Members of Occupy Boston before the march

On December 31, 2011, several Occupy Boston participants, including members of Peace Action Working Group and Veterans For Peace, decided to join First Night’s Grand Procession from Copley Square to Boston Common. They jumped in before the end of the procession, with sirens blaring behind them. They started chanting  “Out of the Sidewalks, Into the Streets!” which was responded by with great reception from onlookers all the way down to the end. Some of them even decided to jump into the procession as well. Even the Boston Police Commissioner, whom seemed to recognize the marchers, is noted for waving at the Occupy Boston participants as they made their way to the Common.

On December 31, 2011, at 5:30pm, about 100 Occupy Boston protesters, supporters, and participants gathered at the Community Church of Boston on 565 Boylston Street. This event showcased the Screen Print Working Group’s brand new screen prints, complete with fabrics and even pins with glitter.

Prints hanging to dry / Photo by Matthew J Shochat

There was much cheer and laughter amongst the crowd, who came to celebrate the victories of the Occupy movement, concerns, and ideas of where we will be headed down the road in 2012.

The Screen Print Working Group had been working some time to acquire the resources necessary for this event, including retrieving one screen print by donation from Occupy Wall St. The fabrics were purchased at Winmill Fabrics in Chinatown, located on Chauncy Street. All shirts were donated for use on the screen prints. Also, many screen print members taught others how to use them properly, who then, in turn, helped others get the prints of their desire.

Food was provided by donation by Occupy Boston participants and Firedoglake, who have donated to Occupy Boston events in the past.

Photo by Matthew J Shochat

On December 30th, at 5:30pm, about 15 pillow-fight enthusiasts gathered to mark the 90th day of Occupy Boston that began at Dewey Square, the place where the hub encampment of Occupy Boston began on September 30, 2011 and was taken down by Boston Police on December 10, 2011. Occupy pillow-fight enthusiast gathered to celebrate our 3rd Month Anniversary, and commemorate the 141 arrested at the Rose Camp. Event organizers requested participants to each bring a pillow. It wasn’t long before the pillow fight!

It wasn’t before long that the pillow-fight enthusiasts decided to relocate to the site of the Rose Camp. As more pillow-fight enthusiasts joined making the total 40. The massive contingent of pillow-fight enthusiasts decided to relocate back to the front of the Federal Reserve Bank Of Boston, where the pillow fight turned Gladiator style, until they decided to disperse at around 8:30pm.

It is important to note that 4 police cruisers remained on site at Dewey Square during the entirety of the pillow fight, as well as 6 that constantly monitored the pillow-fight enthusiasts on foot. Are our tax dollars going to monitor pillow fights rather than fighting corruption and injustice in high crime areas make sense?

At noon on December 15th 2011, 40 protesters gathered at Dewey Square in opposition of the passage of the National Defence Authorization Act (or NDAA). This day had been chosen for two reasons: First, that congress had passed the NDAA the day prior. And Second, that it was the 220th birthday of the ratification of the Bill Of Rights.

At 12:30pm, the march began to move outside of Dewey Square with protesters chanting “No Trials, No Way, Veto the

Historical marker at former Federal Street Church site

NDAA!”,  and “Military Detention, Police State Invention.” When the march reached the former site of the Long Lane Meeting House & Federal Street Church (which is now occupied by a branch of Bank Of America), there was a moment of silence for freedom which is in jeopardy if the NDAA is signed into law.

The march then continued to the JFK Federal Building where the Rally and Speak Out began. By his time, the amount of protesters had grown to 60. Several speakers, including members of the ACLU of Massachusetts, American Friends Service Committee – New England, Boston United Antiwar Coalition, Amnesty International, and journalist Ayesha Kazmi, all of whom spoke about the dire implications this bill would have on our rights and liberties as American citizens.

MBTA's Civil Disturbance Unit

In a moment of irony, the MBTA’s official Civil Disturbance Unit, a large jet-black bus outfitted with surveillance cameras, armor, shields, and an arsenal of tear gas and pepper spray grenades, which was built for the purpose of intimidating malcontents, stopped directly in front of the ongoing protest to the shock of the crowd. For a moment, there was complete silence while people gathered themselves in an uncomfortable moment. A moment later, the Civil Disturbance Unit drove off, and the Rally and Speakout continued until dispersal.