[Street] Actions this week! (plus report-back on last week's action assembly)
Katie Gradowski
katie at occupyboston.org
Fri Jan 20 13:57:42 EST 2012
Hey all!
n the wake of eviction from Dewey, lots of people are asking "What can we
do?" and "what are our next steps?" We are a movement that's defined by
our actions -- and there are actions happening *every day* Last week was
our first-ever Action Assembly, where we gathered across working groups to
discuss ongoing actions, campaigns, and proposals.
Lots of great things came out of Sunday's meeting! Here's a quick
overview:
- the creation of a new working group, "Grow the Movement" to jumpstart
outreach in neighborhoods across Boston (tentative meet times: Wednesdays
at 6)
- dedicated planning sessions for Occupy the T, Citizens United, Occupy
Congress, and the 3-strikes campaign
- emerging discussions about Occupy the Farms, urban gardening, City
Life / Vida Urbana, and solidarity with Occupy Vermont for their campaign
in support of Sotheby art handlers
- a renewed commtiment to visibility at Dewey Square
*Next meeting is January 22, 6 p.m. at the Community Church of Boston*
(details below). Please come out and join us! There were many
other
points of discussion, and I expect many of these threads will be picked up
this upcoming Sunday.
In the meantime, here's a quick overview of some ongoing campaigns that
could use your support! Please take a moment to read, forward, crosspost,
and put on your calendars, and shout from the rooftops -- and above all,
come out to join them!
****************************************************************
ACTIONS WITHIN OCCUPY BOSTON THIS WEEK
*Saturday, January 21: Summit to Unite Citizens for Democracy*
*10 am - 4 pm, Suffolk University, Donahue Hall *
*41 Temple St., Boston*
On the January 20–21 anniversary of the Citizens United decision, a wide
coalition of groups will stand together for GETTING MONEY OUT OF POLITICS!
>From 12:30pm-1:30pm on Friday, January 20 are Protest at the Courts and
Operation Woof. Following Friday's rally is a full-day summit featuring
speakers and presentations on campaign finance reform and what we can do to
fix it. Details at:
http://www.campaignfinancereform.us/take-action/rally-summit
*MONDAY, JANUARY 23 -- DAY OF ACTION AGAINST T CUTS*
*Save the T March and Rally!*
*12-1 p.m. at the State House*
If passed, the MBTA's proposed far and service changes will cut over 105
bus routes, double RIDE fares, eliminate all Ferry Routes, eliminate E
Branch and Mattapan Trolley weekend service, eliminate Commuter Rail
service after 10pm and weekend service. Join the T Rider's Union on the
steps of the state house at 12 noon for a march to the Park Street T
station and then to the Boylston Place (the Alley) entrance to the
Transportation Building to say no to these cuts! Details here:
http://on.fb.me/AcTokY
*MBTA hearings on proposed far and service changes*
*1-3 p.m., 4:30-6 p.m. Transportation Buliding*
*10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA*
Hearings are open to the public, and will outline fare changes and service
cuts proposed. Get there early, bring your signs, get on stack, and let
the City of Boston know where you stand on proposed T cuts. For a full
list of hearings, visit: http://mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/
For an overview of proposed fare and service cuts, visit:
http://bit.ly/znwtfu.
For an overview of the MBTA budget crisis, visit:
http://bit.ly/A28omj<http://mbta.com/uploadedfiles/Documents/Financials/Born_Broke.pdf>
*Fight Back against Service Cuts!*
*6:30-8 p.m., Transportation Buliding*
*10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA*
Did you know that every dollar that you pay in fares goes to service the
staggering amount of debt the MBTA inherited from the Commonwealth due to
forward funding and subsequent restructuring. That number is $8 billion
and growing. Austerity is NOT the answer. If you can't make the noon
action, consider coming at 6 p.m. Details here: http://bit.ly/yl5Bvl and
here: http://on.fb.me/xxZ5Y1
*Monday, January 23 -- Auction Protest in Malden*
*1:30 p.m., 236 Cross Street in Malden *
*(rideshares available)*
Last Tuesday OB joined up with City Life / Vida Urbana to support Andres
Delgado, an Everett resident whose home is up for sale. Three investers
showed up -- we stood by the house chanting "shame, shame, shame!" and
successfully scared them down the street. The auction was over in about
10 minutes, with the bank buying back the property (and hopefully getting
the message that they need to negotiate, rather than sell to the highest
bidder)
We're going to do it again this Monday, this time in Malden! Address is
236 Cross Street, in Malden -- if you are interested, please RSVP here:
http://bit.ly/wzdu4W or here: http://on.fb.me/zk95dc. Bring your signs
and drums and come prepared to raise a ruckus!
*Thursday, January 26 -- Occupy the T Strategy Session*
*First Church Somerville, 89 College Ave*
*Somerville, MA 02144*
This Thursday at 7 pm, Occupy Somerville is hosting a strategy session open
to ALL occupations in the City of Boston to plan actions leading up to the
February 13 hearing at the Boston Public Library and beyond. If your
group is organizing around the T, this is a fantastic opportunity to meet
and coordinate with other groups for a Boston-wide mobilization. Email
occupysomerville at yahoo.com for details.
*Friday, January 27 -- OWS Road Trip Party!*
*8 p.m., Democracy Center*
*45 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138*
OK, not an action. But not to be missed, either! Join us for a party
next Friday night at 8pm at the Democracy Center in Cambridge to welcome
our friends from Occupy Wall Street, who are on a road trip across the
country to visit different occupies and help grow the movement. Come by,
bring your friends, and let's welcome them to Boston! More details
forthcoming...
*Sunday, January 29 -- Occupy Boston Action Assembly!*
*6 - 9 p.m., Community Church of Boston*
*565 Boylston St # 2, Boston, MA *
All this and more. Come plan these actions, pitch new ones, and help
shape the next phase of the occupation.
Monday, January 30 -- Rally and March Against Underwater Mortgages with
City Life Vida Urbana
Noon, Federal District
(details TBD)
Last year in Massachusetts, over 200 houses were foreclosed on by Bank of
America, Deutsche Bank, Wells Fargo, and others who have received billions
of dollars in taxpayer bailouts, yet regularly refuse to negotiate
principal reductions for underwater mortgages. One in five homeowners in
Boston are underwater, owing more in payments than their houses are
currently worth.
On Monday, January 30, Occupy Boston will join City Life / Vida Urbana and
Mass Unting
for an underwater march and rally at Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Wells
Fargo and others, demanding
principal reduction on underwater mortgages and insisting that banks take
rent. Bring goggles, swimsuits, life preservers, and YOURSELVES!
*IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING OF THIS ACTION, please
email katie at occupyboston.org*
*************************************************************************************************************
Love and solidarity,
Katie
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