DUer Zhade and I met up and attended the GA.
The movement is the re-creation of our community, our sense of belonging with each other, with everyone having a voice. As something like this grows, it also brings into contact its previously disparate elements. Back during the World Can't Wait anti-Bush demonstrations, he PM'd me after I posted that I'd been at the LA Fed Building protest, to say he'd been there as well, same time.
I don't think we'd chatted since.
A new protest brings together those who will not sit and allow that which is bad to pass; we get out and attempt to make a difference. It's very nice to be meeting fellow LA DUers at this new movement. I wouldn't have gotten there tonight without our having hooked up. Glad you had a good time as well! (tips hat)
Now, OakFoSho and PunkboyinSF were here last night for the curfew, being canny enough, as were most Los Angeleans, that Villainaigosa LIED AGAIN when he said no raid at 12:01AM. Oak, who pioneered the #Occupy Oakland livestream, and was there for all of the attacks by over 12 different police agencies called into annihilate a peaceful protest. He ran down Oakland streets to get in front of each police cordon/lineup, pointing out when they covered their names, which is of course illegal in California, and now many of us will never forget that bit of law, section 830.10... Suffice to say, IIRC, Oak was right there when Scott Olsen was nearly killed by hostile forces determined to destroy our Constitutional expression, and much more. Tonight, Zhade and I sat next to Oak at the LA GA as he livestreamed via his smartphone. He asked each of us to momentarily hold the livestream camera phone as he took care of some business. So now, these two cities, and most importantly, solidarities, come together, are made more "real" to me. We are united against the same things, we are united for the same things, and we are all coming together and doing what we can to make it happen in our own ways, to our own abilities.
I wanted to shout out to him that it's a pleasure to meet and all respect for basically being a badass, running the streets to keep people aware when the city ordered two helicopter livestreams terminated right before the cops attacked, etc. Over and over. Kudos to you, sir. I have a long way to go myself in these regards.
Great General Assembly, lots of consensus, some very amusing bits, some frustration, all very very human. Which is that to which it all boils down. We learn more about ourselves when we connect with others. Cheers to Zhade and every #Occupier!
(Edit: I did introduce myself and thank him, and gave DU a mention, hope it went out on the livestream!)
http://www.ustream.tv/occupyoakland
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
