Category Archives: Diversity of Tactics

No money = No Honey

9 April 2012

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By DB Scott – @occcavalry

My support for Occupy Wall Street and, more specifically Occupy Oakland runs deep. I am a card carrying Occupist, through and through. Over the years, I’ve quite vocally let people know my thoughts on what seemed like the slow death of ideals and principals of what, I thought, America is all about. Unfortunately, my heart bleeds and somewhere along the way, I lost faith. In recent years, I’ve gone so far as adopting the mantra, “This is not the country I grew up in.”

Seriously considering expatriation, I was told by a friend, “If you hate it so much, do something to change it.” This is surprisingly different than the usual American response of, “If you don’t like it, get the hell out.”

Change it. Unfortunately these words seemed impossible, particularly after our long stretch with Bush Jr., two wars we should have ended years ago, and the American nightmare: The Patriot Act. (Recently made to look like a parking ticket next to The National Defense Authorization Act.) This country had become mean, frightening and indifferent and my response was to withdraw from “the grid” and refuse to be a part of the game. Then came Occupy Wall Street. At first it seemed like a few like-minded people clawing at the floor as we’re dragged one final time into a world of militarized conformity and corpo-feudal serfdom. All in the name of National Security. “For our own good.” Again, this didn’t seem like the country I grew up in. Maybe I feel safer against “terrorists”, I don’t know. I’ve never actually had one foreclose on my house, deny me health care or take away my habeas corpus rights while they continue to become exorbitantly wealthy by stealing my tax dollars and avoiding prosecution.

But I digress. 911 scared us all into doing what we were told to do at the expense of the very rights we were defending from “them”. I fully expected Occupy Wall Street, like most actual meaningful issues in America, to fade away and disappear in an ocean of sales at Walmart and Kardashian boredom. But it didn’t. It grew and gained support like nothing I’ve ever witnessed. It let me know that there are Americans, and World Citizens, that are listening, sharing, thinking, questioning, educating and DOING SOMETHING about the very problems I’d been lamenting over most of my life. It wasn’t a campaign slogan that restored my faith in change and justice, it was “We The People.” A LOT of people. Occupy began to spread at incredible speed, popping up in every major—and dozens of smaller cities—around the world. To date, the movement has been joined by 951 cities in 82 countries. That’s a lot of unemployed, unclear, dirty, drum circles. By January of 2012, Occupy groups had organized no fewer than two major General Strikes, shut down The Port of Oakland twice, prevented multiple foreclosures, facilitated mass migration of an estimated 650,000 people from major banks to credit unions, and forever changed national dialog. The list continues.

This all seems idyllic except for one minor detail. Generally when you push someone, eventually, they push back. And when the ones pushing back are wealthy beyond imagination and have nearly every politician on the payroll thus effectively controlling national resources, law enforcement and, in a not-a-stretch theory—the military—you get pushed hard. 6,846 arrests, bogus charges, tear gas, rubber bullets, projectile bean bags, batons, media misinformation and misrepresentation, and property destruction on an overwhelmingly non-violent population. What are “they” afraid of? As far as I can figure out, the fear is that “we” are on to them and to “them”, the threat of knowledge among the masses is a far greater threat than any commandeered jet liner or I.E.D. The threat is not property damage, loss of life or some Sharia take-over of our Homeland. Pure and simple—this being a capitalist society—it’s money. To pretend the motives of Capitalists are freedom and democracy is laughable. By it’s very nature, Capitalism capitalizes on whatever it can. It’s designed to make money at any cost. The conservative move towards less regulation is a clear indication of this. They don’t care about YOU, they care about how to make more money OFF YOU.

All of this and a lot more, has me fighting for the success of this movement. You and I have a vested interest in its success, unless you make a few million a year. I want this movement to work. But how?

“Diversity of tactics” is a phrase being used particularly here in Oakland that refers to an “other than non-violent” response (or is it reaction?) to issues being faced by Occupy. My knowledge as to the reasoning behind it is limited, so please feel free to correct me if I’m off. “Smashy smashy” is the term used for, you guessed it, smashing things generally associated with the focus of one’s disdain with the intent to “get things fired up”. The spark, so to speak, that ignites the flames of change. After all, it’s easier to burn a house down and build a new one than it is to remake a half burnt house. Problem is, this appears to scare the shit out of Joe Public and he then supports further repression of the movement. Support and understanding gets lost. Like I said, my understanding of the tactic is limited but if I’m having a hard time with it, then I can almost guarantee, the vast majority of people out there are too. It is, at least on some level, harming the cause. That’s a fact.

Non-violent resistance. According to Wiki, it is: “The practice of achieving goals through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, economic or political noncooperation, and other methods, without using violence.” It’s the stuff of our moms and dads. Gandhi’s struggle, Vietnam war protests, civil rights protests. All examples of non-violent civil disobedience. All examples of it working. However, in recent years, mere protest hasn’t been enough. During the start of the Iraq war, it seemed the entire world marched in protest. Never had the world seen those numbers come together in protest for a common cause. It seemed “they” would have no choice but to rethink their actions and stop the invasion. It didn’t happen. Marches become less frequent and visible support dwindled to nothing. Just marching with signs, though it serves to unite and shows a very tangible example of support base, isn’t enough anymore. Even civil disobedience has waned. I’ve personally taken hits and sampled the fine bouquet of CS in the refusal to disperse from “unlawful assemblies” and though it did expose a very different view of law enforcement to the public, its sting has quickly numbed. Let a kid watch enough slasher movies and after a while seeing someone have a pair of scissors implanted in their gut becomes old news.

Which brings me to the third part of non-violent resistance. Economic and political non-cooperation. Capitalism feeds on money. No money, no capital. No capital, no Capitalism. So far, our efforts in this area have proven fruitful. Banks have been hit through monetary migration from big banks to credit unions, port shut downs have cost corporations millions, boycotts and education efforts as to who’s doing what with our money has changed national conversation and the bill for police overtime has our “leaders” sweating. Money. Its misuse, its vicious pursuit and the massive imbalance of its distribution is what this movement is focused on. Hit them where it hurts most. The wallet. Unfortunately even tactics within this strategy have become derailed. My personal take on move-ins is that a great deal of energy and resources are being concentrated on something that will never happen for more than a day or two. While it feels phenomenal each time a building is liberated, my second thought is, “I’ll give it a day, tops.” This isn’t defeatist, it’s just reality. Unless permission is given by the owners of the building, we will be evicted, arrested, and defeated. It’s an ongoing battle that, I’m afraid, can’t be won.

So what’s the answer here? If the question is to concentrate efforts on what works and what will help the movement flourish, the answer seems simple. Organize on a wider scale to hit them where it hurts and where it scares them the most: MONEY, public awareness and greater numbers. Taking buildings isn’t hurting them. Smashing windows isn’t hurting them. Just marching isn’t hurting them.

May 1st we have another opportunity to do this. To spread awareness, to educate, to bolster numbers, and to hit them where it hurts most…their bottom line. Be there and do something. Or as a wise friend used to tell me; “You don’t have to do everything, just do something.”

Occupy UC Davis Fought the Bank And… Occupy UC Davis Won!

16 March 2012

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Occupy UC Davis peeps have been blockading the entrance to the US Bank on the UC Davis campus for months now. Likely afraid that John Pike might come back from his forced leave of absence and pepper spray the entire building — branch manager and all — thereby rendering it uninhabitable, the authorities refrained from forcefully evicting the Occupiers.

Despite sustained efforts at intimidation by bank managers, private security guards, UC Davis police and administrators, the bank blockade stood its ground, even when faced with arrest threats, student judicial sanctions, and physical confrontations.

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Occupiers at the entrance to US Bank on the UC Davis Campus. This was not an official action of Occupy UC Davis, it was an autonomous action that just kept going, and going, and going.

AND NOW US BANK HAS GIVEN UP:

On March 12, the parasitic US Bank notified its hosts customers that, as of Feb. 28, it had officially closed its UC Davis branch.

It’s even official. From a letter sent out to its customers, dated March 12th:

On Tuesday, February 28th, 2012 our branch on the University of California Davis campus… was officially closed.

I’m not sure how you officially close an office as of February 28th when it’s already March 12th, but whatever.

What’s the group’s next goal? Seems like they might want to get a credit union to take over that space to serve the UC Davis community, but if they’re thinking of that at all they’ve also got much bigger fish in mind. According to their press release:

We celebrate this victory by planning our next action and restating our intention to remove the chancellor and police from our campus…

That will take some doing. But it seems like they are up for the struggle.

Article continues here with some information on the Occupy Monsanto action being undertaken on March 16th and March 17th by Occupy UC Davis

We’re still here! Occupy Oakland finds a new home

25 January 2012

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The following article will appear in the upcoming print edition (issue 3) of the Occupied Oakland Tribune, which will be available on Saturday, January 28.

by Jaime Omar Yassin

Source: occupyoaklandmoveinday.org

Occupy Oakland has been a different kind of Occupy movement from the start. The two camps, with their GA-sanctioned bans on negotiations with the police and the city, created a unique referendum on the nature of dissent. By refusing to accept the limitations of ordinances that allow protest, Occupiers made Oscar Grant Plaza into a constant interrogation of the city’s liberal gate-keepers, the electoral process and institutional progressive politics.

Tensions developed between Occupy Oakland and the city once political actors discovered that the camp would focus on local as well as national issues.

First came the joint City Hall/Chamber of Commerce smear campaign, with its claims that the camp was destroying downtown business and driving away investment. Local media such as the San Francisco Chronicle regurgitated these narratives eagerly, based almost solely on phone calls to the Director of the Chamber of Commerce, who is little more than a political liaison for the local offices of the country’s largest 1% corporations.

When the “bad for business” narrative proved insufficient, the power of the OPD press release was summoned. A full description of the supposed crime-wave would take an essay of its own to address but the accusations were all eventually proven false over time – the release of emails that show the Police Chief and City Administrator spinning October’s 19% decrease in crime in the area around the camp being only one recent example.

Rather than silence the Occupy movement these ongoing attacks have only served to open up a larger conversation on the city’s quotidian corruption and brutality. Criticisms that the Occupy the Port shutdowns were hurting Port workers and non-unionized truckers rebounded against the accusers, providing little more than the predicate for a larger conversation on the precarious situation of non-unionized Port workers and the city’s failure to redirect huge Port profits to the needs of Oakland’s residents.

Whenever the supposed costs of Occupy to Oakland are raised, the open secret of OPD’s staggering cost to the city emerges, measured in hundreds of millions of dollars over the past decade in needless overtime costs and lawsuits for brutal and indiscriminate acts of violence and abuses of the law. Every new brutal assault and false charge – most recently embodied by “lynching” and “explosives” charges – reminds residents that Oakland’s finest are facing the overdue fate of federal receivership because of an epidemic disregard for laws and regulations.

Doubtless, few Occupiers actually believe they’re solving all of the city’s problems of homelessness and poverty. But in a microcosmic reality that existed for several weeks in the plaza, the needs of all comers were addressed in a way that the city had not known for decades, if ever. Thirst, hunger, shelter – and perhaps more importantly, communication, understanding and political enfranchisement – were all human needs that the camp provided in downtown Oakland.

Smaller scale “vigil” occupations have continued to draw attention to the treatment of the city’s homeless population, who are relentlessly hounded with the charges of “lodging” and “obstruction” and constantly face the threat of a 5150 commitment if they are even slightly eccentric or angry about such treatment. Being homeless is essentially illegal under California law and local ordinances, a fact that many city residents found easy to ignore until the camp put such issues on a magnified stage at the foot of City Hall. These are not just issues for the currently poor and homeless – the inhuman economic calculus that spawned the Occupy movement throws thousands of home-owners and renters out into the street, creating an escalating new class of dispossessed and jobless on a steady trajectory to homelessness and poverty. Every occupation of unutilized space is an indictment of the 1% and their hoarding of resources forged from the labor of the 99%.

The occupations, however, are much more than just this symbolic indictment. The openness of Occupy Oakland speaks of the potential political strength of the dispossessed and forgotten, and demonstrates how quickly and eagerly the marginalized take control of their social and political reality when given the tools and space to do so. The people that continue the vigil – such as original Occupier Kali, now jailed for civil disobedience – are the city’s forgotten “problems,” those that have suffered a life of penalties for having no funds or home. The occupations reveal the weakness of liberal-oriented incrementalist politics, with a social justice focus on only servicing, but not capacitating, communities. Those same communities eagerly form their own assemblies and formulate their own political discourses when freely allowed to do so.

Seizing a forgotten building is, in one sense, a response to worsening weather and increased police repression perfectly in line with an emerging Occupy tradition of Occupying Everywhere. But Occupation also acts as a public stage where the plight of the politically powerless and their rapidly shrinking base of living-wage jobs, affordable housing, accessible libraries, schooling and health care is a constant focus. The importance of that focus is highlighted when vital resources, like hundreds of buildings throughout Oakland, remain empty because of greed, city corruption and incompetence.

The building that Occupy Oakland liberates and rehabilitates on January 28 will serve as a living symbol of this struggle against the 1% and their hoarding of the wealth of the 99 %, and the next step in a nascent movement to reclaim it.

Jaime Omar Yassin blogs at Hyphenated-Republic.

OPD, Occupy Oakland And “Fuck the Police”

8 January 2012

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One of the easiest ways to slant a story is to deliver a warped timeline. Case in point is the Oakland Police Department’s press release about the arrests and actions at the “Fuck the Police” march January 7. Anyone reading the release, who was not present at last night’s action, might believe it was a night of vandalism run amuck and Oakland was one stick of “dynamite” away from tragedy if the police had not stepped in.

“On January 7, 2012, at 8:00 p.m. protesters gathered at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza and marched through the downtown streets of Oakland. During the march, protesters broke patrol vehicle windows, vandalized a media van, threw bottles at the police, and lit an object on fire at the intersection of 8th Street and Washington Street.


As of 11:00 p.m., six protesters have been arrested. Offenses ranged from assaulting officers, possession of explosives, resisting/delaying officers, and vandalism. One of the protesters arrested was in possession of an explosive device described as a quarter stick of dynamite.”

Thanks to @susie_c for posting the press release

Seven Oakland Police Officers stand alongside Walgreens on 14th and Broadway during the rally.

The rally, planned by the Tactical Action Committee, began at 7 p.m. with the first Oakland police officers emerging from the shadows around 7:30 p.m. across the street from Oscar Grant Plaza on 14th and Broadway. Wearing their riot gear at the hip, they stood watching from a distance as people told their stories of police brutality and harassment. When a very small fire (which burnt out in less than a couple of minutes) began on 14th, one officer came over, extinguished part of the fire, and then walked away.

Anyone watching Spencer Mills’ @OakFoSho ustream got a view of the police officers hiding around the plaza, staging for the march to OPD headquarters, schedule for 9 p.m.  By the time of the march, the officers were suited up with their riot attire. This is how the police “handle” Occupy Oakland, with force and intimidation tactics. Too often, people brush aside the repeated actions of police brutality and unlawful arrests to have a conversation of the “appropriateness” of the “fuck the police” chant. Which started first: the sentiment or the actions of the police?

“Fuck the Police” can carry negative connotations, and sugar-coating the booming chants of “Kill Cops” and “Fuck the cops, We don’t need them, All we want is total freedom,” isn’t going to clear up those feelings. From the announcement of this action, the discussion from non-approvers of the march has centered around a “PR war” instead of focusing on what the police are actually doing. While public opinion is vital for Occupy Oakland, catering the message for approval by corporate media and bought politicians will not help the people of Oakland.

Going after banks, fighting against school closures, demanding jobs, calling for better public service, fighting for equality, stopping foreclosures…these are all areas that need addressing and are being addressed by Occupy Oakland. The violence oozing from Oakland Police Department is also issue. Discussing bank fraud on Monday and police brutality on Tuesday neither diminishes the weight of the topic nor its overall importance.

One of Occupy Oakland’s strongest points is the openness to autonomous action and diversity of tactics. LHO, an Occupy Oakland supporter, says this approach is what will make the difference.

“Revolution isn’t done with nonviolence and civil disobedience, it’s done with fighting the established order, like physically and violently,” he said. “There’s a difference between reform and revolution. We need it all to happen at the same time. There’s value in nonviolence because what the nonviolence aspect of this movement does is it creates a critical mass with the regular people of the society. And they realize these motherfuckers are talking some real shit, but they’re getting brutalized for doing nothing.”

“When we fight the pigs in the street, if we are all nonviolent we will just get crushed. There has to be some motherfuckers with teeth, there has to be some Black Bloc to throw some shit back at them and there’s value in that. There’s value in both aspects of fighting.”

“As an anarchist, personally, I will not tell anybody whether you should be violent or nonviolent, like whatever strategy you choose for your personal revolution, go with that shit. We need everything.”

OccuBubble aimed to bring a different message, "fuck with the police."

Cue Bubble Bloc.

While some may align themselves with the Black Bloc, last night there was a strong showing of the Bubble Bloc. As part of “occupying joy,” a group suggested that we “fuck with the police” instead. People received free bubbles using them at the plaza and again during the march.

Melvin Kelly, a member of the Occupy Oakland Tactical Action Committee, says the “fuck the police” march will happen every Saturday because “it’s time for the police violence to stop.”

“I’m here with Occupy Oakland to help feed the homeless and make sure people have affordable housing. They’ve been tearing our people up for the last 3 months now, doing hella shady shit, so now we’re revolting, we’re fighting back,” Kelly said. “When people are protesting they been arresting us for stupid shit, so now we’re revolting. We’re not stopping. We are going to do this shit for the rest of our lives.”

From December 21 to January 6, OPD arrested approximately 40 people for taking part in Occupy Oakland actions, sometimes doing nothing more than standing at the plaza. OPD placed City Hall on lockdown over an Occupy Oakland permit issue. Homeless men and women have had their food and blankets confiscated. When police arrive on the scene, they either are in riot gear or have it ready to use.  Not to mention, Saturday marked the third year anniversary of the protests against the murder of Oscar Grant. The discussion of how to handle police aggravation occurs daily because the aggravation from the police occurs daily.

People did throw bottles. Anyone watching @OakFoSho ustream heard him yelling at the people throwing the objects, and he wasn’t the only person voicing dissent on that choice of action. Police ran towards the back of the march in response, but stopped short of a full chase. I did not witness any police vehicle windows being broken or any media van being vandalized, and have yet to see proof for those accusations.

Riot cops outside of OPD headquarters.

As for the “dynamite,” time will most likely reveal it a M80 firecracker. Say what you will about the dangers of firecrackers, M80s in particular, but the term firecracker and dynamite are not interchangeable.

When the crowd of at least 150 reached 8th and Washington, one person proposed a sit in, an idea quickly shot down, though some people did sit down. Minutes later, a box was on fire at the intersection. For a clear image: Hold your hands the length of a piece of paper. At one hand stands 60+ riot cops glaring; the other hand is where the fire was burning. Now place in the middle a group of protesters holding an Occupy Oakland banner.

After a tense few minutes, police charge towards the banner and shouts of “Run!” come from all over the crowd. The chase splits the group, with cops kettling 30 – 40 people while the rest run towards the plaza. While turning on Clay or Jefferson (The writer apologizes for not noting street names while being chased by riot cops) officers came from the other direction snatching a person running in the street.

Back on Broadway, five vehicles, two of which were marked as a police vehicle, came to an abrupt stop and at least 10 officers jumped out to give chase to a group of protesters walking back to the plaza.

At the kettle, protesters were sandwiched in between a large group of riot cops and a larger group of riot cops. Officers delivered the typical “unlawful assembly” announcement, giving people the option to leave or face arrest.

A box burns at the intersection of 8th and Washington.

So here’s this writer’s timeline: protesters show up to rally, cops show up. Protesters start marching; police block the roads. Protesters arrive at the jail, approx. 60 riot cops are waiting for them. Protesters reach the next corner approx. 40 riot cops are waiting for them. Protesters continue to march; some take part in starting fires, throwing bottles and other objects, others sit down and hold up peace signs.

March again reaches 8th and Washington, someone starts a fire with approx. 60 riot cops watching. Protesters with a banner move in between the fire and police. Few minutes later, the police charge the crowd. The police give a full chase and kettle protesters. Six are arrested, one requiring medical attention. Protesters chased down Broadway back to the plaza. Officers declare the group of kettled protesters an “unlawful assembly.” Protesters take the option to leave. Police continue to harass protesters all the way to the plaza. Back at the plaza, protesters start small discussions of the march and the actions of police.

The OPD press release is lacking. It’s lacking transparency and concern for the public which it not only serves, but is a member of.

It’s “fuck the police” because the police shouldn’t be chasing protesters. It’s “fuck the police” because the decision of whether or not to protest shouldn’t center around “can you afford to be arrested.” Look at the actions of the Oakland Police Department. Could they have handled things better? Should they handle things better? How are things going to be changed?

Being outraged over people yelling, “fuck the police” when such a police state exists, seems to be missing the issue. Focusing on why people are yelling, “fuck the police” may help find it.

Video from http://www.politicalfailblog.com shows OPD hitting a woman on a bicycle during the FTP march on January 7.

Occupy City Council January 17

6 January 2012

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Occupy Oakland City Council is an autonomous action in solidarity with Occupy Oakland and Occupy Congress. The goal of this ongoing action is to encourage continuous civic engagement. We do not endorse a political party or politicians. Instead, our support goes to the most powerful representatives, the people. Occupy Oakland City Council begins at the January 17 meeting of Oakland City Council.

At the previous city council meeting, December 20, 2011, city council pushed for a resolution to “use whatever lawful tools we have, including enforcement of all state laws and local municipal code regulations and requirement to prevent future shutdown or disruptions of any port operation.” This type language is a direct threat to our first amendment right to assemble, which includes our right to join with organizations or groups without government interference. The resolution failed to garner enough council support as an “emergency solution.” This means the resolution can reappear on future City Council agendas.

While our local government is threatening our rights, Occupy Oakland City Council encourages individuals to exercise the rights endowed to them through the single most important document on democracy, The Constitution. We encourage others to stretch the boundaries of what city council expects from the citizens of Oakland by becoming engaged in the political process, by educating themselves and others and by effectively articulating their needs and concerns to city council. Both individually and collectively, we have the power to transform government.

Our responsibility to our community goes beyond showing up and voting. It also includes expressing our concerns, creatively finding solutions to problems and checking on our elected officials. We must ensure that our elected politicians hear the voice of the people and that the bureaucratic processes of government do not silence their voices.

Individuals may speak on any agenda item or they may freely speak on any issue that is of concern to them. Items to be discussed at the January 17 meeting include the adoption of a resolution to re-open the pressroom at City Hall and name it Sanjiv Handa City of Oakland Press Room, declare a local emergency due to AIDS, retirement benefits for Oakland safety members and a resolution allowing a five-minute window for parking violations

You may access the agenda on the Occupy Oakland City Hall website or through the City Council website. Occupy Oakland City Council encourages individuals to sign up to speak either during public comments or during specific agenda items.

Rally outside Oakland City Hall on January 17 at 4:30 p.m. Oakland City Council meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. People wanting to help organize, spread the word or speak at the rally should email oakcitycouncil@gmail.com. You may also find information on Twitter: @oakcitycouncil or on the Occupy City Hall Facebook page.

From Egypt to Oakland, Women Stand in Solidarity

4 January 2012

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Shimaa, an Egyptian activist, draws a parallel between the struggles in Egypt and Oakland at the Egyptian Women Solidarity Action on December 30, 2011.

Solidarity is more than words it is action. After 10,000 women took to the streets in Egypt on December 20 to protest the brutal beatings of women and other activists on December 18 by Egyptian military forces, Occupy Oakland wanted to respond and show their support.

On December 30, supporters of the Egypt uprising rallied at Oscar Grant Plaza (Frank Ogawa Plaza) to stand up to the “status quo” society depiction of women as dependent objects and not as independent freedom fighters.

Shimaa, an Egyptian activist from Cairo, organized the Women’s Rally and March in Solidarity with Egyptian Women and Girls with hopes to spur further coordination between activists in Oakland and Egypt, as well as worldwide.

“We are fighting together for one cause,” she said. “Egypt and the U.S. are not separated because our governments are connected together. They are so powerful; they are collaborating with each other, so we definitely need to do the same.”

The United States provides funding for the Egyptian military the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) that took control after the January 25, 2011 uprising in Tahrir Square. Even with video evidence and amnesty officials reporting the brutal oppression of citizens, the American government continues its support for SCAF financially.

Noha Radwan compared Egypt’s military trial to that of the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and its provision allowing the detainment of persons suspected as “terrorists” without charge or trial. Radwan urged people not to fear State oppression and continue the struggle, saying, “The government will always make laws to try and silence us.”

Egypt is not the only country using aid from the U.S. to quash its own citizenry. An unnamed woman shed some light about the military occupation in Afghanistan and its effect on women there. Afghanistan has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the world, yet the billions the U.S. government spends on the war have produced little over 2,000 new midwives.

“Focus on direct US military occupations and funding, “she said. “That’s where your money is going, war and genocide.”

A crowd rallied and then marched in solidarity with the women and girls in Egypt.

Poor access to healthcare is common ground for women in the U.S., Afghanistan and the world over. An American woman deserves the right to maintain her health just as much as a woman in Afghanistan. This is an important issue women face; however, healthcare for women, like  other women’s issues, remains a bullet point in the conversation instead of the focus. Distractions of race, class, education and other smoke screens hide and distort common ground. Of course, society has more tools to oppress women than just government for that purpose.

The standard of “beauty” is such a distraction for women that it not only polarizes women from women, but also distracts from real issues. Emma Li compared the Chinese practice of binding young girls’ feet to the high heel standard in the US. Society does not allow the female body to be self-possessed.

“We need to send a message to women that we are beautiful and we know it, “Li said. In a spirited speech, Li listed several ways women are beautiful including fighting for the rights of others, being an activist, being independent and caring about education.

To change society structures, people within the society have to change. Shimaa believes women must take action and move beyond passivity. “We are fighting military oppression, ignorance of our own people and U.S. military influence on our country.”

Standing together is a strong tactic in this struggle. Empowering people to stand up for themselves and to support those who are standing is imperative. The Shimaa from Tahrir Square facebook page discusses future solidarity actions between Egypt and Oakland.

Statement by the Newton Housing Triangle on the OPD Raid of the 10th and Mandela Home

29 December 2011

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Today OPD raided a liberated home at 10th Street and Mandela Parkway in Oakland. Here is the statement of the organization that has claimed the property for community benefit.

The Newton Housing Triangle is an organization dedicated to dealing with the national housing crisis. We want to ensure that the 99% who need housing – seniors, veterans, mothers with children – have a right to safe, healthy homes.

The Newton Housing Triangle claims possession of the home at 10th Street and Mandela Parkway, a vacant and abandoned property, and we have the goal of making it productive again.

99% of property claims are dealt with in civil courts, but today a vigilante realtor appears to have taken it upon himself to wrongfully involve the Oakland police.

We condemn the realtor’s actions and this obvious display of selective law enforcement by OPD. We demand that the City release everyone who was arrested today. We are committed to fighting for the universal right to housing and we are confident that all of those arrested will be exonerated by a court of law.

Occupy Oakland Goes Mary Poppins

21 December 2011

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It’s a jolly holiday in Oakland when people stand up to the absurd with some absurdity of their own. From Aquapy to Kitten Outreach, Occupy Oakland autonomous actions continue to get the community’s attention with their creative methods.  Give credit where credit is due, the Oakland Police Department has shown their own creativity when interpreting laws and ordinances.

Such was the case on Friday, December 16, when three people from the Interfaith Tent were cited for having an umbrella after the umbrella was deemed a “structure.” To have a “structure” at the plaza, a permit is required. Before this incident, the Interfaith Tent applied for a permit, but were denied. That same day, a man received a citation for leaning his bicycle against a pillar. Since the bicycle was not in use, it too, was deemed a “structure.”

Of course, actions like that from police deserve a song and dance.

To respond to the selective enforcement of the mythical umbrella ordinance, protesters grabbed their umbrellas and headed to the plaza on Monday, December 19, to take part in the “Occupy Oakland Goes All Mary Poppins” event. With “structures” in hand, people talked about Occupy Oakland, shared a slice of birthday cake and performed a musical number written by Laura Larken, an Occupy Oakland activist.

While the crowd was preparing, two people, again from the Interfaith Tent, received a citation for their umbrella propped against the stairs providing a shaded place to sit. When questioned about their selective enforcement, as a dozen other people who had open umbrellas were not cited, officers said the umbrella was “unattended and a structure.”

The show must go on.

During the musical number, “We are the 99%,” protesters ask for freedom of speech without pepper spray in their face. While dancing in a circle, protesters sang and twirled their umbrellas. Afterwards they laid their umbrellas, still open, on the ground. Officers didn’t deem these umbrellas as structures even though they were unattended.

As “selective enforcement” continues, people are encouraged to bring their umbrellas to the plaza anytime. Perhaps as Officers see umbrellas used to shield people from rain and provide shade on a sunny day, they could see its non-structure purposes.

A summary of the Port of Oakland Blockade

14 December 2011

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The following is a press release from the West Coast Port Shut Down committee of Occupy Oakland

On Monday December 12, the Oakland Occupy movement effectively shut down the Port of Oakland for 24 hours as part of a coordinated West Coast Port Shutdown. The action was a resounding success, demonstrating the power of the occupy movement and the widespread support it has, not only on the US coast but inland—and even as far as Canada–where allied occupy movement took direct action.

Beginning at 5am at the Oakland Port this morning, a crowd of well over 1,000 picketed  two main terminals where ships were scheduled to unload, as well another terminal where yard work was occurring. Police were summoned but retreated without incident. There were few  attempts to cross the lines. By 11 am, the arbitrator ruled that there was a Health and safety issue, and cancelled the shift.

Later, a lively crowd of many thousands gathered at Oscar Grant Plaza at 4pm and marched to the port for the evening shift. The march was led  by Scott Olsen and a contingent of Iraq Veterans Against the War and  members of the Teamsters union, followed by the “feminist block”.

Another contingent  marched from West Oakland Bart station to join the crowd gathered at the Hanjin terminal. The total number was somewhere between 5 and 10,000.  At that point there was an announcement that the evening shift at the port had been cancelled, and that other Occupies had been attacked by police (such as Seattle where protesters were tear gassed).  Following through on the agreement within the occupation movement to continue the blockade in the event of police repression in any of the port shutdown protests, a crowd of several hundred stayed on and picketed five gates–two at APL and three at the Matson Terminal–to prevent the 3 am shift from taking place. Picket lines remained solid  until it was clear that the shift had been cancelled.