Occupy Wall Street Sign of the Day (Maybe my favorite sign of all time)
Monday, November 14, 2011
There is No Alternative - Taxing the Rich Edition
Sunday, November 13, 2011
#InternationalBowieDay
In honor of the fact that it's International Bowie Day (and because I happen to be interviewing Sarah Jaffe tomorrow, who blogs at OhYouPrettyThings.net and tweets at @seasonothebitch), here is David Bowie, Oh! You Pretty Things:
The Matrix, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and #OWS
Without getting into an interpretation of the Matrix - which actually I'm kind of dwelling on - I have some initial thoughts.
Hippie Crap Saves the World
Here's the note from my Mom:
I don’t save many articles—maybe 2 a decade, or something. Anyway, what Matt Taibbi wrote about changing his mind on OWS became one of those. And that reminded me of one I saved almost a decade ago—Hippie Crap Saves the World. It was written in 2003, but it’s really, really, really applicable to today. I’d have posted it up, but I don’t know how to make two pages of it, and it’s long.
Anyway, here it is. Please, PLEASE, consider posting it. It’s fucking brilliant.
Article over the fold...
I don’t save many articles—maybe 2 a decade, or something. Anyway, what Matt Taibbi wrote about changing his mind on OWS became one of those. And that reminded me of one I saved almost a decade ago—Hippie Crap Saves the World. It was written in 2003, but it’s really, really, really applicable to today. I’d have posted it up, but I don’t know how to make two pages of it, and it’s long.
Anyway, here it is. Please, PLEASE, consider posting it. It’s fucking brilliant.
Article over the fold...
Occupied Media: Interview With Dean Baker
We discuss Dr. Baker's diagnosis and prescriptions for the economy. Unlike most of the econ folks I've spoken with, Dr. Baker expressed specific concern with our trade imbalances and argues making the dollar more competitive is important for recovery from our short-term economic crisis. Additionally, Dr. Baker has some really interesting ideas for tackling the housing crisis, including giving foreclosed upon homeowners the right to rent their former home for a significant period of time - an interesting solution that would give homeowners in default much-needed leverage in their negotiations with lenders.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Too Cool for Jazz Hands
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Best "We the People" Petition EVER
So, the White House developed a project called "We the People" where citizens can create a petition and then, if they get 5K signatures the White House would ... well, they really wouldn't do much of anything. In response to this bullshit project, a clever fellow citizen has created the best petition ever:
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Keynes and the Holy Trilogy* (Repost)
The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.
~ John Maynard Keynes
You must unlearn what you have learned.
~ Yoda
[W]e’re living in a Dark Age of macroeconomics.
~ Paul Krugman
[T]he Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire.
~ Obi-Wan Kenobe
* All unidentified or unlinked quotes herein are from Paul Krugman, "How Did Economists Get It So Wrong?" Additionally, even when not directly quoted, significant portions of the following essay are paraphrased from Professor Krugman's article.
Occupied Media: Interview With NEDAP's Josh Zinner
Occupied Media's next installment in its #OWS interview and teach-in series is with attorney and co-director of NEDAP, Josh Zinner. Josh witnessed the effects of the endemic mortgage fraud as it ripped through New York's communities; he does an amazing job describing the mechanics of the scam and how we got where we are today. We also discuss whether there should be criminal prosecutions - a resounding yes from Josh on that issue (the people, like Josh, who watched this fraud as it was happening are particularly adamant that the crooks who crashed the world economy and devastated communities should not escape criminal prosecution). Josh also shared his thoughts on the financial-sector reforms that are necessary to keep us from repeating this nightmare. Finally, we pull back from the housing and financial sector issues to discuss, in general terms, what needs to be done to fix our wrecked economy.
I'm Back! - Live Blogging #OWS - 11/9/11
November 9, 2011
Occupy Wall Street Sign of the Day (I thought it fit with yesterday's elections - I really am hopeful that Wisconsin and OWS are turning the political tides)
Occupy Wall Street Sign of the Day (I thought it fit with yesterday's elections - I really am hopeful that Wisconsin and OWS are turning the political tides)
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
11/7/11 - No Minimal blogging today
Hey everyone, I need to take a break from the blog to get something else done. Should be back tomorrow. In the meantime, check out my most recent essay.
And here's the new Chris Hedges.
Update: Here's an Occupy Wall Street Sign of the Day (and I might get to a few updates through the day, but it will be LIGHT).
And here's the new Chris Hedges.
Update: Here's an Occupy Wall Street Sign of the Day (and I might get to a few updates through the day, but it will be LIGHT).
Sunday, November 6, 2011
No War But the Class War: Is Political Realignment Possible?
Have you ever suddenly realized that several ideas that have been rolling through your mind are connected? People who regularly write and think about ideas live for such aha moments. In fact, I think Aldous Huxley had such experiences in mind when he cleverly described “[a]n intellectual” as “a person who has discovered something more interesting than sex.” Although I certainly won’t claim to be in that rarefied ether, I did recently have a minor moment of clarity with respect to three ideas about OWS that have been preoccupying me (ha, preoccupying).
The first comes from a recent interview with Larry Mishel of EPI - who is brilliant and charming and very deserving of all of the praise he’s been getting lately (the interview is currently being edited and will be posted soon). Anyway, during the interview, Larry (we’re on a first name basis) said something that I immediately knew was correct, but that I hadn’t heard articulated: He said that he used to think of our system as broken, but it’s not; it’s functioning exactly how it is supposed to function. The 1% haven’t broken our government; they’ve captured it. And having captured it, they’ve designed it to work for their benefit and against the interests of the 99%.*
As soon as I heard this, I knew it was correct and that it has all kinds of implications (which I’m just starting to think through). But before I get to what I think the primary implication is, there’s a second idea, which is based on something Digby said. But because she said it in the context of a larger debate, it requires a bit of set up.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Live Blogging #OWS - 11/4/11
10:14 AM: Income inequality denialiam had been popping up before OWS, but since OWS, it's picking up speed. Kudos to Jonathan Chait for calling it what it is - bullshit!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Live Blogging #OWS - 11/3/11
11:00 AM: NYC - Protesters being arrested at sit-in at Goldman Sachs (and I heard on twitter that Chris Hedges is among arrestees).
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Live Blogging #OWS - 11/2/11
10:44 AM: November 2, 2011 - Oakland general strike. There are people at rally saying longshoreman support OWS and Port of Oakland is shut down, but then we're getting word from port that it's not - so, not sure what to make of it yet.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Live Blogging #OWS - 10/31/11
4:03 AM:
MMFlint Michael Moore
by OccupyRichmond
Overnight police raids taking place at OccupyRichmond OccupyNashville OccupyLongBeach. Why do I feel the hidden hand of Homeland Security?
4:46 AM: Iceland panel...
11:36 AM: I'm scheduled to do an interview this afternoon. So, probably won't be posting until late afternoon. Should have lots to catch up on later this afternoon and evening.
3:47 PM: Income inequality really is growing.
4:05 PM: NYPD's new strategy...
4:15 PM: Elementary school joining Oakland general strike.
As is Oakland's largest union (SEIU)...
4:20 PM: I love that America's last general strike was in Oakland....
4:41 PM: Michael Moore for my Mom.
4:47 PM: Amy Goodman on alternative media and social change.
5:46 PM: New Chris Hedges!
5:50 PM: Glenn Greenwald on Chris Hayes.
6:01 PM: Behind on this, but there were arrests both at Occupy Portland and Occupy Richmond. And apparently Occupy Richmond's possessions were destroyed.
6:33 PM: This really HAS to work. We have no choice. The 1% and their lackeys will take everything from us and will create a neo-feudal underclass.
8:06 PM: Salon's new Declaration of Independence (lots of good ideas).
8:10 PM: Nashville update (ACLU brings suit on behalf of protesters).
8:14 PM: 50 Cent supports OWS.
8:51 PM: Occupy Fresno faces eviction.
David_EHG David Harris-Gershon
by OccupyToronto
#OccupyFresno faces eviction tonight. Call John Navarette, tell him not to evict (559) 600-1710. Follow @OccupyFresno for info. #Solidarity
8:53 PM: Good news from Nashville.
9:45 PM: Knitters for the 99%.
MMFlint Michael Moore
by OccupyRichmond
Overnight police raids taking place at OccupyRichmond OccupyNashville OccupyLongBeach. Why do I feel the hidden hand of Homeland Security?
4:46 AM: Iceland panel...
11:36 AM: I'm scheduled to do an interview this afternoon. So, probably won't be posting until late afternoon. Should have lots to catch up on later this afternoon and evening.
3:47 PM: Income inequality really is growing.
4:05 PM: NYPD's new strategy...
4:15 PM: Elementary school joining Oakland general strike.
As is Oakland's largest union (SEIU)...
4:20 PM: I love that America's last general strike was in Oakland....
4:41 PM: Michael Moore for my Mom.
Michael Moore Speaks at Occupy Oakland, October 28, 2011 from John Hamilton on Vimeo.
4:47 PM: Amy Goodman on alternative media and social change.
5:46 PM: New Chris Hedges!
5:50 PM: Glenn Greenwald on Chris Hayes.
6:01 PM: Behind on this, but there were arrests both at Occupy Portland and Occupy Richmond. And apparently Occupy Richmond's possessions were destroyed.
6:33 PM: This really HAS to work. We have no choice. The 1% and their lackeys will take everything from us and will create a neo-feudal underclass.
8:06 PM: Salon's new Declaration of Independence (lots of good ideas).
8:10 PM: Nashville update (ACLU brings suit on behalf of protesters).
8:14 PM: 50 Cent supports OWS.
8:51 PM: Occupy Fresno faces eviction.
David_EHG David Harris-Gershon
by OccupyToronto
#OccupyFresno faces eviction tonight. Call John Navarette, tell him not to evict (559) 600-1710. Follow @OccupyFresno for info. #Solidarity
8:53 PM: Good news from Nashville.
9:45 PM: Knitters for the 99%.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Occupied Media: Interview With John Quiggin (10/22/11)
I'm extremely pleased to present the most recent Occupied Media installment, our interview with economist John Quiggin. Professor Quiggin usually does his professoring at the University of Queensland, but is currently a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins Univeristy. He blogs at the widely-read Crooked Timber and also on his own blog, johnquiggin.com. He is the author of Zombie Economics, which was named one of the top thirty business books of 2010 and surely can spawn untold sequels.
Professor Quiggin and I discuss the current economic crisis as well as his preferred policies to get us out of this God-awful mess. Among other matters, we discussed criminal prosecutions (which he's against), financial transaction tax (which he's for) and how we can keep this economic system from crashing all the damn time (he doesn't know). I think it comes across how much I enjoyed talking with Professor Quiggin and I'm sure everyone will find him to be as charming as I did.
Thanks, as always, to everyone with the Occupy Missoula Communications Working Group and a huge thanks to video editor Paul Shockey who took days fixing the sound on this video.
It is Occupied Media's sincere hope that other occupations and/or supporters of OWS will contribute videos to the Occupied Media project - interviews, teach-ins, how-to videos, music videos and so on (really anything in a video format). Please direct all inquiries and video submissions to:
OccupiedMedia@gmail.com
OR
Plutocracyfiles@gmail.com
Correction: During the interview with Professor Quiggin, I referred to freshwater economists John Cochrane and Robert Barro as supporting a "Treasury View," "crowding out" argument. I meant John Cochrane and Eugene Fama; Robert Barro is a freshwater economist and he has made some ridiculous arguments since the economy crashed, but he did not make a "Treasury View," "crowding out" argument.
Live Blogging #OWS - 10/30/11
10:35 AM: Started the morning with this...
OccupyTampa Occupy Tampa
by OccupyEngland
Occupy Tampa is being raided.....Occupiers at curtis hixon park need access to trucks and storage Immediately!!!!
11:15 AM: Denver craziness.
An article about protests is India.
11:20 AM: 38 arrests reported in Austin - no injuries reported.
Here is an article re: Austin.
11:30 AM: NY is calling for Winter supplies.
11:46 AM: Naomi Wolf just tweeted this.
Naomi Wolf
GREAT quote reposted and very apt: "Whoever can protest against the injustices of his family but refrains from doing so, should be punished for the crimes of his family.
Whoever can protest against the injustices of the people of his community, but refrains from doing so, should be punished for the crimes of his community.
Whoever is able to protest against the injustices of the entire world but refrains from doing so, should be punished for the crimes of the whole world."
-Talmud
1:07 PM: John Lennon's message to OWS.
More John Lennon stuff showing up on the twitter...
1:24 PM: Photos from Denver.
1:41 PM: Great piece on EPI - I will be interviewing Larry Mishel of EPI next week.
1:42 PM: Mother Jones on the Price of Plutocracy.
1:52 PM: Glenn Greenwald on the importance of the protests.
1:53 PM: Dean Baker (who I'm interviewing on Friday) on how to make the free market work for the 99%.
2:08 PM: A follower has requested I suggest the 20-hour work week as a solution to our current jobs crisis. He provided this link for everyone's consideration. Thanks for reading!.
3:02 PM: Laurie Penny (who tweets as PennyRed - and has done some of the best twitter coverage, IMO) was invited to participate in a debate where she, as a representative of the youth, was on a team with David Willetts, who has blamed our current financial woes on the baby boomers. This definitely falls in the "WTF were they thinking?" category and ranks up there with Stephen Colbert's appearance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner - yes, it's that brutal and it's that good:
Oh man, I don't think they'll invite her back. I fraking love her!
3:04 PM: Angela Davis shows up at OWS.
5:22 PM: Occupy Denver (appropriately entitled, Holy Shit!):
6:06 PM: This is 1K plus people (I think with OccupySF).
8:47 PM: This says "confirmed report," but so far it's just a tweet as far as I can tell:
_f0rsaken Original Forsaken ✔
by OccupyOregon
#OccupyDenver | confirmed report: one police officer with tears in eyes said "I can't do this anymore" and walked away from line standoff.
10:43 PM: Great piece re: Denver.
10:51 PM: Fuck yeah!
OccupyTampa Occupy Tampa
by OccupyEngland
Occupy Tampa is being raided.....Occupiers at curtis hixon park need access to trucks and storage Immediately!!!!
11:15 AM: Denver craziness.
An article about protests is India.
11:20 AM: 38 arrests reported in Austin - no injuries reported.
Here is an article re: Austin.
11:30 AM: NY is calling for Winter supplies.
11:46 AM: Naomi Wolf just tweeted this.
Naomi Wolf
GREAT quote reposted and very apt: "Whoever can protest against the injustices of his family but refrains from doing so, should be punished for the crimes of his family.
Whoever can protest against the injustices of the people of his community, but refrains from doing so, should be punished for the crimes of his community.
Whoever is able to protest against the injustices of the entire world but refrains from doing so, should be punished for the crimes of the whole world."
-Talmud
1:07 PM: John Lennon's message to OWS.
More John Lennon stuff showing up on the twitter...
1:24 PM: Photos from Denver.
1:41 PM: Great piece on EPI - I will be interviewing Larry Mishel of EPI next week.
1:42 PM: Mother Jones on the Price of Plutocracy.
1:52 PM: Glenn Greenwald on the importance of the protests.
1:53 PM: Dean Baker (who I'm interviewing on Friday) on how to make the free market work for the 99%.
2:08 PM: A follower has requested I suggest the 20-hour work week as a solution to our current jobs crisis. He provided this link for everyone's consideration. Thanks for reading!.
3:02 PM: Laurie Penny (who tweets as PennyRed - and has done some of the best twitter coverage, IMO) was invited to participate in a debate where she, as a representative of the youth, was on a team with David Willetts, who has blamed our current financial woes on the baby boomers. This definitely falls in the "WTF were they thinking?" category and ranks up there with Stephen Colbert's appearance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner - yes, it's that brutal and it's that good:
It is not the baby boomers who have stolen our future, Mr Willetts. It's you. You, and your government. And we will not forget it in a hurry. Phrasing this robbery in terms of generational conflict is a clever piece of misdirection... but not quite clever enough. As we speak, the streets of this country are full of angry people who are not fooled for a second by this muddled rhetoric about generational conflict. This is class conflict, and it is being waged by the wealthy against everyone else with the full support of a cabinet of millionaires....
I know that I was invited here to back up your case, but Mr Willetts, ladies and gentlemen, what did you expect? How could you possibly ask me, having seen my friends, my family and my contemporaries have their futures stolen and their life choices decimated by policy decisions which you have personally overseen, not to call it like it is?...
I hope that leaving him to back up his absurd arguments on his own will help him, in some small way, to understand one of the few remaining lessons it may be useful for him to learn. Mr Willetts, you are more alone than you think. You, and your government, and governments like it across the world, are losing the argument, just as you will lose this debate....
Right now, as we sit here in this beautiful hall, in this prestigious talk which most of you have paid to attend, students who were involved in a peaceful protest against Mr Willetts' savage university reforms in June are going through the courts. Tomorrow, they may be sent to jail, for no other reason than daring to speak out against the bartering off of British higher education by a political class so drenched in self-deceit that it really thinks posturing about generational conflict will fool us. We are not fooled.
Oh man, I don't think they'll invite her back. I fraking love her!
3:04 PM: Angela Davis shows up at OWS.
5:22 PM: Occupy Denver (appropriately entitled, Holy Shit!):
6:06 PM: This is 1K plus people (I think with OccupySF).
8:47 PM: This says "confirmed report," but so far it's just a tweet as far as I can tell:
_f0rsaken Original Forsaken ✔
by OccupyOregon
#OccupyDenver | confirmed report: one police officer with tears in eyes said "I can't do this anymore" and walked away from line standoff.
10:43 PM: Great piece re: Denver.
10:51 PM: Fuck yeah!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Live Blogging #OWS - 10/29/11 (ish)
I've been wondering whether to continue calling this live blogging - it's really just my daily blog and rather than having a dozen posts, I put it all in one post. Sometimes I'm following live feeds and twitter very closely and reporting, other times I'm not. For the most part I'm reporting exclusively on OWS, but only because that's what's most interesting to me at the moment. So, for the moment, this is what I'm calling my daily posts.
10:30 PM: Not midnight yet, but wanted to start a new day:
So, I did miss a few police crackdowns I should catch up on.
Night before last, when the Oakland drama was still fairly high, both Occupy Nashville and Occupy San Diego were cleared out. Both occupations have vowed to return. There was a Nashville judge on duty who actually gives a shit about the law (it's only the 1% and their lapdogs who don't, right?):
11:14 PM: Jay Gentile - another of our Marines...
And a really eloquent plea from Mr. Gentile.
11:16 PM: Occupy Rochester is being raided (29 arrests reported).
11:24 PM: Egyptians expressing solidarity with OWS:
11:27 PM: Scott Olsen vigil:
11:30 PM: Another crackdown in Nashville...
Followed by ....
11:39 PM: I love this!
11:41 PM: Bill Haywood quotes have become relevant again.
blogdiva Liza Sabater
RT @iRevolt: "A general strike is a weapon of the working class; an incipient revolution." - Bill Haywood #GeneralStrike
12:12 AM: I might write something with more detail and actual cites later, but I've been meaning to mention that I think the attempts to compare OWS to the Tea Party are based on a mythologized version of the Tea Party. Be clear: The Tea Party was an Koch-sponsored, astroturfed movement from the beginning, not a legitimate movement that was subsequently co-opted. The Tea Party's government-is-the-problem platform isn't a misdiagnosis of the problem or a different way of expressing the same frustration. This "concern" is a cover for deep-seated, proto-facist sentiments - namely, the scapegoating of minorities and the celebration of violence and the gun culture. In my opinion, the proto-fascist elements of the Tea Party movement aren't a bug, they're a feature. So, bottom line, I agree with Digby: There's still something the matter with Kansas.
12:18 AM:
OccupyNashville Occupy Nashville
by quinnnorton
LIVE UPDATES 25 arrests tonight. about 50 cameras were on the ground filming arrests. footage will be posted..
12:23 AM: This speaks for itself.
#occupysandiego All of the Occupy SD Food and Medical Supplies were taken by the police during the raid last night. Please bring food and sign making materials to the Civic Center Plaza! We need help rebuilding our supplies!
12:25 AM: Reporter arrested at Occupy Nashville - violating freedom of the press.
12:43 AM: Guardian article discussing extent of Scott Olsen's injury - this really pisses me off:
1:07 AM: The rallying cry in Nashville - Remember the Nashville 29!
This is unconfirmed, but awesome if it's true:
1:15 AM: Must read.
Another must read.
1:36 AM: Okay, I'm going to bed. I'm interviewing Alexa O'Brien at 11:00 AM so probably won't be posting until late afternoon. Hang in there Rochester, Nashville, San Diego; get well Scott Olsen; and God bless all of the 99ers occupying for our democracy.
10:48 AM: Mocking the poor...
12:10 PM: How to Winter camping.
12:12 PM: This reminds me of the Bill Hicks thing about marketing: "Oh, Bill is smart - the anti-marketing dollar is a big dollar"
Capitalist are the ultimate co-opters, immediately finding ways to make money off a protest against them. Bill Hicks is right - we're trapped in a web.
4:12 PM: Oh no!
Michelle9647 Michelle
R @AnonMedics #OccupyDenver is being brutally attacked by riot police using chemical weapons and rubber bullets Stream: is.gd/Zuif0F
News re: Occupy Denver.
Following twitter and will keep everyone posted...
4:35 PM: While we're waiting for news from Denver, I did want to mention something about Halloween. There's always some slut shaming this time of year about the revealing costumes. I think Dan Savage has it exactly right - Halloween is Straight Pride Day. So, lighten up hand-wringing Puritans - celebrating and expressing sexuality is healthy.
4:47 PM: Occupy the Web.
4:50 PM: Endless kicking of the Euro-can.
5:01 PM: Denver's live feed is down.
5:12 PM: Denver...
7:34 PM: Denver wounds (were they aiming for biceps?).
7:51 PM: This is unconfirmed...
allisonkilkenny allisonkilkenny
RT @USDayofRage: According to #OccupyDenver stream, ABC news reports protesters being beaten in jail.
Followed by this...
enterblisstonia Maximiliano
by Michelle9647@
@Leialadi @Michelle9647 @USDayofRage As far as we've heard here in Denver, yes: true. Reported by arrestee call to legal hotline from jail.
7:58 PM: Another awesome installment of Occupy the Boardroom...
8:10 PM: Confirmed...
micchiato Mike Byrd
by Occupy_Syracuse
RT @DenverABC ...These [jail beatings] are not unconfirmed. We're the legal team for #occupydenver. These reports are from arrestees mouths
8:19 PM: It doesn't have to be this way.
9:16 PM: I'm late on this, but whatever - they're just too endearing:
10:30 PM: Not midnight yet, but wanted to start a new day:
So, I did miss a few police crackdowns I should catch up on.
Night before last, when the Oakland drama was still fairly high, both Occupy Nashville and Occupy San Diego were cleared out. Both occupations have vowed to return. There was a Nashville judge on duty who actually gives a shit about the law (it's only the 1% and their lapdogs who don't, right?):
11:14 PM: Jay Gentile - another of our Marines...
And a really eloquent plea from Mr. Gentile.
11:16 PM: Occupy Rochester is being raided (29 arrests reported).
11:24 PM: Egyptians expressing solidarity with OWS:
11:27 PM: Scott Olsen vigil:
11:30 PM: Another crackdown in Nashville...
OccupyNashville Occupy Nashville
#occupynashville word is that troopers could be on the way
Followed by ....
OccupyNashville Occupy Nashville
The arrest have started!
11:39 PM: I love this!
11:41 PM: Bill Haywood quotes have become relevant again.
blogdiva Liza Sabater
RT @iRevolt: "A general strike is a weapon of the working class; an incipient revolution." - Bill Haywood #GeneralStrike
12:12 AM: I might write something with more detail and actual cites later, but I've been meaning to mention that I think the attempts to compare OWS to the Tea Party are based on a mythologized version of the Tea Party. Be clear: The Tea Party was an Koch-sponsored, astroturfed movement from the beginning, not a legitimate movement that was subsequently co-opted. The Tea Party's government-is-the-problem platform isn't a misdiagnosis of the problem or a different way of expressing the same frustration. This "concern" is a cover for deep-seated, proto-facist sentiments - namely, the scapegoating of minorities and the celebration of violence and the gun culture. In my opinion, the proto-fascist elements of the Tea Party movement aren't a bug, they're a feature. So, bottom line, I agree with Digby: There's still something the matter with Kansas.
12:18 AM:
OccupyNashville Occupy Nashville
by quinnnorton
LIVE UPDATES 25 arrests tonight. about 50 cameras were on the ground filming arrests. footage will be posted..
12:23 AM: This speaks for itself.
#occupysandiego All of the Occupy SD Food and Medical Supplies were taken by the police during the raid last night. Please bring food and sign making materials to the Civic Center Plaza! We need help rebuilding our supplies!
12:25 AM: Reporter arrested at Occupy Nashville - violating freedom of the press.
12:43 AM: Guardian article discussing extent of Scott Olsen's injury - this really pisses me off:
"He cannot talk right now, and that is because the fracture is right on the speech center of his brain," said Shannon. "However, they are expecting he will get that back."
Shannon added that Olsen's "spelling is not near what it used to be".
"The doctors expect that he will have a full recovery," said Shannon, who is due to visit Olsen on Friday afternoon. "However, it is going to be a long road ahead for him."
1:07 AM: The rallying cry in Nashville - Remember the Nashville 29!
This is unconfirmed, but awesome if it's true:
DarrellBouldin Darrell Bouldin
by OccupyNashville
BREAKING: Nashville court throws out charges against #OccupyNashville AGAIN! Says Gov. @BillHaslam curfew may be unconstitutional! #OWS #p21
1:15 AM: Must read.
Another must read.
1:36 AM: Okay, I'm going to bed. I'm interviewing Alexa O'Brien at 11:00 AM so probably won't be posting until late afternoon. Hang in there Rochester, Nashville, San Diego; get well Scott Olsen; and God bless all of the 99ers occupying for our democracy.
10:48 AM: Mocking the poor...
12:10 PM: How to Winter camping.
12:12 PM: This reminds me of the Bill Hicks thing about marketing: "Oh, Bill is smart - the anti-marketing dollar is a big dollar"
Capitalist are the ultimate co-opters, immediately finding ways to make money off a protest against them. Bill Hicks is right - we're trapped in a web.
4:12 PM: Oh no!
Michelle9647 Michelle
R @AnonMedics #OccupyDenver is being brutally attacked by riot police using chemical weapons and rubber bullets Stream: is.gd/Zuif0F
News re: Occupy Denver.
Following twitter and will keep everyone posted...
4:35 PM: While we're waiting for news from Denver, I did want to mention something about Halloween. There's always some slut shaming this time of year about the revealing costumes. I think Dan Savage has it exactly right - Halloween is Straight Pride Day. So, lighten up hand-wringing Puritans - celebrating and expressing sexuality is healthy.
4:47 PM: Occupy the Web.
4:50 PM: Endless kicking of the Euro-can.
5:01 PM: Denver's live feed is down.
5:12 PM: Denver...
7:34 PM: Denver wounds (were they aiming for biceps?).
7:51 PM: This is unconfirmed...
allisonkilkenny allisonkilkenny
RT @USDayofRage: According to #OccupyDenver stream, ABC news reports protesters being beaten in jail.
Followed by this...
enterblisstonia Maximiliano
by Michelle9647@
@Leialadi @Michelle9647 @USDayofRage As far as we've heard here in Denver, yes: true. Reported by arrestee call to legal hotline from jail.
7:58 PM: Another awesome installment of Occupy the Boardroom...
8:10 PM: Confirmed...
micchiato Mike Byrd
by Occupy_Syracuse
RT @DenverABC ...These [jail beatings] are not unconfirmed. We're the legal team for #occupydenver. These reports are from arrestees mouths
8:19 PM: It doesn't have to be this way.
9:16 PM: I'm late on this, but whatever - they're just too endearing:
A dozen Occupy Nashville protesters, undeterred by their arrests and six hours in detention, have marched back onto the Legislative Plaza this morning claiming victory in their cause.
“Whose plaza? Our plaza!” they yelled as they arrived in the rain.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Live Blogging #OWS - 10/28/11
From Anonymous to Scott Olsen:
11:43 AM: Some light reading...
11:52 AM: Fuck capitalists are slippery...
11:58 AM: Greedy fucks...
12:00 PM: Twitterverse isn't always great with timelines... I will say that if the former Oakland police chief is now unemployed, he should join us. According to Olbermann and twitter, Michael Moore is due in at 3:30. I know I'd be there.
12:17 PM: I think I already posted it, but it's important given the shrieks of "envy" and "jealously" coming from the sychophants of the mega rich. So, here it is again.
12:39 PM: I'm really excited to interview Alexa O'Brien tomorrow...
1:14 PM: Occupy Oakland on the Nov. 2nd General Strike.
1:20 PM: This is interesting...
1:28 PM: Michael Moore for my Mom...
1:31 PM: MSM is dead - long live the People's Media (he compares it to the advent of the Gutenberg press, which, if you know history, is heavy):
Whether this can or should be compared to something as monumentally significant as the Gutenberg press isn't clear, but I do think something significant has happened. This movement has not needed and honestly, doesn't care about the mainstream media.
3:01 PM: The art of comic resistance.
3:22 PM: I love Occupy the Boardroom.
3:43 PM: I didn't even make it all the way through this ridiculousness. The only benefit I can see to maintaining a monarchy is to have a wedding event involving someone who doesn't have a sex tape. But the UK is paying too big a bill for that. So, down with monarchy.
4:00 PM: Does anyone else think Matt Yglesias is sounding really establishment and out of touch? (I actually commented on this post because I forget I have a blog for doing such things).
First off, I think the comparison to 60s communes is really misplaced. Occupying public squares seems fundamentally different than 60s communes that were intentionally disengaged and physically removed from society.
Second, I don't think this was Yglesias's point, but I do reject the idea that feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and providing free health care and education is Utopian. The idea of creating occupations that reflect the society we'd like to see is to show people that this isn't an impossible, Utopian dream. The assumptions that the rich can't be taxed, that we can't have health care, that we have to incur crippling debt for our education is a function of the hijacking of our political system (and the institutions that support that system) by the 1%. Calling for a government of, by and for the people, calling for basic decency isn't Utopian.
Yglesias's point, I believe, was directed at what I am calling the-park-is-the-goal faction - it is this faction that Yglesias sees as Utopian. In my opinion, this isn't a Utopian faction, but rather, is concerned with maintaining the integrity of horizontalism. The question - i think the central question - for the movement is whether a horizontal, leaderless movement can "scale" without violating the principles of horizontalism. Personally, I believe this is a challenge, but not an insurmountable challenge.
But, with respect to Ygelsias, the bottom line is that he comes off as an out-of-touch, establishment lackey. Which, I suppose, shouldn't be a surprise given that we are talking about a person who self identifies - self identifies! - as a neoliberal.
10:27 PM: The who shot Scott Olsen investigation.
11:43 AM: Some light reading...
11:52 AM: Fuck capitalists are slippery...
11:58 AM: Greedy fucks...
12:00 PM: Twitterverse isn't always great with timelines... I will say that if the former Oakland police chief is now unemployed, he should join us. According to Olbermann and twitter, Michael Moore is due in at 3:30. I know I'd be there.
12:17 PM: I think I already posted it, but it's important given the shrieks of "envy" and "jealously" coming from the sychophants of the mega rich. So, here it is again.
12:39 PM: I'm really excited to interview Alexa O'Brien tomorrow...
1:14 PM: Occupy Oakland on the Nov. 2nd General Strike.
1:20 PM: This is interesting...
1:28 PM: Michael Moore for my Mom...
1:31 PM: MSM is dead - long live the People's Media (he compares it to the advent of the Gutenberg press, which, if you know history, is heavy):
Whether this can or should be compared to something as monumentally significant as the Gutenberg press isn't clear, but I do think something significant has happened. This movement has not needed and honestly, doesn't care about the mainstream media.
3:01 PM: The art of comic resistance.
3:22 PM: I love Occupy the Boardroom.
3:43 PM: I didn't even make it all the way through this ridiculousness. The only benefit I can see to maintaining a monarchy is to have a wedding event involving someone who doesn't have a sex tape. But the UK is paying too big a bill for that. So, down with monarchy.
4:00 PM: Does anyone else think Matt Yglesias is sounding really establishment and out of touch? (I actually commented on this post because I forget I have a blog for doing such things).
First off, I think the comparison to 60s communes is really misplaced. Occupying public squares seems fundamentally different than 60s communes that were intentionally disengaged and physically removed from society.
Second, I don't think this was Yglesias's point, but I do reject the idea that feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and providing free health care and education is Utopian. The idea of creating occupations that reflect the society we'd like to see is to show people that this isn't an impossible, Utopian dream. The assumptions that the rich can't be taxed, that we can't have health care, that we have to incur crippling debt for our education is a function of the hijacking of our political system (and the institutions that support that system) by the 1%. Calling for a government of, by and for the people, calling for basic decency isn't Utopian.
Yglesias's point, I believe, was directed at what I am calling the-park-is-the-goal faction - it is this faction that Yglesias sees as Utopian. In my opinion, this isn't a Utopian faction, but rather, is concerned with maintaining the integrity of horizontalism. The question - i think the central question - for the movement is whether a horizontal, leaderless movement can "scale" without violating the principles of horizontalism. Personally, I believe this is a challenge, but not an insurmountable challenge.
But, with respect to Ygelsias, the bottom line is that he comes off as an out-of-touch, establishment lackey. Which, I suppose, shouldn't be a surprise given that we are talking about a person who self identifies - self identifies! - as a neoliberal.
10:27 PM: The who shot Scott Olsen investigation.
Occupy Missoula, Declaration of Occupation
Occupy Missoula, Declaration of Occupation
1) We stand just inside the threshold of a new global paradigm. Top down decision making by the few over the interests of the many has failed us. Many of us are one accident or illness away from bankruptcy, one pink slip away from homelessness. Isolated within our narrow areas of concern, we have been ignored. Now, joined together, we have forced open a door that politicians, the economic elite, and the corporate media had hoped was securely shut, and we find ourselves, along with hundreds of other communities, on the world stage.
2) We, the members of Occupy Missoula, are outraged by the injustices perpetrated against all life on this planet by private and giant multinational corporate forces which now exert disproportionate influence over the societies of the world. We believe that concentration of wealth and political power in the hands of a small minority at the top has corrupted our processes of civil, democratic governance: permitting imperialism and war through the misuse of the contributions of taxpayers; wasting and degrading our natural resources for private gain; forcing private costs onto the public at large in the form of pollution and threats to public health; and the manipulation of the justice system to benefit corporate interest with constitutional protections originally intended only for natural persons. One need not look outside Montana for examples of these injustices; the Anaconda Copper Company’s reign over the state still echoes in the recent loss of the Montana Corrupt Practices Act, which defended our state against private economic control over it’s political representatives. Now, the local water supply is in jeopardy with the proposed sale of Missoula’s water utility to the elite multinational investment firm, the Carlyle Group.
3) Until now we all have been part of developing the system the way it is. We all let this happen. Today, we are united by our realization that we can no longer silently allow ourselves to be the passive subjects of a political and corporate media system that consistently ignores, trivializes, and misrepresents the reality of our concerns, our histories, and diverse cultures. Only by occupation of the streets and public places can our voices be heard.
4) We believe that a fair society requires a framework for informed and meaningful participation by all people; and that democracy derives it’s legitimacy from treating all persons, indiscriminately with social, political, and economic fairness. The people of Occupy Missoula have divergent goals and opinions, but are nonetheless discovering a common bond of respect and responsibility for our collective future. We have chosen a horizontal, consensus-driven model to provide that the opportunity and power to effect change will be evenly distributed amongst all.
5) Many among the economic elite are using their control over politics and the media in the hope that we will dissolve into our constituent parts and melt back into the woodwork. But we will not compromise our futures. We are fortified by our desire and resolve to work together. Unlike owners of huge corporations, we need not be bound by unsustainable greed. A different world is possible. The outcomes we seek will extend to the limits of our compassion, our integrity will determine each step.
6) People across the world are realizing that they are no longer served by their political systems, and so must occupy the streets and public places. Our political representatives do not represent us; we must represent ourselves. We will be the authors of our own future.
7) The general assembly of Occupy Missoula, having declared it’s purpose, stands in solidarity with Occupy movements around the globe.
1) We stand just inside the threshold of a new global paradigm. Top down decision making by the few over the interests of the many has failed us. Many of us are one accident or illness away from bankruptcy, one pink slip away from homelessness. Isolated within our narrow areas of concern, we have been ignored. Now, joined together, we have forced open a door that politicians, the economic elite, and the corporate media had hoped was securely shut, and we find ourselves, along with hundreds of other communities, on the world stage.
2) We, the members of Occupy Missoula, are outraged by the injustices perpetrated against all life on this planet by private and giant multinational corporate forces which now exert disproportionate influence over the societies of the world. We believe that concentration of wealth and political power in the hands of a small minority at the top has corrupted our processes of civil, democratic governance: permitting imperialism and war through the misuse of the contributions of taxpayers; wasting and degrading our natural resources for private gain; forcing private costs onto the public at large in the form of pollution and threats to public health; and the manipulation of the justice system to benefit corporate interest with constitutional protections originally intended only for natural persons. One need not look outside Montana for examples of these injustices; the Anaconda Copper Company’s reign over the state still echoes in the recent loss of the Montana Corrupt Practices Act, which defended our state against private economic control over it’s political representatives. Now, the local water supply is in jeopardy with the proposed sale of Missoula’s water utility to the elite multinational investment firm, the Carlyle Group.
3) Until now we all have been part of developing the system the way it is. We all let this happen. Today, we are united by our realization that we can no longer silently allow ourselves to be the passive subjects of a political and corporate media system that consistently ignores, trivializes, and misrepresents the reality of our concerns, our histories, and diverse cultures. Only by occupation of the streets and public places can our voices be heard.
4) We believe that a fair society requires a framework for informed and meaningful participation by all people; and that democracy derives it’s legitimacy from treating all persons, indiscriminately with social, political, and economic fairness. The people of Occupy Missoula have divergent goals and opinions, but are nonetheless discovering a common bond of respect and responsibility for our collective future. We have chosen a horizontal, consensus-driven model to provide that the opportunity and power to effect change will be evenly distributed amongst all.
5) Many among the economic elite are using their control over politics and the media in the hope that we will dissolve into our constituent parts and melt back into the woodwork. But we will not compromise our futures. We are fortified by our desire and resolve to work together. Unlike owners of huge corporations, we need not be bound by unsustainable greed. A different world is possible. The outcomes we seek will extend to the limits of our compassion, our integrity will determine each step.
6) People across the world are realizing that they are no longer served by their political systems, and so must occupy the streets and public places. Our political representatives do not represent us; we must represent ourselves. We will be the authors of our own future.
7) The general assembly of Occupy Missoula, having declared it’s purpose, stands in solidarity with Occupy movements around the globe.
Live Blogging #OWS - 10/27/11
12:06 AM: OccupySF Blockade:
12:08 AM: So brilliant I had to repost:
12:09 AM: Oakland has voted for a general strike for Wednesday, November 2nd. Here is a piece about the last general strike in the United States in 1946 in Oakland, California.
12:15 AM: Six first-hand observers from Occupy Oakland.
12:17 AM:
DustinSlaughter Dustin M. Slaughter
RT @OccupyAgitProp: Every sort of person, race, creed showing up at #OccupySF in support. Seems threat police action galvanized whole city.
12:20 AM: Anonymous video asking people to move money from megabanks into credit unions.
10:58 AM: Listening to Glenn Greenwald on Dylan Rattigan (I listened to this twice in a row).
11:01 AM: Jon Stewart - WTF Happened in Oakland?
11:07 AM: For those who don't remember, this is our Marine (I suppose we now have two Marines - Sgt. Shamar Thomas and Scott Olsen)...
SgtShamarThomasUSMC
The Peaceful Protest in Solidarity with Occupy Oakland was the most Amazing thing I have experienced so far in Life. SCOTT OLSEN my Brother We Love You! Your with US. Peace and be Well! Support!
11:13 AM: Good news - Scott Olsen's condition upgraded from critical to fair.
11:19 AM: Video recapping events in Oakland:
11:30 AM: Oakland Mayor says she supports protest and will minimize police presence.
11:33 AM: Occupy Oakland on General Strike.
11:35 AM: Can't stop the signal...
11:47 AM:
deniseromano Denise A. Romano
by OWSLosAngeles@
@OWSLosAngeles Send Get Well Card to Scott Olsen c/o Highland General Hospital, 1411 East 31st St., Oakland CA 94602 #OWS #Solidarity
11:58 AM: The Marines are not pleased with the Oakland PD.
12:44 PM: How OWS put the final nail in the MSM's coffin - burn in hell corporate media!
1:03 PM: From Occupy Together...
2:50 PM: Why the OccupySF raid was called off.
2:54 PM: Popularity of Occupy Wall Street.
3:20 PM: Occupy Oakland on 10/26/11, the day after police raid and critical injury Scott Olsen, voting for Nov. 2nd General Strike.
4:04 PM: Sam Seder interviewing Doug Henwood (who I'm completely crushing on). Make sure to check my interview with Doug - top, left corner of the blog.
4:07 PM: Oakland tent city is back up.
5:18 PM: Oakland police chief resigns.
5:26 PM: MSM covers OWS...
7:10 PM: Occupy Cleveland won a preliminary court battle, allowing for 24/7 occupation.
7:12 PM: Occupy Minnesota helps save homeowner from foreclosure - homeowner says: "Occupy MN was so fabulous."
7:15 PM: Doug Henwood crunches some CBO numbers for us and concludes: It really is about that 1%.
7:17 PM: Great info about Occupying Winter.
7:27 PM:
KeithOlbermann Keith Olbermann
by WeOccupyAmerica
Breaking News: #OWS announces support of #OccupyOakland General Strike 11/2; plans to "sweep Wall Street" in civil disobedience
9:53 PM: FYI...
OccupyGlobalGA The 99%
by sickjew
Anyone asking to speak with “the leader” is a cop.
12:08 AM: So brilliant I had to repost:
12:09 AM: Oakland has voted for a general strike for Wednesday, November 2nd. Here is a piece about the last general strike in the United States in 1946 in Oakland, California.
12:15 AM: Six first-hand observers from Occupy Oakland.
12:17 AM:
DustinSlaughter Dustin M. Slaughter
RT @OccupyAgitProp: Every sort of person, race, creed showing up at #OccupySF in support. Seems threat police action galvanized whole city.
12:20 AM: Anonymous video asking people to move money from megabanks into credit unions.
10:58 AM: Listening to Glenn Greenwald on Dylan Rattigan (I listened to this twice in a row).
11:01 AM: Jon Stewart - WTF Happened in Oakland?
11:07 AM: For those who don't remember, this is our Marine (I suppose we now have two Marines - Sgt. Shamar Thomas and Scott Olsen)...
SgtShamarThomasUSMC
The Peaceful Protest in Solidarity with Occupy Oakland was the most Amazing thing I have experienced so far in Life. SCOTT OLSEN my Brother We Love You! Your with US. Peace and be Well! Support!
11:13 AM: Good news - Scott Olsen's condition upgraded from critical to fair.
11:19 AM: Video recapping events in Oakland:
11:30 AM: Oakland Mayor says she supports protest and will minimize police presence.
11:33 AM: Occupy Oakland on General Strike.
11:35 AM: Can't stop the signal...
11:47 AM:
deniseromano Denise A. Romano
by OWSLosAngeles@
@OWSLosAngeles Send Get Well Card to Scott Olsen c/o Highland General Hospital, 1411 East 31st St., Oakland CA 94602 #OWS #Solidarity
11:58 AM: The Marines are not pleased with the Oakland PD.
12:44 PM: How OWS put the final nail in the MSM's coffin - burn in hell corporate media!
1:03 PM: From Occupy Together...
Occupy Oakland and IVAW — an organization that Scott Olsen is a member of — are organizing the Oakland vigil. It will be held today, Thursday, October 27, 7:00pm PST, during the General Assembly of Occupy Oakland at 14th St. and Broadway.
They are also calling on other occupations that are part of the 99% movement to take time to vigil for Scott this evening. Some occupations will take a few moments during their General Assembly to hold Scott in their thoughts, to honor his commitment to social justice, and to hope for his strong recovery.
2:50 PM: Why the OccupySF raid was called off.
2:54 PM: Popularity of Occupy Wall Street.
3:20 PM: Occupy Oakland on 10/26/11, the day after police raid and critical injury Scott Olsen, voting for Nov. 2nd General Strike.
4:04 PM: Sam Seder interviewing Doug Henwood (who I'm completely crushing on). Make sure to check my interview with Doug - top, left corner of the blog.
4:07 PM: Oakland tent city is back up.
5:18 PM: Oakland police chief resigns.
5:26 PM: MSM covers OWS...
7:10 PM: Occupy Cleveland won a preliminary court battle, allowing for 24/7 occupation.
7:12 PM: Occupy Minnesota helps save homeowner from foreclosure - homeowner says: "Occupy MN was so fabulous."
7:15 PM: Doug Henwood crunches some CBO numbers for us and concludes: It really is about that 1%.
7:17 PM: Great info about Occupying Winter.
7:27 PM:
KeithOlbermann Keith Olbermann
by WeOccupyAmerica
Breaking News: #OWS announces support of #OccupyOakland General Strike 11/2; plans to "sweep Wall Street" in civil disobedience
9:53 PM: FYI...
OccupyGlobalGA The 99%
by sickjew
Anyone asking to speak with “the leader” is a cop.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Live Blogging #OWS - 10/26/11
8:15 PM: So, I've been having problems with my blog all day (I was in tears several times). We think the problem was too many videos, but I can't be positive. I lost two days of blogging. Very, very sad about that. But memory on the internet is short - so, we'll soldier on.
I couldn't even stand following the events when my blog was down, but when I checked backed this evening it sounds like there's been quite a bit going on. Oakland reported that their numbers have grown and a march in NYC in support of Oakland apparently broke out into scattered skirmishes and arrests. Hero Vincent was arrested (again). The mood in NYC is reported to be jubilant.
8:45 PM:
BootsRiley Boots Riley
by OccupyColleges
3000 People now. #OccupyOakland
Wow! Watching Oakland GA on livestream. It's huge. Chokes me up - love you Oakland!
8:52 PM: I'm hearing lots of talk about a General Strike on the twitter. Also, sounds like things are wild in NYC - stuff about people running down side streets and throwing construction barricades to slow down the police; others in the MSM (of course) described the protesters as a confused "mob."
@RDevro: Protesters take to side street, throw construction barricades and trash bags into street to slow down police in pursuit. #ows
8:57 PM:
scott_c_johnson: About a thousand people at #occupyoakland, chanting, pushing for a general strike in the city. ... tmi.me/hzUmj
9:00 PM: In NYC:
Newyorkist Newyorkist
Marcher through scooter line gets shoved. Falls. Cops swarm him on ground. Crowd move in, push cops, pull marchers out. Yelling and cheering
9:02 PM: Michael Moore tweet.
MMFlint Michael Moore
Protests in support of Occupy Oakland springing up across country. Iraq vet Scott Olsen shot in head by cops in critical condition.
9:05 PM:
Although OWS insists it is a leaderless movement, right-wingers think the leader is Mike Czech.
9:13 PM: A Witness to the Violence in Oakland.
9:20 PM: Trumpka - Tear-gassing, arrests of OWS protesters must stop.
9:22 PM: Ryan Devereaux reporting from NYC (Scott Olsen is the Marine in Oakland who is in critical condition):
RDevro Ryan Devereaux
Talking to a number of veterans and blue shirt officers about Scott Olsen. A lot of raw emotion on display here tonight. #ows
RDevro Ryan Devereaux
When I asked how he felt upon hearing about Olsen's injury one blueshirt says, "It was heartbreaking." #OWS
9:25 PM: I honestly cannot believe this is the United States:
And for that fucking dimwit Mayor to say "Democracy is messy" - No! This isn't about democracy - it's about suppressing democracy. And it's more than "messy" - a veteran of the Iraq War, a United States Marine is in critical condition.
9:46 PM: FDNY talking directly to police, asking them to join.
RDevro Ryan Devereaux
An NY fire fighter, 9/11 first responder, is giving an impassioned speech to officers lined outside Liberty. "Come walk with us," he urges.
FDNY member now reading off the names of every police officer lost in 9/11 to NYPD riot police lined up outside plaza. #OWS
10:15 PM: This worries me.
wiljago wiljago
by OccupyWallSt
National Guard is here at #occupyoakland getting ready. #StandwithOakland if you can tonight. #occupy
10:20 PM: Nick Kristof piece (his last piece was not particularly well-received by OWS - considered to be too narrow, too wonky, too small - this piece seems a bit better).
10:21 PM: I'm confused too - it's a bit like when Bloomberg said protesters could stay at Zuccotti Park and then immediately started trying to shut them down.
DustinSlaughter Dustin M. Slaughter
Okay, I'm SO confused at this point. #Quan is at #OccupyOakland saying she's glad park is open, and now riot police and nat'l guard?!
10:24 PM: Rumored brutality from NYC.
mtracey Michael Tracey
Hearing that some NYPD "beat the shit" out of a demonstrator early on in the march. Guy was swollen and bloodied. Didn't see it myself. #OWS
And on the other hand...
mtracey Michael Tracey
Guy tells me some cops were laughing and clapping when #OWS people successfully grabbed an NYPD kettling net and ran away with it.
10:47 PM:
Talk of a potential raid in San Francisco.
Also...
Occupy San Diego
Occupy San Diego is currently in the middle of a showdown where 24 officers are standing over about 30 people surrounding a tent. The officers are demanding the tent come down.
10:50 PM:
DustinSlaughter Dustin M. Slaughter
RT @iRevolt: Demonstrators @OccupyOakland tallying votes re: city-wide gen. strike. 3K strong in Oakland while police presence builds #ows
10:55 PM: Video of cop throwing tear gas into the crowd trying to help Scott Olsen.
10:58 PM:
EastBayExpress East Bay Express
Just announced that #ows has donated $20,000 to #occupyoakland
11:01 PM: Brilliant! Very clear expression of what OWS is about.
11:13 PM:
Chant: "We are unstoppable / Another world is possible"
11:15 PM:
OccupyIF OccupyIdahoFalls
by SalCtrProg
@OccupyOakland GA approves the proposal for a general strike on Wednesday, November 2nd. Word is they're on the move to support #OccupySF.
ggjeffy GGJeffy
by SalCtrProg
general strike to take place next week. First time since 1946. #occupyoakland #ows #occupysf
11:18 PM: Oh, I didn't realize the last general strike was in Oakland. Very cool.
Thu, 27 Oct 2011, 06:05 GMT+3 - Occupy Protests
Occupy Oakland activists in California have agreed to support a general strike. In the general assembly just a day after protesters were evicted from their encampment, 1,484 voted in favour of the strike, 77 abstained, and 46 disagreed.
The last general strike in the United States was in Oakland in 1946
11:25 PM: Talks on the internet about whether to take General Strike nationwide.
11:41 PM: This is bullshit!
iRevolt Roqayah
by OccupySF
Oakland PD literally blocked entrance to metro station as to prevent demonstrators from reaching #OccupySF
11:48 PM: According to live feed, Oakland picked up a good deal of support tonight from unions - specifically mentioned Teamsters and Nurses.
11:59 PM: I'm sending a card tomorrow - I hope everyone does.
OccupyMARINES OccupyMARINES
by occupyingphilly
SEND A CARD or FLOWERS: USMC Scott Olsen Highland Hospital 1411 East 31st Street Oakland, CA 94602
I couldn't even stand following the events when my blog was down, but when I checked backed this evening it sounds like there's been quite a bit going on. Oakland reported that their numbers have grown and a march in NYC in support of Oakland apparently broke out into scattered skirmishes and arrests. Hero Vincent was arrested (again). The mood in NYC is reported to be jubilant.
8:45 PM:
BootsRiley Boots Riley
by OccupyColleges
3000 People now. #OccupyOakland
Wow! Watching Oakland GA on livestream. It's huge. Chokes me up - love you Oakland!
8:52 PM: I'm hearing lots of talk about a General Strike on the twitter. Also, sounds like things are wild in NYC - stuff about people running down side streets and throwing construction barricades to slow down the police; others in the MSM (of course) described the protesters as a confused "mob."
@RDevro: Protesters take to side street, throw construction barricades and trash bags into street to slow down police in pursuit. #ows
8:57 PM:
scott_c_johnson: About a thousand people at #occupyoakland, chanting, pushing for a general strike in the city. ... tmi.me/hzUmj
9:00 PM: In NYC:
Newyorkist Newyorkist
Marcher through scooter line gets shoved. Falls. Cops swarm him on ground. Crowd move in, push cops, pull marchers out. Yelling and cheering
9:02 PM: Michael Moore tweet.
MMFlint Michael Moore
Protests in support of Occupy Oakland springing up across country. Iraq vet Scott Olsen shot in head by cops in critical condition.
9:05 PM:
Although OWS insists it is a leaderless movement, right-wingers think the leader is Mike Czech.
9:13 PM: A Witness to the Violence in Oakland.
9:20 PM: Trumpka - Tear-gassing, arrests of OWS protesters must stop.
9:22 PM: Ryan Devereaux reporting from NYC (Scott Olsen is the Marine in Oakland who is in critical condition):
RDevro Ryan Devereaux
Talking to a number of veterans and blue shirt officers about Scott Olsen. A lot of raw emotion on display here tonight. #ows
RDevro Ryan Devereaux
When I asked how he felt upon hearing about Olsen's injury one blueshirt says, "It was heartbreaking." #OWS
9:25 PM: I honestly cannot believe this is the United States:
And for that fucking dimwit Mayor to say "Democracy is messy" - No! This isn't about democracy - it's about suppressing democracy. And it's more than "messy" - a veteran of the Iraq War, a United States Marine is in critical condition.
9:46 PM: FDNY talking directly to police, asking them to join.
RDevro Ryan Devereaux
An NY fire fighter, 9/11 first responder, is giving an impassioned speech to officers lined outside Liberty. "Come walk with us," he urges.
FDNY member now reading off the names of every police officer lost in 9/11 to NYPD riot police lined up outside plaza. #OWS
10:15 PM: This worries me.
wiljago wiljago
by OccupyWallSt
National Guard is here at #occupyoakland getting ready. #StandwithOakland if you can tonight. #occupy
10:20 PM: Nick Kristof piece (his last piece was not particularly well-received by OWS - considered to be too narrow, too wonky, too small - this piece seems a bit better).
10:21 PM: I'm confused too - it's a bit like when Bloomberg said protesters could stay at Zuccotti Park and then immediately started trying to shut them down.
DustinSlaughter Dustin M. Slaughter
Okay, I'm SO confused at this point. #Quan is at #OccupyOakland saying she's glad park is open, and now riot police and nat'l guard?!
10:24 PM: Rumored brutality from NYC.
mtracey Michael Tracey
Hearing that some NYPD "beat the shit" out of a demonstrator early on in the march. Guy was swollen and bloodied. Didn't see it myself. #OWS
And on the other hand...
mtracey Michael Tracey
Guy tells me some cops were laughing and clapping when #OWS people successfully grabbed an NYPD kettling net and ran away with it.
10:47 PM:
Talk of a potential raid in San Francisco.
Also...
Occupy San Diego
Occupy San Diego is currently in the middle of a showdown where 24 officers are standing over about 30 people surrounding a tent. The officers are demanding the tent come down.
10:50 PM:
DustinSlaughter Dustin M. Slaughter
RT @iRevolt: Demonstrators @OccupyOakland tallying votes re: city-wide gen. strike. 3K strong in Oakland while police presence builds #ows
10:55 PM: Video of cop throwing tear gas into the crowd trying to help Scott Olsen.
10:58 PM:
EastBayExpress East Bay Express
Just announced that #ows has donated $20,000 to #occupyoakland
11:01 PM: Brilliant! Very clear expression of what OWS is about.
11:13 PM:
Chant: "We are unstoppable / Another world is possible"
11:15 PM:
OccupyIF OccupyIdahoFalls
by SalCtrProg
@OccupyOakland GA approves the proposal for a general strike on Wednesday, November 2nd. Word is they're on the move to support #OccupySF.
ggjeffy GGJeffy
by SalCtrProg
general strike to take place next week. First time since 1946. #occupyoakland #ows #occupysf
11:18 PM: Oh, I didn't realize the last general strike was in Oakland. Very cool.
Thu, 27 Oct 2011, 06:05 GMT+3 - Occupy Protests
Occupy Oakland activists in California have agreed to support a general strike. In the general assembly just a day after protesters were evicted from their encampment, 1,484 voted in favour of the strike, 77 abstained, and 46 disagreed.
The last general strike in the United States was in Oakland in 1946
11:25 PM: Talks on the internet about whether to take General Strike nationwide.
11:41 PM: This is bullshit!
iRevolt Roqayah
by OccupySF
Oakland PD literally blocked entrance to metro station as to prevent demonstrators from reaching #OccupySF
11:48 PM: According to live feed, Oakland picked up a good deal of support tonight from unions - specifically mentioned Teamsters and Nurses.
11:59 PM: I'm sending a card tomorrow - I hope everyone does.
OccupyMARINES OccupyMARINES
by occupyingphilly
SEND A CARD or FLOWERS: USMC Scott Olsen Highland Hospital 1411 East 31st Street Oakland, CA 94602
Testing: Mainstream Media Fanning the Flames...
NYT Op Ed. The potential for violence and "hooligans on the left." A professor's fearful, pedantic warning about the potential for violence ignores the process of #OWS. Doesn't indicate an understanding of anything about the movement other than his references to the ancient Greece and the 60s. That was then, this is now. More proof that the MSM is full of phobic shit.
Technical Difficulties
So, something is terribly wrong with the site. Because I have no technical competence, I've deleted the last two days of posts and it didn't help at all (apologies to guest blogger James).
Hopefully, the problem was too many videos on the main page. So, we've limited the main page to one post and if I have too many videos in one day of live blogging, I'll divide into a second post.
Hopefully, the problem was too many videos on the main page. So, we've limited the main page to one post and if I have too many videos in one day of live blogging, I'll divide into a second post.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Live Blogging #OWS - 10/24/11
11:00 AM: Todd Gitlin piece on personal responsibility (ht Monte).
Also, this Mark Ruffalo speech is a bit dated, but Naomi Klein just tweeted it so, I figured I'd post it:
11:08 AM: A commenter over at Doug Henwood's blog asks what are the best books for someone looking to understand the current crisis, how to get out of it, etc. Mike Konczal, discussing a slightly different issue, laid out several critical works:
I would agree with those picks and would add:
I'm almost tempted to go old school and throw in The Jungle, but once you go there, there's a floodgates effect. So, keeping it relatively contemporary, this is - in my opinion - a great start. Anything I missed?
11:41 AM: Great post on the controversial Demands Working Group (important to note that what gets posted on the OWS website is not necessarily accurate or representative of the group).
11:55 AM: Love to Occupy Maine.
Occupy Together
There was an attack on those at the OccupyMaine encampment early Sunday morning. Police are investigating a chemical bomb that was thrown at the center of the camp. Luckily there were no injuries, but there was damage to the kitchen and medic tent. Please send them your support. Solidarity.
12:12 PM: How the Occupy Movement Won Me Over.
12:14 PM: This isn't an OWS post, but it's about the economy and I liked the moniker President Goldilocks so much, I had to post it.
12:18 PM: New Citizens Radio podcast - lots of Occupy stuff.
12:29 PM: OWS is the Next Republican Boogeyman.
12:30 PM: Occupy Chicago wants everyone to call Rahm:
NationalNurses NationalNursesUnited
by The99Percenters
Brave #nurses arrested at #occupychi while defending first aid station were released from jail less than an hour ago. #ows @OccupyChicago
And even more on Chicago...
12:37 PM: Occupy Colleges plan teach-in event for Nov. 2-3.
12:41 PM: Is GOP Afraid of OWS?
And, has OWS destroyed two Santas strategy?
12:53 PM: Why Tea Party and OWS are NOT the same (because the Tea Party is racist):
1:10 PM: This is long, but worth it if you can find the time:
2:27 PM: OWS Video
2:32 PM: Cops refusing to obey orders to arrest protesters (lots of talk about cops expressing sympathy, but this is the first I've heard of this).
3:06 PM: Arrests at Occupy Dallas.
3:36 PM: Great piece on Democracy Now (we're currently editing an Occupied Media interview with Ryan Devereaux of Democracy Now, whose coverage of OWS has been amazing).
3:47 PM: Chris Hedges!
4:34 PM: A chemical bomb - yes, a fucking chemical bomb! - was thrown into the Occupy Maine camp (evil fucks!):
4:37 PM: I love Occupy Melbourne.
Re-post of Noam Chomsky at Occupy Boston (I posted this yesterday, but the video was removed by the user):
And go check out occupypolice.org. We are obsessed with the police (for good reason). I admit, it surprised me that Congress just voted down a bill funding police and first responders. Naomi Klein was being facetious, but also serious when she said that governments need to couple austerity packages with increased funding of the police. I suppose JP Morgan will have to continue to fund the NYPD and the mega-rich can hire private security and plan submarine escapes (that's not a joke).
5:00 PM: The rich fight back with Occupy Main Street.
5:37 PM: More on Melbourne (story is at the bottom of the page).
5:47 PM: Open letter to Bloomberg from Russell Simmons.
5:49 PM: JP Morgan and food stamps.
5:52 PM: Quick, to-the-point video.
5:53 PM: Cornel West on Democracy Now.
6:43 PM: Michael Moore for my Mom (it's a great clip that I would've posted anyway, but I'm always happy to find a new Michael Moore clip because I know my Mom loves him, as we all do):
7:25 PM: Charts for the pitchforks.
7:26 PM: Angus Johnson makes a good point - if this would've been a suburban, white mother we all would've heard about it by now.
7:37 PM: I'm getting word that OWS is going to be shut down within the week over drumming.
7:54 PM: OWS cartoons.
I'm getting news that the above-linked report is not consistent with what happened at GA tonight. Here is JA Meyerson:
JAMyerson: Unless I'm missing something *huge*, this N+1 report and tonight's GA results are incompatible. http://bit.ly/rFvH29 #OWS
JAMyerson J.A. Myerson
Many drummers (Pulse) were in attendance/vocal at tonight's GA adoption of 12-2, 4-6 resolution. It passed unanimously on first try. #OWS
JAMyerson J.A. Myerson
The negotiations are ongoing (like whether to have expanded drumming hours on weekend). Whatever else is true, mediation not at dead end.
Bottom line, it sounds like OWS has gotten big enough that 100% consensus is getting difficult in several arenas (several working groups, for example, have adopted 2/3) and it looks like one person is causing a good deal of disruption regarding the drumming issue. Not completely surprising and I think OWS will work through them.
8:32 PM: Occupy Dame Street, Dublin (being totally adorable):
9:28 PM: Occupy the Hood Detroit (I just spoke with Occupy the Hood co-founder Malik Rahsaan today and hope to be interviewing him soon for Occupied Media).
9:38 PM: This is an old Village Voice piece regarding Naomi Klein's message to OWS. I may have even linked it earlier, but I want to link it now because it raises the difficult issue facing OWS - namely, how does a horizontal movement create the institutional structures necessary to sustain itself for many years.
10:26 PM: How economic inequality harms societies:
Also, here's a brief Anonymous piece about, among others, US Day of Rage founder, Alexa O'Brien (discussed in my interview with Firedoglake's Kevin Gosztola).
12:07 AM: Economists and debt crises:
Also, this Mark Ruffalo speech is a bit dated, but Naomi Klein just tweeted it so, I figured I'd post it:
11:08 AM: A commenter over at Doug Henwood's blog asks what are the best books for someone looking to understand the current crisis, how to get out of it, etc. Mike Konczal, discussing a slightly different issue, laid out several critical works:
Hacker and Pierson, Winner-Take-All Politics
Johnson & Kwak, 13 Bankers
Yves Smith, ECONned
Jeff Madrick, The Age of Greed
Doug Henwood, Wall Street (now available for free download)
David Graeber, Debt: The First 5,000 Years
Tamara Draunt, Strapped
I would agree with those picks and would add:
Naomi Klein, The Shock Doctrine
Joseph Stiglitz, Globalization and its Discontents
Paul Krugman, Conscience of a Liberal
Paul Krugman, The Return of Depression Economics
Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed
I'm almost tempted to go old school and throw in The Jungle, but once you go there, there's a floodgates effect. So, keeping it relatively contemporary, this is - in my opinion - a great start. Anything I missed?
11:41 AM: Great post on the controversial Demands Working Group (important to note that what gets posted on the OWS website is not necessarily accurate or representative of the group).
11:55 AM: Love to Occupy Maine.
Occupy Together
There was an attack on those at the OccupyMaine encampment early Sunday morning. Police are investigating a chemical bomb that was thrown at the center of the camp. Luckily there were no injuries, but there was damage to the kitchen and medic tent. Please send them your support. Solidarity.
12:12 PM: How the Occupy Movement Won Me Over.
12:14 PM: This isn't an OWS post, but it's about the economy and I liked the moniker President Goldilocks so much, I had to post it.
12:18 PM: New Citizens Radio podcast - lots of Occupy stuff.
12:29 PM: OWS is the Next Republican Boogeyman.
12:30 PM: Occupy Chicago wants everyone to call Rahm:
NationalNurses NationalNursesUnited
by The99Percenters
Brave #nurses arrested at #occupychi while defending first aid station were released from jail less than an hour ago. #ows @OccupyChicago
And even more on Chicago...
12:37 PM: Occupy Colleges plan teach-in event for Nov. 2-3.
12:41 PM: Is GOP Afraid of OWS?
And, has OWS destroyed two Santas strategy?
12:53 PM: Why Tea Party and OWS are NOT the same (because the Tea Party is racist):
1:10 PM: This is long, but worth it if you can find the time:
What is Conservatism? Part One from The Center for the Humanities on Vimeo.
What is Conservatism? Part Two from The Center for the Humanities on Vimeo.
What is Conservatism? Part Three from The Center for the Humanities on Vimeo.
2:27 PM: OWS Video
Where Do We Go From Here? Occupy Wall St. from Ed David on Vimeo.
2:32 PM: Cops refusing to obey orders to arrest protesters (lots of talk about cops expressing sympathy, but this is the first I've heard of this).
3:06 PM: Arrests at Occupy Dallas.
3:36 PM: Great piece on Democracy Now (we're currently editing an Occupied Media interview with Ryan Devereaux of Democracy Now, whose coverage of OWS has been amazing).
3:47 PM: Chris Hedges!
4:34 PM: A chemical bomb - yes, a fucking chemical bomb! - was thrown into the Occupy Maine camp (evil fucks!):
4:37 PM: I love Occupy Melbourne.
Re-post of Noam Chomsky at Occupy Boston (I posted this yesterday, but the video was removed by the user):
And go check out occupypolice.org. We are obsessed with the police (for good reason). I admit, it surprised me that Congress just voted down a bill funding police and first responders. Naomi Klein was being facetious, but also serious when she said that governments need to couple austerity packages with increased funding of the police. I suppose JP Morgan will have to continue to fund the NYPD and the mega-rich can hire private security and plan submarine escapes (that's not a joke).
5:00 PM: The rich fight back with Occupy Main Street.
5:37 PM: More on Melbourne (story is at the bottom of the page).
5:47 PM: Open letter to Bloomberg from Russell Simmons.
5:49 PM: JP Morgan and food stamps.
5:52 PM: Quick, to-the-point video.
5:53 PM: Cornel West on Democracy Now.
6:43 PM: Michael Moore for my Mom (it's a great clip that I would've posted anyway, but I'm always happy to find a new Michael Moore clip because I know my Mom loves him, as we all do):
7:25 PM: Charts for the pitchforks.
7:26 PM: Angus Johnson makes a good point - if this would've been a suburban, white mother we all would've heard about it by now.
7:37 PM: I'm getting word that OWS is going to be shut down within the week over drumming.
7:54 PM: OWS cartoons.
I'm getting news that the above-linked report is not consistent with what happened at GA tonight. Here is JA Meyerson:
JAMyerson: Unless I'm missing something *huge*, this N+1 report and tonight's GA results are incompatible. http://bit.ly/rFvH29 #OWS
JAMyerson J.A. Myerson
Many drummers (Pulse) were in attendance/vocal at tonight's GA adoption of 12-2, 4-6 resolution. It passed unanimously on first try. #OWS
JAMyerson J.A. Myerson
The negotiations are ongoing (like whether to have expanded drumming hours on weekend). Whatever else is true, mediation not at dead end.
Bottom line, it sounds like OWS has gotten big enough that 100% consensus is getting difficult in several arenas (several working groups, for example, have adopted 2/3) and it looks like one person is causing a good deal of disruption regarding the drumming issue. Not completely surprising and I think OWS will work through them.
8:32 PM: Occupy Dame Street, Dublin (being totally adorable):
9:28 PM: Occupy the Hood Detroit (I just spoke with Occupy the Hood co-founder Malik Rahsaan today and hope to be interviewing him soon for Occupied Media).
9:38 PM: This is an old Village Voice piece regarding Naomi Klein's message to OWS. I may have even linked it earlier, but I want to link it now because it raises the difficult issue facing OWS - namely, how does a horizontal movement create the institutional structures necessary to sustain itself for many years.
10:26 PM: How economic inequality harms societies:
Also, here's a brief Anonymous piece about, among others, US Day of Rage founder, Alexa O'Brien (discussed in my interview with Firedoglake's Kevin Gosztola).
12:07 AM: Economists and debt crises:
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Live Blogging #OWS - 10/23/11
2:13 PM: Doug Henwood - Taking the measure of OWS (first data about who is at OWS)
2:57 PM: Zuccotti Park is getting big enough that it has run into problems with the GA structure and is now discussing spokes councils (here and here).
3:01 PM: Article on communalism and democratic dimensions of anarchism.
6:00 PM: Will the police join the 99%?
6:05 PM: Banks "livid" at Dems for supporting OWS:
8:41 PM: The Sense of a Movement.
2:57 PM: Zuccotti Park is getting big enough that it has run into problems with the GA structure and is now discussing spokes councils (here and here).
3:01 PM: Article on communalism and democratic dimensions of anarchism.
6:00 PM: Will the police join the 99%?
6:05 PM: Banks "livid" at Dems for supporting OWS:
8:41 PM: The Sense of a Movement.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Occupied Media: Interview With Doug Henwood (10/15/11), #OWS
Occupied Media's next installment in its #OWS interview and teach-in series is with journalist and radio host Doug Henwood. Mr. Henwood is the author of Wall Street (now available for free download), a work consistently mentioned on a short list of must-read books for those wishing to understand the financial crisis and, more recently, the issues central to the OWS movement. Mr. Henwood blogs at lbo-news.com and hosts the critically-acclaimed radio show, Left Business Observer. His weekly newsletter is a must-read for anyone interested in OWS, as are his recent blog posts (see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here).
For years Mr. Henwood was one of the few voices promoting the very issues OWS has now forced onto the national agenda. I've really appreciated how his ideas about the movement have evolved - one gets the sense that he is sincerely trying to understand OWS on its own terms rather than interpreting it through a fixed ideological lens. In my opinion, he is raising the important and difficult issues facing our movement (many of which were discussed at this recent debate hosted by Jacobin).
We couldn't be happier that he took the time to speak with us and I'm sure everyone will find him to be as engaging and informative as we did.
It is Occupied Media's sincere hope that other occupations and/or supporters of OWS will contribute videos to the Occupied Media project - interviews, teach-ins, music videos, etc. Please direct all inquiries and video submissions to:
OccupiedMedia@gmail.com
OR
Plutocracyfiles@gmail.com
Special thanks to Occupy Missoula, the Occupy Missoula Communications Working Group and, in particular, to video editor Paul Shockey.
For years Mr. Henwood was one of the few voices promoting the very issues OWS has now forced onto the national agenda. I've really appreciated how his ideas about the movement have evolved - one gets the sense that he is sincerely trying to understand OWS on its own terms rather than interpreting it through a fixed ideological lens. In my opinion, he is raising the important and difficult issues facing our movement (many of which were discussed at this recent debate hosted by Jacobin).
We couldn't be happier that he took the time to speak with us and I'm sure everyone will find him to be as engaging and informative as we did.
It is Occupied Media's sincere hope that other occupations and/or supporters of OWS will contribute videos to the Occupied Media project - interviews, teach-ins, music videos, etc. Please direct all inquiries and video submissions to:
OccupiedMedia@gmail.com
OR
Plutocracyfiles@gmail.com
Special thanks to Occupy Missoula, the Occupy Missoula Communications Working Group and, in particular, to video editor Paul Shockey.