The Occupy Saint Louis movement has received written support from the President of the Missouri AFL-CIO (The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) Mr. Hugh McVey, the St. Louis Labor Council President Robert Soutier, The Saint Louis LGBT will join the Oct 14th marchand even Saint Louis Mayor Francis Slay has shown support(Kind of). Every sunday at Keiner Plaza includes a lecture from retired Washington University Economics professor Frederick Raines, which we are very proud of. Local labor unions have also brought hot coffee and donuts to Keiner Plaza in support of the movement. Donations continue to come in from Businesses and citizens alike, including a laser printer to help us print flyers. They are not slowing down, they are picking up steam!
In his reply to an official statement sent by the Occupy STL team, Mayor Slay states he is sympathetic to the cause and thanks the Occupiers for raising these issues, then promptly states “Please obey the law”. But of course sir, We can always look to the shining of examples of congress and better yet, those who have congress in their pocket as a moral compass, right? Sadly no, we can’t. All sarcasm aside the Saint louis branch of the Occupy Wall Street movement is indeed true democracy at work, with a daily general assembly. The organization includes a Medical Team, a Foods and Supplies Team, Security, and a Media Team. Also recently added is a Sanitation Team to keep the Plaza clean, they do not want to disrespect city property.
As critics of the Movement call them Hippies, burnouts and try to portray them as punk kids complaining about the man. This is truly not the case they stand next to Labor leaders, college professors and grandmothers. Their ranks are made up of indebted college students and middle class members of the work force with families and jobs. They include all races, religions, and nationalities. They are tech savvy, intelligent, organized and not afraid to move forward. This revolution WILL be televised, but not privatized. They will move by harmony, not their money.
To join the cause head down to Keiner Plaza and ask how you can help, they will welcome you. If that’s not an option for you general donations can be made here https://www.wepay.com/donate/113766 which will be used directly for everyday supplies. The Occupy Movements are well read, with plenty of street cred and that’s a potent mix. Like all good movement you can’t get your voices heard without making a little noise, and it goes a little somthin like this.
In the late night/early morning hours of Oct 5th, SF Police converged on the Occupy San Francisco camp after a 30 min. warning and deemed the infrastructure, tents , tables, chairs a violation of city ordinance. The SF Occupy staff reached out to nearby Occupy Oakland announcing the police were there to take down their camp, and the SF cite numbers doubled within half an hour, Go fuckin OAKLAND!!!
Still the riot gear outfitted police formed a perimeter around their supplies preventing the Occupiers from saving anything while Public Works employees confiscated everything throwing it all in city trucks. Eyewitnesses say many of the officers and public employees obviously looked sympathetic to the cause, but one officer (#4014) alledgedly told multiple protesters ”I can’t wait to get the chance to bust your face in.” Check out these photos from the incident, they are from the whole day the police show up about half way through. Photo’s by occupier Smedly
Several trucks were loaded with Protesters personal property and supplies, even their food and water. As the trucks were set to roll out they were blocked by the SF/Oakland Occupying force chanting ” This land is our land, We will not be moved!” The Police eventually rolled away with the goods, even after SF board of Supervisors member John Avalos showed up to defend the right to peacefully assemble.
Here’s the # to the Lawyers Guild for all occupySF protesters 415-285-1011. Donations are needed immediately to rebuild the camp which THEY ARE STILL AT ! A recent paypal account was shut down, but visit the home page for more info and updates. Let’s get behind our fellow Americans as they battle for economic justice in California, one of the top 10 largesteconomy’s on earth.
Saint Louis is doing what it does best, showing and proving. An amazing, well-organized occupation of Keiner Plaza in downtown STL is deepening it’s roots and preparing to settle in. The Organization already has a few marches under their belts and planning continues daily.
The main stream media will repeatedly state that the nation wide Occupy movement has no central message. The message is very clear to most, and the protesters in Saint Louis lay it out very well with no chance of confusion. Younger and Older Americans of all races are coming together to make their voices heard.
Occupy STL Mission Statement
WE, the 99% are hereby taking action against the greed and corruption of the richest 1%; the bankers, politicians, and corporate persons that govern our nation. Like our brothers and sisters in Tunisia, Egypt, Greece, Spain, and Iceland, we plan to harness the power of mass occupation to restore democracy and justice in America.
We reject the economic violence perpetrated against the people of the world and encourage the use of nonviolent means to achieve our ends and maximize the safety of all participants.
We proudly stand in solidarity with those whose peaceful Wall Street occupation seeks to expose the greed and hubris that has sold off the “American Dream” in exchange for executive bonuses and political kickbacks.
We do this for the unemployed, the elderly, the foreclosed, the indebted college student, for the future of the children, and for our fellow working citizens who have been unjustly denied their equal human and financial rights by a system run by, and for, the richest 1%.” – Occupy STL
Get involved here, Join them if you’re in the area – Sikboy
As The Occupy Wall Street protests move strong into their second week, still with very little media coverage it’s clear we’re gonna have to do this ourselves. I am happy to help take on that role as we all know mainstream media generally isn’t spreading truth, it’s better this way. As I watched CNN do a 2 minute 8th grade AV club quality interview with Cornell West today before cutting him off completely (really, that’s the best your multi million dollar company can do?) I began digging through the real reporting and that is the cell phone pics and the raw footage currently flooding You Tube since the Start of the protest on the 17th of Sept. 2011.
Here’s some potentially historic footage that CNN and the rest of the corporate pocketed media is unwilling to bring you. This is Dr. Cornell West speaking to the crowd uploaded to You Tube on Sept 27. The crowd is repeating his words because the NYPD has forbidden them from using megaphones or any amplification. Every word, in every assembly, has been shouted back like this, to make sure that everyone can hear. Usually starts with a “mic check…” “MIC CHECK!” “mic check…” MIC CHECK!” so listen closely.
Also Social Documentary Director Micheal Moore is in attendance and speaking out. Again these are taken from the protesters themselves, it’s up to us to get this footage out there. You can get involved right from your own home by sharing these video’s.
Rumored to be on the way is big Union and Labor help, but who knows? What I do know is 700 activist joined the ranks of protesters represented by the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) and Continental and United Airlines as well, marching in full uniform on the morning of the 27th, 11 days in to the movement people are starting to take notice. The ALPA reps are speaking against unfair wages and benefits due to a stalled company merger leaving employee’s caught up in Corporate bureaucracy.
Local events are quickly organizing in major cities across the country, here is my hometown’s contribution look for yours and get involved if your sick of the elite getting richer for being criminals while you bust your ass, just to get by. ~ Sikboy ~ Working class De Niro
