Today, December 7th, 2011, Boston Judge Frances A. McIntyre ruled against Occupy Boston, effectively lifting the injunction which prevented the police from evicting us from Dewey Square. Download the full ruling.
Occupy Boston has not issued an official response, but anyone who can be at camp, please make the effort. We need all of your support. We have lost our safety net and encourage everybody to be present at Dewey as much as possible in the days ahead.
Update: Mayor Menino has threatened “further action” if we do not leave Dewey Square by midnight. If you stand with the Occupy movement, please make your way to Dewey Square TONIGHT! We need you!
88 Responses to “Judge Denies Occupy Boston’s Injunction, Mayor Issues Midnight Deadline to Leave Dewey Sq.”
It is time to end the physical occupation and continue the movement in other ways. The problems associated with the occupation have alienated many potential supporters. Peacefully packing up, cleaning up Dewey Square, and leaving would gain respect and support. If you want to make a stand, go ahead. But if you want to make a difference, find other ways to keep the movement going.
Any estimates on what it will cost to restore Dewey square to the state it was in prior to encampment?
I know many and various Occupy Boston supporters have offered to aid in restoring the park once the occupation ends. While I hope the City of Boston will accept these offers, I cynically fully expect as in other OWS for the eviction to lead to the police ruining equipment and scattering it everywhere, and subsequently for the City to attempt to blame it on us, and push bad press on how much it will cost when it could’ve been taken care of free by us.
ATTN: accountability on December 7th works for Patton Boggs LLP.
Andy, your advice is good. There are so many people like me who, like any movement, have some common ground. A peaceful exit WITH clean-up would send a powerful message to those of us who like some things but others – not so much.
was only a bunch of empty tents left anyways, we can take money out of education or heating assitance to pay for your clean up. Your little 2 month tantrum hurt real hard working people. grow up and get a job.
Basically everything you just said was wrong. Those tents were not empty. Occupy Boston HAS a fund to restore and reseed the Greenway, the issues raised by Occupy did not hurt but actually helped working people by exposing corporate greed, the influence of lobbyists and corporations on congress and our government, increasing tax breaks and loopholes for corporations and the super-rich, NOT for working people, and the impact that spending trillions of dollars on wars has on the rest of our economy.
Finally, read this: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/29928487/detail.html
The Occupiers are not just young and unemployed.
How much is in that fund?
Currently, $2,800.
Although money from the general fund could be used as well.
oh boy.
I don’t know what you mean by “oh boy”.
what do you estimate the cost of ‘rebuilding’ that lot will be?
far greater than $2800 is my point. That’s all
This is what happens when you refuse the help of Occupy Harvard. Our legal studies on the matter predicted it.
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Though our campus is in Cambridge, we do have considerable sway in Boston. I believe the old saying goes: “Ask and ye shall receive.” Well, you didn’t ask. In fact, you ignored our repeated attempted to bond our two occupations.
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And look what you have to show for it: Eviction. I’m proud to say that Occupy Harvard has not been, and will not be, evicted.
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We are now the core of the Occupy Wall Street movement. We welcome the support of all former occupants of Dewey Square, though our capacity to house you is limited.
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Occupy Harvard. Occupy Wall Street. This is the movement.
Yikes–who’s the scribe here? Really Occupy Harvard or some poseur?
what a snot.
I’m glad noone’s feedin tha trollzzzz
bye bye you freeloading losers
We’re paying for the cleanup, smartass.
Occu…bye Boston.
Patton Boggs rules Earth.
on December 7th, 2011 at 6:01 pm #
[…] A statement on Occupy Boston’s website said there would be an emergency general assembly at 7pm to “discuss what we plan to do going forward”. […]
Agreed – leaving on your own instead on waiting on a confrontation with police (when they receive the orders to evict) would really help your cause. Maybe one permitted long walk with your stuff (i.e. trail of tears). Then plan for the next steps and stay on target and leave the distracting, non-economic issues out of it – or you continue to alienate the other 99%. Good luck.
Leaving the encampment may be sad but it did an excellent job drawing attention and gaining massive awareness to the corruption in our country. The founding fathers started their meetings in pubs. We can follow suit and hold general assemblies and workshop meetings in our homes. We could also try to get churches to jump on board and donate time for general assemblies. I for one would like to see something like an occupedia website where you can find updates from all occupy locations. Peace, love and revolution!!
I think would be a smart idea, to leave before confronting the police.
We can move on.
Stand stay and fight. we have been saying rise resist and revolt. WE have faught so hard and we will be proving the nay sayers right. This occupy encampyment stand for more than just being there. And by letting the govrnment bully us around is bs. if we stay and get raided atleast we will go down with a fight not just blow away…. we must stay strong and fight( peacefully) by staying in peace. all this hard work just to walk away with out heads down…..
Heh. Hard work.
I understand the impulse, but this isn’t about the angle of your head – it’s about building a consensus and being effective.
your massacre of the English language is epic. Continue to faught.
Your massacre of the imagination is even more epic!
The tent city has become a distraction. I used to support Occupy until I realized it was more about the protest itself than anything to help the poor. What have you accomplished in two months? I know more about where you can and cannot put a tent and nothing has actually been done to help the poor. The tea party had rallies and then went home and look where they are. You need to leave peacefully and think about next steps. Fighting over tents only further directs your attention away from the main cause — income equality.
What occupy movement has accomplished in 2 months: helped stop keystone pipeline & BofA 5$ debit fee. Shut down Oakland port, helped people renegotiate unfair mortgage settlements, switch from big banks to credit unions, exposed violent police tactics. Occupy has already cost big business millions of dollars. In only 2 months!!!
What occupy movement has accomplished in 2 months: helped stop keystone pipeline & BofA 5$ debit fee. Shut down Oakland port, helped people renegotiate unfair mortgage settlements, switch from big banks to credposed violent police tactics. Occupy has already cost big business millions of dollars. In only 2 months!!!
You’ve been breaking the law since Day One so get the #$#%^ out of there. I am sickened that Worthless Menino has been impotent in this case. You are trash and should have been arrested months ago.
GET THE HELL OUT. I doubt you’ll publish this comment, you vermin, but it’s my constitutionally protected opinion and yeah, you suck.
Where is your Russell Simmons now?
Occupy movement is a movement for the public, why can’t it use public space for its cause? Who has the right to say what a movement for the public can or cannot do?
If there is a raid, I hope the Boston Police do NOT toss Gandhi into a dumpster.
Perhaps he can remain behind in Dewey Square and keep an unblinking eye on Bank of America and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston just like those banks’ unblinking eyes monitor him.
Call and email the Mayor’s office asking that even though the restraining order was lifted, that the city does not raid the camp.
617-635-4500
mayor@cityofboston.gov
I have faith that the GA with put into place an emergency plan so that if the time comes to leave Dewey Square, Occupy Boston can safely move to alternative locations and continue with the important work.
Patience is a virtue.
When OCCUPYING the MORAL HIGH ground, no need to worry.
The present system is corrupt to the gills and would like nothing better than to be provoked at this juncture, and, show their muscle – as always – domestically or foreign.
Time to be COOL, REFLECT, LET the DUST SETTLE, continue ORGANIZING, and MOVE FORWARD, RELENTLESSY, over time.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: WE (99%) are MORALLY RIGHT. The 1% [including its bought and paid for puppy cohorts] are MORALLY WRONG, and they know it.
Guilt, rarely ever, is ADMITTED.
Only strong people do that.
So, ONWARD! OCCUPYING and MAINTAINING the VERY MORAL HIGH GROUND that the 99% POSSESS, FOREVER !!!
I agree. This was always civil disobedience. I was not a fan of the court case. The decision to enter into the court case was not made by Occupy Boston in a democratic way, to begin with, and I don’t think it was ever well-advised.
We are breaking a law, and laws exist generally for good reasons to codify standard of moral behavior for enforcement purposes, but are sometimes used for repression for amoral purposes. It was at one time illegal for a slave to escape his/her place of enslavement. It was at one time illegal for women to vote. It was at one time illegal for an American citizen of color to sit at some lunch counters or to sit at the front of a bus. All of these things required civil disobedience, with huge backlash, to change the conditions of the day. We are doing something similar. Camping is symbolic action as well as a real action that represents and is actually composed of the poorest of the poor in our society, those without adequate resources, who do not have their voice projected loudly into the halls of government or corporate power. Those who have no recourse but to put their very bodies on the line.
on December 7th, 2011 at 8:38 pm #
[…] A statement on Occupy Boston’s website said there would be an emergency general assembly at 7pm to “discuss what we plan to do going forward”. […]
Those who make peaceful protest impossible make violent revolution inevitable.
I fear the days ahead. Even the United Nations has realized this country is no longer free.
Extricating yourselves peaceably is a move that serves several purposes. It shows that you have scruples, follow the law, and have every intention of continuing the movement…..just in a different way (at the voting booth in 2012).
If Occupy Boston wants to garner greater support of those who understand the mission and goals, but who want to see them carried out in a well-organized/less “Woodstock-like” fashion, then beating the city of Boston to the punch and moving off Dewey Square on your own terms is a “win” for Occupy Boston as far as I am concerned. If you are forced off by law enforcement it makes Occupy Boston look like they can’t make a difference and incite “REAL SOCIETAL CHANGE”
Establish Occupy Boston in a central location (make your headquarters in the financial district, work on fundraising in order to make systemic change, start Occupy Boston programs to help the homeless, the unemployed, etc. Make a real difference to those who would value your time, energy, effort, and motivation.
Leaving Dewey Square is not a loss….it gives you the ability to carry the movement forward.
Good Luck.
on December 7th, 2011 at 9:06 pm #
[…] A statement on Occupy Boston’s website said there would be an emergency general assembly at 7pm to “discuss what we plan to do going forward”. […]
Hot Off Las Vegas Odds Board…Eviction within 24 hours pk’m -110…Eviction within 12 hours 2-1…anyone in the camp currently UNEMPLOYED …employed within 6 months 2200-1…Anyone with an IQ over 3 digits remaining past 12 midnight tonight assuming no eviction 18-1…odds that rodents currently living with the protesters of Dewey Square following them home 8-1…assuming the rodents follow the protesters to their real homes odds that rodents stay less than 6 hours at their “new digs” 1-5 odds on. Follow the odds board for important new propositions coming in …get in on the Occupy Action…
I have been a huge supporter of the movement but at this point I, too, think it’s time to move on beyond camping issues.
When the movement first started I envisioned hundreds and thousands of tents in the middle of our city. That would have been great but it didn’t happen. Reality check points to a number of unsolvable problems with staying in Dewey Sq – we all know what they are. Occupy Dewey Sq. movement lost its momentum and turned into a useless fight with the city officials who, I must say, acted smarter and with more respect then the rest of the country.
So what would the next step be? I think it’s pretty obvious: this is still an Occupy movement so we should occupy! We should occupy the sidewalks next to the crooks homes, immigration jails, the FED, BoA, etc. I think one of the most effective action would be to show up at BoA CEO’s home with signs proclaiming our outrage. Specific actions against specific people and organization. Make the government account for its action. We do have each other, we have the support base, now we need ACTION.
Last thing I want to say is: it would have been great to have a physical space where people can congregate, exchange ideas, attend classes and share meals. But the movement will suffer and probably cease to exist if the main point of the movement is to stay in Dewey Sq.
I’m not a fan of demonstrating against individuals (except for elected representatives), but otherwise I agree with this. Also, ending the occupation of Dewey Square doesn’t mean that people can’t meet there periodically. For example, there could be weekly General Assemblies.
Would you care to explain why you are not a fan of demonstrating against individuals? Wouldn’t Wall Street execs who pocketed millions of bonus money consider returning it if their houses were picketed? Would that not serve as a deterrent to the next guy?
Lol!!!!
Consider returning it.
L
O
L
Best comment!
I’m not a fan of demonstrating against private individuals for the same reason basic reason that I’m not a fan of lynch mobs. It’s not that these people aren’t arrogant, selfish, greedy jerks who have caused enormous damage, but we should focus on the system that made their behavior possible. Elected officials are different: they are supposed to work for us and we have the right to express our dissatisfaction to them directly.
agreed 100%
Be careful – that sounds mature. Probably won’t fly with your fellow occupados.
Great, thank you for explaining. I have to say I completely disagree and here is the reason: “focusing on the system” will only get some of the things done, things that can be regulated. AND establishing new rules will take a long time, they will most likely be full of omissions and loopholes – but yes, you can do it.
However, what I am talking about is a fundamental shift in society’s perceptions. Being an “arrogant, selfish, greedy jerk” will not be cool anymore because everybody would know about it. The movement could provide a fact sheet, like the ones which had been posted here on the site. The movement can expose facts of corruption / greed to the general public which would start a debate. Our society can be transparent and vox populi can finally start sounding stronger then vox nummi.
“this is still an Occupy movement so we should occupy! We should occupy the sidewalks next to the crooks homes, immigration jails, the FED, BoA, etc. I think one of the most effective action would be to show up at BoA CEO’s home with signs proclaiming our outrage. Specific actions against specific people and organization. Make the government account for its action. We do have each other, we have the support base, now we need ACTION.”
You’re idea is closer to what should be our next move. Specific actions to confront specific people and organization. Like an set of cards with the face, home addresses and phones of the CEOs of Hfund that got bonuses out the housing collapse.
Where there families lives. They should feel that we know whom their are. They must see that we are getting closer…
Bahahahhahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahahgahahahahahahahahahahhahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahhaha
have fun back in your parents basement!!!!!!
The messages that the Occupy Movement supposedly presented on day one held validity….how the “collective occupants” could get a lifelong Democrat like myself…from a family of Democrats…a college educated liberal…to write such a crass “odds board” shows how your group turned off the populace which could have moved you to the next level.
It is no joke how your group alieniated yourselves from those who would have supported you.
The longer you stayed…the more you turned off the “99%.”
It was inevitable that the physical occupations would end. Even if they were not forcibly evicted, they would have eventually become “normal” and dropped off of the news cycle. It is time for organizing to move to another high-profile sphere. There are already many organizations around the country — churches, MoveOn, MoveToAmend, progressive non-profits, etc. — who have adopted the 99% agenda and are running with it.
I partly agree that it is time to move to a broader PR campaign combined with spot actions. For example, MoveToAmend is organizing January 20 as “Occupy the Courts” day in protest of the Americans United decision.
GL: “it would have been great to have a physical space where people can congregate, exchange ideas, attend classes and share meals.”
Are you aware of places such as schools, churches and restaurants?
on December 7th, 2011 at 11:11 pm #
[…] https://www.occupyboston.org/2011/12/07/breaking-restraining-order-lifted/http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2011/oct/18/occupy-protests-map-world Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This entry was posted in politics.Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment […]
on December 7th, 2011 at 11:14 pm #
[…] Occupy Boston commented on the decision and posted on their website: […]
The validity of the Occupy Movement’s orginal message(s) was ruined by basing it on the illegal-agrivating to the “98.999%”- “Occupation” in the first place. Day One was novelty and shock. Day Seven was still interesting. Day Fourteen was boring. Day 30 was OLD. Day’s 30+ increasingly was “who cared or remembered” what the “message” was in the first place as the “face” of the movement looked increasingly stupid.
IF…big IF…Occupy Boston truly wishes to exercise “Free Speech” why not “pass a bullhorn 24 hours a day and expound upon a given topic on the sidewalk? This would be an arguable First Amendment Right. Your “Occupation” and fixation with the same…eventually ends the movement. My bet…your “valid” gripes…will get drowned out having been affixed to the soon to be obvious filth of your encampment. Too bad there never was a true leader…this could have gone someplace other than the dumpster. Sign Me …”Lost Me Early On”
I read the decision. The judge wrote among other things that the non-violent resistance (linking arms)to the violence of police demonstrated the lack of nonviolence. A profound misunderstanding of nonviolent resistance to illegitimate authority. If the police shoot down nonviolent protestors as they do every day in Syria, this judge I suppose would rule that the demonstrators were not non-violent.
The judge also said that demonstrating in Dewey square was protected speech ( but not the occupation.)An invitation for continued actions.
The judge also said that it was legal to set up tents on the channel islands.
What’s essential is for Occupy Boston to maintain nonviolent discipline in face of removal and to view that as the beginning of the next phase of creative nonviolent resistance.
Cut the crap already. Your 1969 logic and chanting is ridiculous. Go get jobs you friggin BUMS! Stop blaming the government for all your problems.
Cut the crap already. Your 1969 logic and chanting is ridiculous. Go get jobs you BUMS! Stop blaming the government for all your problems.
Let’s be clear: We are breaking the law. This is civil disobedience. We are breaking a law to show that we care immensely about the issues that we are raising. We should never have gone to court. We should have admitted that we are breaking laws, and for good reason. To protest the way that our economy has been gutted by a huge bailout to banks who got paid for ruining our economy, and against an undemocratic political landscape in which some people sleep on cardboard while others sleep in five homes.
These acts of civil disobedience, which started in New York City and spread across the country, were a terrific way to give voice to the frustrations and anger of a lot of Americans. Most folks wouldn’t think of banding together to take over a part of a city and saying, “We’re not leaving until something is done about our broken democracy.” The Occupy movements did it, and it worked!
Now the camps are being dismantled. Unfortunately, by losing their physical presence, the movements have lost a lot of voice also. OWS is simply not making the news it was during the ‘Zucotti Park era’. But this doesn’t have to be so.
New York led the way in showing how to get the initial attention. Can Occupy Boston lead the way in showing how to carry this thing into the next phase? Somebody posted a great suggestion here the other day – Can OB rent a vacant storefront for a few months so that there will still be a central location for people who want to contribute to go? Another visible, physical presence that the media and everyone else can see.
No, it wouldn’t be an illegal occupation, but that point’s been made already. There’s no reason such a place couldn’t be a beehive of activity – innovating new ways to keep the message going forward, organizing demonstrations and media blitzes, a place to hold GA’s in bad weather and keep the electronics in the dry, etc, etc.
An orderly de-campment and the beginning of ‘phase two’, initiated by OB itself instead of giving the BPD any excuse for a pepper-spray party, would be a unique event in the Occupy movements. It would garner a lot of respect, show serious intent, and shut the mouths of a lot of detractors.
Paul, thank you for the praise of the original intent and effect of the Occupy form of protest. I agree with your assessment and I will be campaigning strongly today for an orderly and voluntary decampment, as a temporary “retreat” for regrouping to plan the next phase. I am not sure others will be convinced, and I may be convinced otherwise by talking with people, but that is the way of democracy in its true spirit.
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I do think that civil disobedience is necessary to gain the required notice and to irritate the powers that be enough so that the message is heard. The powers that be carry on unjustly every day, and need to be irritated as much as possible, while the message must remain as high-minded as it actually is in essence, for at the foundation it is about justice, fairness, and democracy. We need to act with dignity and good judgement to earn that respect, as well as with great creativity to earn the smiles, laughter, and fascination that cause people to stare and ask what those people are saying and why they are risking something for the right to say it.
Call the WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMBULANCE!
What’s kind of forgotten in much of this is that the venue is irrelevant to the movement. A centralized location is wonderful to have but clearly can’t be guaranteed at this point; unless it’s on private property I suppose. In any case, I’m not sure it’s totally necessary. Clearly the message has reverberated throughout the city and in turn the country. Nothing can stop that message from continuing to be heard and likewise nothing will stop peaceful protest from occurring on public property. It can continue to happen daily at the very same venue.
It would be a great show of faith to dismantle the semi-permanent encampment from this particular patch, even if that just means moving elsewhere. Why not have the occupation take on a more nomadic quality? Could the authorities guard every parcel of public land in the city? It would perhaps be more indicative and symbolic of how the country’s citizens are being displaced. It was never the camping portion of it that was significant. It was the fact that people could actually come together and cooperate for a cause greater than themselves. I think it’s that essence that must never be lost.
-Scott
So your civil disobedience is generated by camping in a park. Rosa Parks sat at the front of the bus because blacks were supposed to sit in the back.
By using your logic all that could come of your civil disobedience is being allowed to camp in parks.
The methods of this movement are falling apart. You inconvenience the people you are speaking for. You trash south station, a commuter hub, do you think the 1% are taking the T to work? You block traffic. My girlfriend lives in the north end and numerous times you have blocked the roads I use to get to see her. Adding to my babysitting bill.
I think it’s time to go about these protests the way every other group in Boston does things, legally. Public support for you movement is falling and the longer you hold out the more of a drain you become. People are footing the bill for your police details. People that work hard for their money. People that work two jobs to make ends meet. These are the people you represent but alienate more and more.
It’s time to seriously rethink the occupation, which as a word is violent and oppressive. You have blocked a farmers market for two months, hard working farmers not the 1%.
Your actions are speaking and the 99% of America is listening and they are getting a little tired of the violence that has followed every camp across the country. By continuing these antics you will become obsolete.
All that came of our sleeping in a park is a change in the frame of the dialogue on democracy and fairness. Politicians were forced to speak to the issues more directly, people learned a lot, and were awoken further to the deep injustice and unfairness of the system as it currently is. That’s all.
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And you’re right, we did inconvenience the 99% greatly. We deprived them of 1/2 acre of grass that about 50 people used to eat lunch. Instead, they had to walk 200 feet further to find a nice patch of grass to sit on.
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Seriously, though, I take your point on the marches, and I personally wish that we would have stayed off the roads more, except when the size of the march was so large that it was clearly a huge presence where we could take a lane.
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“Occupy” is a rather fierce word, you are right. I like that quality of it. It also echoes the fact that all space is currently occupied by the dominant system, very aggressively, you must admit.
Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino gives Occupy protesters midnight deadline, threatens ‘further action’
You also deprived some of us of money. Due to your road sit-ins and your marches that delayed traffic, I lost over $200 to cover late charges for picking up my child from daycare on multiple occasions.
Your actions directly affected me – I have spent the past two months juggling bills because YOUR ACTIONS caused my finances to be blown apart.
But of course, Occupy Boston is so short-sighted that they only inconvenience the lunch time crowd.
Embedded within our Constitutional Right to free speech is the the “understanding” that that right includes a platform from which to speak in such a way that all of the People affected can attend and participate. If the City of Boston denies this obvious “truth” then the Court/City is playing dangerous games and will eventually suffer the consequences. The People will not be denied their right to free speech or an affordabe platform from which to exercise it. If the City does not provide a suitable alternative to Dewey square then they are engaged in doublespeak.
Camping out overnight is an integral part of the expression and demonstration of the hardship that has been wrought upon the People by unscrupulous and unconscionable and UNCONSTITUTIONAL legal and business practices.
Side Note: Mayor Menino has been quoted as aaying the Occupancy should focus on one issue. I propose we focus on the parking ticket policies of Cambridge and Boston which allow markup of the cost of tickets by 700% ….that’s not a misprint…SEVEN HUNDRED PERCENT!!! Let’s focus on that. Once we break through the tyranny that supports policies like this we can bring others forward. Few people are aware that Mayor Menino has “floated” the idea of witholding college diplomas for non-payment of parking tickets!!! What’s next? No marriage licenses? No burial? No children? Tyrants acknowledge no boundaries of common decency until confronted. Even formerly good people can become tyrants when their power is not “checked” by the People. The Occupancy seeks to “check” this growing usurpation of our basic freedoms and rights by tyranny here and now. It is our “duty” as free Americans.
I love Boston and recognize that Mayor Menino has done much to help and grow this beautiful city. Boston is now one of the greatest examples of the good use of public resources in the world. Thanks to Tip O’Neil and Ted Kennedy who were able to pry the 14 billion needed for the renovation from the greedy hands of the Military Industrial Complex. We, the People of Boston, as represented by the Occupancy of Dewey Square, are now exercising our rights and duty to continue this long march toward true Democracy from the platform built for us by two of the greatest Democrats ever to call Massachusetts home. If they were here they would be standing among us…the PEOPLE…do not tread on us…
We beseech the City, the Courts and our brothers and sisters among the 99% to join us now in this peaceful demonstration and to keep the long view…these issues and this struggle will not go away.
To the City of Boston we say: “Occupy Your Souls” and then you will see that we represent what is highest and best in our beautiful Demoncracy and it is we who are making the sacrifices to demonstrate what is at stake…
Sage
I give the fact that the movement has sparked conversation. Sadly now all that is sparked is media attention in a negative light. Sorry but the good that occupy has brought about does not grab headlines. Just like how when I was in Iraq the schools we built roads improved and otherwise good news was not reported.
I feel that with the what mayor has just said about asking you to leave tonight the best course of action and would profoundly stun most of the world would be to pack up and leave peacefully. Tomorrow morning return and begin a clean up process returning the area to its original state.
Not only would it shock most it would speak of the honest nature of the movement and bring some welcome positive attention. Then go about the process of getting permits and stage weekly events around Boston.
That is a great suggestion. ‘Profoundly stun’ would be right. The media already wants to make it look like Occupy is all about confronting cops. Prove them wrong.
Bye dirtbags
I agreed with those arguing for an orderly shutdown of the camp. I’ve been at Dewey about 10 times since the occupation began, and have brought three ethics classes with me from UMass Boston- mostly working class students. Many students still make regular visits and a few have even camped. But I’ve noticed some slippage in support of OB among my students recently, and most of it has to do with the media barrage against the camp for being dirty, unsafe, etc. True or false, the mass media has done some damage. Occupy might leave Dewey, but it’s not disappearing. It has already spawned a GA on my campus. I love the camp and will sorely miss it. It gave me the feeling of a new society growing in the belly of the old. But sometimes it’s necessary to make a strategic retreat in the interest of future advance. I think that time has come.
I just saw reference to the mayor’s ultimatum. What an ass. I have to take back my previous comments now. It’s one thing to withdraw voluntarily, and another to cut and run under threat. I don’t see any alternative if the report is true than to go down fighting. I’ll be joining you at Dewey.
on December 8th, 2011 at 11:58 am #
[…] a ruling by Judge Frances McIntyre, Boston Mayor Menino gave Occupy Boston a deadline of Midnight tonight, […]
Warm up the bus!! Warm up the bus!!
Your pile of stinky tent’s will be no more after tonight! Occupy a Jail cell!
I would like to second what others have said supporting an orderly decampment. I think the physical occupation of public space has been and remains a brilliant and highly effective tactic, and I support its continued use. However, a peaceful decampment (for now) would also make a statement in keeping with Occupy Boston’s peaceful nature.
And, after all, the weather is about to become a serious concern for a few months — a Boston winter can be quite severe in some years. It would take (and has already taken) a lot of effort and energy just to remain outdoors for the winter, energy that might be more productively used in other actions.
Join Harvard!!!!
oh boy
I heard someone say that if an appeal was made in a federal court the restraining order would be back in effect until the 15th.
Is this true?
Is someone in the process of doing this?
Tonight leave it vacant. Tomorrow reoccupy.
I felt that getting involved in the web of Boston politics was a dangerous route to take. The police will now be following a SPECIFIC court ruling. I’m conflicted about this, but you know the BPD has been preparing for tonight. Let’s not give them what they want.
How are people supposed to pay a mortgage when they lose their job because of the callous 1%’s actions?