Occupy hasn’t left us yet

Occupy hasn’t left us yet

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“Are We” A poem by Shawn Sorensen written about his visits to Occupy Portland and the Night the Evil Mayor Evicted the Main Encampment

Are We

to occupy this park
below corpulent clouds, drum beats and falling
leaves eviction notice a cold night

for democracy thousands bundle and chatter
and wait for ghosts
in uniforms and riot gear
helicopter thunder she tells me

the movement needs large, wool blankets
needs warm tea
for shaky hands

this young woman said a baby came
drugs and alcohol passed away
old skin dissolved into new
and she has her cause
as young as she is not numb

for democracy, five senses

into parks living among drumbeats
and falling leaves, living as frost
starts into fingers

is the baby sleeping
are we moving somewhere

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Patriots of Occupy Portland Oregon and Others Shut Down the Port of Portland

By John Hively

Hundreds of American patriots swarmed over terminal 5 and 6 of the Port of Portland and successfully shut the port down. They came in all ages, but most were young, probably in their twenties. They came in cars, pedaling bicycles, walking and even wheelchairs. They came carrying their signs saying to restore democracy in the United States, end corporate rule, and globalize resistance.

Technically, the United States has a democratic form of government, but it’s a democracy ruled by money, thanks to a corrupt Supreme Court that says money is free speech and that large sums of money are people, so long as that money is organized into legislatively created, publicly traded, limited liability corporations. Ultimately, that’s what corporations are when you peel away their names and reputations. Perhaps that’s why the corporate wing of the Supreme Court (Alito, Scalia, Thomas, Roberts and Kennedy) ruled that the original intent of the founding fathers was to ensure that organized money are people. Of course, you’ve got to wonder how much money the justices received in order to make such an absurd ruling.

And so the patriots came, to throw off the shackles of corporate tyranny and restore democracy for people in the United States.

The police also came. There was a tense period around 7:30am when riot police appeared ready to reopen terminal 5. As a helicopter buzzed overhead, the patriots linked arms. The police backed off, which was a sensible thing to do. It made victory possible for the protesters and the police.

But the victory will end when the port reopens tomorrow. The Occupy Movement is but a flea to a lion. It bites and the lion may scratch. In the long run, the lion is not bothered; it continues to live its life unchallenged. And so it is with the one percent and their mechanisms for control of the political process, which allows them to continue to rape and pillage the middle class. They will continue to redistribute income and wealth from the 99 percent to the one percent.

Hopefully, the Occupy Movement (like the flea) will increase its numbers to the point where it can’t be ignored. It’s a young movement and, because in the long run the economy will continue to disintegrate as income and wealth are redistributed to the top, the movement will continue to grow.

Today’s actions were just one battle of many to come. It’s the beginning, not the end.

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Get Set for Occupying the Ports–Shut Down the West Coast Ports

Today workers, occupiers, vets, and organizers spoke out about shutting down Wall Street on the Waterfront. Watch the videos below, and check out the accompanying press release.

Occupy Portland ready for historic
West Coast Port Shutdown
Community picket targets Wall Street on the waterfront

PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, rank and file union members, non-union workers, the unemployed, the retired, veterans, and other representatives of the 99% spoke downtown in a press conference to explain how marching on,”Wall Street on the Waterfront” is the Occupy movement’s latest progression.

On Monday, December 12th Occupy Portland will gather at 6am and 4pm at Kelley Point Park to rally and march on the terminals of the Port of Portland, with the 6am being the priority gathering time. The community picket will include traditional picket signs, but also banners, drums, food, warm beverages, and cultural activities.

Occupy has evolved beyond encampments and is now targeting financial institutions, fighting evictions, reclaiming public space, fighting for free speech rights, and now the ports. These actions offer not only an explanation of who is to blame for the global crisis, but also begin to show how people can begin to democratically craft solutions.

“We are here to say, Enough! We will not stand for corporate profits at the expense of working people, we will not stand for attacks on workers, and we will not allow our schools to be closed, social services slashed, and families to be impoverished by your greed!” says Jordan McIntyre, rank-and-file painter and organizer with Shut Down the Ports, “The 99% will stand together to shut down the ports. Trade unions & port workers have a long history of respecting community pickets, and we anticipate that Dec 12 will be no different.”

Two examples of Wall Street on the Waterfront are Goldman Sachs and EGT. Goldman Sachs, a well know Wall Street financier, is the majority shareholder of Stevedore Services of America (SSA), which has docks in Portland. SSA is responsible for inhumane working conditions and gross exploitation of port truckers. EGT, a multinational grain corporation, is refusing to honor the Longshore worker union contract in Longview, WA.

“Occupy is a tremendous tool for organizing the working class; it represents the 89% of the non-union workforce as well as the un- and underemployed, students, houseless, and rank-and-file trade unionists, too,” says Kari Koch, organizer with Shut Down the Ports working group of Occupy Portland. “Occupy is in solidarity with trade unionists under attack, but our power and possibility lies in that we are not shackled by party politics or by the restraints of laws like Taft-Hartley.”

While the community pickets of the ports are organized by the Shut Down the Ports working group of Occupy Portland, rank-and-file unionists have been actively involved in the organizing as well.

The Portland action is part of a West Coast Port shut down movement that is historic in scope. Since the call to action 2 weeks ago, over a dozen occupations across the Western and Southern United States have signed on to Shut Down the ports, including Oakland, Long Beach, San Francisco, Astoria, Seattle, Vancouver BC, Anchorage, and Longview, beyond the West Coast, Houston, TX, Denver, and the Doro-Chiba railway workers in Japan will participate.

This action was approved by Occupy Portland at the General Assembly on November 26.

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The Occupy Movement and a Call for Non-Violent Action Worldwide on November 17.

Occupy Portland has endorsed a call for decentralized-yet-coordinated nonviolent civil disobedience against big banks on Thursday Nov. 17. Let’s shut them down!

*Please send invites to everyone you know in the Portland-area for this event!*
http://www.n17pdx.org

… On Thursday November 17th the Occupy movement worldwide calls for a day of mass action to reject big banks direction of the economic system that divides us all. Let’s reclaim our democracy, stop the foreclosures, and recreate the society we want to see. Together, on Thursday November 17, let’s shut the banks down!

This is a call to form “affinity group” action teams, take on support roles, or join in a public march visiting action locations. An action “spokescouncil” for communication between and support of affinity group has been formed by the Occupy Portland Action Committee and seeks your participation.

Ways to engage:

1) Form an affinity group! A sit-in with half-a-dozen friends can shut down a corporate bank for hours, especially if utilizing u-locks or other basic “lock-down” devices. Affinity groups are coordinating through “spokescouncil” meetings to ensure actions don’t accidentally conflict, can get their action’s message out to media, have legal support, and more. Ideas for affinity groups at http://www.n17pdx.org/ag/

2) Support the direct actions! There are many ways to help support actions without risking arrest – police and media liaisons, legal observation, march planning, outreach, etc. Teams are forming for all of them, and are a great place to get trained – no experience necessary. Email join@n17pdx.org.

3) Get trained. Workshops for anyone wanting help planning actions and organizing new affinity groups are happening! Schedule @ https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=310129472346919. http://www.n17pdx.org/training or contact training@n17pdx.org.

4) Come to the Spokescouncil meeting – To coordinate with other actions or join support teams for them, come to the action Spokescounil planning meetings. Every other day at 6pm: Thursday 11/10, Saturday 11/12, Monday 11/14, and Wednesday 11/16. Contact join@n17pdx.org for location.

5) Join the march! The action starts @ 8am on the East Side of Steel Bridge with a labor action with We Are Oregon. Then join us for a 10am Rally at Waterfront Park @ SW Ankeny. At 11am we march to visit civil disobedience actions in progress!

6) Donate! This coordinated action – one of the largest days of action in Portland history – is running on a painful shoestring budget! Put your money where your values are now! We need your support asap, every bit helps: Funds are desperately needed for legal support, outreach material, sign making supplies, and civil disobedience blockade devices. Do you want to see the big banks shut down? Then please put your money where your visions are and visit n17pdx.org/donate today!!

7) Spread the word! RSVP on facebook and invite others, help with flyering, and check out n17pdx.org/outreach for more ideas.

This is a once in a generation opportunity to take bold action with a critical mass of activists willing and ready to confront corporate greed. Seize the moment. Plan to take the day off work (because banks are open 9-5pm). Spread the word. Gather your friends. Plan your action. Be Creative. Occupy the Banks.

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Video of the Battle of the Parks Defended by Occupy Portland on Sunday Morning

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Police Oust Occupy Portland in Pyrrhic victory

A Pyrrhic victory (/ˈpɪrɪk/) is a victory with such a devastating cost to the victor that it carries the implication that another such victory will ultimately cause defeat. We just witnessed a minor Pyrrhic victory for the One Percent this morning when the Portland police ousted Occupy Portland from its base at two adjacent parks in downtown Portland. The parks are now empty, enclosed by cyclone fences and guarded by many police officers.

Afterwards, Occupy Portland reassembled in Pioneer Courthouse Square to consider their options, which includes occupying other places, such as Portland State University, Waterfront Park or Pioneer Courthouse Square.

They’ve also invited Mayor Samuel Adams to join their discussion on their options. He is unlikely to accept. One citizen invited the assembled group to his house on Mt Tabor.

Despite losing the parks, Occupy Portland came out stronger in terms of numbers, sympathizers and public relations. In other words, the movement is growing. The Portland police also won in that they handled themselves with greater restraint than their peers in Oakland and New York City.

The One Percent lost a little, and maybe a lot, so this wasn’t quite a Pyrrhic victory; but the clash/eviction they demanded of their mayor was certainly a step in the right direction, but for Occupy Portland, not for the one percent.

You can view a live feed of the assembled meeting in Pioneer Courthouse Square by clicking on the link below.

Live from Occupy Portland

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Thousands of Patriotic Citizens Turn Out to Fight For Occupy Portland

Perhaps as many as seven thousand patriotic citizens of the United States converged at the last hour to lend their support in defense of Occupy Portland.

A few days ago, Mayor Sam Adams had given Occupy Portland until 12.01 am Sunday morning to leave the two parks they occupy in downtown Portland, just across from the justice building. When the police arrived in force, so did thousands of patriots to block their attempt to destroy Occupy Portland. And justice was served.

The patriots were mostly young, under thirty years old, but there were plenty of older people there, too. Some appeared to be in their sixties and seventies. As the police looked on, at different times our citizens chanted “Our Park,” “Our street,” and “Our Police.”

The police had formed a line along third avenue. It looked as though they were trying to keep the street open. The patriots and the police conversed all along the line and many of our men and woman in blue were smiling. Then things got a little ugly.

The police, of course, were just doing their jobs as tools of the one percent. The chief propaganda organ of the one percent in Oregon is the Oregonian newspaper, which had been a bitter critic of Occupy Portland and of middle class America in general. The newspaper has been a primary supporter of legislation to outsource middle class jobs via free trade treaties, which redistributes income from working Americans to the mostly idle rich of Wall Street.

When I arrived just before midnight, there were thousands of middle class patriots prepared to do battle against the agents of the one percent, the rich people that want to turn the United States into a banana republic by destroying the middle class.

Patriots stood along both sides of Third as cars passed by honking horns in support. Patriots also huddled on Main Street, which separated the two parks in which Occupy Portland was located.

The police brought in horses on Main, formed them into a line, and then like an ancient Macedonian phalanx, they pushed forward against the crowd with grim determination. The patriots stood their ground in the street, and they held firm.

Then the police retreated. By 3:00am, two thousand or more patriots still defended Occupy Portland, but the majority of police had left.

The video below shows the attack of the horses and the refusal of the patriots to budge. It also shows the police in retreat. Sadly, the video is from the Oregonian newspaper, the primary propaganda agent of the one percent in Oregon. It’s as if their editors take their orders from the Koch Brothers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce or Rupert Murdoch. Some of their editorials appear to have been stories written by one of those anonymous sources often cited by Fox News as a credible news source, but which is most likely created by a low paid fiction or fantasy writer sitting in a Fox News cubicle. On behalf of the one percent, the Oregonian editors claim that treaties that outsource jobs, destroy our tax base, pauperize funding for schools, libraries, roads and police; that diminish our wages, pensions, benefits and salaries and raise unemployment, while redistributing income from working Americans to the rich is good for working Americans. They actually want us to believe that. That’s why the Oregonian newspaper is a simple propaganda tool of the one percent.

It’s also why so many people are taking to the streets. It’s why Occupy Oregon is here to stay. The working people of this country have had enough of seeing their futures and livelihoods redistributed to the rich by corrupt government at all levels, including the corrupt corporate wing of the supreme court.

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Occupy Portland Gets Notice of Eviction Under Pressure

Portland Mayor Samuel Adams has announced a deadline of 12:01 am Sunday to leave their encampment or be forcibly evicted. The mayor seems to have been sympathetic to the Occupy Portland, but he is under pressure from powerful members and supporters of the one percent.

The most publicly vocal of these seems to be the Oregonian newspaper. Based on what the editors have written about ending Occupy Portland, as well as their support for the outsourcing of jobs and reducing the wages and benefits of working people, it would appear that the Oregonian was taken over by sycophants of the Koch Brothers and Rupert Murdoch. The Oregonian is clearly the local propaganda arm of the One Percent in their war against the middle class.

Adams does not seem to be on board with the Koch Brothers, but he is under pressure and apparently will act on Sunday.

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Video of 7,000 people rallying Pink Martini for Occupy Portland

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