Occupy Sandy

                                                                                      Todd Seelie/Suckapants

Occupy Wall Street volunteers are on the front lines of providing emergency relief to some of the poorest and hardest hit communities in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.  For more information:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2012/11/04/occupy_sandy_hurricane_relief_being_led_by_occupy_wall_street.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/01/occupy-sandy-occupy-wall-street_n_2061067.html

To donate:

https://www.wepay.com/donations/occupy-sandy-cleanup-volunteers

El Paso Occupiers Arrested

Six El Paso occupiers were arrested last night.  We need donations for bail immediately.  Please donate at www.wepay.com/donate/37956

Police Citation for Exercising Constitutional Right to Peaceably Assemble

Occupy El Paso, Day 27

After being double-crossed by the city of El Paso over moving our occupation to another park, and with the loss of a number of our occupiers who are leaving town for personal reasons or to occupy elsewhere, (I had to temporarily stop occupying due to a medical emergency with one of our kids), it looks like our physical occupation here is going on temporary hiatus.  We are still trying to decide our next step, and hopefully the general assemblies, protest actions, teach-ins, and other activities will continue in the meantime.  This crisis could not have come at a worse time for me, personally, but I am still up for a continuing occupation here.

Occupy El Paso, Day 22

As some of us who are involved with Occupy El Paso face the possibility of eviction and arrest by the city in the near future, I offer these words of Martin Luther King, Jr. to help those who have, with all good will, questioned our resolve to stand with non-violent resistance in our defense of the right to protest (with my own redactions in brackets):

 We ha(ve) no alternative except to prepare for direct action, whereby we would present our very bodies as a means of laying our case before the conscience of the local and the national community.

Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community {the one percent} which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks to so dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored. My citing the creation of tension as part of the work of the nonviolent-resister may sound rather shocking. But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word "tension." I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, we must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men {and women} rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood {and from the dark depths of greed, indifference and injustice to the majestic heights of understanding and personhood}.

The purpose of our direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation.

                                                              --Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail


Latest developments:
It now appears that the city is willing to grant a new permit that will let us legally continue our downtown occupation.  This is a welcome development which will hopefully allow us to continue to expend our energy on other forms of protest while continuing the occupation.

Occupy El Paso, Day 18

It was very cold last night.  But we had a great march during the late afternoon in solidarity with Occupy Oakland.  We marched from the Placita to UTEP and made a lot of noise.  There is a wonderful sense of camaraderie among the actual occupiers, despite food shortages, losing our big tent to the wind (where I was staying), and having to rearrange our camp to accommodate the city’s plan to begin decorating the big tree in the Plaza for Christmas.  A major event is planned for National Bank Transfer Day, November 5.  If you haven’t already done so, move your bank account to a credit union.  You’ll be glad you did.

Occupy El Paso, Day 7

We're still occupying, and there are lots of great on-going protests, meet-ups, rallies, group discussions, general assemblies, and working groups.  The outreach to other organizations and events continues as well.  Here is a photo that someone took of an Occupy El Paso march (with protesters on both sides of the street) through downtown El Paso yesterday afternoon.  (And the photo features you-know-who.)

Occupy El Paso, Day 3

Things are really coming together, with a big group of occupiers in the Placita and an even bigger group of supporters.  Those of us who have been staying the night are beginning to feel some sleep deprivation, but hopefully as time goes on we’ll get more disciplined (or not) about staying up talking all night.  Also, the cold has been pretty uncomfortable, but there have been plenty of donations of blankets and everything else we need.  The donations have been amazing!  Word is getting out, and labor, environmental groups, and artists have been making contact about participating.  We’re students, workers, the unemployed, musicians, veterans, teachers, artists, and retirees.  And our message about taking back our country and the world from the billionaires and greedy corporations is being heard. ¡No nos moveran!

Global Day of Action

These are heady days in which we are living.  People are joining together in the struggle against corporate greed and economic inequality.  We are fed up the way that our fellow human beings around the world have been robbed of a chance for a decent life and meaningful work, for health care and security, all to satisfy the desire of a tiny group of people with an insatiable appetite for limitless power and wealth.  Their greed has corrupted our political process and robbed us of democracy.  People are standing fast, with bravery and nonviolence, against brutal repression; and most importantly, there has been a rediscovery, or at least a reimagining in the social realm, of the values of solidarity, trust, and mutual responsibility for one another.  This struggle is being led by the young, who are filled with idealism and a love of freedom.  Yesterday, at an Occupy El Paso event that was part of the Global Day of Action (the official “occupation” starts here Monday), there was the sharing of food (thanks to Food Not Bombs), stories, dreams, and a witnessing to our hopes for a better future.       

My Wife’s Union Endorses Occupy Wall Street

The Executive Board of the Communications Workers of America (who represent Texas state workers through the Texas State Employees Union/CWA Local 6186) has voted to endorse the Occupy Wall Street movement.  They are one of a growing number of unions that have given their endorsement, including the United Steelworkers of America, The United Federation of Teachers, Transport Workers Union Local 100, and many others.

Take a Stand

On Wall Street, non-violent protest and the American police state.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx19waGfSiM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M186KXT3jE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moD2JnGTToA