Post by anonanon on Nov 13, 2011 13:37:51 GMT -5
Someone proposed the 6 or so RC participants who were arrested last night draft a statement placing our participation in defending public space and free speech - old hat to some - in the context of a radical analysis. I'll repeat what I said to them: propaganda is not my strong suit but nevertheless here is my stab at it. I hope I made it pretty general, although clunky at some points and definitely can be improved. If we can revise this and agree on something, and get all 6(?) to sign (or at least 'stand aside' if you are worried about your good name being placed on it), let's send it out tonight?
Proposed statement:
Last night 26 people were arrested for remaining in Lafayette Park past a curfew which did not exist until days before the start of the Occupation of Albany. Among the 26 were members of the Occupy Albany Radical Caucus. While we took part in this action we would like to make it known we are not of the view that occupying public spaces and defending freedoms long ago enshrined in the Bill of Rights is sufficient for creating a just society. Today we face the erosion of our old freedoms and the privatization of our meager public resources - we feel it is important to defend against this offensive by the 1% and their quislings such as Andrew Cuomo. But we also recognize that it will be necessary to build on these gains from centuries past by today challenging the property rights system which forms the legal basis for many of the injustices faced by the 99%. Eviction of persons from their homes by banks and landlords, the idling and offshoring of our productive capacity, falling wages for those who remain employed, the elimination of an already miserly social safety net – in short, the continued extraction of wealth from the 99% by the 1% - can only be ended by moving beyond a system which affirms the right of owners to control their “properties” and dispose of those whose lives depend on them as they see fit. So while we defended against encroachment of recognized ‘public space’ and free speech last night in Lafayette Park, we call on the 99% to be the force that will move us beyond this defensive posture by organizing to occupy homes and workplaces against the greed of the 1%.
Proposed statement:
Last night 26 people were arrested for remaining in Lafayette Park past a curfew which did not exist until days before the start of the Occupation of Albany. Among the 26 were members of the Occupy Albany Radical Caucus. While we took part in this action we would like to make it known we are not of the view that occupying public spaces and defending freedoms long ago enshrined in the Bill of Rights is sufficient for creating a just society. Today we face the erosion of our old freedoms and the privatization of our meager public resources - we feel it is important to defend against this offensive by the 1% and their quislings such as Andrew Cuomo. But we also recognize that it will be necessary to build on these gains from centuries past by today challenging the property rights system which forms the legal basis for many of the injustices faced by the 99%. Eviction of persons from their homes by banks and landlords, the idling and offshoring of our productive capacity, falling wages for those who remain employed, the elimination of an already miserly social safety net – in short, the continued extraction of wealth from the 99% by the 1% - can only be ended by moving beyond a system which affirms the right of owners to control their “properties” and dispose of those whose lives depend on them as they see fit. So while we defended against encroachment of recognized ‘public space’ and free speech last night in Lafayette Park, we call on the 99% to be the force that will move us beyond this defensive posture by organizing to occupy homes and workplaces against the greed of the 1%.
