The Occupations Report: 1/17/2012
This report includes updates from Occupy sites and related efforts across the country and the globe. It includes big wins, local organizing efforts, protests/events, police activity reports and calls to action where additional support from allies/general public may be needed.
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Big Win this Week
Victory for Higher Ground Empowerment Center
Tuesday, January 17
[Occupy Atlanta] Today, BB&T bank agreed to a fair deal with the church, after an intense, 3-hour negotiation between bank executives and the church, Occupy Atlanta and Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The bank agreed to modify the church’s loan to make it affordable. Just as importantly, the bank agreed to transfer ownership of the property back to the church. (The bank had seized ownership of the property last year). And the bank has even agreed to meet with Vine City community members next month to discuss ways in which BB&T bank can invest in the local community.
“Today is a triumph for Higher Ground Empowerment Center,” said Senior Pastor Dexter Johnson. “We thank God for Occupy Atlanta and for Joe Beasley [of Rainbow PUSH Coalition].”
“BB&T has done the right thing and we’re grateful for that,” said Tim Franzen of Occupy Atlanta. “Today is an overwhelming victory for the Occupy Movement and the Vine City Community. We couldn’t have done it without Rebuild the Dream. And this is just the start of a lot of work we must all do for struggling underwater homeowners and property owners across the country.”
Higher Ground Empowerment Center, a 108-year-old church located in Martin Luther King Jr.’s old neighborhood, was heavily damaged by a tornado in 2008. Their insurance wasn’t enough to cover repairs, and they were forced to take out a loan. The loan went “underwater,” meaning the loan became worth more than the property itself and it became increasingly difficult for the church to pay it back. For years, BB&T ignored the church’s requests to work out a loan modification. Instead, last year, the bank seized ownership of the property. And last week, the bank started to evict them.
Rebuild the Dream launched an emergency petition last Friday. In just three days, more than 65,000 people signed the petition [http://act.rebuildthedream.com/sign/is-nothing-sacred/], calling on BB&T CEO Kelly King to stop foreclosure and agree to a fair loan modification with the church.
Today, the petition signatures – more than 3,700 pages worth – were delivered directly to BB&T bank executives by the church’s senior pastor, activists from Occupy Atlanta, and Joe Beasley of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. They also delivered comments from hundreds of BB&T bank customers who signed the petition, expressing shame and outrage at the bank’s attempts to evict the church and calling on the bank to do the right thing. The petition played a key role in showing that people across the country were paying attention, and helped force the bank to negotiate fairly with the church. Thank you to everyone who signed the petition and took a stand for justice and dignity!
Occupy Congress
Occupy Protesters Gather at the Capitol
Tuesday, January 17
[Huffington Post] Protesters affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement will meet outside the Capitol in Washington for what participants hope will become the largest gathering of Occupy activists from around the country. Participants say they plan to decry the influence of corporate money in politics and show the House of Representatives what real democracy looks like. The House reconvenes Tuesday after its winter recess. The protest comes as the nation’s capital has emerged as one of the strongest bastions of the Occupy movement, in part because the National Park Service has allowed protesters to maintain their encampments in two public squares near the White House. Participants say the daylong demonstration will be peaceful, although it’s possible some will risk arrest. You can watch the livestream from DC at http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution.
Occupy Atlanta: Donate and Sponsor an Occupier to Occupy Congress
Occupy Atlanta is going to Washington DC to join with people from all over the world to Occupy Congress. This is an international movement with a very local calling. Civil, Social and Economic activists are gathering to descend upon Washington DC to define and demand real change in our culture. In the vein of Dr. King and the civil rights movement, on his birthday (Monday January 16) your passionate comrades at Occupy Atlanta will be joining them.
To do this, Occupy Atlanta needs your help. Donate at https://www.wepay.com/x35k6qi.
Money donations will be used to subsidize fuel costs for the 1200 mile journey. Your support through donations of tents, sleeping bags, and thermal clothing will ensure that your occupiers are warm and safe during this midwinter expedition.
VIDEO: OCCUPY CONGRESS VIDEO
Check out this short video about Occupy Baltimore’s attempt to prevent a local eviction. The video includes interviews at the foreclosure action about the upcoming Occupy Congress Action happening on January 17th in Washington DC. Watch the video here: http://bit.ly/yEU4nL.
Occupy Los Angeles
#J17 Occupy Congress Los Angeles March
Tuesday, January 17 at 3:00 p.m.
Occupy LA will march from Union Station down Sunset Blvd during Rush Hour Traffic. The march is set to end at the office of Congressman Xavier Becerra. Becerra is 1 of 12 Congress members (out of 435) who are on the Super Committee. Twice last year the U.S. government threatened to shut down if Congress did not raise the debt ceiling. Congress finally agreed and to eliminate fighting they formed a SuperCommittee of 12.
Occupy Tulsa
Tuesday, January 17 at 10am
Occupy Tulsa occupied the office of Congressman John Sullivan’s. The action is part of a larger campaign taking place nationwide, and centering on the capitol in Washington, DC. The Tulsa group presented a list of grievances as part of the protest, and issued a statement demanding the Congressman listen to the voice of the people, instead of the lobbyists of the corporations. The public is invited to join and make their voices heard. More information about the nationwide effort can be found at: http://www.occupyyourcongress.info/.
SOPA Blackout: January 18th
On Wednesday Jan. 18, Reddit, Wikipedia andmany other websites will black out their content in protest of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) and the Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act (OPEN). Organizers of the SOPA Strike are asking interested sites to black out their content for 12 hours and display a message encouraging users to contact their congressional representatives and urge them to oppose the legislation. SOPA is a bill that was introduced in the House on October 26, 2011. If made law, SOPA Supporters claim that SOPA would not only target “rogue” foreign websites that encourage online infringement, but the bill’s vague language would create devastating new tools for silencing legitimate speech all around the web.
Occupy Boise: Anti-SOPA Blackout Action
Wednesday, January 18 from 10a.m. to 1p.m.
Public Direct Action Working Group will be standing in solidarity with occupies across the nation in the Anti-Sopa Blackout. We will be meeting on the Occupy Boise Encampment and will target corrupt businesses that support SOPA. We will be “blacking out” advertisement with non-permanent fixtures.
Occupy Brooklyn: SOPA Protest
Wednesday, January 18 from 12:30pm-2:30pm
This Wednesday the New York tech community will take to the streets in support of Internet freedom.
The New York Tech Meetup is organizing a protest of the PROTECT IP Act (the Senate version of SOPA, the Internet censorship bill) outside of the offices of New York senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
We’re hoping for thousands of people.
Can you join? http://nytm.org/sos/
That’s 12:30 PM on Wednesday, January 18th at 780 Third Avenue (at 49th St.) in NYC.
Schumer and Gillibrand are ignoring concerns about the impact PROTECT IP will have on the Internet and the New York tech community. It’s time to call them out.
Learn more: http://nytm.org/sos/
Occupy Chicago
Funeral for the Bill of Rights
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 4:30pm
Occupy Chicago and the general public are welcomed to gather and mourn the loss of our dear friend, Bill of Rights at LaSalle and Jackson Plaza on January 17, a National Day of Action. Bill of Rights was brutally beaten to death by a gang of thugs, eventually succumbing to wounds of massive hemorrhaging and blunt force trauma. Those claiming responsibility are National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), Protect the IP Act (PIPA), and ‘Mayor 1%’ Emanuel for his permanent limitations of free speech and assembly beginning at the NATO/G8 summits on May 15-22. For more information, please visit http://www.facebook.com/events/342050319156988/
Occupy the Courts
Occupy the Courts is a one-day occupation of federal courthouses in more than 75 federal courthouses across the country on Friday, January 20 to commemorate the second anniversary of the undemocratic and bizarre Citizens United decision. Occupy the Courts is sponsored by Move to Amend, a national coalition formed to abolish never-intended corporate “personhood.” More than 100 cities across the U.S., including the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. will participate in this national day of action. Move to Amend has proposed a constitutional amendment proclaiming corporations are not people and money is not speech.
Occupy Albany
Occupy the Courts
Friday, January 20, 2012
Occupy Albany will rally outside Foley Federal District Courthouse this Friday at noon. For more info, please visit the Occupy Albany Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/events/237430679664863/.
Occupy Cleveland
Occupy the Courts Rally and March
Friday, January 20, 2012
Occupy Cleveland will hold solidarity actions with Occupy the Courts on January 20th. Join Occupiers for a vigil at the Metzenbaum Federal Court from 11am to 1pm for a vigil and subsequent march through downtown Cleveland. “Help us proclaim that CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PERSONS and MONEY IS NOT SPEECH!
Occupy Long Beach
Occupy the Court Rally
Friday, January 20th
This Friday Occupy Long Beach will gather in front of the federal building to mark the second anniversary of the infamous Citizens United v. FEC decision. Occupy the Courts will be a peaceful one day occupation of Federal courthouses across the country. https://www.facebook.com/events/246338102096402/?ref=ts Santa Ana Federal Courthouse, 411 West Fourth Street, Santa Ana, CA
Workers Rights
Occupy Brooklyn
Rally to Unionize Cablevision
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 6pm
Occupy Brooklyn will join with community organizers for a rally supporting a Brooklyn unionization drive at Cablevision. Occupiers will gather to confront the management of Cablevision and then Al Sharpton will march with workers to a rally at a local church. Reportedly, Cablevision has kept wages, benefits and working conditions significantly below the standards of union workers. There have been other attempts to unionize over the last 15 years, but met with vicious and illegal anti-union tactics by the company and their high-priced union-busting lawyers.
An additional element is that while the Brooklyn workforce almost exclusively black, management almost exclusively white. More than 70 percent of the 280 field technicians, dispatchers and other employees have signed cards seeking representation. But the election, on January 26th, may still be close, and they are continuing to be subject to threats, harassment, and compulsory workplace meetings where they are lectured against the union.
Occupy Chicago
Workers’ Power: Labor Solidarity Workshop
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 10:00am
The Occupy Movement is part of an international struggle against the richest 1% who are attempting to solve the economic crisis they created by drastically cutting the living standards of working people. In Chicago this has meant closing down public schools, shuttering mental health clinics, reducing health care for the uninsured, decreased public transportation, cuts in library hours – all while cutting taxes for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. All 50 Aldermen have united behind Mayor Emanuel in these attacks, and Preckwinkle and Quinn are taking similar measures at the County and State levels. This Labor Solidarity conference aims to bring together those who are fighting back, to not only network and learn from one another, but chart a way forward with common goals in mind. For more info email:
Schools Not Jails
The Schools Not Jails Occupation, in collaboration with Occupy Baltimore and the Baltimore Algebra Project, is a five-day action designed to call into question the budgeting priorities of the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore by highlighting the unnecessary allocation of $100 million in state funds for the construction of a 180-bed youth detention facility–an amount that would cover the annual budget shortfall that threatens to close or privatize the Baltimore City Recreation Centers for 333 years.
Occupy Baltimore
Schools Not Jails Organizers Will Return To Site, Despite Arrests
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
[Occupy Baltimore] Organizers of today’s Schools Not Jails Occupation kickoff rally and action say that they have no plans to cancel the program of events planned to take place at the proposed site of the juvenile detention center in East Baltimore this week, despite arrests and an aggressive police presence earlier today. Tuesday’s program of events begins with breakfast at the site at 8AM, and ends with a 6PM dinner and a teach-in on Youth and the Prison Industrial Complex with Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle at 7PM. Organizers say that, despite the six arrests and the loss of the tent, the first day of the action achieved their ultimate goal: calling attention to the planned construction of the youth jail, and demonstrating to the city and state governments that the residents of Baltimore City have different priorities for public spending and want to have a say in how public funds are dispersed. Organizers plan to spend the week discussing alternatives to the problems in Baltimore that the jail is intended to address, and bring proposals to the mayor’s participatory budget hearing at Cylburn Arboretum on January 21. Check out video and get updates on the Schools Not Jails action at http://schoolsnotjails.wordpress.com
J21 Global Day of Action
Occupy Chicago
J21: Global Day to Support Egyptian Revolution
The group Egyptians in the US, and specifically the Egyptians in Chicago chapter, have requested the support and participation of Occupy Chicago at their event commemorating the one year anniversary of the start of the Egyptian Revolution, on Saturday, January 21, 2012, from 12:30pm to 3:00pm. January 25, 2012, will mark one year since the beginning of the Egyptian Revolution. Until now many of the revolution’s demands have not been met. The Egyptian people have suffered extreme brutality, and many fatalities in their struggle for freedom. Occupy Chicago is asking the community to show up and stand in solidarity with the Egyptian Revolution. Get more info at https://www.facebook.com/events/333069303378244/
Occupy in the News
Modern America: Occupy the Dream? — RT
http://rt.com/news/us-youth-business-occupy-941/
By RT – Four months after Occupy Wall Street grew into a nationwide phenomenon, America’s Occupyactivists plan to descend on Capitol Hill to “Occupy Congress” on Tuesday in what organizers hope could be the movement’s largest gathering yet.
Daniel Dworkin: Occupy Your Company: Three Leadership Lessons …
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-dworkin/occupy-wall-street-leadership_b_1206290.html
By Daniel Dworkin – The Occupy Wall Street protesters have taught us a number of critical lessons about mobilizing movements that leaders — whether business, political, or non-profit — should bear in mind.
Occupy the Dream: The Mathematics of Racism (DETAILS) | Global …
http://globalgrind.com/news/russell-simmons-occupy-the-dream-dylan-ratigan-msnbc-occupy-wall-street-exclusive-blog
By Russell Simmons – Today, Monday, January 16th, all across the country people will be marching on the Federal Reserve Bank to promote racial and economic justice. I will be at the Federal Reserve Bank in NYC on Liberty Street and Broadway at 11:30AM.
Global Grind
U.S. News - Occupy Congress: Could it be politics as unusual?
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/17/10167307-occupy-congress-could-it-be-politics-as-unusual
By Miranda Leitsinger – Thousands of Occupy protesters from across the country are expected to converge Tuesday on Capitol Hill to take their message to the halls of Congress, in what some observers say is the movement’s overdue moment to engage the …
Newsvine – U.S. News – Articles
Occupy Chicago joins national protests at Fed Reserve banks | WBEZ
http://www.wbez.org/story/occupy-chicago-joins-national-protests-fed-reserve-banks-95572
Two members of the coalition’s national steering committee, Benjamin Chavis Jr., and the Reverend Jamal Bryant, say the effort will be led by prominent members of the African American clergy, OccupyWall Street participants, students and …
Chicago Public Radio City Room…
Lessons of an Irvine occupier | emahn, irvine, occupy - Home – The …
By By YVETTE CABRERA THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Home: Lessons of an Irvine occupier | emahn, irvine, occupy, says, school, people, issues, time, majid, group.
The Orange County Register -…
Occupy Protesters On MLK Day: ‘Banks Have Crippled America …
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/01/17/occupy-protesters-on-mlk-day-banks-have-crippled-america/
By Adam Harrington
A few hundred people assembled in an almost-vacant Loop Monday for an “Occupy the Dream” rally near the Federal Reserve Bank.
CBS Chicago
Police evict “Occupy St Peter’s Square” protesters – ucanews.com
http://bit.ly/ycfh3c
By paddy
Police evict Occupy St Peters Square protesters An attempt to bring the worldwide Occupy protest to the steps of the Vatican ended in clashes with police and a forcible eviction.
ucanews.com
The Daily Occupation Report is compiled by Rebuild the Dream using information gathered from online news sites, Twitter, blogs and other sources of occupation-related updates. You are welcome to share this report and can download the Word document version at http://rebuildthedream.com/occupy-update.
If you have any questions, feedback or would like to contribute reports from your local Occupy site, please send them along with your contact information to or .
For more updates from occupations around the country, listen to the Occupation America podcast at http://soundcloud.com/occupation-america
