cleaning. Their work is particularly important after rainstorms. At any given moment, a visitor to Liberty Square will find volunteers engaged in maintenance and cleaning throughout the park.

  • Security/Community Watch: Active and delivering results. Occupy Wall Street is in a public space in a major metropolis. We acknowledge that there are security challenges that accompany that fact. We have a multi-stakeholder Security Team versed in nonviolence and de-escalation tactics, as well as an overnight Community Watch, whose job is to ensure that everyone is safe. There have been cases of individuals with predatory intentions coming to the space and assaulting Occupy Wall Street participants. OWS security and volunteers has expelled such individuals, and when there was criminality involved, turned the individual over to the police.

  • Noise Level: Reduced and time-limited. We recognize that the drumming the first few weeks of Occupy Wall Street was excessive for many local residents. Stakeholders throughout the OWS community, including the activist-drummers, worked to provide guidelines and Pulse—the drummers working group—has self-regulated for the past week and a half to limit drumming to a total of four hours per day (12pm-2pm, 4pm-6pm). When new people arrive without knowledge of our drumming hours, a member of Pulse now approaches them to explain the policy to them.

  • NYPD Barriers to Business: Down. Some local businesses have been glad to have Occupy Wall Street in the area, and have reported a boom in their business because of OWS participants, and massively increased visitors to Liberty Square. Other businesses have complained about losses, mostly blaming the barricades erected by police after the occupation started. OWS and the neighborhood have requested a removal of these barricades, and thankfully many are now coming down after Community Board 1 and local officials made it clear they were a problem. Additionally, OWS has launched local business outreach initiatives, including the Street Vendor Project, which will encourage supporters of Occupy Wall Street to remotely purchase food from local vendors for OWS participants:http://streetvendor.org/ows

We will continue to work hard to improve the quality of life at and around Zuccotti Park, as we continue pursuing our larger purpose of improving the quality of life for all. Since the arrival of a new grassroots economic justice movement represented by Occupy Wall Street's, we have helped to block new debit card fees the big banks wanted to impose on millions of Americans; helped homeowners win easier terms on mortgage debt and college grads on student debt; and opened a broad national conversation on income inequality and economic justice that is leading to real change. We will keep working locally, nationally and globally to demand a more just economy and better lives for all.

353 Comments

Don't Be Big Banks' Puppet; No Immunity Deal for Crooks

Posted Nov. 4, 2011, 11:28 a.m. EST (2 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Occupy Wall Street to Mayor Bloomberg: Get Your Facts Straight; Stop the Fear Mongering

Posted 2 weeks ago on Nov. 4, 2011, 12:42 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Yesterday New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg alleged that Occupy Wall Street participants at Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park) are chasing criminals out of the park instead of reporting them to police. In reality, Occupy Wall Street has its own well-trained internal security force, but this team does not substitute for the police when it comes to criminal activity that threatens our community or local residents. Occupy Wall Street participants have called upon police on occasions when people with predatory intentions have come into the park and engaged in illegal and destructive behavior, and have in fact turned over criminals to the NYPD.

"Bloomberg lied yesterday when he claimed that a sexual assault suspect was merely kicked out of the park, when in fact OWS security personnel forcibly removed the individual and handed him directly to the NYPD," said Andrew Smith, a member of OWS's overnight Community Watch. "The Mayor should get his facts straight before he calls responsible citizens protecting our community 'despicable.'"

The occupation at Liberty Square is a civic space, where concerned citizens are raising pressing issues facing our nation. The mayor should be lauding this renaissance of civic participation, but instead he has been consistently demonizing participants.

"Occupy Wall Street exists in a public space in a major metropolis, and of course there are problems that come with that, but we have systems and our own common sense to deal with those problems," said Bill Dobbs, a volunteer with Occupy Wall Street. "Mayor Bloomberg is pandering to fear. What we're seeing is a lot of effort to undermine and suppress the movement and divert from the damage the mayor and his billionaire friends are doing to the country."

Interviews available by request with members of Occupy Wall Street's Security Team, Community Watch, Mediation Team, and other volunteers working to ensure the safety and security of everyone who comes to Liberty Square.

343 Comments

Eviction Defense!

Posted Nov. 3, 2011, 7:25 p.m. EST (2 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Stephen Colbert's Plot to Co-opt Occupy Wall Street Foiled by Ketchup and Justin

Posted Nov. 3, 2011, 12:55 p.m. EST (2 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Liberty Square Adopts a Spokes Council

Posted Nov. 3, 2011, 10:21 a.m. EST (2 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

The People vs. Goldman Sachs - Trial and March!

Posted Nov. 3, 2011, 12:08 a.m. EST (2 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Rule of Law vs. the Forces of Order

Posted Nov. 2, 2011, 7:52 p.m. EST (2 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

General Strike Shuts Down Oakland. Watch Live!

Posted Nov. 2, 2011, 1:22 p.m. EST (2 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Call To Action - Join The Month Of Global Uprising

Posted Nov. 1, 2011, 7:28 p.m. EST (2 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

A New World

Posted Nov. 1, 2011, 5:30 p.m. EST (2 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Military Veterans Join the 99% on Wall Street

Posted Nov. 1, 2011, 2:27 p.m. EST (2 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Occupy Oakland Calls For City-Wide General Strike, Nov 2

Posted Oct. 30, 2011, 9 p.m. EST (3 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Urgent: Winter Donation Needs

Posted Oct. 29, 2011, 10:54 p.m. EST (3 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Enacting the Impossible (On Consensus Decision Making)

Posted Oct. 29, 2011, 9:55 p.m. EST (3 weeks ago) by David-Graeber

#ows and #occupythehood March In Solidarity With Those Foreclosed On By Criminal Banks

Posted Oct. 28, 2011, 5:39 p.m. EST (3 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Occupy Wall St. And Allies Rally & March United for Civil Rights

Posted Oct. 27, 2011, 8:46 p.m. EST (3 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

#ows Takes The Streets In Solidarity With #occupyoakland

Posted Oct. 27, 2011, 2:53 p.m. EST (3 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Occupy The DOE

Posted Oct. 27, 2011, 12:53 p.m. EST (3 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Tonight: Vigils Across America for Scott Olsen, Marine Veteran Critically Injured by Police Projectile at #OccupyOakland

Posted Oct. 27, 2011, 12:13 p.m. EST (3 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Deliver Your Message To The 1%

Posted 3 weeks ago on Oct. 27, 2011, 12:08 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Thousands of #OccupyWallStreet protesters to barrage bank CEO's with 6,000 angry letters from the 99%

WHAT: Mass march to deliver 6,000 letters from the 99% to the 1%

WHEN: 1pm, Friday, October 28

WHERE: Meet-up at Bryant Park (6th Ave. & 42nd St.), march to Bank of America headquarters, Morgan Stanley headquarters, Wells Fargo headquarters, Citigroup headquarters, JP Morgan Chase headquarters.

See map for target locations.

WHO: Foreclosure victims, unemployed New Yorkers, students with debt, Occupy Wall Street protesters, members of Strong Economy for All, UnitedNY, New York Communities for Change, ALIGN, The Yes Men

WHAT: Thousands will march to the headquarters of five major banks to deliver over 6,000 letters to the 1% submitted to occupytheboardroom.org, concluding with a general assembly at which a foreclosure victim from Southeast Queens will read a letter through the people's mic inviting Jamie Dimon to tour her neighborhood.

VISUALS: Thousands of people trying to throw paper airplane letters up to the top floor of the BofA building, thousands of people delivering a singing telegram to Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit led by a choir and marching band, poster oard blowups of letters from the 99%, giant mailbag full of letters from march participants.

ACTION DESCRIPTION:

(1) Throughout the march a flyering team will be handing out copies of the letters that have links to the website at the bottom. Both marches will be accompanied by (a) a team of bicycling pirates, (b) a choir, (c) a marching band, (d) a set of "postmasters" with stenciled OTBR logos to guide the march and lead group activities. At the top of the march, postmasters will distribute "mailing instruction" 8.5x11 sheets with (a) the march route, (b) description of activities, (c) song lyrics, (d) a space for marchers to write their own letter.

(2) Group 1 and 2 march to first banks, at which we will have a mass paper airplane throwing event. (Postmasters to instruct crowd in paper airplane folding and throwing via people's mic.) After airplanes are thrown, postmasters will help crowd collect all planes and put them in a big mailbag, which will be left in the lobby of the bank.

(3) Groups 1 and 2 march to second bank at which the choir leads everyone in a unison singing of one of the letters. The text for that letter will be printed on the "mailing instructions" handout and on giant (6' x 8') posterboard blow-ups so that everyone can sing along. At the end of the song, we attempt to leave the giant letters in the lobby of the banks.

(4) Groups 1 and 2 converge on Chase HQ at which we sit down and convene a special reading and writing GA. Austin will (tentatively) MC. The main event will be three letter-writers reading their letters to Jamie Dimon over the people's mic. After the letters are read, there will be a brief writing exercise in which the crowd is given 5 minutes to write a letter to the 1% on a detachable portion of their "mailing instructions" sheet. After 5 minutes, we will leave all our letters in or outside of Chase's lobby and leave.

TIMELINE:

Group 1: Meet 1pm at Bryant Park, march to Citigroup, Wells Fargo, end at Chase
Group 2: Meet 1pm at Bryant Park, march to Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Chase
Groups 1 & 2: 3pm converge on Chase for 3:30pm letter reading

146 Comments

We are all Scott Olsen: Occupy Oakland #OWS

Posted 3 weeks ago on Oct. 26, 2011, 8:53 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Late last night, Scott Olsen, a former Marine, two-time Iraq war veteran, and member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, sustained a skull fracture after being shot in the head with a police projectile while peacefully participating in an Occupy Oakland march. He remains unconscious in critical condition at Oakland's Highland Hospital.

Olsen was hit at close range. After demonstrators rush to Olsen's aid, an Oakland cop waits a few beats before lobbing a second tear-gas canister at the crowd. They are attending to Olsen when the canister explodes, sending smoke everywhere.

Press release from Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Scott and his family.

Please share this video and take action!

Call Mayor Quan's office and demand that she investigate this incident and allow peaceful protests to continue: +1 (510) 238-3141

487 Comments

#ows Response To Government Violence At #occupyoakland | Solidarity March At 9PM From Liberty Square

Posted 3 weeks ago on Oct. 26, 2011, 3:47 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Police in riot gear with rifles and batons

Today at Occupy Wall Street we are looking across the country to the city of Oakland, where last night our fellow Americans were subjected to violence at the hands of their own government for exercising the constitutional freedoms their government is sworn to protect. Last night police forces violently raided Occupy Oakland, arresting 85 people and brutalizing many peaceful participants, using excessive physical force, tear gas, and dangerous projectile rounds.

Peaceful Protest is An American Birthright, Not a Crime

Among those injured is Scott Olson, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq. Olsen is in the hospital with a fractured skull.

"Scott is in stable but serious condition as the neurologists decide whether to take him into surgery or the ICU," said Joshua Shepherd, a friend of Olsen's. "Oakland Police Department fired a tear gas canister at his head, fracturing his skull."

Video of the incident with Scott Olsen: http://tinyurl.com/3vqlsv3

It is unconscionable that American government officials would sanction the use of such extreme force against peaceful citizens.

Protesters carrying bloodied victim of police brutality

Occupy Oakland has been a public forum, set up on public land, concerned with critical public issues about the nation's financial crisis, consolidation of wealth and power, and the ability of citizens to meaningfully participate in the democratic process. This brutality carried out on the orders of city government, sends a chilling message to those who want to engage in civic processes to work for social change.

Over a month ago, we went to the doorstep of Wall Street to say "enough!" That message has resonated across the country and around the world. Occupy Wall Street continues to build, and a national movement of peaceful occupations and civic engagement has sprung up in every corner.

Public officials must listen to the grievances of this popular movement. It is absolutely unacceptable to attempt to dissuade civic engagement through the use of brutality, repression and retaliation against movement participants. This is America. All Americans have the freedom to peacefully protest our government. That right defines who we are as a country and a people, and when it is denied, all of America is the poorer for it.

The Mayor of Oakland — and mayors and city governments across the country — should get on the right side of history and honor all Americans' freedom to peacefully assemble and to civically engage.

We call on all concerned people to send Oakland Mayor Quan a message that the actions she sanctioned are unconscionable. We ask supporters to please sign this petition to Mayor Quan and to forward it:

http://www.change.org/petitions/demand-mayor-jean-quan-stop-the-police-repression-of-occupy-oakland

Supporters can also call Mayor Quan at +1 (510) 238-3141 to register disapproval.

Tonight in Manhattan, we will hold a march in solidarity with Occupy Oakland (9:00pm. Details to be announced.)

We will continue to build a movement to empower the 99% and to hold Wall Street and government accountable.

Riot police raiding community encampment

493 Comments

Solidarity with Oakland | Exposing Police Lies

Posted 3 weeks ago on Oct. 26, 2011, 3:14 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Yesterday evening, and throughout the night, the city of Oakland and its police department continued their crusade against free assembly. Protesters who went to reoccupy the space at the Oakland Library were met with heavily armed riot police, with tear gas, with rubber bullets and with flashbang grenades.

The Oakland Police Department treated attempts by the occupation medics as an excuse to throw more firepower, shooting a flashbang at a group of people trying to evacuate a protester who had been knocked out in the fighting.

This is what the Oakland PD stated after the action

Q. Did the Police deploy rubber bullets, flash-bag grenades?

A. No, the loud noises that were heard originated from M-80 explosives thrown at Police by protesters. In addition, Police fired approximately four bean bag rounds at protesters to stop them from throwing dangerous objects at the officers.

The Oakland police department fired shotgun bean bags and rubber coated bullets at the crowd, leading to at least one person being hospitalized in a critical condition and someone with a serious head fracture.

a protester with two bleeding wounds from police fire

The wounds these bullets can cause are far more serious than their non-lethal designation implies, and they can, in fact, be lethal; rubber bullets, especially, are merely regular bullets coated with rubber.

The Oakland city hall claims that this is a "peaceful dispersion". To the mayor we respond that this is an unqualified lie. In solidarity with the protestors of Occupy Oakland, for further information we recommend their website www.occupyoakland.org.

291 Comments

Occupy Wall Street Takes On Health Insurance Industry

Posted 3 weeks ago on Oct. 26, 2011, 1:28 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Wall Street's control of health care is exposed in a march/speak-out today that starts at the offices of Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, a subsidiary of WellPoint, the largest publicly-traded health insurance company. We are gathering at Liberty Square at 3pm and marching at 4:30pm!

Empire is housed across the street from the OWS encampment in the same building as Brookfield Properties, the multinational that owns Liberty Square (formerly Zuccotti Park). WellPoint's CEO, Angela Braley, was compensated $13.1 million dollars last year.

Other targets include WellCare, the for-profit company that administers Medicaid and Medicare Advantage programs in New York and other states, currently being investigated for illegally siphoning $400-$600 million from programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

The march will end at St Vincent's Hospital in the West Village, closed earlier this year due to bankruptcy, and seen as a casualty of profit-driven insurers. There are now no hospitals on the West side below 57th St.

"We need a healthcare system that meets human needs, not the insurance company's bottom line," said Dr. Elizabeth Rosenthal of Physicians for a National Health Program. "People can't get care they need because of unaffordable co-pays and deductibles that line the pockets of insurance CEOs and shareholders."

"I have a health insurance plan with a $15,000 deductible, so our family has to ration healthcare," said Katie Robbins of Healthcare-NOW! NYC. "We have to get Wall Street out of our healthcare system."

The march was initiated by an OWS Working Group called Healthcare for the 99%, which is composed of healthcare workers and people who seek to end inequality in our healthcare system and our society.


WHEN: Wednesday, October 26, 3pm - 7pm

WHERE: Starting at Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park), Broadway and Cedar

MARCH DETAILS:

ASSEMBLE 3pm - Liberty Square (corner of Bway and Cedar)

SPEAK-OUT 4pm – Liberty Square

MARCH 4:30pm – Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield / One Liberty Plaza

ARRIVE 5:30pm - WellCare / 110 5th Ave

6pm – St Vincent's Community Hospital / 12th St & 7th Ave

234 Comments

The 1% have Addresses. The 99% have Messages.

Posted 3 weeks ago on Oct. 25, 2011, 6:43 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Occupy the Boardroom!

Life gets awfully lonely for those at the top. What can we do to let them know someone's thinking of them? Maybe they need some new friends! We've thought of two ways we can help them with that:

Option 1: Pen Pals

Make your voice heard by the Wall Street elites who wrecked the economy and made the rest of us pay. Click on someone below and tell them a story that you think they should listen to. Just got a college degree and nothing to show for it? Just got evicted while your banker gets bonuses? Share your special story with someone who ought to know.

Find a pen pal!

Option 2: Best Friends Forever

If you're feeling even more generous, why not reach out in a more creative way? Click on a banker below, then read the instructions and examples to get inspired. Maybe your banker needs some kind words, or maybe an intervention. Most importantly, use your imagination! The best, funniest, most revelatory interactions win prizes.If you're feeling even more generous, why not reach out in a more creative way? Click on a banker below, then read the instructions and examples to get inspired. Maybe your banker needs some kind words, or maybe an intervention. Most importantly, use your imagination! The best, funniest, most revelatory interactions win prizes.

Find a BFF!

340 Comments

Solidarity Statement From Cairo

Posted 3 weeks ago on Oct. 25, 2011, 2:39 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

To all those in the United States currently occupying parks, squares and other spaces, your comrades in Cairo are watching you in solidarity. Having received so much advice from you about transitioning to democracy, we thought it's our turn to pass on some advice.

Indeed, we are now in many ways involved in the same struggle. What most pundits call "The Arab Spring" has its roots in the demonstrations, riots, strikes and occupations taking place all around the world, its foundations lie in years-long struggles by people and popular movements. The moment that we find ourselves in is nothing new, as we in Egypt and others have been fighting against systems of repression, disenfranchisement and the unchecked ravages of global capitalism (yes, we said it, capitalism): a System that has made a world that is dangerous and cruel to its inhabitants. As the interests of government increasingly cater to the interests and comforts of private, transnational capital, our cities and homes have become progressively more abstract and violent places, subject to the casual ravages of the next economic development or urban renewal scheme.

An entire generation across the globe has grown up realizing, rationally and emotionally, that we have no future in the current order of things. Living under structural adjustment policies and the supposed expertise of international organizations like the World Bank and IMF, we watched as our resources, industries and public services were sold off and dismantled as the "free market" pushed an addiction to foreign goods, to foreign food even. The profits and benefits of those freed markets went elsewhere, while Egypt and other countries in the South found their immiseration reinforced by a massive increase in police repression and torture.

The current crisis in America and Western Europe has begun to bring this reality home to you as well: that as things stand we will all work ourselves raw, our backs broken by personal debt and public austerity. Not content with carving out the remnants of the public sphere and the welfare state, capitalism and the austerity-state now even attack the private realm and people's right to decent dwelling as thousands of foreclosed-upon homeowners find themselves both homeless and indebted to the banks who have forced them on to the streets.

So we stand with you not just in your attempts to bring down the old but to experiment with the new. We are not protesting. Who is there to protest to? What could we ask them for that they could grant? We are occupying. We are reclaiming those same spaces of public practice that have been commodified, privatized and locked into the hands of faceless bureaucracy , real estate portfolios, and police 'protection'. Hold on to these spaces, nurture them, and let the boundaries of your occupations grow. After all, who built these parks, these plazas, these buildings? Whose labor made them real and livable? Why should it seem so natural that they should be withheld from us, policed and disciplined? Reclaiming these spaces and managing them justly and collectively is proof enough of our legitimacy.

In our own occupations of Tahrir, we encountered people entering the Square every day in tears because it was the first time they had walked through those streets and spaces without being harassed by police; it is not just the ideas that are important, these spaces are fundamental to the possibility of a new world. These are public spaces. Spaces forgathering, leisure, meeting, and interacting – these spaces should be the reason we live in cities. Where the state and the interests of owners have made them inaccessible, exclusive or dangerous, it is up to us to make sure that they are safe, inclusive and just. We have and must continue to open them to anyone that wants to build a better world, particularly for the marginalized, excluded and for those groups who have suffered the worst .

What you do in these spaces is neither as grandiose and abstract nor as quotidian as "real democracy"; the nascent forms of praxis and social engagement being made in the occupations avoid the empty ideals and stale parliamentarianism that the term democracy has come to represent. And so the occupations must continue, because there is no one left to ask for reform. They must continue because we are creating what we can no longer wait for.

But the ideologies of property and propriety will manifest themselves again. Whether through the overt opposition of property owners or municipalities to your encampments or the more subtle attempts to control space through traffic regulations, anti-camping laws or health and safety rules. There is a direct conflict between what we seek to make of our cities and our spaces and what the law and the systems of policing standing behind it would have us do.

We faced such direct and indirect violence , and continue to face it . Those who said that the Egyptian revolution was peaceful did not see the horrors that police visited upon us, nor did they see the resistance and even force that revolutionaries used against the police to defend their tentative occupations and spaces: by the government's own admission; 99 police stations were put to the torch, thousands of police cars were destroyed, and all of the ruling party's offices around Egypt were burned down. Barricades were erected, officers were beaten back and pelted with rocks even as they fired tear gas and live ammunition on us. But at the end of the day on the 28 th of January they retreated, and we had won our cities.

It is not our desire to participate in violence, but it is even less our desire to lose. If we do not resist, actively, when they come to take what we have won back, then we will surely lose. Do not confuse the tactics that we used when we shouted "peaceful" with fetishizing nonviolence; if the state had given up immediately we would have been overjoyed, but as they sought to abuse us, beat us, kill us, we knew that there was no other option than to fight back. Had we laid down and allowed ourselves to be arrested, tortured, and martyred to "make a point", we would be no less bloodied, beaten and dead. Be prepared to defend these things you have occupied, that you are building, because, after everything else has been taken from us, these reclaimed spaces are so very precious.

By way of concluding then, our only real advice to you is to continue, keep going and do not stop. Occupy more, find each other, build larger and larger networks and keep discovering new ways to experiment with social life, consensus, and democracy. Discover new ways to use these spaces, discover new ways to hold on to them and never givethem up again. Resist fiercely when you are under attack, but otherwise take pleasure in what you are doing, let it be easy, fun even. We are all watching one another now, and from Cairo we want to say that we are in solidarity with you, and we love you all for what you are doing.

Comrades from Cairo.
24th of October, 2011.

254 Comments

Protect Occupy Baltimore

Posted 3 weeks ago on Oct. 25, 2011, 2:10 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

UPDATE: CITY DEFERS OCCUPY BALTIMORE PERMIT REQUEST

OCCUPATION CALLS FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT

Occupy Baltimore has been peacefully gathering in McKeldin Square on the corner of Pratt & Light Streets since October 4th, 2011. Today marks the start of the fourth week of the encampment. Early last week, after pressure from the Baltimore City police department and the department of parks and recreation, Occupy Baltimore filed an application for a permit to continue the encampment indefinitely.

On Monday, Occupy Baltimore received word that the Department of Parks & Recreation Department has not approved their permit application, and instead suggested a compromise that would allow Occupy Baltimore to continue to occupy McKeldin Square indefinitely without a permit during the daytime hours, but limit overnight presence to a maximum of 2 people, and restrict the encampment as a whole to a smaller corner of the Square. The city has asked for an answer to the proposed deal by Wednesday Oct 26th and stated that if Occupy Baltimore agrees, they will not be removed from the park for failing to obtain a permit. Should Occupy Baltimore refuse to comply with the requests to limit the overnight presence, then the city "has the right to terminate these special accommodations," though no specific date for termination has been announced. In preparation for any possible intervention by the city, Occupy Baltimore participants are issuing a general call for all allies to join the encampment starting tonight to support and protect the group sustaining the occupation at McKeldin Square.

Over the course of the past three weeks, Occupy Baltimore has begun a directly democratic dialogue, and considering their peaceful and respectful assembly, the group requests that the city allow them to maintain this peaceful democratic space, as city government counterparts have in Philadelphia and Washington DC. Representatives of Occupy Baltimore, assisted by the Maryland chapter of the ACLU, are currently in discussion with the Department of Parks and Recreation about possible negotiations on the proposed deadline and the overnight stay limitations. These limitations present a clear concern for the Occupation, which has a complex and pre-existing infrastructure, including dedicated teams for media, food, direct action, outreach, security, and other working groups that require consultation and consideration, as well as physical space onsite.

Occupy Baltimore is committed to maintaining a vibrant, safe space in McKeldin Square as the movement continues to grow an organic infrastructure of democratic representation, arts, culture, and Political debate while still allowing the public to pass through McKeldin Square, and inviting them to join in the occupation and associated activities.

Occupy Baltimore recognizes that their requests are outside of the box for the city's existing permit system, but encourages the city to work alongside peaceful and respectful demonstrators to create a legal space where all voices can be heard.

The Occupation remains hopeful that the City of Baltimore will continue to work with the movement in the coming days and weeks to ensure the continued existence of this peaceful gathering. Participants state, however, that they are closely monitoring police presence in the area as the city's deadline approaches. They encourage supporters to maximize presence in the Square starting today, and continuing throughout the week, should the authorities decide to clear the area on or after the Wednesday, October 26 deadline.


For more information, or to schedule a time to visit the occupation movement in Baltimore, please visit www.occupybmore.org

101 Comments

Occupied Wall Street Journal's New Site

Posted Oct. 25, 2011, 4:13 a.m. EST (3 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Drumming and the Occupation

Posted Oct. 24, 2011, 6:57 p.m. EST (3 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

"Where Do We Go From Here?"

Posted Oct. 23, 2011, 9:32 p.m. EST (4 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Occupy Chicago Being Dispersed / Arrested By Police Presently

Posted Oct. 23, 2011, 2:31 a.m. EST (4 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

STOP & FRISK HAS GOT TO GO! Solidarity with #occupyharlem.

Posted Oct. 22, 2011, 6:35 p.m. EST (4 weeks ago) by OccupyWallSt

Occupy Columbus Circle

Posted Oct. 21, 2011, 5:18 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Demands Working Group

Posted Oct. 21, 2011, 3:01 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

As We Gather Together

Posted Oct. 21, 2011, 12:55 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Occupy Wall Street Survey

Posted Oct. 21, 2011, 9:48 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Stop The Spectra Pipeline | Meet-Up at Liberty Square at 5 P.M. For Die-In at P.S. 41

Posted Oct. 20, 2011, 2:15 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Parents for Occupy Wall Street Family Sleepover

Posted Oct. 20, 2011, 12:13 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

America Supports #OWS

Posted Oct. 20, 2011, 11:06 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

10 a.m. All Hands on Deck for Square Reorganizing!

Posted Oct. 20, 2011, 12:31 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

OWS Snapshot

Posted Oct. 19, 2011, 3:30 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

70% of #OWS Supporters are Politically Independent

Posted Oct. 19, 2011, 2:11 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Occupy Wall Street Marks One Month

Posted Oct. 17, 2011, 8:20 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

From Tahrir Square to Times Square: Protests Erupt in Over 1,500 Cities Worldwide

Posted Oct. 16, 2011, 1:08 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

October 15th - Global Day Of Action

Posted Oct. 15, 2011, 6:12 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

The 1% Have Addresses. The 99% Have Messages

Posted Oct. 15, 2011, 11:43 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

October 15th Call to Action

Posted Oct. 14, 2011, 11:08 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

#OWS VICTORY: The people have prevailed, gear up for global day of action

Posted Oct. 14, 2011, 8:51 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Parents bring Children to #ows tonight

Posted 1 month ago on Oct. 14, 2011, 6:29 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Families are joining the movement to reclaim our future from Wall Street tonight by joining a child-friendly camp out at Liberty Square. The presence of children and youth in the occupation highlights the threat Wall Street's greed poses to future generations. Parents are bringing their sons and daughters to Occupy Wall Street to educate them about our broken economic system, and alternatives that could help save the planet and provide a future for the next generation.

Family Sleep Over @ Occupy Wall Street Press Conference When: Friday, Oct. 14, 8 p.m. Where: 60 Wall Street (public atrium)

Who should come? Families who are ready to join the 99% conversation Bloomberg's plans to remove protestors against their will from Zuccotti Park/Liberty Plaza for cleaning, have forced Parents for Occupy Wall Street to cancel our Friday night Family Sleep Out, but we will not be silenced.

We invite parents to come to 60 Wall Street, Friday night at 8 p.m. with their children to share the message that families are a central part of the Occupy Wall Street conversation. We welcome you to join the assembly, and bring your issues to light. There is nothing less attractive to the Bloomberg administration and other pols than to see parents and their children so invested in Occupy Wall Street that they would spend the night in a public park with their children.

The presence of parents and children at Occupy Wall Street is a direct challenge to the misconception that this is a movement that only represents the young, the radical and the broke. It does, in fact, represent all of those parties – but it's also made up of families and children who are ready to join the conversation with a list of issues, including home foreclosures, slashed public school budgets, lack of jobs, insufficient health care insurance and more. Show your kids – and our city – what democracry REALLY looks like. What is the 99% School?

The 99% School is here to represent the children and families whose voices are too often disregarded. We will contribute to sustained efforts at Occupy Wall Street with weekly teach-ins for children about the issues facing the 99%. We also seek to build alliances with other families groups supporting Occupy Wall Street. We will not be moved, and our children will be heard!

http://www.parentsforoccupywallst.com/

171 Comments

EMERGENCY CALL TO ACTION: Keep Bloomberg and Kelly From Evicting #OWS

Posted Oct. 13, 2011, 2:14 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

How To Hold Your Ground

Posted Oct. 13, 2011, 2:12 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY

Posted Oct. 13, 2011, 2:10 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Mr. Auctioneer! New Yorkers Call for Moratorium on Foreclosures. Organizing for Occupation and Occupy Wall Street visit the courts!

Posted Oct. 13, 2011, 2:13 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by anonymous

October 15th Global Day Of Action

Posted Oct. 12, 2011, 3:57 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

#OWS Stands In Solidarity With 100 Arrested At Occupy Boston

Posted Oct. 11, 2011, 11:52 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Sign Language

Posted Oct. 9, 2011, 10:38 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Today Liberty Plaza had a visit from Slavoj Zizek

Posted Oct. 9, 2011, 6:04 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

#ows Second General Assembly Of Manhattan Meets At 3PM In Washington Square Park - Anti-Flag To Play Set In Solidarity at Liberty Square

Posted Oct. 8, 2011, 1:30 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

AFT fully endorses Occupy Wall Street

Posted Oct. 6, 2011, 4:48 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

This Site Has Nothing To Do With Us

Posted Oct. 6, 2011, 11:48 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

#ows Takes Foley Square With Union Brothers And Sisters

Posted Oct. 6, 2011, 4:03 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Right Here All Over

Posted 1 month ago on Oct. 5, 2011, 10:29 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Directed by Alex Mallis + Lily Henderson
Cinematography by Ed David
Edited by Lily Henderson + Alex Mallis
Assistant Camera: Andrew McMullen + Diana Eliavoz
Assistant Producers: Dana Salvatore + Jillian Mason
Titles by Jason Drakeford.

284 Comments

Police Use Pepper Spray And Batons On Protesters - At Least Twenty Arrested

Posted 1 month ago on Oct. 5, 2011, 9:24 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Fox 5 crew maced, beaten

Reports of arrests.

Updates as we get them.

UPDATE 9:35 - Reports of batons used. Mounted officers are present at Liberty Square. Barricades are set up on Liberty and Broadway.

UPDATE 9:48 - Reports of our medics treating several pepper sprayed protesters.

UPDATE 10:09 - At least twenty arrested.

UPDATE 10:33 - Liberty Square is kettled.

UPDATE 10:40 - Liberty Square is still barricaded on all four sides but police are now allowing protesters in and out.

Graphic content warning:

Please call:

1st Precinct: +1 (212) 334-0611
NYPD Switchboard: +1 (646) 610-5000
NYPD Central Booking: +1 (212) 374-3921
NYPD Internal Affairs: +1 (212) 741-8401
Mayor Bloomberg: +1 (212) NEW-YORK or +1 (212) 374-3921

172 Comments

Αλληλεγγύης

Posted Oct. 5, 2011, 5:14 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

#OccupyWallStreet Union March From Foley Square on Wall Street

Posted Oct. 4, 2011, 8:36 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Occupation Blues

Posted Oct. 4, 2011, 3:19 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

No Comment: Art Exhibit Inspired By Occupy Wall Street Oct 8th

Posted Oct. 4, 2011, 2:37 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

On Our Way To Brooklyn

Posted Oct. 3, 2011, 12:37 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Brooklyn Bridge Occupied

Posted Oct. 1, 2011, 4:56 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

"We are the 99%" Solidarity March with #OccupyWallStreet at 3 PM

Posted Oct. 1, 2011, 9:09 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Radiohead will NOT be playing

Posted Sept. 30, 2011, 4:30 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Take Back Boston!

Posted Sept. 30, 2011, 12:20 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Greetings from Occupied Wall Street,

Posted Sept. 30, 2011, 5:06 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Day 12

Posted Sept. 29, 2011, 10:26 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

A Message From Occupied Wall Street (Day Eleven)

Posted Sept. 28, 2011, 9:53 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Cornel West, Philosopher and Activist, to Speak at Occupy Wall Street Tonight At Seven

Posted Sept. 27, 2011, 5:28 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

A Message From Occupied Wall Street (Day Ten)

Posted Sept. 27, 2011, 2:31 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Immortal Technique

Posted Sept. 27, 2011, 4:20 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Noam Chomsky Announces Solidarity With #occupywallstreet

Posted Sept. 26, 2011, 6:57 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Officer Bologna

Posted Sept. 26, 2011, 3:53 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

A Message from Occupied Wall Street (Day Nine)

Posted Sept. 26, 2011, 4:03 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Block By Block, City By City

Posted Sept. 25, 2011, 5:56 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

March Guidelines

Posted Sept. 25, 2011, 12:23 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

A Message From Occupied Wall Street (Day Eight)

Posted Sept. 25, 2011, 5:09 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

At least four arrested, one for shooting photos UPDATE: at least eighty arrested, five maced | RETRACTION: no tear gas used

Posted 1 month ago on Sept. 24, 2011, 8:11 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

We have at least four arrests today during a community march, a fifth arrest is suspected but police will not confirm.

A legal observer attempting to contact an arrested member was not allowed to due to "an emergency situation," we are currently unsure of what this means. At least one arrest was due to a protester taking photographs. At least one protester's possessions have not been returned.

Please call the first precinct, central booking and the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information and urge them to release these peaceful protesters.

First precinct: +1 (212) 334-0611
Central booking: +1 (212) 374-3921
Deputy Commissioner of Public Information: +1 (646) 610-6700
NYPD Switchboard: 1-646-610-5000

UPDATE: We are now receiving reports that at least 80 protesters have been arrested. The National Lawyer's Guild puts the number at around one hundred. Liberty square is currently full with an ongoing discussion on how to respond to this unprecedented level of police aggression. Police are currently surrounding the square. There is nearly one police officer for every two protesters.

Earlier today we had reports of police kettling protesters with large orange net, using tasers, at least five protesters have been maced.

UPDATE: @pulseofprotest was posting live from a police van. It appears as though he has stopped.

UPDATE: Some pictures http://twitpic.com/6pzd48
http://twitpic.com/6pzcf6
http://twitpic.com/6pzbxi
http://twitpic.com/6pza9z

Video: http://www.twitvid.com/ZCB5U

UPDATE: About 50 protesters marched two by two silently on Police plaza. Police have barricaded protesters from reaching Police plaza.

RETRACTION: Reports of tear gas being fired into the crowd turned out to be false.

133 Comments

Call of Solidarity for Comrades Held in Van Outside 1st Precinct

Posted 1 month ago on Sept. 24, 2011, 6:09 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

This report just came in a half 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 Central booking: +1 (212) 374-3921
Deputy Commissioner of Public Information: +1 (646) 610-6700

77 Comments

A Message From Occupied Wall Street (Day Seven)

Posted Sept. 24, 2011, 12:02 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Food fund will be used as a general fund

Posted Sept. 23, 2011, 8:03 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

At Sotheby's, Finally, the 99 Percent Were the Highest Bidder

Posted Sept. 23, 2011, 4:11 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

A Message From Occupied Wall Street (Day Six)

Posted Sept. 23, 2011, 3:30 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

At Least Six Arrested In Solidarity March For Troy Davis

Posted Sept. 22, 2011, 8:50 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Life at Liberty Plaza

Posted Sept. 22, 2011, 2:20 p.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

A Message From Occupied Wall Street (Day Five)

Posted Sept. 22, 2011, 3:51 a.m. EST (1 month ago) by OccupyWallSt

Retractions

Posted Sept. 22, 2011, 1:45 a.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Four arrests on Wednesday

Posted Sept. 21, 2011, 1:42 p.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

A Message From Occupied Wall Street (Day Four)

Posted Sept. 21, 2011, 11:08 a.m. EST (2 months ago) by easilydistr

An Invitation for the Weekend

Posted Sept. 21, 2011, 10:27 a.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Taking a moment to invite people in Northern California

Posted 2 months ago on Sept. 20, 2011, 8:44 p.m. EST by anonymous

There is a modest occupation going on in San Francisco and growing. They started out 6 and are growing exponentionally, are at 555 California Street, and will have some communications up tomorrow. They're throwing an invite to everyone who wants, everyone who can, and everyone at all who is around San Francisco.

Actions are also being organized for LA if you're in SoCal, but it's not ready yet. They're using the chatroom at tinychat.com/tr7ah for temporary organizing until they start going public, and cordially inviting people to join them to help organize.

98 Comments

Day 4: At least five arrested, one may be in critical condition

Posted Sept. 20, 2011, 1:01 p.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Third Communiqué: A Message From Occupied Wall Street

Posted Sept. 20, 2011, 8:50 a.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Second Communiqué: A Message From Occupied Wall Street

Posted Sept. 19, 2011, 8:50 p.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

First Communiqué: We Occupy Wall Street

Posted Sept. 19, 2011, 8:48 p.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Monday

Posted Sept. 19, 2011, 4:09 a.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Day 2 coverage

Posted Sept. 19, 2011, 3:51 a.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

A Modest Call to Action on this September 17th

Posted 2 months ago on Sept. 17, 2011, 9:46 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

This statement is ours, and for anyone who will get behind it. Representing ourselves (not the movement as a whole), we bring this call for revolution.

We want freedom for all, without regards for identity, because we are all people, and because no other reason should be needed. However, this freedom has been largely taken from the people, and slowly made to trickle down, whenever we get angry.

Money, it has been said, has taken over politics. In truth, we say, money has always been part of the capitalist political system. A system based on the existence of have and have nots, where inequality is inherent to the system, will inevitably lead to a situation where the haves find a way to rule, whether by the sword or by the dollar.

We agree that we need to see election reform. However, the election reform proposed ignores the causes which allowed such a system to happen. Some will readily blame the federal reserve, but the political system has been beholden to political machinations of the wealthy well before its founding.

We need to address the core facts: these corporations, even if they were unable to compete in the electoral arena, would still remain control of society. They would retain economic control, which would allow them to retain political control. Term limits would, again, not solve this, as many in the political class already leave politics to find themselves as part of the corporate elites.

We need to retake the freedom that has been stolen from the people, altogether.

  1. If you agree that freedom is the right to communicate, to live, to be, to go, to love, to do what you will without the impositions of others, then you might be one of us.

  2. If you agree that a person is entitled to the sweat of their brows, that being talented at management should not entitle others to act like overseers and overlords, that all workers should have the right to engage in decisions, democratically, then you might be one of us.

  3. If you agree that freedom for some is not the same as freedom for all, and that freedom for all is the only true freedom, then you might be one of us.

  4. If you agree that power is not right, that life trumps property, then you might be one of us.

  5. If you agree that state and corporation are merely two sides of the same oppressive power structure, if you realize how media distorts things to preserve it, how it pits the people against the people to remain in power, then you might be one of us.

And so we call on people to act

  1. We call for protests to remain active in the cities. Those already there, to grow, to organize, to raise consciousnesses, for those cities where there are no protests, for protests to organize and disrupt the system.

  2. We call for workers to not only strike, but seize their workplaces collectively, and to organize them democratically. We call for students and teachers to act together, to teach democracy, not merely the teachers to the students, but the students to the teachers. To seize the classrooms and free minds together.

  3. We call for the unemployed to volunteer, to learn, to teach, to use what skills they have to support themselves as part of the revolting people as a community.

  4. We call for the organization of people's assemblies in every city, every public square, every township.

  5. We call for the seizure and use of abandoned buildings, of abandoned land, of every property seized and abandoned by speculators, for the people, for every group that will organize them.

We call for a revolution of the mind as well as the body politic.

480 Comments

LiveStream of Wall St. Occupation

Posted 2 months ago on Sept. 17, 2011, 1:27 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Click Here to view a LiveStream of Occupy Wall Street.

Please use our chatroom instead of LiveStream which has been having problems with spammers.

Recent Photos

Click Here to see more on photos of the protest on Flickr.

Photo of Occupation

Photo of Occupation

30 Comments

Call (516) 708-4777 for Help & Directions

Posted Sept. 16, 2011, 1:30 p.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Schedule information for the New York FUN Exchange

Posted Sept. 16, 2011, 8:32 a.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Orientation Guide

Posted Sept. 15, 2011, 3:41 p.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Occupy Wall Street Flyer

Posted Sept. 15, 2011, 2:31 p.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Print and online media

Posted Sept. 14, 2011, 5:22 p.m. EST (2 months ago) by drew

Sign Up Sheet for Brothers and Sisters Who Need a Place To Rest

Posted Sept. 13, 2011, 10:41 p.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Lead up to occupation

Posted 2 months ago on Sept. 13, 2011, 5:18 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

There is a lot going on this week in the lead up to September 17th. First off, for some inspiration check out all the solidarity movements around the world.

Meetings & Training:

  • USDOR is hosting non violent civil disobedience training Friday @ 6:30. See the details and location on the calendar page or on USDOR calendar.
  • There will be a Tactical Committee Meeting Wednesday, 7pm Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
  • There will be Art & Culture meetings Tuesday and Thursday to discuss activities. Learn more on the calendar page
  • Time's Up will be hosting critical mass style ALL NIGHT rides though the Wall st. area. Meet at Tompkins sq park at 7pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (9/16-18) to join the ride. More info on their calendar page
  • There is an event for NY Students Rising September 16, Friday 5:00pm Hunter College
  • NYC General Assembly calendar
  • There will be a Open General Assembly September 17th, Saturday 3:00pm at Chase Manhattan Plaza.

Resources:

Important stuff:

  • HOTLINE FOR ARRESTS September 17, National Lawyers Guild: (212) 679-6018. If you will be at the action write this down on your arm. It was recommended to call them if you hear of an arrest or if you are arrested

Things you can help with:

  • The Food Committee is working on feeding people at the occupation, if you canPLEASE DONATE. Contact CunderscoreG@gmail.com to see how you can help food committee
  • If you are in the NYC area and can host fellow brothers and sisters, someone is gathering volunteers to help provide access to board & bathe logistical spaces for out-of-towners click here to view the google doc
  • Contact the NYCPD expressing your solidarity with the protesters and urging the police to exercise restraint. Also, tell them the world is watching. And thank them for all their hard work. Email form for the NYPD police commissioner. Contact the mayor
  • Spread the word! Media kits: Print fliers (PDF) & Online fliers (PDF)

More to come... Please add your information in the comments! remember you can create nice links like so: [link text](url)

14 Comments

#OCCUPYWALLSTREET will begin @12pm at Bowling Green Park, NYC

Posted 2 months ago on Sept. 13, 2011, 9:53 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

Music, arts, and orientation guides will greet you at 12pm in Bowling Green Park on Saturday. Bowling Green Park is in the financial district of Manhattan.

More details soon.

Question about OccupyWallStreet? Wondering about the plan for Sept. 17th? Out-of-town and want to be in-the-loop? Email organizers from NYC at9.17occupywallstreet@gmail.com

12 Comments

Where to Order Food to Help the Occupation

Posted 2 months ago on Sept. 12, 2011, 11:27 p.m. EST by chris

Several people have asked: if I can't make it to New York City for the occupation, but still want to help, what can I do?

One of many answers is to support those who are at the occupation on Wall Street by calling various delivery places in the area and having food sent to the site. Not only will you be providing food to hungry people, you will also be supporting local establishments as opposed to corporate chains. A list has been compiled of several pizzerias, health food places, and delis around the occupation area from which you can call and order food. The list can be found at here.

Finally, for those who ARE able to make it to the occupation, there will be food available that we will have bought through your generous donations. However, we'd also like to ask that people bring a little bit of food themselves, enough that can theoretically be shared with at least three people. Not only will it help us hold out for longer, it will go a long way in helping you get to know each other a little better as well.

37 Comments

Why?

Posted Sept. 12, 2011, 10:58 p.m. EST (2 months ago) by chris

US Day of Rage's Tactical Plan for Sept 17th

Posted Sept. 8, 2011, 9:41 p.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

99 Percent Project Now Live!

Posted Sept. 8, 2011, 9:24 p.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Nine Arrested & Released Without Charge in Occupy Wall Street Test Run (Video)

Posted Sept. 8, 2011, 12:30 p.m. EST (2 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Ten days until #OCCUPYWALLSTREET

Posted 2 months ago on Sept. 7, 2011, 10:53 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

http://www.adbusters.org/blogs/adbusters-blog/occupywallstreet-less-two-weeks-away.html

Hey you jammers, dreamers, patriots and revolutionaries out there,

Our occupation of Wall Street is less than two weeks away … do we have it together?

The perpetrators of the massive financial fraud have been allowed to slip quietly from the scene and continue business as usual. Our elected representatives in Washington have become so tightly intertwined with the financiers and bankers that public accountability has all but vanished.

#OCCUPYWALLSTREET is all about breaking up that cosy relationship between money and politics and bringing the perpetrators of the financial crash of 2008 to justice.

On September 17, 20,000 of us will descend on Wall Street, the iconic financial center of America, set up a peaceful encampment, hold a people's assembly to decide what our one demand will be, and carry out an agenda of full-spectrum, absolutely nonviolent civil disobedience the likes of which the country has not seen since the freedom marches of the 1960s.

From our encampment we will launch daily smart mob forays all over lower Manhattan … peaceful, creative happenings in front of Goldman Sachs; the SEC; the Federal Reserve; the New York Stock Exchange … and maybe even, if we can figure out where they're being held, at the sites of Obama's private $38,500 per person fundraising events happening somewhere in Manhattan on Sept. 19 and 20.

Our strategy will be that of the master strategist Sun Tzu: "appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected."

With a bit of luck, and if fate is on our side, we may be able to turn all of lower Manhattan into a site of passionate democratic contestation – an American Tahrir Square.

We will do all this with peace in our hearts. Our unshakable commitment to nonviolence will give us the spiritual strength we need to inspire the nation and to ultimately triumph in the weeks and maybe months of struggle that will unfold after September 17.

for the wild, Culture Jammers HQ

occupywallstreet.org / occupywallst.org / Reddit / Facebook

PS. Last week Anonymous endorsed #OCCUPYWALLSTREET with a video that attracted over 70,000 views. The Department of Homeland Security has warned the nation's bankers to be prepared. Corporate owned media is taking notice. Yesterday, a columnist for MarketWatch.com posted a rousing portrait of what may now unfold:

"Listen closely. This is not another internecine political squabble. These revolutionaries are pushing America back to its roots. You sense they're drafting a new Declaration of Independence, driven by the same powerful motivations as the 57 original signers who wrote: 'Whenever any form of government becomes destructive … it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.' Back in 1776 King George III was the destructive force far away. Today greed is the corruptor, from within."

S17 occupations of financial districts are also being planned in Milan, Madrid, Valencia, London, Lisbon, Athens, San Francisco and hopefully many other cities still to be announced. S17 could well be the catalyst that ushers in a new global economic order.

7 Comments

September 3rd General Assembly at Tompkins Square Park

Posted 2 months ago on Sept. 1, 2011, 10:13 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

The next meeting of the NYC General Assembly will be held this upcoming Saturday at the same time and location:

Saturday, September 3rd · 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Tompkins Square Park (map)
7th St. and Avenue A
New York, NY

Please check our calendar page for information about other events and sub-committee meetings.

For further details please contact: 9.17occupywallstreet@gmail.com

15 Comments

The 99 Percent Project

Posted 2 months ago on Aug. 29, 2011, 5:01 p.m. EST by chris

Hi there,

One thing we were thinking of going as part of the buildup to Sept. 17 is the 99 Percent Project. It's a promotion that we're hoping will pick up some more steam as we get closer to the occupation date that will highlight the various ways that a society which prioritizes the upper 1 percent is having a deleterious impact on, well, everyone else. It's a way to focus the message and really bring the human side to the fore by calling attention to the real human costs of our current economic setup. Here's how we're hoping it will work:

1) People will take a picture of themselves with a sign. The sign will describe a problem that the person is going through, such as:

"I am a student with $25,000 in debt."

"I am a homeowner who just got foreclosed upon."

"I am someone with thousands in medical bills and no insurance."

After below that, a single line:

"I am the 99 percent."

And, below that:

"Occupy Wall Street -- Sept. 17."

They can then submit this photo through the link on the left ("Get Known") and have it appear on the tumblr located at http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/. As you can see, we're still looking for submissions, so if any of you have a camera and a piece of cardboard and want to let people know why it is YOU'RE frustrated with the 99 Percent world we seem to be living in, make a submission and let your voice be heard.

Once again, it's at http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/

141 Comments

Organizers' Weather Report: Hurricane can't stop the organizing!

Posted 2 months ago on Aug. 27, 2011, 10:17 p.m. EST by debordwalk

The hurricane approached and preparations were completed, activity of the residents of New York City began to dissipate. Traffic was slow and sparse and there was a lack of pedestrians, even for a rainy day in New York City. Downtown Manhattan had been entirely evacuated by 5 pm, the subway system closed at noon; even the parks closed due to hurricane conditions, forcing the postponement of the New York General Assembly scheduled at 5pm in Tompkins Square.

And yet, even as the residents' activities curtailed and slowed, the activity of the organizers increased in direct proportion to the shut down. Each one of us, sheltered in our individual apartments, focused our efforts and solidified our plans. Hurricane or not, the occupation of Wall Street will not be stopped.

From People who Plan to Occupy Wall Street! (aka PPOWS!)

33 Comments

Aug 27 General Assembly Cancelled

Posted 2 months ago on Aug. 27, 2011, 5:16 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

The August 27th meeting of the NYC General Assembly has been cancelled.

Tompkins Square Park and the New York public transit system have been shut down due to hurricane conditions.

This meeting might be rescheduled early next week. We will post the time and date as soon as consensus has been reached on the mailing lists.

18 Comments

Food Committee needs YOU!

Posted 2 months ago on Aug. 24, 2011, 11:12 p.m. EST by chris

Hi everyone,

My name is Chris and I am a member of the Food Committee. Last night I went over, in exhaustive detail, where we are as far as getting people fed. I won't recount everything here, frankly because I'm right about to go to bed, but you can read the post here:

https://occupywallst.org/forum/logistics-food/

I figured I'd make a new post, because I don't want this to get lost at the bottom, but the Food Committee has just set up a WePay account where we are currently accepting donations. Any support would be great.

https://www.wepay.com/donate/99275

22 Comments

Anonymous joins #OCCUPYWALLSTREET

Posted 2 months ago on Aug. 24, 2011, 10:44 a.m. EST by LupeFiascoConcert

Source: Adbusters

Hey jammers, dreamers, patriots,

Anonymous has just released a video communique endorsing #OCCUPYWALLSTREET. Using language from our first Tactical Briefing, the video calls on protestors to adopt the nonviolent Tahrir-acampadas model. On the 17th of September, it says, "flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months … Once there, we shall incessantly repeat one simple demand in a plurality of voices."

See also signs of support for S17 on Anonymous's Twitter and websites.

Meanwhile S17 is surging ahead internationally. Simultaneous occupations of financial districts are now being planned in New York City, Madrid, Milan, London, Paris and San Francisco. With a bit of luck, this list of participating cities will grow.

If we can pull together just the right mix of nonviolence, tenacity and strategic smarts, S17 could be the beginning of the global revolution we've all been dreaming about for so long … wouldn't that be lovely.

for the wild,
Culture Jammers HQ
occupywallstreet.org

56 Comments

FDR's 1944 State of the Union Address, better known as the Second or Economic Bill of Rights

Posted 3 months ago on Aug. 20, 2011, 8:36 a.m. EST by agnosticnixie

In 1944, for his state of the union address, president Franklin D. Roosevelt presented a social and economic program which would have expanded on the original bill of rights. Most of it was a radio address, as he had the flu, but part of it was filmed (the footage was found recently). Similar programs are found in modern constitutions, and part of it would inspire the universal bill of rights. Obviously, it didn't pass. FDR would die barely a year later, and this would die with him. Their inspiration can be found in the writings of enlightenment philosophers, already, but also in early socialist thought, up to the current day.

As an example, the language and the rights used could be found in the principles of the old french socialist party, who had formed the government before WW2, and whose principles would end up being part of the preambles of the 4th and 5th republics' constitutions, but also in the, admittedly symbolic, soviet constitution of 1936. These sentiments were repeated in the modern constitutions of Peru, Spain, Finland, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.

The speech

It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth—is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.

This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights—among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.

As our nation has grown in size and stature, however—as our industrial economy expanded—these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. "Necessitous men are not free men."[2] People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all—regardless of station, race, or creed.

Among these are:

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being.

America's own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for all our citizens.

For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world.

55 Comments

#OCCUPYWALLSTREET update from Adbusters

Posted 3 months ago on Aug. 12, 2011, 11:52 a.m. EST by LupeFiascoConcert

http://www.occupywallstreet.org
http://www.adbusters.org/blogs/adbusters-blog/occupywallstreet-update.html

Hey you rebels, radicals and utopian dreamers out there,

We are living through a rare crisis and moment of opportunity. Western industrialized nations are now being masticated by the financial monster they themselves created. This is triggering a mood that alternates between angry denial and sudden panic. It looks like something is about to break, opening the space for a necessary transformation and a total rethink of global economic affairs. Events are playing perfectly into our September 17 occupation of Wall Street.

So … can we on the left learn some new tricks? Can we head off to lower Manhattan with a fresh mindset and a powerful new demand?

Strategically speaking, there is a very real danger that if we naively put our cards on the table and rally around the "overthrow of capitalism" or some equally outworn utopian slogan, then our Tahrir moment will quickly fizzle into another inconsequential ultra-lefty spectacle soon forgotten. But if we have the cunning to come up with a deceptively simple Trojan Horse demand … something profound, yet so specific and doable that it is impossible for President Obama to ignore … something that spotlights Wall Street's financial capture of the US political system and confronts it with a pragmatic solution … like the reinstatement of the Glass-Steagall Act … or a 1% tax on financial transactions … or an independent investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice into the corporate corruption of our representatives in Washington … or another equally creative but downright practical demand that will emerge from the people's assemblies held during the occupation … and if we then put our asses on the line, screw up our courage and hang in there day after day, week after week, until a large swath of Americans start rooting for us and President Obama is forced to respond … then we just might have a crack at creating a decisive moment of truth for America, a first concrete step towards achieving the radical changes we all dream about unencumbered by commitments to existing power structures.

So, let's learn the strategic lessons of Tahrir (nonviolence), Syntagma (tenacity), Puerta del Sol (people's assemblies) and lay aside adherence to political parties and worn-out lefty dogmas. On September 17, let's sow the seeds of a new culture of resistance in America that fires up a permanent democratic awakening.

See you on Wall St. Sept 17. Bring Tent.

for the wild, Culture Jammers HQ

20 Comments

August 13th General Assembly at Tompkins Square Park

Posted Aug. 11, 2011, 11:14 a.m. EST (3 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

August 9th General Assembly at the Irish Potato Famine Memorial

Posted Aug. 4, 2011, 9:51 p.m. EST (3 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

August 2nd General Assembly on Wall Street

Posted July 26, 2011, 12:44 p.m. EST (3 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

Who We Are

Posted June 14, 2011, 12:20 p.m. EST (5 months ago) by OccupyWallSt

--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/

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