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    Occupy Boston Declares Solidarity With Oakland, Actions Planned

    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

    Occupy Boston’s Financial Accountability Working Group Removes Two Members

    Boston, MA, October 25, 2011—Yesterday afternoon, Occupy Boston’s Financial Accountability Working Group (FAWG) voted unanimously to remove two members, Paul Carnes and Sidney Sherrel, due to their lack of accountability and transparency, as well as their failure to provide information to both the FAWG and Occupy Boston’s General Assembly. Carnes and Sherrel also repeatedly failed to follow established procedures for financial expenditures. This grave decision was reached by consensus following many unsuccessful attempts to communicate with Carnes and Sherrel.

    In addition, FAWG unanimously passed the following resolution:

    Be it resolved that any actions taken by Paul Carnes are not sanctioned by the Finance Accountability Working Group, including any credit union accounts remaining open, monies spent by him, or any fundraising efforts.

    In the interest of transparency, an announcement was made to General Assembly today regarding Carnes’ status within Occupy Boston. Members of other work groups came forward to speak about other incidents where Carnes had expressed disdain for the consensus process and the authority of Occupy Boston’s General Assembly with regards, but not limited to, finances and fundraising. Carnes and Sherrel were in attendance and were both invited to speak on their behalves. Both spoke directly to the General Assembly and answered questions from the crowd. Members of the General Assembly supported FAWG’s resolution. FAWG continues to work in conjunction with lawyers and accountants to put better practices in place  for continued transparency in order in ensure that those entrusted with Occupy Boston’s funds are accountable.

    ###

    Occupy Boston started in Dewey Square in Boston on September 30, 2011. We have been directly inspired by our brothers and sisters at Occupy Wall Street in New York, and we stand in solidarity with them. The spirit of Occupy Wall Street has spread nationwide and has an unofficial hub at Occupy Together. There is also a list of occupations and Facebook pages at Daily Kos. While these different occupations share many goals and attitudes, they each operate independently and there is no national organization that can speak for all Occupations. For more information about Occupy Boston, visit https://www.occupyboston.org.

    [Updated October 26, 2011 for clarity]

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