Tag Archives: Occupy Wall Street

Alive and Well!

On Monday October 10, Occupy Atlanta retained its encampment in Woodruff Park (aka Troy Davis Park) as the focal point of peaceful protests for regaining the integrity of our economic and political system.  Atlanta Police entered into dialog with Occupy participants earlier in the day and assured people that there would be no surprise attacks or aggression if the police were given the order to enforce ordinances to remove the camp.  On Monday evening Atlanta Police established a significant presence surrounding the park, and it appeared that they were prepared to act.  Later it became evident that they would instead respect the occupation, and demobilized.  Occupy Atlanta anticipates more contact with the office of Mayor Kasim Reed and seeks to work cooperatively with our city in the spirit of Martin Luther King and our other native champions of civil rights.

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 #p/u/2/kTSXOdCz8_w">HERE for a direct link to a few more videos from Monday night .

Posted in Headlines | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Occupy Atlanta General Assembly #5

Atlanta’s effort to take America back for the 99% has begun. On
Friday night, roughly 500 Georgians gathered to protest an economic,
social, and governmental system that has become deeply unfair.
Getting the occupation rolling has taken time; but our media efforts
are now up and running. We’ve experienced enthusiasm, controversy,
and a growing sense of commitment. Look to this site to hear more
about this movement in coming days. For now, here are some images of
where we’ve been and where we’re going.

#5" src="/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2oatl_lose_mellis2-1024x682.jpg?5c1811" alt="Girl holding up sign: If we lose America, then we have lost it to the elite." width="640" height="426" />
photo by Monica Ellis
Tired of funding endless wars? -Occupy Atlanta

photo by Monica Ellis

A committee member reads aloud the draft Declaration of Occupy Atlanta

photo by Monica Ellis

Occupy Atlanta General Assembly crowd

copyright Joeff Davis - Creative Loafing

Invest in me -Occupy Atlanta

copyright Joeff Davis - Creative Loafing

Although there has been controversy surrounding Congressman John Lewis and his presence at last Friday’s GA, the civil rights icon arrived to demonstrate his support of the movement and continues to do so. Listen here for an interview with him.

Posted in Headlines | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

Occupy Atlanta MARCH to Bank of America Tower

Occupy Atlanta MARCH to Bank of America Tower
Tuesday, October 11
4:00 PM

Meet at Woodruff Park to march down Peachtree Street (1 mile)

Join us! Bring Signs! We are the 99%!

Location for BoA

Posted in Headlines | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Re: Congressman John Lewis

For immediate release
Occupy Atlanta Media Committee

Today Occupy Atlanta General Assembly unanimously agreed to invite Congressman John Lewis to come and speak.

Occupy groups are governed by procedural rules that allow them to function in chaotic circumstances and to exercise participatory democracy in a large group. These rules are based on the principle of absolute equality and each voice being heard.

Anyone may come and speak to or participate in a General Assembly. There is a set order which includes a point where the floor is opened for comments. Anyone present may put their name on the “stack” as it is called and speak. It might seem a simple thing to break the order, but in a large crowd where everyone is supposed to get a chance to be heard, deviating from it quickly causes chaos. Each deviation encourages the next until no conversation can be maintained.

All of the speakers who have attended a General Assembly in New York have followed this process. Occupy Atlanta is unaware of any exceptions. Congressman Lewis, who attended Occupy Atlanta’s 5th General Assembly on October 7, is familiar with consensus from his days as a civil rights leader but was unable to stay long enough to allow the process to unfold due to prior commitments.

Statement:

We hope that explaining our process will go a long way towards preventing any future problems or misunderstandings so that we do not inadvertently give offense to those whose voices and knowledge we would very much like to hear. We are dismayed that anything we have done would seem to show disrespect for a man whom many of us revere, and apologize to everyone who was hurt or angered by our actions.

Posted in Press Release | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off