Good Morning from Occupy Boston!
Stories of the Day: “Occupy lite?” They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but buyer beware: some things that sound like Occupy might be imitation. “American Spring” is an Occupy term, but “99% Spring” is not. A coalition of groups including MoveOn.org are providing “99% Spring Trainings.” Some feel this is co-opting the ideas of the movement, and reportedly these trainings deliberately exclude the model of consensus-based, horizontal democracy. However, the newly-formed Occupy Arlington just passed a resolution to bring in a 99% Spring training for themselves. In Los Angeles on March 31, there was an art show called “All In for the 99%” with the participation of many celebrities; but the money raised went to the American Dream Foundation, also known as Rebuild the Dream, a Democratic organization – not Occupy. On the other hand, or so it seems, a new website called “Occupy.com” went live on April 3. Despite the .com domain name, it is a non-profit which describes itself as: “a new media channel that will amplify the voices of Occupy. We use media to call for social, economic and environmental justice. We seek to inspire resistance, engagement and the creation of the new world we imagine … [we are] independent and non-profit. We consist of a small but growing group of dedicated occupiers working in solidarity with the movement. We are supported by a combination of donations and volunteerism. There is no GA or Spokes Council overseeing us, but we are morally accountable to the movement as a whole.” [from the website] Co-opting, or demonstrating that Occupy is changing public discourse? You decide…
Other Occupies/Protests:
- On April 1, Occupy SF occupied a building that had been vacant for 5 years, with the intention of turning it into a center for health services and education, but they were raided today and 80 arrests were made.
- Occupy Worcester will be joining in the National Day of Protest and Action in regards to public transportation on April 4th. At 3:00 PM, they will gather outside of Union Station with signs and flyers to protest the mishandling of public transportation in America, especially, on a local level, the underfunding of the WRTA and the proposed budget cuts and fare increases for the MBTA. They will have an open stack around 4:30 for people to share their thoughts and feelings about public transportation in America. (see below for Occupy Boston’s events planned for tomorrow).
“In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.” —Mark Twain
Volunteer Opportunities/Announcements:
Have you entered the Occupier’s Haiku Contest yet? I did! Send submissions to submit@occupier.com by April 7, no more than 3 haikus per person. For rules, click here. Prizes!
For a partial listing of Working Groups looking for volunteers, please click here!
Upcoming Events:
Raise Taxes on the 1% Tax Day Rally and March
Tuesday, April 17, 5:30PM, Dewey Square (South Station)
Occupy JP and Occupy Boston will participate, along with many other groups, in a protest against the unfairness of the current tax regime, where people such as Mitt Romney pay at rates far lower than those earning far less, and Warren Buffet’s now-famous secretary pays at a higher rate than Warren Buffet. The Rally and March will begin at 5:30pm at Dewey Square (South Station) and the march will begin at 6pm and proceed through the city streets, pass by several notorious corporate tax dodgers, and end at the bandstand in the Commons.
Things to bring: yourself (most important), signs, noise-making stuff (pots, pans, kazoos, whatever)
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Event Highlight:
3pm-11:30pm Occupy Boston – National Day of Action for Public Transportation, Massachusetts State House
Watch this great video put together by Occupy Boston for this event and see how many of your friends you can spot! click here!
Calendar for Wednesday, April 4, 2012
3 pm – 4 pm Icarus Project WG Support Group. Note the new location at the Gazebo at the Common
5 pm – 7 pm Boston Occupier WG Meeting at Encuentro 5, 33 Harrison Ave., 5th Floor, Boston
5:30 pm – 7 pm Info WG Meeting at United for a Fair Economy, 29 Winter St., 2nd Floor, Boston.
6 pm – 8 pm Radio WG Meeting at Encuentro 5, 33 Harrison Ave., 5th Floor, Boston
7 pm – 9 pm Financial Accountability WG at City Place Food Court, in the Transportation Building
7 pm – 9 pm Media WG Meeting at Encuentro 5, 33 Harrison Ave., 5th Floor, Boston
2 Responses to “Occupy Boston Daily Digest for 4-4-12”
Since GAs and Spokes Councils are either not available or an realistic means of participation for millions of America’s 99%, these instances of imitation should be welcomed and encouraged. Occupy’s form of horizontal democracy is wonderful but it is not uniquely effective at promoting mass participation and political change. We need to get past our puritanical fear of cooptation if we are to effectively engage the rest of the 99% as they actually exist (not as we want them to be).
The author shouldn’t throw around the word “co-opting” without really thinking about it. I challenge her tell us exactly what “co-opting the ideas of the movement” means with regards to Occupy and how it could harm the movement for social justice. Isn’t this a diversity of tactics issue? At the same time I appreciate that she seems to understand what a coalition is: it’s a place where you don’t get everything you want. You might not get complete horizontal democracy, but putting thousands of people in the street is not chicken feed. More importantly, when Occupy enters into coalitions, it influences their direction for the better. Sitting on the sidelines accomplishes nothing.