On November 16th Occupy Boston appealed to the courts to protect our right to maintain our tent city. During the first hearing on the 16th Occupy Boston won a temporary injunction banning the city police from evicting the camp. “Given what is happening nationally, with municipalities shutting the protests down, it seemed important to seek the intervention of a court before the same thing happened in Boston,” said Howard Cooper, a lawyer representing the protesters, as quoted by Boston.com.
However, despite a court run mediation session, where 3 people from Occupy Boston and the city officials met to discuss possible solutions, there is now a final hearing planned for Thursday, December 1st at Suffolk County Superior Court, 3 Pemberton Square #13, Boston. This final meeting will determine whether or not the Occupy Boston presence in Dewey Square is in fact protected under the first amendment, and spells the final legal decision passed down by the state courts, and could result in the court required removal of our protest here in Boston.
Dewey Square is on state owned land overseen by the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. We see it as Free Speech Issue, closing down the encampment at Dewey Square means closing down free speech on public land. We hope that all of those getting this invitation will come down to Suffolk County Superior Courthouse in support of Occupy Boston. We are asking for our supporters be at the courthouse at 8:30 AM for a 9:00 hearing. If you are planning to be outside, feel free to have polite signs and please remember to dress warmly. Signs are not allowed in the courthouse, and we ask you to refrain from bringing them inside.
What to do: Join us Thursday, Dec 1st at Suffolk County Superior Court, 3 Pemberton Square #13, Boston at 8:30 AM (hearing starts at 9:00 AM)
Bring your Occupy Boston Buttons and T-shirts to show your support!
We Also Need You to Call this Wednesday to Protect the Right to Free Speech and Peaceful Assembly at Dewey Square
How you can help – Please make two phone calls:
WHEN: WEDNESDAY, November 30th A DAY OF ACTION, 9AM-5PM
CALL MAYOR MENINO’S OFFICE: 617.635.4500 or email mayor@cityofboston.gov or http://www.cityofboston.gov/mayor/24/
CALL YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS: (Dewey Square is on state owned land) To find your legislator’s phone and/or email addresses go to http://www.malegislature.gov/people/findmylegislator
WHO: All of us and everyone who has visited, donated food, taught a Free School University, taken a yoga class, Facebook friends, Twitter followers or gone to the General Assembly CALL on WEDNESDAY
Use Your Own Words Or This Call Script To The Mayor and Legislators
Hello, My name is_______________. I am from ______________. I am a taxpayer and a voter and I’m calling in support of Occupy Boston’s right to remain in Dewey Square.
Please protect Occupy Boston’s First Amendment right to free speech and peaceful assembly on public land and do not to evict them.
Please be respectful when making these calls, and understand that you may be asked to give out your address and other identifying information.
Thank you for your help,
Occupy Boston
Photo by Gunner
9 Responses to “Join Occupy Boston in Protecting Free Speech and Peaceful Assembly at Dewey Square”
on November 30th, 2011 at 5:30 am #
[…] the original: Join Occupy Boston in Protecting Free Speech and Peaceful Assembly at Dewey Square This entry was posted in Boston and tagged #occupy, chardon-street, court, courthouse, […]
I can’t wait until we have reached The Final Solution for Occupy Boston.
I can’t wait until they (the occupiers) will have reached The Final Solution for Washington politics and the too big to fail Corporations. That’s if they are interested in taking some actions and not just occupying which remains to be seen.
http://october2011.org/blogs/davidswanson/occupation-evicted-occupy-place-responsible-dc
Let us get this straight; you call camping out in public parks, creating a nuiscance, committing crimes costing the tax payers millions your first ammendment right? When others are speaking to an audience in a legal manner you show up and disrupt with your brainwashed chanting mic check thing you take away their 1st ammendment rights. I am hoping the courts do a big mic check on you criminals and then the police lock you up with force. You have proven over and over that you are domestic enemies and you should be treated that way.
Protests causing a nuisance???? Well I never!
keep up the awesome work everyone!!
Keep up the good fight guys! I plan on bring my kids down to Dewey Square this weekend to give them the opportunity to see the constitutional right to free speech being exercised firsthand.
Protesting and creating a movement for change is never easy or convenient, especially when our existing democracy has been subverted.
Occupy has not been “commanding” participants to support specific legislation, but Occupiers have been doing this collectively of their own free will by writing, calling, e-mailing, and going to the offies of their representatives. Occupy Boston has made clear its goals, what the media nitpicks over is the means of acheiving that, and Occupy’s not professing one particular means, as Occupiers are using many.
Also, it’s unfortunate if the Occupiers have discouraged your regular use of Dewey Square, but fear not. Everyone is welcome at Dewey Square, except maybe Fetch and his lackeys.
Offices*