The following resolution was passed by the General Assembly of Occupy Oakland, creating an official Occupy Oakland action on Tuesday, Feburary 14th, Valentine's Day.
In the interest of diversity of tactics, and the spirit of love that we feel for our community, we propose a direct action to take place on February 14th.
We encourage our fellow Oakland residents to join with us to express our love for each other, and our beautiful city, on a march through the downtown Oakland area. Participants should wear red and/or pink in celebration of Valentine's Day, and are encouraged to bring flowers, bubbles, Valentine's candy to share, glitter, confetti, and flower petals...
This is to be a completely non-violent, family-friendly action, and will be open to all who are interested in joining us in an expression of love for our community and each other.
It has been unofficially titled
Make Love, Not War
in a throwback to the sixties when tens of thousands of anti-Vietnam war protesters confronted police and the National Guard; when "Make Love, Not War" was scrawled all across America on the subway walls and tenement halls.
Those days are gone, but left are the iconic images showcasing this diary. They remind us how any protest movement that dares to take the streets in pursuit of their right to freely assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances will be met by overwhelming, panicked force by the powers-that-be.
Occupy Oakland is adding a new twist to the old tactic, since it is hard to put a flower down the barrel of a tear gas grenade:
In the event of potentially oppressive police presence... couples will be encouraged to stop marching and kiss in the streets...
Which, if some photographer or livestreamer is in the right place at the right time, might well create an iconic image for Daily Kos writers of 2050 to reference!
Time and place information about the rallies and march:
...the rallies starting at 6 PM will be at Fox Park, at 19th & Telegraph, and NOT at the Plaza. This is to include all of our fellow Occupiers who have unjust stay-away orders from the plaza!
At 6 PM, we will hold a "Make Love, Not War" rally in solidarity with Syria, Egypt, and other nations whose people are currently suffering from state and/or police repression.
At 6:30, we will hold a "Reproductive Health" rally, complete with safer sex supply giveaways.
At 7 PM, we will have our "Hella <3 Oakland" march through the downtown area.
