January 27, 2012

5:00 PM

Please join Occupy Museums this evening as we re-assemble inside the Museum of Modern Art. Two weeks have passed since our January 13th action, in which we stood in solidarity with Teamsters Local 814 Art Handler’s Union in its struggle to end the lockout of the union by the billion-dollar auction-house Sotheby's. In light of the numerous ties between MoMA and Sotheby's, we demanded that the museum call for an end to the lockout by its corporate affiliate.

As part of our action on the 13th, a banner was dropped in the second-floor atrium calling for an end to the lockout. The head of Security at MoMA coercively confiscated this now-historic banner. In a public letter sent to the museum one week ago, we called it a “unilateral acquisition” and stipulated that the museum accede to our conditions of publically calling for an end to the lockout to complete the acquisition. In turn, the museum called for us to retrieve the banner, stating that it was "left" on the premises, as if by accident. We know and they know that this is untrue; a rather disgraceful attempt to ignore an uneven acquisition policy, and the larger issues about concentrations of money and power in the art world we are raising.

The fact that public-money-receiving “non-profit” MoMA shares two board members with Sotheby’s— a speculative, for profit auction house whose business benefits greatly from the approval major museums give artist’s work— could possibly be purely coincidental.

It is not coincidental that Occupy Museums and the Teamsters local choose a Target Free Friday to re-claim their artwork.  As working artists and locked out union members—it is the only day, we can afford to enter the museum.  As it turns out, this free day was initiated not by the mega-retailer, but rather by pressure from a group of artists/activists called the Art Workers Coalition in the 1970’s. Their struggle then, and our shared struggle today is to put culture into the hands of the 99%- the artists, art lovers and workers who are largely invisible to the museum. 

Today we will present MoMA a second chance to stand up for the rights of Sotheby's art handlers- the workers behind the scenes of the glamorous 1% auctions.  We invite the museum directors and staff to join our assembly and respond to the conditions we have made public. This show of solidarity from a major institution will be an invaluable support as the 99% prepare to stand for equality and justice for all workers on May 1st and beyond. Expect Us.

-Occupy Museums

Approximately 35 people arrested for nonviolent civil disobedience, singing in courtroom: “Mr. Auctioneer, all the people here are asking you to stop all the sales right now.”

Brooklyn, NY — This afternoon approximately one hundred people peacefully and powerfully disrupted a foreclosure auction by bursting into song. At 3pm the foreclosure auctioneer attempted to start bidding on homes that had been foreclosed upon. When the bidding started, the courtroom burst into song:

“Mr. Auctioneer
All the people here
Are asking you to stop all the sales right now
We’re going to survive, but we don’t know how”

More video from inside the courtroom coming soon.

The National Lawyers Guild estimated that approximately 35 people were arrested. Those arrested continued to sing as they were handcuffed and escorted out of the courtroom.

In advance of the proceedings, Occupied Real Estate agents distributed brochures that profiled the properties up for auction with photos of protesters out front.

“If speculators want to bid on these listings they should know that they come with eviction defense activists from Occupy Wall Street,” said Danielle Moeser of Occupied Real Estate, a “realty agency” that lists properties available for occupation or in need of eviction defense.

Today’s action is part of a growing national movement committed to stopping foreclosures and keeping all Americans in their homes. Last month over 50 actions were carried out across the country, including foreclosure disruptions, eviction defense actions, and home reoccupations. Occupy Wall Street participants and other occupations across the country have been highly involved in these actions.

“We bailed out the big banks, and then they went on to foreclose on millions of families. That’s just heartless,” said Michael Premo, an organizer with Organizing for Occupation and Occupy Wall Street. “We’re committed to keeping homes occupied by people who need homes.”

For more information on action to stop foreclosures:
Organizing for Occupation
Occupy Homes

Defend Brooklyn homes from foreclosure today by stopping the auctions!

Date/Time Date(s) - Thu. Jan 26 2012 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Location Brooklyn Supreme Court 360 Adams Street Brooklyn, NY

1-2pm - Meet first at FUREE, 81 Willoughby Street, Room 701, Downtown Brooklyn

Read More...

Greetings from the Occupy Wall Street Public Relations Working Group, sometimes called the OWS Press Team, which goes back to the earliest days of the Occupation in New York City. Many of you may have met us at the Press Table in Liberty Square and many more of you media-makers have continued to reach out and tell the stories of the 99%.

Yesterday a press release went around that gave many the impression that Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is represented by a public relations firm. Read More...

https://twitter.com/#!/OccupyUMB For more information.

Press Release transcription below the fold from: http://www.scribd.com/doc/78957195/Occupy-UMass-Boston-Press-Release-1-23-2012

Read More...

Occupy Wall St. West

via Occupy SF:

"At Van Ness and Geary protesters squared off against a blockade of riot cops in the rain. "Cops go home!" was chanted with brazen voices as the police rampantly pepper sprayed protesters as they waited for reinforcements. The march continued onward when suddenly the familiar sound of revolution rang through the air as [the Black Bloc] smashed through a luxury car dealerships window which caused a rift amongst the march. At this point a meeting was called and the decision was made to head to the Cathedral Hill Hotel which had been expropriated by the protesters. A marching band played jubilant tunes and a banner was dropped: People's Food: Bank of America."

Occupy LA vists UC Riverside, previous coverage:

[...] Riot cops w/ pepper ball guns massing to "guard" the regents from a nonviolent, peaceful protests of students. The same students that the regents at UC-Riverside are supposed to be representing[...]

They've declared it an unlawful assembly twice now, but have since tried to fictionalize the narrative w/ "Stop advancing on the officers" -- Students ARE NOT ADVANCING, just demanding free education and the regents to open up their meeting. Private regents meeting is actually against the law.

Lots of OLA'ers in the protest of about 500.

~ Ryan Rice

The cops were not happy with no arrests at the action earlier in the day, and have used rubber bullets on peaceful students, and community members (as reported by PMBeers).

January 17 at 9 am
Capitol Hill

Washington, DC—On January 17 Americans from across the nation and the world will assemble in the shadows of a broken system to participate in real democracy.

At 9 am on the opening day of Congress, Occupy Congress will convene for a day of action against a corrupt political institution. Actions include a multi-occupational General Assembly, teach-ins, an OCCUParty, a pink slip for every congressional “representative” and a march on all three branches of a puppet government that sold our rights and our futures to the 1%.

This is an illegitimate system. Around half of the nation’s population doesn’t participate in electoral politics. More than 6 million Americans who want to vote are disenfranchised, including the entire populace of the District of Columbia. There is consensus that we are on the wrong track and that our “leaders” do not have our interests at heart.

All “elected” officials bought their way into gerrymandered seats with Wall Street money. These bankers’ henchmen have shown themselves both unwilling and unable to take on the tremendous, systemic issues in our country, our place in this world.

In the face of this endemic corruption, the Occupy movement is about organizing locally to discuss and change these problems from the ground up. We came to show the 1%’s Congress what democracy looks like.

Our nation, and our world, is in crisis and our “elected” officials have failed us. They refused to hold their bankrollers—Wall Street—responsible for the financial crimes that bankrupted our nation and destroyed the global economy. This last legislative cycle was the least productive in recorded U.S. history; 90% of the country disapproves of these “elected” officials.

We refuse to accept the grim future that Wall Street’s cronies have designed. We refuse to be the 1%’s captive citizenry. We stand together to show that the 99% are creating a better world.

The 99% will no longer be complacent. Our many voices will be amplified on the steps of Capitol Hill. We shall have a nation by, for, and powered by the people once again. We are building it.

###

#OccupyCongress is a part of the Occupy movement, which began with Occupy Wall Street on Sept. 17, 2011, in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District. #Occupy is a people powered movement that has spread to sustained occupations in hundreds of cities in the United States and actions in thousands of cities globally. #Occupy is fighting back against the corrosive power major banks and multinational corporations have over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest depression in generations. The movement is inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, Spain, Greece, Italy and the UK, and aims to expose how the richest 1% are writing the rules of the global economy and the laws of the land, imposing an agenda of neoliberalism and economic inequality that is foreclosing on our future.

TONIGHT (Jan. 15th): Join at the Riverside Church in Harlem (490 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10027) at 8:00pm for a candlelight vigil honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. Other vigils are happening across the world!

Members of the African-American faith community have joined forces with Occupy Wall Street to launch a new campaign for economic justice inspired by the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Faithful to its philosophical origin, the "Occupy the Dream" coalition has called for a National Day of Action to Occupy the Federal Reserve tomorrow to focus attention on the gross injustice visited upon the 99% by the financial elite. Clergy members and Occupiers in over 16 cities will come together in Austin, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, DC, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Francisco, St. Louis, Wilmington, and beyond. In Manhattan, we will gather tomorrow (Jan. 16th) from 10am to 1pm at 33 Liberty Street (NY, NY 10045).

Afterward, join Occupiers in Sunset Park, Brooklyn for a 99% Unity Day celebration and community speak-out to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr! We will be gathering at Trinity Lutheran Church (4th Ave & 46th St in Sunset Park) at 3pm. There will be refreshments, childcare, English-Spanish translation, speakers, performances, an open mic, and a march to the court house!

Occupiers and the 99% movement across the country have found creative and diverse ways to honor the legacy of Dr. King by putting his vision into practice. Here are just a few examples:

• Boston: The Occupy Boston People of Color Working Group will host OB's weekly Community Gathering encourage participants to think about what Occupy Boston and the public can learn from the ideas, campaigns, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Attendees of this free event will listen to excerpts from King's speeches and hear from activists from the 1968 Tent City occupation of the National Mall. There will also be a teach-in about the failure of "3 strikes/habitual offender" legislation, open discussion about racism and the Occupy movement, slam poetry, hip-hop, and more.
• Philadelphia: Occupy Vacant Lots and the Housing and Economoic Empowerment Group will come together for an MLK Day of Service to help cleanup local lots for community use before marching in the Occupy the Dream March in Center City.
• Minneapolis: Occupy The Hood will be hosting an MLK Day March for Jobs, Housing, and Justice. From their statement: "On this King Day observation we will march in the spirit of Dr. King’s desire for justice for all. So in his honor we march to demand: jobs for all; a freeze on foreclosures; housing for all; workers rights and a livable wage; no more cuts to social programs; an end to racist mass incarceration; an end to scapegoating immigrants; an end to discrimination in all its forms."
• Chicago: Occupiers will kick off the Occupy the Dream Week of Action by going directly into the communities hit hardest by the foreclosure crisis and reclaiming a boarded up home to give it to a family in need. Also, after a discussion about Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1966 work and legacy in the housing struggle in Chicago (including the formation of tenant unions, rent strikes and eviction blockades that became central to the black struggle for housing justice), a coalition of Chicago community groups will begin a city-wide canvassing effort targeting homeowners facing foreclosure. Events and actions will follow all week.
• Baltimore: In honor of Martin Luther King and Occupy the Dream, protesters will begin a five-day occupation of the proposed site of a juvenile detention center. The youth jail will cost over $100 million, even as the city intends to close or privatize recreation centers because of "budget shortages." Schools Not Jails! seeks "to demand a change in how city and state funding is deployed; let’s confront the institutionalized social, political, and economic racism in this city head on. Let’s fight together for better jobs, better schools, a better Baltimore for everyone."
• Atlanta: Occupy Atlanta will continue to camp out in front of Higher Ground Empowerment Center, a beloved local church that has offered programs and resources for the area's under-resourced communities, which stands to be foreclosed on by BB&T.

via Occupy Portland:

This is a national day of action just one day before the second anniversary of the infamous Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which held that corporations (as people entitled to the rights of the U.S. Constitution) can spend unregulated and undisclosed sums of money in order to influence elections. [There are] over 80 rallies at federal courthouses around the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

Actions planned in New York City:

5 OR 5:30pm - March from Liberty Sq to Foley Sq
6pm - Rally across from Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse
@ 40 Centre St.

Meanwhile, in San Francisco, we will Occupy Wall Street West with a day of mass mobilization, nonviolent direct action, and civil disobedience centered around the SF Financial District:

"Wall St.", shorthand for corporate power, is not just in New York City. The San Francisco Financial District has long been nicknamed "Wall St. West" because it is also a major center of corporate power and wealth. We have named and mapped these financial institutions so that we can occupy them. Let's expose how Wall St. operates in our midst, attacking our communities, homes, education, environment, democracy, livelihood, and well being. Let's push back against corporate power, overthrow the rule of the 1% and its legal foundation of corporate personhood. Let's build a better world!

Occupiers there have asked people, groups, movements, and communities from San Francisco, the Bay Area, and across California to walk out of school or work, self-organize, and take action to disrupt business-as-usual. If you're interested in joining them, click here for more information and resources!