dagblog - Comments for "Occupy the Highway Reaches Baltimore"

Here are the OtH + OB folk

Donal — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:49:00 +0000

In reply to Occupy the Highway Reaches Baltimore

Here are the OtH + OB folk marching in from Patterson Park:

Here's Alex speaking (you can just see my leg next to Lisa) and then Lisa at 1:20, and then Darrick leads the mic check greeting, then just a lot of the people I saw there:

To clarify, OccupyBmore was

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:02:19 +0000

In reply to Occupy the Highway Reaches Baltimore

To clarify, OccupyBmore was not involved in the planning of the SleepOut. The event was coordinated by 9 local schools, homeless advocates, and allies. OccupyBmore decided to support these efforts with a solidarity march. The alliance with Occupy for the night was circumstantial, and although shows one point of agreement between the SleepOut coordinators and the Occupy movement, it is not reflective of wider approval.

Hear, hear.

Donal — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:41:30 +0000

In reply to Thanks so much to all who are

Hear, hear.

Hi Lisa's mom. I love the

Ramona — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:48:00 +0000

In reply to Thanks so much to all who are

Hi Lisa's mom. I love the enthusiasm of the young. They're our greatest assets, and we need to encourage and nurture them. I love, too, that the OWS crowds, for the most part, are protective of them and work at keeping them safe. They are our future hope and need to feel that they're a part of the solution. So good for your daughter for caring enough to spend her days working at this.

The pepper-spraying at UC-Davis was horrific, but if it does anything it may just light more fires under those who are sitting on the sidelines cheering on the protesters from afar. It could be a catalyst, like the scenes of the fire-hosings were during the Civil Rights protests.

Thank you for coming here to share your thoughts about your daughter and this very important movement.

The local occupy groups here

trkingmomoe — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:33:59 +0000

In reply to Thanks. I just found this

The local occupy groups here meet on the weekends for a rally and protest. Occupy Sarasota is also busy with a food drive to help the local food banks. The area is dotted with homeless camps and the food pantries can't keep up with the need. Occupy Bradenton rallies are well received by local traffic and conducted with in local laws. The movement hasn't slowed down in my corner of the country.

Thanks so much to all who are

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:28:56 +0000

In reply to Occupy the Highway Reaches Baltimore

Thanks so much to all who are helping the marchers, and there is a warm place in my heart for those who have helped Lisa. She's always given me reason to be awed, amazed, and worried...such a blessing to be her mom. Forces for good in the universe (which I refer to as God), please shine happiness onto these enlightened, conscientious folks who are marching, and the far larger crowd of people who stand by them. Keep the peace as they get to DC and deliver their message.

Occupy Baltimore Statement,

Donal — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:01:21 +0000

In reply to Occupy the Highway Reaches Baltimore

Occupy Baltimore Statement, Nov 20

... We would like to thank the thousands of supporters from across the city and across all walks of life who have already committed time and effort. We would like to acknowledge support from the AFL-CIO, SEIU, Good Jobs Better Baltimore, United Workers, City Union of Balto, Fire Officers Local 964, Fire Fighters Local 734, Public School Administrators and Supervisors Association Local 25, Balto Building Trades Council, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, AFSCME 67, AFSCME Local 647-67, AFSCME Local 2202-67, AFSCME Local 558-67, AFT, Baltimore Teachers Local 340, Postal Workers, and thousands of ordinary citizens, many of them city and state employees.

This movement is unstoppable. It is bigger than any city, any person, or any tent. Attempts to quell our protest will be answered with more people, more power, and more purpose. In the event of eviction, we call on the citizens of Baltimore to join us in the streets and fight for our right to fight for justice. You cannot evict an idea whose time has come.

*SECOND: In Defense of Occupy Baltimore, tents and all!*

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake held a press conference on Wednesday, November 16, and stated publically that the city plans to evict Occupy Baltimore “at a time of our choosing.” She has referred to our protest as “camping.”

Camping is a leisure activity. As it typically involves tents, we understand the confusion. Our tents, however, offer us the protection necessary for a prolonged protest. Our physical occupation of McKeldin Square is an expression that is clearly protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Unlike money, it is free speech.

This is what our occupation says: we have exercised our right to assembly in a time of crisis. It says: we are here because this is a place of gross material excess, of corporate greed and human rights violations. It says: we are here as a symbol of the injustices that the members of 99% endure – 24 hours a day. It says: you cannot ignore us. ...

Really terrific report,

Oxy Mora — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:28:07 +0000

In reply to Occupy the Highway Reaches Baltimore

Really terrific report, Donal. Thanks so much for taking the time to engage and write about it. Combined with Synch's piece, a rare glimpse into what's actually going on. We should all feel privileged to get these insights and first hand experiences.

Thanks. I just found this

Donal — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:19:01 +0000

In reply to Donal, I hope you keep

Thanks. I just found this article about a less inclusive sort of protest:

In the suburbs, the Occupy movement has a whole different flavor. And there is, unbeknownst to many, a lot of occupying being done beyond big city borders. At least 30 Occupy movements exist from Santa Cruz north through Alameda and Concord to Vacaville, Napa and Santa Rosa. The message is the same as in the big cities. But most of those movements, with a few notable exceptions such as Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa, don't involve tents, and even there the method is mellower - more upscale, less rageful, cleaner.

I liked her a lot. She kept

Donal — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:13:00 +0000

In reply to I, too met Lisa in Harford

I liked her a lot. She kept apologizing for her "verbal diarrhea," but I realized that she was too tired and cold (and dispossessed) to control her raw emotions. She said something about sweating through through her layers.