Trial starts Monday, July 9th at 9:30 am - supporters will gather outside starting at 8:30 am
DC Superior Court: 500 Indiana Ave NW Washington, DC
On November 19, 2011, a group of DC community members going by the name "Free Franklin" entered and occupied the former Franklin Shelter building at 13th and K St NW. Protesting the lack of homeless shelters in DC and the city government's ongoing attempts to dispose of publicly owned property, the occupation was intended to put public resources to use to meet community needs.
Six of those arrested at the occupation are facing charges of unlawful entry. The Franklin building belongs to the people of DC and the Free Franklin defendants, who carried out the occupation to re-open the building for its rightful owners, should be found not guilty! Join us in the courtroom to support the defendants and to send a message that DC communities want control of our public property to meet people's needs, like addressing the crisis of homelessness and lack of affordable housing in our city.
And take action by going to the link at the top and calling Mayor Gray and the City Council to demand that Franklin be re-opened to serve the community's needs.
Join us as we protest the federal government's participation in the foreclosure epidemic and Fannie Mae's planned eviction of a Detroit family at the McNamara Federal Building at 477 Michigan Avenue in Detroit on Monday, July 9 at noon! Call Fannie Mae at (312) 368-6200 and demand that Fannie Mae call off the eviction of Jennifer Britt and her family! Click here for FB event.
More info: The big banks have been waging war on Detroit's neighborhoods, leaving homeless families and blighted, vacant homes in their wake. The banks' ongoing campaign of fraud, corruption, and greed has caused senseless destruction across Michigan, and in Detroit most of all. Jennifer Britt's story is one egregious example of this terrible phenomenon.
Posted 12 years ago on July 4, 2012, 3:15 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
¨These three buildings are in danger of fire. We could die!¨
Tenants Call a Rent Strike and Rally Demanding Immediate Emergency Repairs
When: 12 Noon, July 5th Where: 553, 545, and 557 46th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, Brooklyn NY Facebook Event
Fifty one families in three buildings on 46th street are organizing a rent strike and have called a rally to press for immediate emergency repairs, to be held at 12 noon on July 5th at 553, 545 and 557 46th Street. “We just want to live like human beings,” said Sara Lopez, a tenant leader.
Residents welcome solidarity and support from the community, including Occupy Sunset Park, because despite numerous documented housing violations such as fire hazard wiring, garbage, and vermin, and numerous complaints to City agencies and politicians, there has been no action yet to remedy the hazardous conditions. “Do we have to wait until there's a tragedy before we'll see action?” Sara Lopez said.
Lopez, who has lived in her building for 40 years, explained the landlord was always negligent, but conditions in the buildings have gotten worse now that the three properties are in foreclosure. Recently the buildings underwent a 12 hour blackout during which super Israel Espinosa refused to respond to tenant requests for help. Lopez stated that this winter there was heat and hot water for only three days.
The tenants have taken many steps to confront their slumlord, Horacio Petito of Peto Management, but the situation is being handled slowly through the courts. They say they can’t wait months for something to change. They need something to happen now since they fear a fire or medical emergency. The affected residents include a pregnant woman with two children, some disabled tenants, and people with chronic conditions who suffer without electricity. The tenants have compiled a petition for repairs with almost 75 names on it.
Residents have documented violations (everything from unsafe electrical wiring, frequent blackouts, a broken boiler, lead paint, mold, cockroaches,rats, and bed bugs).They have filed complaints at the 311 hotline; appealed to State Assembly member Felix Ortiz, and City Council Member Sara Gonzalez; filed a request for emergency repairs with the City's Department of Housing Development and Preservation (HPD);reached out to and received assistance from community based organizations (5th Ave Committee and Neighbors Helping Neighbors); called the 72nd Precinct and the Fire Department. Nevertheless, there has been no action yet taken to remedy the situation.
Posted 12 years ago on July 4, 2012, 10:25 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Shot on the front lines and meeting spaces of the Occupy movement in NYC, Boston, and Washington, DC from the earliest days through the end of January 2012, American Autumn: an Occudoc is an inside looking out view of the occupy movement.
With interviews and insight from key organizers, thinkers and activists including Medea Benjamin, David Degraw, Dr. Margaret Flowers, Lee Camp, Naomi Klein, Nathan Schneider, Ashley Sanders, Vlad Teichberg, Sgt. Shamar Thomas, Dr. Cornel West, Kevin Zeese and many more, writer/ director Dennis Trainor Jr weaves commentary and a fearless style that often puts the viewer right between police and protesters.
The film includes an original score by Goldi, a member of the OWS music Rebel group and Guitarmy, with additional original music created by Mike Lawrence-Yanicelli.
The legendary punk band FUGAZI supplied additional songs.
AJ Russo served as the Associate producer, co-editor, and created all of the graphics; James Russo served as the audio designer.
Posted 12 years ago on July 4, 2012, 10:15 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
The following article was written by Marta Sánchez for Reflections on a Revolution about #15M, the Spanish social movement that helped give rise to #OWS.
A silent revolution emerges from the underground. Far from losing strength, decentralization has allowed 15-M to become ever more dynamic.
Is the 15-M movement going invisible? Or is it rather gaining strength in the ‘underground’? The mainstream media keep claiming that the indignados have lost support since last year, that its only success is its ability to bring people together on special dates. Spanish newspaper El País concluded in May 2012 that, one year after the birth of the movement, popular support and sympathy for the indignados had decreased around 13% among the Spanish population, despite the massive mobilizations that took place from the 12th until the 15th of May, commemorating the anniversary of the movement. ABC opened its edition of May 15 stating that “the indignados movement shows less strength on their anniversary.” But the media misses the point. In reality, rather than losing strength, the movement has become stronger, more organized, better coordinated, and supported by the commitment of hundreds of people.
