[lbo-talk] Occupy Oakland's imminent implosion and the wider effects

Nicholas Roberts nicholas at themediasociety.org
Wed Nov 9 08:11:00 PST 2011


a friend just sent me this leaked email from the mayors office, below is my suggestions for changes for sustaining the OO campsite, the coalition and the wider campaign

1. put up literally a big tent for general assembly and tabling of democratic and activist groups, the kind used for corporate functions, get one donated by the Chamber of Commerce and the big banks for 6 months, run by a new OO coalition group of unions, non-profits, social movements etc

2. the camp site should be scaled to 12 tents, 6 tents based on functions like media, info, legal, medical etc, & another 6 tents selected by lottery based on stakeholders; union, non-union, evicted, run by OO and selected by lottery

3. the Travellers space that was occupied on Wed night should be re-opened as a homeless shelter for the needy etc

4. a fund should be created, the OO Coalition, which is the stakeholders, i,e unions, non-union workers, homeless, evicted, unemployed, faith groups etc... this should be related to the camp but separate, and be based on a more organized, long lasting and less radical approach

http://blog.sfgate.com/abraham/2011/11/07/oakland-news-mayors-office-plans-to-move-occupy-oakland/

the Travellers space should be re-opened as a homeless shelther - not a social center for anarchists, but a homeless shelter for the needy

literally big tent, the kind used for functions, should be erected above the general assembly space so that every day meetings can be held, this should be an OO space, with some kind of agreement with the city or some independent third-party to act as neutral intermediary to bring the tent and its management into basic health and safety standards

inside the big tent, on the edges tables should set-up for non-profits, grassroots organizations, political and social movements etc so that the democratic and organizing function of the space will continue - again I think this should be an OO space, but working with the city via a nuetral, trusted, third-party

the third-party should be a coalition of unions, perhaps the security guards union, the long shore men, the teachers union, cleaning & service unions, various non-profits, church and faith groups.

the big tent should be a safe, democratic space

There should be an established protocol for police liason. A police liason team should be set-up with OO, consisting of legal and activists./ Police should be involved for certain cases such as violent - aggressive physical assault, sexual abuse, etc...

a smaller, more managed OO campsite should continue. With a media tent, a information tent, legal tent, and 3 other tents based on function. 6 tents for campers drawn from various sectors in the OO coalition; homeless, evicted, unions, non-union workers, poc, youth. These campers should be selected on a lottery.

the camp should have very clear guidelines on behavior. i.e. non weapons, no drinking, no hard drugs. And a protocol established for dealing with criminal behavior.



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