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    Occupy Boston Potluck Social

    September 1st, 2012 · · Events Comments Off on Occupy Boston Potluck Social

    On Sunday, September 2nd at 2:00, join OB on the Copley Square green in front of Trinity Church for a public potluck social. Bring something tasty if you can, and if you can’t enjoy the free food anyway.

    Also books and clothing swaps/give away!

    Musicians, feel free to bring your musical instruments and play.

    Family-friendly discussions about democracy and corporate greed with tourists and fellow Bostonians.

    Help publicize the upcoming events for S17 in NYC, Occupy Monsanto – Sept. 24, as well as our upcoming Occupy Boston birthday on September 30.

    Juicy.

    Please come!

    Rally in support of PFC. Bradley Manning

    August 31st, 2012 · · Events, Press Releases Comments Off on Rally in support of PFC. Bradley Manning

    Press Release-For Immediate Release

    Contact: Al Johnson-Event Coordinator at 781-891-0377 or email: alfrcdjohnson34@comcast.net Or Pat Scanlon – VFP Coordinator at: 978-590-4248 or email: PatScanlonMusic@yahoo.com

    Rally in support of PFC. Bradley Manning
    September 6th 3:00 pm
    Obama Campaign Headquarters
    77 Summer Street, Boston

    The Boston Smedley Butler Brigade and North Shore Samantha Smith Chapter- Veterans for Peace, the Boston Bradley Manning Support Network , Somerville Manning Square Committee, Boston United Anti-War Coalition, United for Peace with Justice and other social activists and concerned citizens support the call by the National Bradley Manning Support Network and others to rally nationwide at local Obama headquarters on Thursday September 6, 2012, the day President Obama is scheduled to accept the Democratic Party nomination for president. We call upon President Obama to use his constitutional authority and immediately pardon Army Private First Class Bradley Manning.

    The rally will take place at the Downtown Boston Obama Headquarters at 77 Summer Street (on the Downtown Crossing stop on the Red Line and Orange Line) starting at 2:00 PM

    Since Army PFC Bradley Manning’s arrest in May 2010 for allegedly sharing the “Collateral Murder” video and other evidence of war crimes and government corruption with the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks, progressives and human rights activists have been asking, “Why isn’t President Obama stepping in to help Bradley?” After all, it was President Obama who in May 2011 declared with regards to protests in the Middle East, “In the 21st Century, information is power; the truth cannot be hidden; and the legiti­macy of governments will ultimately depend on active and informed citizens.”

    “As Veterans of many wars, Veterans For Peace stand with Bradley Manning” stated Al Johnson, a member of Veterans For Peace and the organizer for today’s rally. “Bradley Manning has spent over two years hi jail for releasing information that exposed the secrecy of our foreign policy. Bradley Manning is a soldier of conscience, a hero to many, a whistle blower who saw a wrong, possibly war crimes and exposed the truth. We call on President Obama to immediately pardon Bradley Manning”.

    The Smedley D. Butler Brigade Chapter 9 of Veterans For Peace was established in the mid-1980s and includes more than 200 Veterans from the Boston area. The local chapter is part of the national Veterans For Peace and is named in honor of Marine Gen. Smedley D. Butler, the most decorated Marine in U.S. history, who turned against war and famously said “War is a Racket. A few profit, the many pay.”

    The website of the Smedley D. Butler Brigade of Veterans For Peace is www.SmedleyVFP.org. The national Veterans For Peace website is www.VeteransForPeace.org.

    Additional Information

    Support Rally for PFC Bradley Manning – September 6, 2012 – 2:00 PM Obama’s Campaign Headquarters, 77 Summer Street, Boston, MA

    On Thursday, August 16, US military veterans in Portland OR, Oakland CA, and Los An­geles CA, occupied Obama 2012 campaign offices and faxed a letter of demands to the Obama campaign’s central office. Those letters began:

    As those who have spent years serving our country, we have faith that as Commander-in-Chief, President Obama will do the right thing in answering our request.

    The letter went on to list the following demands:

    That President Obama retract and apologize for remarks made in April 2011, in which he said Bradley Manning “broke the law.” Because President Obama is commander-in-chief, this constitutes unlawful command influence, violating Article 37 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), and prevents Bradley from receiving a fair trial.

    That President Obama pardon the accused whistle-blower, taking into consideration his 800 days of pretrial confinement. UN torture chief Juan Mendez called Manning’s treat­ment “cruel and inhuman,” as it included nine months of solitary confinement at Quantico despite Brig psychiatrists recommending relaxed conditions.

    The Bradley Manning Support Network maintains hope that justice will prevail and that President Obama can be the vehicle of change on this issue, but first he needs to hear loud and clear from veterans and civilians across the country that the American people want amends for the unlawful torture of Bradley Manning, and believe he should be freed.

    Organizers of the August 16 West Coast actions are now urging others to join them in a nationwide effort to hold actions at many more local Obama campaign offices on Septem­ber 6th, the day of candidate’s nomination acceptance speech. We want to share messages of support for Bradley with Obama campaign offices from coast to coast…

    Please contact emma@bradleymanning.org for more information about attending and/or organizing an event.

    Report from Aug 26th Sacco and Vanzetti Rally

    August 31st, 2012 · · Events Comments Off on Report from Aug 26th Sacco and Vanzetti Rally

    On Saturday Aug. 26th, members of Occupy Boston and Veterans for Peace took part in a Commemoration Rally for Sacco and Vanzetti. The event was organized by the Sacco and Vanzetti Commemoration Society and the Boston IWW.

    The event started with speakouts and music on the Tremont Street side of Boston Common, followed by a spirited, boisterous march to the north end. It’s amazing how much noise fifty people can make shouting “a-anti-anti-captialista” in the narrow streets of downtown Boston. The march ended with a second rally, at the intersection of Hanover Street and the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

    Part of the rallies were devoted to commemorating Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. These two Italian anarchists were accused of murder, and, after a long and controversial series of trials, given the death sentence and executed. Over 8000 people marched in their 1927 funeral procession. This was the largest procession ever held in Boston, and would remain so until 2003, when New Englanders paraded through the streets of Boston, celebrating the Patriot’s Superbowl victory.

    The Sacco and Vanzetti Commemoration Society is working to get a memorial erected in Boston’s North End, near the area when Sacco and Vanzetti lived.

    On a broader level, the rallies tried to draw attention to political prisoners in the United States. There are many examples in recent years, including Leonard Peltier, detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Tarek Mehana, and Bradley Manning.

    On September 6th, Democrats will gather in Charlotte, NC for the Democratic National convention. On the same day, Veterans for Peace will gather outside president Obama’s Boston headquarters, to support alleged whistleblower Bradley Manning. The Bradley Manning support rally will take place from 3:00–5:00 pm at 77 Summer street (near Downtown Crossing). For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/events/439879979398064.

    Here’s some video footage of the Sacco and Vanzetti Rally.



    A Service Rooted in the Sikh Tradition: A Demonstration of Solidarity and Support

    August 18th, 2012 · · Events Comments Off on A Service Rooted in the Sikh Tradition: A Demonstration of Solidarity and Support

    Offered by the Gurdwara Sahib in Milford, Guru Ram Das Ashram and Gurdwara in Millis, Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar in Medford, and the Sikh Sangat Society of Boston in Everett

    Hosted by the Islamic Council of New England, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston and the Massachusetts Council of Churches

    Thursday August 23, 6:00 pm
    Trinity Church, 206 Clarendon St Boston
    Guru Ka Langar meal to follow

    The langar, an integral part of Sikh religious practice, demonstrates a commitment to sharing and equality, and is much more than just a meal. Please join us in the Undercroft beneath the Sanctuary to continue our time together as all are fed a traditional vegetarian Indian meal by the local Sikh community. In solidarity and support, join us to pray for those killed at Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and peace among all people. Musicians from the four Sikh Gurdwaras in Massachusetts will share shabads (songs) from the Gurmat Sangeet (Sikh Sacred Music) Tradition. All are welcome to listen and learn about this religious community. Christian, Jewish and Muslim Leaders will speak in support of religious liberty for all. All are invited to stay for the Guru Ka Langar (meal) to follow.

    In solidarity with the Sikh community, you are invited to cover your head when entering the Sanctuary as you feel comfortable. If you would like to participate, scarves will be provided at the entrance to the Sanctuary. In several Eastern traditions, including Sikhism, it is customary to cover one’s head while entering a holy space as a mark of respect.

    Event Flyer (pdf)

    A Little Bake Sale for Big Oil

    August 10th, 2012 · · Events, News and Announcements Comments Off on A Little Bake Sale for Big Oil

    Can you spare $11 billion for big oil?
    Sorry, I didn’t bring my wallet …

    On Saturday August 4th, activists from 350ma and Occupy Boston met in Dewey Square, to hold a little fundraiser for big oil. Why a fundraiser? Washington gives big oil, coal, and gas roughly $11 billion in subsidies and tax cuts each year, and there’s talk of trimming some of that back. Cutting these subsidies would be a (nudge-nudge, wink-wink) job killing travesty; so, we went out and canvassed the sidewalks, chatted up people on corners, and panhandled in the street.

    But wait … oil is modern day miracle. It’s in everything
    I own, right down to my shoelaces.

    Don’t get us wrong, we’ve got nothing against people tying their shoes. In fact, we think that tying your shoes is a darn good idea. But we do take issue with petroleum spilling onto our coastline, pollution spreading across out atmosphere, and CO2 warming our planet. Yes, oil is cheap (and heavily subsidized), but it’s also a finite, non-renewable resource. Eventually we will have to find something else to help us get our shoes tied.

    Who do you work for? I’m a Scott Brown supporter.

    I suppose that’s a reason to support big oil. Scott Brown supports big oil, and big oil supports Scott Brown — to the tune of $227,860 so far. And this has been a good investment for big oil; Scott Brown voted to protect big oil subsidies, and voted to gut portions of the Clean Air Act that might hurt big oil’s profitability. Maybe Senator Brown has a point. The oil industry only made $137 billion in 2011, while the rest of our nation’s economy was floundering.

    By the time the event was over, we had given away a few dozen baked goods, and collected a full $0.95 for big oil. We hope that Shell, BP, and Exxon Mobile appreciate our efforts.

    Here are a few photos of the event. You can find more photos at 350ma.org.

    Occupy Boston and 350ma Activists
    Stop Donating my tax dollars to big oil, coal, and gas

    Contact us

    Occupy Boston Media <Media@occupyboston.org> • <Info@occupyboston.org> • @Occupy_Boston