I ran into the top 20 most popular images on Reddit in 2011. A couple grabbed my attention, shared here:
#4 High Speed Rail Map
#9 Christians Protecting Muslims While They Pray During Protests in Egypt.
Full Reddit article here
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Lastly, let me introduce you to DDP, or the "Decentralized Dance Party", which took Portland by storm tonight as the Vancouver, BC natives brought the magic as they embark on a monthlong tour of the USA. For a full schedule and plenty of pictures that remind us the true scope and meaning of "awesomeness", visit: http://www.decentralizeddanceparty.com/
The Mission Statement says it all:
"Tom
and Gary are two lifelong friends who invented the Decentralized Dance
Party and have sworn to deliver it to Every Single Country On The Face
Of The Earth".
Dust off your old boombox, plug in the coppertop D cells, and don't miss it!
A great interview on Thursday with Oakland's premier citizen-journalist, OakFoSho. Occupy Portland spends an hour with "Spencer for Hire", discussing topics ranging from the port shutdown to police brutality in Oakland to the evolving nature and practical uses of people-powered journalism.
A well-spoken, informed, and dedicated real-time documentarian, OakFoSho has been on the ground in the East Bay filming and livestreaming Occupy events since the Oakland encampment was first violently evicted by police in early November. Spencer maintains a keen balance between investigative journalism, real-life interviews, and on-the-spot reporting. He also plays roles unexpected for mainstream journalists: he helps maintain nonviolence in stressful social situations and actively assists in de-escalation when tensions run high. He continuously creates and maintains relationships with the individuals whom he encounters, all the while engendering a positive, upbeat, can-do demeanor that is, well, enjoyable to watch. He's a nice guys and a positive spirit on the front lines of today's fight for Democracy.
Follow him on Twitter @OakFoSho and watch his show sometime; it's the best reality TV you'll find.
[Quoting AP]: VIRGINIA BEACH,
Va. (AP) -- A Navy tradition caught up with the repeal of the U.S.
military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule on Wednesday when two women
sailors became the first to share the coveted "first kiss" on the pier
after one of them returned from 80 days at sea.
Petty
Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta of Placerville, Calif., descended from
the USS Oak Hill amphibious landing ship and shared a quick kiss in the
rain with her partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell of Los
Angeles. Gaeta, 23, wore her Navy dress uniform while Snell, 22, wore a
black leather jacket, scarf and blue jeans. The crowd screamed and waved
flags around them. [Quoting AP]
The new york writer Phil Rockstroh published an elegant piece on December 8th which has stayed on my mind continuously since I first read it a week ago. I paste an excerpt here, but I highly recommend you read the full work. Rockstroh chooses his words with
uncanny precision, and his lyrical style is more poetic than prosaic, and all the more powerful for it.
He speaks to the resistance our culture and society has had to the Occupy movement and its powerful new messages. Certainly there has been State resistance, not the least of which has been epitomized by the now-ubiquitous use of force to remove physical encampments. We have also witnessed the complicit and voluminous media resistance to Occupy; whether through slander, misrepresentation, or active deception. But the distilled brilliance of Rockstroh's message, the core piece that has been working through my mind for seven days now, lies in his addressing the deeper core issues at the personal level. Rockstroh takes us straight to the mat when he dares present the question: What is it in each of us that resists the messages of Occupy, and why do we resist so strongly?
A difficult question, and likely an even more difficult answer. Some believe that the dark parts of our lives helps direct us toward the light. In this case, is it possible that by tackling the really tough questions, we might come to know better the true nature our own predicament?
"Yet, often within a declining empire, even as the quality of life
grows increasingly degraded for the majority of the populace,
questioning sacrosanct beliefs, such as, the myth that capitalism
promotes societal progress and personal advancement, by means of the
possibility of upward class migration, proves to be a difficult endeavor
for many. The reason: Even given the degraded nature of life as lived
under late capitalism, the act of taking stock of one’s
situation–beginning to question how one arrived at one’s present station
in life–will engender anxiety, anger and regret.
Apropos to the shame based Calvinism of the capitalist state: If I
was duped in a rigged game, what does that say about me? The narrative
of capitalism insists that if I work hard, applying savvy and diligence,
at fulfilling my aspirations then I would, at some point, arrive in the
rarified realm of life’s winners.
But if success proves elusive, then my flawed character must be the
problem–not the dishonest economic setup–and miasmic shame descends upon
me. Yet I can count on rightwing media to provide the type of
provisional solace proffered by demagogues i.e., imparting the reason
that folks like me can’t get ahead is because scheming socialists have
hijacked my parcel of the American Dream and delivered it to the
undeserving thereby transforming my shame into displaced outrage.
And that must be the case; otherwise, it would behoove me to make the
painful admission that I have been conned…have co-signed the crimes
committed against me. Worse, I would be compelled to question all my
verities and beliefs–all the convictions I clutch, regarding, not only
the notions that I possess about myself and the methods I’ve adopted in
approaching life, but also, the social structure that influenced my
character.
Imagine: If you had to re-imagine your life. Imagine, how the act
would unnerve your loved ones, threaten friendships, even endanger your
livelihood.
What an unnerving task that would prove to be…an ordeal certain to
deliver heart-shaking anxiety, devastating regret and nettling dread
directly into the besieged sanctuary of what is suppose to be the
inviolable precincts of my comfort zone".
I don't think it's possible to imagine a trillion dollars. I'm not even sure most humans substantially understand the difference in order of magnitude once stats pass six or seven figures. Honestly, what's the difference to most people between $100,000,000 (hundred million) and $1,000,000,000 (one billion)? How about 100,000,000,000 (one-hundred billion) and 1,000,000,000,000 (one trillion)? After awhile, it's all just a matter of zeros.
The TARP bailout - the really big one in 2008 that everybody has been so upset about - was seven hundred billion dollars --- $700,000,000,000.
Besides a really great bank bailout, what else costs $700 billion?
For one thing, it will buy one year of operation for the United States Armed Forces. Yep, base Pentagon expenditures tally in at just under seven hundred billion bucks, (and that does not include the added cost of wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, or Libya). With this figure, the United States accounted for 43% of all military spending worldwide in 2010 - more than the next seventeen highest-spending countries combined (click for cool graphic); and more than six times the amount spent by the nearest rival, China.
As long as we're batting in the ballpark, why not pony up a paltry $300 billion more and bail out U.S. student debt in its entirety? Outstanding student loans are now estimated to have cleared the $1 trillion mark - with a record $100 million in new debt taken on in 2010.
Yeah, yeah, I know: "Banks got bailed out, we got sold out!" I heard it, too.
But that ain't even the half of it.
The really big number is the one thus far only floated in whispers and hushed rumors... the one the Fed and the largest banks worked hard to keep on the inside, the one they fought all the way to the Supreme Court until it finally leaked, oozing like the toxic credit default-swaps that so poisoned our economy:
$7.77 Trillion. That's $7,770,000,000,000: Seven-Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Billion Dollars. The high side of Thirteen Figures.
"It dwarfed the Treasury
Department’s better-known $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief
Program, or TARP. Add up guarantees and lending limits, and the
Fed had committed $7.77 trillion as of March 2009 to rescuing
the financial system, more than half the value of everything
produced in the U.S. that year".
GDP - the value of all goods and services produced - in the United States in 2009 was $14.25 trillion.
The U.S., of course, is the largest economy in the world.
Your reaction probably isn't all that outrageous. In fact, I doubt you so much as batted an eye as your brain scanned past those numbers just now.
And that's the sad part. Sad because when the real crooks and cronies start playing with large enough sums of our money, even we, the true creators of said wealth, simply tend to "tune out" the numbers. And who can blame us? It's precisely because of the true scope and severity that the mind fails to comprehend the unbelievable extent of the crime. Even though this is quite possibly the largest single financial heist in American history, even though it is undisputedly documented, even though this "secret bailout" with public funds was enacted by private enterprise and kept entirely hidden from government officials, even though nearly all the same individuals and institutions responsible for the madness are still in power and still making profit, with nary a check nor balance...Even though.
If you haven't read it yet, please: read the story. It's our money they're playing with, and if we ever stand a chance to take it back, we're gonna have to start thinking big. Really big.
MSNBC's Rachel Maddow provides an historical context to the rising tide of community-based resistance against illegal home forclosures by large corporate banks. Maddow speaks of Depression-era solidarity among friends and neighbors to protect the vulnerable from losing their homes, and compares this practice to the burgeoning support increasingly offered by local Occupy movements today:
First, Robert Reich, the Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, delivers an excellent short speech regarding the real public nuisance at work today:
Following the spirit of "Occupy Democracy" I have posted below several excerpts from a document published on the Occupy Wall Street website on October 25th. Entitled "Solidarity Statement from Cairo", this work speaks directly to the similarities between conditions in Egypt and those we face here in the United States. Note that in October police actions had not yet forcibly removed major Occupy encampments. The message remains, I believe, no less striking - and is perhaps even more applicable today:
"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. [...] 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. [...] 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. [...] 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 give them 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." full text here
In recent weeks, a number of people from divergent backgrounds have asked me why I support the Occupy Wall Street movement. I've drafted this post to more fully respond to this important question.
Here I replicate the question as it was posed to me by a friend in response to a recent blog post. Please feel free to add additional comments or questions at the base of this piece - and thank you for reading.
I've been following you, Joe. I am glad to see you so
passionate and inspired.
I must admit, however, that I am confused by OWS. What is the goal?
I've tried reading the "official" websites of the movement, but they
are riddled with contradictions and the horribly politically inefficient idea
of the "people's assembly", which is probably a good reason why the
movement is amorphous and cannot seem to make up its mind.
What do you support?
Dear Friend,
Good to hear from you, and thank you for reading my
blog. You bring up important questions
and I am glad to offer my opinion on this sometimes confounding movement that
is OWS. My following thoughts have been
developed over the last seven weeks of interaction with Occupy.
As an aside let me say that in my opinion most mainstream
media coverage of OWS in general has been misleading at best and actively
deceptive at worst. I often feel that
there are parallel narratives being told that are at great odds with one
another: one by the likes of NBC, CNN, and major syndicates; the other through social media,
YouTube, the blogosphere, and a compendium of largely independent news
sites. This discrepancy has not served
the public when it comes to understanding the Occupy movement.
Frustration with a perceived lack of clear goals, or an
apparent inability to “make up its mind”, as you say, have been criticisms
levied at Occupy pretty much since the beginning. These are fair assessments that have given
rise to intense debates on the subject, not only in the mainstream press, but within
General Assemblies and among activists too.
I won’t pretend to have a definitive answer. I do, however, have my own thoughts on the
topic. Below I provide links to a range
of viewpoints that have impacted my thinking in regards to this question. Each moves me in a particular way and I
recommend following them all if you have the time:
Charlie
Rose interviews Democracy Now’s Amy
Goodman and veteran journalist Chris Hedges of Truthdig on October 24 here. A fantastic interview and well worth the
watch to better understand the Occupy Movement as a whole, but you can key
up to 11:10 for a discussion regarding the issue of demands.
Finally,
an October 10th article
by Chris Hedges, less about demands but a great read in understanding the
workings of the OWS encampments
Personally, I believe that not reducing the Occupy movement
to a list of demands is a great strength, as such specifics would play directly
into the waiting clutches of co-option and dis-creditation by mainstream
political organizations and the PR machine.
For all the talk about demands, however, I think the major issues
are actually pretty obvious. As the
popular chant goes “Banks got bailed out, we got sold out!” – to the tune of
$700 billion, while home foreclosures continue at a rapid pace. There’ve been no
trials, no prison sentences, and no accountability for executives or companies
who caused the speculative crash in 2008. The super rich pay less in taxes as a
percentage of their income than you or I, and the wealthiest 400 Americans
control more wealth than the bottom half of the country – over 150 million
people. According to recent figures from
the Labor Department and other agencies, there are four unemployed Americans per available
job. Nearly 50 million Americans lack
health insurance. Congress’ approval ratings rank at their lowest since measurements
began, and constituents are feeling that their elected representatives no longer
serve public interests, but rather those of money-laden lobbyists. There is a growing awareness that since the
1970s the flow of national wealth has systematically increased towards the
richest Americans. And proposed
“solutions” to the resulting deficits our nation now face only include tax
hikes and austerity measures, as all the while Medicare and Social Security – the
last great bastions of the New Deal – are primed for the chopping block.
There’s enough right here to get a lot of people into the
streets. Whatever specific issues bring
individuals to demonstrations or General Assembly meetings, I get the sense
from my conversations that many people are not interested in piecemeal
reform. I think systemic change is now on
the horizon.
A great protest sign I heard about from Seattle
read: “We’re not disorganized, America
just has too many issues.”
The average Americans may not be able to give an academic-quality
report regarding the whats and the whys of their reasoning, but they get the
main point, namely: the rich are getting richer and the rest of us are getting screwed.
The American Dream is dying, and this country is no longer what it used to be.
You are right; messages from Occupy might sometimes be
contradictory and seem inefficient. Heck,
depending on where you get your news, the whole movement may well look more
like a Ringling Brothers circus act than a profound social transformation. One of my previous blog posts is titled “Don’t
judge this book by its cover”, and this is a message I’ve been repeating to
many who seek to better understand the Occupy movement. It’s the form
of the movement that matters most, not the appearance.
However unseemly it may have looked to wary outsiders, the
occupy encampment was in fact a powerful new societal model in the making. Despite all the controversy, both external
and internal, the camps provided a great number of services at no cost: food
for all, shelter from the elements, a safe(r) place to be, libraries, basic
medical clinics, security details, media relation centers, information
booths, and a full daily schedule of community events, among other
services. Perhaps the greatest
achievement was – and continues to be - the General Assembly, an open and
inclusive daily democratic forum that serves as the official
decision-making body for respective Occupy groups. The meetings take a
long time, sure, but they are fiercely democratic – and if you have something
to say, you’re guaranteed to be heard.
Even our elected legislature can’t promise that much!
It is important to realize that the catch-all term “Occupy”
is in fact more of an umbrella description referring to a series of diverse and
often distinct groups. For example, while
educated and dedicated activists may have initiated the occupied encampments,
these spaces quickly became a haven for society’s neediest: the homeless and
the mentally ill. A lot of people were
turned off by the sight of camps built of tarps, tents, cardboard, sharpie
markers, duct tape, straw bales and wooden pallets. Instances of drug use, overdose, petty theft
and crime – all social problems that plague the most vulnerable among us – grabbed
the lion’s share of attention from mainstream media.
But consider a few additional facts rarely given
airtime: At its height, Occupy
Portland’s encampment held 300-400 people.
The majority of inhabitants were chronically homeless. The camp kitchen served over 1600 individuals per meal, and by some estimates was feeding over half of Portland’s homeless population at any given
time. Local psychiatric hospitals were
using the space as a drop point for discharged patients with nowhere else to go. This means that prior to violent eviction by police,
the Occupy movement was providing basic services not only for its politically-minded
members and guests, but for the city’s neediest citizens as well – services
that city, state, and federal governments have quite apparently failed to provide on an effective scale.
All this afforded solely with donations and volunteer
labor.
The really amazing fact is that despite the overwhelming
burdens placed on the physical camps, Occupy activists continued to create a
revolutionary, people-powered grassroots social movement basically from scratch.
Major actions, demonstrations, and events have been planned and executed
effectively since day one, with this same scenario played out in multiple
major cities simultaneously – all without any central ruling authority. Difficulties and communication hiccups have
been an integral part of the process, and a great many lessons are being
learned every day. But considering both
the massive scale and short time frame of the movement thus far, it seems quite
remarkable that so much has been accomplished to this point.
Consider the substantial successes realized since Zucotti Park was first occupied just ten weeks
ago:
The national discourse now includes issues of wealth
inequality and the falling standards of living in the United States. Bank of America and other major national
banks backed off on their $5 per month debit account fees. Over a million people have switched their
financial accounts to credit unions in the last month, moving $4.5 billion in
assets. Oakland
shut down the 5th largest port in the US as part of the country’s first
general strike since 1946. A White House
decision expected to approve the Keystone XL pipeline in December has been
delayed until after the 2012 elections.
All major Occupy encampments have been systematically and violently
removed in a coordinated series of raids involving Homeland Security and the
FBI - a testament, I think, to the fact that Occupy is hitting a nerve with
some very important people. Rather than
engage the roots of chronic social maladies, governments across the country have chosen, in effect, to “shoot the messenger” and shove the problems back under
the rug (or, more accurately, back under the bridges). And now there are dozens of viral YouTube
videos of riot police pepper spraying peaceful demonstrators.
This movement continues to unfold. History is being written everyday. I think there is a natural human response in
times of unrest to want to know what’s going to happen, to be sure of outcomes. At this point, however, no one knows for sure
where this will take us. Anyone who claims
as much would be a liar. The unknown is
unsettling, for sure. But the same
forces that unseat old systems make possible the creation of new ones – and
such prospects can be exciting and inspiring indeed! In many ways, where this movement goes is up
to us. We have an opportunity – and a
responsibility - to determine the direction of our collective future. The outcomes are by no means guaranteed. But Occupy has created a vast new space to
begin conversations about real and lasting change.
It is my opinion that Occupy as a movement is only just
getting started. We are in a phase of
collectively raising our awareness of the workings of a System – political,
social, economic - that does not serve the vast majority of citizens. Many people are realizing that they are not
alone, and waking up to the fact that when we stand up together, we can make
big things happen. Occupy is helping to
define the elements of society that require change.
The truly exciting part will come, I think, as the movement
congeals, connects, and begins to actively consider alternative solutions. We have already seen what the State has to
offer us: tear gas, riot police, and mass arrests.
There aren’t any real solutions on the table. The current system works just fine for the
power elite.
Personally, I’m looking forward to the coming conversations
about new ways of organizing our money systems.
I want to talk about sustainable alternatives to a fossil-fuel based
economy that is destroying our natural environment. I’m interested in a movement to amend the Constitution
to guarantee our basic rights to education,
employment, health care, housing, food, and political representation. I’d like to see changes in the electoral
process, an end to corporate personhood, and a complete rethink of campaign
financing. We need major adjustments to
the tax code that will redistribute the wealth we all help create. I want an end to America’s wars… both overt and
covert.
Many of these dialogs are already taking place, and have
been in the works long before OWS came along.
Occupy has simply added new momentum.
Where these conversations go now is up to us.
It’s a good start.
But we have a long road ahead, and I think right now is a time to
reflect, organize, educate, reach out to form new bonds and associations, and begin
to collectively decide where to go next. This is the work happening now.
To answer the question, “What do you support?”
I support the foundational messages of Occupy.
If there is hope for our future, our children’s future, and
our planet’s future, it lies in Us – reconciling our differences, joining
together, and thinking big in order to change unhealthy social, political, and
economic systems while moving forward as one. I’m going to do everything I can to make this
dream a reality.
"You never change
things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model
that makes the existing model obsolete."
Late Saturday night was a turning point for Occupy Portland. Though
history has yet to be written and it is still far too early to really
understand the true significance of recent events, I already know for
sure that I will never forget the early hours of November 13th.
I
arrived at the Occupy encampment at 12:05 a.m. with intent to witness
the night's events. I'd heard that a contingent of local clergy was
going to bear witness from the adjacent sidewalks, and somehow that
knowing emboldened me to head downtown myself. Expecting maybe a small
crowd and a few die-hard protesters to make a last stand, I timed my
arrival to coincide with the ending of an afternoon and evening of
rallying events at Occupy Portland.
What I found instead was far beyond anything I would have ever expected.
Depending
on the source, there were between five and ten thousand people jammed
into the two city blocks that encompass Chapman and Lownsdale Squares.
By my own estimate, I'd estimate at least 8,000 people were
present at the height of the action. It took me twenty minutes to wind
my way a block and a half through the densely populated festive-like
atmosphere. It took equally as long to finally close my gaping mouth: I
just kept repeating "I can't believe this. I can't believe this. Where
did all these people come from?"
The place was
packed. Moreover, it was packed with amazing people. Smiling, talking,
exuberant, wonderful human beings. The crowd was excited, and I
entered into a number of conversations during the first several hours.
We were literally shoulder to shoulder, so conversation wasn't
difficult.
I spoke with bright-eyed students from
PSU. I spoke with a pair of newcomers trying to understand more about
the Occupy movement. I spent time with two inspiring sixty-something
women recently back from a cross-country train trip to Washington, DC,
where they had been among thousands of others arrested in front of the
white house for their nonviolent protest of tar sands extraction and the
proposed Keystone XL pipeline.
Then,
at about 2:30 a.m., police made their first big move since my arrival.
I was standing in the SE corner of Lownsdale Square just adjacent to
Main Street. A continuous line of riot police stretched nearly two
solid blocks up Third Avenue. It was at 3rd and Main that the five
mounted officers used their horses to make a run at the lines of
peaceful demonstrators linked arm in arm, three to four rows deep. The
mounted police repeatedly urged and kicked and pushed their horses into the brave and defiant human chain below.
As
this chaotic and unpredictable scene began, an energy rose up from the
crowd that I will never in my life forget. A cacophony of shouts, a
unified desperation of imploring voices, and a series of heart-stricken
chants rocked the squares. Rounds of "Peaceful Protest!" and "Shame,
Shame!", rose up amid a powerful emotional backlash to the police attack
on the nonviolent demonstrations. Officers made multiple attempts to
break the line of demonstrators, advancing direct charges with their
horses, turning them around, spooking them, and stomping sideways, all
in attempts to force protesters to break ranks so the battalions of riot
troopers behind could enter the masses and commence with what I can
only imagine would have been carnage. It was a terrifying scene and a
desperate moment.
But the line didn't break. The line did not break.
For the rest of my life I will wonder that it did not break, for I saw
with my own eyes the sheer power and size of those horses, and the force
with which they were thrust into the tapestry of human flesh.
I can only stand in awe at the brave souls who withheld the attack and
did not break rank. Later I heard stories from several individuals from
those lines who spoke of demonstrators whose toes and feet had been
crushed by the heavy hooves of the equine assaults, of terror and pain
as the horses were so bravely pushed back.
I would like to point out at this point that later on Sunday the Associated Press released an account the night's events. One key sentence stands out among the rest:
"Police numbers shifted throughout the night, but they showed no signs of moving against the protesters."
Also
later Sunday, newscasters
with Portland's major affiliates would note the admirable commitment to
peaceful tactics from both sides throughout the night. Video
montages would show no footage of the horse assaults. But I was there,
and I know what I
saw. For some reason, the above video from the Oregonian seems to be
the only evidence that the horses were, in fact, used against
protesters, and that police were not nonviolent.
Following
this aggressive action, literally hundreds of demonstrators streamed
into the intersection of 3rd and Main - folks who thus far had obeyed
official orders to remain on the sidewalk - and in turn commenced the
truly remarkable - and peaceful - measured "push" of the police line a
full block south up 3rd to Madison; where the line was held for the next
3 hours.
Ray Whitehouse/ The Oregonian
Thus commenced a period of relative calm. Several
lines of demonstrators formed successive arm-linked chains in a
face-to-face standoff with riot police at Madison. From accounts I
heard later, many in front line were women, some young, and some quite
elderly. There were also amazing conversations that took place across
the line during those long hours. One man apparently placed a stone at
the foot of each officer in the ranks and then said the words "I love
you". To each one all the way down the line. I cannot confirm this as
I did not witness myself, but I've now heard from three sources among
the demonstrators that several officers wept.
Jamie Francis/ The Oregonian
The action began again at 5:00 a.m. Twice
it appeared that police were going to move in on demonstrators; once at
five and again at 6:30. We knew activity was close when an armored
truck with mounted speakers pulled up behind the line of riot officers
and made announcements, presumably dispersal warnings. I never could
make out the words. I will do my best to relate what I remember from
that period, though events here may not be strictly chronological. Many
things happened quickly, and I'll do my best to paint a coherent
picture.
By five a.m. there remained at least 500 to
600 demonstrators, a core group that did not appear to be thinning.
Among these could be counted roughly four groups. The first held the
police line, as previously described. The second stood en mass
protecting the SE entrance to Chapman Square. I was on the sidewalk
with this group. The third group was comprised of witnesses occupying
surrounding sidewalks on both 3rd and Madison.
The
fourth group was a crowd favorite. The now infamous "PDX bike swarm"
was a rag-tag assembly of several dozen cyclists who circled the three
occupied blocks all night long. Like valent electrons around a nucleus,
our homegrown "bike brigade" went round and round and round... for
hours and hours. They were a tremendous boost, especially as fears of
an assault mounted in the early hours Sunday. Each time the tension
would escalate and I was sure the
canisters of tear gas would come flying in, our perennially circling
critical mass of cyclists would come around the
block again and help ease the vibe. At each lap the crowd cheered as if
the bikers were Olympians in the final stretch of a long race: "Go
Bikes!! Yeah Bikes!!!" Thank you, bikes! They were our
cavalry.
Through those tense final hours, our lively and dedicated crowd
sang and chanted with all its might. We knew the gas and batons might
come any minute, and I think we sang as much to allay our own fears as to
rally our spirits. The best
chant of the night, and possibly of my entire life, went as follows:
"You're sexy, you're cute, take off your
riot suite!"
Six hundred voices, shouting in
unison
at the top of their lungs in the wee hours of the morning. What group
in their
right mind chants such a thing to fully-clad riot officers threatening
imminent
destruction?! That's right, Portland protesters! As a side note, two
nights later, with over
30,000 people watching the violent dismantling of Zucotti
Park via
livestream, I heard the same chant arise at the police line among the
brave souls of Occupy Wall Street. How's that for the power of social
media? I love my
generation.
At around 6 a.m. the police ordered all demonstrators
to vacate the intersection at 3rd and Madison, ostensibly because we
were "blocking traffic". Quickly the group complied, and hundreds of
people flooded the
sidewalks and spilled into Chapman Square. Our movement left only the
lines of riot police
on Madison street, themselves blocking traffic. Chants of "Now it's
your turn", and "We moved, so can you" erupted spontaneously.
Then
the bike swarm circled by again, this
time up a now-cleared 3rd avenue. The stoplight turned red as they
approached the intersection with Madison. The bikes stopped for the
traffic signal. With a phalanx of riot police on one side and a park
full of protesters on the other, the bikes just waited patiently in
their middle lane for the green light, with not a vehicle in sight. As
boisterous cheers erupted from the sidewalk, the light turned green,
and off they pedaled. I will never forget the sight.
Soon
after came the another warning from the armored police vehicle. In the
tense and silent moments that followed, one of the Occupy organizers
gave a very moving mic-checked speech to the officers as we anticipated
their assault. Though I do not quote her word for word, following is my
best recollection of the message she conveyed (via mic-check through
the crowd, only adding to its impact):
"To
those of you holding the line against the police, you are aware of the
risks you are taking and of the potential outcomes of your actions. We
want you to know that we love you and that we stand behind you 100%.
And to the officers facing them, we want you to know that we do not only protest
tonight for our own rights and the rights of our children. We also
fight for your rights, and for those of your children also. If at any
time you feel that you would like to put down your weapons and cross the
line that those in charge tell you that you must not cross, I want you
to know that we will welcome you with open arms."
Our crowd erupted with cheers and applause, and I saw tears streaming down shadow-lit faces; the emotion was palpable.
The police PA system came on again, but much of our crowd could not properly hear the words. An organizer, using the entire crowd for a mic-check, informed the police that we could not hear their sound system. She asked if they would agree to use the "people's mic" in order to communicate with us. With no immediate
response, crowd chants began anew. Then someone rushed up to the original organizer to inform her that the police had attempted to engage the people's mic,
but that our crowd chants had drown out their attempt. She quickly quieted the crowd
and addressed the police again, saying "We understand that you tried to
contact us. However, we could not hear you. We apologize and will be
quiet so you can try again".
There was dead silence
for a long fifteen seconds as the crowd of hundreds waited for an answer, no small
feat. But there was no response. At this point it was becoming clear there was some confusion among the police and that we needed to
take action to avoid conflict. By grace and good fortune, a wonderful
woman across the street, observing the action with dozens of others from the
sidewalk, had the brilliant idea to mic check with us the following
message (also not word-for-word):
"Now
that it is 6:30 a.m. and dawn is upon us, I think it is safe to declare
victory for demonstrators in preserving our park! (Met by many cheers) I
would like to show appreciation for all demonstrators involved
peacefully tonight (more cheers). Finally, let's all give a big warm
round of applause for the outstanding service of the Portland Police
Department!"
The crowd went absolutely wild for a
full 30 seconds. We cheered for the police with all our might. An
unbelievable scene, even in my memory, but it happened as sure as day.
We applauded the riot cops like none other.
At that
time the bike brigade came around again, this time down Madison, and
stopped at a red light on 3rd. It was at this point that the police
line must have received orders to stand down, for they suddenly broke
rank and walked back onto the sidewalk. As if on cue, the traffic
signal flashed green and our beloved bike cavalry charged through the
intersection and past the melting front line of the riot police. The
video below captures that moment:
I cannot describe the instant and euphoric jubilation
that erupted in the SE corner of Chapman Square. To the day I die I
will never forget those next magical moments. Strangers turned to one
another and embraced truly and lovingly with strong hugs and warm
smiles. Small groups came together to chatter excitedly, discussing the
events that had just unfolded. No one could believe we'd actually won.
We had held the park.
As
those packed on the sidewalk slowly, excitedly, made their way back
into camp, some formed what I can only describe as an impromptu "victory
tunnel": two people, facing each other, raised their arms and held
hands, making a space between them under which people could pass. A
line of maybe 20 pairs formed instantly, and the hundreds on the
sidewalk made their joyous march through the "victory tunnel" and into
the park; singing, dancing, cheering their way home.
And
then somehow there were Voodoo donuts for everyone, offered up in 5
gallon buckets. Stunned, elated, exhausted, I ate a donut and was
happy. Prior to Sunday night I had by no means planned on getting
arrested, and I know from follow up conversations that many others did
not intend to, either. But that night, somehow, as if by a strange and
wonderful force, I found myself standing in front of Chapman Square with
hundreds of dedicated souls- and we were together. We knew
we were going to hold our park. One young man spoke
for us all as he said to me, "I'm sick of this. I'm not going to take it
anymore. They're not getting our Park tonight!"
No matter that later that morning hundreds of fully armed riot officers
swarmed our camps to "clean up", forcing the homeless out of their tents
and into the streets. No matter that Mayor Adams, barely two hours
before such action, had given a press conference in which he spoke against the
use of surprise force in the clearing of encampments. No matter that
when word spread of the increasing riot police presence and hundreds
reassembled in the
parks, that they were beaten and pushed out as the squares were fenced off
from the public as the parks were "temporarily closed"... No matter.
The
brave souls of Portland who stood together in Solidarity at 3rd and
Madison on Saturday night are now my brothers and sisters forever, and I
will fight with them, peacefully, nonviolently, using the weapons of
humor and love, logic and truth - until we need fight no more. We
forged a bond that night, a bond like I cannot describe. It was
infectious, it was powerful, and it will only grow. It was a
realization, at the soul level, that We are ONE. We are each other, and
we can do anything to which we collectively put our minds - and our hearts . I now know the meaning of Solidarity, because I felt it in my chest that night.
Solidarity is Love, pure and simple.
And you can't beat that with tear gas, mounted horse patrols, or an army or baton-wielding riot cops.
Bring it, 1%. You've picked a fight with the most powerful force in the Universe, and your battles have only just begun.
Jamie Francis/ The Oregonian
A wealth of imagery via The Oregonian of late Saturday night and early Sunday morning here
Stunning photographs of the Sunday eviction and ensuing police violence here
As you have probably heard by now, Mayor Sam Adams and Portland Police have threatened to evict the Occupy Portland encampment beginning tonight at 12:01 AM.
I would like to relate some important information, as well as encourage
you to support the Occupy Movement in one of the ways listed below.
I'll start with Actions:
1.)
Please call/ email any of the phone numbers/ email addresses below to
ask that the police not be used to clear the camp tonight, and to voice
support for real and lasting solutions to city-wide issues of
homelessness, mental health treatment, wealth inequality, and
joblessness in Portland. Our messages DO make a difference, and they
make a difference right now:
Nick Fish, City Commissioner: (503) 823-3589 Nick@portlandoregon.gov
2.)
If you're in Portland, come down to the Occupy site for festivities,
music, rallies, a potluck, and demonstrations to support our right to
peacefully assemble. A full description and schedule of Events HERE.
3.) If you can't make it in person, please consider following events by watching livestream coverage - people-powered media, broadcasting live around the world: http://occupystreams.org/item/occupy-portland
5.) Please forward this information widely and encourage your friends to make their voices heard tonight, too!
Additional Information and a Personal Reflection on Occupy Portland
On Thursday morning, Portland mayor Sam Adams announced notice of the
eviction, citing drug use, violence, and general lawlessness as reasons
for clearing out camp. Over the last week, and especially in the last
several days, mainstream media have hammered these negative points over
and over again, with hardly a balance to the reporting. The focus has
inordinately gone towards a very few negative acts by disturbed
individuals, whom to my knowledge had not been identified with nor
recognized as part of the the Occupy movement. While violence of any
kind is reprehensible, the vast majority of occupants and activists are
dedicated to and maintain strict resolve for nonviolent tactics. The
General Assembly repeatedly reaffirms Occupy Portland's commitment to
nonviolence.
I personally have spent a good deal of time at the Occupy camp. I have
attended several General Assembly meetings per week since the occupation
began on October 6th. I was present on Thursday night, when a group of
200-300 citizens voted on measures to peacefully and creatively
preserve the People's right to assembly in both Chapman and Lownsdale
Square, site of Occupy Portland.
From my experience, I can say this: There are a lot of homeless people
living in the Occupy camp. In fact, I would guess that the majority of
the camp consists of chronically homeless and transient folks. It did
not begin this way, as activists seemed to make up a much larger
presence in the first weeks.
"The idea was inspired by an urban legend -- that
Picasso had lunch with Nelson Rockefeller at the Four Seasons restaurant in New
York City. When it came time to pay the rather expensive bill, Picasso
suggested that he could pay for lunch by drawing something on the bill and
signing it, which would turn the bill itself into something much more valuable
than the lunch".
Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson discusses the contributions he believes faith-based communities may make to the unfolding Occupy movement. Robinson currently serves with the Diocese of New Hampshire and is widely known for being the first openly gay, non-celibate bishop of a major Christian denomination.
It might sound funny, but as I watch this video I can't help but think of the popular rally cry often heard at demonstrations: "The People United Can Never Be Defeated!"
This is a powerful statement, and one I believe to be very true. The inverse of this chant, however, might well be summed up by the common phrase, "Divide and Conquer".
If we can agree that the first slogan, as an outcome, is infinitely more desirable than the second, then the real work quickly centers around the question:"So how do we unite the People?"
One of the hallmarks of the Occupy movement thus far has been its
resistance to co-option by outside/ pre-existing organizations, whether
political, social, or religious. Robinson seems to respect this pattern.
I think if we can focus on those values we hold in common - justice, transparency, equality, democracy... among many others - we will have a much better chance at achieving unity across a broad spectrum. Our other option is to continue the same old game that is a standard tool of the ruling class: call attention to our differences, draw lines, divide, divide, divide... Catholics vs Born Again Christians vs Atheists, rural vs urban, elderly vs youth, educated vs uneducated. And so on. We've tried that model for a long time, and I believe it's time to make some changes.
Labor unions have already begun taking steps to ally with Occupiers, potentially bringing large numbers of supporters onboard. If existing organizations can respect and abide by the practices of Occupy - and if Occupy can maintain flexibility - I believe faith communities in America may prove to be as yet-untapped reservoirs of strength in the fight for the soul of our country.
I understand that by this point much has been written about the police raid in Oakland on October 25th, including subsequent battles with protesters later that day. Many people have seen video and images, and heard testimony about the day's events. And the reaction continues to unfold. Even as I write, Oakland gears up for a General Strike on Nov. 2nd - the likes of which our country hasn't seen since 1946!
With respect to all that's been said, I still feel the need to return to events as they unfolded on October 25. With the barrage of media that has engulfed me this week - thanks, in no small part - to the revolution in social media, I have struggled to put words to those concerns taking shape deep within. Sometimes the root feelings need time to bubble up to the surface.
This is not meant to be an uplifting post. I believe strongly in optimism, maintaining positivity, and looking forward. But there is also a place for protest. While it doesn't bring solutions on its own, protest calls out and defines that which is unhealthy, that which festers. It allows the community to take stock of its injuries, call out wrongdoing, and define the goals that can inform collective action. So here we go.
October 25, 2011 - Oakland, CA
The police looked like soldiers. Their helmets and armor and dark weapons gleaned against the drab cityscape behind. In the decade since 9/11, how many new tools of violence have been acquired in our "war on terror?"
The uniforms used to be blue. In a decade, they've come closer to black. Black is the color of SWAT. Black is the trademark of Special Forces. Black means dark business is at hand. I do not deny, in this time, that there is a place for special units within police departments. Highly trained, highly professional officers intended for very specific purposes: High-stakes hostage situations. Truly dangerous criminals possessing superior weaponry. The point here being that professionals know when to use force, and, more importantly, when not to use force.
October 25th was not the time nor place for force.As many as 500 officers from 15 municipalities in Northern California descended into Oakland. Many were sheriff's deputies, not highly trained professionals. Chances are good that Olsen, a Marine, had more training than the officer who shot him.
The point I'm making here is that military forces are not meant to be used against civilian populations (unless by act of Congress). The Posse Comitatus Act and a Defense Department directive make this clear. But since 9/11, our police forces have become much more militarized. Federal and State spending through Homeland Security to arm local police has exploded in the last decade, with $75 Billion a year spent on "domestic security"... To fight the terrorists, of course.
But Occupy Oakland is NOT a terrorist organization. And the Oakland PD is NOT a military force.
Occupy is made up of concerned US citizens exercising their First Amendment rights to Free Speech and Assembly, explained in detail below. The OPD is a domestic police force, not trained nor intended for use in the manner we all witnessed on October 25.
Which brings us to the issue of the First Amendment.
"Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances". full text
Quote all the city ordinances you like, but no one can reasonably argue that the camp at Occupy Oakland was anything but a peaceful assembly, exercising it's right to free speech, in petition of the government for a redress of grievances. City curfews, cleanliness issues, and other such ordinances - I do believe they take a back seat to The United States Constitution.
The issue for We The People, then, is really about a series of choices. What do we want, what will we tolerate, and what will we change?
First, are we going to allow our police forces, our officers of the peace, to continue their path towards ever-increasing militarization? What kind of role do we wish our officers to play in this society?
Second, is it possible that we might imagine new solutions to social problems that do not include state violence? Professional mediators, State counselors, a re-imagining of the term "Peace Officer", perhaps? Rapid-response dispute resolution, emergency people's assemblies, democratic participation - I know these ideas sound far-fetched, but look at the present reality!
Thus far our State only seems to speak in the language of riot shields, rubber bullets, tear gas, and terror. These are methods of social control, not conduits of democracy or community.
Maybe it's time we arm the State with tools we actually want it to use. Let's have a conversation.
Filmmaker and activist Michael Moore gave an enthusiastic speech to a crowd of several hundred at Occupy Portland this afternoon (Oct 31st). He spoke for about 20 minutes to much applause and several rounds of crowd chants.
This was my first time to see Mr. Moore in person. I was introduced to his work during my very first semester at community college by a sociology professor who showed Moore's first film, Roger and Me (1989). An English teacher had us read Stupid White Men about the same time. Moore opened my eyes to the fact that the then-Bush white house was full of folks with strong ties to Halliburton, defense contractors, wall street, and the like. His work made an impression, and I suppose it was only fitting to listen to his message today - speaking out against corruption, standing up for the poor, and supporting Occupiers working for real democracy.
He noted that Portland is definitely the largest Occupy site he's visited among the many sites around the country. "This is friggin' awesome!!", he exclaimed, after praising protesters for braving rain and cold weather.
He took time to pay homage to Marine Veteran Scott Olsen of Oakland, CA, critically wounded by police on Oct 25th. Moore also spoke about social inequality and lack of opportunity in the United States, citing multiple statistics and figures. In all, a morale-boosting visit by a man who knows a thing or two about standing up and speaking the truth. I nabbed a few good shots during his speech:
Media blitz!
Notice the vampire in the background... ;) There was to be a "Zombie March" today, but that was halted by agents before it even left the Park... apparently the Dept. of Homeland Security didn't warm to potential herds of the undead clamoring outside the Bank of America?? :) ~ Zombies for justice!
Click here for the transcript of a fabulous interview with MMoore on Hard Knock Radio from Occupy Oakland
Full video of the event thanks to Willamette Week:
"I once saw a Great Dane on Second Avenue attempt to
engage in canine communion with his fellows. In order to display his
intentions were benign, friendly, he crouched down on the sidewalk,
making his massive frame as small as possible, even placing his large
head on the concrete…doing all he could to produce the artifice of
submission, to even the smallest dog that approached him. In other
words, to enlarge his world he created the illusion of smallness. He did
not reduce his essence; he created the artifice of smallness so he
could grow larger than himself by his union with the otherness of the
world.
We are not requesting that cops crouch before us. They just need not
bristle so. To grow in each other’s presence, we are required to meet
the other at eye level, even if one has to descend a bit from a habitual
position of power and authority.
Officers, your guns, rubber bullets, nightsticks, pepper spray–the
looming wall of blue intimidation that you brandish merely creates the
illusion of strength. If you truly want to grow strong, meet us on these
sidewalks, sans the display of empty power."
As Gil Scott-Heron so eloquently reminded us in 1970 (not that I was there, by the way): "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"
...So you'll have to watch it on Live Stream instead. Follow the link below, pick a city, and away you go. A red dot under the city's name means the feed is broadcasting live, otherwise you'll probably be watching looped footage. The current number of viewers is also displayed. Live Stream cameras are run by Occupiers around the globe and live feed comments are moderated by Occupy members. This is people-powered media:
If you haven't seen it yet, please watch this highly informative interview concerning the Occupy Wall Street Movement. Charlie Rose interviews Democracy Now's Amy Goodman, along with Truthdig's Chris Hedges, a former foreign correspondent with the NYTimes.
This is the sort of journalism I've come to not expect from the mainstream media. What a breath of fresh air! Beholden to its large corporate sponsors, PBS often disappoints these days. Not so with Monday's edition of Charlie Rose. I'm not able to embed the video here, so please follow the link below. Enjoy!:
Every once in awhile you come across an interview that touches the heart. This is once such interview. Acclaimed journalist Bill Moyers interviews author Barry Lopez in the final episode of The Bill Moyer's Journal, aired April 30, 2010.
I hope you enjoy. If nothing else, Mr. Lopez helps us remember just how central story is to human life.
For more info and a smoother, higher quality version of this video, please visit the PBS website.
Having recently visited several Occupy sites
on the West Coast – including Portland, Oakland, and San
Francisco - I wish to share some of my insights.
However unseemly it may appear on
the outside, the occupy encampment is in fact a powerful new model for society
in the making. It may be built of tarps,
tents, cardboard, sharpie markers, duct tape, straw bales and wooden pallets, But you’ll have to look past the surface because
it’s the content that matters.
Let me go over the basics of both
camps as I have observed them, both directly and thru conversation with inhabitants:
1.Free
food for everyone. Vegetarian meals served up twice daily. Just wait your turn
in line.
2.A
place to be. Get a tent, find an open
spot of ground, and settle in. It’s pretty simple. No rent, no harassment as long as you abide
group living agreements.
3.Medic
Tent. Often with a certified
nurses. It may be basic – but it’s
freely provided to all.
4.Media
and public relations tent. Internet and
website updates and maintenance, media relations.
5.Information
and activities tent. General
information. A daily schedule of activates,
meetings, and actions. Yoga classes.
6.Security
and police relations. In Oakland, also included an
internal dispute resolution team, even counseling services.
7.A
Library tent.
8.Art
studio, at least in Portland. Yeah, it’s messy. But its art.
9.The
General Assembly: An open, inclusive, daily democratic group meeting. “The People’s Forum”. Serves as the main decision-making body for
the group. Have an issue? Bring it
up! Anyone can speak. Don’t like the way something’s being done?
Join a committee or working group. All
decisions are voted on by the group. It
takes awhile… but it’s real democracy.
This is all pretty impressive,
especially when you consider another factor: the camp is a real mixing pot, and far
from being “one big harmonious group”.
In other words, it’s not just for
activists. In fact, those that regularly
attend the General Assembly make up but one slice of the overall populace. There is a sizeable homeless populationliving at Occupy, including street youth, vets, and the chronically homeless. It makes sense: the camp is safer than the
streets, food and basic services provided, and there is some respite from
police harassment. In fact, local area
psychiatric hospitals in Portland
are beginning to use the Occupy camp as a drop-off point for their discharged
mentally ill patients – knowing they will receive at least some services.
Which means that operating solely
on donations and volunteer labor, the Occupy Movement is simultaneously feeding
the hungry, providing refuge for the homeless, continuing to expand and improve
social services for growing encampments – all while creating a revolutionary,
people-powered grassroots social movement from the ground up. No small feat, especially considering the
same process is playing out in dozens of major cities simultaneously – all
without any central ruling authority.
Despite great odds the Occupiers
are giving rise to a new kind of social order: one that takes care of everybody. Yeah, it’s messy. It doesn’t always smell nice. It appears chaotic at times. Government and big business don’t like it,
and the six o’clock news loves to focus on the strange hippies and homeless
drunks.
But underneath the conflicting
images and strange sights, something truly remarkable is happening. A new model for society is diligently being
built and enacted. Very different social groups find themselves living and
working together in close quarters to solve common problems. Uneducated
street kids find themselves next to recent college
graduates, all the while developing democratic processes that can address issues
both within camp and in the larger public arena. Large homeless populations are being accommodated
even as the community develops social and political campaigns that address
major political, economic, and social problems.
The impacts of this unfolding
movement are hard to predict, yet exciting to anticipate.
Solidarity, democracy, and action: Don’t judge this book by its cover. The contents within are simply too valuable
to ignore.
