Every month, on the first Tuesday, foreclosed homes are auctioned off on the courthouse steps. These are people’s homes, and families are often still living in them with no other place to go. We think this practice is wrong and needs to stop. Every home that is saved from the auction block gives families one more month to try to make things work so they can stay in their homes. Join us as we try to disrupt the auction as much as possible. Bring noisemakers, drums, whistles, signs, and lots of energy.
Youth and Elders of all races, and from every part of the “free world” gathered in solidarity at the marble steps of the Supreme Court in Washington D.C.
On a cold, cloudy afternoon of Jan 20, 2012, organizations such as Code Pink, Move to Amend, and the Worldwide Occupy Movement amassed to denounce corporate cersonhood and to return power back to the hands of the people! In 2010, the Supreme Court had ruled in favor of Citizens United, a decision that ultimately legalized corruption in American politics. Because of this and an 1886 case, corporations are considered people, and their freedom of speech is now their money. They are legally able to buy any politician because they can “donate” without limitation, thereby crushing the voice of the people.
“Out of your tents and into the streets!”
I was awoken by a crowd of DC and worldwide Occupiers marching down Pennsylvania Ave chanting and waving black-flags labeled OCCUPY. “Get out of your tents!” they shouted. I quickly rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, layered on my jackets, wrapped my face and joined the mass of enthusiastic youth on their march to the highest court in the land.
When we arrived, we were greeted by the bright smiling faces of the elderly activists and by the cold stern gestures of the DCPD. Media crews, both independent and corporate, were teeming with anticipation to see what events would unfold from this great gathering.
Groups like Code Pink recognized the importance of the Occupy Movement, utilizing anti-capitalist dialog, the People’s Mic, and labeling the oligarchs in the banking industry as the true terrorists. They creatively led a two hour pep rally with satirical parodies, life sized puppets, and inspirational speeches. A massive banner sprawled across the background displayed a proposed constitutional amendment.
28th Amendment:
Corporations are not people, nor are they protected under the Constitution
Money is property, not free speech
The power of the rally was shifted over to Occupy, where we led the diverse crowd back to the pearly white steps of “justice.”
Bronze barricades separated the people from their public facility, so everyone performed the “Hokey Pokey” over the police line to poke fun at the system and show them We are Not Afraid.
A gentleman who traveled many miles to present himself before his “representatives,” Mic Checked the 1st Amendment
“’Congress shall make no law… abridging the right of the people to petition the Government for redress of grievances.’ And these barricades are preventing us from redressing our grievances, and are therefore illegal!”
Hence he, and several others, pushed the barricade forward onto the ground as an act of defiance. The coppers quickly picked it back up scorning him, and before they could complete a sentence, another masked occupier called to the crowd.
“On the count of 3, we all grab the barricades and pull! …1… 2… 3!”
And the rowdy crowd grabbed a hold of their judicial obstacle, and pulled 5, 10, 20 feet back until the barricades snapped! The people cheered in victory as they metaphorically smashed the state, throwing the barriers down and stomping them into the ground, planting the black OCCUPY flag into the center.
We marched back upto the Supreme Court steps to the line of police blocking our way, and gradually pushed back the line step-by-step. We locked arms in solidarity and stood our ground on the 4th step and all steps below it, until finally, the commanding officer gave the order to his porcine brigade to stand down.
The police broke the line and every passionate citizen bum-rushed the marble steps, jumping, chanting, singing, and shouting their freedom to the world. Unfortunately, this freedom was short lived.
The force had planned the event as a trap, and now that people were on the steps, they had probable cause to kidnap our friends. They began detaining their first victim and several people moved to un-arrest this girl. She fell backwards onto the steps and the surprised officers solution was to continue to try to arrest her. A man from LA saw this happening and grabbed at her jacket to save her, only to get a Haymaker in the face by an undercover cop. The plot unfolded when we found out that the girl they were arresting was also an undercover cop; she was a plant to push the crowd to react in chaos.
People were everywhere, ducking and dodging police, and a few others including myself found comfort in the chaos. We sat with eyes closed, in unison and individually, meditating on the steps of the Supreme Court. The horizon expanded, and three dimensions of chatter quickly fell silent in the wake of the subjective solace. Unfortunately, this freedom was also short lived.
Apparently, you are not allowed to be silent and peaceful in a public facility, and the heavy hand of the law quelled the spiritual dissent. Justice has been served.
The officers took twelve of us back, booked us, removed all of our warm clothing and forced us into steel cages with nothing to protect us from the cold. Thirty-six hours with one baloney sandwich and no phone call.
Every single person arrested was from a different part of the country, from LA to ATL, Tennessee to Texas. This event was an example of solidarity with people around the nation and around the world.
People are aching for this system to evolve. To cooperate and facilitate the transition into a more independent and free society, focused on the well-being of the many instead of the profits for the few.
The time is now.
As reported by Jonah.
biluxi posted an update in the group 
Arts & Literature February 6, 2012 2:47 pm
biluxi posted an update in the group 
Occupy News February 6, 2012 2:30 pm
annalkelley posted an update in the group 
Accounting February 6, 2012 8:27 am
The accounting meeting will be tonight at 9pm in Glen Iris.
SaraA posted an update in the group 
Demands, Goals, Visions February 5, 2012 10:47 am
I would like to work on a demand/resolution against corporate personhood, possibly based on the assertion that corporate personhood is a human rights violation because it undermines the rights of actual people. That was the basis of the artist’s statement that accompanied our entry in the Visualize Human Rights art show:
When the law…[Read more]
SaraA posted an update in the group 
Process February 5, 2012 8:40 am
Proposal for next Saturday’s GA:
We, the General Assembly of Occupy Atlanta, call for the repeal of Georgia’s statutes which suppress worker’s rights in favor of employer’s rights, specifically the ”at-will” employment law and all laws contravening or allowing for exceptions to the National Labor Relations Act of 1935.
steltz02 posted an update in the group 
Outreach February 5, 2012 3:21 am
The 500 yard signs have been purchased. Paint and screens have been ordered. Design is being made now. Signs will be out in a week or so.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=820957258408&set=o.118256221614079&type=1&theater
steltz02 posted an update in the group 
SoapBox Open Mic February 5, 2012 2:59 am
One of my friends, Kimlee, wrote about the night the first 52 of us were arrested.
It’s a blog post, and it captures the experience well. http://d0rkf4ce.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/i-dont-want-them-to-hurt-you/
On the first night of impending arrest, only a few nights before, Kimlee and I linked arms in a circle for hours while five hundred of…[Read more]
biluxi posted an update in the group 
Home Defense February 4, 2012 11:50 pm
biluxi posted an update in the group SoapBox Open Mic February 4, 2012 11:49 pm
biluxi posted an update in the group Outreach February 4, 2012 3:02 pm
Kt posted an update in the group 
Political Actions February 3, 2012 11:41 pm
What is political action?
shayitp posted a new activity comment February 1, 2012 10:22 pm
I’m ready.
shayitp Twinkled ronallen‘s activity February 1, 2012 10:22 pm
ronallen posted an update in the group Political Actions February 1, 2012 8:00 pm
Hello everyone! I’m excited to really move forward on political actions for OA. For all those that belief that there are political solutions to many of the issues we came to the Occupy Movement for, we now have a forum to Organize, Strategize, and Mobilize.
I’m ready.
biluxi posted an update in the group Occupy News February 1, 2012 2:35 pm
sheila brennan posted an update in the group 
Welcome, Orientation, and Information February 1, 2012 1:41 am
This link will take you to a listserv of all the amazing Occupy Movements across the globe and their websites…check it out.
smtolle posted a new activity comment January 31, 2012 9:21 pm
How about ”Resist Foreclosures!” for the Home Defense?
biluxi posted an update in the group 
Logistics January 31, 2012 7:15 pm
Posted: 01/31/2012 1:01 pm
biluxi posted an update in the group Occupy News January 31, 2012 7:10 pm
Deb posted an update January 30, 2012 6:47 pm
AT&T needs to be divested of funds. What other companies big or small can we channel our needs and services to?
I’m sure these repair and services needs aren’t going to stop for AT&T, who will be performing them? A lot of expertise is walking out the door. How can we support them with their own skills to do other things perhaps compete with…[Read more]
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