Occupy Everywhere - Sept 17th - Day of Rage Against Wall Street and what it stands for!

[Peter Lemkin]

Please do take a look at this video plea / message from one former policeman to all police dealing with OWS occupiers! Powerful and profound message!

[Peter Lemkin]

Just in case you didn't hear - Occupation in Nashville has won an incredible legal victory over the Governor and other authorities - a Federal Judge in Nashville accepted their lawsuit [which will be visited in Court in 21 days], but [get this!] issued after a 12 minute hearing an injunction against the Governor and the State - prohibiting them from any actions against their occupation for AT LEAST the next 21 days! She further ordered that the Police protect them and not harass nor arrest them! The Judge went on to say that she couldn't think of a better place for local citizens to voice their political grievances than at the Legislative Plaza they now occupy! The UCLA is handling the legal work and they wrote up the 40+ page lawsuit. You can find their lawsuit and all about it on the occupy Nashville webpage. Brilliant victory and a model for most [or all] of the other occupations!
:rocker:

[Ed Jewett]

The questions remain:

Who is OWS? Is it a mass movement? Has it been infiltrated,co-opted, turned, being used to accept and promote non-OWS directions?

Who speaks for OWS?

What committee of folks provide the content with which to address the media, address power, or address the militarized representarives of power?

My "model" for observing the OWS phenomenon is taken from Ray Raphael's "The First American Revolution": http://www.rayraphael.com/First_American_Revolution.htm

[Peter Lemkin]

The questions remain:

Who is OWS? Is it a mass movement? Has it been infiltrated,co-opted, turned, being used to accept and promote non-OWS directions?

Who speaks for OWS?

What committee of folks provide the content with which to address the media, address power, or address the militarized representarives of power?

My "model" for observing the OWS phenomenon is taken from Ray Raphael's "The First American Revolution": http://www.rayraphael.com/First_American_Revolution.htm

Ed, It seems like a needlessly paranoid set of questions and some don't make sense - as OWS has no directors nor spokespersons, per se or in fact. Each occupation has quite a different flavor, success rate, points they focus upon, actions, etc. Of course the powers that be are likely to have [make that sure to have] tried and keep trying to co-opt and end it. I see no evidence of such success [or even partial success] - and I'm watching very closely. Most attempts to use the police or local laws have actually galvanized the movement, rather than stop it. In some ways it is a naive movement - wherein some individuals know the score completely, while others only know of the economic injustice and the consequences of big money on politics....but I'd adjudge that the majority are learning all the other issues and history, apace. Once the mind is open to questioning the system and the 'spell' is broken on the propaganda lines - the rest sort of happens of its own. Again, I see no evidence of co-optation being successful and no need to speculate on it unless it happens. Most who have joined in so far were already pretty far along in their awareness of deep political things - not all, for sure. OWS is more like a colonial animal - a collection of individuals that functions from a distance as a whole - yet leaderless and without a central organizing group. That was built into it to prevent it being 'steered' or coopted. Each occupation is different and has its own ideas and rules. Only a few basic principles are the same throughout.

While the book you point to looks very interesting, is endorsed by Zinn and yes, I'm aware of how the American Revolution was taken over almost immediately by some rich men [the Constitution in parts gives that all away - while trying to hide it], I don't see the analogy to OWS - which doesn't see itself as a new revolution, but a new way of thinking - and if a revolution is to emerge from it - that will be another thing, separate from OWS. Personally, I see OWS as an icebreaker heading to the public mind; it is also a challenge to the system, as it is - basically stating that its [the system's] priorities and ethics are all wrong. So as not to alienate some, no talk of revolution or of complete change of system is usually mentioned at OWS - but of deep change. Other members are calling for nothing short of a revolution of values and revolution, in fact. I believe in time OWS will split into several groups and that may be good - as there are now many occupations and one size and plan does not fit all.

[Keith Millea]

The call is out in Oakland.General strike today!!!!

May Non-violence prevail..........

[Ed Jewett]

Just having a momentary mental fart about dates -- noting 9/17 and then checking the calendar -- and then wondering if we all shouldn't be cataloguing a history of the global movement since the date of .... well, that's a tall project.

[Ed Jewett]

War veterans march in support of OWS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1JKKECVc..._embedded#!

[Ed Jewett]

Wednesday, 02 November 2011

QUESTION: Is the Occupation of Foreclosed Property useful?

Here's a question for all of you open source warfare/protest theorists. Looking for ideas on how the occupation of foreclosed/abandoned property (from factories to homes) can expand/grow the protest. Looking at this as a potential "operational level" weapon for this global open source protest. The equivalent of the IED to the Iraqi insurgency. NOTE: Oakland is ahead of the curve in terms of its level of activity (due to local factors). So it provides some insight into where the movement can/will go.NOTE2: Here's another bit of innovation. Private militias + Occupy in Pheonix.

Posted by John Robb on Wednesday, 02 November 2011 at 08:04 AM | Permalink

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Comments

Ssupak said...
Perhaps they could recruit homeless people to do these occupations, since living in a foreclosed house would be a big step up for them, even if it doesn't have utilities.

ReplyWednesday, 02 November 2011 at 12:08 PM

bailey said in reply to Ssupak...
Id say you need to define homeless person. IF you moved into a neighborhood riddled w abandoned homes infested w junkies and bums who are creating problems for the families in the neighborhood, ran these types out,then moved in families who would clean up the place while trying to find work Id say itll go over gangbusters. You'd have the support of the remaining neighbors and as Lind would say the moral high ground. This is how Red and the guys made the Portland Burnside project work, they ran off alot of the habitual problems which scored points w the street cops, city and kept their unauthorized project going. Move more junkies into a neighborhood just so you can say its "occupied" and youll get push back from the remaining residents.

ReplyWednesday, 02 November 2011 at 09:32 PM

Joske said...
Could be helpfull in fostering community spirit through collective struggle against foreclosures and in the case of occupying factories, setting up community supported cooperatives.

ReplyWednesday, 02 November 2011 at 08:56 AM

Jordan Peacock said...
Some of this was done in Minneapolis a couple years ago with regards to foreclosures (unsuccessfully, ultimately):
http://www.twincities.indymedia.org/2009...-evictions
http://www.mnprogressiveproject.com/diar...foreclosed
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display...ams-march/

ReplyWednesday, 02 November 2011 at 09:31 AM

Dale Asberry said...
California CCP §322-25 gives 5 yrs & tax payment to adverse possess property

ReplyWednesday, 02 November 2011 at 10:43 AM

RanDomino said...
If Occupy is going to get any kind of real ideological footing, it has to undermine the capitalist idea of property. Free homes for everyone- a plausible promise if ever there was one. And just like Occupy's use of consensus and the protest camp model, foreclosure reclamation has been prefigured and practiced extensively in the last decade and is ready for mass application.

ReplyWednesday, 02 November 2011 at 02:50 PM

OWS Buenos Aires said...
The occupation of foreclosed residences "owned" by banks
is a natural phase change of a movement like OWS in areas heavily affected by the housing crisis after they gather enough participants by demonstrating at public places.
It is key to get the official or extra-official blessing from the mayor. A city mayor that spent 1 million in one day against #OO can as well buy all the houses occupied to spare itself the result of not doing so, or declare #OO occupations untouchable.
Nonetheless foco occupations can be made without any blessing, to start the negotiations.
Mayor Jean Quan is an excellent target to negotiate such political blessings with.
Homeless people would have to be involved in the occupations
of houses to be conceptually sound.
Donated/Rented Private Spaces could be used in combination with actual occupations, serving as safe houses for critical infraestructure/members.
Open spaces as factories can be converted into lofts, keeping with the open atmosphere of the occupations.
Cooperation with Hackerspaces could accelerate the bootstrap of the Factories occupations, focusing on MicroFabrication from the go.
The occupied property can serve as community liaison/integration centers, territorially covering the community.
Actual occupation of foreclosed property would be a first step
to disintermediates the government from the housing and jobs solution. Its a DIY solution. No government/state required.

ReplyWednesday, 02 November 2011 at 04:11 PM

Squirrel said...
I like this idea, one of the key aspects that is making the occupy movement successful (in my opinion) is the ability for anyone to turn up, get involved and do something to help out. Here in Auckland New Zealand the camp has provided an opportunity for hundreds of people to take on some responsibility eg security, cooking, helping with the GA etc. This is in contrast to most protests which are negative in nature and provide no easy way for new people to get involved with organising.
I think that occupying foreclosed property could be an extension of the participatory nature of the protests and could allow a larger group of people to feel like they are contributing by helping fix and and have people move into homes. The house I squatted for two years became a hub for the community around us and became a model for sustainable urban living.
Squatting homes would also dovetail perfectly with the meme of greedy bankers and would allow a concrete way for people to confront an aspect of the banking system.
However I have no doubts about whether this could take off, I would assume it would work best if squatted houses where grouped geographically to maintain the communal support and organisation which has allowed the occupy movement to succeed. It would also be labour intensive and would require significant buy in from a large number of people.

ReplyWednesday, 02 November 2011 at 05:15 PM

Matt said...
Interesting thought. Occupy forclosed buildings, houses etc. Utilties are not required, for sanitation use a composting toilet, cooking a rocket stove or similar, water can be carried from local spigots in parks, etc. Very third-worldish. Only solution for the local authorities is to move violently against individual buildings and reduce them one at a time, with trespassing, theft of service, etc as nice charges to keep the protesters locked up a while longer. Worse comes to worse, the buildings burn down depriving OWS places to be, consuming their gear, prviding arson accusations against them and providing insurance cash in the pockets of the banksters.
Yup, should work swell.

ReplyWednesday, 02 November 2011 at 06:30 PM

gmoke said...
The weekend that Occupy Boston began, there was a national conference of housing advocates in town. The local Vida Urbana/Urban Life organization has been a pioneer in foreclosure blockades as an effective tool against the banks over the last two years and both the national and local housing groups participated in Occupy Boston (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/02...ificance).
Since then, Occupy people have helped with local foreclosure blockades in various communities around Boston. I wouldn't be surprised if these tactics haven't spread around the country.
Not occupations of abandoned housing but a necessary step in that direction.
I would suspect that some municipalities might support "responsible" squatting for structures that have been abandoned by deadbeat banks which refuse to honor their commitment to keep such buildings up. Braddock, PA for example, possibly Detroit.

ReplyWednesday, 02 November 2011 at 11:14 PM

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[Peter Lemkin]

The Occupation and General Strike in Oakland has gone wonderfully - still is as I write! Perhaps 20,000 took back their city - closing banks and the harbor and liberating a foreclosed and closed homeless shelter! The Police have been nowhere, but as I type are poised for arrests....it is about to get ugly....the Police causing it! The liberation of the building was done peacefully and with NO damage to the property - and that was true throughout the day. A few times provocateurs tried to break windows or point on walls of banks etc. and others in the crowd stopped them! A wonderful day is about to be spoiled by the Police - the blue meanies. Here come the Police...more soon! Over and out!

[Peter Lemkin]

Update on Oakland - Another Police Riot - rubber bullets; tear gas, pepper spray and flash-bangs - about 100 arrests so far.......so expect an even bigger march tomorrow! The Police are their own worst enemies in building this movement!