After Feeding Thousands, OWS Sits Down in Liberty Square

Today, Occupations across the U.S. have shown that the 99% Movement can do more than protest—we can also take care of one another. Across the world, people still reeling from homelessness, poverty, foreclosures, and economic inequality have a lot less to be thankful for. But today, we reminded ourselves—and the world—that we can still be thankful for our mutual solidarity. From D.C. to Oakland and everywhere in between, Occupiers sat down for communal meals. Others marked Thanksgiving by honoring indigenous Native communities and First Nations who continue to fight for their land and sovereignty against colonialism and corporate greed.

In New York, Occupy The Hood dropped off hundreds of meals at shelters across Harlem, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. The OWS kitchen cooked enough warm meals for 4000 people and handed them out at Liberty Square. Meals were also delivered to churches that have sheltered displaced residents from Liberty Square and to the Occupations at New School and Rockaway. Following dinner, there was a spontaneous sit-in in solidarity with the many people who lost their place of rest when OWS was raided on November 15th.

After the violent eviction of the encampment at Liberty Square in which many Occupier's possessions (including the majority of the People's Library) were destroyed, Mayor Bloomberg's NYPD has been enforcing a strict "no camping" rule inside Liberty Park. NYPD has also been constantly watching the park and preventing people from bringing in tents or "large containers" (such as musical instrument cases). There have been reports that individuals have been arrested for lying down in the square. But this eviction, along with the coordinated attempt to remove Occupations across the world, has only reinvigorated our movement.

In a beautiful display of solidarity, hundreds of people (including many who lost their homes and belongings during the eviction) sat down together after sharing dinner. Before beginning the night's General Assembly, individuals gave powerful stories and speeches affirming our right to come together in public space, while sit-in protesters played instruments, sang, and chanted "who's park? our park!" and "ain't no party like an occupy party, cause an occupy party don't stop!"