Monthly Archives: September 2011

Summary
Roughly 47 people in attendance.
We discussed possible locations for our “permanent” assembly.
We discussed our “one demand.”

We split into four different groups:
Logistics
Demands
Media/Art/AV/Tech
Legal

We came back together as a whole and each group shared their individual minutes, decided on next GA’s time/date/location.

Next General Assembly time/date/place
10/2 @ 5pm at Hurt Park

Detailed Minutes

—GA begins around 7:30—

(After hearing the concerns of a member of the GA on power plays and transphobia)

Consensus: Transphobia, Racism, and Homophobia have no place here.

- Carter: Oppression is played out in so many different ways. If someone says they feel marginalized it’s important to listen because we aim to avoid marginalization here.

- Sally suggests: Use Atlanta things. For example Fair Tax, Neal Boortz. Bring in people from various schools in the area like Ivan Allen College (GT) and Andrew Young (GSU). Teach-ins on non-violence perhaps associated with the King Center.

- Kevin: On the legality of occupations, was part of a pardon and parole board occupation success. The idea behind occupations is that we pay taxes, we own this stuff, we should be able to stay there.

- Hector: We should start wearing armbands as a solidarity statement and conversation piece to help spread the word. “99%” armbands for example.

- Jenny: Offered money to help with recruitment and possibly fund 5 iPad-like devices.

—Introductions took place—

Consensus: Stack to be kept on paper for practical reasons.

- Lyndsey:

Minutes from 9/26 GA:

• Work groups: Facilitation, Legal, Media, Tactical, Health, Food, Outreach, Demands.
• John talked about hand motions to be used in consensus based meetings.
• Possibility of facilitator training
• Possible locations: Piedmont, Woodruff, …
• Meeting spots must = MARTA accessible
• Getting legal backing: Natl Lawyers Guild at OWS
• Permits
• People want a set message out there.

- Kevin: Motion to occupy Woodruff park on October 6th. Motion declined.

- Jenny: Perhaps we can get with people that will already be occupying.

- Sally: Zuccoti park is a private park, that’s why they’ve been able to occupy.

- Stacy: Poor Peoples’ Campaign was on the mall in DC which is public property. Aside from that we need to tie all of our issues all to Wall Street.

- Angel: Cabbagetown park is neighborhood owned. Not Atlanta park. Perhaps the owners would allow an occupation.

-Male: Who can tell me the main demand of OWS?
- We need actionable points. Solidarity yes, but clear and actionable points too.
- Many people cited OWS’s demands for ending corporate personhood, restoring proper representation to the 99%.

-Other Male: In Mississippi there is a ballot referendum to repeal corporate personhood and to define exactly what corporate personhood means.

—Split into groups: Demands, Media, Legal, and Logistics—

GROUP SUMMARIES/CLOSING REMARKS:

Demands:

• Started to come to somewhat of a consensus on demands, but left it open for consideration in future GA. There was some consensus on tax related issues. Also consensus on ending corporate personhood, corruption, and malfeasance.
• Proposition to create informal research group to investigate possible means through which our demands could be achieved.
• Stated need for a YouTube channel to convey our demands.

Media:

• If street artists wish to support our cause they can create art referencing #occupyAtlanta

• Our main symbol/frontpiece/slogan is “99%” and/or “We Are the 99%” with a reference to www.occupyAtlanta.org
• People can wear armbands with our slogan to show solidarity and promote Occupy Atlanta.
• There should be outreach at local universities and colleges by students attending said schools. This can include armbands, posters, fliers, and perhaps even presentations.
• We should explore group based finances through WePay and possibly www.kickstarter.com in conjunction with the logistics crew.
• This group should be known as Occupy Atlanta Media (editors note: I think that should also be our goal)
• Google Groups should be made for more organized communications with in the groups.
• Website is being set up and held on a safe server by occupywallst.org

Legal:

• Decided on two main functions:
• resource for legal advice;
• disseminate info on what is legal a.k.a. know your rights type workshop and possible material from Copwatch.
• Concern about legalities and possible arrests.
• Stacy: Some people may want to get arrested for CIVIL disobedience (key word civil), others don’t or can’t. We need to have levels of action for everyone that wants to be involved. If someone wants to participate, there should be a level on which they can participate.
• The Legal Team concluded that unless we can find an area to set up our tents that is Private Property and does not belong to the City of Atlanta – we will be facing arrest.

Logistics:

• Before logistics can be sorted out, we must plan our tactics.
• Possible Locations: Beltline – set up and hangout and stay; Cabbagetown; Reynoldstown, Vacant field across from Fed – see who owns it? Possible activity near Masquerade.
• Food – Person from Le Cordon Bleu could possibly get local chefs to donate food, Einstein bagels donate bagels at end of day.
• Proposed creation of a protest pack of suggested items.

—General Discussion on where/when to meet next—

- Piedmont and Hurt Parks both proposed. Both have relatively straightforward MARTA access though car parking can be tricky.

- Kevin: Friday 9/30 at 5pm is a mock “Moratorium for the Death Penalty. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

Consensus: NEXT MEETING Hurt Park @ 5PM Sunday October 2nd.

—GA closes around 10:30-40—

Groups/Organizations/Institutions with members present: Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Occupy Atlanta, We Are Change Atlanta, Afgh. Vet., Industrial Workers of the World, USUncut, Emory Public Health, Atlanta IndyMedia, Iraq war vet., former CNN employee, Georgia State and UGA students.

Work Groups
- Talked about work groups briefly, was decided to skip the logistics this meeting.

General Assembly
- Shared details about OWS NYC and the experiences while there. Basic hand gestures performed in the general assembly at OWS NYC.
- Talked about meaning of “general assembly,” and its purposes for planning, importance of the assembly in itself, and hopes that for now we focus on assemblies and once we have assemblies large enough, discuss an occupation movements similar to OWS.

Facilitators
- Mentioned possibly having a training session for facilitators.
- Proposed each group/team having its own facilitator to keep things moving throughout the groups.
- Mentioned that in NY facilitators generally were not white heterosexual males, and that this could possibly be implemented here as to have more representation of the minorities in the groups.
- Proposed to the GA that each group could vote who they wish their facilitator is, if needed.  Vote was passed by general consensus.

Vibe Coordinators
- Talked about vibe coordinators.  People who calmed down the group if they get too rowdy or whatever.
- If there were people that got violent in a protest, that we can use a safe word.
- Proposed group mantra, song, or something. “ahhhmmm”
- Something soft.  A specific safe word to calm down.  Hand motions.
- Proposed having different vibe coordinators for different areas in the protest or group.
- Keep morale up, music, etc.

What is OWS?
- OWS is many groups coming together. Obviously that might happen here as well. How to keep people on the same page?
- Peaceful assembly.  Keep letting people know to avoid riots, there will be people that are violent.

Protest Location
Talked about locations for potential occupation. Suggestions were:

• The Federal Reserve
• Woodruff Park

Talked about police presence near Woodruff park.

Group preparedness
- Mentioned informing people that just because they are being peaceful does not mean the police will be. Something peaceful may become very violent. Group preparedness.

Next General Assembly time/date/place
Talked about date/time/location of next GA. Date and time were set for Wednesday at 7PM, agreed to put the venue to a poll on facebook to determine location.