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We are the 99 percent

Break Up With Your Bank, Fall In Love With the 99%!

Posted 12 years ago on Feb. 14, 2012, 6:42 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

occupy your heart

It’s Valentines Day, and Occupiers are showing our love. In New York, OWS held a bed-in and kiss-in against elected officials in bed with Wall Street. Others joined with social and environmental justice groups to break up with Bank of America for profiting from unjust foreclosures and the destruction of the environment. After Occupiers in Tacoma were unjustly tazed by police after shouting down presidential candidate Rick Santorum during a speech against same-sex marriage in Washington state, Occupy Austin brought same-sex couples to ask for marriage licenses in the Texas capital. Occupy Oakland is on the move chanting "We love Oakland!" Across the world, we encourage supporters to break up with their banks - Occupy Los Angeles is even marching to banks to break up in person.

Love is not a commodity that can be purchased. We show our love by fighting for a better world. Here are just a few ways Occupiers have been showing our love this week.

students in pennsylvania

We show love by resisting foreclosures to keep families in their homes. Today in Chino, CA, Occupy LA is figting to save the home of an active-duty soldier by disrupting the foreclosure auction after Wells Fargo is trying to leave his family and children homeless. Thousands of supporters helped Occupy Nashville save the home of a local 78-Year-Old Civil Rights Activist. Occupy Minneapolis has also pledged to save a third home in response to the National Mortgage Settlement.

We show love by resisting economic policies that will make life harder for 99% of us. Hundreds of thousands gathered in their respective squares in Portugal, Greece, and Spain to protest austerity measures devastating working people. In Athens, students occupied schools and mental health service providers who were sacked occupied their workplaces.

portugal

We show love by taking care of each other and our communities. The Occupy Eugene Medical Team occupies their city and brings doctors to serve the community every Sunday. Later this month, Occupy Orlando is holding an All Share Weekend where they will be giving away food and other items and marching with civil rights organizations to show “people care, community shares.”

We show love by fighting alongside workers who are losing their jobs. Last week, several members of Occupy Atlanta were arrested while shutting down a Chase Bank branch in protest of economic inequality. Yesterday, as Occupy Philadelphia protested Comcast on the same day, Occupy Atlanta joined with unions and labor groups to Occupy the AT&T headquarters in an effort to save hundreds of jobs. Despite several arrests, they continued their protest outside AT&T today.

We show love by building and defending systems that provide for our collective needs. Occupy Newark was served with an eviction notice. After 130 days, Occupy Houston was evicted. Occupy Maine was evicted after 4 months. But Occupy Honolulu survived its seventh eviction attempt and passed 100 days of continual occupation. Encampments at around fifty other cities in North America alone also still stand strong. Occupy the University of California-Berkeley set up tents, and students in Maryland and Massachusetts set up networks to support their Occupations. Shortly after their forced eviction of McPherson Square, the DC government passed new regulations criminalizing Occupations. But Occupy DC is anything but defeated. After thousands joined the labor community to march in protest of a right wing conference, Occupy DC set up tents in front of Merrill Lynch yesterday.

We show love by growing solidarity between different social justice movements. Today, students from across Pennsylvania held a Valentine’s Rally to Fall Back in Love with Public Education. Yesterday, Occupy Seattle marched with port trick drivers on strike. In Frankfort, KY, Occupiers joined a massive protest against the environmental and social consequences of mountaintop removal coal mining on local communities.

occupy appalachia

We show love by defending one another from police violence. Today, Occupy Portland followed Oakland, San Francisco, and others in protesting against police brutality and state repression. Recently, Occupy Oakland also held a community forum on police actions. In New York, Occupy the Hood helped organize a community speak-out against police violence in the Bronx.

We show love by standing with revolutionaries fighting for democracy and economic justice across the world. Last weekend, Occupy Portland became the latest Occupation to march against more wars abroad and to say No War on Iran. OWS in New York recently marched in solidarity with occupiers fighting mass eviction in Pinheirinho, Brazil. It is the one year anniversary of uprisings in Bahrain that helped kick off the Arab Spring that inspired OWS to take action, and protesters continue to face massive and deadly repression. Today, Occupy DC rallied alongside in Bahrainis in front of the Bahraini Consulate in Washington. Next Friday, Feb. 17th, OWS will hold an Arab Spring Solidarity Vigil at 1120 2nd Ave at 5:00PM in New York, marking the 1 year anniversary of the Libyan uprising and the 5 month anniversary of #OWS. In Syria, Egypt, and elsewhere in the world, protesters continue to suffer extreme violence for demanding freedom from oppressive structures and deserve our support.

This spring, there will be even more opportunities to show your love! Here are just a few dates to keep:

24 Comments

24 Comments


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[-] 7 points by jdgless (8) 12 years ago

Beautiful! Simply Beautiful! We Are Beautiful, Caring People Reaching Out A Helping Hand To Those In Need!

[-] 6 points by marga (82) 12 years ago

OWS we love you. You give people real hope because you get things done. Anybody can talk a good job until it comes to doing it. Then its usual that same ole same ole, just another show.

[-] 5 points by beautifulworld (23767) 12 years ago

Occupy Wall Street is love. Nice.

[-] 1 points by Odin (583) 12 years ago

Yes it is BW and we have to keep it that way.

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[-] 5 points by raeabileah (4) 12 years ago

So heartfelt and inspiring! Add to the list of ways to show your love:

March 8th: International Women's Day - Women (51% of the 99%) unite to occupy banks! Check out www.womenoccupy.org for creative action ideas and more!

[-] 4 points by Nevada1 (5843) 12 years ago

Done with BoA and Wells Fargo. Now with local credit union.

[-] 3 points by jomojo (562) 12 years ago

I'm in. I know BoA is gonna go under, when I move my account.

[-] 3 points by debndan (1145) 12 years ago

Cannot agree more, I've been with my credit union for years now, and it's nice to know that the tellers are earning a fair wage and that the credit union president knows me by name, and watches over my interests and not her own interest.

[-] 2 points by Nevada1 (5843) 12 years ago

We are also really happy with the credit union. All the employees are really knowledgeable.

[-] 3 points by debndan (1145) 12 years ago

yes, and I would add that every model of anarco-syndachism is like this

Here's a recent post that shows this model of commerce not only works, but has been used throughout history:

http://occupywallst.org/forum/a-brief-lesson-from-history-on-capitalism-socialis/#comment-640800

[-] 4 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

I agree break it off with Banks and go Credit Union.

[-] 4 points by PetadeAztlan (113) from Sacramento, CA 12 years ago

We are showing love for humanity by all our collective efforts ~by helping to spread the Message of Occupy Wall Street ~by getting involved in our own local communities ~by examining our own belief systems in order to help make our principles stronger and more embedded in our spirits. Let us continue to love one another!

Venceremos Unidos! We Will Win Together! @Peta_de_Aztlan c/s

[-] 3 points by Odin (583) 12 years ago

Yes, this is about caring for our fellow citizens who have been so abused by this bank. By singling out BoA, the worst of the big banks, we can make a real difference to their bottom line. We could simultaneously single out the worst of the retailers and do the same there.

[-] 3 points by Bighead1883 (285) 12 years ago

I believe the best way to show love for the banks is to have them REGULATED by Government again.Vote your LOVE in for it.

[-] 3 points by Odin (583) 12 years ago

The OWS movement is bringing out the best in most of us and has caused many of us to look at our own lives in a very introspective way. I am so happy to be amongst so many good people that care so much for their fellow countrymen.Thanks.

[-] 3 points by TrevorMnemonic (5827) 12 years ago

I can't wait until the 30 years from now to see how this all goes down in our kids history books at their schools.

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[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

Best Post ever OWS.

Only the Blind Marchers the supporters of the Greedy/Corrupt can deny that we are working for our fellow man. What they are doing is trying to deny the truth - that corruption is going to take a beating at the hands of the people and it will happen by lawful means. Peaceful legal protest combined with peaceful legal action, supported by the peaceful population.

[-] 1 points by proudofOKC (361) 12 years ago

Absolutely! My sentiments exactly.

[-] 2 points by SwissMiss (2435) from Ann Arbor Charter Township, MI 12 years ago

I joined my credit union a few months ago. I even had to fight with PNC, because of something it did that it shouldn't be doing. Banks' fees for EVERYTHING are much higher than they are at CUs. I'm MUCH happier in the CU.

[-] 1 points by Leecal (1) 12 years ago

Everyone should read this article by Chris Hedges and also pass it on !! http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article30514.htm It was also posted on the Truthdig website in case this link doesn't come thru.

[-] 1 points by mattjiggy (31) from Durham, NC 12 years ago

Love the movement towards credit unions. Along with having a more cozy feel that comes from working with neighbors, it also makes more fiscal sense. Their lower overhead gives better returns and more responsible loans.

Having said that, I'm concerned with the rhetoric that comes close to making home ownership a constitutional right along with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We have no more "right" to home ownership than we have to a Snickers bar that we haven't paid for. Home ownership may be the American Dream, but it is not an American Right.

[-] 2 points by JDub (218) 12 years ago

Maybe it should be. Why should people have to pay another persons mortgage? In most places, rent is as high as home ownership. We have the resources. Its a matter of priorities. People NEED to come first, before profit, before greed, before power. The bottom line is that we still have a sense in America that if you are not rich, you aren't worth anything.

Housing should be a right, not a privilege.

Basic Food should be a right, not a privilege.

Life should be a right, not a privilege.

We have the resources. We only lack the will. Maybe Occupy will help with this.

[-] 1 points by shadz66 (19985) 12 years ago

This St.Valentines Day - like every other day, it's The 99.99% who are being massacred by The Unconscionable Parasitic 'High-Finance' Bankster Scumygarchs !!!

Ya Basta y Viva Los Indignados !!

Vamanos !

pax, amor et lux ~*~

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[-] 0 points by Dontastu (4) 12 years ago

Wörgl´s expirence to save the World. Here the facts: http://youtu.be/hxdPIOUTd2k