We have been hearing reports that occupiers from all over the country were flown to DC in the past week by numerous independent organizations in order to participate in the “Take Back the Capitol” rally, which has led to a National General Assembly. Unfortunately, The Occupy LA General Assembly never consented to be part of a National General Assembly, yet news outlets are claiming we are represented in DC. Let us be clear, WE ARE IN LA and have not granted authority to anyone or group to represent us. We have not discussed the need or structure of a National General Assembly either. Additionally, we view this attempt to bring occupiers together under the title of a “National GA” as a usurpation of the power of the local general assemblies.
While this meeting is a monumental opening in the lines of communication across occupations, those individuals who did travel to DC from LA, funded by SEIU and Good Jobs LA, are reporting co-option of the occupy movement under the banner of the 99%. We reject the “rule of the few” that characterizes many social movements and ask that horizontal communication about this National General Assembly begin immediately across occupations. If your occupation wants to share their story of participating or not participating in this “National GA” then send a communique to OLAinteroccupy@gmail.com and we will work with you and interoccupy.org to sort out this messy affair. We appreciate your prompt attention to this pressing matter.
Be excellent to each other,
Occupy LA General Assembly 12/8/2011
22 Comments
point of clarification?
Submitted by bonnie on
did you even read ryan's posts regarding this trip posted on this very site?
http://occupylosangeles.org/?q=node/2655
http://occupylosangeles.org/?q=node/2700
Thanks for the clarification
Submitted by Mahayana on
It's nice to officially hear that the GA did not approve involvement with this event. I'm not saying that the different occupy movements meeting together is a bad idea - it's just the manner in which this was organized is troubling to me. I am very pleased that this was finally clarified. Silence from the GA on this matter made me feel that it was just a matter of time before the movement was co-opted by the unions.
The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves - in their separate, and individual capacities. -Abe
Yes, and the GA wanted to
Submitted by occcomm on
Yes, and the GA wanted to have a clearer with dialogue other occupations about it. Hence a call for a point of clarity.
www.occupysocalcommunication.com
www.interoccupy.org
Clarification
Submitted by occupation blog on
Would like to know more about interoccupy.org.
Thanks
Um, Can we be consistent?
Submitted by Occupier0530 on
We claim solidarity with other occupations around the country and the world all the time, yet we reject opening a dialogue with them??
Come on guys and girls. Hypocrsy only makes us look like clueless hippies, and I know we're better than that.
A_Moderate
Did you read the entire
Submitted by Mahayana on
Did you read the entire message? The event was funded & organized by SEIU and Good Jobs LA. These are both union organizations that bypassed the local GAs and recruited occupiers to further their own agenda. There is nothing wrong with working together with unions, but it comes across as an attempt to co-opt when they carry out events in our name without GA discussion or consensus.
The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves - in their separate, and individual capacities. -Abe
Rebuttal
Submitted by Occupier0530 on
Hm, I see your argument, but I'm not sure of the perceived "harm" that they're doing. If anything they're representing one aspect of the movement a little more clearly. Since they're part of us, and I know they are b/c of their recent participation in events, and we're supposedly all-inclusive... what's the harm? I don't think they stand for anything that is anti-occupy.
I think what I'm really saying is... What's the big deal here? Don't we have bigger issues to focus on? Let's focus on what we're trying to change and not bickering about what we are. We know what we are... we are change, and if any group, union, movement shares our passions for social/political change we should be including them and not excluding them. I think the movement in LA shouldn't fear a bit of evolving... we need it to grow... With growth comes more ideas, complaints, and a different style of protest to go along with what we're doing.
That's a fair thought, I think. Disagree?
A_Moderate
There is absolutely no harm
Submitted by Mahayana on
There is absolutely no harm in working together. My main issue (which is not necessarily representative of OLA) is that they coordinated this without participation from the GAs. If they knew anything about the occupy movement, they would know that the democratic process of voting and making decisions through consensus is at the heart of this movement. So there was really no working together in this particular case if the unions did all the organization & decision making. They used the momentum & manpower of this movement to promote an entirely union formed agenda. (Which may have been worthwhile for all I know- it's just the manner in which it was carried out that I take issue with)
I have no doubt that the actual union members are good people & I love that they're out there with us. I can't say that I have the same faith & admiration for the union leaders. I think some of them are as corrupt as some of our people in Washington. Originally, our government was intended to serve the people of this country. Through time it has morphed into this insatiable beast that caters to the needs of corporations & big banks. I feel the same about the unions & I question whether or not they are really looking out for the interests of its people. I have friends and family in unions and they seem to have done a lot more harm than good for them.
If SEIU/Good Jobs LA had attended a GA, proposed the idea of funding a few occupiers to attend their union organized event, I bet it would have probably passed in the GA. I want this to be an all inclusive movement! I love it when I see some conservatives out there and tea partiers who were disappointed when their movement became totally discredited when morons like sarah palin attached her name to it. I love our radical borderline socialist friends on the left as well as our libertarians. My only wish is that our affiliations get set to the side for the time being & we can come together simply as people. I think that is by far more powerful than any union, group or political party.
Yes, I completely agree, Occupy does need to evolve & grow. I hope those changes involve the shedding of labels which has only served to divide us and pit us against one another.
The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves - in their separate, and individual capacities. -Abe
no harm??
Submitted by becca87 on
http://tinyurl.com/ola-infiltrated
is this going to continue? is this where the OLA movement is going?
becca87
Agreed *
Submitted by Billy on
It's only logical that there be one ambassador that can represent us. I'm part of the 99% and I too have an equal say in the matter!
We are facing the 1% head on and preventing 4 corporations from defiling the Largest City Garden in the United States of America.
I just rescheduled my DMV appointments to make the march. Please go ahead and like us on Facebook and Twitter. We are OnebodyLA a network of young adults who believe in securing the South Central Farm for Los Angeles low income students.
OnebodyLA.com is in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and all other extensions of the expansive movement.
We shall continue to raise political and economic awareness at a rapid rate while specifically creating a more civil infrastructure based around urban agriculture. By doing so we will restore our countries pace of living by means of Urban Farms that focus on the root foundation of our countries economy; the modern American Family. Thank you for all that you do and continue to.
OnebodyLA.com
Let me know what you think
OnebodyLA.com
Has anyone commenting ever been to Occupy LA ?
Submitted by audiotruther on
SEIU has been involved with the Occupy since Pershing Square, if were down particapting with Occupy actions the first couple of weeks, you would have known we marched in Soladarity with SEIU members on seveal actions.
Further more the Occupy movement is based of it's inclusiviness, the SEIU, ILWU, Bus Riders Union, whoever are part of the 99%, some ppl within the Occupy GA are more controling and repressive than our own so-called Governemt. It's the intent of Solidarity to bulid brideges and manifest solutions not worship some exualted process.
And this process it's self found consenus to be used in the first place , HOW ?
Who, What, and where was that voted or agreed upon, answer those questions and you'll find out who's really been Co-Opting this movement from the outset-
Nonetheless were winning, because ppl are taking action with good intentions, and the bottom line is , the time has come, the people are confident amd momuentum has been bulit. Were all leaders and of Free Will, no GA consenus needed to do the right thing, Just do.....
Yes, although not actually
Submitted by Mahayana on
Yes, although not actually occupying, I had been to OLA several times & yes I am completely aware of SEIU's involvement from the beginning. Does their early involvement somehow prove that the SEIU has no ulterior motives? I just wonder, are the SEIU members required to put in a certain amount of hours protesting & marching with OWS? My sister is a union member and when they strike she is required to put in a certain amount of hours protesting even if she doesn't necesarrily agree with what they are protesting. The unions have an agenda, and to me it seems like they're using OWS as a platform to make their message heard. Otherwise, why not put down that pre-fabricated union sign & be present as an individual that supports the movement?
"It's the intent of Solidarity to bulid brideges and manifest solutions not worship some exualted process."
"some exaulted process"? Um, I don't know how to even respond to that. Yeah, I guess you could say I "worship" democracy. I think that should be the basis for any organization.
"Nonetheless were winning, because ppl are taking action with good intentions"
Yeah, I totally agree with that. I just don't know if I can say the Union's intentions were good.
Here is an article that points out that "Take back the capital" may have been SEIUs efforts to support Obama & his jobs bill. Nothing wrong with that so long as they are open about it. But they weren't. I personally would not be involved with any march or action that supports Obama.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The 2012 election is almost a full year away and nobody knows who is running against President Obama, but that didn’t stop Mary Kay Henry, the D.C.-based National President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), from announcing last week that her organization endorses President Obama for re-election.
SEIU officials have long been among Obama’s closest and most loyal allies in Washington — but what was notable here was how brazenly Henry exploited the language of the Occupy movement to justify her endorsement of the Democratic Party leader: “We need a leader willing to fight for the needs of the 99 percent . . . .Our economy and democracy have been taken over by the wealthiest one percent.”
One of the enduring questions about Occupy Wall Street has been this: Can the energy unleashed by the movement be leveraged behind a concrete political agenda and push for change that will constitute a meaningful challenge to the inequality and excessive Wall Street influence highlighted by the protests?
A coalition of labor and progressive groups is about to unveil its answer to that question. Get ready for “Occupy Congress.”
The coalition — which includes unions like SEIU and CWA and groups like the Center for Community Change — is currently working on a plan to bus thousands of protesters from across the country to Washington, where they will congregate around the Capitol from December 5-9, SEIU president Mary Kay Henry tells me in an interview. . . .
One goal of the protests, Henry says, is to pressure Republicans to support Obama’s jobs creation proposals. . . .
Source:
http://www.salon.com/2011/11/19/heres_what_attempted_co_option_of_ows_looks_like/
The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves - in their separate, and individual capacities. -Abe
agree
Submitted by becca87 on
biggest thing hurting the movement is the infiltration!!http://tinyurl.com/ola-infiltrated
becca87
From the reports of people on
Submitted by occcomm on
From the reports of people on the ground in DC, we are begining to see that the SEIU did not have any ill intentions in terms of co-opting the movement. The "National GA," it appears, occupiers started on their own once they got to DC and left the SEIU camp. Dialogue on this issue will continue...
www.occupysocalcommunication.com
www.interoccupy.org
SEIU has MOTIVES!!
Submitted by becca87 on
SEIU no ill intentions? hahaha. Do you have any idea of who they are and what political clout they have? THEY WANT Obama elected again, and are the biggest contributors to his reign!! DO you know how much the Unuon bosses make in comparison to the workers??????? google Andy Stearn.....
becca87
ATTN: OCCUPYLA (TOMORROW 12/15 organize #Occupysouthcentralfarm)
Submitted by Billy on
It's only logical that there be one ambassador that can represent us. I'm part of the 99% and I too have an equal say in the matter!
We are facing the 1% head on and preventing 4 corporations from defiling the Largest City Garden in the United States of America.
I just rescheduled my DMV appointments to make the march tomorrow
La Placida Church535 N. Main Street
Los Angeles
See map: Google Mapsfrom 12-2pm
Please go ahead and like us on Facebook and Twitter. We are OnebodyLA a network of young adults who believe in securing the South Central Farm for Los Angeles low income students.
OnebodyLA.com is in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and all other extensions of the expansive movement.
We shall continue to raise political and economic awareness at a rapid rate while specifically creating a more civil infrastructure based around urban agriculture. By doing so we will restore our countries pace of living by means of Urban Farms that focus on the root foundation of our countries economy; the modern American Family. Thank you for all that you do and continue to.
OnebodyLA.com is a transparent collective with no shadow government.
Let me know what you think
If you have more questions please call or text Billy @ 909.232.5364
OnebodyLA.com
Isn't this an SEIU event?
Submitted by Mahayana on
Isn't this an SEIU event?
We are facing the 1% head on and preventing 4 corporations from defiling the Largest City Garden in the United States of America.
Can you explain this more? What 4 corporations? Which garden?
Sorry, the flyer for tomorrows action doesn't really explain what it's all about.
The legitimate object of government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves - in their separate, and individual capacities. -Abe
Verticle organizations
Submitted by frankc on
We can use all the help we can get, unions, churches, community groups, and various political organizations fighting in the interest of the 99%, but they must use our method which is horizontal democracy because it works in the 21st century and the other groups use vertical that worked in the 20th century. Sooner ,or later, these groups and organizations from the past will discover the power of our method.People are still trying to understand how this movement grew so fast without a charismatic leader. Occupy builds leaders by allowing 100% participation.A professor can speak at a GA along side a rock star and a homeless person and consensus can be achieved.Those of us active in the 20th century struggles spent years waiting behind closed doors for the "leaders" to come out and give us direction,now we just wait for consensus from our brothers and sisters.This movement is introducing the democratization of authority and it is turning this world inside-out.I hope all will open their hearts and minds and embrace what we have.
Hello, this is Däv from up in
Submitted by Cybersomatix on
Hello, this is Däv from up in Occupy Portland. For transparency's sake I should point out that I am a syndicalist. I am also very concerned about the implications of organizations with close ties to political parties attempting to coopt the Occupy moveemnt and our symbolism. That said, a few clarifying points regarding the original post:
It is my understanding that the SEIU sponsored "Take Back the Capitol" event led to the "National GA" as a reaction among Occupy affiliated SEIU members to percieved SEIU attempts at coopting Occupy symbols and rhetoric oriented at doing such. It is also my understanding that the intent was to get these folks communicating abotu real Occupy goings on in the areas from which they hailed, not to make any decisions on behalf of Occupy or any specific occupations. I do not believe that the rank and file members of the SEIU were attempting to control the occupy narrative through this so-called "National GA". I have reservations about the motives of the SEIU's administration body, however, given their track record as shills for the Democratic Party.
We must guard against, the acquisition of unwarrented influence, whether sought or unsought by the Republican or Democratic Parties and more generally the corporate controlled election-industrial-complex. To quote a popular Obama campaign slogan, "We are the change that we've been waiting for!"
All Power to the people! Keep up the good fight! Peace, Love and Solidarity!
A national occupation
Submitted by genericuser on
I strongly believe that the Occupy movement should Occupy Washington, if nothingmore (or less) then to counter the occupation by Wall Street through their pricy stooges on K street, to Occupy Washington themselves. I concur that Occupy Washington should not be organized by SEIU and that no individual active in a local occupation should speak for that local occupation without the endorsement of that occupation's General Assembly. The back room (even if it is filled with good trade unionists), is no place for us.
That is how the Tea Party got hijacked by the republicans
Submitted by macbug on
That is how the " the tea party" was hijacked, the leaders were flown to Washington by these so called independents, who are working for the same lobbyist we are fighting, they are probing for common ground to invite you into their web of control. The good thing about this is they recognize the movement as a threat and are trying to neutralize it. BE ON YOUR GUARD, REMEMBER THE OLD SAYING FROM THE TROJAN WARS: Be wary of "Greeks" bearing gifts. And there are no free lunches. People get real pliable after a first class plane trip, a limo a 5star hotel and big meal and a promise of a good job.
Stay Angry and vote...
macbug
I think people don't understand
Submitted by MartinSayles on
I was at the National GA (representing Occupy Saginaw/Occupy the Tri-Cities). It was my understanding that the NGA was called as a response to the SEIU's attempt to hijack the #Occupy movement. That is, the NGA was not a creature of the SEIU, but rather was the metaphorical equivalent of giving SEIU the middle finger. The SEIU's "mockupy" failed miserably. The NGA, on the other hand, opened up lines of communication among local #Occupy groups that are desperately needed and filled most people there with a stronger sense of solidarity than they had before.
Occupy the TRI • #Occupy@Work
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