Now is the time to send a message to the do noting Congress that delights in making 99% of Americans suffer hardship and uncertainty.
A Congress that panders to those that boo solders serving overseas, cheer when someone falls ill and can not pay for health care, and think they will never have to endure the destitution inevitable with the current socioeconomic climate.
For three years we have listened to them make excuses and pad their bank accounts with insider trades. Now they must listen to us. The voters. The people that make this Country great. The ones that create the wealth they so stingily appropriate.
West Front Lawn at Capitol Hill
9am – Converge at West Front Lawn at Capitol Hill
(Meetings with Representatives concurrent)
10 am – Training for volunteers on De-escalation,
Legal Observing, Medical, Direct Action
11 am – Teach-ins and Open Mic start and go all day
12 noon – Multi-Occupation General Assembly
2 pm – Open Activities and Idea Sharing Sessions
6pm – Occupy Congress Rally and Protest and DC Voting Rights Vigil
8pm – 11pm - OCCUParty
So what, exactly, has Congress been up to? They’ve just recessed for the holidays, ending the 1st session of the 112th Congress. We all talk about Congressional gridlock, and their inability to accomplish anything to help the economy or American people, but The Library of Congress THOMAS System lists 73 bills that became law during this session. Here are some of the highlights:
They named a bunch of courthouses and post offices
Funded Ongoing Overseas Contingency Operations (a.k.a. War)
“Reformed” the patent system, making it easier for corporations to use legal maneuvers to extort money from inventors and small business owners.
Engaged in political theater during the debt ceiling debacle, abdicating their responsibilities to a Super Committee, which failed to come to agreements about budget cuts or tax increases to fix the deficit. How do you fix a deficit? End the wars, tax the rich!
Funded the ongoing efforts of the CIA to meddle in the affairs of sovereign nations and drop bombs from drones onto civilians around the world.
Extended the Patriot Act unchanged, despite grave concerns about its damage to our civil liberties, and the fact that the original impetus for the act, Al-Queda’s attack on 9/11, has largely been avenged.
Specifically prohibited the closing of the notorious Guantanamo Bay prison camp.
Passed “free trade” agreements with South Korea, Columbia, and Panama, making it easier for companies to send jobs overseas and sidestep local regulations.
Extended the Generalized System of Preferences, whereby trade between nations is restricted based on political considerations.
Congress also voted to allow the President to use the military to indefinitely detain, without charge or trial, any person, including U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, that he deems an enemy. While ostensibly about terrorism suspects, the language is so vague and broad that interpretation is guaranteed to expand to cover almost anyone. This baby isn’t on the list above because Obama hasn’t signed it into law yet. He’s waiting for the holidays, hoping nobody will notice while he legalizes martial law in the United States.
Congress is also debating, but has not passed, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) which expands the government’s control over the Internet. The ACLU and EFF oppose this legislation.
Please leave comments if you think any additional legislative accomplishments deserve mention. What legislation do you think Congress should be debating and passing?
What hasn't Congress done?
Imposed stringent banking regulations to ensure catastrophic economic crises do not develop.
Worked to improve the job situation.
Improved the benefits of the unemployed, disabled, elderly, or those needing government assistance at a time when the real life expenses for everyone have gone up.
Addressed climate change.
Addressed the infrastructure needs of our society.
Faced the need for renewable development.
I'm sure you too could think of even more things.
Meet your Congresscritter:
If you would like to meet with your member(s) of Congress it is best if you request to schedule the meeting. Folks who are doing logistics for Occupy Congress are available to help, but the most powerful tool to help get a meeting is the fact that you are the constituent and the member of Congress theoretically represents you.
It is best to schedule congressional meetings sometime between 9AM and noon on January 17th since that is the time period specifically set aside in the Occupy Congress schedule for direct congressional meetings. The House of Representatives begins its session on January 17th, but the Senate does not reconvene until the following week, so it may be wise to try to meet with your representative rather than your Senators if you plan to meet with only one office.
What to bring…
Water: Unfortunately, the city of Washington D.C. shuts off many of its drinking fountains in the winter to avoid pipes bursting. Therefore, we advise bringing multiple bottles of water. There will be some water available on site, but supplies cannot be guaranteed.
Food: While the area around the Capitol is a busy area with many restaurants and some free food donations are expected, a steady supply of food cannot be guaranteed. It is strongly advised that participants bring their own food to consume throughout the day’s activities and overnight. Ready to eat food is highly recommended. This includes:
granola bars, dried fruit, trail mix, crackers, and peanut butter and jelly. If you have access to a military supply store, they should have “meals ready to eat” which are full meals that can be consumed on the go.
A tent: If you plan on protesting at Freedom Plaza, McPherson Square, or anywhere else in the city, overnight, please bring your own tent. While there are some unused tents at both sites, neither site can guarantee accommodations. If you have multi-person tents, please try to coordinate with others coming from your local occupation to share and conserve space. Also tents are not allowed on Capitol Grounds and could result in the day’s activities to be broken up early, so we encourage tents instead be set up at either McPherson Square or
Freedom Plaza.
A warm blanket or cold weather sleeping bag: While the high temperatures are expected to be in the upper 40’ss on January 17th, the evening temperatures are expected to dip into the low 30s. Please bring an extra blanket and/or a cold weather sleeping bag if you plan on joining the tented protests around Washington D.C.
Winter clothes: Since there is a chance of precipitation on January 17th, it is very important to bring waterproof boots, rain ponchos, and wool socks just in case. Layering clothes, including wearing long johns, and wearing a hat will help fight any cold that may occur.
How to get here, Bus pick-up spots and other info.
Can't come want to help? Donate food:
Food Donations Wish List
Granola Bars
MREs (Meals ready to eat)
nuts
dried fruit
trail mix
crackers
peanut butter
jelly
bread
plates
napkins
utensils
Gallon Jugs or larger of water
Please Deliver food to Freedom Plaza before the 17th or at the West Front Lawn of Capitol Hill on the day of the 17th.
We are also accepting cooked food/catering donations from restaurants or individuals.
Non Perishable goods can be mailed to
Occupy Washington DC
1233 12th street NW
Washington DC 20005
To the members of Congress and their Staff, you are already Occupying Congress. We assume you love this country, and you are proud to be American citizens. We are some of those you swore your life to protect. We ask you to honor the memory of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and King. We ask you to honor the sacrifice of the millions who have perished in the name of American freedom. We ask you to share our Capital and your time with us. Occupy Congress will be honored to have any current member of Congress address Occupy Congress events, and have your voice amplified through our human microphone. We are bringing our movement to you so that you can participate in it. We do not ask you to endorse us, we simply invite you to share with us how it’s been for you. And we, like you, are committed that our time in Washington is respectful, safe, and sanitary.
Our nation has been forged through various social revolutions and crimes against humanity. We shall overcome. We ask all Americans who desire a bright future for our country to join us. Occupy Congress. Occupy the Courts. Occupy the Phones. Occupy the Internet. Occupy America. Educate Yourself. Our names may be lost to antiquity, and our flesh surely to dust. The choices we make as a nation will dictate the future of our country, and the course of the world for at least the next few decades. Now is the time for all of us to ask not what America can do for us, but what we can do for our country. While we Occupy, American freedom is on public display for the world to see. Let’s show off why we are the greatest social experiment in the world, and claim the legacy of American Freedom.
God Bless America, and may his noodly appendages of Liberty and Justice touch us all.
occupyyourcongress.info