On Friday, there was a meeting of around 120 people in East Boston for launching of Ocupemos El Barrio. After spirited discussion and speeches from the immigrant community, the gathering developed a media, outreach, and facilitation working group to take the project forward.

As one organizer said, “I’m moved by the prospect of the Latino and broader immigrant community from various nationalities joining this movement and taking it into their hands as their own. This is a monumental development because of the potential it holds out to expand the Occupy movement.”

Take a look at this favorable coverage by no less than Univision!

What next?  We are looking to get people working on

• Fundraising
• Labor solidarity
• Emergency and direct response in case of a deportation in the community
• Housing advocacy (e.g. eviction blockades)
• Research/statistics (we need to gather information about the state of immigrant community in MA and USA), and the Secure Communities program.

We also need translators because we want to have meetings, media releases, and our blog/website in multiple languages.

Please contact ocupemoselbarrio at gmail {dot} com  if you are interested in getting more involved.

The next meeting is this Friday at 6pm at the Maverick Landing Community Center, 31 Liverpool St, East Boston (near Maverick station on the Blue MBTA Line).

We are working on providing translation, so don’t let language be an occupation barrier!

• Facebook Event for this Friday.
• And community page.
• Email at ocupemoselbarrio at gmail {dot} com for more information
• Twitter: @OccupyBostonESP    and   #ocupemoselbarrio

Adelante!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Bisexual Resource Center of Boston stands in solidarity with Occupy Boston for their tenacity in fighting for recognition concerning a host of inequality issues that affect all Americans.

As a specific demographic that has labored hard for sheer recognition in a society that frequently considers us invisible or illegitimate despite our presence (according to a recent study, bisexuals actually represent more than half of the entire LGBT population) and having fought for our voices to be heard, we are also the 99%.

We are all affected by unjust systems perpetuated by a minority of individuals and corporate interests tainting our democracy, and the BRC stands with the Occupy Boston protestors as they seek to raise awareness of the issues, and create conversation concerning solutions.

The BRC and its supporters represent a diverse range of views, but as an organization committed to doing the same, we all stand for the right to be heard and propose changes in the name of equality and justice.

For over 25 years the BRC has represented bisexual people and built bridges for civil rights within the larger LGBT community and its allies. The term “bisexual” (although there is more than one term in use depending on preference) is an umbrella term for people who recognize and honor their potential for sexual and/or emotional attraction to more than one gender.

For more information about bisexuality and the mission of the BRC, please visit our website: www.biresource.net.

Occupy Worcester reports that police have arrested 18, most of whom will be out on $40 bail. Worcester participants note that more than half of the arrestees are new to activism; the Occupy message continues to resonate broadly. Occupy Boston and the entire 99% stand in solidarity with Worcester.

The Credit Union National Association (CUNA) announced on November 3 that hundreds of thousands of bank customers have switched to credit unions in the last month, far outpacing the normal number of monthly transfers:

Based on the responses of a nationwide survey of 5,000 credit unions, CUNA estimates that at least 650,000 consumers across the nation have joined credit unions since September 29 (the day Bank of America unveiled its now-rescinded $5 monthly debit card fee). Also during that time, CUNA estimates that credit unions have added $4.5 billion in new savings accounts, likely from the new members and existing members shifting their funds.

The survey results also show that more than four in every five credit unions experiencing member growth since September  29 attributed the growth to consumer reaction to new fees imposed by banks, or a combination of consumer reactions to the new bank fees plus the social media-inspired “Bank Transfer Day,” November 5. “Bank Transfer Day” urges consumers to transfer their accounts from banks to credit unions by Saturday, November 5.

The $4.5 billion figure does not include new funds transferred since November 3rd, and it doesn’t include the value of the money that has been transferred to community banks. The total figure could be well over $6 billion.

The same press release also announced that more than 650,000 new credit union accounts have been created since September 29.

Bank Transfer Day was launched by an activist in Los Angeles named Kristen Christian who was upset with Bank of America’s “ridiculous fees and poor customer service.” She started a Facebook page to promote it, and it grew from there. Occupy Boston and other Occupy groups around the country have ceaselessly promoted Bank Transfer Day since the start of the Occupy movement.

You can read the full CUNA press release here.