Tidbits and Announcements - February 2, 2012

* Remembering 2/1/60 - Greensboro sit-in ignites movement
* How Swedes and Norwegians Broke the Power of the 1% (Marc
  Beallor)
* Honoring Vinie Burrows & Esther Jackson - New York, Feb 24
* The Movement "Beyond Dixie" (Patrick Jones)
* Occupy Oakland - What Happened? What Next for Occupy? -
  Two Views (Jean Damu, Jim Williams, Frank Scott, Doug
  Norberg)
* Has Occupy Oakland Lost its Way (James E. Vann)
* Occupy Austin hosts Climate Change Action Summit - Chicago

==========

Remembering 2/1/60, when four black kids sat at a
Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, and
refused to move when denied service, igniting the 60's. Lest
we forget.

Casey Hayden post on Facebook

==========

* How Swedes and Norwegians Broke the Power of the 1%

Illuminating article by George Lakey.  However, he fails to
mention a very important factor in the success Norway and
Sweden have had in limiting inequality: the role of women.
Women have historically had much more involvement in
community and political organization in those countries.
Today, these two societies are world leaders in women's
participation in political processes. Sweden today boasts
45% women members of its parliament, second in the world
only to the small nation of Andorra (Rwanda has more in its
"lower" house, but far fewer in its "upper" house).
Norway's parliament has 40% women, and recently adopted a
law requiring a minimum of 40% women on publicly traded
corporate boards.  The power of the 1% in the US and around
the world is not just economic power; it is also the power
of male domination, the two going hand in hand.

Marc Beallor

==========

* Honoring Vinie Burrows & Esther Jackson

THE BRECHT FORUM INVITES YOU TO A SPECIAL RECEPTION CELEBRATING TWO WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE

VINIE BURROWS...was a mere teenager when she appeared on
Broadway in The Wisteria Trees, with Helen Hayes. She went
on to achieve a career high at seven Broadway shows. But
facing few opportunities as an actor of color, she crafted a
collection of solo dramatic productions still hailed on four
continents, while continuing to serve with the United
Nations' Womens' International Democratic Federation..

ESTHER COOPER JACKSON...is a human rights trailblazer who
co-founded the 1930s Southern Negro Youth Congress, parent
of the movement that eventually uprooted legal segregation
in U.S. public life. A lifelong peace-with- justice
advocate, she edited Freedomways Magazine throughout its
existence for a quarter of a century as a foremost
chronicler of the civil rights movement.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2012
6-9 pm
Refectory Hall
Union Theological Seminary
3041 Broadway at 121st Street, New York, NY
Admission: $20 - $100 

==========

* The Movement "Beyond Dixie"

I am writing to let you know about the new issue of The
Magazine of History, which focuses on the Black freedom
movement "Beyond Dixie."  I was the guest editor on the
issue and also contributed several pieces, including an
interview with Fannie Rushing about SNCC in Chicago.
Thought some of you might be interested in checking it out.

Here is the link to the magazine's website:
http://magazine.oah.org/issues/261/

Here is the full Table of Contents:
http://magazine.oah.org/issues/261/#articles

You can find the magazine in some Barnes and Nobles, but can
easily order it online.

I hope some of you might check it out and that you will help
spread the word to others in your networks.

Patrick Jones

==========

* Occupy Oakland - What Happened? What Next for Occupy? -
Two Views

In my opinion the Occupy Oakland movement began going
sideways with its attempts top shut down the Port of
Oakland. They never offered up a coherent reason for wanting
to prevent thousands of largely black and Latino longshore
workers and truck going to work. That's like torching an
unemployment office to protest unemployment. You want to
protest the system so you make those who already suffering
suffer even more.

We won't et into racial issues here but in the minds of many
the Occupy Oakland movement has in a brief period of time
consigned itself to history's refuse dumpster

Jean Damu

===

I find the first two articles on Occupy Oakland to be
relevant. I think they raise serious questions about what or
where the Occupy Movement is (has) become.

Tacoma's Occupation , on the other hand, has become inert.
They have successfully "occupied" a small parcel of state-
owned land in downtown Tacoma.  And there they have sat.
The signs, visible from the street, are mostly, if not all,
anti-war.  The "1%" or the economic issues that initially
spurred this movement have disappeared.

The State of Washington, which has actual dominion over this
parcel, has shown not interest until the last few days when
it announced it wanted the encampment to move. We'll see
what happens, but most of the popular support for this group
has long evaporated.

Jim H. Williams

===

the first piece makes some very good  critical points and
someone involved in the process of decision making for the
group should have an opportunity to respond...

the second was so ego-inflated and  first person singular
obsessed it merely serves as a good example of what
professional social change workers are, whether consciously
or not:

 agents of the 1% ...

Frank Scott

===

not really different views.  essentially, they argue against
militancy and the undemocratic character or direct actions
and demonstrations.  and leave it at the feet of established
poltiical and labor leaders, to be responsible and lead
things in the way they like.  no surprise this is how the
revisionist blog aims to frame the issues.

for our part, we certainly have problems with the nature of
the plan taken last week, but not because it was too
militant or out of bounds.  we must articulate the necessity
of base organizing, leadership, and action development, and
do so in ways that challenge the system and link up--
revolutionary ways, not reformist.  when spelled out, and
gathering some serious work around it, the anarchist actions
and the revisionist criticisim will fall by the wayside.

strong education is needed on this to prevent good folks
from becoming entranced in either pole of stupidity.

Doug Norberg

==========

Has Occupy Oakland Lost its Way

Over the last weekend, the lead story of major media for at
least the third time in three months has been war-like
altercations between Occupy Oakland and Oakland police.  One
local announcer loudly reported that following the weekend
altercations, "Oakland has become the flashpoint of the
nationwide Occupy movement."  This accolade raises the
question: Since Occupy Wall Street is proclaimed a
"peaceful, non-violent movement" of people constituting the
99% exposing the excesses of the ever-enriching 1%, how does
it come to this ? ... particularly in my beloved hometown of
Oakland ?

Three weeks following the landmark eruption of Occupy Wall
Street in September 2010, Occupy Oakland sprang to life
almost unilaterally with enthusiastic unbound support and
heady optimism as hordes instantly identified with the
escalating economic divide between the 1% uber-rich and the
remaining and suffering 99% of the US populace.  Either
directly or indirectly, the pain caused by the uninhibited
greed and corruption of Wall Street institutions and mega-
corporations, widespread devastation of neighborhoods by
home and apartment bankruptcies, industrial failures and
off-shoring millions of jobs, calamitous unemployment, and
the burdening of students with debts to which they will be
shackled the rest of their lives, is experienced by
practically all of Oakland,.

Oakland was fertile ground for the Occupy movement, and a
tent encampment quickly sprang up on the lawn encircling the
general assembly amphitheater of city hall plaza.  Two weeks
after installation, however, the city made infamous history
by calling in riot equipped police from 19 surrounding
jurisdictions, who brutally attacked and demolished the
initial encampment and it occupants.  This first-of-its-kind
military attack on the nascent peaceful Occupy movement --
instantly flashed around the world -- was later admitted by
policymakers to be a mistake.

On November 2, one week following its violent displacement,
Occupy Oakland was back in the plaza stronger than ever. The
movement triumphantly announced its re-birth as 30,000
people -- including a number of union locals -- exploded on
city streets in joyful jubilation and an historic day of
general-schools-workplace strikes, including shutdown of
Oakland's busy port.  Even government joined in by closing
city hall early, permitting lawmakers, administrative
officials, and staff to join in the jubilation.

More and more, following the November 2 jubilation, inherent
flaws within Occupy Oakland began to take over the promising
and critical movement.  Given Oakland's violent police
history and years of wanton police killings, particularly of
Oakland's Black and Latino populations, Occupy Oakland
became a prime destination for dissident, aberrant,
anarchistic thrill-seeking youth whose sole purposes were
"anonymous" property destruction, confrontations with
police, and general mayhem.

After bemoaning the failure of Occupy Oakland to establish a
firm foundation of "peace, nonviolence and non-property
destruction," it was recently and shockingly revealed --
confirmed by other long term participants -- that early in
the movement's formation, the general assembly was presented
with, and passed a resolution endorsing "diversity of
tactics" in its operations, and went further in authorizing
"sub-groups" within Occupy, without needing to return to the
assembly for deliberation and approval, to plan and carryout
actions of their choosing in the name of Occupy Oakland.
Under this blanket authority, the dissident group has
performed several unilateral demonstrations, and over the
recent three Saturday evenings, has carried out marches --
named "F _  _  _  the Police" rallies -- from city hall
plaza to Oakland Police Headquarters, intentionally to
provoke violent altercations with the police.

The early authorization by the general assembly of "anything
goes" is generally unknown -- even today -- to the vast
majority of Occupy activists and supporters.

I contend that the entirety of Oakland, including city hall,
city officials, the port of Oakland, and even OPD are all
constituents of the 99%.  To be sure, there are within
Oakland attributes of the 1%, namely branches of Wall Street
Banks -- Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase, Citibank --
and properties throughout the city that lie vacant or
bankrupt as ravaged spoils of Wall Street's economic dirty
tricks.

This is not the way it's supposed to be.  How are police
provocations related to economic dis-empowerment.  What does
smashing of even-friendly shop windows have to do with
wealth re-distribution.  How does setting fire to rubbish
bins restore displaced families to their foreclosed homes.
Will defacing public buildings, private property, and plaza
walls help the unemployed to get a job.  I am tired of
seeing my city trashed for no reason other than visceral
satisfaction of thrill-seeking marauders who have no
interest in the betterment of Oakland.  I am upset that my
town's city hall is viciously violated by unthinking vandals
in the name of Occupy Oakland.  It is disturbing to witness
my city's mayor attempting to respect Occupy's free speech
liberties, while at the same time being consistently derided
for trying to deal with a situation that Occupy Oakland
itself negligently allowed to escalate out of control.

Without question, the brutal police attacks of October 25
carried out by an interim chief and new administrator just
three weeks in their jobs were excessive and wrong -- for
which Mayor Quan accepted responsibility.  I too have
criticized the mayor, however, in view of the mayor's
expressions of regret, I am willing to look forward.
Moreover, I recognize that the mayor -- facing a difficult
situation for which there is no precedent and being under
constant unrelenting pressures from many angry forces she
must also represent -- is doing the best she can in face of
ongoing destructive antics by an uncontrolled group bent on
anarchy with no respect for negotiation or process.

During this, the formative period of the movement, I presume
that the supreme mission of Occupy Wall Street is to raise
public consciousness, awareness, and revulsion of the 99% to
the multitude of evils wrought by the runaway capitalism of
the 1%, and to solidify a national peoples' movement to
force radical revisions in how economic, social, and
political decisions are made, programs are devised and
implemented, and policymakers, corporations, and Wall
Street-related institutions are controlled.

In support of the OWS mission, Occupy Oakland has the duty
to appeal to, attract, and build the broadest possible
contingent of the local 99%.  Occupy Oakland must answer the
question: Does a program that deliberately destroys property
and seeks confrontations with police attract Oakland's
populace to join the ranks of the 99% ... or does such
divisiveness drive the Oakland populace away ?  The answer
of course is obvious.

In the beginning weeks of Occupy Oakland, enthusiasm for
Occupy was palpable.  Both local unions and elected
officials participated in general assembles, and some
actually spent nights at the encampment.  In those
optimistic days, it might have been possible to negotiate
pacts with the city that would entrust Occupy Oakland to
self-monitor its demonstrations, and maybe even an agreement
that should police action be necessary no riot gear or
military weaponry would be in evidence.  Unfortunately,
those hopeful dreams are now perhaps forever shattered.

The huge mistake made by Occupy Oakland in giving the blank
check of "diversity of tactics' with no oversight or
accountability to a group long ago proven to have only
nefarious intentions MUST be undone.  To fulfill its
mission, Occupy Oakland must forever reach out and educate
and involve a now skeptical populace ... and must
continually expand.  To even approach its mission, Occupy
Oakland must assure the populace that involvement with
Occupy is "peaceful, safe, nonviolent, non-destructive, and
with no intent to evoke altercations with law enforcement."

Unless and until Occupy Oakland moves immediately and
decisively to correct its monumental error, and to become
realigned on its noble and intended path, there are serious
doubts that Occupy Oakland deserves to exist.
 
James E Vann
Longtime Oakland resident and community activist

==========

* Occupy Austin hosts Climate Change Action Summit - Chicago

"Climate change affects all of us, but it is the world's
poor who contribute least to the problem and who have the
least capacity to adapt to a changing climate. The world's
poor are already suffering the most from its devastating
impact. That is why, at its heart, climate change is a
matter of justice."

   Community Groups Unite For Unprecedented Summit To
   Mobilize Chicago Neighborhoods against Climate Change

Facing a crisis of high utility bills and pollution-related
health problems, Chicago neighborhoods are gathering for
their first-ever summit to show residents that fighting
climate change is a battle that begins at their own
doorstep.

"Too often, climate change is only seen as something tackled
by a United Nations conference," said Theresa Welch,
associate director of the South Austin Community Coalition
(SACC). "But neighborhoods, particularly the poor and
communities of color, are the worst hit and last to recover
from such environmental devastation. Not only will this
summit demand action from our elected officials and
corporations, but we're also going to give residents simple
and solid actions they can take to save money and fight
climate change from their own front door."

The South Austin Community Coalition's Climate Action Summit
is:

9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012

 Where:  5071 W. Congress Blvd.

Welch pointed to a 2010 study by the Clean Air Task Force
that linked pollution from coal-fired power plants in
Chicago to more than 40 deaths, 60 heart attacks, and 700
asthma attacks annually. He also cited recent reports that
Congress slashed heating-bill assistance by $1.2 billion.

"These energy issues are impacting Chicago neighborhoods
right now, and we're trying to let people know that there
are actions they can take that are good for their
pocketbooks as well as the planet," he said.

The objective of the Summit is to demand ambitious and
urgent action from elected officials, community residents,
and corporations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In
addition, there will be a series of workshops showing how
communities are impacted by climate change, and residents
will be given simple but effective tips on how to save
energy and money on their utility bills.

[thanks to Ted Pearson for sending this to Portside]

==========

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