The Dream:
MLK weekend began with actions across the country, many of which are being held right here. Here's a second look at the iconic friend and associate of Reverend King, Jesse Jackson speaking to OLA on November 8, 2011:
The Occupation Movement hasn't lost any steam since shutdown of the encampment by those who seem to think that evicting the messengers would also stop the message. Nope. In fact there are indications that the energy put into maintaining the local encampments is now being directed to actions, marches, speeches, and stop the foreclosure efforts that have spread across the country.
This week will feature a broad range of activities from coast to coast. I had an opportunity to visit some of the other occupations and found a lot of disparity in the structures that have been developed by the groups. Occupy Santa Ana was removed from their encampment despite support for the movement in principle as evidenced by a 6-1 council vote early on.
The diversity, and the numbers, of the occupiers continues to expand. There was a strong union presence in the beginning, and help from labor has been crucial to the expansion of the movement. Other groups have stepped up since, one of those with shared beliefs in socio-economic justice is El Centro Cultural de Mexico in Santa Ana, Ca. Jose Hernandez is frequently in attendance at Occupy Santa Ana General Assemblies, so it was a pleasure to attend a function last night at their headquarters which featured music, food, art and a great crowd. Mr. Hernandez explains:
Occupy Mitt Romney?
The Republican primaries are fast-becoming a hash of overused platitudes and occasional populism. We heard from Rick Perry of all people, condemning Wall Street for the same reasons the OWS movement became the top news story of 2011. Now we see a faux populism by Newt Gingrich after he noticed that Mitt Romney is about as 1% as you can get:
“Welcome to the 99%, boys.
“Some conservatives have viewed the remarks of Messrs. Gingrich and Perry as populist attacks on free-market capitalism, and they've warned against them. They fear these two Republicans sound just like President Obama. But why does one have to be a Democrat or a liberal to complain about the way business gets done?”
“Like most Americans, I am OK with the notion that free-market capitalism produces winners and losers. What I don't like is that it also produces liars, cheaters, swindlers, self-dealing narcissists, overleveraged idiots and reckless egomaniacs out to abuse their economic power and take unfair advantage of hardworking people.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204542404577157051528362094.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Quite a tirade, eh? Very soon now, crooked bankers are going to find it more and more difficult to keep a lid on the general knowledge of their business practices which isn't much different than a racket that allows for payoffs to be made legally. While the mainstream media controlled the news, the banking sector enjoyed protection from scrutiny except for an occasional foray by the Justice Department or the Securities and Exchange Commission into the more egregious transgressions (in other words the criminal activity of banking and financial services executives).
Now however, with the help of the Occupation Movement and the tireless efforts of the alternative media, there is an awakening taking place across America much of which has its roots in the civil rights movement of the 60's. The Reverend King continues to be an inspirational figure, and his work will be celebrated somewhat more conspicuously this year with the rise of a new generation of believers and activists.
Occupy DC update and op-ed:
“Unlike Freedom Plaza the protesters at McPherson Park refuse to obtain a federal permit since this is an Occupy protest. They have 'occupied' the park and plan to stay as long as possible or until changes are effected. They do not need permission.”
It is likely the tents will return in the spring to other occupations nationwide. For now, the DC protesters will be in the spotlight as the week unfolds with too many separate actions to count. The news coverage will be interesting to watch since the mainstream media hacks will be more or less obliged to report. What will our fearless leaders in Congress have to say about NDAA, SOPA, indefinite detention, and the tacit support for the criminal conduct of financial executives?
Or will the MSM choose instead to focus on the gritty details of a gathering that could reach 100,000 or more based on an educated estimate of Tweets and reports from occupations with representatives on their merry way to DC? Will they complain about pizza crusts on the lawn, or will they finally discover that there are important issues that will no doubt become primary topics in the next election? If not, how long will the MSM be able to avoid these subjects for the benefit of their corporate bosses who have effectively suppressed the knowledge of the various banking scams that have robbed middle America and forced 46 million Americans into poverty, many of them losing their homes as well?
This will be a test. Will be MSM finally step up and talk about the issues, or will they revert to their standard position of ignoring the message while focusing on the mundane and insignificant? Here's another heads-up to the MSM, another reminder of the obvious:
“The Occupy Movement that developed in 2011 profoundly shook the foundation of the 1%. Almost instantly a new form of political power was created, all truly grown from the grass roots, and handed the 99% some REAL political capital for the first time in decades, and installed the Occupy Movement as a force to be reckoned with.”
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=28570
We'll be looking forward to an interesting week of activities, the result of the OWS folks deciding that it was time for a return of power to the people in the grand tradition of some of America's most celebrated heroes, civil rights leaders like Dr. King. Here's a reminder that we stand on the shoulders of giants:
Occupation Blog
Recent comments