Sunday, November 6, 2011

OccupYrCorner: First meeting

An amazing evening as four 99%ers got together and talked about how to get these corners occupied and raise the consciousness on our shared plight. We were all different types, interests, ages, and backgrounds, but we all really wanted to see this idea take off... It was an amazing thing. 
At that meeting some concepts were hammered out:
  • 1 to a corner, one sign each; 4 to an intersection, smile - you're here to help
  • Be armed with materials and education on your topic and the 99% situation. You will be asked. 
  • Confabing this week on general materials: an "Occupy: Overall" sheet and a small flyer for occupiers about OYC
  • The goal is to offer a calm, peaceful alternative to protesting for both protestor and passerby. You are in effect an educational kiosk. 
  • Rotations can happen to alleviate boredom - wait for the light, walk slowly, sign high... Let all the traffic see.
  • NOT a splinter or split from main occupation, just for those times after and in-between rally when you still got some fire in ya. Go occupy a busy corner!
  • This addresses non-local, rural, disabled, infirm, and elderly needs: imagine leaving an urban market area to a quiet residential area and seeing two strangers holding signs about similar topics! 
  • Also reference the ongoing struggle happening at the Civic Center... But make it positive. Marching activates healthy ire for some, but we are offering positive solutions.

After the meeting, we walked over to eliminate GA which filled up and I was approached by the Outreach committee to talk about the idea. We were so honored to have a captive audience of more than 30 occupiers listening about this concept of Corners.  We talked of reclaiming their advertising regime, offering more solutions for awareness raising,  and participation this up coming Friday.
So far we are planning to play it by ear and carefully and respectfully coordinate it around the Veterans Day Rally downtown. Sometime around 3pm. But again, stay tuned as we want to apply the utmost appreciation in our approach on this momentous day...

Thank you to Susan, Jack, Jimmy, Gerardo, Cliff, and all the Occupiers downtown and across the world!

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