Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holiday of Your Choosing from Jo and Kor, aka the ladies of #teamoccupyyourmom.
Linn Park, Birmingham, AL. Photo by Kenneth Lipp
The Christmas season has been difficult on us both as it has been for the entire Occupy movement. Cities across the country have evicted Occupiers, often in the early hours of the morning and with unnecessary force. Some groups are fractured from the inside, facing personality and ideology clashes, and are struggling to maintain cohesion.
We can only grow by representing the entire 99%. To move forward, we have to consider traditionally marginalized groups – ethnic minorities, immigrants, Native Americans, religious minorities, and women – and not only engage them in conversation, but truly listen to their concerns, demands, and ideas. We cannot speak for them, but must work with them.
And, as always, we must be transparent. Leaked emails from OccupyWallStreet suggest that money is not being spent in the most responsible way.
We will overcome this Valley Forge moment. Occupy is young and faces considerable challenges but we have already made a positive impact on the country. Occupy has already changed the national economic conversation. Senator Bernie Sanders, for example, has proposed a Constitutional amendment to end corporate personhood. The House of Representatives Financial Services Committee announced it will be holding hearings on no-contest settlements. The National Lawyers Guild, which provides pro-bono legal observation and assistance to Occupy, has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for evidence of federal involvement on Occupy crackdowns. The refusal of the CIA to even consider an FOIA request highlights the inherent issues with the FOIA.
Where traditional media has failed, we have excelled. Citizen journalists across the country are bringing the news to the people. I am proud to say that #teamoccupyyourmom has been at the forefront of coverage, with the Gypsy Cell traveling to cities across the east coast and the gulf. They were there to cover the New Orleans eviction and the #D12 port action at the Port of Houston. The team has been on the ground in Austin, Birmingham, Boston, DC, Houston, Keene (NH), New Orleans, Philadelphia and Wall Street. We have exciting plans for the New Year, including #OccupyCongress on January 17 in Washington, DC and some to-be-announced things in the works.
As always, we are dependent on you for your help. Please consider making a donation to #teamoccupyyourmom if you are able.
Happy 100 days, and on to freedom.
–xx
Joanne
