Forum Post: Archbishop Tutu Urges Trinity Church to Allow OWS to Camp
Posted 12 years ago on Dec. 18, 2011, 8:33 a.m. EST by justicia
(58)
from New York, NY
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
The Guardian (UK):
Desmond Tutu urges Trinity Church to allow Occupy protester camp
South African archbishop enters row over Wall Street church's refusal to allow a winter encampment on its property
[...]
In a letter to OWS, Tutu describes Trinity Church, on Wall Street, as an "esteemed and valued old friend" but said it caused him pain to hear of the impasse in negotiations between OWS and the church over the site.
"Sisters and Brothers, I greet you in the Name of Our Lord and in the bonds of common friendship and struggle from my homeland of South Africa. I know of your own challenges and of this appeal to Trinity Church for the shelter of a new home and I am with you! May God bless this appeal of yours and may the good people of that noble parish heed your plea, if not for ease of access, then at least for a stay on any violence or arrests."
He said: "I appeal to them to find a way to help you. I appeal to them to embrace the higher calling of Our Lord Jesus Christ – which they live so well in all other ways – but now to do so in this instance...can we not rearrange our affairs for justice sake?"
The matter is expected to come to a head on Saturday, during a day of action after a call to re-occupy former locations or find alternative camps.
Bishop George Packard, former chaplain for the armed services and decorated Vietnam veteran who has acted as the liaison in negotiations between the church and protesters, wrote on his blog this week that Duarte Square could be the new home for OWS "or not." He went on: "Trinity might mobilize platoons of police in riot gear and ring this sad little place with multiple barricades. No room at this Inn!" [...]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/16/desmond-tutu-occupy-movement-trinity-church
After reading Desmond Tutu statement calling the Occupy movement a"'voice for the world". and More than 1,400 church leaders, including the Rev Jesse Jackson have signed a pledge of support to OWS and on Wednesday, a coalition of prominent Afro-American pastors joined with the movement to launch a new series of actions that they consider part of the Rev Martin Luther King Jr's unfinished legacy.------------------------- Trinity Church, has no choice but to grant OWS sanctuary . Its amazing what ows has accomplished, in so short a time. I consider it a honor to be a member of this great movement for world human freedom.------- http://tinyurl.com/6lkzgbk
But that's their choice to make. Asking in a humane way is very different than storming the site without their permission.
Actually no you are highlighting on half of the story, Tutu said this:
Tutu added on Friday that protesters seeking to occupy land at the northeast corner of Varick and Canal streets, where demonstrators and a DNAinfo photographer were arrested Nov. 15, SHOULD NOT USE HIS STATEMENT TO JUSTIFY BREAKING THE LAW.
"It is not necessary to forcibly break into property. Nor is it [necessary] to reinforce or build higher the barriers between people of faith who seek peace and justice," he said.
http://www.dnainfo.com/20111216/greenwich-village-soho/desmond-tutu-backs-occupy-wall-street-push-for-duarte-square#ixzz1gthIg2pW
It was stupid to try and occupy and or attack Trinity after they have extended their support. You cannot dictate to others who they choose to help OWS nor how they choose to use their own resources.
[Removed]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EewGMBOB4Gg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z9WVZddH9w