We are very pleased to note that Occupy Olympia is going great.
Yes, there have been problems: occasional arguments between occupiers, at least one drug arrest, days of cold rain.
Yet none of that overshadows the successes. The protest is growing, from about 90 tents to about 120 in two weeks. Donations of cash and supplies are coming in. A rally to Move Your Money away from large banks attracted over 100 people (see article on page 4). Protesters and passers-by are meeting new people and sparking new connections.
Most simply and significantly, they are still there. The very existence of Occupy Olympia is the key to the protest. It brings attention to their concerns, sparks countless conversation about their issues, and, as part of the larger Occupy movement, is changing the national political conversation.
They have also avoided any destructive actions that might cost them public sympathy. Even the few “anarchist” kids among them (we put “anarchist” in quotes, because their actual political ideology seems to float somewhere between mindless anti-authoritarianism and third-grade nihilism) managed to protest without breaking any windows. The one time we saw anyone with spray paint, they were painting their own tents, not nearby buildings. That restraint is important; like it or not, this is in part a massive public relations exercise.
Listening to Occupy residents describe their experience, it seems both exhilarating and exhausting. We congratulate and honor them for their commitment and endurance.
And to give them credit, state officials have so far refrained from instigating a conflict by trying to forcibly oust the protest. However, late last week, Joyce Turner, the director of the Department of Enterprise Services (formerly General Administration, which manages Heritage Park), wrote a letter to Occupy Olympia strongly urging them to voluntarily leave the park, citing “escalating public safety concerns” and “health concerns”.
Turner also sought to pre-emptively deflect any criticism about displacing the homeless people who have joined the occupation because it gave them a safe community. She wrote that her department “has contacted local service organizations that are willing to assist those at the park who are in need of or desire access to shelter, food aid and health care.”
Occupy Olympia responded that, as the actual residents, safety and health concerns are of the utmost importance to them. And they accurately pointed out that “Washington State has cut basic social services to people who are already struggling.”
The occupiers also called Turner’s bluff. If she knows of resources available to help people obtain shelter, food aid and health care, then “Occupy Olympia would like to challenge Joyce Turner to present a plan for providing these basic human needs to our valued underserved community members.” (These letters from Turner and from Occupy Olympia can be read at www.occupyolympia.org.)
Occupy Olympia is already doing more than its share to help people in need. If Turner thinks more should be done, she should talk to her boss, Governor Christine Gregoire.
Speaking of which, the special session of the state Legislature starts on November 28. The decisions made at that session, and the regular session that starts in January, could do more to help or hurt the cause of the 99% than any other actions that might occur locally. Legislators, and the Governor, need to hear it and see it.
For that reason, we encourage Occupy Olympia to move up the hill to the state capitol campus on or around November 28.
A few people already tried. Last week, protesters set up five tents on the campus. State troopers, under orders from Turner, quickly removed them, arresting two people who refused to move.
But five tents isn’t critical mass. One hundred and twenty tents is critical mass. We doubt that state officials want to see online videos of their mass arrests of people peacefully seeking to petition their government.
Also, many people may well be arriving from elsewhere around the state. Occupy Olympia would make excellent hosts, and would set an excellent example, for an Occupy Washington State. ◙
We are very pleased to note that Occupy Olympia is going great.
Yes, there have been problems: occasional arguments between occupiers, at least one drug arrest, days of cold rain.
Yet none of that overshadows the successes. The protest is growing, from about 90 tents to about 120 in two weeks. Donations of cash and supplies are coming in. A rally to Move Your Money away from large banks attracted over 100 people (see article on page 4). Protesters and passers-by are meeting new people and sparking new connections.
Most simply and significantly, they are still there. The very existence of Occupy Olympia is the key to the protest. It brings attention to their concerns, sparks countless conversation about their issues, and, as part of the larger Occupy movement, is changing the national political conversation.
They have also avoided any destructive actions that might cost them public sympathy. Even the few “anarchist” kids among them (we put “anarchist” in quotes, because their actual political ideology seems to float somewhere between mindless anti-authoritarianism and third-grade nihilism) managed to protest without breaking any windows. The one time we saw anyone with spray paint, they were painting their own tents, not nearby buildings. That restraint is important; like it or not, this is in part a massive public relations exercise.
Listening to Occupy residents describe their experience, it seems both exhilarating and exhausting. We congratulate and honor them for their commitment and endurance.
And to give them credit, state officials have so far refrained from instigating a conflict by trying to forcibly oust the protest. However, late last week, Joyce Turner, the director of the Department of Enterprise Services (formerly General Administration, which manages Heritage Park), wrote a letter to Occupy Olympia strongly urging them to voluntarily leave the park, citing “escalating public safety concerns” and “health concerns”.
Turner also sought to pre-emptively deflect any criticism about displacing the homeless people who have joined the occupation because it gave them a safe community. She wrote that her department “has contacted local service organizations that are willing to assist those at the park who are in need of or desire access to shelter, food aid and health care.”
Occupy Olympia responded that, as the actual residents, safety and health concerns are of the utmost importance to them. And they accurately pointed out that “Washington State has cut basic social services to people who are already struggling.”
The occupiers also called Turner’s bluff. If she knows of resources available to help people obtain shelter, food aid and health care, then “Occupy Olympia would like to challenge Joyce Turner to present a plan for providing these basic human needs to our valued underserved community members.” (These letters from Turner and from Occupy Olympia can be read at www.occupyolympia.org.)
Occupy Olympia is already doing more than its share to help people in need. If Turner thinks more should be done, she should talk to her boss, Governor Christine Gregoire.
Speaking of which, the special session of the state Legislature starts on November 28. The decisions made at that session, and the regular session that starts in January, could do more to help or hurt the cause of the 99% than any other actions that might occur locally. Legislators, and the Governor, need to hear it and see it.
For that reason, we encourage Occupy Olympia to move up the hill to the state capitol campus on or around November 28.
A few people already tried. Last week, protesters set up five tents on the campus. State troopers, under orders from Turner, quickly removed them, arresting two people who refused to move.
But five tents isn’t critical mass. One hundred and twenty tents is critical mass. We doubt that state officials want to see online videos of their mass arrests of people peacefully seeking to petition their government.
Also, many people may well be arriving from elsewhere around the state. Occupy Olympia would make excellent hosts, and would set an excellent example, for an Occupy Washington State. ◙