This was written for the one year anniversary of the eviction of Occupy Bellingham on 12-28-2012. Over 2 years later the charges against the four and by extension, the Bellingham 12, have been settled for crimes of sitting down to stand up for our First Amendment Rights. It is pretty general and touches a bit on Naomi Kleins' work. It's not to late to stand up. A lot of my new friends know this
Long before Reagan greatly increased disparity of wealth in this country, Milton Friedman was pushing deregulation on unwilling countries in South America. In the seventies also, the American Legislative Exchange Council began working to suppress voting, privatize everything, and work for laws benefiting big business. The weakening of the Sherman Anti Trust Act helped immensely. Clinton and Bush continued the deregulation. [legalized robbery?]
All over America and around the world frauds continued. Finally in 2008,economies crashed. This robbery was rewarded. Seven hundred thousand million dollars couldn't fix it. More secretly, three trillion and maybe more[an incomprehensible amount] staved off total collapse. Can you say devaluation?
A new administration, a new day, without prosecution or jail. Virulent obstruction in congress to pretty much everything starting in 2006 became worse. Thirty years of voter suppression and privatizing zeal had failed to turn the country as many legislators, desperate for reelection funds, succumbed. Then Citizens United was passed by activist judges on the Supreme court writing law in defiance of the Constitution of the United States.
In 2010, twenty seven million dollars plus flowed through the U.S. chamber of commerce from foreign sources to help turn the 2010 elections in favor of total free trade. Money bombs took down some legislative heroes. Critical thinkers despaired. Not only was little being fixed but the table was set for more. Add that to an unconstitutional Patriot Act still in effect, the healthcare system gobbling up more resources for diminished results, lobbyists writing laws,single payer healthcare off the table, and the national media complicit in ignoring or misleading on topics contentious to corporate avarice. Free Press? For who?
Add in the Katrina response, banksters in the new administration, and rights being minimized, exposes the backdrop,capsulized and incomplete in so many ways, requiring the march into Zucotti Park on September 17-2011. Four to five hundred people marched in Bellingham in solidarity. In one hundred thirty twoi cities in this country and in eighty other countries people were saying 'Enough is Enough!' I felt a sigh of relief that remains to this day. The issues that prompted huge throngs of people to take to the streets and then set up the Occupy Bellingham camp remain.
Extreme circumstances require appropriate response. This expression of Free Speech, with nonviolence, reasoned discussion of issues and solutions not being addressed, had to happen to show us all that many have not given up hope.
The community responded in force to feed, warm, and buoy the spirits of the courageous campers facing a fierce November and the coming onslaught of a Whatcom County winter. Police stepped up with gloves for campers. Christians stepped up with warm coats and food. People came by from the San Juans, Canada, New York, that know of and other Occupies to observe our well kept camp, and talk. The challenges were many and immediate. From homeless, mentally vulnerable, to the over medicated, campers and helpers did their best to help everyone they could. Turbulent wind patterns almost decimated the camp at least three times.
During all this, the corporate media focused on vacuous, negative portrayals of the movement. A national mayoral conference call discussed tactics for elimination of camps. A one percenter bragged he could destroy the movement nationally for a pittance. A two time Iraq war vet was seriously injured by police in Oakland [Scott Olsen].
In camp, understanding consensus, egos, keeping the camp standing, and ministering to peoples needs consumed a lot of time. Frozen ground didn't help. After a bleak Christmas with destructive winds once again, even I doubted the odds of these intrepid souls persevering till spring. The decision was never made.
On December 28 twenty four hours was given for the complete removal of the camp. A group approached the outgoing mayor. Requests were denied.
A whirlwind of activity ensued lasting until late into the night and continuing in the morning until access was denied. Holly street was barricaded above and below the site. A massive van parked nearby and a force of officers clad for a violent,rioting, destructive resistance against the peaceful, weatherworn, tired and hungry campers and helpers. Police stopped the cleanup.
Members of Veterans For Peace, Whatcom Peace and Justice and many other organizations were present to witness the event. At least one officer went overboard in the execution of his duties. I witnessed one example personally.
Four were arrested for sitting down to stand up for their First Amendment Rights. All charges have not yet been dismissed. No healing of relations with police has occurred for this black eye to the beautiful town of Bellingham.
It's been one year since the take down of the Occupy Bellingham encampment. I pray that my rights as guaranteed by our founding fathers are not abridged. I desire to never have even the remotest fear that something like this could ever happen again in my hometown or anywhere else in America for that matter. I stand for my rights [as four sat] that are my birthright; the constitution and all the amendments. I pledged allegiance every morning in grade school. I hope people of all professions and authority will vigorously defend the values that make us great.
Hope is the opposite of fear and so is freedom.
Real Security
is
Peace.
Twelve years have passed since the Supreme court decided an election in favor of corporatists. A corporatist was then named chief justice. The American Legislative Exchange Council must have been ecstatic.
A lot of stuff has passed under the bridge since then and it's not all water. Privatized voting processes have raised questions about the veracity of elections. In 2004 exit polls and late night percentage changes did not dispel doubts. Thousands of Americans have died in an avoidable war while millions more have been harmed or killed. Justification for the action has been proven to be false. In 2009 our president received more disrespect than I have ever seen, but not for "indefinate detention". Three years ago money was given rights and corporations personhood. Almost a year after money colored the election of 2010, Occupy Wall Street started with woefully misleading coverage from the media. Liberty and Justice for all doesn't mean much without news outlets free of corporate influence. Free speech is an illusion if trusted institutions can't be. Four people sat down to stand up as hundreds watched.
Today, though conversation is continuing, the issues still remain....
and so do we.
I am Occupy Bellingham.
and I have hope,
Signed, Xenored