What’s next for Occupy?
11:30 pm in Uncategorized by Jackie Wilson
What’s next for Occupy?
Interoccupy held a call tonight for updates from the Nato protests in Chicago. I had some sound problems and missed the early updates, but heard the very interesting last hour discussion about the future of Occupy.
One caller asked what tomorrow’s main message should be: the police state and freedom of speech or anti-nato.
Joan Donovan, OCLA and Interoccupy, reflected on how the people have gotten to see the police state in all its might used against citizens practicing free speech, and how this was something not seen seven months ago. Things are different. The people see that its different.
Dean Edwards, Occupy Oregon Media, relayed how the Frankfurt police did the protesters job: their over-the-top force of 5000 accomplished just what the protestors sought – they shut down the city.
Alexander of OWS pointed out that the structure of the current corporate system requires war, and the people are not having it. Tasha agreed and said we’re not taking it anymore, and we need to blitz the news and grow through outreach.
Victoria Ross, Occupy Buffalo and WNY Peace Coalition, thought we must keep the anti-war message front and center.
The focus then moved to beyond tomorrow and what’s next for Occupy.
Dean Edwards stressed embracing the larger vision of the 99%, and reports great success, even with non-ALEC Republicans, when you listen to their needs and approach them as one of the 99% community.
Joan agreed with many of the suggestions and said our Next Steps should be All Steps.
Victoria echoed that and gave a great analogy of the effect our united efforts will have to the effect termites have on a building. By the time you even know they’re there, the foundation is crumbling. She cited the tearing down of the Berlin Wall as such a moment for the people.
I recently read something about the early discussions calling for an encampment on Wall Street, and them trying to come up with one demand. What is our One Big Demand? We were taunted for lack of one, and it’s still an off the cuff answer: “I would be involved if they could only figure out what they want.”
This organic thing, this evolving people’s movement, could not come up with a demand because it is impossible. Because the entire system is broken. We must remember the larger vision of the 99% community, we must continue to protest, and let the police state assert itself into oblivion. Hey! We must continue to do just what we have been doing, only now we’ve grown up and are becoming highly organized leaderless leaders.
Next Steps? All Steps!
Joan – you invented a new chant. I’m with you.
