Joyce L. Arnold, Liberally Independent, Queer Talk, equality activist, writer.
From Adbusters, where the Occupy Wall Street concept began, and as it appears at OWS, “#RobinHood Global March”: (emphasis mine throughtout post)
ADBUSTERS TACTICAL BRIEFING #15
Alright you redeemers, rebels and radicals out there,
We’re living through a magical moment … #OCCUPYWALLSTREET has catalyzed into an international insurgency for democracy …
Its now time to amp up the edgy theatrics … deviant pranks, subversive performances and playful détournements of all kinds. Open your insurrectionary imagination. …
As the movement matures, lets consider a response to our critics. … Lets work to define our one great demand.
OCTOBER 29 – #ROBINHOOD GLOBAL MARCH
This is a proposal for the general assemblies of the Occupy movement.
Eight years ago, on February 15, 2003, upwards of 15 million people in sixty countries marched together to stop President Bush from invading Iraq … a huge chunk of humanity lived for one day without dead time and glimpsed the power of a united people’s movement. Now we have an opportunity to repeat that performance on an even larger scale. On October 29, on the eve of the G20 Leaders Summit in France, let’s the people of the world rise up and demand that our G20 leaders immediately impose a 1% #ROBINHOOD tax on all financial transactions and currency trades. …Take this idea to your local general assembly and join your comrades in the streets on October 29.
for the wild,
Culture Jammers HQ
One tweet for today which seems to sum up the context of the above: “anonymiss8 RT @KBucketeer: Remember great movements generate great resistance – #ows is a marathon – stay focused – share demands http://t.co/ZbWv7j1k – RT”
From a few Occupied cities:
In Seattle, via Rawstory :
About 40 police officers were needed to arrest a single woman who sat down and opened an umbrella in a Seattle park this morning, according to local media.
Amid the ongoing ‘Occupy Seattle’ protest, city officials decided to ban sitting down with umbrellas in public spaces, ostensibly because they become ‘makeshift structures,’ which are forbidden. …
With her hands bound, at least four officers then carried her out by her arms and legs, with protesters all the while chanting, ‘Show me what oppression looks like? This is what oppression looks like!’ …
In all, at least seven people were arrested in Seattle on Monday morning as police moved in to evict protesters from Westlake Park, according to the Seattle Police Department. Although they’re only allowed to stand, protesters have vowed to keep a constant presence at the site.
Seattle police last week were also seen giving tickets to drivers who honked in support of ‘Occupy’ protesters.
Occupy Portland (Maine), via Corrente:
Regarding donated funds to the Portland occupation:
… those funds were allocated in a direct democratic fashion: Every night at 6 p.m., Occupy Maine holds ‘general assembly,’ when everyone in the movement gathers to decide on any business presented. Decisions are made by consensus — meaning small opposition groups can influence results even while outnumbered.
‘They are trying to create an organic democracy,’ said John Branson, a Portland lawyer serving as counsel for Occupy Maine. ‘Unless they have money to donate to politicians, their voices aren’t being heard at the state legislative level or at the federal level.’
Via Occupy Memphis:
Members of the Occupy Memphis group gathered at the Civic Center Plaza and on street corners in downtown Memphis in support of a worldwide movement, protesting against corporate greed and political corruption, on Saturday, October 15 . . .
If you were looking for something like this to appear in yesterday’s or today’s local paper, then you were out of luck.
Also from Occupy Memphis, via Corrente, where lambert and others regularly provide some thoughtful analysis, and reports from around the nation:
We Will Not Be Co-Opted!
When any movement gains momentum, some in power seek to discredit it and some jump on the bandwagon. Division is the greatest tactic of the naysayers. …
The Democrats HAD their chance to stand with the 99%– in 2006, 2008 and 2010. They took our money, and then they told us, in no uncertain terms, to F*** OFF, as they jumped into bed with their Bankster buddies.
Their services are no longer needed.We Will NOT Be Co-Opted!!!
And lest we forget, this is an international movement. At Corrente, about Occupy London Stock Exchange, lambert quotes the New Internationalist:
‘Around 50 tents and makeshift shelters huddle together under the eaves of St Paul’s Cathedral. The crew running the kitchen, the media tent and sanitation have been on eighteen-hour shifts. The police have tried several strategies designed to destabilize and fracture the protest. The mainstream media have delivered mixed coverage, distorted coverage or no coverage at all and, naturally, the blogosphere has had a steady shower of ‘hose them down’ right wing trolls. Despite all this, the Occupy London Stock Exchange camp (#OccupyLSX) is in its third day and has held its space admirably.’ …
(lambert comments) That seems to be the phrase: ‘Hold the space.’ I’ve been saying, ‘Digging in,’ like trench warfare, but perhaps the other is better.
This is a good way to close – from the OWS Twitter feed: “hankkissinger RT @EricWeinrib: I asked a white-shirt #NYPD Saturday, ‘When are you gonna join us already?’ He leaned in & whispered in my ear, ‘Maybe I already have.’ #ows.”
You never know how Robin Hood will be dressed.
(Photo via Adbusters)
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