I write this today having participated in our local Occupy South Bend (Indiana) effort of reaching inward to our community for support.
We joined the yearly planned march that starts at our County City building. We joined in the revelries right there in the lobby of the County Building. We then marched with civil rights leaders of our area to the Century Center.
There at the Century Center we initially occupied a shared space with the Michiana Peace table. We however found a table that had not been taken by a reserved group and decided, as the squatters we are, to Occupy that table and out reach to our local community.
Join me after the orange squiggle of power for more.
So we occupied that table. Officially and technically not a recognized group of the event, but had zero rebuff from taking a table for our own means to try and spread word of the movement. We sat there, and as people passed by we reached out. We with our spoken words, printed flyers, and printed articles explained to already active community organizers what Occupy is. Who Occupy South Bend is and ultimately how because of our inclusiveness want to be their voice as much as we wish them to be ours.
It is amusing because we literally had no signage planned because of lack of table, however one of our warrior women of OSB (as we loosely call ourselves) made a quick dash home and drew up an amazing quick label on poster board. It was awkward at times because until we had the sign many people were approaching us with many questions. Such questions like "Who are you guys?", "Why are you here?", "What are you goals?".
To that end, I'll retell an amazing conversation I had with a very active community organizer on Occupy and how if we as Occupy turn inward can effect amazing positive change.
We met as I was on my way outward for a nicotine break. He recognized my ugly mug from my newspaper and local news interviews, and asked for a moment of discussion. Not knowing who I was talking to at the moment but realizing the moment of outreach, I forgone the idea of satiating my unhealthy habit and acquiesced to speaking with him.
After some brief banter and introduction he drew his quarter straight to the point and opened with
"How do you think Occupy can help us and others locally?"
And to be honest, I was taken aback. I had my trained responses for media, had my trained responses for the uninformed...however here was a person well informed of Occupy. And this person was asking an immediate response question.
I had to admit to him, I had no immediate answer. I was literally stumped. I felt shamed because of my lack of answer.
He however recognized my weak position and instead of attacking, he went on the support. He made mention that the best thing he thinks Occupy can do is to focus locally. Focus on the people who are, and have been, raising equality issues on both racial and socio-economic fronts for years. Reach out to existing resources and utilize them to their fullest.
He then went on to give me this statement which stuck in my mind so much I had to write it down right then and there.
"You guys in the Occupy have built a tent for everyone to join in under, but not everyone knows it yet. You have to zeitgeist. Use this moment to build broader coalitions, use this winter to bring everyone under this tent"
I agreed with him and we had some more pleasantries, some great discussion on Dr King...and ultimately I parted ways for my much needed unhealthy habit.
So after this amazing conversation, I stood in front of the Century Center..smoke in hand. I stood there running the conversation over in my head and it struck me that I really must diary this tonight with the question "What would King think of the Occupy movement?"
Having spent today with civil rights leaders, I would have to answer that I think King would be embracing the movement. But only if this movement really and truly focuses inward. We need to point our laser focus on our local politics, our local issues, and our local problems. We as occupiers need to shine our lights in ALL the dark places of our politics.
Do we need to keep a national narrative alive?....absolutely
However, today's conversation really reminded me of the statement that politics starts local. It starts at our school board, our common councils, our city mayors, and our county councils and positions.
Occupy has become a lighthouse. And this lighthouse is shining a light so bright that we can direct our ships to safe port. While we focus on our larger national ship and guiding that ship to a safe port...please let us not forget our local skimmers and schooners that need direction to safe port as well.