For those still up, and wanting to be a part of “the Whole World is Watching” the main live stream is: http://www.livestream.com/occupyboston There is a large presence of clergy. Occupy Boston rented u-haul trucks, and any valuable and useful material was packed up and taken to storage. Supporters are present from Occupy Worcester. A brass band is playing for the dance party and, if you wish, at least virtually, you are there. I spent about two hours on site, until my arthritic feet went dead on me, and returned to a virtual link. My participation in the participatory democratic movement “Occupy Boston” requires that I honor all my other commitments and remain physically safe.
Because the judge’s decision contained language that was not convincing to many in the movement, they feel that the honorable action is to fuel the movement and the metamorphosis by a willingness to endure arrest if that is what the city determines must occur. Having read the decision, I do find it problematic. What I find the least legally sustainable is, in fact, blaming occupations and protests for police over response and violence. To me, that is like the old defense counsel tactic of blaming a woman for being dressed in such a way as to inflame lust, such as to be blamed for the lust of an assailant. But you don’t have to take my word for it: http://blog.thephoenix.com/BLOGS/phlog/archive/2011/12/07/10-bombshells-from-the-occupyboston-court-decision.aspx Lovely post about ten of the worst legal errors and strange assertions embedded in Judge McIntyre’s 25 page decision.
Tonight continued the metamorphosis of Occupy Boston into a more mature movement. Being freed from a single space, the political
transfiguration of Occupy Boston was energized into a citywide action movement. The Boston Occupier is firmly established and will continue publication. The open town meetings, also called general assemblies, held as the governance for a movement of leaders will continue to occur – with the next scheduled general assembly on the Boston Common on Friday night, December 9, 2011. The many working groups continue to meet, plan, and act. Like an eaglet learning to fly, or a hatchling reaching the sea, the next stage for Occupy Boston means increasing strength. From one tent city will flow many forms and locations of occupation. Metamorphosis represents
growth, and by embracing change with discipline, Occupy Boston continues as a guardian of democratic change and renewal.
I never slept a night in Occupy Boston. Passing by them in Dewey Square was worthwhile. I earn very little money, but am proud of sharing food with those people. I believe in making history. I prefer peace over carnage. Peaceful change, however, may require us to formally ask presently-enlisted military rank-and-file soldiers and commissioned officers, even top brass (like Leon Panetta), to support our historical motions for a better Earth. Our world is a better place, because Egypt (the Misr) itself, regardless of foreign spectatorship, realized that a Muslim Brotherhood need not be demonized, but appreciated as a key to undoing dictatorship and imperialism. Veterans for Peace has earned our respect for taking the blows of police violence during Occupy USA, but Bob Massie for US Senate sagefully followed Chris Rocks’ advise on how not to get our backs kicked by police. If we want to park for free around Magazine Street without getting towed or pepper-sprayed, extend a communication to Cambridge’s Finest, so we can all enjoy our three-piece birthday cake, shrimp and salad. Occupy USA might have winged too much their mobilization as to presume that working class, middle-class, big-government police employees (such as Fraternal Orders of Police) would sway in to our directive against predatory banks and financial institutions. Actually handing a flower to a government paid gun-holder is a winning gesture, as compared to typing up over-cerebralized essays against Menino. Occupy Boston props up too many tents, instead of emphasizing imminent love-action. Even wild birds can snatch free food. What we the people must thrust in is our emphasis on Jobs, Home or shelter security… “It’s raining on the poor class [L.F.]” and we working poor cannot afford to marvel at the glamorized violence of Hollywood. “The Departed” won cerebral awards for movie-making, espousing sensations which destroy working Americans’ chances of securing housing. DiCaprio kills a man within the store premises of a small Boston business. That’s an evil way to get us to bite our popcorn, considering that even a small Assault and Battery charge will forfeit us poor Americans from benefiting from housing programs such as those offered by South Middlesex Opportunity Council. Clergy are boring. Coeds excite me more. Getting arrested may or may not be a blunt exercise. I myself refuse to get arrested by Boston’s Finest and pay fifty bucks I can’t afford for a civil infarction. Change is decisive. Blood need not be shed. A protracted campaign might not serve as well as a decisive action. Four days in 1986 was what feudal Filipinos used to swap a human rights-violating dictator FEM with another oligarch CCA. Egypt did better. Egyptians put resolve above tents and convenience. Anyway, I got to sleep now and have to go to work later.
The photo reminds me of a leftist bookstore in Central Square in Cambridge in the late 1990s. The area was being gentrified, and the landlord had moved to evict the bookstore, probably to build condos or to seek a more upmarket tenant or something. For maybe a month, the bookstore had a banner up: “You Can’t Evict The Spirit!” Then one day it and the bookstore were gone.
THIS NOTICE AND REQUEST ARE POSTED AS AN OPEN INVITATION
As many of you know, this week the temporary restraining order was lifted from the camp, which was promptly followed by a 12-hour eviction notice from the mayor, issued yesterday, giving protesters until midnight to voluntary leave Dewey Square.
In response, over a thousand people showed up for an all-night dance party. The Second Line Band played until 2 a.m. Veterans for Peace were out in force. Rogue bankers were circling the park, shouting to defend the right to private property. We took over Atlantic Avenue and set up tents in the street It was an amazing night!
We don’t expect to be able to do this forever. What we’re hoping, at the moment, is that we can hold off an eviction for the next two or three days, to solidly demonstrate that the message is being heard and understood, and to buy some much-needed time to plan next steps.
In the next 72 hours, we are going to try to fill Dewey Square between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. — shifting all regularly scheduled daily programming to evening hours. If you have a band, a costume, a secret stash of giant puppets — if you can show up at midnight and run a teach-in on ANY subject — if you have been wanting to organize a build party, a workshop, or a flashmob — please consider coming out between now and Sunday! The daytime hours, from now until Sunday, will be spent cleaning, organizing, discussing, and figuring out how to move forward.
We’re looking for people TONIGHT, tomorrow, and Sunday, and are trying to put together a schedule of events for the next 72 hours. We have GA tonight at 7. If you’re interested, please get in touch with us ASAP! I’m also available all day today to discuss by phone – 410-967-5207.
Thanks so much for your help and support!
OCCUPY BOSTON FACILITATION AND OTHER WORKING GROUPS
ps: TO TEDF: Nothing lasts for ever. Have a great, but sober and joy filled, party even while you grieve, for today is what you and I make of today, yesterday is a dream, and tomorrow while it has roots in today is beyond our reach.