Dear Occupiers with Love

Unedited Notes from Oct 9, 2011 Occupy NOLA GA

New people point themselves out – there are many!

Facilitators explain the people’s mic

facilitator asks for consensus to use this process for this meeting

We reach consensus

facilitator asks – if there are any people that have an agenda item

that they would like to ad, as per the decision made on the previous

night

60 percent consensus needed to add agenda item on the bottom

60 opposed means you can add it on the next day

last minute added proposals - added to the end of the proposal list

the decentralization of wealth

america’s decentralization of wealth programs

        point of process (pop) – we should talk about more local matters

        pop 2 – we should talk about anything that concerns us

        *pop 1 goes on the agenda*

2. Alfredo – 4 perfect languages – an offer to translate in 4

languages

Turkish, farsi, English, Spanish – outreach translator

facilitator suggests anyone needing translation goes to see him now

Tonight’s proposals

suggestion – soapbox time

ethics of speaking to the police

direct action prop

finance prop online donations

media freezone

earlier general assumably time weekends

decentralize wealth

agenda:

working group report backs

announcements

list of proposals

vote on agenda

*consensus!*

Working group reportbacks

media/outreach

press release – making sure info that the press hasn’t been covering

that is really positive gets out,

direct action group

new group for this meeting, working very hard to get active

“we feel like this compound could be a little more productive, we feel

like it’s become a campout in a way”

they took the streets to talk to people about whats going on over

here

the community doesn’t know we’re here, not being covered by the media

working hard with other groups to try to change that, contact many

people to get the word out.

they propose starting a street team – DA group meeting at 11am the

following morning, continuous meetings , banner party , paint spray-

paint, cardboard, anything

The use of art is very important, we can make a real difference when

our posters transform

Everyone’s been focussing on oct 15th, we would like to be apart of

Point of information (poi) – local day of comment DAwg is organizing a

march that would include people who are not camping here and are

unaware of what we are trying to do, if you’re interested in helping

organize this day of action for the 15th next Saturday, please come to

the 11am meeting tomorrow,

Poi – anther date, oct 11 – cities night out against crime, march and

demo and whatever without having to obtain permit, test run for 15th

Working with media group to develop flyers about the 15th , we feel

that we shouldn’t have to wait for the global movement to come up with

these dates, it would be nice if these demo’s happened when the fed

buildings were open

education – library wants to give a talk

headquarters in library, come to learn about classes proposed or to

propose classes, you can come 2 hours before the assembly to talk to

them

meeting tomorrow at 2

question –can there be 2 meetings, one for those who work and one for

those who don’t?

food

working on getting more food and finding places to cook the food

suggestion board, things you want to eat or recipes

bring own plates forks and knives, also try to be clean

poi – man involved with welcome home new orelans organization, offers

larger kitchens possibly if we need it eventually

notebook – date food donations so we know when to use what, what goes

bad first, contact info and meal reports

non profit – if you want to use one to get donations – possibly write

that down in contacts

poi – trying to gain hare krisha support

wellness

requests for the future

medic shifts during waking hours – volunteer request, proposed 10 am

to 6pm 6pm to 1 am

2. volunteers with vehicles to offer shuttle service for people with

illnesses or    injuries

3. on call medical personnel

4. open support group to get an idea of issues that might be going

On in the   camp, tentative 5pm meeting time

5. hoping to get medical training at the camp, because of new people

that    didn’t get it on Wednesday, details soon

6. mental health training – questions and language to keep us open to

people  stressed out or have existing metal illness

7. volunteer with social work experience

8. space further out of the main area – they want tents for those

areas for       relaxation

9. working of finding free phone at medic area

poi What size/kind? – answer - fairground tent,

(facilitator side comment)——idea of contacting the sheriff’s office

to see if they can give us a tent ——

finance – money accumulating online

the group never consented upon accepting money, will be proposed later

won’t move forward on any other plans, consensus comes first

public safety  - Robert

nothing really new, realization, for new people

reads mission statement

        looking for volunteers to patrol at night to clean up and keep

it all cool,    guidelines for members of nightwatch

sanitation – making sure door in new portapotty is as secure as

possible, trying to make it more comfortable, Stephanie Appleton –

offered her shower to two ladies a day

Concerns about handwashing station,

Facilitator note - Waste management facilities, has foot pump

handwashing units SDT has them, maybe get sponsors to donate them

Poi – compost the brown looking plates

Clean up hill after GA meeting!

anti-racism group

Summary of the goals and purposes of the working group (apologies for

mishearing):

we believe in processes to critique and engage occupy new Orleans

….that a structural power analysis and an understanding of histories

is fundamental to see how oppression operates in the world

….in examining the intersection of oppression and power

….there are systematic inequalities in the 99%

….opposition must be addressed at individual, interpersonal,

institutional, and cultural levels

personal is political

call in to question language of occupation

having a global analysis of the US

the US was founded on genocide and built on slavery, this needs to be

addressed

US white supremacist and imperialistic patriotism and nationalism and

nostalgia are not progressive for this movement

We know the occupation movement is not a new movement and that we

can’t co-opt or exploit the historical struggle or contributions for

liberation of all time

Our goal is not to be leaderless but engage in a shared leadership

model

Part democracy, acc and trans

Finally self reliance, self-determination, in our relationships to

each other and prod

Moving away from corporation capitalism and the state

digital media

includes tech , media group agreed to not use word all the time

outlines posted today, available on the website

meeting time – 3 pm tomorrow

facilitation meeting

to learn the nuts and bolts of the process, not necessarily to

volunteer to be  a facilitator, but to learn more about the process

floor opens to announcements

1. first meeting of caucus of people of color 3pm? (it was moved after

the announcement, can’t remember when) tomorrow

oppertunity to discuss how people of color feel in this space

2.  starting art club, Monday nights after GA

art supplies needed, encouraging art making but not mandatory,you can

do whatever you want, no taboos , not a hierarchical student teacher

class structure, it’s not a class but ,skill share

3. Announcement about not smoking

4. discussion group about hurricane Katrina, for new orleanians to

discuss how they feel about being in this space, all interested come

talk to facilitator Kezia

5. antiracism group, should they be exposed to the class on discussion

of people of color?

beware of fireants at the base of trees in camp, they hurt! ouch!

WC Johnson – community united for change, he was here before Katrina,

from new Orleans, wants to say welcome and enjoy the park

his organization does a picket line every Thursday from noon to pm

against police chief Ronald Serpass against their policies and their

refusal to abide by the wishes of the people of new Orleans,

invitation

IN FRONT OF CITY HALL

Randolf scott – classified city workers – works in city hall

group trying to be eliminated by the city of new Orleans, meeting 4821

earhart blvd 5 pm , invitation to participate  Tuesday oct 11 little

zion Baptist church

announcement about dance parties

who’s head of the media outreach comities

stencil for occupy nola tee shirts – great to bring to art club

night out against crime – ask for support

critical resistance – PIC abolition org, meeting tomorrow night 6pm at

930 n broad, campaign to abolish fines and fees practices in NO

pax Christi – national anti war group, monthly antiwar vigil

facilitator comment - feeding homeless under the bridge across from

new Orleans mission, donations of breakfast items

agenda

soapbox time

good idea – move soapbox time to before GA so that people who come

from the community can have their voices heard without getting caught

up in the process

5 to 7 pm

a chance to tell the group what you’re feeling, why you’re here, what

problems you have, anything else, people will listen and identify

clar questions – 1.  will there be any facilitation of the soapbox

time

can we have a soapbox

concerns about prop

wants her to translate to Spanish

what if theres many people who couldn’t’ get their time by 7?

Acceptable to plan to discuss points regarding soapbox time, at that

time?

Concern about terminology, maybe it could be called sharing time

Friendly Amendments

move it closer to camping site

make an effort to set up livestream for those two hours

livestreaming voluntary

it should be less about the process and more loose to be inviting to

people

name change to sharing time

move to consensus?

Yes

Proposal with amendments 1-5

*Consensus reached *

2.Ethics of speaking to the police

If people chose to speak to the police they will not give the police

names or personal info of people in the group, does this require

further discussion at this time?

Proposal 1

That we don’t tell the media or police what we’re doing here

Proposal – to amend yesterdays proposal

We don’t talk about anything that goes on here with the police or the

media

Amendment – you just don’t tell the police what we’re doing and the

media is not part of it

Vote on discussion of proposal

*consensus on proposal with 1st amendment*

 

Proposal from media group – it would be great to get the press release

out by tomorrow morning, it needs to  pass or it won’t go out, no

friendly amendments,

but hard-blocks will still be accepted

many issues with the wording about “has independently established

points of regional interest”

poi about presenting the release to smaller media outlets before

larger ones to garner support

clarifying question - what are the points of regional interest?

answer - i think when i said that we were talking about things like

the oil spill  and problems with OPP and incarceration rates

clarifying question or poi - we as a collective body haven’t

identified or agreed upon these points of regional interest

        clar q- where is it being release - ans..gambit and antigravity

-concerns with the urgency of the press release being contrary to the

values of the process

-concern with the discussion of the press release hindering it getting

out in time for people to learn of the protests

-concerns with overriding process

POI - worked as a formal news reporter, timeliness is important

-concern - a conflict between two different activist cultures, one who

does mostly on the ground social work, everyday quality of life, on

the other hand a culture of symbolic movements, which is what this

is.

-concern - not a problem with the release - or that we haven’t taken

the time to define regional points of interest, we’ll eventually get

to them.

friendly amendments

make it clear that it’s coming from the occupy nola media group

vote for consensus

hear from dissenters

not ready to release something in the name of occupy nola even if its

from the working group, feels like its too soon

antiracism working group has been in contact with other organizers in

city, they may have offended other local organizers, offers to open it

up to adjusting language on the floor

        clarifying?  - why has the group established local points of interest

without reaching out to local organizers?

the wording is changed to “working to recognize points of regional

interest”

problem arises because of the breaking of process

poi - for the sake of coming to consensus it’s asked that we forgive

bad process

poi - problem with breaking  the process because it excludes minority

opinions

Temperature check - can we use consensus to help after we break

process?

dissenters - 1. not fair to break process for some

we should be more easy on ourselves about process in an effort to

reach consensus

vote on breaking process

*consensus*

vote on proposal of media group with amendment

*consensus*

Financial

proposal - we propose that the occupation accept online donations and

that the occupation spend money on things that the general assembly

consents on for the greater good, if they’re consented on then we’ll

create a proposal to bring these spending requests to the general

assembly.

clarifying question - will those vote effect other working groups?

answer - no, we keep separate books

clarifying question - should we be taking money instead of trying to

make a system where we can barter for things we need. doesn’t want to

use the tools of their “trade and game”

concern - i agree, but think that both of these things can coexist,

and later if we need to a proposal can be made to stop accepting

donations

vote on consensus

*consensus!!!**

 

 

Unedited Occupy NOLA GA Notes Someone Else Took at 2nd GA 10/07/11

10/07/11

Number uncertain, similar size to last GA.

Facilititators open with introduction, discussion of the process and the nature of consensus

Define people’s microphone

Jason(Fac) gives a run down of the various hand signals

Definition of stack, and progressive stack

Talk about Step Up Step Back

Facilitators move on to talk about the facilitation process

Bring up the intention to talk about the work that’s been done.

Proposal: Let’s agree to no later than 9:15

Facilitator will be timekeeper

If we are on something that is taking a long time ask group to consider tabling if it needs more time or acknowlegding knocking something off the agenda.

Consensus reache on proposal

Facilitator leads group in energy building exercise, encouraging everyone to laugh.

Kezia(Fac) begins reportback from the facilitation commitee:

If there’s anything I say you really don’t like, I invite you to come submit ideas

We want to clarify role of working group bodies that we the assembly empower to get things done according to the list of responsibilities, so they can take action without direct consensus from the group.

This makes sense because the people in the group are the ones who care most about it.  So, If you care about a topic,  join the group.

For instance: Sanitation is working on a compost toilet.  If you have questions or concerns about this, you should go to the sanitation working group’s meeting and get involved.

If you have an issue, go to the working group, try to talk things out.  If you can’t work things out, or feel your voice isn’t heard, come back and bring it up at the general assembly

Sometimes a working group must bring an issue to the GA.  Must talk to group if it is questionablly legal/illegal, or involves the image or safety of whole group

Discussion of proposals

Looking to clarify the nature of a proposal

If you have a proposal, you must have a clear idea of what the proposal is and how it is to be accomplished by it.

Blocks

Blocks only to be used if the decision is one where you would leave the group if the

proposal goes through.  Take serious, only to be used where you have a serious ethical objection or it endangers someone’s safety.

Agenda:

Will set up a white board.  People can come at any time and write proposals on the white board.

The facilitation working group will then create an agenda from this list by sending items first to appropriate working groups

Assembly Question:  Wondering about 1pm General Assembly?

Fac. response(FR): This is something that will be brought up a bit later.

Point of Process(PP) from >: Facilitators cannot make decisions for the group, only proposals

Jazz Fac. response(FR):  We will not choose our own agenda, just filter proposals  for things that can be handled more easily in other ways.  We’re not planning on silencing anyone, just trying to create something that works

Response by >: That’s not consensus.  Consensus is a long and difficult process, but I’d rather have full  consensus and discussion over efficiency

Jazz(FR):  Not suggesting we are going to erase  any items based on beliefs.  We

believe in empowering the working groups

Working groups should be able to adress and gather more people interested to those

groups

If you would like to affect facilitation, join the group.

PP by >:  Issued raised was not that approach is problematic, just that it is something we need to come to consensus on

FR: can we go through this, check for agreement, maybe ammend afterwards?

Other Fac: maybe we should start the start ammendment process?

Other Fac: we plan to have a facilitation meeting 30 minutes before the GA

 

Ammendments?

 

Assembly, Friendly ammendment(FA):  That this body comes to consensus on what powers we give the facilitation group.

This has not been discussed and is a core issue

Jason(fac): Discuss how things worked in NYC

Facilitation commitee is people very familiar with the process.  Consensus is hard,

can get sticky.  The point is to get it to run smoothly.

 

PP by assembly member: I feel like the same thing happened last night, fac ignoring stack and stepping in, I have problems with that

 

Jason:  Suggest that we open up to questions/concerns

>: I hear a suggestion that working groups should have more power?  Generally in favor,

maybe facilitation should be an exception, so they must always come before general

assembly with any proposals

Also, propose that ideas on white board discussed at beginning of meeting with

closed stack

And working group can say if they’ve talked about the agenda items

(FR): So they would have to be detailed?

2: The process getting confused?   Several proposals, counter-prop, now new ammend and props

When we have a prop, perhaps we should have a vote or ammends?  Then move on.

And when the initial proposal has no proposed ammends, just counter-proposals

we should deal with initial proposal first?

 

3: Another proposal:   Propose that a mechanism be formed to create a rotation of facilitators

Maybe get consensus on the facilit at the begining of the GA?

 

4:  It would take a long time to decide who’s gonna speak so when decide, let em speak

5:  Also: difficulty with deciding facil at the beginnning of the GA,

Won’t work because they have to come up with agenda before the GA?

 

Fac: If you want to be a facil, join the committee

Fac(Jason):  facilitating is hard, but we can teach you.

 

Fac: we tried our best to share the tools we know and make run this run smoothly

It’s a big undertaking, Please be kind to the time we spent trying to make work

 

Fac(other): Right now, let’s vote on the initial proposal

Other,2: (Clarify Q)  Wondering whether fac has empowerment to make decision on the

process without consensus?

 

(fac)  This is open to revision, anyone who wants to get involved in facilitation can get into meetings, This is a long and difficult process. Come learn and if you don’t like

something we can always change it

But I suggest we try this, as a place to work from

 

>:  Clarify:  On agenda items:  are suggesting that the FC will determine what goes on the

agendas?

Fac: What we do is make sure there isn’t already working group who could do it.  If so we send it to committee..   The rest bring to GA, possibly prioritizing…”?

 

Other Fac:  Every agenda up for review before we start, and we will seek consensus on

agenda before we ever get into it in a meeting

 

Fac:  We are self policing, so if not legal/illegal issue than it shouldn’t go on agenda

And therefor go to workgroup instead. Not saying that individual wants and needs

are not important just that there might already be group dedicating to that

If it’s an issue with facilitation, join the FC

 

>:   Not an answer, though I appreciate your vision.   I’m concerned about the possibility of

one group taking on decision making of what gets discussed.  Agree about workgroup

autonomy, concerned about conceptual political ideas.   I don’t know if FC has a

political clarity to make the determination of what comes to group and not

recommend that anything a group or indiv wants to bring should be able to be

brought.  There are ways to do that even if it means breaking into groups in the

process

Don’t want to a see small group determine agenda for a large body of people

 

3: Marco: I am from NYC, moved here for 3 months..  easy way to solve all these problems

Take these people and put them into office.  I feel like we don’t need to recreate the

machinery.  We already have the machinery in place.    I’m running for president in

2012…. 

 

Fac, interrupt, PP: Off topic.

 

Marco:   Discussing how to process, already have process, constitution

 

PP: That is soapbox time

(Fac and Marco step aside to speak)

Fac” Just so you know, in order to be in fac, you have to go through some training.  It’s not an

easy task.  We will train anyone who wants to join.

5:  PP:  we as the general assembly will assemble till this whole thing is over,

GA itself is for pressing issues.  We have 22 hours of the day to find comittees, then

they will talk to the group, if you have an issue with a group let people call you out?

Fac:  PP is not an opportunity to give opinion, is time for technical points,

When object is constructive to make counterproposal rather than just an argument

 

8, Ben: With that in mind:  addendum:

Propose that the FC presents the agenda board as was written

And presents their  agenda for consensus

we are all making a decision, everything comes back to the group

9:  Sounds to me we are not going to reach consensus on the original proposal

We should do consensus on ammended prop and move on

 

fac;  Ben  Please state your prop again

 

Ben: Proposal  Hope I Didn’t hijack the process?

Propose FC present agenda board as it was written along with their own agenda

And we approve what they have done

 

10: Question:  To my understanding, the board is open to everyone

it should be presented to everyone

will FC do anything to the board?

 

fac:  we will use the original to write up alternate agenda, including points that can go to

working groups.  Then present both, and seek consensus for our version of agenda

 

3: if the person proposing the agenda item is appeased by the working group, that shouild be

brought up

Fac Our suggestion for agenda is send to working group, and working group find figure out if it’s been dealt with, and discuss in the reportback

 

Fac:  Just letting you all know the time..   Move for a vote

 

>:  restate the proposal?  It’s still unclear what the power of the FC is here.

 

Fac: Our only power is to look and make sure it’s not covered by a working group, create an

agenda, and seek consensus for every agenda

>: Why don’t we vote on Zora’s original ammendment?  [Sorry, not sure which this was….]

Fac:  How about we bring a proposal to GA about about how FC work group will work

It’s worth investing the time for the fac process be comprehensive and truly

consensused upon

Fac(Jason):  Clarify:  If group wishes to have written proposal about how facil we can do that

We’d have to stopthis process though, and go do that now.

fac:  if we made a proposal, written, it would have so many points need consensus on all of

them…

3: Fac not proposing to make any decisions, make suggestions and seek group consensus.

I propose we think about working out a very basic structure

very alterable, written down by FC and available to all

No chance for facilitation to assume more power than just facililtating

4:Prop Jason explain how it works in NYC, take that as a beginning and be able to ammend

 

5:  is that a counterproposal  to the proposal of the agenda?

 

6: We must vote on original proposal of Zora’s

Zora: Need to move this group to consensus on the role of the facilitation group

It was added that FC come up with a written description of what they do and process

they work with

Fac: The write up, are you proposing we have it done by tomorrow?

>: Doesn’t need to be now, but has to be done

We should know what the facilitators do

fac:  Does that mean blockers feel uncomfortable with us facilitating until that is done

Is us continuing tonight a problem?

>: The is not an not attack, we are growing, really eager, and we’re stepping over the

consensus process.  Just want us to go back and make sure we are following it.

 

Ben:  PP: We are not using a progressive stack

Also zora makes a  good point, that is not the initial proposal

The proposal is how we do this meeting?

CQ;  So we vote on the initial proposal?

Fac:  Who is ok with fac group having 2 agendas:

1 agenda untouched

1 being subgrouped by us

fac Clarifying

at beginning of the assembly they will be voted on,

our suggestion or the original agenda

6:  rather than voting on 2 agendas, FC agenda presented first, and voted on

then new agenda and we decide anything on that

Vote: {mostly ok, one hard block}

PP: we didn’t go back to original

 

Fac we did vote, then added an ammend, so now we vote on new proposal

Because original proposal was not passed, stack is still open

 

4:  To hard block: what was your objection?

>: we are putting cart before horse, opposed to the process

Fac: How about we table this, let FC make a written proposal

be ready and post 2 hrs before, then take consensus

And let tonight continue with working groups

And if have you an ammendment not discussed come to us after

Other Fac:  Let’s take a moment to clear the air…

{OM}

Fac: So, can we take consense on proposal of written prop, 2 hr before meeting

Consensus…?  {Acheived}

 

PP: didn’t close stack and people want to talk

6: Thank you, keep up the great work!

 

Fac we will stumble and fall, but we will get up again

7: Speak from the heart and uplift each other

Fac:  Reportbacks: asking these report backs just be reports.  Keep concise

 

Medic/wellness:

M/w: I’m not a medic, but was at a group that did a training and know basics.

Medics will have nametags when here

There is a small first aid in the pavilion

if you have anything to donate or need to use, please go there

We will have a tent and set up on level ground and a little back there for privacy

Media:

We are working on a press release, but are not done

Been working with FB, but no access to control occupynola group

Extra people:  we have access

Media: Do we need to have consensus on what image and what we say about

ourselves in our press release or trust working group?  {general agreement}I want

consensus, but that will draw out the process.

If you have ideas, come to the media and help draft poposal

Assembly member: Can we potentially post press release so we can all read it beforehand

Res:  We will do this,  write it up, put up on Google groups, we can also print and put up in

gazebo.  Conensus votes can be taken on when prop is ready

Other(2):  Proposal: media should have access to all the media

{consensus}

Tech:

tech:  I have been doing the livestream, this all going live, just so you are all aware

We have a powercell set up if you need to recharge

I’m still working on wireless

come to me with questions, comments, suggestions

3: Can we have the livetream mentioned in advance and set up in way that people can take

part and not appear on stream?  Would have been nice to know in advance.

Tech:  This is public, so you must just expect filming, are you suggesting everyone not film?

Fac:  May I suggest tabling this discussion?

PP: In regard to filming children, should be respectful to chiuldren

4: I hear a prop that needs a vote:  whether people can choose to be on livestream or not.

 

Tech: in order to do this, please explain how I can do this?

5:  PP:  if you don’t want to be filmed or photographed:  reminder, we are in a public park there is no privacy.  No expectation of privacy.  Can’t be.  This is why we can film police.

PP:  That was not a PP

 

6: I agree that there should be a conversation on this.  Though there’s no way we can total avoid being on camera, there are ways to minimize. I sugest we set up a camera, that only shows part of the group, and leaves 1/3 unfilmed.   Important for children/immigrants, etc.

 

7: I don’t know who has issue, but can we warn them ahead of time, people can wear mask?

8:  I agree with first person idea about section for people not filmed. I believe because

though in public, we are a community, and should try make each other feel safe and

comfortable

9 Question:  this is about LS, not other cameras.  Is LS meant to represent us as a group. 

Should we have a consensus for on whether to have LS?

10:  It feels like tensions are high, I want to reiterate that this should be fun.

11: That’s an additional prop, I heard another prop about anouncing LS in the beginning.  When we constantly make props, it makes this less calm.  Suggest we vote on initial

peoposal

Fac: Take temp on voting  {yay}

 

9:  reason we are here is to be seen and heard, we are in solidarity

 

10:  There are cameras constantly on the square, if you were occupying, you would know

either wear a mask, or face what you are here to accomplish

11: What do I care at this point if bankers know what i look like

Fac: Repeat proposal, call vote

Hard block>:  i cannot vote on whether there can be LS, until I know whether there will be care taken.  We need to be open to people, feel very good reason to set aside 1/3 space. Those who have objected and want everything filmed have not explain  what wrong with putting space aside. also, a I hear lot of disrespect from people here.  Comments about asking immigrants to wear masks if they want to come here.  You may not understand another’s reasons to object, but that doesn’t make th objections invalid.

12: Added:  maybe we could announce every 30 minutes the LS, so people can know wehere

to sit.

13:  Kinda PP:  Suggest tabling this so get through the rest

Would that mean cutting cameras now or going with LS for the evening?

Fac: put aside for the evening, I think.

Vote to table:  Dissent

Dissent:  I feel we can do this now:   2 proposals

1 set aside 1/3 of grass

2: Mention every 30 minutes

why can’t we just vote?

13: what if someone has an immediate ammend, come before stack, or in stack?

Fac PP:  This is not the time for proposals

can we jump stack and propose now?

14:  not only unrealistic to stay off cam, unreasonable to think a person’s immigrant status

can be  determined by being on camera

PP: We’re not discussing that

15:  we can elliminate the problem, by think outside the box, then we should talk about

figuring out GA

Fac:  If you would like to be called on, best be on lawn

Also, if have problem with prop because you feel like something else needs to be addressed, vote no rather than blocking, so we can move on

Table ?  {hard bloack}

PP:  Hard block is about whether the prop is of harm,is to stop the body from making

decisions that will harm movement or harm a person

Block of shutting down LS?  LS is important

PP:  that’s not a security or ethical

There are 2 parts, video audio, shut down just video?

Fac:  What we are voting now is whether we shut down now, not time

for new props

Vote, 1 hard block, same one

17:  We can discuss this tomorrow: 

if you feel people aren’t fully understanding your perspective

part of the process is trying to help others understand

part of proccess is educating each other as to why things may matter

and may not matter, because major concerns, table till tomorrow

PP, Ben: Just pointing out,  that this has now become argument, mostly among men,

including myself, it feels like there is an additude of aggresion, and i feel it might be

good if we check ourselves.

18 I don’t have hard block, but I think those who do have hard block weren’t given full

concern Don’t think their concerns about integrity negate their concern for others

We need to be respectful.

19 We are trying to reach consensus, but never consensus on having it to begin with

Fac:  We have had vote, so blocking people can make working group to discuss this

CQ: Want to ask if that working group forms, they inform the rest us how to engage

Fac: rest of working groups reportback? 

Consensus!

Integrity:

Trying to figure out what integrity will do

Main thing public safety for everyone

Come see me after meeting, for night watch

or to get involved, will be in pavilion

Education:

Popular education has a table in gazebo

Education, liberation, station

sign up to hold a class

also can suggest classes one would like to see;

also can drop of fliers and other info

City planning

is a system to support an design infrastrure.

and to facilitate communication between groups

works with all groups, to ensure great layout for everyone’s needs

come to tent top of hill to discuss further actions

PP: Please no crosstalk, GA still going on, make sure participating

Food:

First, we like to thank people for the pizza

made calender can sign name to cook, clean or offer kitchen

and can cook one of our meals

have dishwashing station by food

join us by the food station after the GA

sanitation

how to use comp toilet

important to properly

Poop in toilet, pee in there coffee chap next to

when is full, make sure not overflow

if bucket full, contact sanitation, any of these people

(all sanitation folks stand up)

san will change

TP ok is toilet, tampons not

PP:  Going to be lots of people, so it’s important you prepare for that

PP; just hearing from groups, time for that later

San: looking for car for poop buckets

garbage cans for tampons

Anti-racism

met today, great meeting, only for an hr not whole agenda

meeting tomorrow 2:15 till 4

over by shade

Direct Action

no one.

Fac: hasn’t fully coelesced yet

if interested meet after meeting

facilitation group

apologies if we’ve overstepped bounds, shown disrepect, silenced anyone

not intention, trying, need lot of help

meeting at 3pm in gazebo

music entertain

Discussing the possibility of a Jam session

ways to use music to call attention to our movement

tap into already existing fans

get permit to have performance, with known artist

legal to have acustic in park

inviting for continuing thing

maybe jazz groups,

come see after GA

Finance

The group is currently 2 people, both white men

come talk to join,

not a lot going on

some money coming in, not touching, can’t touch

meet after GA

Announcements:

info that affects the whole group, or desire to meet other people that might share an

interest in a tactic

Fac:  Would someone from each group sound off?

PP:  After announce/

1:  Question/request?  Could the consensus-ed upon proposal of calling our group exclusively

non-violent in our press released be clarified

Response:  Can that be brought to the committee?

and if your response from them isn’t

2:  no committe on non-violence, that was a GA consensus, and so concewrns the GA

fac:  think that is something about lack of clarity and should be brought to Media

3: Just an announcement: Someone brought movie and lots of food

thinking after meeting, 10,or so, everyone invited

4: Sister helen prejan  Death penalty abolish author dead man walking

address this evening talked about occupy and when she got to airport, was on cnn

heard about occupy nola, and asked crowd who was involved

praised the movement, asked to come by, had to go Baton Rouge

But will come and speak

5: Starting direct action group

just an idea of direct action

that I already have going on,

currently working on poerty anthology, any poets, please let me know

proceeds go to noise, nola youth slam team

6:  reiterate: going to get big, aim for skies

7:  I made decision earlier today, that marco running for pres 2012

Fac:  offer soapbox  idea is that a lot of us have come here for lots of different reasons

official  GA end, SB begin

Move to end GA

Consensus

From October 11 Occupy NOLA Archives - DAWG Empowered by GA

10/11 Proposal Summary

1. Direct Action

To give Direct Action the ability to decide the routes for marches without needing

general consensus

amendment - that the proposal includes all pertinent details of marches, not just routes

amendment - under no circumstances, until a consensus has been reached about nonviolence will the direct action committee plan any direct actions that involve violence, as is stated in the previous proposal regarding nonviolence.

Final Proposal

The direct action committee is in power to plan marches, demonstrations and other direct actions, using a consensus based process at their meetings and making it clear to everyone what they’re planing and how everyone can get involved. Under no circumstances, until a consensus has been reached about non violence will the direct action committee plan any direct actions that involve violence, as is stated in the previous proposal regarding nonviolence.

Consensus was reached

2. Media Free Zone

to create a designated area during the GA where no one is allowed to take pictures or the media is not allowed to film in that area, this is within our rights with the media. The proposer will use their own autonomy with creating and maintaining this zone.

consensus was reached

 

From the Past - Meeting Minutes from the First Occupy NOLA GA

From the Archives - Unedited nots someone else took at Occupy NOLA encampment

From the Archives of the Occupy NOLA Encampment

In an attempt to preserve Occupy NOLA’s archives, I am re-publishing these unedited notes from the encampment here. Note the amount of time devoted to discussing the People’s Mic.

10/12
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
 
Arat club: monday nights, materials donated, mural on truck (Sunday instead of Monday), art gallery show
 
POI october 22nd, opening of prospect2
 
 
Joe, has asked someone to post updates daily about whats going on at camp, proposed direct actions, classes, volunteer and donation needs, if people from these groups could contact me after the meeting, also offering to be voice for people at camp who’d like to share their feelings about camp online
 
 
Caucus for People of Color meeting on Thursday at 1pm
 
 
Entertainment: On Friday after the GA we will be showing Betty Boop cartoons and Harland County somewhere near the pagoda
 
 
Women’s Caucus meeting tomorrow at 3pm, where female identifying individuals can talk about stuff
 
 
Local’s Caucus meeting Friday at 6, meet at Pavillion. local defined as anyone who is a resident of the area before Katrina
 
 
EVERY NIGHT AT THIS CAMP SOMEONE HAS BEEN SEXUALLY VIOLATED. Medic encourages everyone to think of their safety and to make this a better place to work, live and interact. Please get involved in public safety. Emphasis on every one’s responsibility for what happens here.
 
 
Street Team call out: to help spread flyers for Saturday’s march. meet after the GA
 
 
Love Bomb Second Line happening Friday at 9 pm at 2626 Chartres. It is not a traditional second line, it is drum and bass. costumes encouraged.
 
 
i met some people who felt that they were not welcome, while you are on site it is very important to engage with anyone passing by. We will be wearing orange bandannas, and you may send them to us
 
 
For suggestions of direct action thingys, for suggestions. if you want to write them down and well pass them on
 
 
WORKING GROUP REPORT BACKS
 
EDUCATION
 
SEIU organization, is going to have a teach in at 11, in the pavilion, working with labor unions, who broke the economy
 
 
the orleans parish prison…is going to have a teach in sunday at 3pm “occupy NOLA should concern itself with prisons and better network with local populations” flyers are available
 
 
still looking for people to propose classes to teach, please specify time date and location
 
tomorrow there are two classes being offered:
 
a history of the middle class in the us, the second is
 
intro to US government
 
they will be at the pavilion, at 10, but it is listed on the education pillar in the library
 
 
FOOD GROUP
 
Hygiene: we’re serving food for you all, meaning at meals you do not serve yourself
 
 
the kitchen is going to be closed for certain hours, mostly it will be closed at night. this does not mean food is inaccessible. we need to work closely with anyone who feels they need food at unexpected hours
 
 
our meetings happen every night after the GA, come to that!
 
 
INTEGRITY
 
 
This protocol was consensed upon by the assembly:
 
1.Assess the threat: information between night watch and other integrity group members
 
2. soft engagement, this is specifically introducing yourself as a representative of this community to the person or persons in questions in heated discussion, arguments, or perceived violent situations, more active engagement is required. etc.
 
 
no one is to call the police: we have not empowered ourselves to contact the police
 
 
guidelines for integrity liasons on patrol:
 
all have to remain absolutely sober, for the entirety of their shift
 
conduct themselves with diplomacy, passion and tact.
 
during shift should be unarmed, or should have their weapons peace-bonded
 
during shift change, brief the incoming shift on any developments or concerns
 
 
 
TRANSPORTATION
 
I have a truck
 
I have a van and a phone number.
 
 
ANTI-RACISM
 
saturday meeting cancelled, we will resume our meetings on Monday from 1-3
 
 
organized meeting with members of GNORT, Greater NOLA O Round Table. we talked about the way certain members are seeing occupy NOLA, ways they would like to see us support the city in their organizing. respect the history of organizing in NOLA. general excitement about the way our works can mesh up and continuing to work together ***it should be said that there was both negative and lots of positive feedback from organizers.
 
 
reconvening on Wednesday, Oct 19 from 5-7 and discussing GNORT and Occupy NOLA teach IN. One or Two reps from each working group being present at this teach in.
 
 
if you would like to hear a little bit more about our goals and their goals are come to the meeting
 
 
 
PRESS/MEDIA/OUTREACH
 
 
pamphlet Intro to GA: for Saturday, to hand out to people when they arrive back at Duncan
 
 
FAQ sheet about who we are and why we are here:
 
can be submitted by individuals with things that we can generally agree on.
 
we need help from groups, when we finish we will present them with our responses,
 
not a manifesto: we are keeping all answers as broadly and simply stated, friendly outreach.
 
 
Call out: Someone from working groups, please join us to help answer questions, after GA
 
 
Call out: we need a graphic designer or has designer program access
 
 
 
TECHNOLOGY
 
working on website and making improvements. there is a wiki and a forum. privacy part if needed. in process now.
 
 
town hall has a computer.
 
 
 
SANITATION
 
 
how to use the composting toilets.
 
go to the bathroom lift up the seat
 
do your business
 
cover up your business with sawdust
 
close the seat
 
put any toilet paper in the bucket
 
pee a little bit ok,
 
please pee mostly in the raingrate thing.
 
please dont put the toilet paper in the rain grate, not where it goes.
 
please respect the bathroom as much as possible.
 
if the bucket is full, please dont poop in it.
 
if its full find one of us.
 
tampons go in the trash
 
working on the pee smell
 
 
pick up after yo’self.
 
take a bag of trash home, in the car with you when you leave.
 
we keep them next to where you throw yer trash, if you see em, grab em.
 
 
improve lighting
 
 
compost: right next to trash, trash does not go into compost. no dairy or meat
 
 
 
ENTERTAINMENT
 
 
wants some bands to play and stuff
 
 
batman play, batman meets occupy new orleans, if you want to participate, go to next entertainment meeting, we’ll figure it out.
 
 
 
DIRECT ACTION
 
Autonomous empowerment: we help with direct actions, come find us, we will only give you assistance
 
 
Permit: Consensed upon not prohibiting people from getting a permit.
 
we aren’t giving them a route unless we have to in order to march,
 
legal will advise before we agree to anything
 
 
Radios: 4 donated for communicating during the march
 
if anyone has more radios that op on vhs, please donate
 
 
Route: we have consensed on a route but will not release it at this time
 
 
Street Team: is organized
 
 
AGRICULTURE ACTION GROUP, a new working group: we’re going to make agriculture happen
 
 
CITY PLANNING
 
working on expansion of the town, check us out by the open air tent
 
 
WELLNESS
 
medical phone number - 504-919-5287
 
 
Call out: we need medics for saturdays march
 
trainings begin Friday
 
 
decompression tent:
 
will be available for all busy ants to rest in
 
asking for small people furniture to go in that area
 
 
new zines and lit at medical station
 
 
diabetic disposal station
 
 
new forum online
 
 
thai massage: Saturday, 5:30 or 6 after demo, before GA at decompression tent,
 
10 minute sessions, thai massage is based on yoga priniciples, you will lay down and volunteer massage therapist will move your arms & legs to help release tension and stretch your muscles. loose clothing advised
 
 
FOOD
 
trying to implement a system to get water, before it runs out
 
 
Call out: if you have a truck or a van, please help us
 
we also need more people to help with cooking
 
 
New kitchen hours 6-10, 12-3, 4-7, 10-12
 
 
Needs:
 
mardi gras cups
 
5 gallon water cooler bottles
 
 
FACILITATION
 
if you’re new please contact someone from one of the groups, we need your help! you will help us succeed, it depends on you getting involved as much and in any way that you can
 
 
 
READING OF THE AGENDA
 
6 tenths interest will be kept, not will be tabled
 
 
poi - it was decided that whether these items needed consensus or could be worked on by the proposer without consensus
 
use of peoples mic , temp -
 
earlier weekend GA
 
working groups spokes council
 
 
poi - one person from each working group to talk about working group interdependency
 
can legal represent us
 
make list of resolutions
 
nonviolent stance
 
invite speakers from the rest of the community to share in front of GA to soapbox
 
deciding Saturday agenda at Friday GA, while still allowing new proposals for agenda Sat night
 
 
comments - should these remain on the agenda
 
 
Comments regarding People’s mic
 
question: does it need to come to the whole GA?
 
comment: the use of people’s mic is something we all need to agree to
 
proposers comments - it’s a way to make the meetings more efficient, i suggest we try to use a PA system to have shorter and more efficient meetings, i understand some people love the PM, others not so much
 
 
POP - what we do is read through proposal, have new proposals, and then vet them, which means now we’re saying what’s on the board
 
 
New proposals ?
 
we make fire ants our official mascots
 
talk about the use of point of process, there have been too many being used, might be too many, we’re just loosing time, again.
 
 
POP - possibly doesn’t have to be on the agenda, as we learn more about it through use, it’ll become much more clear
 
POI- facilitators were trying to give a small clinic on the process of the GA
 
 
Vetting of proposals: without 6/10ths interest, proposal is
 
sent to working group
 
table
 
added to the agenda of future GAs
 
 
 
POI no one from legal team, so we can’t talk about it
 
Agenda proposal 4. Can legal rep us TABLED
 
 
POI regarding proposal 6. non violence: we already have a consensus on nonviolence, individual reads consensed proposal, maybe we should re-address it when there are more people
 
 
TEMP CHECKS on Proposals
 
 
Proposal 1: “use of people’s mic”
 
 
 
temp check: tabled for now
 
arguing about process
 
Facilitator comment: there’s a space and time to discuss issues, we have a process for the way that we pick what we talk about, i would move to keep with the process we have all agreed with, do not continue to talk out of turn and slow us down further
 
POI we voted about whether we would talk about this tonight, we will not
 
 
Proposal 7: “invite speakers from the rest of the community to share in front of GA to soapbox”
 
 
 
clarifying - allow people who are not usually here to talk about things they want, it will be motivational and refreshing
 
POI soapbox is at 5pm on the hill, anyone who wants to can do that
 
POI there was a soapbox today, 7 people were there
 
temp check - tabled for now
 
 
Proposal 8: “deciding Saturday agenda at Friday GA, while still allowing new proposals for agenda Sat night”
 
 
 
clarifying - consider that we’re bringing many people here on Saturday
 
temp check - passes
 
 
Note to readers, we took temp check on all proposals, transcripts are difficult to take at this time, to clarify:
 
1.use of peoples mic -tabled
 
2.earlier weekend GA- tabled
 
3.working groups spokes council -tabled, sent to working groups
 
4.can legal represent us-tabled
 
5.make list of resolutions-tabled sent to working groups
 
POI member of media and member of digital media will collaborate, already working on it
 
6. nonviolent stance- tabled
 
7.invite speakers from the rest of the community to share in front of GA to soapbox-tabled
 
8.deciding Saturday agenda at Friday GA, while still allowing new proposals -passed
 
 
New proposals, fire ants and limit on POP: should these remain on the agenda?
 
temp check - kept
 
 
A vibes facilitator enters the facilitators, and facilitators present amended agenda:
 
 
 
PEOPLE’S MIC
 
use of people’s mic: original proposer doesn’t want to use it, someone else makes proposal
 
 
CLARIFYING QUESTIONS:
 
 
how can that big thing be brought into the crowd (referring to large wheeled diy amp)
 
 
i want to envision a movement where there are people all the way back to that building (behind us), i believe that we have to prepare for success, we should continue to use the people’s mic
 
 
POP - this is for clarifying questions, non opinions
 
 
wouldn’t taking that large thing on the hill be dangerous?
 
 
POP - that doesn’t make the proposal more clear
 
 
perhaps couldn’t a megaphone be used
 
 
POP - suggestion, this is not the time to make a suggestion
 
 
for example during stack, when there’s people at different parts of the group, you will bring it to them?
 
 
who is going to be in charge of the machine?
 
 
what part of having a pa obligates us to using it all the time?
 
 
can the concern for using something other than the people’s mic be formed into a working group?
 
 
what goes into maintaining this?
 
CONCERNS:
 
 
How to keep it concise, it would be hard to stop someone from taking the mic, talking forever, and threatening the process
 
 
Heard a soundbite from the Boston occupation, it struck me that cops use amplification this (peoples mic) is the way we communicate with us
 
 
personally more difficult to think when using the people’s mic, we are losing members of GA each night, part of this is the monotony of this staccato rhythm
 
 
there’s a certain amount of individual personality in the way a person speaks, people’s mic is silencing that individuality
 
 
I really like using peoples mic, we never consensed to use it, we don’t need consensus to end it, we would need consensus to use a different option
 
 
while using peoples mic, it keeps peoples attention
 
 
support peoples mic but that doesn’t mean that there might not be situations in which amplification could be useful, whatever happens with this proposal, this amp would be great resource for us
 
 
even though the cops in Boston use the megaphone they got shit done if they would’ve all been using the peoples mic they probably wouldn’t have, we should use technology to increase the effectiveness of our communication
 
 
act of repetition gets people to talk who may not otherwise speak because they may be too nervous or disenfranchised concerned shy whatever the fuck to start talking.
 
 
it is very intimidating to use a mic
 
 
it is intimidating to use the peoples mic for the first time but ever since we’ve been using, I’ve never listened to people as much
 
 
the proposal as it is going, we would have peoples mic and pa in the same meetings, this is over-complicating the people’s process
 
 
this group is small enough right now for a loud enough person to be heard
 
 
temp check close stack on concerns? consensus, moving on to
 
 
FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS
 
POP person gets on mic and interrupts speaker, this is the issue: you can’t just talk over us, it’s completely disrespectful
 
 
people have the option at general assembly to use people’s mic or pa, on their choice, no regulation on what you have to use, and the default would be the peoples mic, amp be allowed for those who have a preference
 
 
it is friendly, accepted
 
 
we try for a specific amount of time to make that machine work if after 30 seconds it is feeding back, we resort to peoples mic, so we don’t waste time on technical difficulties
 
 
it is friendly, accepted
 
 
four options 1 peoples mic 2 pa 3 megaphone 4 speak out loud . you do hear me
 
 
POP concern from before stack closed that had been ignored, Saturday bunch more support, an opportunity to be more inclusive, larger community of NOLA finds peoples mic alienating and confusing, if we allow amp we will be able to garner support
 
 
if this proposal moves onto us using this pa, add on that it not come with a group of disrespectful men that use this machine in way that breaks our unity
 
proposer is interrupted:
 
 
concern: no matter what if this amp is in our lives it cannot stay in the hands of disrespectful people who stayed up at 2 am and called people pussies for not protesting in the cbd
 
POI this is the first time the pa has been here
 
POI amp entered our lives last night…
 
POP this is getting really out of hand and hope the facilitators can come up with a solution to pull us back together or move on
 
suggest this issue go to the facilitation committee
 
Facilitator, vote on this? NO does not passes
 
 
anyone who is uncomfortable peoples mic can ask for a suspension, at which time they can amp their voice however they want, if it doesn’t work they can call for mic check
 
proposer: already in agreement with proposal
 
 
f this machine is used, it needs to be out of the hands of those men, completely uncomfortable with their disrespectful behavior toward women in particular, it goes to a group of another set of people.
 
the people who have this pa are divisive to the group, we use a different pa
 
 
proposer: not quite friendly, anyone who wants to use a form of communication other than peoples mic they have the right to use any form as long as it is respectful and does not have technical difficulties for more than a minute
 
lets try the system for one evening if it doesn’t work and we don’t pass consensus on it, then we suspend use of pa immediately
 
 
Concern: whether or not you agree with how they have spoken tonight, they came here to try to contribute something, but I find the bullying disturbing
 
 
BREAK we howled at the moon
 
 
Set up some kind of mediation so if anyone is really disrespectful with amp the person who is offended can seek communication
 
NO, this is about amp in general assembly
 
 
POI this whole country was built before amplification
 
 
TEMP check move on to voting on consensus? YES
 
 
Proposal with friendly amendments:
 
People have right to use amp or any other method of speaking that they want as long as there are no technical difficulties that last longer than one minute AND this permission will be used for one GA, then voted on to see if we should keep using it.
 
 
Block:
 
Can’t vote on this until we address the disrespect of these people
 
 
Can there be a group of people other than the machines owners who facilitate its use?
 
 
Propose a working group formed organizing sound amp tech for ppl who do not have the resources for themselves
 
proposer: NOT friendly amendment
 
 
TEMP check vote on vote? GO forward
 
 
DISSENT
 
 
peoples mic is an important symbolic statement and powerful link to the rest of the movement and deeply poetic
 
 
a lot of contention against the people who have the system, can’t use those people’s amp
 
 
in general against I am very against middle men especially electronic middle men
 
 
POI it’s evident this won’t go through because of this bickering. even if this person was allegedly being disrespectful to women, we reacted with a mob attack when he was just attacking like an idiot. hope we can laugh at ourselves
 
 
something to be said for the verbal currency people’s mic provides. repeating the words makes them the people’s. in a community in which everyone hears every word in the same way, difference in the amplification will lead to power attached to the different words
 
 
POP we make our decision by consensus, on this issue we wont make 90 percent, let’s table it
 
 
Table issues? Majority want to table issue
 
 
Dissent: this has become a much larger issue. several women have expressed they feel disrespected: you cannot say those feelings are illegitimate. I don’t understand who will be in control of this device.
 
 
Facilitator: going to move on from talking about this issue to issue of fire ants
 
 
FIRE ANTS
 
Proposal: this unfortunate issue of people’s mic is still really important to everyone, but it is my turn to make a proposal. we can talk about this again at tomorrows general assembly.
 
I propose make fire ants our official mascot. We have invaded their space and ruined their homes; they bite us they sting a lot. to be aware that we have occupied an already occupied space which was fully functioning community itself, let’s let fire ants represent us.
 
 
CLARIFYING QUESTIONS:
 
 
can we make paper mache costumes?
 
 
individuals with access to diatomaceous earth be able to use it?
 
 
No
 
CONCERNS: none
 
 
VOTE majority for but there are a few dissenters.
 
 
DISSENT: proposer votes to take this issue to another time
 
 
DIRECT ACTION
 
Proposal: on saturday night we’re hoping to bring the most people back here than have been here since the first march
 
 
BROKE OUT INTO BIG SMOKY BRAWL WITH DUST, photographed
 
 
Facilitator reasons with divisive GA: “who thought this would be easy? we are going to fight, it is worth it.”
 
 
POI our first ever consensus: to not engage in violence towards each other, this includes our personal space, our physical well-being, saying verbally harmful things and symbolically harmful things. To people here who have just broken that code, they should leave because we have a consensus that you are not allowed to act that way toward people here
 
 
POP good chance for mediation this is a skill were going to have to learn throughout this movement, if we don’t learn how to mediate, we are going to split into factions , please come talk to me if you’d like to.
 
 
move on to facilitated mediation? CONSENSUS
 
 
restate proposal to ask Friday’s GA to decide what will be on the agenda for Saturday night, new proposals can be made Saturday night. intention is that we’re bringing in a lot of people in that are entirely new to this process, would like to have a GA that appears well oiled that focuses on real issues, an assembly that if it becomes contentious, it is contentious about real issues.
 
 
QUESTIONS?
 
pamphlet on GA
 
 
media group is preparing just that for people for saturday
 
 
concern for people here that it is not just about themselves
 
 
are there real issues? working groups have posed proposals?
 
 
anyone can give proposal
 
 
some people are making attempts to push other people away, none of us are perfect we all make mistakes, lets try to get along
 
 
VOTE? CONSENSUS proposal passes
 
 
move to close GA any objections? CONSENSUS
 
 
 
 
 
 

“ISSUES” Posted on The Occupy NOLA Facebook Page that Was Hijacked in 2011

Okay, just so everyone knows, the ISSUES OF OCCUPY have been posted on the original Occupy NOLA Facebook page, which the Occupy NOLA General Assembly had no access to from late October 2011 until a few days in June of 2013, when I, @small_affair was allowed to access it.

I accepted content creator privileges when the original HIJACKED page offered these privileges to me on Wednesday, June 5 and told the manager in real life that I wanted nothing to do with the page ever again on June 8. I believe he gave me content creator privileges just so I would stop referring to it as “hijacked.”  

It seems odd that I would want anything to do with this page, but I was curious about it, and accepted the privileges with a few conditions that were even odder. Here are the conditions I accepted:

1 no more hijack bs and the money donated was returned via we pay so i dont want to hear any more crap

2 no one gets banned & no commets get deleated no matter what they say! except for set spam and profanity filters

3 no promoting other pages not already liked. only link to onola web site not other fb page or occupy the stage.

The original page is managed by the same person who manages the “Re Occupy NOLA page” that was created last week, and I am extremely disturbed by the entire experience of being involved with this page. 

This offer of content creator was made to me after I relentlessly shared this info about the hijacked page for a week on Twitter and other social networking sites. Check out “Fuck Yeah, Cointelpro”

I do not know why this individual seems obsessed with hoarding the original Facebook page and posting the information about “reoccupying” on it, but this is an individual who refused to interact with Occupy NOLA even when Occupiers went to his home to ask for the digital media accounts back on 10/28/11. They even livestreamed being met by men in military clothes when they couldn’t get their accounts back. Watch Occupy Joe Smoe here: http://livestre.am/16qkB 

On Saturday, June 8, after having spent Thursday and Friday dealing with the creepiness that emerged from this Facebook page, I said I wanted nothing to do with the bizarre behavior going on with it and told the man in real life that I would prefer to use the FB page the other members of Occupy NOLA made when the original was one gone

I said this while standing in Jackson Square where the police were waiting to intercept a Solidarity Gezi action. 


The page has now published a list of ISSUES that Occupy collectively addresses, (according to a rogue Facebook page). 

The writer of this note completely ignores any statements of purpose, mission statements, solidarity statements, participation in the Occupy National Gathering that many members of Occupy NOLA have posted. Many of them are on this Tumblr or on the official websites of occupynola.net AND occupythestage.net  The writer also could be copying this out of the most dumbed down version of “Occupy Crib Notes” ever published. 

I’m sure I could go and find the most recent Statement of Unity Occupy NOLA produced in March of 2012 and post it on Facebook, but I will not going to try to get into a battle of the Facebook pages with this guy. We have websites with this information on them. 

But if you would like to see how someone completely out of touch with Occupy attempts to use social engineering to call for a “REOCCUPY” for some type of personal gain (or just to spread disinformation) defines Occupy, keep reading.

Here is how someone who hoards a Facebook page that he hijacked from the Occupy NOLA General Assembly about two weeks into the encampment defines Occupy. I have quoted a NOTE from Facebook so that people don’t have to go on Facebook to read this. 

There is absolutely NOTHING about transparent media on here, which does not surprise me in the least. 

The person who took off with all of Occupy NOLA’s media in October 2011 seems either to want Occupy NOLA to have NO media or doesn’t think media is important enough to mention here.  

While every individual is empowered to bring to light issues that directly affect themselves or their community, #occupy collectively addresses a narrower set of issues that embody the root of our connected grievances.

Corporate Influence

Billions of dollars are donated to political campaigns by corporations, Super PACs, and lobbyists every election cycle, buying time and influence. Many issues within #occupy stem from policies made by elected officials acting in the interest of corporate profit rather than what is best for the people.

Corporate Personhood

Citizens United declared money as speech and corporations as people—allowing for unlimited corporate influence through monetary contributions. Human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.

Student Debt

Financial speculators have wasted the jobs economy, leaving graduates unemployed and in hock for decades to come. Education is a right and knowledge should not be a source of profit for Wall Street.

“Too Big to Fail” Banks

Too big to fail is too big to allow. They’ve been bailed out at the expense of the 99% and now they need to be broken up so they can no longer threaten our economy.

Healthcare

The profiteering of private hospitals, insurance, and pharmaceutical companies is a threat threat to our human rights and economic stability both as individuals and as a country.

Living Wage

Workers—who bring the 1% their wealth—should be able to make a wage that allows them to afford housing, food, utilities, transport, health care

99% Budget Cuts

We can no longer stand to have our schools shut down and public services withered away. Where we can not rely on our elected officials to work in the interest of the 99%, we will join together and offer each other mutual aid. We build community centers, free markets, workshops, and alternative structures. We will be the change we are seeking in the world.

Wrongful Foreclosures

Bankers and speculators had been gambling with our most valuable asset, our homes. Because of the foreclosure crisis Wall Street banks created, millions of Americans have lost their homes and 1-in-4 are currently underwater.