In my post last night, I mentioned that plans were afoot in New York for some kind of mass action on Thursday. Well, over the past 24 hours, plans have solidified a bit. According to the Occupy Wall Street website, things will begin at 7:00 tomorrow morning, in Zuccotti Park, where protesters will try to “shut down Wall Street” by “confront(ing) Wall Street with the stories of people on the frontlines of economic injustice.” The idea, it would seem, is to set up something of an alternate stock exchange on the street, with people exchanging their experiences, instead of securities. Then, people will break up into groups, taking over subway cars around the City, and spreading the message – “Resist austerity. Rebuild the economy. Reclaim our democracy.” Details concerning how people both inside and outside of New York can show their solidarity, are shared in the following video, shot early this morning, during a General Assembly (GA) meeting in Zuccotti Park.
And here’s the text that accompanies the video on YouTube:
On Tuesday night, just hours after the eviction and clearing of Zuccotti Park, 1500+ people re-entered for a general assembly to discuss and announce an action against the New York Stock Exchange on November 17. The call is for people of all walks of life to join them in solidarity at 7:00 am. They are asking everyone to make their own simple cardboard placard. One that clearly and succinctly conveys your personal reasons for joining with the 99% Movement. Those who are willing to sit in key entry points to the stock exchange are invited to do so. Those more comfortable with bearing witness from the sidewalks are also most welcome to join.
Here’s hoping the anarchists stay home, the cops don’t act out, and the message continues to spread.
[note: Tomorrow’s events can be monitored via Twitter here.]
20 Comments
“Here’s hoping the anarchists stay home”
Well that’s obnoxious. Could we at least accomplish something, anything of substance, before we sell out everyone more radical the Clintons? If the communists and anarchists can cooperate for a couple of months, surely the liberals can stow their daggers for a while.
Yeah, I came here to gripe about that statement too.
I’ll make sure to skip your next event, Mark, now that I know I’m not wanted.
The anarchists that show up and start shit in these crowds, they’re cops man. The media and the establishment is playing us for fools. The OWS people are non violent. They sneak undercover cops in too start shit so they can justify beating up the non violent protesters.
GO look it up and you’ll see what im saying. It no BS and its an old tactic.
I believe there are agent provocateurs among the anarchists. I also believe that there are some stupid people who, on their own, without anyone paying them to do so, like tying bandannas around their faces and smashing things. Just as there are bad cops, there are bad protesters. Maybe they don’t all define themselves as “anarchists” but it would seem to me that a good number do. And I believe that they should stay home. They aren’t helping the movement. To suggest that these individuals do not exist is ridiculous.
From the Twitter feed:
Live video:
http://boingboing.net/2011/11/17/occupy-wall-street-occupies-wa.html
From BoingBoing:
13,000 people are watching this Ustream broadcast.
Z Park was just reopened by police, probably to get protesters off of the streets. People are running in with backpacks. It looks like they might be trying to put tents back up. Word is that the kitchen is reopened.
I found a photo of some of the “get a job” counter protesters.
http://www.dangerousminds.net/comments/huge_pro_capitalism_counter_protest_shows_up_at_shut_down_wall_street
Video of police dragging woman in New York.
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-705266
Steel Bridge occupied in Portland.
http://twitpic.com/7fffkj
82 year old woman arrested in LA:
http://yfrog.com/kjeomqlj
Riot police squaring off with protesters in LA:
http://yfrog.com/h2bm5ywj
From a post on Reddit:
http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/mfrs2/nypd_are_blocking_a_sidewalk_and_asking_for/
Non-violant?? Guess your interpretation is different than “the rest of America”. Bias is the only word here!
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/occupier-delivers-chilling-threat-you-going-to-see-what-a-molotov-cocktail-can-do-to-macys/
How many arrests of this “NON-Violent” solidarity? You, Obama, Pelosi and Reid all own this Van Jones commie movement and outcome now.
http://weaselzippers.us/2011/11/17/update-number-of-arrests-from-todays-occupy-wall-street-day-of-action-hits-75/
A photo of the retired Philly cop that was arrested in NYC today:
http://i.imgur.com/2tLzE.jpg
They’re estimating 3,000 to 5,000 marching now.
Protesters have been stopping masked black block individuals from destroying property.
It’s getting dark, and the fear is that things could turn ugly.
Close to 30,000 are watching the Other99 Ustream channel now.
I agree that Mark’s final statement is unfortunate, but I do so in reference to his intended meaning – that the protest stays nonviolent and follows all the unconstitutional regulations made up differently each day. Just because the royalty of this country aren’t shooting the rest of us with rockets and real bullets doesn’t mean they’re not taking our lives. I’m impressed and stunned that things haven’t escalated in proportion to the often random violence committed by police in any of the protests, but I’m not convinced it’s the most efficient way to tell the ruling class that the underclass is serious. One group owns the law makers, the law interpreters, and the law enforcers. It doesn’t matter how committed the other group is to making a point – the first group can define what is “right” any way they want. Part of peaceful protesting relies on the threat of making those in charge look bad by bringing injustice into stark contrast. I think it’s obvious that no one in charge of anything cares about that anymore; they know, just like we do, that if their right hands get voted out in the next election, another sinister appendage will take its place. And the poor right hand will retire to anonymity behind two gates and hundreds of millions of dollars.
The coordinated efforts of police forces and officials, masterminded by shadowy organizations (all of whose job descriptions feign public service), to inflict physical and economic damage to the banner carriers and to manipulate the law of our “democratic” country to label dissent illegal tells me that the war has already begun. The protesters can sacrifice their time and criminal records until every last one of them is even more penniless and disenfranchised than before, and we’ll all know that the history books should say that they were right, but I don’t see the imperial record-keeper taking much note of what was once right when not a single crack was made in the palace walls, not one flaming ball of tar destroyed the princess’ evening gown.
Crowd is now chanting, “Bloomburg beware, Zuccotti Park is everywhere.” I wish I was there.
The problem with those stupid bandana wearing morons is they take the teeth out of protest.
The best strategy is not to use violence but maintain the illusion that violence is possible if pushed far enough. There is strength in restraint.
Once that first rock is thrown, it’s all over.
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/302218_248011835259135_100001509608162_681107_1680533050_n.jpg
What I was trying to say in a few hundred less words.