Plenty was said about the length of the statement read last night and the inappropriate venue. so I will just point the writer and other folks feeling a need to have their thoughts and emotions heard and validated by their community to the declaration adopted by Occupy SF and penned by Scott Rossi. http://youtu.be/Mz2Ly4kepF0
For me the tone, length and sentiment are on point with what the movement was experiencing at the time and therefore I think easily passed the SF GA. If there is to be a declaration or statement of intent it should focus us by reaffirming our original message in terms that build consensus. While there are things I would change (for example: “non-violent solidarity actions” could just be “solidarity actions” since “violence” is up for debate in our community right now) I still think this hits all the right notes.
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A Declaration from the Occupation – OccupySF / November 15th, 2011
We the People denounce the illegal police actions and evictions against our occupations.
We the People assert our right to peacefully assemble to exercise our right to free speech, and to petition for redress of our grievances.
We reject and repudiate the deliberately complex and prohibitively expensive permit process – a measure in place to curb exercises of this nature and discourage free assembly.
We find it particularly despicable and repugnant that there is a coordinated effort by local and federal officials to neutralize our movement and prevent us from exercising our rights. Let it be known that any action, interdiction, infiltration or other attempts to destabilize, disperse or displace us will be seen as an act against ALL of us. Supporting Occupations and community members will respond in nonviolent solidarity actions.
We stand in solidarity with all Occupiers in the Occupy Wall Street movement everywhere. This movement is bigger than each of us and bigger than our individual Occupations. You cannot evict an idea once that idea is rooted in the hearts and minds of the People.
We invite the 99% to feel empowered to stand up and do heroic things for themselves, for each other, for those that can’t fight for themselves and for those yet to come into this world.
We invite our communities to open dialogues on the pressing issues of mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness, and social and economic injustice as an entree into a greater conversation of the gravely important matters affecting us.
We are the 99% and we are here. We will not be silenced, we will not be removed, and we will not be remiss in our moral calling and natural right to a more just and equitable society.
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