November 2nd: A Day of Action at Occupy Boston
Higher Education for the 99% March at 12:30 PM
*Gather outside the Federal Reserve Bank, (600 Atlantic Ave. Boston 02210)*
By 2012, student debt will hit a trillion dollars. That’s about 70% of the
total federal deficit. It is already more than total credit card debt.
Meanwhile, universities are acting more and more like corporations, handing
out big salaries and bonuses to administrators while workers on campus
struggle to make a living wage.
Students and workers unite to demand: an end to student debt, good jobs for
all, and education as a human right! Let’s kick corporate greed out of our
universities!
Action of Solidarity with Occupy Oakland at 5:00 PM
*Gather at Occupy Boston Camp in Dewey Sq. (near South Station)*
Join the 99% as we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters from
Oakland, who had their Occupy camp violently raided on October 25th. The
Occupy movement has announced a national day of action on November 2nd in
solidarity with Occupy Oakland. Together, as students, labor, the
unemployed and all members of the 99%, we will take to the street and send
a message that our movement will not be silenced!
Statement of Solidarity:
In the early morning of October 11, the Boston Police Department assaulted our right to freedom of speech and assembly when they arrested and detained 141 peaceful protesters. They tackled elderly veterans and subjected many of us to a 13-hour detention in cold jail cells without food. Hours after the raid, Mayor Menino trashed all of the tents, sleeping bags, laptops, and other personal property with which we had previously assembled.
Exactly two weeks later, Occupy Oakland was attacked by hundreds of riot police. The same week many other Occupy encampments across several US cities witness the same level of repression and destruction of their camp. Under the supervision of Mayor Jean Quan and knowledge of President Obama, who was present in San Francisco, their occupation site and personal property were completely destroyed by the police. Among the wreckage, were medical facilities, supplies, community kitchen that fed hundreds, and the new homes of scores of occupiers, many whom were previously homeless. One protestor, Iraq war veteran Scott Olson, member of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and Veterans for Peace, was hospitalized after sustaining injuries from the police attack. The police used rubber bullets, tear gas, flash grenades, and sound cannons in an attempt to smash the Occupy Oakland movement with overwhelming force.
The Oakland General Assembly has called for a general strike on Wednesday, November 2nd. We support that call and stand with Oakland in saying:
+ We stand in full solidarity with Occupy Oakland, Occupy Chicago, Occupy Denver, Occupy Wall St. and any other Occupy movement in the US. and across the world!
+ We condemn the police raids in Boston, Oakland, Nashville, Austin, New York City and other similar attacks that have targeted the Occupy movement across the country!.
+ We stand in full solidarity with Iraq War veteran Scott Olsen, who suffered the most brutal manifestation of the police crackdown on the Occupy Oakland encampment!
+ We support the call to ask Mayor Jean Quan to resign!
+ We support judges and any other city officials who have refused, and will continue to refuse carrying out any acts of violence and repression against the Occupy movement in the interest of the 1%
+We urge all members of the 99% to take action on November 2nd to send a message that we will not be silenced, despite the attempt by mayors and police departments in Boston, Oakland, and across the country to repress and stifle our movement.
In Solidarity,
Occupy Boston
30 Responses to “Occupy Boston Declares Solidarity With Oakland, Actions Planned”
For those who must honor commitments, as I must being in the middle of a trial, joining a visibility on November 2, 2011 at noon may be the highest possible way to honor the call on November 2, 2011. Where will we who wish to be seen, and join, between noon and 1:00 PM be able to join a visibility?
Have the positions expressed in this article gone through the General Assembly process? I would offer many objections and friendly amendments.
Why is there silence on the issue of a possible strong arm takeover of the Oakland camp as evidenced by the use of violent intimidation against reporters? http://www.pixiq.com/article/occupy-activists-need-to-brush-up-on-first-amendment-law
Where is the demand for college loan amnesty coming from? What about those who are just as poor or poorer but did not go to college and take out loans? What about those of us who refused to register for the draft and can therefore never get a college loan or hold any government job? Why are the calls for wealth redistribution targeted in the way they are?
Why are we issuing fresh moral condemnations of the Boston Police for use of excessive force that one night a couple weeks ago when our own present internal camp policing system would likely create the same excesses and abuses when face with a large eviction task?
Have these positions gone through the General Assembly process?
I was at the General Assembly where this proposal was discussed. Yes, the statement went through the GA process, was modified several times, and was passed by the GA.
I support the statement and the actions it calls for. I would personally say in response to some of your questions: As I think the statement tries to make clear, occupations in many cities right now are being threatened with eviction. The Boston mayor’s office has said something to the effect of “we are monitoring the situation on a day-by-day basis” when asked if and when Occupy Boston will be evicted. If Menino decides to evict us, the BPD will be the ones doing the evicting. We should make it clear we intend to continue our peaceable assembly and express our Constitutional right to free speech, and we are within our rights to do that. The point of the action Wednesday, as I understand it, is to defend our encampment, and defend our right to free speech–and to recognize that right is under threat in multiple places.
As for the student loan demand, I believe that comes from the students who met previously and voted on doing that march at 12:30 with that demand. Their working group presented at the GA that night as well.
This is more proof that this movement is being run by a bunch of kids who are intoxicated with their own illusion of power and entitlement. Everyone’s entitled to everything and the only economic plan I hear from Occupy is “We’ll get the money from the 1%!” Yeah, and you’ll also get a pint of plasma from the ghost of Jerry Garcia…
Questions never broached: What is the student’s responsibility for having agreed to take out and pay back a loan to begin with?
Where’s the responsibility for not going to a state school like UMASS ($11.5K per year) and then transferring later?
What responsibility has anyone taken for their own actions?
My objections don’t mean that I’m in favor of the way things are. My objection to this whining is that it’s unrealistic, unproductive, and self-righteous to the core.
You’re in love with your own pain. What happened to the Boston 141 was unfortunate but predictable (they should never have thrown all of your possessions away). Remember… the Boston police checked the spread of the camp, they didn’t chuck you guys out of Dewey Square and it was never part of the plan. Dewey Square was never threatened. Why not thank the Mayor for keeping his word rather than present yourselves like a bunch of ingrates.
And before you tag me as a troll, a ring winger, etc… I go down to Occupy almost every day and support the main points regarding corporations and their influence over politics. And I support standing in solidarity with other Occupies and especially standing in solidarity with Scott Olsen…
I too support the same main points RE: corporations and their influence in politics…but I do not see much from OccupyBoston in terms of calls to action on this topic – I posted some suggestions for online petition creation here, but no response: https://www.occupyboston.org/2011/10/28/emergency-general-assembly/#comments
I also mentioned that the Calendar for Marches is becoming confusing…
…it was announced that on Oct 29 from 1 – 3 there will be a march to demand financial reform and …fair economy…
“March for New England Solidarity
WHEN: Sat, October 29, 1pm – 3pm
Description: along with the organizations, communities, and cities who have joined with us in our struggle for economic justice. Members of Occupy New Hampshire, Occupy Worcester, and others will join unions, students, and working families from across New England to demand financial reform and a fair and just economy for all.”
…then what was announced is a march in solidarity with Oakland on Oct 29th – I thought that OWS called for a walkout on November 2nd.
“On Saturday, Occupy Boston will take to the streets in solidarity with occupations across the nation to show support for Occupy Oakland. ……”
Very confusing, and unfortunately it feels like the movement in Boston is very unfocused…
Your questions and objections are of course valid as are everyone elses. I agree sort of but for a different reason. I think the problem is systemic and the solutions being prescribed are way too low level at this stage. Too many things are way too wrong further up the line and must be addressed first before anything can make proper sense. It will not be a wish list of grants and rebates that fixes this problem.
It may be useful to learn something from corporate America – there are always short term goals and long term goals. The “too many things are way too wrong further up” requires a long term fix unless let’s say an Independent runs for office in 2012 who embraces all that OWS stands for (the 99%) — then voila we have a new party to represent the voice of the 99% and a short term fix. Other than that…long term process to change the entire system…
So – for now, how about some short term goals? Various petitions signed by the people are already making a difference and the media is reporting things like these now exposing the greedy bankers:
Banks Extract Fees On Unemployment Benefits
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/01/bank-fees-unemployment-benefits_n_1033700.html#
So – I say, pick one thing to support OccupyBoston and go for it !
Where is the point of this ‘end to student debt, good jobs for all’ stuff, and what does it have to do with getting corporate money and influence out of Congress and the White House?
I always thought the message was, ‘The top 1% of Americans own or control more wealth than the bottom 99% because of undue influence on politics by greedy corporations.’
You now want a college education and a good job guaranteed to you? What if you’re too stupid for college? What if you’re too inept to hold a good job? Are you entitled anyway?
The more you dilute your original message with 1960’s sounding crap like this, the sooner you’ll find yourselves irrelevant.
Paul, I share your worries but personal debt seems connected to the general issues. Also, availability of education for the 99% is also connected.
No one said anything about guarantees. The biggest issue here is really that people are trying to get educated (yes, at state schools) and they then face penury as a result. This problem does not affect the upper middle class kids, as their parents can bail them out. It affects the kids who are working class, take out loans for tuition, can’t find jobs and then can’t pay back their loans or face lifelong indebtedness paying pack loans at minimum wage jobs.
Clearly, it is a huge problem. But if you think it isn’t related to corporate control, I think you should look again because the reason these students are bankrupting themselves is because one has to go to college for a decent paying job (real work is so badly paid, manufacturing has gone elsewhere)–that’s about corporations being paid to send jobs overseas. The taxes have been cut so tuition at state schools is much higher than even middle class families can usually afford. Education was privatized and so some students got sucked into for-profit universities and can’t use those degrees. Banks gave out loans to families for a profit but people lost their jobs and houses and now there are parents on the hook for thousands they can’t pay back.
There is a lot to this issue. It’s not just about some entitled students. These kids are really struggling to find some hope for their futures. No one has a perfect answer. They just want jobs and decent lives. It’s not asking too much. There is a huge split now between those who go to private elite schools and those who are trying to use whatever chance for upward mobility in terms of their life chances. It didn’t used to be this bad.
Leaving aside those young ones who feel entitled, I completely agree with the core issue that the cost of a college education even at state schools has been going up and up and up while the parents salaries have stayed stagnant. I also agree that we use the term ‘corporations’ but really mean reform of large institutions including universities. I agree that things need to change across the board and that college education should not be such a big luxury if we are to stay competitive as a country.
What I am looking for from OB (and do see this from OWS by the way) — at this point some focus is really needed. Look at your 1 month Birthday announcement – no buzz, no excitement. Some of us have been voicing the need for focus on the corporate greed issue but really have not seen much action around this. IF the organizers do not have the knowledge or experience to mobilize folks on the CORE ISSUES – then they should ask for help…
That’s all fine and true, but folks seem to be starting to use the ‘6 degrees of seperation’ method to tie every ill in the world to ‘The 1%’.
You can’t pick a different issue every day and expect people to keep track of them. People’s attention spans aren’t that long.
Stick with the 1% / 99% seperation of wealth issue and corporate control of congress and hammer it every day.
All these side issues just get batted aside and mocked by the Limbaughs, Cantors and their ilk. Don’t give them ammunition.
You already did a march in Support of Oakland last week. Now another one?!?!?
And despite the one incident with the Boston Police when Occupy Boston tried to take over another park parcel when they were specifically told not to and then was charged with trespassing, BPD has shown a lot of restaint and even provide security for your camp and your constant, traffic disrupting marches – ALL AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE. And you continue to bad mouth them. You do realize when the police do shut you down – they are under orders to do so, right? It’s almost like you are looking for a confrontation and undeserved sympathy. And what is up with the marchers dressed in black and hooded?
I do not see any badmouthing of the police here. To the extent the police are helpful, I’ve heard appreciation for that. To the extent they beat people up, yes, there is criticism but I don’t hear anyone generalizing or hating the police.
Suggestion…collaborate with other Occupy sites to learn what they are doing –
Example:
http://wiki.occupyeverywhere.org/index.php/Inter-Occupation_Communication_Field_Report
“So, it seems that the success of the LA camp has a lot to do with reaching out to the city council early with a clear message that our occupation will remain peaceful, but that we are not leaving until there is justice for those who caused the financial crisis. The LA site also attends city hall meetings and participates in politics in order to get politicians to stop doing business as usual. This has been very effective and has contributed to a relaxed atmosphere on camp. Our civic engagement committee helps our occupiers know the rules of city hall so that we can be effective at sustaining camp. “
Not talking about this comment thread. Read the article associated with this thread. Doesn’t sound like any shout out to BPD at all – just reliving once incident almost a month ago that was tame compared to other cities. I haven’t read one published article on this website giving the police any kudos.
Whether Occupy Wall Street wins or loses, we Americans will still suffer quite a bit!
http://www.squidoo.com/occupy-wall-street-lose-lose
On Facebook – Worcester Event Nov 10th (it looks like Occupy Worcester is organizing the type of event that speaks to some of the core issues)
https://www.facebook.com/OccupyBoston#!/photo.php?fbid=194767823935176&set=a.180723062006319.44192.178047252273900&type=1&theater
Posted:
“Occupy Worcester’s creative protest event: Marry a Corporation Day! “Protest the idea of corporate personhood by marrying corporations…wedding appropriate attire requested.” Occupy Worcester has also announced via its Facebook page that Mayor Joe O’Brien has offered the use of city counsel chambers for indoor general assemblies and other Occupy events this winter. Kudos Mayor Joe!”
IN THE NEWS TODAY (Nov 1, 2011)
“Bank of America Will Not Implement Debit Usage Fee”
http://mediaroom.bankofamerica.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=234503&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1624356&highlight=
CALL TO ACTIONS WORK and it is NOT too early for OccupyBoston to take the lead of OWS and express some meaningful calls to action.
Examples:
1) The banks…
I wonder how much the above has to do with the CALL TO ACTION for people to move their money out of the big banks by Nov 5th…
See below where 24,448 signed a pledge to close their accounts (As of Nov 1st):
http://www.rebuildthedream.com/move-your-money/
2) student loans…
AND – for the student cause related to educational debt a petition was started, signed and the was passed at the White House:
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/response/taking-action-reduce-burden-student-loan-debt
“Obama Administration to Lower Student Loan Payments for Millions of Borrowers” (Oct 25th, 2011)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/10/25/we-cant-wait-obama-administration-lower-student-loan-payments-millions-b
So – OB, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and implement some CALL TO ACTION CAMPAIGNS ! please…
I’ve been reading these posts and have show up at the camp a few times over the last month being that I work downtown in an office. I agreed with the initial point of Occupy Boston as I saw it, “Corporate Greed”. But it seems that OB is now almost constantly focusing its energies on bashing the BPD, who despite what you think, are union workers.
I watched yesterday’s march while I was on my lunch and the anti-cop rants sounded idiotic and did not seem to get much sympathy from the people I was sitting with the on the Commons. Especially since it looked like most the marchers probably weren’t living in Dewey, but looked like collage students who most likely come from the upper classes and a good portion of who’s parents probably probably aren’t the 99%.
What happened in Oakland was bad, but that isn’t Boston. From what I’ve seen in Dewey and on the local news, OB has been treated / tolerated pretty well by Menino and the BPD.
The demands of all occupiers are too diffuse to affect any real action or change. We should all focus on the resignation of Timothy Geithner, who is representative of the incestuous relationship between government and Wall Street.
There is a petition which I request the organizers to post on the HOME page as a CALL TO ACTION. This one is the ONE you must post please.
Can you please post this CALL TO ACTION to the home page. Thank you.
CALL TO ACTION
Sign the Petition – http://pol.moveon.org/badagdeal/?id=32549-20016589-58u4hXx&t=2
Full petition text:
“The banks have to be held accountable for destroying the American Dream for so many families. No immunity for the banks before a full investigation is done.
In America right now, small crimes get punished, but big crimes–committed against the whole country by the 1%–get free passes and bailouts.
Federal and state negotiators—including top members of the Obama administration—are days away from striking a bad deal that would let the banks off the hook for illegally foreclosing on millions of homeowners.”
The only way to stop it is to convince the president that millions of Americans want to see a full, fair investigation before anyone gets immunity. Add your name and we’ll deliver it to the White House.
A compiled petition with your individual comment will be presented to President Obama.”
Agree that police bashing sounds stupid and when the police are in fact blocking traffic and keeping a march safe chanting about police brutality just sounds juvenile.
For me, the “tipping point” was the Citizen’s United decision, combined with 400 people owning as much as 156,000,000 – and the real issue regarding student loan debt is that it is cumulatively as large as 705 of the nations debt while university presidents are being paid up in the million zone – Universities can be called non profit but they are 4-profit – think about Harvard’s 26 billion endowment.
Amending the US constitution to overturn the Citizens United decision (which, like the Dred Scott decision in 1850 made bad law to further a ruling elite’s agenda) is critical, at least to me. And the nationwide occupy movement could actuall DO this – but the loud voice of the “people’s mic” made Bank of America back down, and is modifying the coercive quality of outsize student loans. What if the trillion dollar student loan debt turns out to be a bubble, based on reckless lending and fraudulent promises and it goes BOOM??
This post is already too long, sorry, though I have a lot more to say.
Sure let’s just make all your student debt disappear, hey maybe we can also just let people have their homes and cars as well. Free stuff for everyone. F****** Flea-baggers you all are in the occupy movement.
BTownAce, there may be some lazy bums in the Occupy movement, but only a small percentage on the fringe feel ‘entitled’…so you stating “you ALL are” well that’s just an insult to millions of Americans that work their butts off. Your comment just proves ignorance.
Have you peacelovers seem the carnage taking place in Oakland? More than a few videos of your fellow protesters assaulting citizens and police.
Details of particular movements aside…
ARE WE STILL asking why the Occupation movements are growing???
Answer:
“The greatest contribution the occupy movement has made thus far has been to inspire us to imagine solutions at the scale of our problems…..imagine working together to solve our shared problems”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-berger/what-if-the-occupy-moveme_b_1072174.html
“The explosive growth of the Occupy movement can be attributed to a widely shared sense that America’s political and economic systems are essentially bankrupt. Morally and economically, we cannot pay the debts we owe. We can’t afford our homes or our educations or our health care, but we can insure malefactors of great wealth against self-inflicted loses. The social contract that bound us together has fallen apart as a result of the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the few.
I joined the occupation because I want to have a serious conversation about how to fix our broken system. In the months leading up to the occupation, Congress revealed it was a dysfunctional shell of a legislative body that was incapable of passing laws — and yet no one spoke of systemic political reform. The economy did not provide work for tens of millions of the unemployed and underemployed, overburdened is with debt and made no place for the young — and yet there was no real hope for relief.
Nor was this the first time my generation saw our system fail the test of history: our response to September 11th was belligerent, our response to climate change was negligible, our response to the financial collapse was corrupt and insufficient. As a result of these failures, and countless others, we lost our ability to imagine working together to solve our shared problems.”
FYI – you is on Yelp now:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/occupy-boston-boston-2#hrid:gTjbokx76ivR2z4NajHfmQ
It seems Occupy Oakland is full of thugs who use violent intimidation to prevent people from recording what is going on: http://www.pixiq.com/article/occupy-activists-need-to-brush-up-on-first-amendment-law
.
I have said all along that these violent thugs are probably working with the police. I just did a youtube search for Occupy Oakland and right there in the 2nd result is the proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrvMzqopHH0
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There is something really wrong with these calls for solidarity with Occupy Oakland and the unions and the silence about all the abuses.
I understand students being upset with the banks that process the student loans and collect the money..why aren’t the students protesting the colleges that charge these rediculous fees..when you go to Harvard you are paying for a label and for the majority of the students from Harvard protesting…guess what? Their parents are paying for their school..so lets not be fooled by their participation in this event because they will be some of the 1% or atleast they are trying to be the 1% that people that is the result of this protest. Banks are a huge part of the problem but lets not be foolish to think that some of these colleges with all of their donations could lower the costs on tuition. The government should consider a line of credit similiar to a bank to allow colleges to provide loans with a one percent interest rate. The other issue is around college presidents in general who make anywhere from three hundred thousand to one million dollars a year..this whole idea that college is necessary to be able to get a job is basically a money making scheme in of itself. How many friends that you know are lucky if they can write and spell correctly however 99% of them will still get their degrees and out they go into the real. Lets do away with colleges in general or make them free. All colleges should be considered to be run as equals which will help level the playing field. Why should some snotty bratt from Harvard who has done nothin for 4-6 years get the best shot at a job when a community college student busts his ass for the same amount of time and is put at a disadvantage?