This morning we woke up to wind, cold, and rain. Some of our tents decided they wanted to be kites instead. Upon waking up this morning we realized that we need a few specific items to deal with this lovely Atlanta weather. If anyone can provide any of these items it would be GREATLY appreciated:

• Winter Caps (beanies/toboggans)
• Sweaters, hoodies, long sleeve shirts
• Scarfs
• Socks
• Blankets
• Sleeping Bags
• Gloves
• Hand Warming packs (chemical warming packs)
• Long Johns/Thermals
• Tarps
• Rope
• Stakes
• Hammers
• Tents (preferably large, perhaps canvas/military-style)

All donations should be sent/delivered to 60 Walton Street Atlanta, GA

When it was clear that arrests were not going to take place, we had the chance to hear from each union member about why they came out to Troy Davis Park.  Sam Howell from the ATU said that “Unions stand for unity.  We must come together as a people for good jobs and respect.”  Eric Richardson from the CWA said, “These corporations have been outsourcing our jobs to other nations, slashing wages and benefits at home while receiving huge tax breaks and record profits.  Corporations must be held accountable to our local communities, it’s time we come together.” Ben Speight from Teamsters Local 728 said that “if Kasim Reed sent in the police he would have to drag out the hard working union members that got him elected.”  Charlie Fleming President of the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council said, “Labor stands with Occupy Atlanta.  Labor stands with the community.”

Vicious anti-union campaigns and the outsourcing of good union jobs encouraged by a lack of governmental protections for working people have contributed to Georgia having the second lowest union density in the country at just 4% of employed workers.  It comes as no surprise that Georgia also has the third highest poverty rate in the country at 18.7% or 1.83 million people.  Our community needs good jobs now.  Our local and state governments cannot cut budgets and lay off public sector workers that largely support jobs for communities of color.  The USPS must not lay off 120,000 union workers that largely represent communities of color.  JOBS NOT CUTS.

For Immediate Release:

Occupy Atlanta is now in it’s second day of its three week reprieve. Today we’re focusing on coming together to build the society that we’d like to see, every voice lifted to the same level, every person treated with respect and dignity. Throughout the day occupiers will be holding various workshops and teach-ins: from non-violence direct action training to a workshop on the history of occupations, anti-racism group meetings to movie screenings. As we enter day twelve of our occupation, you have heard why people have chosen to occupy. Join us today (10/19) at 11am in Woodruff Park to hear why occupiers have chosen to stay. 

We do not have a single spokesperson and we shall never have one. Only parties and   organizations have a spokesperson; we are a people’s movement. Some, including   Fox News and other AP organizations, have mentioned that we have a  spokesperson; this is a misstatement. All of us can speak for ourselves; none of us are the spokesperson.

We are not a party, and we will never be. Some news organizations have been trying to portray this movement as   the “Democratic Tea Party equivalent;” this too is a misstatement. We are not a party, nor do we affiliate with any; this is a people’s movement.

We are not MoveOn.org, the All Mighty Movement of God nor any of the other organizations which have graciously offered us their support, and they are not Occupy Atlanta. MoveOn.org is a political  organization, we are not. The Almighty Movement of God is a local community church organization. We greatly admire and appreciate their stand with us, but they are not us. Our clarification of this matter should not be taken to indicate  any kind of disapproval of what they are doing; rather it acknowledges the breadth and diversity of our support, for which we are grateful.  We don’t align with other organizations, they align with us.

However, we do wish to clarify that Occupy Atlanta is built on the examples set by Occupy Wall Street and the Occupy Together movement which focuses on the economy, corporate corruption of our political system, and the negative effects of corporate personhood as it exists after decisions such as Citizens United and the repeal of Glass-Steagall.

While you will no doubt see many of the Troy Davis Park occupiers attend rallies organized by other organizations and vice-versa, we would like to remind the media and the people that as a group we do not officially endorse any of their rallies, marches, demands, etc unless it is stated on our website.

We believe strongly that solidarity is the key to the success of Occupy Together, and while we stand in solidarity with other organizations, we urge the media and the global audience in general not to assume that Occupy Atlanta endorses any actions of any other group unless we make an explicit announcement.

Additionally, any statement of “demands” should not be considered as coming from Occupy Atlanta as a whole unless it appears on this website.  Individuals or groups within Occupy Atlanta may have their own demands, but they speak for themselves not for us as a group.

We would like to see the media take these things into account and report with these points in mind to avoid any further confusion among your readerships. Thank you again for all of your coverage so far.

Sukkot is an interfaith festival which calls on people to come and share with Jews, clergy, ministries, Christians and others from all walks of life and faith. If you’d like to learn more about it, come down to Troy Davis Park (91 Peachtree St NE Atlanta, GA) and check it out!

The All Mighty Movement of God is in solidarity with Occupations around the nation. They seek to stop the crisis that brings homelessness and joblessness, poverty and brokenness, and division in families to our communities and our nation.

Occupy Atlanta is a part of the nationwide Occupy movement started by Occupy Wall Street. We are in protest of the excessive power that corporations have in our country. Corporate money in politics has defiled the very fabric of America:  Democracy.  Our nation’s economy, education and environment has been forfeited to sustain the 1%’s greed. We say no more.  We are the 99%.

*Update 10/11/2011

Click HERE for a direct link to a few more videos from Monday night .