It is apparent from last nights debate that we have uncovered our first Occupy Oakland wedge issue- “non-violence”.
Proposals coming from one side or the other will either fail the vote or succeed in fracturing our movement.
I believe the solution is to gather a working group comprised of OO members of different ideological persuasions for the purpose of drafting a GA proposal to address these concerns.
We need to flesh out such loaded words as: “violence”, “non-violence” and “tactics”- among others.
We need to talk to each other rather than at each other- the GA’s aren’t the best place for that. GA’s are great for grandstanding and bloviating.
Let’s start a conversation.
If you are interested in forming such a group, or even just talking about forming such a group, I’m down.
Be open to learning. Be open to sharing. Be open to finding solutions.
I’ll buy the first round.
J
Kazu, GreenEngineer-
You want to meet up tonight (Friday) at the GA?
I’ll be at the eastern corner of the amphitheater around 6ish.
A’s hat. Grey Oaklandish sweatshirt. Jeez- that’s not very distinctive. Anywho, hope to see you there.
Hi Ben,
I’m sorry to hear that. I feel this movement does speak for the 99%- or more rightly it’s giving the 99% a chance to speak for itself. No doubt, it’s messy and nothing about it has been easy.
Are you staying in the area?
Are you going to the GA tonight (Friday)?
Honestly, it’s hard to imagine how the present camp can be saved. There was a serious proposal, from what I’ve heard, it was to be presented Wednesday night but it was withdrawn because it would threaten solidarity at a time when we are about to be raided. I feel that without any policy on violence, we are open to criticism that we are not peaceably assembled.
yes, I’m interested in participating (especially if we can meet face-to-face as i feel the dialog about “violence” v. “no-violence” online has become rather toxic, imo).
-C
Lol, yes that’s me. Funny we keep running into each other, I saw you at the GA the other day too. I think because of what happened last night, there is a more urgent need than ever for this. Are there plans to meet up to begin drafting something?
I would like to converse further with individuals about this proposal. I have contacts in Occupy St. Petersburg, FL who have been throwing around the same idea, and I think it would be in the best interest of the movement to draft some sort non-violent action agreement, to both convey a unified message that the movement desires peace through nonviolent mediums, and also to distinguish the movement from isolated individual instances of violence about the encampment, and also from other more radical groups, who though may sympathize with the efforts of the movement, choose to go about achieving change through means that violate the fundamental of change through non-violent mediums, of which is representative of the movement. Martin Luther King Jr. did it during the Civil Rights Movement, and people became contracted, card-carrying members of a movement championing the idea of change through non-violent resistance. I propose the movement begins by examing King’s model, and begin throwing around ideas. Ill buy the next seven rounds
Mizpat, I think that’s a great idea.
Hey Kazu, great to see you on the webospherewhat’sitcalled…. internet information highway. Are you the same Kazu that I met at Occupy Santa Fe? Hope so. Well I also want to work towards some proposal against violence in and around Occupy Oakland actions including any and whatever main encampment we have in the future. It is way past time. We cannot even demand the protections of the First Amendment unless we are actually peaceably assembly. That doesn’t mean we have to endorse confrontational tactics against those who practice violence. But we NEED more security and more clear tactics.
Excuse me after rereading my work something comes off differently then I wished for it too.
” I felt uncomfortable enough to have to leave this morning, because I didn’t seem to be of similar ilk.”
I was made so uncomfortable to the point I had to leave this morning, due to the fact that I was not of a similar ilk. I am sorry for anyone that I may have offended by my miscommunication.
Coming off of Snow Camp this morning because the internal attitudes are not one of peace, nor furthering the ideas of community, and communicating what the looks like exactly. Oscar Grant is dysfunctional on many fronts. They split themselves into tent communities because of the lack of trust with anyone around. I felt uncomfortable enough to have to leave this morning, because I didn’t seem to be of similar ilk.
I am a middle class white bread First Responder. I came to help, and to make my voice heard as well. I will be willing again, once everyone believes that is true.
We need to be the Voice of the 99%. It is time to ask this from everyone, we need to find ways to encourage grandmothers to come down, and express how angry they are for being lied to for years about being able to have Social Security. We need mothers, and children to express there concern for their future. We need nurses, and pot-heads, and doctors, and artist, and crack addicts, and middle class home owners, and teachers, and people who just don’t know why they are so damn angry. But, we are not there yet. Lets make sure we are a “Voice” of the 99%
Please make sure to include reps from all the unions that endorsed, participated in, and legitimated the Nov. 2 march.
I am down to help with this in any way I can. Just for transparency, I am a nonviolence trainer in a particular form of nonviolence called Kingian Nonviolence, so I can bring that perspective. We mean something VERY different when we talk about nonviolence, based on a lot of the conversations I’ve heard in Oakland.
Sign me up.