Occupy 101

This is an informal (not approved by General Assembly) introduction to Occupy Boston. Comments and edits are welcome! We might build it into a presentation to help spread understanding and build support.

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What is America’s current situation?

• Wealth has become concentrated in large corporations and among a small percent of Americans, leaving most of us with less and less opportunity to get ahead through hard work. 
• Many politicians seem to worry more about their rich donors than about their voters.
• Wall Street conglomerates have gambled recklessly and some high-paid executives have been rewarded despite disastrous failures that hurt the entire country.

 

How did the Occupy Movement start? 

1. A demonstration was suggested to call attention to the lack of consequences on Wall Street for the financial crisis of 2008. (Summer 2011.) 
2. Hundreds of people were willing to drop their comforts and make a visible statement by occupying public space near Wall Street indefinitely. (September 2011.)  And, within weeks…
3. Thousands of people responded by setting up similar encampments, using a group-building process to figure out next steps for ourselves and our communities.

• Occupations in hundreds of American cities have brought attention to the need for thinking and acting together. 
• Government, business, religious and community leaders who have been working in their own organizations applaud renewed citizen activism. 
• Each of us becomes a part of the “occupation” whenever we discuss our country’s issues together or support each other.

What’s the point of Occupy Boston? 

• Like our democracy, Occupy includes a large range of individuals with their own priorities and thoughts. 
• Working Groups freely form to address issues that people think are important. Common ideas appear in slogans as well as Working Groups: 
  • improving opportunities for all people - “We are the 99%.” 
  • reducing the power of money in government - “Show me what democracy looks like!” 
  • reducing the risk to our economy from “too big to fail” conglomerates - “Banks got bailed out; we got sold out!”
• When a Working Group or any individual has a proposal that they want the entire Occupy Boston community to consider, they bring it to the General Assembly.
• The Occupy Boston General Assembly adopted a Statement of Purpose on October 23:

“We the people who have occupied Dewey Square, under the name Occupy Boston, have done so in order to maintain a place where all voices are welcome for the open discussion of ideas, grievances and potential solutions to the problems apparent in our society. We are and will be holding general assemblies where proposals may be brought to the group as a whole, to be consented to. We have and will continue to occupy this space for the purpose of democracy.”

What’s the process used to function as a group?

Some ground rules and shared values are expected within the Occupy movement: 

• democratic voting and acceptance of decisions approved by General Assembly; 
• respectful inclusion of all people working within the Occupy community and/or the General Assembly process; 
• transparency of discussions, decisions and actions; 
• nonviolence in the fullest sense of the word, which includes resistance to systemic violence.

What’s General Assembly?

General Assembly is like a town meeting, using some interesting techniques to guide a collaborative discussion. General Assembly is open to everyone, whether they are occupying a tent, volunteering or visiting. Minutes are kept and posted on www.occupyboston.org/wiki/. The process is usually:

• Announcements and proposals are heard in the order received by the volunteer keeping a list (called the “stack.”) 
• The whole group discusses each proposal using a defined sequence that is repeated until the proposer stops accepting amendments. The process is not fast, but it allows a large group to reach agreement with everyone participating. A typical sequence is: 
  1. questions and facts; 
  2. objections and statements of support; 
  3. amendments.

How can I participate? 

• Visit Dewey Square (across from South Station in downtown Boston);
• Come to a General Assembly;
• Listen to a speaker or sit with a Working Group meeting. (See the calendar in camp and on www.occupyboston.org); 
• Talk with people in camp. 
• Donate or volunteer (See suggestions at www.occupyboston.org.) 
• Make your own sign or join a march. 
• Organize a local discussion or demonstration where you live. 
• Support local citizen action groups and speak out to your elected officials.
• Talk to people about your views and what you think we should do together.