Occupy Boston

7th November 2011

Link with 11 notes

Decolonize Boston to Plymouth: National Day of Mourning →

Decolonize Boston, Occupy Boston’s Indigenous Solidarity and Outreach Working Group, is organizing a contingent of Occupiers to attend the National Day of Mourning in Plymouth. 

Please help spread this event, and stay tuned for details on transportation.

This is an event page to help us spread the word to the Occupy Boston community. Original event page here:

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173150979439886

National Day of Mourning orientation:

http://www.uaine.org/2011_ndom/orientation_ndom_2011.pdf


Event details:

STARTS AT NOON

Since 1970, Native Americans have gathered at noon on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth to commemorate a National Day of Mourning on the US thanksgiving holiday. Many Native Americans do not celebrate the arrival of the Pilgrims and other European settlers. Thanksgiving day is a reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands, and the relentless assault on Native culture. Participants in Na…tional Day of Mourning honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native peoples to survive today. It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection as well as a protest of the racism and oppression that Native Americans continue to experience.

Join us as we dedicate the 42nd National Day of Mourning to our brother, Native political prisoner Leonard Peltier. Add your voice to the millions world-wide who demand his freedom. Help us in our struggle to create a true awareness of Native peoples and demonstrate the unity of Indigenous peoples internationally. Help shatter the untrue glass image of the Pilgrims and the unjust system based on racism, sexism, homophobia and war.

United American Indians of New England/LPSG
Phone: (617) 522-6626
info@uaine.org
http://www.uaine.org/
facebook group: United American Indians of New England
Absolutely No Drugs or Alcohol Allowed
Pot-luck Social to Follow

27th October 2011

Link with 37 notes

Press Release: Resounding Silence, General Strike Over Marine Injured by Oakland Police →

MEDIA BLACKOUT ENTERS SECOND DAY AS IRAQ VETERAN SCOTT OLSEN REMAINS IN SERIOUS CONDITION, OCCUPY OAKLAND CALLS FOR GENERAL STRIKE NOVEMBER 2

Scott Olsen, 24—a former member of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines and a veteran of two tours in Iraq—remains in serious condition at Highland Hospital in Oakland with a fractured skull and brain swelling. Riot police fired a projectile into Olsen’s face on Tuesday before throwing flash grenades at his fellow protesters while they attempted to move him to safety. Despite the severity of Olsen’s injuries, local and national media have largely ignored the story. As of Thursday morning, The Boston Herald and FOX 25 had no definite plans to cover the incident, nor had Oakland’s citizen review board opened an official inquiry.

Videos posted to YouTube depicting a member of the riot police throwing a flash grenade at protesters attempting to help the injured Olsen have stirred international outrage, but coverage remains minimal.

Last night, thousands marched to retake Oscar Grant Plaza for Occupy Oakland before calling for a general strike on November 2, saying:

We as fellow occupiers of Oscar Grant Plaza propose that on Wednesday, November 2, 2011, we liberate Oakland and shut down the 1%. We propose a city-wide general strike and we propose that we invite all students to walk out of school. Instead of workers going to work and students going to school, the people will converge on downtown Oakland to shut down the city.All banks and corporations should close down for the day or we will march on them.

Occupy Boston stands in solidarity with Scott Olsen and with Occupy Oakland as we continue our peaceful pursuit of international economic justice. We are the 99%, and we are no longer silent.

###

Occupy Boston is the beginning of an ongoing discussion about reforming Wall Street and removing special interests from government. The continuing occupation of Dewey Square—located outside of South Station in the heart of Boston’s Financial District—is just one of more than 120 separate Occupy encampments in cities across the nation and a symbol for “Occupiers” everywhere who support real and lasting change.

22nd October 2011

Link with 16 notes

Bailout 2.0 →

Occupy Boston learned this week that Bank of America’s holding company (BAC) has moved troubled derivatives from its subsidiary, Merrill Lynch, to Bank of America, which is insured by the FDIC and, ultimately, the US Treasury. Bloomberg News reports that BAC moved the troubled derivatives after having its credit rating downgraded last month. This downgrade was due to its relentless acquisition of failing companies like Countrywide Financial and Merrill Lynch. both of which have massive, hidden losses, and which will now to be borne by the 99 percent.

This means that Bank of America’s exposure to the ongoing European debt-crisis is now insured by U.S. taxpayers. This direct transfer of risk was completed without approval by regulators and, needless to say, without public input.  It was done over the opposition of the FDIC, because it put the insurance fund at risk.  It was done with the support of the Fed, which, now more than ever, clearly represents the interests of the one percent.  Bloomberg also reported that other investment banks’ derivatives positions have been placed in insured banks so that taxpayers will bear the risk of those losses as well.  Collectively, the insured banks’ derivatives exposure is well over $100 trillion – far larger than the world’s GDP.

U.S. taxpayers are now on the hook for trillions in bad deals made by Bank of America and JP Morgan when the next systemically dangerous institution (SDI) – the supposed “too big to fail” banks – fail again. A mere three years after taxpayers rescued U.S. banks, the anti-regulators that lead our regulatory agencies are still unable, or unwilling, to protect the American people from insuring risks generated by investment-banking operations.  Bank of America, which got a $45 billion bailout during the financial crisis, had $1.04 trillion in deposits as of midyear, ranking it second among U.S. firms.

When reached by phone former regulator William Black emphasized that this is precisely the sort of behavior that was formerly prohibited by the Glass-Steagall act, and that has been greatly encouraged by the Commodities Futures Modernization Act of 2000.

“In Ben Bernake we have a quiet, professorial type who nevertheless remains reflexively opposed to any effective regulation, investigation, or prosecution of the fraudulent SDIs that drove this crisis,” Black said.  “The Fed serves the one percent. The fact that he, a strong Republican, was reappointed by a Democratic president after a track record of abject failure as the nation’s leading anti-regulator says everything about just how successful international finance has been in capturing our democratic institutions.”

Occupy Boston supports transparency in banking. Those who join us might echo Black’s call for the Fed to release the name of the individual who approved this action and the exact composition of the assets and liabilities that were transferred. Further, they might sign this petition calling for the reinstatment of the Glass–Steagall Act, and join in the upcoming Bank Transfer Day on November 5.

“We are the 99 percent and we are no longer silent.”

21st October 2011

Link with 21 notes

Occupy Boston & Occupy the Hood present: A Day of Strength and Solidarity →

This Saturday, in recognition of the the 16th annual National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality, we will mark a historic development in our movement: on this day, activists from Occupy Boston will be joining activists from Occupy the Hood in a joint demonstration of strength and solidarity against police brutality. Not only will we be rallying against recent police repression of our movement, both in Boston and nationally; more importantly, we’ll be rallying against the police violence experienced by poor folks and communities of color every day in this country. What’s more, we’ll be rallying on the one year anniversary of a recent, unresolved case of police brutality in Boston: the beating of a 16 year old boy arrested at Roxbury Community College, just blocks from BPD headquarters (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXDJvBaTTDQ).

In calling for this demonstration, we aim to use the international spotlight on our movement to illuminate the ongoing struggles against police brutality in our communities, struggles that receive frustratingly little attention despite the systemic and racist nature of the problems they’re confronting. Four actionable points coming out of Occupy the Hood in relation to this issue (points that do not represent any consensus decision of the Occupy Boston General Assembly, but rather are listed to increase awareness of some ideas community members have been putting forth to combat police violence) include:

1. The current CO-OP (Community Ombudsman Oversight Panel) must be given subpoena powers and the ability to initiate its own independent investigations.

2. There should also be a true Civilian review board with the same powers as, but independent of, the CO-OP. The CO-OP is primarily made up of criminal justice/law enforcement professionals and appointed by the Mayor. A true Civilian review board would be compromised of a cross section from all walks of life within the communities most affected.

3. We have begun work with State Officials to examine and propose a State Commission on Police Brutality. This commission would work statewide to study, examine and investigate cases of police brutality and misconduct where cities and towns have found themselves either unwilling or unable to adequately address these issues in a just manner. Local DA’s and Police Departments have shown that they cannot police themselves and some level of accountability must be established.

4. The Boston Police Department needs to reflect the diversity of the city in its command staff and other decision making positions. We recognize it is only in standing together, united in our solidarity and in action, that we will overcome police repression and succeed in creating a better world.

In the spirit of solidarity, and in recognition of the diversity of experiences of all members of the 99%, we invite all our supporters to join us in having these discussions by rallying at 12:00 Saturday behind the BPD headquarters in the southwest corridor park, near the Ruggles and Tremont Street intersection and a short walk from the Ruggles stop on the Orange line. A march is in the works for afterward (we gotta get back to see Chomsky, right?), so bring your walkin shoes!

In solidarity,
Occupy Boston

21st October 2011

Link

Occupy Boston & Occupy the Hood present: A Day of Strength and Solidarity →

This Saturday, in recognition of the the 16th annual National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality, we will mark a historic development in our movement: on this day, activists from Occupy Boston will be joining activists from Occupy the Hood in a joint demonstration of strength and solidarity against police brutality. Not only will we be rallying against recent police repression of our movement, both in Boston and nationally; more importantly, we’ll be rallying against the police violence experienced by poor folks and communities of color every day in this country. What’s more, we’ll be rallying on the one year anniversary of a recent, unresolved case of police brutality in Boston: the beating of a 16 year old boy arrested at Roxbury Community College, just blocks from BPD headquarters (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXDJvBaTTDQ).

In calling for this demonstration, we aim to use the international spotlight on our movement to illuminate the ongoing struggles against police brutality in our communities, struggles that receive frustratingly little attention despite the systemic and racist nature of the problems they’re confronting. Four actionable points coming out of Occupy the Hood in relation to this issue (points that do not represent any consensus decision of the Occupy Boston General Assembly, but rather are listed to increase awareness of some ideas community members have been putting forth to combat police violence) include:

1. The current CO-OP (Community Ombudsman Oversight Panel) must be given subpoena powers and the ability to initiate its own independent investigations.

2. There should also be a true Civilian review board with the same powers as, but independent of, the CO-OP. The CO-OP is primarily made up of criminal justice/law enforcement professionals and appointed by the Mayor. A true Civilian review board would be compromised of a cross section from all walks of life within the communities most affected.

3. We have begun work with State Officials to examine and propose a State Commission on Police Brutality. This commission would work statewide to study, examine and investigate cases of police brutality and misconduct where cities and towns have found themselves either unwilling or unable to adequately address these issues in a just manner. Local DA’s and Police Departments have shown that they cannot police themselves and some level of accountability must be established.

4. The Boston Police Department needs to reflect the diversity of the city in its command staff and other decision making positions. We recognize it is only in standing together, united in our solidarity and in action, that we will overcome police repression and succeed in creating a better world.

In the spirit of solidarity, and in recognition of the diversity of experiences of all members of the 99%, we invite all our supporters to join us in having these discussions by rallying at 12:00 Saturday behind the BPD headquarters in the southwest corridor park, near the Ruggles and Tremont Street intersection and a short walk from the Ruggles stop on the Orange line. A march is in the works for afterward (we gotta get back to see Chomsky, right?), so bring your walkin shoes!

In solidarity,
Occupy Boston