Author Archives: OccupyAtlanta Press

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.

28^th 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 1^st 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 4^th 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.