[E-rundbrief] Info 1059 - Re-occupation public space - M.L.King-Day

Mo Dez 5 11:57:13 CET 2011

E-Rundbrief - Info 1059 - Food Not Bombs (USA): A Proposal for a 
coordinated RE-OCCUPATION OF PUBLIC SPACE in honor of the goals of 
Martin Luther King Jr. January 13-16, 2012 - in cooperation with 
"Occupy Wall Street"-non-violent-campaigns.

Bad Ischl, 5.12.2011

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

================================================

RE-OCCUPY YOUR PUBLIC SPACE ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.S HOLIDAY

A Proposal for a coordinated RE-OCCUPATION OF PUBLIC SPACE in honor of 
the goals of Martin Luther King Jr. January 13-16, 2012

(PLEASE INTRODUCE A VERSION OF THIS PROPOSAL AT YOUR NEXT GA)

"Occupy Wall Street, on the other hand, has chosen a fixed target. And 
you have put no end date on your presence here. This is wise. Only 
when you stay put can you grow roots. This is crucial. It is a fact of 
the information age that too many movements spring up like beautiful 
flowers but quickly die off. It’s because they don’t have roots. And 
they don’t have long term plans for how they are going to sustain 
themselves. So when storms come, they get washed away."

Occupy Wall Street: The Most Important Thing in the World Now by Naomi 
Klein - October 7, 2011

(Naomi Klein's texts see: http://www.naomiklein.org/main )

The occupation movement is the most important movement of our lives. I 
get calls everyday from average middle American asking how they can 
help, calling to say they are so proud of everyone, some even coming 
to tears expressing that we just had to succeed.

The corporate media is seeking to claim that the police have 
successfully swept away or movement but as you know this is just the 
beginning. Reporters claiming that we have "moved" to walking from 
town to town or other valid actions that should be supported but the 
occupations are the action that is applying pressure and providing a 
space for innovation and community.

We have the corporations and their governments really freighted. They 
have a coordinated media and police campaign to shut us down but their 
logic while effective in the short run won't work for long if we 
continue to reclaim public space. Even if this means we must survive a 
wave of evictions at some point there will be another critical event, 
news of a national default or major bank failure, U.S. government 
failing to continue unemployment payments or government shut down. 
News that points to the fact that we are sliding into a great 
depression and harsh austerity policies are necessary to transfer more 
of our resources to the one percent. Our continued presence will 
provide a visible place for those not yet living at the occupations to 
join us as their personal situation changes or revulsion at the bold 
disregard shown by the corporate state is so strong they feel they 
must take action.

As has been the case in past years the media will start to announce 
that holiday sales just weren't as good as first predicted in mid 
January.  The re-writing of Martin Luther King Jr's legacy will be in 
full swing as usual, this year with special effort to ignore the fact 
that he would have been one of the first to sleep at Occupy Wall Street.

If there is a link it will be an attempt by the Democratic Party to 
strengthen the connection between King and Obama with their special 
effort to ignore the impact of Wall Street on the policies adopted or 
not adopted by the president over the past four years. It is time to 
dust off our copies of King's last book "Where Do We Go from Here: 
Chaos or Community?" and remind America that King would most likely be 
attending our General Assemblies and encouraging us to Re- Occupy 
Public Space after each eviction.

What would be a more fitting way to celebrate the legacy of one of 
America's most dedicated nonviolent advocates for the 99% then to 
Re-Occupy Public Space during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday?

The hundreds of Occupations that have not been evicted or have 
returned can remind our communities that news of our demise was 
premature. For the other occupations that have been driven from public 
space we could return with large card board paintings of our tents and 
spend the holiday demonstrating the absurdity of clearing public space 
of our message at a time when half our people are struggling to 
survive according to the U.S. Census. America is not alone as we can 
see. The Euro zone is collapsing as resistance to bank bailouts 
continues. The Chinese and Indian economies are teetering and 
resistance is growing there as well.  People all over the world are 
resisting the austerity measures proposed by the One Percent. Economic 
leaders announce daily that the global economy is on the brink of 
disaster. If we don't shop our way out of this crisis 2012 will be the 
big end we have been promised. Or more likely the new beginning we 
know is necessary.  What is more important? Clean sidewalks and 
undisturbed lawns or the future of our country and the world?

Our work is not finished. We have made it clear that we must take 
money out of politics and replace it with democracy. We are the lobby 
of the 99%  seeking a new economic and political system even as the 
current crisis continues to force our friends and family into poverty.

January's economic news and reality will dramatize the continued need 
for our occupations. Lets continue to talk and introduce some of these 
ideas at the next General Assembly.

A. Organize a campaign of Re-Occupation during the Martin Luther King 
Jr. holiday arriving first with paintings and other "images" of tents 
to challenge the logic of restrictions against tents in addition to 
all other types of culture jamming actions.

B. Continue the global dialog seeking a transition from the current 
failed political and economic system to a post capitalist "real" 
democratic future.

C. Strengthen inter occupation communication of ideas, solutions and 
calls for global days of action.

D. Consider adopting some simple guidelines such as a dedication to 
nonviolence, that the food is free for everyone without restriction, 
that decisions will be make by consensus at the General Assembly and 
that drugs and alcohol are not to be consumed at the occupation.

E. Encourage local officials to end their efforts to drive the 
occupations and tents off of public space with petitions, meetings, 
participation in public hearings and all other nonviolent actions. 
Remind city officials that the UN and other international 
organizations support our right to continue these very important 
occupations.

It is time for Obama Administration and city officials to stop their 
efforts to evict our occupations. Clean pavement and healthy lawns are 
not even close in importance as seeking solutions to the global crisis 
and as we can see our presence occupying public space has been the 
catalyst for this discussion.  We know this from first hand 
experience. Decades of marches, rallies, phone calls, letters, law 
suits and public comment at hearings just didn't push the debate into 
public conscience.  The occupations did and will if we don't let 
ourselves be pushed out of sight and out of mind. And I am sure your 
local Food Not Bombs group will be happy to do what they can to 
support the kitchens so don't worry about needing to eat.  We aren't 
going any where.

Thanks for your consideration.
Keith McHenry

A modest proposal from Food Not Bombs co-founder Keith McHenry after 
speaking with other activists about our transition and the corporate 
media's attempt to clam our movement is history.  Not an official idea 
from a GA but hopefully one that will be discussed at your GA. I have 
been a participant in GA's, kitchens and resident of at least 15 
occupations so far with more to come.

ARTICLES TO SUPPORT THE SPIRIT OF THIS PROPOSAL

Why Tents (Still) Matter for the Occupy Movement by Jen Schradie
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/11/24-1

Occupy Wall Street: The Most Important Thing in the World Now by Naomi 
Klien
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/10/07-0

Top GOP Strategist Admits He’s ‘Scared’ Of Occupy Wall Street Because 
It’s ‘Having An Impact’ by Zaid Jilani
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/12/01-3#.TtfFTyYTztk

U.N. Envoy: U.S. Isn't Protecting Occupy Protesters' Rights
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/02/occupy-wall-street-un-envoy_n_1125860.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref

(Naomi Klein's texts see: http://www.naomiklein.org/main )

PLEASE EMAIL US YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND FORWARD THIS PROPOSAL TO ALL YOU 
FEEL MAY BE INTERESTED. AS YOUR ACTION COMMITTEES TO DRAFT A MARTIN 
LUTHER KING JR. HOLIDAY PROPOSAL LIKE THIS AT YOUR NEXT GA.

http://www.foodnotbombs.net

------------

Movie: "Inside Job"
http://www.sonyclassics.com/insidejob/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inside_Job_%28film%29

-- 

Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
Wolfgangerstr. 26, A-4820 Bad Ischl, Austria,
fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
Impressum in: http://www.begegnungszentrum.at
Spenden-Konto Nr. 0600-970305 (Blz. 20314) Sparkasse Salzkammergut,
Geschäftsstelle Pfandl
IBAN: AT922031400600970305 BIC: SKBIAT21XXX

--

Ausgezeichnet mit dem (österr.) "Journalismus-Preis von unten 2010"

Honoured by the (Austrian) "Journalism-Award from below 2010"