ON HOTTEST NIGHT, BROOKLYN RENT STRIKERS TO HOLD A 'SIDEWALK SLEEP-IN' FOLLOWED BY A PEOPLE'S INSPECTION THE FOLLOWING DAY

Where: 553-46th Street Brooklyn, NY
When: Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Vigil: starting at 6 PM
Sleep-in: starting at 9 pm

On what may well be one of the hottest summer nights of 2012, on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 in front of 553-46th Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, dozens of rent strikers, their families, members of Occupy Sunset Park, and supporters will gather for a vigil at 6 pm and will then hold a sleep-in on the sidewalk starting at 9 pm in front of their sweltering, decrepit buildings to protest the inhumane, unsafe, illegal and deplorable living conditions in the three adjacent buildings owned by one of the city's worst landlords.

The following morning, tenants will conduct a people's inspection of the buildings. Tenants have been told by the the Department of Housing and Preservation (HPD) Deputy Commissioner Vito Mustaciuolo that their landlord, Orazio Petito of Petito Management, has until July 19th to commence critical electrical repairs.

For years residents at three adjacent buildings in Sunset Park, Brooklyn (545, 553, and 557 on 46th St) have been living in fear of fires and electrical blackouts. Despite numerous complaints made to city agencies and politicians’ offices, documented housing violations (including unsafe electrical wiring, a broken boiler, and disease-triggering agents like mold, cockroaches, rats, and bed bugs) continue to threaten the lives of dozens of residents.

While many of these violations have persisted for years, the situation became more dire in recent months as the buildings underwent foreclosure. The buildings’ owner, Orazio Petito, has refused to do necessary repairs and continues to insist that tenants pay their rent. In the meantime, a cheap plastic fan is being used to keep the basement’s electrical box from overheating and catching fire.

In apartments that include a pregnant woman with two children, disabled tenants, and individuals with chronic conditions, residents went without heat and hot water during the winter months. Today, they face the threat of more blackouts and fear an electrical fire if they use much-needed air conditioning. For many residents, waiting weeks for a court order poses an intolerable risk to their lives. “Do we have to wait for a tragedy before we see action?” asked tenant leader Sara Lopez.

On July 5th, the affected tenants and various community members and allies, including members of Occupy Sunset Park and Occupy Wall Street, held a rally to stress the urgency of the repairs. The rally was immediately followed by a march to Felix Ortiz’s office. Felix Ortiz, a New York State assemblyman elected by Sunset Park residents, personally promised Sara and other tenants that he would work to resolve their unsafe housing dilemma. After weeks of no action, the tenants occupied Felix Ortiz’s office and demanded this Monday’s meeting.

Tenants have made it clear that if their demands for immediate repairs are not made, they will consider taking matters into their own hands, utilizing the support from groups like Take Back the Land and Occupy Wall Street to take on the emergency repairs. Such a step would represent the first such tenant mobilization effort in Brooklyn in recent memory.

Dear Direct Actionists, Anarchists, Anti-Authoritarians, Autonomists, Agitators, Instigators, Incendiaries, Troublemakers, Rabble-Rousers, Radicals, Revolutionaries, Fomenters, Firebrands, Malcontents, Mischief Makers, Miscreants, Movers and Shakers,

From the occupation of Zuccotti Park to the May Day General Strike, the Occupy movement has engaged in direct action. As a result there has been a renewed interest in the concept and its history. Let us take this opportunity to deepen our collective understanding!

Join us for our first gathering of Café de Cleyre --a direct action reading group and film series!
Tuesday, July 24
16 Beaver (4th floor)
6:00 PM

Cafés have served as an important site of social gathering and debate. In this spirit, and inspired by the writings of anarchist and feminist Voltairine de Cleyre, we seek to study direct action so as to inform our struggle against the state and capitalism.

In striving to develop consistency between our principles and interactions with one another, this group offers a horizontal approach to learning. Drawing from personal experiences as well as films and readings, Café de Cleyre is an opportunity to engage in a participatory model in which everyone has something to offer and everyone has something to learn. We place emphasis on asking questions over assuming answers.

We wish to explore questions such as:

• What is direct action and what forms can it take?
• What distinguishes direct action from other types of action?
• When and where has direct action been used through history?
• How does direct action work to dismantle all systems of oppression, such as white supremacy, patriarchy, colonialism, heterosexism, transphobia, ableism, and ageism?

In future weeks, the group will collectively decide which texts to read and which films to watch. Discussions will be guided by different facilitators each week. For the first gathering, we are asking folks to read any and all of the following suggested pieces:

• Voltairine de Cleyre, “Direct Action,” in The Voltairine de Cleyre Reader, edited by A. J. Brigati (pp. 38-50) (1912/2004)
• David Graeber, “Direct Action, Anarchism, Direct Democracy,” in Direct Action: An Ethnography (pp. 201-238) (2009)
• AK Thompson, “Direct Action, Pedagogy of the Oppressed,” in Black Bloc, White Riot: Anti-Globalization and the Genealogy of Dissent (pp. 59-79) (2010)

Additional readings (if you have the time):

• Jason Brannigan, “Direct Action Gets the Goods,” in Working Class Resistance 10 (2005)
• Sans-Titres Bulletin 1, “What is Direct Action?” A-Infos News (1999)
• Rob Sparrow, “Anarchist Politics & Direct Action,” (2001)
• David Wieck, “The Habit of Direct Action,” in Reinventing Anarchy, Again, edited by Howard Ehrlich (pp. 375-376) (1996)

We will also be viewing Shutdown: The Rise and Fall of Direct Action Against the War (2008), a documentary reflecting on the shutdown and occupation of the Financial District in San Francisco on March 20, 2003.

Tea and coffee will be provided; feel free to bring food! For more information, please contact cafedecleyre@riseup.net.

So please join us:
Tuesday, July 24
16 Beaver (4th floor)
6:00 PM

See you at the Café!

via Student Power 2012

Students from all over the U.S. are planning a National Student Power Convergence in Columbus, Ohio from August 11-14th. Inspired by successful, youth-led campaigns at home and transformative movements abroad, students in the U.S. feel the need for a national movement. The convergence will bring together hundreds of students from across the country to discover the connection between our struggles and ignite a broader movement for justice and equality.

The convergence will feature appearances from organizers of international movements like the spokesperson for Québec’s CLASSE student union and noted speakers like Naomi Klein. Participants will learn from leaders of historic student movements and key organizers behind successful campaigns to stop the Keystone Pipeline and fight the deportation of Dream Act eligible students.

The convergence will include trainings designed to equip attendees with movement building skills and strategy sessions to connect a wide variety of organizers from across the student movement. Students from fledgling statewide networks like New York Students Rising, the Ohio Student Association, and many from more established groups are organizing the event.

This is the most diverse, tech-savvy generation in our history – and the first that can’t expect a higher standard of living than its parents. Our generation sees its opportunities increasingly eroded by inequality, racial injustice, and austerity. The political system, ruled by corporate interests, no longer serves the people. Students refuse to allow our country to continue going fiscally, morally, and culturally bankrupt.

“As students from the U.S., we come from a legacy of progress through resistance. Now it’s time to unite and realize that nobody can shape our future but ourselves,” says Biola Jeje, a CUNY student helping to plan the convergence.

From the mass student movements of the 1930s to student sit-ins of the 1960s, young people have instigated some of the most significant social and economic shifts in our nation’s history. Groups like SNCC and SDS were among the most influential change-makers of the 20th century. Now, it’s our turn.

The past year has shown resurgence in youth activism. From Wisconsin to Keystone XL, from Occupiers to DREAMers, youth in the U.S. already have the will and determination to forge a politically transformative movement. The convergence will provide a shared space where U.S. youth can determine a path for collective action.

http://studentpower2012.org/
@studentpower12 /// facebook.com/studentpower2012

Occupy the Hood has organized a weekend of action—dubbed “Hood Week”—where OTH chapters from all over the country will come together for community building, positive networking, education, and empowerment. OTC chapters will converge in Atlanta for Hood Week over the July 20-22 weekend to promote peace and unity within neighborhoods.

Occupy the Hood is an affinity group working to bring more people of color and their concerns to the Occupy movement. To learn more visit them on the web at www.officialoccupythehood.org or on Facebook or Twitter.

HOOD WEEK SCHEDULE

FRIDAY (July 20th, 2012)
Occupy The Hood Meet & Greet!
8PM-2AM

An evening of introduction and positive networking. Buy tickets in advance here. Hurry, tickets are limited.

The OTH Meet & Greet will Feature:

• Occupy The Hood National Chapters
• The artwork of local Atlanta artists
• Tattoo artist on rooftop
• Conscious poets

SATURDAY (July 21th, 2012)
“Unity Day” Occupy Your Mind!

Grow something! Teach something! A day of building, workshops and community service designed to educate, engage and empower. Email OTH at HoodWeekATL@gmail.com for vending or sponsorship info.

SUNDAY (July 22th, 2012)
Occupy The Hood Presents: “Rep Your Hood” Blowout BBQ Finale
2PM-9AM
Maddox Park (1142 Donald Lee Hollowell Pky Nw, Atlanta, GA 30318)

This will be a family reunion style event, because we are FAMILY! Several activities, music artists and informational speakers will be there. All we need is YOU, and your dish and/or drink.

There are several community organizations (local and national) slated to donate their time and resources to this cause. Occupy the Hood would love to have your assistance in this effort as well. You can reach them at Occupythehoodatl@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/OccupyTheHoodAtlanta for further info/sponsorship packages.

Also, please consider donating on WePay to help make Hood Week a success.

This is the latest press release from Occupy Los Angeles on last week's Art Walk events. See here for more background.

LAPD PUSH, SHOOT, KICK MAN IN FACE, ARREST HIM AT ARTWALK
LAPD Arrest and Harm More Artwalkers than Occupiers at “Chalk Walk”

LOS ANGELES – Early Sunday morning videos surfaced online of LAPD violence at Thursday’s Downtown LA Art Walk. LAPD pushed at least one unknown man, shot him in the chest at close range, then kicked him in the face while Occupiers were trying to help him, then the cops squish his face into the ground, then the cops arrested him.

As seen in a youtube video recorded from above, the man was clearly backing up from a line of at least 30 police officers. He turns and walks onto the sidewalk when a police officer pushes him into the street and other officer shoots him in the torso at close range.

After the man stumbles to the ground, two Occupiers come to his aid but police move in, chase the occupiers off, 14 officers surround the man, while one officers kicks the man in the face, then other officers smash his face into the pavement, and violently arrested him. Another youtube video, shows the incident from on the ground.

Occupy activists say at least 4 people were injured with police projectiles.

One young man admitted himself to the hospital Friday after complaining of pain and numbness in his face where he said a bean bag hit him as he was walking into a 7/11 store. Pictures from the Thursday night show his face swollen, bruised, and bleeding.

Reportedly, occupiers took him to a safer place further from the police and called the ambulance for him but the paramedics told him it would cost over $1,000.00 to take him to the hospital and if he could not afford it he could walk or take the bus (which were mostly likely not running because of the police violence downtown).

Allegedly, after this young man got out of the ambulance, the police arrive, hand cuff him tightly, stick him in the back of a squad car and interrogate him.

Another online video shows LAPD shooting three shots into the crowd in three different directions within seconds of each other. The video also features one of the victim’s bleeding wound.

Members of Occupy LA say that 100% of the people that the LAPD injured with ‘less-than-lethal’ weapons are not active members of their group and nearly 90% of the people arrested by LAPD Thursday night were non-occupiers.

Amateur video shows police wrestling a small woman to the ground and body slamming her boyfriend. Another amateur video shows parts of three different arrests including a female that two LAPD officers pushed repeated before slamming her to the ground and arresting her.

Occupiers claim that only two of the 17 or more arrests made by LAPD were of occupiers and the rest were downtown artwalkers. In addition, members of Occupy LA say that at least 7 of the 9 vandalism arrests were made before 9pm, long before police in riot gear made it to the scene.

Occupiers claim LAPD provoked the crowd, so they could escalate their force against them.

The first arrest took place shortly after 7pm and moments after the group walked onto Spring Street from 5th Street. Witnesses report seeing at least 3 motor cycle cops, 5 patrol cars, 12 cops, and 4 private security guards.

Shortly after that arrest, LAPD Lt. Peter Casey and another officer used their batons to push Occupiers into a bolted-down garbage can, a parked van, and into the streets.

According to Lt.Casey, police are applying Penal Code 594, an anti-vandalism State law, as reported by Dan Bluemel for L.A. Activist. Demonstrators say LAPD and prosecutors would have to prove ‘malicious intent’ to get any convictions.

Occupiers claim water-soluble chalk on sidewalks does not warrant probable cause for malice.

One arrestee wrote “I love the world” and then LAPD promptly arrested him.

“There’s nothing malicious about chalk on a sidewalk,” said the occupier, “and besides, sprinkles of light rain had washed away most of what had been written before riot police showed up.”

As seen in yet another amateur video, one male artwalker drew a heart with the words ‘the police’ next to a heart on the sidewalk as Occupiers read off California Civil Code 52.1, “The Bane Act”, to at least 10 LAPD officers standing by.

The Bane Act provides protection from interference by threats, intimidation, or coercion or for attempts to interfere with someone's state or federal statutory or constitutional rights.

Four LAPD officers quickly detained the unknown man who drew a heart for the police, forcing him into the street. Video of the arrest shows Lt. Casey pushing on the back the unknown man’s neck forcing his head down while 3 other officers push the man for behind.

“The man was freely expressing love toward law enforcement,” says another Occupier, “How could that be malicious, evil, or immoral? LAPD was the only malicious ones at Artwalk. ”

Occupiers say the LAPD are trying to threaten them with intimidation and coercion. Occupiers maintain that LAPD over reacted, used excessive force, and began the violence with arresting peaceful people without warning.

“Using chalk to deface public or private property is against the law. When a police officer tells you to stop doing something that is against the law, you need to stop.” Chief Beck told news reporters.Occupy activists say the LAPD personnel cannot even seem to agree on whether washable chalk constitutes a crime of vandalism.

LAPD Officer Karen Rayner told the Huffington Post “it’s not vandalism because it’s not permanent.” She went on to say that she really did not know though.

Timothy Paul Adams, from Orlando, was the fourth person arrested Thursday night. As LAPD arrested him, Adams told the arresting officers about his friend, Timothy Osmar, an occupier that Orlando PD arrested for chalk earlier in the year.

The city of Orlando spent $200,000 defending the Osmar’s arrest, yet the courts sided with the occupier’s Constitutional Rights.

The Occupiers planned the evening with the goal of “having fun, staying safe, and reaching out”. In a briefing before what they call “Chalk Walk”, activists announced they were hoping there would be no arrests during Artwalk.

Occupiers remained peaceful while continuing their outreach efforts until riot cops showed up nearly three hours – and half a dozen arrests— later.

Occupy LA has taken part in the monthly Artwalk each month since their encampment began on City Hall lawn last October. There had been other Occupy arrests at previous Artwalks, however, activists say this is the first time cops responded with riot gear and projectiles and violence on Artwalkers.