Robert Reich gives the Mario Savio memorial lecture on Sproul Plaza at UC Berkeley earlier this evening (Savio was a founder of the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley in 1964.)
Reich hit a home run with the speech, given after #Occupy Cal held their General Assembly and voted to attempt to establish a camp for the night.
Some excerpts:
Forty-seven years ago we were graced with the eloquence and power of Mario Savio’s words from these steps. These words continue to live on. The sentiments Mario Savio expressed 47 years ago are as relevant now as they were then...
I will believe that corporations are people when Georgia and Texas execute them! The 1st amendment right to free speech is not always convenient. It becomes doubly important that we are willing to pay the price for free speech or the price for a democratic system of government. It is doubly important that our democracy give people the ability to speak up about what needs to be done...
The fundamental problem is that we are losing equal opportunity in America. We are losing the moral stone upon which this system and our country are built...
Over the last three decades, this economy has doubled in size but most Americans have not seen this gain...
The days of apathy are over, folks. Once this has begun it cannot be stopped and will not be stopped...
All of you, right now, understand intuitively that if we allow America to continue in the way it is going -- that the bullies would be in charge. You understand how important it is to fight the bullies, to have a voice. I want to thank each and every one of you for what you are doing.
The crowd goes wild at the end with the chant
Whose university? Our university!
Whomever is saying the #Occupy movement has lost momentum was not watching UC Berkeley tonight.
Diary of events today at Cal leading up to Reich's speech this evening.
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ABC video
Goodnight from the People's Republic of Berkeley!
Tue Nov 15, 2011 at 10:41 PM PT: Video of Reich's speech
9:12 AM PT:
7:36(am): Just woke up after a long, tense night at the encampment. The cops were staging all around us, from midnight until 6am. Following reports of a likely raid, we actually decided in an emergency GA to take down some tents in order to give ourselves the ability to surround the tents and link arms in the event of police intervention. So exhausted -- yet exhilerated -- after the events of the last week (my shoulder is only getting worse...). Please, if you are in the area, we're going to need people on Sproul Plaza all day -- it's only a matter of time before they try, once again, to take our tents.
http://reclaimuc.blogspot.com/...
9:14 AM PT: For more context to the above update.
3:47 a.m.
A UCPD officer has warned Occupy Cal protesters again that setting up tents and lodging on UC property is unlawful. Again, no official dispersal order given.
2:31 a.m.
The assembly has decided to use linking arms as their primary tactic to protect the encampment in the event of a police raid, rather than sitting in the tents. The assembly also voted to take down some tents in order to make the encampment smaller.
http://www.dailycal.org/...
9:19 AM PT:
9:27 AM PT: Includes video news report clip showing sproul plaza with tents still there
7:30 a.m. Cal wakes up around Sproul Plaza camp
Sproul Plaza is bustling now, with students walking around the encampment.
Ian Saxton, one of the protesters, said it has been a turning point in the Occupy movement because there has been so unnecessary force used on protesters in recent clashes.
The Occupy Cal tent city's overnight campout is a "preliminary victory
and broadening of a new level of interaction between the Occupy movement and academia," said Saxton, a second-year doctoral student in music composition.
"We sent a message of peaceful discontent."
Before joining the Cal encampment, Saxton had camped at Occupy Oakland for two weeks.
7:15 a.m. SF rally, protest planned
After their sit-down with Mayor Ed Lee, Occupy SF protesters are planning a noon rally at Justin Herman Plaza, then a 1 p.m. march on banks. Buses are planned to carry over Occupy Cal students for the rally and march.
9:42 AM PT:
occupyoakland Occupy Oakland
Occupy has entered a critical moment nationwide: 2nite's GA at 6pm will focus on building plans for Sat Day of Action: