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!

11.11.11

Well, it seems that there is an interest among the Facebook Group Community to partake in the Freedom festivities going on all around the world for 11.11.11 Occupy The World Day.

We'll be gathering a few heads tonight at the Civic Center in Downtown San Diego to pull together ideas and inspiration! Come along and bring a peaceful, focused mindset to share and get involved!

Also, something to think about...

Occupy!

SUCCESS!

Bank Transfer Day was a great success all around: for the Occupy San Diego movement, for the entire 99% and Occupy Evolution Revolution... and the OccupYrCorner concept!

We rallied at the Civic Center and marched all around downtown San Diego, chanting and clapping and basically causing a commotion for all the big banks as we visited them one by one. I hopped from corner to corner, to bring the movement to the sidewalks, so passerby weren't just witnessing, but IN IT! Also, flyers were donated, so pedestrians were educated!

At the rally in front of the only Bank of America open today, speaker after speaker took their turn, informing us, educating us, sharing with us, until it was my turn. Then I took the megaphone and spoke my piece: One sign, One Message, One corner, One at a time! Out From The Corners and ONTO THE CORNERS! They understand that we are angry, they've heard us yell, now lets talk to them! Calmly, peacefully, easily: discuss your point! Or at least take advertising back and instill freedom to blossom in the minds of those too scared to try!

And you know what? They all agreed! They all understood! Claps and cheers met my speech, and wouldn't you know it: we occupied some corners! Quite a few people joined me from the fray and stood at the intersection, making sure pedestrians knew what was up and cars driving by saw every sign they could!

For a while I stuck by the rally, but then I explored and re-located to the heart of the Gaslamp. It was here, away from it all and in the middle of the everyday that the experiment truly became a success! As I stood there the same results from the times before: some passerby read the sign out loud, some to each other, some gave me quizzical looks, drivers honked and gave the thumbs up, and approached me to talk. Here's a sampling of what I heard:

"Already did that last week!"

"Never trusted the banks in the first place, been at a CU for 30 years!"

"Tell me about why Credit Unions are better than the Big Banks?"

"What is this whole thing all about? I want to know."

"Do Credit Unions do Direct Deposit? If so, I'm there!"

"My friend works at a Credit Union... I don't know why I just don't go ahead and join hers!"

And probably the winning moment of the day, the sweetest little, well-polished older lady approached me, patted me on the shoulder and whispered in my ear: "I know you're not doing this for yourself. Your doing this for everyone else. That's why it's important! I thank you!"

GOAL!

Some pics...

Occupy!

BANK TRANSFER DAY!

It's Bank Transfer Day, Ladies and Gentleman! OccupYrCorner will be representing in the rallies and marches and–when timing seems right–will invite whoever's interested in joining me in Occupying a few Corners downtown for an hour or so.

I have word that there may be some handouts around to have on hand, graciously donated by your fellow 99%ers, so thank them graciously.

Remember: Three are only 535 or so Congress people for us to carefully decide who is tainted with greed and money, and who is there to do their job for the benefit of the people of this country. Should be easy, just cut off money-based, corporate-run lobbying and see who dies off from the lack of cushy cash. That's not a large number to replace and get this Congress UnBought! Stand up to demand money out of politics! Start today by draining that money AWAY!

Viva La 99%!

Things are going well...

It's a rainy day out there today in San Diego, but reports are streaming in form all over the world about new Occupations, Bank Transfer Day totals, and positive replies and responses from all over to bring promise the sun will shine again soon on the 99%!

Some updates:

• We've come to a general agreement that we can have Occupations fo Corners any day, and Black Friday does not have to be a kick-off
• I'm going to promote at the Bank Transfer Day Rally tomorrow and try to start off an impromptu Occupation of Corners when things get to a lull after the marches and such... be there! 
• Estimations hold at 100 people to fully Occupy the Corners of Broadway and about 50 to Occupy the Corners of the Gaslamp... once we reach 100 on our Facebook Group, let's get this happening! 
• Here's a link to the original FB conversation that helped get this ball rolling!
• Oh and I made this in solidarity for the Occupiers in Oakland! Respect!

More soon!

Log: Day 2

So I'll keep a log of some goings on that are cool:

• We seems to have volunteers organizing already - compiling information for flyers and education; listings of corners and strategics on meeting up;  talking about how to beef up web followship and realtime participation
• The First Official OccupYrCorner Day seems to be set: November 26th - with talks of every Saturday or Sunday after until Xmas and beyond
• I'm happy to hear support on keeping the messages on our signage as forward thinking and not incendiary as possible. It's a free movement, do what you want, but "one thing I want to try and stress as an idea: the signs and rhetoric should be statements, and not just opinions. We want people to not see we're mad... they got that... now we want them to start realizing what we are sick of shielding our eyes from. Thus, keeping it general "ditch your bank, I DID" is perfect... you can even walk a block or two down from the bank where traffic is flowing. Make them put 2 and 2 together. (Also avoid getting harassed by police/secuuurity.)" - from Facebook.
• Susan has the right idea when she said on Facebook "Offer solutions. By the end of next week, I will try and compile a list of "Green" small businesses in the North Park area ... and hopefully beyond. Even a list of Farmer's Markets. Encourage folk to buy USA. Save at a local banks/credit union. Support local farmers (avoid the orange shipped here from Australia and tell them why) Buy shade free coffee .. etc etc etc. "
• The incomparable Sam and I have talked about further technologies to use to facilitate this - Google Docs for signup and literature, possible smart phone integration... any ideas?

Thank you all for making this even remotely possible! Even if it's just me standing on a corner with my sign, by myself, I know I'll have made a difference!

Already: Amazingness...

Check out this amazing list of ideas already brewing about the idea...

From Sam Ward on Facebook:

This is a protesting tactic which is designed to spread our message over a wide area.

• The optimal situation is one where there is at least 1 protester on every street corner of the target area. Standing alone can be unsafe or boring so 2 protesters per corner should also be expected.
• This means 4-8 protesters per 4-way intersection.
• In San Diego, Broadway Ave. has approximately 100 street corners from the waterfront to 17th street (where the bridge over highway 5 is).
• We only need 100 people to put 1 person on every corner of Broadway Ave. in downtown.
• For each ~100 people after that, we can cover another street that runs through downtown.
• We can also choose to put only 1 or 2 protesters per intersection and thereby double, triple, or quadruple the exposure. With only 1 protester per intersection we need just25 people to have a presence throughout Broadway Ave. in downtown.
• I recommend buying a Crayola Giant Floor Pad (which is like a flipbook for posters), and a Sharpie Magnum permanent marker to quickly make individual signs with enormous bold lettering. The giant floor pad has 30 sheets of paper and a handle. When you get a new idea you just flip it to a new page and draw that sumbitch with the sharpie.

From Toby Joe Lewandoski on Facebook:

We need to create an event with considerations: 1.Heavy traffic around the city, around trolley lines, buses shopping centers, schools, and coffee shops, probably more 2.Exact message to convey, 3. Material and resources, 4. Must get the message out so advance planning needs to happen. I say the day after Thanks Giving, Black Friday. 11/25/2011.


From Barbara Cummings on Facebook: 

Just a thought on visibility. Black on white is best if you can. Large letters, at least 6-8 inches. Let the sun be your spotlight. If drivers are squinting into the sun, they cannot see you. Hold you sign high so both directions can see. NOV 5th, bank transfer day! Credit Unions are expecting an onslaught. Good work San Diego.


From Pete Schmidt on Facebook:

I love this! I would suggest organizing it around a central area (for instance let's grab every corner we can in Gaslamp starting around the Embarcadaro and moving out) or focusing on central corridors (like maybe taking every corner of University from Mission Hills to Northpark). Link it up through Google maps and have people sign up for corners to stand on between 11am-2pm.

From Anita Simons on Facebook:
This is exactly what the OWS movement needs: ACTION! I love it. All it takes is one person on every street corner with a different message that OWS/OSD has put out there in the list of grievances. I've seen some very thought-provoking and succinct signs that get our message out in a non-threatening way. Wouldn't hurt to have us have some info sheets to pass out for those who want to join us. I'll work on tht this weekend. Keep the action ideas coming!


From Merton Gaudette on Facebook:

I like the idea of 2-4 people per corner; IMO, at least one should have a VideoCam and operate incognito for the safety of the others, as well as possible inspirational video clips. I have a pro grade shoulder mount Video Cam that I am happy to bring along.
Suggestion: let's start using the hashtag #Occupyrcorner for twitter communications....unless a hashtag has already been set up?

More over at the Facebook Group...