Day One of the Occupation of Freedoom Square

October 7, 2011 a world of progress, progressive living No comments

The Raging Grannies opened the day's events.

I had the best of intentions. I was going to come back after each day of the Occupation of Freedom Square and blog.

But we spent 12 hours in the sun, took the wrong train, came back, finally arriving back in the room at 11 p.m. After I finished uploading my photos and finished sharing my excitement with my tripmates, I was done in.

As soon as I got to Freedom Plaza, I knew I was involved in something historic. Yes, the feeling was there when I stood with Occupy Asheville, but that was 150 people and this was 1,500 before noon.

And the crowd was peaceful and in great humor. People are angry, but there’s a sense that we’re finally doing something. We’re out in numbers large enough to be noticed. When we marched to the US Chamber of Commerce, we were 2,000 or more strong, and when we stood outside chanting, “Where are the jobs!?” you could hear us for blocks.

As we walked back to Freedom Plaza, we chanted, “Tell me what Democracy looks like.” “This is what Democrascy looks like!” Drivers honked their horns and gave us the thumbs up; pedestrians waved, took photos and flashed the Peace sign.

I did see one older, well-dressed man scowling and shaking his head. I figure he’s a banker.

I’m on my way back to the square now for Day 2.

The revolution will be tweeted

October 4, 2011 a world of progress, progressive living No comments
At the kickoff of Occupy Wall Street Asheville. The event started with a memorial to Troy Davis, who was executed in Georgia despite doubts about the fairness of his trial.

I’m heading up to Washington tomorrow with a couple of friends and I plan to stay for the first four days of the October 2011 Movement’s occupation of Freedom Square. When I get back, I’ll hook up with the Asheville crowd.

I’ve said for years that we need to take to the streets, and now, finally, we’re doing just that. We’re telling the 1 percent that we, the 99 percent, aren’t going to roll over and allow ourselves to be abused any longer.

The beauty of this movement is that it’s nonviolent — at least on our part.

The Right has been saying we have no cohesive message, but we do. The problem is, our message won’t fit onto a bumper sticker because there are so many things wrong now.

For years, those in power have managed to keep people apart by attacking different parts of society: education, health care, wages, the social safety net and more. They have risked our national well being with dangerous and illegal wars and other adventures.

But we who want reform are finding ways to work together now, and we have coalesced into one huge group. We have united and we are working together.

At first they tried to ignore us with a virtual media blackout. A friend of mine who works for a newspaper has told me no stories moved from The Associated Press for the first two weeks except for a couple of short briefs.

The New York Times changed an online photo caption after 700 protesters were herded onto the Brooklyn Bridge by police and then arrested for blocking traffic. The first caption told the truth; 20 minutes later, the caption said only that 700 protesters were arrested for blocking traffic.

The media are owned by huge corporations and they have a stake in the failure of this movement. Fortunately, we have social media. There have been attempts to stop tweets and Facebook posts, but enough of us are getting through.

I will tweet from Freedom Square and I will blog from a hotel in the evenings, unless I get arrested, which is entirely possible.

Corporate personhood must be abolished, Wall Street must answer for its crimes and we the people must re-take the reins of government.