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    HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: OCCUPY BOSTON TO SPEAK AT PRESS CONFERENCE & MARCH WITH CITY LIFE/VIDA URBANA

    December 15th, 2011 · · Events, Press Releases 2 comments

    City Life / Vida Urbana and the Bank Tenants Association, with support from Occupy Boston, will hold a press conference and tenant speak out at 12 noon on Friday, December 16, 2011 at 40 Fowler Street in Dorchester, MA 02121. The press conference will introduce the St. Simon family who will move into 40 Fowler, as well as testimonials from families who have successfully gotten their homes back about foreclosure.

    Home foreclosures have dominated the American landscape since the start of the recession. Through no fault of their own, families have been losing their homes and livelihoods. This is far too commonplace in America and has a disproportionate effect on low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.   City Life’s ongoing work demonstrates the willingness of families to remain in their homes despite the pressure of the banks and those in power.
    In addition to the press conference, Occupy Boston will join with City Life / Vida Urbana for an “Occupy our Homes” rally and march on Monday, December 19, 2011 at 12 noon at 10 Causeway St. in Boston, the Boston Regional Office of HUD. This rally is being called to bring visibility to the HUD eviction requirements.

    City Life / Vida Urbana, community activists, and local families oppose the HUD requirements that allow commercial banks to evict foreclosure victims who have FHA-insured mortgagers before the property is transferred to HUD.  This policy forces the foreclosing lender to evict in order to get their insurance, even when they could otherwise afford to stay in the property.

    Occupy Boston is encouraging community members, families, students, activists, and victims of the foreclosure crisis to join City Life / Vida Urbana, the Bank Tenants Association, and Occupy Boston at these two important events. For more information visit http://clvu.org/ or https://www.occupyboston.org/

     

    Rally today, Monday Dec. 12 4-6pm

    December 11th, 2011 · · Events One comment
    Dear friends and allies in the struggle for a more just, free, and egalitarian world:
    Come express your solidarity with Occupy Boston, and with the broader Occupy movement, in the wake of the recent eviction of Dewey Square,
    TOMORROW, MONDAY DEC. 12. 4-6pm at City Hall Plaza (by Government Center).
    Bring your thoughts, your signs, your music, your drums.  And your friends.
    From 4-6 there will be a Speak Out, (and drum circle?) open to all.
    Some will express their protest at the Mayor’s eviction and destruction of our encampment at Dewey Square.  (This will include those recently rendered homeless by the raid.)
    Some will testify to the ongoing determination of our movement for global social and economic justice.
    Some will speak in solidarity with the West coast occupiers, workers, and students (among others) who are –even as I write this–upping the ante and building to shut down the 1% controlled ports of the Northwest, from Oakland to Seattle.
    What do you have to say at this key moment in the history of our new movement?  Come and share what you have to say!  And invite others.  Spread the word.
    Around 6pm we will hold a march back into the Financial District, by the recently lost Dewey Square.  Have you seen Dewey since the police raid?

    Education & Entertainment are a Weapon of Mass Construction

    December 9th, 2011 · · Events, News and Announcements 11 comments

    The Second Line Band played until 2 a.m.

    As many of you know, this week the temporary restraining order was lifted from the camp, which was promptly followed by a 12-hour eviction notice from the mayor, issued yesterday, giving protesters until midnight to voluntary leave Dewey Square.  We did not leave we grew.

    In response, over a thousand people showed up for a festive environment to protect our right to occupy Dewey square and to continue free speech. This included the Second Line Band that played until 2 am, Veterans for Peace were out in force, and street theater rogue bankers were circling the park, shouting to defend the right to private property. We took over Atlantic Avenue and set up tents in the street. It was an amazing night!

    In the next 72 hours, with your help we will fill Dewey Square between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. – If you have a band, a costume, a secret stash of giant puppets – if you can show up at midnight and run a teach-in on ANY subject — if you have been wanting to organize a build party, a workshop, or a flashmob – please come out between now and Sunday!    The daytime hours, from now until Sunday, will be spent cleaning, organizing, discussing, and figuring out how to move forward.

    Join us by scheduling programming between the hours of 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
    We’re looking for people TONIGHT, tomorrow, and Sunday, get on the schedule of events for the next 72 hours. We have GA tonight at 7pm in Dewey. We will generate an updated schedule for tonight by 6 tonight.  Please be in contact with Katie or Kevin:  katie.gradowski@gmail.com, kevin@occupyboston.org, and cc fsu@occupybosotn.org if you are available to occupy any time, any day after 11pm.

     

    Affordable Housing for the 99%!

    December 9th, 2011 · · Events 3 comments

    Last night, thousands of people rallied to Dewey Square to defend the small community that has emerged over the last few months, and the larger idea that it represents.  Throughout the day, occupiers were handed a notice to evict, warning us that we would be subject to criminal trespassing if we remained in the park after 11 p.m.

    The threat of police action in Dewey Square underscores the daily experience of hundreds of thousands of people who face a “lawful forceful response” — not for locking arms and defending a set of tents, but for attempting to stay in their homes in the face of banks who steadfastly refuse negotiate with them.  Here are some sobering statistics:

    •     Each year, 600,000 families with 1.35 million children experience homelessness in the United States, making up about 30% of the homeless population over the course of a year
    •     In any given day, researchers estimate that more than 200,000 children have no place to live
    •     A full time worker earning minimum wage cannot afford a one bedroom unit priced at Fair Market Rent anywhere in the United Stated.
    •     Federal Support for low income housing has fallen by 40% from 1980-2003
    •     15% of all American families and 32% of single parent families lived below the poverty line in 2006

    Today we support Homes for Families to protest the lack of affordable housing for the 99%.  Join us for a demonstration at 100 Cambridge Street in Boston at 1 p.m. sharp to protest the Department of Housing and Community Development’s annual report, and to speak to the crisis of affordable housing in the city of Boston.

    You Are Cordially Invited:

    December 4th, 2011 · · Events 33 comments

    The Occupy Boston Health And Safety Improvement Festival

    At Noon on Monday December 5, 2011 at Dewey Square

    We at Occupy Boston are committed to the health and safety of all occupiers and visitors of our encampment and as such we are hosting a party for this cause! The concerns of Mayor Menino about public health and safety are a top priority for us, and we are dedicated to fulfill the city’s criteria. In accordance with the city’s safety concerns, Occupy Boston is celebrating the arrival of a flame-retardant, winterized tent for the purpose of increasing the health, safety, and comfort of the protesters. We hope to see all concerned or supportive individuals and City Officials join us in a productive conversation to ensure the health and safety of the public. We will provide refreshments and live music!

    We warmly welcome the public and extend special invitations to:

    Mayor Thomas Menino

    The Boston Police Department

    The Boston Fire Department

    The Health Department

    The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy

    And as Always, the Boston Media!

    We hope to see you all partying for health and safety!

    For more information, email media@occupyboston.org

    Contact us

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