The minutes for our Saturday, October 15 evening General Assembly (GA) can be found here. The minutes for other GAs are on our wikispaces page, to which post minutes for most of our GAs.
Category: News and Announcements
The entire Occupy Chicago camp and a contingent of Occupy Wall Street protesters who are currently occupying Washington Square Park are both facing imminent eviction by police. Please check out their livestreams here and here and their Twitter feeds here and here. We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Chicago and New York, as they have stood with us. We are the 99%, united.
Governor Deval Patrick stopped by the Dewey Sq. Occupy Boston site this morning for a tour, during which he spoke with occupiers and protesters. He was met with hugs, cheers and handshakes as he wandered the tent city, although his visit wasn’t without what the Boston Globe called “jeers” and shouts.
According to WCVB Channel 5, “The governor said he wasn’t trying to convey a message with the appearance at the Dewey Square protest location on Saturday, just have better understand of what’s happening.”
Occupiers said it seemed like the governor learned a lot and seemed impressed with the camp’s logistical setup. “There are people here representing the hard left, the hard right, and everything in between,” Patrick said.
The Boston Phoenix and the Boston Globe have more pictures of Gov. Patrick, dressed casually and drinking a cup of coffee.
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 14th, 2011*
Contacts: OccupyBostonMedia@gmail.com
Twitter: @occupyBOS_media
Twitter: @occupyBOS_media
On Bad Behavior
Fox News reported today that an Occupy Boston participant inside South Station spit on a member of the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has confirmed that an officer was assaulted in this way near South Station and Dewey Square. Coast Guard has also confirmed that there are no allegations that this assault was committed by an Occupy Boston participant. Occupy Boston unanimously condemns violent actions. We are committed to nonviolence and consider conduct of this sort to be violent.
Some of our participants are former servicemen and women. One thing we all share is a respect for others in the 99%, including members of our armed services, many of whom stand with us in our pursuit of economic justice. This past Tuesday morning, members of the group Veterans for Peace stood between protesters and police prior to the arrests that took place at 1:30am. They stood in support of our right to free speech. They were pulled to the ground, their banners broken, and their bodies bruised. This also is reprehensible behavior—committed by Boston police officers—and deserves widespread discussion and media attention. We stand with the Veterans for Peace and the rest of the 99%, offering our solidarity for all those who have served and continue to serve to keep our country safe.
Fox’s portrayal of the Coast Guard assault was a rush to judgement, at best. Occupy Boston depends upon the fair and diligent reporting of individuals, independent reporters, and professional press organizations to convey important messages regarding our participatory democracy, our march towards government and financial reform, our ongoing nonviolent events, and our culture of inclusion.
Occupy Boston also faces the ongoing threat of authoritarian action, stifling free speech with brutality; this threat and this brutality also deserve regular coverage. For Fox’s message of violence to creep onto the media radar unverified damages Fox’s credibility and the credibility of those who have propagated this message. Few organizations reached out to Occupy Boston in reconciliation of Fox’s poorly researched content regarding Occupy Boston’s commitment to nonviolence, constructive aims, and positive intentions. They opted instead for sensationalism.
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Occupy Boston is the beginning of an ongoing discussion about reforming Wall Street and removing special interests from government. The continuing occupation of Dewey Square (outside South Station) is just one of more than 120 separate Occupy encampments in cities across the nation and a symbol for “Occupiers” everywhere who support real and lasting change. Video: http://youtu.be/ZpttXetMX78.
Victory in New York
Early this morning, the international Occupy movement achieved an
impressive victory as billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg called off
the eviction of the Occupy Wall Street protestors that had been
planned for 7:00 AM. An Occupy Boston solidarity group — dispatched last
night at midnight — arrived just hours before the announcement, which
was greeted with elated cheers and chants of, “All Day, All Week,
Occupy Wall Street”. A spontaneous march immediately followed as
hundreds began pouring down Broadway Avenue with signs and chants
broadcasting their message of economic justice and the end of Wall
Street’s influence on our democracy.
“I can’t remember a happier sight in my life,” said Stephen Squibb, a
member of the Boston solidarity group, “Than that of hundreds of
protestors of all ages and backgrounds swarming through the financial
district as the sun broke over downtown New York on a Friday morning.
It was beautiful.”
Preparations can now continue in earnest for October 15, which
promises to be one of the largest days of international protest in a
generation.
In Solidarity from New York — Occupy Boston
Go here to read about it on Occupy Wall Street’s own web site.