Occupy Boston Update

[joedirt]

Wife and I spent the day at the Boston rally and man has it grown in size. I'd estimate 1000-2000 people were present.

I met a lot of very interesting people. I literally met a proclaimed tea partier, two republicans, and a wide variety of more liberal thinking people.

One thing that struck me more than anything else was the raw diversity of people and views. I also noticed that once you got out of the main crowds and off to the fringes you would find all sorts of groups popping up to discuss potential solutions. It was very respectful.

Let's see we had a harvard professor giving a free lecture on anarchy. we had musicians show up to give free shows, we had a Jill Stein of the green party talk. All in all it was a very interesting day. I took a lot of pictures and some video ... I won't share them all but I'v added a few below.

The people gathered in front of the local federal reserve and chanted varies slogans and then marched up to midtown. All in all in had an air of festivity to it....yet a level of dedication and seriousness that seems to be growing.

 

[Rising Spirit]

Kudos to the folks who devote themselves to the cause of fighting oppression. We still possess some freedom of speech, so it's wonderful to see such spirit and unity, as they stand up and give their voices in unison! Reminds me of the great Gil Scott Heron's classic tune, The Revolution will not be Televised. This time it is... and it has gotten onto the net. Thanx for the update, joedirt. 8)

 

[MelCat]

Thank you for the update Joe!

I spent all day out at the Occupy Jacksonville event yesterday. I'll upload some pics a little later.

I'm still pretty exhausted from all the running around and organizing.

Thanks again!

 

[joedirt]

Thanks for the suport guy's.

Melodic I'm looking forward to hearing more about the Jacksonville rally's.

 

[MelCat]

Hey Joe, I don't know if you've heard but I've been seeing reports that police are clearing the occupiers out.

Occupy Boston is about to be forcibly removed by police from their campsite. Thousands of Boston citizens are exercising their rights to peacefully protest!

I'm sending good vibes your way!

It seems this is happening to most of the movements tonight, like some kind of orchestrated effort.

Police are trying to shut down occupations in Boston, New Mexico, Iowa, Oregon, and likely many other cities. As our movement gains momentum, we should expect this. We know the proud tradition of civil disobedience in the struggle for justice, and we will not be intimidated. We will get stronger. Our cause is just and we are in it for the long haul. Stay Strong fellow occupiers.

 

[MelCat]

Protesters are being beaten by police in Boston right now~ call Boston Mayers office: 617-635-4500 or Boston Police Precincts 617-343-4240 & 4730 Also call the Boston Globe @ 617-292-2000

OccupyBoston is in trouble they are being surrounded, this the tweet -"10 paddy wagons and 10 paddy vans, 25 cops in front of 530 atlantic, 75 at purchase and pearl. Riot gear and plastic cuffs. #occupyboston"

A live stream of what's going on.

To Protest the Police attack on Occupy Boston call these numbers: Call Mass Gov. Office: 888-870-7770 ~ Boston Mayor 617-635-4500 ~ Boston Police 617-343-4200 or 4240 ~ Bosun Globe 617-929-2000 ~ Boston Herald 617-426-3000

 

[joedirt]

Just heard tis morning. I knew they were occupying another patch on the greenway last night from the website. Then first thing this morning NPR tells me 50-100 were arrested. Sounds like the police gave them ample warning and just wanted them to move off the fresh landscaping. The few times I've been down the police were pretty friendly so I'd bet some of the protesters got out of line. Of course the occupy boston web site say's something else all together.

Boston Police Brutally Assault Occupy Boston

At 1:30 this morning hundreds of police in full riot gear brutally attacked Occupy Boston, which had peacefully gathered on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The Boston Police Department made no distinction between protesters, medics, or legal observers, arresting legal observer Ursula Levelt, who serves on the steering committee for the National Lawyers Guild, as well as four medics attempting to care for the injured.

Earlier in the day, an estimated ten thousand union members, students, veterans, families, men, and women of all ages marched from the Boston Common to Dewey Square, and then to the North Washington Bridge to demand economic reform on Wall Street and the end of special interest influence in Washington.

Following this massive outpouring of public support, dozens of police vans descended on the Greenway, with batons drawn, assaulting protesters and arresting more than one-hundred people. Members of Veterans for Peace carrying American flags were pushed to the ground and their flags trampled as the police hauled them away.

Following the raid, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis made no mention of veterans, organized labor, students, or families, nor did he issue an apology for his department’s aggressive tactics. Since the beginning of its occupation, Occupy Boston has worked tirelessly and successfully to maintain a positive working relationship with city officials. Today’s reprehensible attack by the Boston Police Department against a movement that enjoys the broad support of the American people represents a sad and disturbing shift away from dialogue and towards violent repression.

Despite the city’s attempt to silence us, Occupy Boston remains, and bears no ill-will towards the men and women of the Boston Police Department who were simply following orders. We hope that someday the peaceful pursuit of economic justice will not provoke the beating of elderly veterans and the arrest of medics and legal observers. We encourage everyone who continues to feel as strongly as we do about limiting the influence of Wall Street on our democracy to join us tomorrow, and in the future, down in Dewey Square.

“We will occupy. We are the 99 percent and we are no longer silent.”

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Occupy Boston is the beginning of an ongoing discussion about reforming Wall Street and removing special interests from government. The continuing occupation of Dewey Square (outside South Station) is just one of more than 120 separate Occupy encampments in cities across the nation and a symbol for “Occupiers” everywhere who support real and lasting change. Video:

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Pictures of the night’s events.

May First/People Link