Media Relations Press Release

Occupy LA has been consistently transparent with City Hall on all matters. Our OccupyLA City Liaisons actively and freely communicate with City representatives.

Oakland mayor Quan revealed that the timing of the evictions of Occupiers in Portland, Oakland and New York City were no coincidence. She confirmed that she participated in a conference call with mayors from 18 other cities prior to the crackdown on Occupy Oakland. This seems to indicate a nationwide effort is underway to close all Occupations. We therefore presume the mayor and city council are coordinating planning to ask us to leave. Nevertheless, we urge the LA City Council and LAPD to stand by their resolution of support passed by the Los Angeles City Council on October 5th.

At Occupy LA, we have not been subjected to the crack of batons or the sting of pepper spray - this is as it should be - we view such weaponry as a complete violation of occupiers' rights as peaceful protestors and we demand such devices not be used on our Occupation. We deplore the brutal show of force we have witnessed around the nation. We hold LAPD to a higher standard  than we have seen from other cities, if Occupy LA refuses to exit City Hall. City council in its own resolution meticulously itemized a long list of our legitimate grievances -- so we know you know our cause is just.

At this point, we have no plans to leave -- we have only begun our mission. If LA Occupiers eventually exit City Hall, it would be due to

OccupyLA's conclusion that our work could be done more efficiently at another location.

The various Occupations are the physical manifestation of the People's Voice- long silenced. As of Sept 17th that voice has awakened and
demands to be heard.

-Occupy Los Angeles Media Relations Committee

6 Comments

alhs06's picture

ACCORDING TO KTLA channel 5 News

ACCORDING TO KTLA channel 5 News this morning, & I am para-phrasing but close to verbatim,

KTLA channel 5 News; OLA has been working with the city on a timeline for relocating or disbanding the camp. As the camp can't stay here forever. (forever?)

Who's doing the negotiating on behalf of OLA if this report is accurate ...is it accurate?

My picture reads

"Sell a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you ruin a perfectly good business opportunity."

The 1% philosophy

there have been numerous stories...

...in the mainstream media about relocations, timelines, negotiations. the L.A. times article cited 'confusion over who speaks for protestors'...


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1116-occupy-la-20111116,0,874792.story


though the annenber tv news has the GA press release and 'official' position:


http://www.atvn.org/news/2011/11/occupy-la-has-no-plans-leave


while this story says LAPD is trying to get a dialogue going on relocation but...


http://laist.com/2011/11/16/with_zucotti_park_cleared_occupy_lo.php


...this story says that a discussion between OLA and LAPD and city council will take place today...


http://laist.com/2011/11/15/will_occupy_la_be_forced_to_relocate.php


so your question, alhso6, is valid: who may or may not be negotiating for OLA?


TimFromLA's picture

My role

I am a member of the 9/11 truth group WeAreChangeLA. I am the liaison between members of the LAPD and their collective bargaining/union representative the Los Angeles Police Protective League. I have over the years built relationships with the League representatives and managed to build a relationship between WACLA and the first responders. We supported them especially after 9/11 when the City of New York betrayed the First Responders in New York. In other words, WACLA felt that what happened to NYPD will not happen to OUR LAPD or LAFD. Then Occupy Wall Street happened, and there were rumors of Occupy Wall Street in Los Angeles. When this was confirmed, the steering committee members of Occupy L.A. were speaking to the City Hall and the LAPD mangement team as well as other city officials. So on my own, I decided that I wanted to be a part of the Occupation after hearing about it on the Thom Hartmann Show and Mike Malloy Show. So I did...

With neither the approval of Occupy L.A. nor their knowledge.

I spoke to my contact person(s) of the Occupation and told them that I am going to join the OWSLA. The League rep(s) asked why, I explained the goals, the philosophy of the 99% and how every officer in the LAPD can lose their jobs/homes and livelihood because the elected officials were more interested in the 1% an not the people who voted for them. So we sat down chatted and explained what were the goals. I listed several...which were my goals and one was the creation Talk To A Cop. Talk To A Cop is an outreach program explaining how the LAPD or any officer/deputy/trooper/agent can be a victim of the corporate monster and spit out without a second thought. We as civilians who entrust our lives to these brave men and women have their back. I created Talk in WACLA and our membership speak to officers, Deputies, D.A.s, fire fighters, and anyone who is in charge of protecting the commons. My rep(s) liked it and the pre-march chats eventually led the acceptance of adopting (for a lack of a better word) the first responders.

Apparently, the league rep(s) spread the word and as we marched from Pershing Square to City Hall, our First Responders were cheering and giving the thumbs up. This was a sight to see. The stereotypes of cops hating hippies and protestors were not part of the proverbial lexicon. Why? Because the First responders realized that they too are part of the 99%. There were no judgement calls nor were there any prejudice. We marched, the police cheered and I made that promise that we the 99% will do our darndest to protect those who protect and serve us.

I will not sacrifice what I made more than two years ago after I created Talk To A Cop to the political, financial or social circus that got us in the mess we're in today. We own the commons. We own the first responders. And if they're willing to sacrrifice their lives to protect and serve us, I felt we must do the same to them. By doing so, if it means to go against the wishes of the management or City Hall, then so be it, we will.

As the OLA Web Team said, "Occupy LA has been consistently transparent with City Hall on all matters" I would hope mayor Antonio Villaraigosa does the same and be transparent to the people of both the City of Los Angeles and to the Occupiers. We are in it in the long haul and we are doing this for OUR First Responders AND yes, for to the City Hall.

TimFromLA

Donald Frazell's picture

There will be a time to leave

Everything changes, and alternative sites should be lined up. taking it directly to the 1% peacefully and lifting the veil of their avarice, though it is truly teh nouveaur riche who are the problem who came up duirng the psot commuist age of lassiez faire capitalism. Many rich are good people, the same percentage as poor or middle class. Many want change too, they have to play a decadent game to survive. Make alliances but take it to those who are the problem. That is not selling out, it is being positive, but tough.


Take it to Mo/CA, both buildings, these are the forces that have decadent fundraising parties and are alla bout apperance, all about themselvs and their gilded ghettos that lock teh riffraff out. they purposely have disconnected themselvs form humanity so humanity should show up in their party places. Art academies, museums and galleries, but have to pick those where camps can be made, the Geffen is perfect. Let them reveal themselves. Just keep up gentle pressure, and they will. their false liberalism will fade, and their arrogance and greed will show.


So yes, come up with an alternative lsit of places, and different activites, open must adapt or die. This is life. Going aainst it will only bring failure.

our work is not over

we can't let them evict us. we have to be preparedto go to jail if we are given no other choice.  sacrifices must be made. power concedes nothing. we know it is not going to be easy, but were not in this to take the easy road. we know what is just an unjust and the era of the 1% ruling must end now. we must make it happen. let them take us to jail. together we can support each other.

eviction next week?

just saw chanell 7 news which said the city - mayor and chief plan to evict occupy LA sometime next week.  we must be vigilant and not allow this to happen. off to jail we'll go if it comes to that.

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