On Saturday, October 22 Noam Chomsky spoke to an absolutely packed Dewey Square about Occupy Boston, the Occupy movement, and the current state of our country. Here’s a video of his remarks:
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Today at 5 am, some 500 officers in full riot gear—drawn from police forces across central California—raided Occupy Oakland, clearing their camps in Frank H. Ogawa Plaza and Snow Park and arresting over 70 protestors. Police used tear gas, flash grenades, and rubber bullets against the nonviolent protestors in a draconian show of force. Initial reports suggest that police also had a sound cannon on-scene. Members of the press were also assaulted by police, tear-gassed, and prevented from entering areas within sight of police activity. Pictures are available here, with video here and a first-hand account of a police assault on a member of the press here.
Occupy Boston is deeply concerned about the actions of the various police departments that participated in the raid, as well as Oakland mayor Jean Quan’s decision to enforce minor city ordinances rather than respecting protestor’s First Amendment rights. We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in California. Stand strong. We are all the 99%, and we are all with you.
Spiritual communities have been active in Occupy Boston since day one, and we have a vibrant Faith and Spirituality Group that maintains a beautiful sacred space tent at our encampment. Here are some of the activities they and others have organized to date:
Local Christian clergy—including Bishop M. Thomas Shaw of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and Rev. Charles Adams of Harvard Divinity School—have offered words of advice and encouragement, ecumenical prayers, and communion services.
Members of Boston’s Jewish community have offered shabbat and Kol Nidre services, sounded the shoffer at our marches, and built a sukkot in Dewey Square.
Members of local Buddhist sanghas have led occupiers in chanting and meditation, and members of Thich Nhat Hahn’s monastic community gave a talk and led a mindfulness march.
The Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard has offered discussion groups and secular meditations for atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, and skeptics.
Local Unitarian-Universalist clergy have held interreligious prayer services, and the Harvard Divinity School Unitarian-Universalist Ministry to Students (HUUMS) have come to Dewey Square offering occupiers warm drinks and a listening ear.
A local Sikh community performed a moving chant concert in Dewey Plaza.
Occupiers and supporters from the Pagan, Muslim, Native American, yoga, New Age, and other traditions have all offered prayers, meditations, ceremonies, and workshops in Dewey Square.
Former Civil Rights Movement and United Farm Workers organizer and current Harvard Kennedy School professor Marshall Ganz will be giving a workshop on movement building and organizing strategies today—Sunday, October 23—from 4 to 6 pm at Occupy Boston in Dewey Square. Professor Ganz is a deep well of organizing knowledge from whom the Occupy movement has much to learn, and we’re excited to have this opportunity to gain from his decades of experience.
Occupy New Hampshire is under imminent threat of eviction and possible arrest tonight. The Manchester Police Department (MPD) has told them that they have until 11 pm tonight to vacate Veterans Park in Manchester or face ticketing. Anyone who does not leave the park after receiving a ticket will be forcibly removed by MPD.
Members of Occupy Boston are en route to Manchester now to support Occupy New Hampshire. You can support them by calling Mayor Ted Gatsas at 603-624-6500; Chief of Parks Peter Capano at 603-624-6565; and Chief of Police David Mara at 603-668-8711 and respectfully asking them not to evict the protestors. (Again, please be respectful!) Finally, keep an eye on Occupy New Hampshire’s livefeed.
Occupy Boston stands in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in New Hampshire in this time of need. We are the 99%, and we will not be silenced.
[Update: Fifteen citations were given out and five people were arrested, all peacefully. All of the arrested occupiers are free now. Camp has been completely cleared and no one is currently occupying the park. Occupy New Hampshire is regrouping with a General Assembly planned for Saturday at noon in Veterans Park.]