Thank you everybody who worked hard and came out to our 2nd successful Occupy Concord march and action. With 75-80 people, we had a smaller turnout than our last Occupy Concord action on Nov. 5. But we were holding the event on the last weekend before X-mass, which may have diminished our turnout. Other factors, such as DVC being in Finals last week, reduced the number of students involved. Union worker turnout also was less than before despite a organized effort to visit every Union office [15] in the area to encourage participation. There could be several reasons for this fall off of attendance from the unions. Several Union leaders who promised to come, didn't show and this may indicate that the Central Labor Council leadership is nervous about the Occupy Movement after the controversial West Coast Port Shutdown , which caused some friction between top Union officials and more action orientated rank & file worker and OWS forces. Never the less we had speakers and representatives from several Unions, including Dave Welsh, a Union Letter Carrier and member of the SF Central Labor Council, Stan Woods, a ILWU member and one of the organizers of the Dec 12 Port Action, as well as a sister from "Women of Steel" [United Steel Workers union]. The General Assembly clearly made common cause with the workers movement with several resolutions with unanimous support.
We had a nice and more compact rally, featuring our special guest speaker, internationally renowned anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan who fired up and inspired the crowd. The one hour rally format worked well, not taxing the peoples patience or attention span. It was followed by a spirited march thru the streets of down town Concord.
We had news coverage on channel 3 and a article in the CC times, which mostly focused on the two guys with guns from 'Open Carry", but what do we expect from the MSN {main stream news, owned by the 1%}. I thought we handled the situation with the 'Open Carry" right wingers very well, with our public statement, separating the two movements.
The Grand Finally of the action was the Public General Assembly that was attended by nearly 40 people, at least half of which, it was their first. This was by far the largest Concord GA yet and perhaps the most productive. 5 resolutions/demands were passed with in 50 minutes in a democratic process with near unanimous results. We had established a compromise 70% voter threshold to pass motions for this GA. But there was little if any opposition to any of the 5 proposed motions.
Motions/demands were passed [1] in support of the struggle of Postal workers to save 200,000 jobs and Sat. mail service and against 'privatization' of the Postal service. [2] Solidarity and support for UFCW grocery workers now engaged in contact negotiations with bosses attempting to reduce or eliminate health care benefits. [3] A call for a Moratorium on home foreclosures. [4] Adoption of Occupy Berkeley's resolution calling for action to roll back student fees and stop cuts to education. [5] A demand that 'health care is a human right' ,supporting a "single payer" medicare for all approach, to be financed by taxing the rich. {exact wording of these resolutions will be forth coming}
Over all, despite a few snafus, we held a strong and successful action, ending the year 2012 with a show of strength and determination and laying the ground work for a even more successful and broader Occupy Concord Movement in the New Year.
You are the leaders we have been looking for. You are my heroes.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
[signd] Frank Runninghorse
Occupy Concord
MDS [Movement 4 a Democratic Society]
SDS [Students 4 a Democratic Society ]
Peace & Freedom Party
[additional to the 2011-12-18 "Message to the Concord Occupyistas" from Frank Runninghorse]
The POWER OF PROTEST is displayed in these pictures below which [except for one] came from the right wing "Claycord.com". This tiny article generated 60 comments in one day, many from Tea Bagger types bad mouthing us, but showing our impact and creating debate on our topic. Even in this conservative outfit many folks were defending and supporting us.
Occupyistas, we can also write in and join the debate on this thread. We can fill them in on what really happened that the "Claycord" didn't report on.
Occupy Concord makes a protest stop at Wells Fargo on the march:
The "Minister" makes the news:
Occupy Concord protester Chris Knight, of Concord, attends a rally held at Todos Santos Plaza in Concord, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011. During a march protesters stopped at the Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank and the AT&T building for a short time to protest against the three companies. Between 75-80 people attended the occupy Concord rally. (Doug Duran/ Contra Costa Times) 
ROUSED RABBLE: Jarred, Nick, Dave Martinez (Robins Dad), Monica, Big Timmy
Cindy Sheehan, SPECIAL SPEAKER, brave truth teller:
Right wing Open Carry guy with guns 'monitoring" Occupy Concord:
Occupy Concord protesters were not intimidated and read off a prepared statement separating "Occupy Concord" from "Open Carry" for the latter's refusal to respect our tactics of no weapons at our events.
The "open carry" folks are conservative Republicans opposed to the OWS movement, who are there to protect 'small business' from imaginary danger from Occupy Concord protesters. There were no incidents, the Open Carry people were isolated and ignored. They didn't march with us and lost their rights to participate in the GA [General Assembly] by bringing Guns against our democratically decided policy.
Note from Northbay Uprising:
The "Open Carry activists" are actually real fascists (of the "American-Nationalist" variety) who are investigating all the people who participate with the Occupy Concord movement. They receive intel and open support by the local Fusion Center agents embedded in the local police, and work directly with "local merchants" to disrupt the movement by brandishing their weapons at children, their parents and other people participating at Occupy Concord. Their presence also serves to scare any onlookers into believing that Occupy Concord has become dangerously "Militant"!
Despite the fact there has been NO DAMAGE done to any establishment within the area surrounding Occupy Concord, the "Open Carry activists" are charging the participants to being ready to "riot"!
2011-12 "Message to the Concord Occupyistas" from Frank Runninghorse of Occupy Concord:
Call me a "conspiracy nut", but after reading some of the 'Open Carry' website, I remain suspicious that they may be working with some arm of the FBI, COINTELPRO or other bureau of the national police state apparatus. They are openly hostile to the 'Occupy" movement and pro conservative Republican. While I support the 2nd amendment , it is clear that this group does not support the goals of the Occupy Wall Street movement and are NOT our friends. Their cosy relationship to the police is also troublesome. I wonder if the police would be so understanding if the black members of the Oscar Grant Committee or the Black Panther Alumni showed up with rifles. In the recent past Concord PD has arrested SDS members for "Cop-watching" in Todos Santos and attempted to stop us from passing out leaflets, of course we weren't right wingers carrying guns. Are left wing leaflets more of a threat than right wing guns? TO WHOM?
Folks lets not be intimidated by this maneuver , lets stay strong and keep cool heads. Lets not be provoked or panicked. Now more than ever the wisdom of our resolution is becoming more & more apparent. We need to let the media know whats going on. And let the 99% know this "Open Carry " group is not with us.
2011-12-11 "Open Carry/Weapon Statement" Passed by the Occupy Concord, CA General Assembly by unanimous vote
Occupy Concord, CA does not support, endorse or encourage violence nor
vandalism. We do not condone bringing weapons to our meetings or events.
Occupy Concord, CA requests that no weapons are brought to our meetings or events. Although many of our members support our 2nd Amendment right to bear arms, we wish to create an atmosphere of cooperation and understanding for those persons or groups who do not feel safe or comfortable in the presence of weapons. Those who choose to not acquiesce to our request in regards to weapons, separate themselves from Occupy Concord, CA and will lose voting and speaking privileges at Occupy Concord, CA general assemblies or events.
- Occupy Concord, CA
2011-12-13 "Occupy Protest Long Gun Carry/ Concord" by Alany Helmatoler
Time: December 17, 2011 from 12pm to 1pm
Location: Todos Santos Plaza ConcordStreet: 2151 Salvio St
City/Town: Concord, CA 94520
Website or Map: [http://concord-ca.patch.com/articles/poll-will-you-occupy-concord-saturday]
Event Description:
Open Carry members are welcome to the Occupy protest in Concord on Saturday at 12pm.
Bring your long guns or what ever you wish.
Apparently the last time we showed up to the occupy movement for a moment "took away" from the message of the occupy movement and the leaders of occupy asked Concord PD to ask us to leave. Well officers said sorry that is also free speech.
Maybe Open Carry can show that we have the ability to protect ourselves and our community in case of riots.
We do not need civil unrest conducted in our communities which hurts small business even though we encourage free speech.
Enjoy :-) WE ARE WELCOME
2011-12-15 "Message to the Concord Occupyistas" from Frank Runninghorse
Somehow the "Open Carry" people are under the FALSE impression that they are 'welcome" to bring guns to our events. Futher more upon examining their website they seem to be happy that the police are allowing them access to our events, overruling our concerns. They also seem pleased that they are, even if, "momentarily" stealing the spotlight. Their attitude is that they are "protecting small business" from rioting and social chaos, even tho in our statement we disavow violence and vandalism.
They see themselves as a auxiliary police force monitoring "Occupy Concord" on behalf of the business community. This maybe why they were seen, last time, driving off in a rent-a-cop security van.This smells like classical fascism to me. I am suspicious.
2011-12-18 "Occupy meets Open Carry" by Jennifer Modenessi from "Contra Costa Times" newspaper:
[www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_19571178]
Occupy protesters and open-carry advocates came together peacefully, and a little awkwardly, at a rally Saturday in Concord.
Around 35 to 40 protesters gathered at noon at Todos Santos Plaza to address issues such as government reform, cuts to education and the sagging U.S. postal system, as well as to hear a talk by guest speaker and anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan.
The mother of a fallen soldier railed against military spending and said people deserve meaningful jobs that "pay not a minimum wage, but a human wage."
They were joined by one open-carry advocate displaying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle across his back and carrying two semi-automatic pistols, and another with a handgun.
"I wanted to be educated and learn the message," said Brad, a 29-year-old Antioch resident and open-carry supporter who declined to give his last name.
While several open-carry supporters attended a previous Occupy Concord march, organizer Frank Runninghorse said they did not contact Occupy Concord about their plans to attend this rally.
"We found out on their website," Runninghorse said.
And while the 57-year-old Concord resident said he understands that open-carry supporters are advocating for their Second Amendment rights, weapons are not welcome at Occupy Concord meetings and events.
Guns and other weapons play into the stereotype that the Occupy movement is "violent and scary," Runninghorse said.
Jeanette Flores, 52, said that although she understood what open-carry supporters were doing there, guns at the rally did not make her feel comfortable.
"What are you trying to show?" she asked rhetorically.
Her discomfort did not stop her or other Occupy protesters from engaging with the open-carry advocates, handing them signs to hold and talking about their differences -- and similarities.
Retired postal worker and guest speaker David Welsh said he did not even notice open carriers at the rally.
"This is a peaceful assembly," he said.
0 comments:
Post a Comment