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    Veterans for Peace members discuss history and organization of tomorrow’s St. Patrick’s Day Peace Parade in which Occupy Boston will be marching

    March 17th, 2012 · · Events One comment

    Occupy Boston will be marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Peace Parade for the first time this year. On this week’s episode of Occupy Boston Live, members of Veterans for Peace join host, Doug Green, to discuss their upcoming participation in the Peace Parade in Southie.

    A Veterans for Peace organizer says a judge has ordered that the Peace Parade must keep a 1 mile physical distance between it and Boston’s ‘traditional’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade, as a result of that group’s efforts to keep out peace groups, GLBT groups and many others that don’t fit their narrow definition of “traditional.”

    Assemble: 1:00 pm, D Street, between 1st and 3rd Streets.

    Directions: From the Broadway T Stop in South Boston, this location is just a few blocks east on West Broadway (look for Veterans For Peace White Flags)

    Protesters rally at the Statehouse against regressive, unjust “Three Strikes” law

    March 17th, 2012 · · Events 7 comments

    http://i1051.photobucket.com/albums/s425/Anonon1/3strikes.jpg

    Occupy demonstrators were part of a large crowd that gathered in downtown Boston March 15th on the steps of the Statehouse to protest against the “Three Strikes” bill set to pass through the Massachusetts legislature in the coming weeks. This controversial bill would call for new “mandatory maximum” sentences for third-time offenders, regardless of the severity of the crimes. Critics of the bill say it would disproportionately affect black and Latino communities, that it would dangerously and unnecessarily overcrowd our jails, that it strips the power of judges to act on their own discretion, and that it focuses too much on punishment instead of rehabilitation.

    The protest began at 11 am on Thursday with a large crowd of individuals gathering at the top of the Boston Common; black, white, Asian, Latino, veterans, students, teachers, and people of all stripes coming together for a common cause. Speakers from many different communities called for an end to mandatory sentencing, citing specifics examples of how it has broken apart families and failed to deal with the root causes of why the crimes were committed in the first place. Members of the Boston Worker’s Alliance, spiritual leaders of local communities, as well as Senator Chang-Diaz, and Boston City Councilor Felix Arroyo publicly spoke out against the potentially damaging effects of this bill to the highly receptive crowd which had gathered.

    The sidewalk was already crowded with onlookers as another three busses pulled up and flooded the streets with yet more activists from the outlying communities, eager to have their voices heard on Capitol Hill. As the crowd swelled to over 300 strong, an organizer from the Boston Workers Alliance called for people to make their way inside the Statehouse to begin the definitive work of the day: knocking on the doors of every single Massachusetts representative within the hallowed halls of the Statehouse to personally deliver the peoples’ opinion on the Three-Strikes bill.

    Continue reading “Protesters rally at the Statehouse against regressive, unjust “Three Strikes” law” »

    Flash Mob 12:30pm at the Transportation Building!

    March 14th, 2012 · · Events, News and Announcements One comment

    Join us to protest MBTA service cuts and fare hikes at the public meeting of MassDOT with the MBTA Board of Directors! 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116.

    At this meeting, the MBTA Board of Directors will discuss their final solution for covering the MBTA’s $161 million deficit. This will almost certainly include fare hikes, service cuts, and layoffs, all unacceptable ways of forcing working people to pay for a problem that they didn’t create. Join with Mass Senior action to denounce these short-sighted and damaging proposals.

    More info on the meeting here: http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/?id=23169

    12:30-1:30 – lunch break flash-mob / Street theater ‘Traffic Jam’ outside the hearing

    3 pm – Visit your state representative to hand over demands

    5 pm – Occupy the commute, flyering, mic-checking, and singing on the MBTA/commuter rails

     

    Protest MBTA Fare Hikes, Service Cuts & Layoffs on Wednesday, March 14th at the MBTA Board Meeting

    March 12th, 2012 · · Events, News and Announcements One comment

    Meet March 14th at 12:30 PM at the Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Boston
    As the Massachusetts Department of Transportation meets to discuss the fate of the MBTA, we’ll be rallying outside and inside the meeting to demand:

    • No service cuts
    • No fare hikes
    • No layoffs
    • No privatization of our treasured public transit system.

    A comprehensive state-wide plan for affordable and sustainable transportation that works for the 99%.

    For years, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has failed to fund public transportation adequately, and forced the MBTA to borrow exorbitant sums.  Now the MBTA is trying to balance its books on the backs of those who can afford it the least.  Drastic fare hikes, service cuts, and layoffs will devastate students, seniors, low-income communities, people of color, workers and everyone who must rely on the T.  The MBTA’s proposals will also force between 55,000 and 92,000 more cars on the road each day, creating traffic nightmares, and 50,000 tons of additional carbon dioxide emissions per year.

    For weeks, outraged T riders have packed public hearings to say no to MBTA’s ill-conceived and damaging proposals.  It is critical that we keep the pressure on as the Board meets for the first time after the hearings.

    Join Occupy the MBTA, along with other advocates for seniors, low income communities, workers, and the environment, on March 14th! For more information visit http://occupymbta.org/

    Save the Date: April 4th – People’s Hearing on Transportation in the State House
    3 pm Hearing and 5pm Rally Come after Work! (Think Wisconsin)

    As the MBTA’s Public Hearings come to an end, the MassDOT boards are meeting to decide how to squeeze more money out of the T-riding 99%, while the banks’ profits keep flowing. Tell the MBTA and state legislators we want real solutions, and we won’t accept higher fares, less service, layoffs, or more pollution! We need a transportation plan for the whole state that works for the 99%.  Join us as we take our message to the State House as part of the National Call to Action on Transportation.
    Download flyers in:

    M17 Action Spokescouncil Proposal Consented to by GA

    March 11th, 2012 · · #bostonGA, Events, Passed Resolutions One comment

    The following proposal was consented to by the OB General Assembly on 03/10/2012.

    IDENTIFY THE NEED THIS PROPOSAL ADDRESSES: Publicizing OB and growing our base, celebrating 6 month anniversary of OWS

    BRIEF SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL: M17 Spokescouncil proposes an alternate location and format for a popular assembly on March 17, 2012 to cap off our radical history tour of the Freedom Trail.

    FULL PROPOSAL:
    In order to increase Occupy Boston’s public visibility and continue to grow our base of support, and in recognition of the 6-month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street and the City of Boston’s Evacuation Day holiday, the M17 Action Spokes Council proposes the following structure for an alternative assembly on the evening of March 17th. Regular business will be suspended for the evening. Two members of the OB community will facilitate agenda and speakers. Working groups, caucuses, and affinity groups will be able to get on stack to spend 2-3 minutes describing their groups’ missions within the framework of political and social revolution. Groups should attempt to highlight how their work parallels and builds upon the work of activists from the American Revolution. During this time they may also briefly announce their upcoming events and meetings. No other time will be set aside for announcements. We propose to hold this alternate assembly on the Boston Common for its historical significance as a meeting place, proximity to the Freedom Trail, and highly visible central location.

    Agenda:
    • Announcements and Opening
    • Open mic: Why We Occupy (2 minutes)
    • Working groups, caucuses, and affinity groups (2-3 minutes)
    • Speakers:
    • Facilitated open mic: (2 minutes per individual)

    Contact us

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