DNC National Call to Action from Occupy Charlotte
Posted 12 years ago on Aug. 11, 2012, 2:10 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Tags:
call to action,
charlotte,
keystone xl,
dnc
via Occupy Charlotte
Calling on all Occupiers and friends of the Occupy Movement –
At the beginning of September, Charlotte, NC will host the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The Democratic Party has chosen this “Wall Street of the South” as its rallying city despite North Carolina being one of the most anti-union states in the country and despite Charlotte being the home of several corporate criminals, most notably Bank of America, one of the mega-banks most responsible for the 2008 economic meltdown. Charlotte holds the second largest concentration of finance capital in the United States, the East Coast headquarters of Wells Fargo, the new home of human-rights offender Chiquita, and the home of Duke Energy, which recently merged with Progress Energy, making Duke the largest energy monopoly in the country.
These corporate targets alone are reason enough to OCCUPY WALL STREET SOUTH. But early September will also provide the opportunity to OCCUPY THE DNC, to demonstrate to the country and the world that we know corporations own our politicians and ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE.
Both the Democratic and Republican Parties are controlled by moneyed interests and the 1%, and the Occupy Movement will hold both Parties accountable at the RNC in Tampa in August and at the DNC in Charlotte in September. We cannot allow this two-party system and its corporate puppeteers to determine our country’s destiny. While we recognize the historical significance of President Obama’s election, we will not sit idly by as the Administration favors corporations and the 1%, tramples civil liberties, and wages tragic wars.
We will continue to hold President Obama’s Administration accountable for refusing to close Guantanamo Bay, for not insisting on true universal healthcare, for deporting our immigrant brothers and sisters in record numbers, for working to expedite approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, for signing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), for utilizing secret kill lists, for continuing to wage perpetual warfare, for failing to bring to justice those responsible for the economic crisis, and for its documented systematic effort to quash Occupations throughout the country.
We will continue to hold the Democratic Party accountable for pandering to corporate interests, including the military industrial complex which has caused the deaths of millions around the world; for inadequately funding social programs, education, health care, and infrastructure; for encouraging financial fraud by granting amnesties and bailout money and by rehiring financial criminals to the Administration’s Cabinet and to the Treasury Department; for promoting worldwide distrust of and animosity towards the United States through a dangerously expanding imperialistic war economy; and for colluding with the Republican Party to thwart ballot-access to third-party and independent candidates.
We will continue to hold Charlotte’s Democrat-controlled City Council accountable for passing repressive and unconstitutional permanent changes to the Charlotte City Code which restrict free speech and assembly, open wide the door for profiling protesters and the homeless, and evicted the peaceful protest taking place on The People’s Lawn of Old City Hall.
And we will continue to hold WALL STREET SOUTH accountable for abusing and profiting off of the hard work and perseverance of ordinary people — the 99% — and giving nothing in return but layoffs, foreclosures, and demands for corporate welfare.
We want a true democracy. A country by and for the People. Not a country by and for the corporations and the 1%.
We the People of Occupy Charlotte call on all People willing and able to join us here in Charlotte for an OCCUPATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION from September 1st – 6th. There will be many opportunities to take action before and during the Convention. THE MARCH ON WALL STREET SOUTH will take place on Sunday, September 2nd.
If you cannot be with us here in Charlotte, take action in your own community on September 6th when President Obama accepts the nomination. Find the closest Democratic Party campaign office and protest the misdeeds of the Administration, the Democratic Party and the two-party system, and the corporations who control currently control our electoral process and buy our representatives.
When you arrive in Charlotte, please be mindful that Occupy Charlotte is a nonviolent movement. Other Occupations have experienced violent police repression. However, the majority of officers within the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department have treated Occupy Charlotte with respect and vice versa. We hope that this respectful relationship will continue well past the Democratic National Convention, and we appreciate any efforts visitors can make to help us maintain this relationship.
Interested in being involved with the planning, making a donation, or finding out more about Charlotte? Please visit occupyclt.net and occupythednc.us.
OCCUPY THE DNC!
OCCUPY WALL STREET SOUTH!
OCCUPY CHARLOTTE!
[editor's note: Other actions going on during the DNC can be found at the Coalition to March on Wall Street South. See also: The autonomous Occupy the Military Industrial Complex DemCon 2012 Peace Camp and the "Occupy to Free Pfc. Manning & Reclaim Charlotte Streets" Dance Party.]
Hell YES. I'm sure most of you have never been to the Carolinas but I have and I'm sure with a little incentive, there is a potential for the number of protesters to grow exponentially. This could get really really big. Fingers crossed.
I suppose you'll be going to Occupy RNC in tampa Fl since it's closer?
I wish homey. I live in northwest fl, two kids, a job, and a ratty car. So instead I blog, share news, spread new ways of looking at old issues, and pass out fliers in my home town to help people connect with Occupy on the web. I'm basically a propagandist/cheerleader in favor of Occupy. 10 years ago I would have been in NY thee same day Occupy started and I wish I could do more now.
Oh please no need to justify your efforts. I won't be doing any conventions but may find something here (nyc) to attend and be counted.
I just noticed your FL location. I have no doubt you do your part. Do you think the occupy Tampa will be big like the Carolinas?
Good luck in all your good efforts. Solidarity
Not really.
The Tampa area has a party atmosphere that induces a lack of give a shit attitude among the working class. The epitome of happy to be taken advantage of because knowing stuff isn't cool.
The Carolinas however have more of a working culture and all the social/political issues that create the potential for movements to thrive.
You are forgetting though...we are expecting around 10k to 15k protesters in town for it.
Its going to be WAY more crazy than Charlotte...
We shall see. It's interesting enough for a wager, if I had any money :D
The RNC;s are always crazier than the DNC's. MAybe this year will break the trend..
But with various occupiers from all over coming here, I dont see it happening.
I like your enthusiasm but the counts won't add up for you. 18 comments here and how can they turn into 12k protesters?
Thats what they get all the time. Most probably will have never been on this forum.
Throw in 4500 cops, 1500 national guardsmen, 5000 end the feders, and 5k political cronnies.,...with the 10k-15k protesters.,....its going to be one wild show.....
Wow that's interesting. I suppose Tampa is more of a party town generally. And Carolinas more no nonsense business.
Perhaps this isn't the exact forum to air this but it should be considered everywhere, The Romans came up with the tactic of "divide and conquer" and it's still strong and in permanent use in the USA today. DISCRIMINATION {ON ANY BASIS}, should be illegal, but we (as a result of not crying out) permit the discrimination to be labeled by words that separate, race, creed, color, economic, gender, handicap,age, sex, and on and on and on allowing division in our army of downtrodden ....DUMB!!, Let's get rid of the separating words and ATTACK DISCRIMINATION (ON ANY BASIS!) please
How about a protest featuring millionaires complaining about having to sell off a couple of their yachts and maybe even a country home. We need to cut health care and education to make sure these people have enough yachts to keep on creating jobs. Yacht captains need work too.
Yachts provide nice jobs.
From Greenpeace:
A dirty energy company is bankrolling both the Democratic and Republican National conventions to the tune of millions of dollars.
It’s all about buying access and it’s what the corporate takeover of our democracy looks like. Which is why it isn’t surprising that the very same company, Duke Energy, also supports an organization called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) that drafts model laws for big business and hands them over to state lawmakers to pass. These bills include things like...
Companies like Duke Energy get away with this behavior in part because it’s hidden from the public. We’re working with a coalition of groups to change that. And there’s no better time to do it than now when the conventions dominate the headlines.
Tell Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers that he can’t have it both ways. If he supports the principles of democracy, Duke Energy must cut all ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council.
Our goal is send Mr. Rogers 50,000 messages before the Democratic National Convention kicks off on September 4th in his home city of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Duke Energy particularly stands out as a bad example: stating publicly that it supports clean energy and then spending tens of thousands of dollars for front groups like ALEC to attack state climate and clean energy laws around the country. But the company isn’t alone.
Our democracy is under attack right now from corporate interests. The more we can shine a light on the problem, the closer we get to taking back control. That starts with publicly exposing Duke Energy’s actions and making it more difficult for the political parties to accept its money.
Tell Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers to cut all ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council today.
Duke Energy is supporting both political parties while undermining our democracy. Raising public awareness about the actions of companies like Duke Energy is the most effective way to do that. Asking the political parties not to take the money will only work when they realize the cost in public perception that comes along with it.
It’s time to take our democracy back. A green and peaceful future depends on it.
Sincerely,
Robert Gardner
Greenpeace Coal Campaigner
signed and tweeted.
What I added to the letter:
You should be converting to green energy. You could probably even get help from the government to do so.
We have the technology - we have the capability we certainly have the need.
It is all here and ready to use - and this is just what I have stumbled across.
Spread the word.
Green Tech. New and improved - now with Liquid Metal Battery for efficient power storage and distribution.
This is where we should be going: Green Energy we have the technology we just need to use it. This is what I am talking about. A clean future to be implemented NOW!
http://www.hopewellproject.org/
http://ecat.com/
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/all/1
FuelCell Energy http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=600
You have got to watch this vid: The liquid Metal Battery - another piece to the puzzle.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/donald_sadoway_the_missing_link_to_renewable_energy.html
Additional Liquid Metal Battery links.
http://lmbcorporation.com/
http://lmbcorporation.com/files/flyerFinal.pdf
Support green energy technology - industry - jobs. Save our world save our economy.
Rework free trade agreements as they are currently detrimental to the Business, Employment, Economic and Environmental health of the USA and in extension the world.
Put an end to outsourcing for Profit over People and the environment.
Stop world wide corporate abuses of people and environments.
Give this some serious thought/consideration.
does anyone know where the convergent space is for the dnc?
for those of you who do not know.
The city council, as part of the ordinence the city council falsefully passed in order to get occupy clt out:
ANYONE (protestor or not) WILL BE SUBJECT TO SEARCH IF FOUND WITH: -bicycle helmets, -pads, -coolers -bookbags -handbags and purses -scarves -bandanas, -water bottles -hydration units (like camel backs) i can not remember the rest, but these things (as justified by them)constitute you being a "protester" and furthermore, even after the dnc is over, it is to remain a permenent ordinence.
[Removed]
purses -water bottles
Can't even drink water now.
Or use money(now how are we to consume as our corporate masters want us without our money?)
[Removed]
[Removed]
[Removed]
[Removed]
Keep-on Keeping-on.
OWS and all Occupy movements are being heard - more people are beginning to wake up.
You protesters in the street are priceless - to the cause of outreach education, opening eyes, fostering awareness and critical thinking.
Please also use social media ( the internet ) to spread the word further.
BTW - tweeted this post.
We were going to try to hike, doing an Occupy tour, from Tampa to Charlotte, but the fact its only 4 days makes it....next to impossible.
But we may still make it up there, we will see.
TAke the caravan. There will be cars and buss going between Tampa and Charlotte.
Do you have any contact information I can get ahold of anyone with?
For the caravan, Go to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/401924226531186/
Kick ass!!! I was born a little too late but it will be neat to see 1968 Chicago riots again
Honestly why even bother?? This nebulous movement has done little to change the discussion on capital hill. You're brushed off as simple annoyances until violence is sparked ala Oakland. Then any goodwill among the populace is squandered. Love them or hate the Tea Party has accomplished much more than OWS. They have made an impact on a national level. OWS imho should focus it's efforts into removing ALL incumbent politicians. Then, maybe it will be heard.
The Tea Party appeals to the politically deaf and morally bankrupt, the same way Ronald Reagan did in the early 80's. Until the the majority of the country dumps the idea the Reagan was a great president OWS will not be heard and the Democratic party will not be able to run a left leaning candidate and win.
The banks who support the Dems wouldn't let them field a Left (notice the capital L) candidate even if they could (and especially if they could).
yeah, how did the level of public conscience get dropped to a few dozen people so quickly? I think partly because they jumped on the bandwagon of so man far, far, our radicals and left people thinkin it was just a worthless ruse to get attention so they could protest for getting all the prisoners released from jail.
All corrupt corpoRATist politicians - not all incumbents are corrupt.
Let me guess. Anyone with a D next to their name should stay right? All incumbents should go.
Why not vote for the person instead of the party? That D and R thinking has gotten us deep into a rut. Continuing that D and R thinking will never get us out.
There is not a single person in the Republican party worth voting for. The Democratic party has some duds but none so bad as any Republican out there.
There are people who are in neither party worth voting for.
Wake up there is one party the Money party.
No - there are corpoRATist's in the Democratic party as well - they all need to go. Currently the most numerous collection ( the very visible ) are hiding behind the Republican banner.
They ALL need to go? Those who are willing to pay their fair share of tax AND add social value to society? That capitalism is in need of regulation was understood long ago. It is the corporatists on the RIGHT who don't want to be regulated and taxed and have meddled with our once relatively stable economy for the last 30 years, de-regulating and destablizing it, NOT the Left.
It's not a fight between left and right, but between right and wrong, and just because someone is registered as a Democrat does not guarantee they are on the side of justice.
Have you heard of Super pacs? Money spent in behalf of candidates by corporations and wealthy individuals without the voters knowing who really paid for the ads.
The Democrats are actually outspending the Republicans by 10-20%.
http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/summ.php?cycle=2012&chrt=P&disp=O&type=S
Maybe Mr. hirsch you were just too anxious to make your point. Your link is a bit dated. It reflects what was going on before Romney had locked the nomination. A lot of that "Against Republican" money was pspent by Republicans. For example you had the famous video of the Gingrich campaign blasting Romney as a vulture capitalist. It was financed by Sheldon Adelson who really doesn't trust Romney and would have preferred almost any other of the Republican candidates. Now his money is on Romney. He's a politically mature man and he wants his money and efforts to have the best effect, it's not about anything else.
The link from your website that gives a better glimpse of the money is http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/summ.php?disp=O
Thanks for pointing out my error. The link was current. I was assuming that "against republican" spending was done by Democrats.
All our problems are rooted in RIGHT WING policies!
When th few Dems whocave in and vote for these policies (along with the vast majority of repubs) we get a country who has been stolen by the 1% plutocrats.
D R whatever. the right wing policies are the problems.
Elect progressives. Republicans ARE the problem.
All corpoRATist's need to be ejected from government.