Most of us following #OccupyWallStreet remember this scene on October 1st on the Brooklyn Bridge:
Indeed, the whole world was watching, and continues to watch partly because of that spark.
But do the politicians who are making decisions about whether to invade the various #Occupy encampments understand this yet? Sure, the famous ones like Mayor Bloomberg understand very well that the whole world is watching the New York City Police Department. But what of the more obscure mayors and the #Occupy movements they are trying to deal with? In, say, Atlanta? Seattle? Albany, NY? Or even Irvine, California? I don't think they really get it yet, and it's time that they did.
David Waldman wrote today on the front page about one thing you could do if you couldn't #Occupy. Now I would like to propose another action -- and it's even easier!
Tell Them The Whole World is Watching
Every day we read about how this Mayor or that Police Commissioner is on the verge of rousting the #Occupiers from some location somewhere. What if they were made aware that the whole world was watching by having their offices innundated with phone calls and emails from around the world, each bearing a simple message:
The Whole World is Watching. Don't Evict the Protesters!
Let's consider one case immediately: #OccupyOakland. The Oakland City Government has issued at least two eviction notices, neither of which has been carried out. Yet. But it seems only a matter of time; authority, after all, will not stand to be mocked forever.
occupyoakland Occupy Oakland
police raid very likely this week. Txt bayaction to 41411 to get on txt alert system. when raid goes down, swarm downtown asap! SOLIDARITY!
Unless the politicians in charge of the decision to move in think better of it.
What if, on Monday morning, Oakland City Hall and Oakland City Council members start having their phones ring off the hook, asking them to leave the protesters alone?
This is something that, if coordinated, the 99% of the 99% who cannot be #Occupying could do (and, with the magic of cell phones, something many of the #Occupiers can do as well!). One phone call per day to one Mayor of one second-tier city somewhere in America... by thousands of people. Would it have an effect? We won't know until we try it.
If you like this idea, or even think it's worth a shot, rec this diary and let's get's started spreading the meme. Tweet it and Facebook it.
Here's how we start. Email the mayor and deputy mayor now, and tomorrow morning, tell these public servants that the whole world is watching and that the protesters should be left alone.
Oakland Mayor
Jean Quan
510-238-3141
Contact form
Sharon Cornu
Deputy Mayor for Community & Government
510-238-7413
SharonCornu@oaklandnet.com
Oakland City Council
Jane Brunner
District 1
510-238-7001
jbrunner@oaklandnet.com
Chief of Staff: Zac Wald
238-7013
zwald@oaklandnet.com
Pat Kernighan
District 2
510-238-7002
pkernighan@oaklandnet.com
Chief of Staff: Jennie Gerard
510-238-7023
jgerard@oaklandnet.com
Nancy Nadel
District 3
510-238-7003
nnadel@oaklandnet.com
Admin. Asst.: Teresa Jackson
510-238-7245
tjackson@oaklandnet.com
Libby Schaaf
District 4
510-238-7004
lschaaf@oaklandnet.com
Ignatio De La Fuente
District 5
510-238-7005
idelafuente@oaklandnet.com
Staff:
Claudia Jimenez 510-238-7051
Lisa Ruhland 510 238-7247
Desley Brooks
District 6
510-238-7006
dbrooks@oaklandnet.com
Aide: Teron McGrew, 510-777-8427
tmcgrew@oaklandnet.com
Larry Reid, Council President
District 7
510-238-7007
lreid@oaklandnet.com
Rebecca Kaplan
At Large
510-238-7008
atlarge@oaklandnet.com
Media contact:
Jason Overman
510-238-7082
JOverman@oaklandnet.com
Chief of Staff:
Andre Jones
510-238-7081
AJones@oaklandnet.com
Twitter: @Kaplan4Oakland
4:46 PM PT: Check it out:
4:47 PM PT: Check it out:
A Passionate Photo Narrative Inspired By My Time With OccupyDC
5:20 PM PT: They're arresting nurses now. Brilliant PR. Check out the diary.
NNU is asking supporters to call Mayor Emmanuel’s office at 312-744-5000 and demand they immediately drop all charges against the nurses and other protesters, and stop the harassment and arrests of the nurses and others peacefully exercising their free speech rights. Nurses will also picket the mayor’s office at 10 a.m. Monday morning, at City Hall at the LaSalle entrance.