Occupy Oakland: Scott Olsen interviewed

Scott Olsen. Photo credit: Indybay

Suffering from a brain injury, Scott Olsen was released from the hospital after the recovery of the incident that took place on October 25, 2011 at Oscar Grant Plaza. Interviewed below at November 27, 2011.









In the video Scott Olsen says he was not aware how he ended up on the ground. He was texting a friend on his phone before he was hit. He hopes to have his speech fully recovered soon. Originally part of Occupy San Francisco, Scott decided to join Occupy Oakland for the march on October 25, 2011.

Olsen also notes that the police or any other have not contacted him for a legal dispute, and also have not contacted him to acknowledge if an investigation was taking place.


http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/11/28/18701164.php

Occupy Cincinnati: Thanksgiving, Buy Nothing Day, Really Really Free Market

Occupy Cincinnati will be celebrating Thanksgiving following the next day with Buy Nothing Day. Buy Nothing Day is marked on Black Friday, generally where various stores and outlets will lower their prices on wanted items.

OC Cincinnati will also be holding a Really Really Free Market day, November 26, 2011 from 1:00PM to 10:00PM located at Recovery Hotel 1225 Vine St. downtown.

RRFM is a potluck for whatever you want to give or take away. We all have skills, objects, smiles, talent, friendship, excitement, discussions, wishes, and warmth. 

For Buy Nothing Day at Platt Park with Food Not Bombs, Occupy Cincinnati goes on:

 Everything we buy has an impact on the environment and psyche. [...]  enjoy a meal with Food Not Bombs write letters to Santa asking for the real changes we wish to see. We will hand deliver the letters to Macy's “Letters To Santa Mail Box “(see sample letter) in the downtown store. Each letter earns a $1 contribution to MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION! Dress in your holiday best (Santa, elves etc.…). “Macy’s Lights Up The Square” celebration is happening right around the corner in the heart of the Occupation and BND movement We’ll join in and spread our holiday spirit with candy canes, BND fliers. Come help mic check this message, carol/ ice skate and ride your bike down to Occupy Black Friday downtown. enjoy a meal with Food Not Bombs write letters to Santa asking for the real changes we wish to see. We will hand deliver the letters to Macy's “Letters To Santa Mail Box “(see sample letter) in the downtown store. Each letter earns a $1 contribution to MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION! Dress in your holiday best (Santa, elves etc.…). “Macy’s Lights Up The Square” celebration is happening right around the corner in the heart of the Occupation and BND movement We’ll join in and spread our holiday spirit with candy canes, BND fliers. Come help mic check this message, carol/ ice skate and ride your bike down to Occupy Black Friday downtown.

http://occupycincy.org/

Occupy Oakland: Garden at Oscar Grant Plaza

Occupy Oakland, which has faced police brutality, camp shut downs, and support from worldwide Occupy is planning on building a garden at Oscar Grant Plaza. The General Assembly agreed to this November 16, 2011.

We are asking the community to participate in the birth and beginning of construction of a garden project in Oscar grant Plaza. For the community, by the community. Respecting the land and feeding the people.

They will be meeting at 11:00AM, just before the 2:00PM rally and march.

http://www.occupyoakland.org/2011/11/occupy-oakland-to-build-garden-in-oscar-grant-plaza/

Occupy Baltimore: Field Trip for Children

Occupy Baltimore appears to be wanting to do a mock General Assembly to demonstrate to children how a participatory democracy works.

Set for Friday November 11, 2011, the mock General Assembly hopes to engage parents to help create a better experience their children.

At least forty-five kids to be attending.

http://groups.google.com/group/occupy-baltimore/browse_thread/thread/6400a8a86510f168

"Move Your Money": Banks to Credit Unions, Surges $4.5 Billion

In the promotion of "Bank Transfer Day," dated only yesterday, November 5, 2011 made a surveyed amount of four billion five hundred million dollars. Credit Union National Association tallied five thousand credit unions nationwide to figure up an estimate since September 29, 2011. These figures are only tallied up to November 3, 2011.


http://www.cuna.org/public/press/press-release/issues/hundreds-thousands-of-consumers-billions-of-$$-move-credit-unions
https://www.facebook.com/Nov.Fifth
http://www.occupyboston.org/2011/11/06/it-credit-unions-4-5-billion-savings-transferred-big-banks-month/

Occupy Oakland: Car Accident Provoked

An incident covered by helicopter, a person was hit by a car. From the helicopter video released online, there was no indication of how the person was hit by the car, however other video angles have surfaced revealing that the person provoked the incident. The person appeared to be walking in street, when a car approached and slowed down. The person then appeared to "hit" the car repeatedly, and would not move. Seconds later, the car charged forward while the person was in-front, knocking them down. Later emergency units responded, taking the injured person to the hospital. It is not clear if this person was a protester part of Occupy Oakland, and or the General Strike.

Some of the protesters and other individuals would argue that this may have been an attempt to discredit the protest.


Another angle.

This video below is a more in-depth look at the scene on ground, including someone throwing a drink onto the car, and a fight almost breaking out.

Occupy Oakland: Still Going, Officers Lay Low

Occupy Oakland is still marching along, but officers appear to be laying low. The camera operator says he seen around four, but assume the rest are undercover. This comes in from the police officers not being able to take the day off, from an open letter earlier in the week.

The live stream occasionally shows New York, which is being blocked in.

6:21PM: Reports of free food being passed out. There's also music, and a lot of chattering between the protesters.

6:37PM: The police appear to be arresting people, macing, and setting up a line to arrest more according to ground reports, and camera operators. 6:38PM: The police have boxed them in.

6:40PM: Several people have been saying police are punching people in the face, and are also mass spraying the crowd.

6:42PM: Protesters are moving away quickly to avoid being maced.

7:15PM: They are now going to the port.

7:31PM: Protesters have arrived at the Port of Oakland, and have cheered the workers as they are leaving.

Updates only in at 2:40AM, Fill in later
--------------------------------

2:43AM: The protesters have taken over the homeless shelter, made a line around the blocks, and some are still at the Port. Estimated a few thousand people are protesting. Music is being played drums, and the camera operator is walking around. One SWAT van, many riot officers, and more.


2:51AM: Police have prepared, and are spreading out. An estimated 300 officers, according to camera operator.

2:55AM: Police have started deploying tear gas, shooting rubber bullets, and flash bangs.

3:02AM: The police have warned the protesters to leave, or be arrested, Riot cops being to be from Alameda County Sheriffs.

3:08AM: Fires have been purposely set by protesters to counter the tear gas that may be deployed. Camera operator says they are controlled fires.

3:23AM: The fire department is there, and have put out the fires the protesters set to counter the tear gas, and police have surrounded some of the streets. an estimated 100 per angle, according to the camera operator.

3:42AM: Camera operator asked the officer to stop aiming his weapon at the protesters. The police officer told him to go home, which was replied with the right to be there. People are noting that the officers do not have any badge numbers, and have tape over their names.

Police have rejected a person to walk past them.


4:15AM: Tear gas, and flash bangs are being deployed. The camera operator tells the officers to stop pointing weapons at him.

4:25AM: Yn unarmed homeless guy was also hit by a rubber bullet, according to camera operator.

4:49AM: Police have sent another warning, "This is declared an unlawful assembly. You are commanded to leave, or be subject to arrest or other police actions."

5:04AM: Protesters are gearing up for the move in from the police, chanting "we are Oakland."

Arrests estimated sixty or more.

6:25AM: Protesters have decided to go back to camp, and support Port blockade, as well. Protesters are also encouraging the officers to go home.

http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution
http://occupystream.com
http://www.journalfive.org/2011/11/occupy-oakland-city-encouraged-to.html

Occupy Oakland: City Encouraged to Protest, Except Police Officers

Today (Wednesday, November 2, 2011) is supposed to be a General Strike, that is also supposedly aimed to Shut Down the City. However, police officers have been ordered to not take the day off. Further-more, the Police department says that they are confused at the orders given by the Mayor. First to clear out the park, and the next day allow them back in. The police have noted that they are part of the "99 percent" (the slogan carried by Occupy).

In an open letter to the citizens of Oakland, police have also noted that the bill to "control" the protests have cost the taxpayers over one million dollars.

Meanwhile, a message has been sent to all police officers: Everyone, including those who have the day off, must show up for work on Wednesday. This is also being paid for by Oakland taxpayers. Last week’s events alone cost Oakland taxpayers over $1 million.

At this moment we can only assume the police department will continue their duty of law enforcement which was ordered in a memo sent.

Police officers note that Mayor is attempting to get people to vote to bail out the City finances, while also spending money.


Meanwhile, Occupy Oakland encourages everyone to join them at 14th and Broadway, 9:00AM, 12:00PM, and 5:00PM for the strike rallies.


http://www.opoa.org/uncategorized/an-open-letter-to-the-citizens-of-oakland-from-the-oakland-police-officers%E2%80%99-association/
http://www.occupyoakland.org/2011/11/how-you-can-participate-in-the-general-strike/

Congress Still Aims Protect/Censor The Internet

In censorship-forms of the Internet for local residents of the United States, some U.S. Congress have introduced a bill that would likely set limitations upon many Internet users, and Internet Service Providers. The Bill, which titles many ways to curve websites or services that may infringe on Copyrights is most likely to be deemed unconstitutional from many.

The Bill would make many Internet Service Providers in the United States, if not all Internet Service Providers abide by U.S. Government, Private and Public organizations (companies like: Recording Industry Association of America, and Motion Picture Association of America), and notably those who may have previously used the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) to follow orders on the assumption that said website, service, or person is infringing upon Intellectual Property.

The "assumption of infringing on Intellectual Property" would allow the IP owner to order the website or service offline, or Internet Service Provider to disconnect or otherwise "remove the website or service from the Domain Name System" to make it unavailable to any one that may use that particular Domain Name System. Said website, service, or person would then have to "prove that they are not infringing" on any Intellectual Property.

Many individuals feel that this Bill violates the existing freedom of the Internet within the United States, and that it goes against the basis of "innocent until proven guilty," the traditional way of courts. This would instead by in the reverse, "guilty until proven innocent" with no evidence other than the presented evidence by the IP owner, and not the alleged offender.

In the other assumed traditional sense, IP owners may have instead sent a DMCA "takedown" notice to the offender, or Provider to have the content removed.


http://gigaom.com/2011/10/27/looks-like-congress-has-declared-war-on-the-internet/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20126165-281/copyright-bill-revives-internet-death-penalty/
http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/112%20HR%203261.pdf