The General Assembly of Occupy Boston consented to the following proposal December 22, 2011:

In preparation for actions during Boston’s annual First Night events, the Info Working Group received approval to spend $1200 from Occupy Boston’s General Fund purchasing 3,000 “We Are the 99%” buttons and a button machine for future needs. This money will also be spent on supplies needed to make the buttons. Combined with the 1,000 buttons already in stock and the 1,000 buttons donated by the American Friends Service Committee, the Info Working Group will be able to put buttons on the jackets, sweaters and backpacks of 5,000 new occupiers!

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

Urgent Appeal to Occupy and All Social Justice Movements:
Mobilize to Defend the Egyptian Revolution
December 19, 2011

In recent days, protesters demanding civilian rule in Egypt have again been murdered, maimed and tortured by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and the Interior Security Forces (ISF).

The conspiracy, being brutally implemented in Egypt, is part of a global conspiracy to suffocate mass movements for socio-economic justice and is being done with direct assistance of the American government and the private interests which direct that government. We have word from friends in Egypt that SCAF, ISF and their hired thugs — armed by ongoing shipments of $1.3 billion in weapons from the U.S. government — plan to execute one by one all the leaders of the revolution, and as many activists as they can.

Accordingly, we need to ensure that people and organizers in the US and internationally are involved in closely monitoring the events unraveling in Egypt. By keeping track of the atrocities committed by SCAF and ISF, keeping track of those detained, tortured or targeted, and continuously contacting officials in Egypt and the US to demand accountability, cessation of the atrocities and justice, we can add pressure on SCAF, ISF and the forces they represent. In this way we may be able to play a role in helping save the lives of our Egyptian brothers and sisters.

Evidence of the conspiracy to execute the leaders and participants of Egyptian freedom movement, includes in very small part the following:

• Sheikh Emad of Al Azhar was killed by a bullet entering his right side from short range. This was seen at first hand by witnesses known to members of our coalition. Sheikh Emad was one of a small number of Azhar Imams issuing decrees in support of the revolution. His murder was no accident.
• Sally Tooma, Mona Seif, Ahdaf Soueif, and Sanaa Seif, all female friends and relatives of imprisoned blogger and activist Alaa abd El Fattah, and all known internationally for their political and/or literary work, were detained, and beaten in the Cabinet building.
• A woman protesting against General Tantawi, head of SCAF, was detained and then tortured by having the letter “T” in English carved into her scalp with knives.
• Detainees are being tortured while in courtroom holding pens. Two men (Mohammad Muhiy Hussein is one of them) were killed in those pens.These are only a small number of the horror stories we are hearing. And we continue to receive reports from Cairo about a massive army presence in Tahrir Square and the constant sound of gunshots.These are only a small number of the horror stories we are hearing. And we continue to receive reports from Cairo about a massive army presence in Tahrir Square and the constant sound of gunshots.

In every way, Egypt’s fight is our fight. Just like us, Egyptians are the 99%, fighting for social, political and economic justice.

The same 1% that arms the Egyptian dictatorship commits systematic violence in this country against the Occupy movement; antiwar and solidarity activists; and Arabs, Muslims, and other communities of color.

As the US Palestinian Community Network recently observed, “the same US-made tear gas rains down on us in the streets of Oakland, Cairo and Bil`in.”

Because of Egypt’s key strategic location, the fate of its revolution echoes across the world. Its success will bring us all closer to achieving economic and social justice. But its defeat would be a major blow to social justice movements everywhere, including Occupy.

In short, Egypt is key to the continued success of the Arab Revolution, and movements she has inspired.

For all these reasons, we ask Occupy and all U.S. social justice activists to join us in mobilizing to defend our Egyptian brothers and sisters by immediately organizing mass convergences on Egyptian embassies, missions, consulates, and at U.S. government offices, to demand:

• Cancel all US aid and shipment of military and police materiel to Egypt!
• Stop the murders, tortures and detentions!
• Release all detainees and political prisoners!
• Immediate end to military rule in Egypt!

Continue reading “OB Supports Groups Asking for Mobilization in Support of Egyptian Protesters” »

Occupy Boston met for a General Assembly on December 15, 2011, from 7pm to 11pm, at Emmanuel Church on Newbury Street in Boston.

The General Assembly is the governing body of Occupy Boston. It makes decisions using consensus.

About 140 people participated in this General Assembly. The Assembly consented to the following proposals:

Proposal to create Monday community gatherings

From the Facilitators Working Group:

The Facilitators Working Group (FWG) proposes to host weekly community gatherings beginning on Monday Dec 19, at St Paul’s Cathedral Church, 6:8-30 PM. The intention is to build and strengthen the OB community. Since the community cuppa is currently scheduled 5-7 on Mondays, the first half hour of these meetings can be a continuation of the community cuppa at this location, or if Working Groups choose to meet for half an hour they can do that. This time can function both as social time and as working time. Every Working Group and individual can produce and sponsor a community gathering, and it can take many forms: a workshop, a facilitated discussion, social time, a film screening–the options are many. No WG or individual except FWG may host more than 1 meeting in any two month period. FWG will maintain a public community gahtering calendar to publicize these events. Facilitators from FWG are available to facilitate for other WGs, if needed. FWG reserves right to change location in future. $100 will be budgeted for snacks and $50 for St Paul’s, to compensate the church for the use of the space. The sponsoring group will provide the snacks (Facilitators will not be responsible for the snacks budget). We strongly recommend that half the food should be vegan and that we avoid food vendors listed on our boycott list.

[This proposal was consented to in fifty minutes.]

Proposal for group hugs

From the Logistics Working Group:

The Logistics Working Group resolves that part of its job is to care for our community. It proposes that before and after GAs, we shall have a giant group hug for anyone who wants to participate.

[This proposal was consented to in three minutes and thirty seconds.]

Proposal for labor as compensation for storage space

The Logistics Working Group proposes to enter into a temporary emergency agreement with a member of Occupy Boston and her family to use their apartment to store nearly all of our significant supplies from Dewey, from now until the end of January, 2012. This consists of everything from the food tent and the food tent to our stores of hats and mittens. When Occupy Boston learned of the impending eviction, this Occupier offered the space to the Logistics Working Group to meet an immediate need for space. Logistics stored three truckloads full of supplies at the apartment, and it would be impractical to move the supplies. The apartment owners have agreed to distribute keys to key members of the Logistics working group, including Katy, Jen, Jennie, Rene, Eric, and others. Logistics proposes to compensate the apartment owners for use of the space. Logistics proposes a one-time budget of $100, beyond the usual allotments to Logistics ($100 stipend and $300 laundry allowance per week) to pay for materials to be used for improvements and repairs of the apartment and to pay for utilities such as heat and water. The improvements will include adding a washer and dryer, stripping the kitchen, repainting, electrical repairs, and piano tuning. Logistics will coordinate the improvements and repairs, and will organize and publicize a work day in which Logistics and other community members of Occupy Boston will work together to conduct repairs and improvements, compensating the apartment owners with labor from within Occupy Boston.

Proposal to join with City Life/Vida Urbana in “Homes for the Holidays”

From the Outreach Working Group:

City Life/Vida Urbana has invited Occupy Boston to join in its Homes for the Holidays campaign, a series of actions supporting families occupying foreclosed homes. Occupy Boston consented to the following statement:

In a post-encampment phase of the Occupy Boston movement it is essential that we strengthen our commitment to community organizations of and for the 99% in our pursuit of equity, justice, and collective liberation. Collective liberation requires that we not only recognize the transformational work of organizations like City Life Vida Urbana but also learn from, stand in solidarity with and actively participate in their struggle. Today Occupy Boston and City Life Vida Urbana make a strengthened commitment to provide mutual aid to one another, and increase collaboration in the fight against the unjust and inhumane foreclosures on homes of the 99%. You can evict idealists but their ideals will always have a home–especially for the holidays.

[This proposal was consented to in two minutes and fifteen seconds.]

Transcript and Twitter

A live, unedited transcript was taken during the General Assembly: read it here.

Participants livetweeted the General Assembly: find a Storify of their tweets here.

The next General Assembly of Occupy Boston will take place on Saturday, December 17.

The General Assembly of Occupy Boston passed the following resolution on December 3, 2011:

Occupy Boston supports the Millenium Daycare workers, and all workers like them, who are among the most disenfranchised of the 99%.

In March 2011, the Millenium Daycare Center in Chinatown closed when the owner filed for bankruptcy. The day it closed, twenty workers showed up for their shift to find the door locked and a note telling them not to come back. Last year, workers were paid once a month, but each time their paychecks bounced and they were left to pay bank penalties. They have still not been compensated for bounced checks and overtime fees. Now the owner has filed bankruptcy to absolve herself of all responsibility.

Wage theft affects the least visible and most vulnerable among us. The experience of the Millenium daycare workers reflects a common problem experienced by immigrant workers, many of whom work at-will or are otherwise unprotected by existing bankruptcy legislation. Immigrant workers in Chinatown, the Boston area, and the country have a long history of organizing for justice. After almost half a year of waiting for their pay, these workers are now planning to take public action with help from the Chinese Progressive Association, which has worked tirelessly to advocate for their right to fair compensation.

We join these workers and their allies in solidarity to speak out against wage theft as a symptom of a broken political and economic system.

This Financial Accountability Working Group proposal was consented to by Occupy Boston’s General Assembly, on 12/4/11.

Whereas, Occupy Boston has, at last count, 57 working groups listed on its website, and . . .

Whereas, the GA has previously authorized the Financial Accountability Working Group to disburse up to $100 per week to working groups, and . . .

Whereas, it is important to have a transparent process for establishing minimum standards for working group activity and membership for the purpose of receiving Occupy Boston funding,

The Financial Accountability Working Group Proposed the following process for authorizing working groups to receive Occupy Boston funds:

The process for obtaining authorization consists of three steps:

1. The working group completes an Occupy Boston Working Group Funding Authorization Form, which includes, at a minimum:
1. Name of the Working Group
2. Mission and Goals of the working group and what the working group expects to accomplish
3. Working group email address
4. Names, email addresses and phone #s of 3 working group liaisons to FAWG who will be responsible for signing off on individual funding requests*
5. Weekly meeting schedule of the working group
6. Proposed or typical expenses of the working group
2. FAWG reviews form for completeness and accuracy, and requests additional information or clarifications from the working group, if necessary.
3. FAWG reaches a decision about authorizing funding for the working group, and let’s the working group know and publishes the information on the FAWG wiki.

If a working group is denied authorization for funding from FAWG, it may ask FAWG to reconsider its decision.  If upon reconsideration, FAWG again determines that the working group does not meet the minimum requirements, as stated above, the working group may bring its proposal for funding authorization directly to General Assembly.

Once a Working Group has been authorized for funding, actual requests for funding should follow the Cash Disbursement Policy and Procedure.

Members of FAWG will sign up for all Working Group email lists to be able to monitor Working Group development and activities.

FAWG suggests that each Working Groups that is authorized for funding send a liaison to at least one FAWG meeting per month.

* WG liaisons to FAWG are simply the messengers and the WG assigned purchasing agents. Decisions on any monies to be spent are made at the WG level.