It's
no secret that there's been some turbulence at Occupy Boston. As the
Herald dutifully reported (to the delight of many of their readers, I might add), and as anyone who's walked down
Atlantic Avenue has likely noticed, there's a bit
of a vagrancy problem in Dewey Square. The scenario is more complicated than many
have surmised – while some homeless occupiers have indeed been using hard drugs and urinating openly, a great deal of those who otherwise bounce between shelters
have taken on responsibilities and made a proud home of the camp.
Still, there are issues that become more visible as tent city settles
further in.
There's
been a significant amount of theft in Dewey Square. Several
around-the-clock inhabitants report getting everything from wallets
to essentials like boots swiped from tents, while two nights ago a
member of the media team's laptop went missing from the spiritual
area. Thursday morning, a shitfaced rogue had to be hauled off twice;
he was trying to fight everyone who he thought accused him of robbing folks the night before. That's all in addition to the
homeless man who was famously ejected from the area for threatening
protesters while packing a syringe.
Despite
organizational advances in some departments (more on message, media,
and winterization coming soon), there's definitely been trouble in
paradise, and it's no wonder that a majority voted earlier this week
to place locks on all the tents. On top of all that, three straight
days of rain proved devastating, with the donation hub flooded along
with a heap of clean clothes that a number of campers were relying
on. Wednesday night, due to the day-long deluge, the nightly general
assembly was even cancelled – the first time that's happened since
they moved in three weeks ago.
On the
bright side of tent city (where addicts aren't nodding off on park
benches), one doesn't have to look far to see progress. Actively
participating homeless people – who are concerned that cracked-out
members of their faction will compromise their place in Dewey Square
– say they finally feel they're being listened to. That's
important, because otherwise this camp and all others with the same
problem will devolve into pathetic microcosms of the classist caste
system they're allegedly rejecting. Should such divisions thicken
it's only a matter of time until the revolution eats itself.
While nights have been sketchy (I wouldn't quite say dangerous, but
definitely sketchy), days have been relatively productive. And though
weather stunted some recent activity, this
weekend is poised to re-stimulate the outside attention that
Occupy activists grew both used to and sick of over the first two
weeks. Tomorrow evening, you can bet your ass that media will swarm
on Occupy the Hood in Dudley Square, where a number of Dewey Square
residents have expressed interest in linking with the black
community. On Saturday, lefty don Noam Chomsky is set to speak at
6pm, and is sure to attract new sympathetic blood.
Finally,
there's also a Saturday night afternoon march (see below) to raise awareness about Boston
Police Department misconduct, and a number of upcoming actions
spearheaded by local orgs that are now aligned with Occupy (plus a Social Movements/Digital Revolutions conference where organizers will be discussing the direction of the Boston theater, and where I am a panelist). This
Friday (October 21) at noon, MassUniting forces will be blowing up
Mitt Romney's spot by blasting his jobs record outside of John
Hancock Tower, nest to his former company Bain Capital. And there's
no doubt that City Life will keep blocking evictions and fighting
banks. Ray Flynn doesn't like it, but chances are that even he'll
come around after a few more visits. If anyone has a soft spot for
ideologically aggressive communes where grown people wear silly
clothes and make rules up as they go, it's the former mayor from
South Boston.
Here's an updated press release from the Occupy Boston people about their solidarity with Occupy the Hood, and the Saturday action behind Boston Police Department headquarters:
"Occupy Boston" Announces Solidarity With "Occupy The Hood"
Boston, MA [10/21/2011] This Saturday, in recognition of the the
16th annual National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality, Occupy
Boston will mark a historic development in it's movement. The
demonstration will take place on Saturday, October 22 from 12:00pm -
3:00pm at the Southwest Corridor Park, behind BPD headquarters @
Schroeder Plaza, Boston, MA 02120. On this day, activists from the Dewey
Square Occupation will be joining activists from Occupy the Hood in a
joint demonstration of strength and solidarity against police brutality.
Not only will Occupy Boston be rallying against recent local and
national police repression of the occupy movement,; more importantly,
the organization will also be rallying against the police violence
experienced by poor folks and communities of color every day in this
country. Both organizations will also be rallying on the one year
anniversary of a recent, unresolved case of police brutality in Boston:
the beating of a 16 year old boy arrested at Roxbury Community College,
just blocks from BPD headquarters (//www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXDJvBaTTDQ).
In calling for this demo, Occupy Boston aims to use the
international spotlight on it's movement to illuminate the ongoing
struggles against police brutality in our communities. Occupy Boston
stands in solidarity with Communities all over America that face
systematic problems of racial oppression that do not receive attention
on a national platform.
In the spirit of solidarity, and in recognition of the diversity of
experiences of all members of the 99%, Occupy Boston invites all their
supporters to join them in having these discussions by rallying on
October 22 at 12:00 PM behind the BPD headquarters in the southwest
corridor park, near the Ruggles and Tremont Street intersection and a
short walk from the Ruggles stop on the Orange line. There will be a
march directly following the demonstration ending in Dewey Square where
author Noam Chomsky will be speaking at 6pm.
The Occupy Boston General Assembly has officially ratified the following statement of Solidarity with Occupy The Hood:
"Occupy
Boston stands in solidarity with the Occupy the Hood rally taking place
Friday, October 21 at 6pm in Dudley Square Plaza. Occupy Boston will
activate our solidarity by sending volunteers to appropriately assist
and support the initiative with excitement, RESPECT, and HUMILITY. We
hope to see Occupy the Hood grow into an inclusive and democratic step
towards unifying ALL the 99%. We recognize that our support for
initiatives like this one is part of a process of listening to, learning
from, and deepening our connections to many more local community
members, groups, and organizations."
For more information about this demonstration, please visit facebook, https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=229229533804314
where 4 distinct action-point demands are also described in detail. For more information about Occupy Boston please visit //www.occupyboston.org/
###
Occupy Boston started in Dewey Square in Boston on
September 30, 20011 and has been directly inspired by our brothers and
sisters at Occupy Wall St. in New York, and we stand in solidarity with
them. The spirit of Occupy Wall Street has spread nationwide, and has an unofficial hub at Occupy Together. There is also a list of occupations and Facebook pages at Daily Kos.
While these different occupations share many goals and attitudes, they
each operate independently, and there is no national organization that
can speak for all occupations.
Gunner Scott
Occupy Boston Media Team
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