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    • Archive: 2011

    Christmas Eve Candlelight Vigil and March in Honor of Brian L. Arredondo, and all Victims of War and their Families

    December 24th, 2011 · · Events, News and Announcements Comments Off on Christmas Eve Candlelight Vigil and March in Honor of Brian L. Arredondo, and all Victims of War and their Families

    Brian L. Arredondo, 24, died by his own hand December 19. He had been distraught for some time about the death of his brother, Alexander S. Arredondo, during the Iraq war.

    Many Boston Occupiers and their supporters came to know the story of Brian’s brother Alex during the Dewey Square occupation as his family created and maintained ‘Camp Alex,’ an anti-war  memorial dedicated to the fallen Marine. Carlos Arredondo, Brian and Alex’s father, was also a Dewey Square Occupier himself.

    An Occupier who visited with Carlos and Melida Arredondo yesterday asked how Occupy Boston could help:

    “Carlos said that the best ways are to make the issues visible. Suicide among military members and families of military are too prevalent. In the last two years, more U.S. service members took their own lives than were killed in combat.”

    The family has extended an invitation to all to join them for the vigil and march, which will begin at 6 pm at the First Church (Unitarian Universalist) in Jamaica Plain, 6 Eliot St, Boston, MA 02130. The march will be to the post office that was renamed in honor of Alex.

    A Brian Arredondo Memorial Fund has been set up to cover memorial expenses at The Cooperative Bank, 40 Belgrade Avenue, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131.

    Occupy Boston Mobilizing “Anti Big Bank, Pro Local Credit Unions March” on Christmas Eve!

    December 23rd, 2011 · · Events One comment

    On Saturday, December 24, 2011 members of Occupy Boston will be holding an “Anti Big Bank, Pro Local Credit Unions March” starting at 1 pm at the Parkman Bandstand in the Boston Commons with march kicking off at 2 pm.

    This march is a continuation of activities surrounding “Bank Transfer Day,” which was on November 5, 2011, and was a great victory for Main Street with approximately 440,000 people transferring money from the “Big Banks” and depositing it into their local credit unions.  But the fight is not over!  Corporate financial institutions continue to be bailed out on Wall Street with taxpayer money and they continue to use our money recklessly.  It is estimated that during this holiday season the nation’s seven largest banks are doling out $156 billion dollars in executive bonuses.  Show big banks that we will not accept these irresponsible actions any longer!

    Credit Unions are non-profit institutions that are owned by each account holder, meaning they are looking out for YOU, not a group of stockholders. They provide a wide range of financial services with no fees, lower interest rates, lower ARP rates. 

    Join us for us for our Christmas Eve march to educate, remind and encourage Bostonians that each one of us has the choice to support our local credit unions instead of continuing to fund the Big Banks and line the pockets of their leaders.  

    We have the power to make a difference.  We are the 99%. 
    *If you take photos of this march or any other Occupy Boston action and want to share them with us, please upload them to our new Flickr Group: Occupy Boston Media Photo Sharing

    Occupy Boston Commits to Mutual Aid

    December 23rd, 2011 · · Passed Resolutions 3 comments

    The following proposal was passed at the General Assembly the evening of December 20, 2011:

     Mutual Aid Working Group Proposal

    The Mutual Aid Working Group proposes that we, as the OB family, set aside 5K from the general fund for members of the OB family who are facing hard times with limited-to-no income. The use of the funds would include but not be limited to the following:

    1- $25 a week for an individual to house each houseless OB family member if the host accepts

    2- T passes

    3- Winter gear not provided by logistics

    4- Emergency housing funds if OB individuals can’t provide accommodations

    5- Undergarments

    6- “Non-essential” bills like cell phones or utilities

    In order to be fair and transparent, an individual must have 2 OB sponsors to verify that they are indeed OB activists and in need. Individuals will be asked to fill out a request form with info from these sponsors (form will be attached).

    The need for Autonomy is key. This proposal will go to those OB members with income, to be fair as even people with jobs and homes face tough choices. Knowing that some will not want to identify themselves openly, confidentiality will be protected. We ask that individuals self-identify and assess their own level of need, i.e., there will be no income checks.

    We propose to identify 3 members from FAWG as the main people to disburse funds at GA who will keep copies of these forms and keep a running tally of funds disbursed.

    We propose that a weekly allotment of $200 go toward the advance purchase of weekly T passes to be distributed at GA to anyone who needs them.

    Some charities have suffered in this economy and this is how to help our brothers and sisters within the Occupy Movement, and where many may not meet the criteria from outside agencies. To augment these funds there will the creation of a We Pay button.

    This is a temporary proposal meant to support occupiers in need until such time as we can acquire permanent housing for our movement and members.

    We will revisit this proposal on a month-to-month basis for possible revision based on how well it is working.

    The Mutual Aid Working Group would also like to advertise the following resource for finding services for the homeless:

    http://www.bphc.org/programs/esc/homelessnessserviceproviders/Pages/Home.aspx

    The OB Media Rundown for 12/23/11

    December 23rd, 2011 · · Daily Media Rundown Comments Off on The OB Media Rundown for 12/23/11

    Brother of fallen Marine for whom ‘Camp Alex’ was named commits suicide

    Brian Luis Arredondo, 24, took his own life in Norwood on Dec. 19, according to a statement from his father Carlos and stepmother Melida. Brian and brother Alexander grew up in JP. Alexander was memorialized this year in the post office renaming, and also in a “Camp Alex” anti-war display that appeared at Occupy Boston and currently in an Occupy JP display at Monument Square’s First Church in Jamaica Plain Unitarian Universalist. Alexander’s name is also memorialized in an honorary street sign at the intersection of South and St. Rose streets.

    According to the family statement, Brian Arrendondo “never was able to recover from his deep sadness over the death of his brother Alex, a condition called complicated grief.”

    http://tinyurl.com/7mz8arc

    Manger Square meets Dewey Square: Occupy protesters mark Christmas

    Around 20 members of Occupy Boston returned to Dewey Square Park for a holiday-themed protest today, the first day the park reopened to the public following the eviction of protesters by police Dec. 10.

    Arriving at noon, protesters and protest chaplains – a group of clergy and lay people who have brought a spiritual framework to the Occupy movement – donned biblical garb and held up signs with messages such as “There is still no room at the inn” and “Peace on Earth, goodwill to the 99%.”

    http://tinyurl.com/85gpumu

    It’s time to occupy, my friends

    At the Occupy Boston encampment at Dewey Square in the city’s financial district, Shane Aspinall, a 25-year-old African-American, says he has been living there because “it’s time black people take back the initiative to reclaim their history and rewrite it together with our present and hopefully better futures.”

    Aspinall, who believes that the historical economic and social discrimination against African-American communities in the US must change, says: “At the moment, this [occupation] is the only alternative we have. The Republicans and the Democrats don’t represent us . . .  [President Barack] Obama will always have that history of being the first black president of the US but you’ve seen his record.

    “I recognise there are structural problems in Washington with political lobby groups and the influence of business and his hands are tied. But, if not him, who? Us, that’s who.” Aspinall says the Occupy Wall Street outreach programmes to Boston’s ghettos are vital to reinvigorate civic interest in social self-help.

    http://tinyurl.com/736xjhk

    Continue reading “The OB Media Rundown for 12/23/11” »

    New Proposals Requirement Passed

    December 22nd, 2011 · · Passed Resolutions Comments Off on New Proposals Requirement Passed

    The following proposal passed during Occupy Boston’s General Assembly of December 26, 2011:

    All proposals must be fully written or typed and presented to the stack monitor before they will be put on the agenda for the night’s GA. The facilitation WG will make available proposal forms, pens, and a wireless printer/copier at every GA. In the case of emergencies, exceptions will be made. Facilitation will, to the best of their ability, help any proposers in overcoming any barriers, language, technological, or otherwise.

    Contact us

    Occupy Boston Media <Media@occupyboston.org> • <Info@occupyboston.org> • @Occupy_Boston