This be one of the first diaries of many hopefully.
I joined Occupy South Bend after finding a link from Occupy Wall Street to the OccupyTogether.org. And really honestly to say I joined it only means that I planned to join in protest for the initial occupation starting Oct 8th.
Join me after the orange squiggle of power....
I drove from my comfortable home that mild October day, on the 8th. Parked it at the Century Center and walked with poster board and acrylic paint in hand. As I walked to the center located in front of the Wells Fargo building I literally had no idea what I would be stepping into.
What did I step into?
Democracy. I stepped into a literal pile of heaping wet warm democracy.
Was it messy?
Yes
Was it all over that place at times?
Yes
Did it renew my faith in humanity and our ability to solve complex problems?
With 100% certainty yet.
I wasn't a 24/7'r. I couldn't camp like those who did in front of the Morris in South Bend. I didn't put in the time like the troopers who dealt with rain, cold and lack of electricity, heat, basic needs. But I showed up, as often as possible. And then relayed the needs of the camp to those willing to support.
Eventually though we had to decamp. It became a possible location of crime and also became possible safety issues. So it was with a heavy heart we pulled up camp. After the tents went down we gathered in meetings and discussed. It was as if we lost a child. The camp had been a center for our 'family'. We had a mourning period, where those tethered to the camp were the most outspoken and those who had supported from the sidelines recognized the need to move forward.
And we did move forward.
We held regular general assemblies amongst our members. Have had contentious moments with 'infighting', and having been on numerous conference calls with other Occupy groups experiences literally...the.exact.same.thing every Occupy location is dealing with.
But we have moved passed it. We've recognized the best place to effect change is in your back yard.
So we have moved our spotlight to our local politics. We have attempted to shine the light into the dark recessed of our local politics and how money in politics changes policy not just at a national level but a local level.
Those of us most active in our local occupy movement are engaging in the press, engaging in our local board, council, mayor meetings and ultimately bringing the fire to their feet. We've had some wins recently in delaying what was a back room deal to bail out a tower investment from an outside international banker secured with local rainy funds from the city and opening that discussion into how better to deal with the failings of a building neglected by the owner who has not paid taxes on the building within the last seven years.
And ultimately this is where I find myself in the Occupy Movement. Shining this light inward. This light that we have lit so bright, so large, and so amazingly over the last three months.
I would hope that occupations might read this. Perhaps read some insight, gain a glimpse into how powerful only a handful of individuals can be. That they take that nugget of powerful information and run hard and long with it.
You, yes you can be an agent of change. Just one individual can effect massive change. But it requires that you stand up and make your presence known. Without that, you leave your voice to the winds of history.
I go later today (given its's 1:00am and we march in 11 hours), and join local civil rights groups in a march in honor of the late Dr Martin Luther King Jr, where we will engage our citizens at the Century Center and outreach for our common cause. Yet before I bed for the night I am reminded by an amazing insight of Dr King.
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
Be not silent my friends, but join in our chorus. Let our voices be heard loud a clear and far and wide.