It has been 2 week of activism and interchange of ideas and learning since I set up my tent at Occupy Seattle 13 days ago. Most of that time I've been camping overnight at Occupy Seattle.
The camp is coming together and becoming more of a community despite some of the rifts between factions within the group. Occupy Seattle is working hard at addressing the concerns coming from critics and the President of S.C.C.C. That is a constant theme that comes up again and again at the nightly General Assemblies.
Occupy Seattle Focuses, Finally
On Wednesday University of Washington students held a march and rally in front of the new Chase Bank branch one block from the campus. I arrived after the rally ended only to find lots of police around the bank.
Wednesday evening Occupy Seattle had planned a dance party at Westlake Park, but the city abruptly denied the permit at the last moment. So we had an impromptu smaller dance party without amplified music or lighting while police on horses watched the unwelcome party.
My part time home sweet home.
There are some amazing people in these Occupations. Monday I returned to find that my tent had been relocated to a new location in the camp with a new set of neighbors. During the week I got to know a homeless 26 year old black guy I'm camped next to. He's a very intelligent and artistic person, who I would have never gotten to know during my regular routine.
A visitor from L.A. talks with Doc
On Thursday I called for a Mic Check and shared the news that Mayor Sam Adams had decreed Occupy Portland's eviction, AND that the decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline had been delayed.
On Thursday evening Occupy Seattle marched down to a Working Washington Soup Kitchen and Counter Banquet while the Port of Seattle celebrated its 100 year anniversary by honoring members of the 1% at a $1,750 a table banquet in the Port's waterfront conference center upstairs.
Truck driver at the Port of Seattle are now treated as contractors and paid $8 & change per hour.
While the Port's 1% had a banquet up stairs, we had stone soup.
There a couple of the Muslim Shuttle Drivers who were fired from Hertz for praying, that I wrote about in this post: Hertz fires 26 Muslims for taking short prayer breaks on the job
An Army veteran addresses Occupy Seattle before we start of the Veterans' Day march.
The start of the Veterans' Day March set out in heavy rain that would develop into a downpour a little later during the march.
Occupy Seattle needs your support. Tuesday supporters of Occupy seattle will be meeting with the president of S.C.C.C. at 11AM. If you can please come. The meeting room location will be available at the Occupy Seattle Info. Booth before the meeting. Administration officials at S.C.C.C. is making some absurd claims about costs the college supposedly is incurring as a result of Occupy Seattle's presence.
School wants to eject Occupy Seattle, but can't
By VANESSA HO, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
Updated 03:38 p.m., Friday, November 11, 2011
"It's becoming increasing clear that their presence is at a real cost to Seattle Central Community College," Kitzman said Friday.
She ballparked the cost at $20,000 a week in public funds since Occupiers moved in on Oct. 29. That was mostly for overtime for security guards, now on-duty 24 hours a day. But it included money for increased maintenance and clean-up associated with the populist movement.