Update for Day 8 at Occupy Seattle.
Autumn in Seattle. A pleasant sunny 60 degree day today, but rain was forecast after sundown.
The General Assembly was originally scheduled for noon today at Westlake Park. Folks knew that a prior event, International Indigenous Peoples' Day, was also scheduled at noon today. To respect their space - they had gotten their permit two months ago - the assembly was moved to 5 pm.
As it turned out, the General Assembly was held in the middle of 4th Ave and Pike St, blocking traffic. The Seattle Police, on bikes, looked on and maintained a tight cordon around the crowd edges, but made no effort to move the crowd back onto the sidewalk.
After twenty minutes of activist shouting and crowd repeating: " these are our streets! ....THESE ARE OUR STREETS! Corporations are not people! ....CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE! Move back to the park!...MOVE BACK TO THE PARK! ", the mostly seated group heaved up and slowly made their way back to the park.
I estimate the crowd peaked around two to three thousand. Probably three hundred or so milled around Westlake Park at any given time and the best guesstimate from the livestream camera crew was that a hundred would try to sleep in the park overnight. Tarps are allowed as long as they're not attached to anything. You can wrap up in them like an army bivvy sack and that's it for weather protection. No tents, no umbrellas with handles touching the ground. Did I mention it was beginning to rain around 10 pm?
Mayor McGinn is allowing overnight camping at the little park next to City Hall; unfortunately, that park has only 1/3 the space that Westlake Park has. Folks at Westlake take the 'occupy' in Occupy Seattle seriously. As in 24/7!
The SPD lieutenant in charge said that despite the city ordinance that closes the park at 10 pm, she would not order the overnighters arrested. A bigger concern was the noise, as the downtown residents have been complaining about not getting enough sleep due to the night-after-night racket.
The overall mood was loud but fairly mellow. The only real tense moments were when the crowd took to the streets with a impressive and ominous-sounding roar. The police were restrained and seemed more bemused than anything else.
As in other cities where Occupy protests, the organizers and overworked volunteers need help and supplies. From Occupyseattle.org:
First and foremost we need your participation!
Despite not being allowed tents we are still currently occupying Westlake Park
401 Pine Street Seattle, Washington 98101
Donations
we can accept cash on-site, donations and money orders in the mail:
The UPS Store
Occupy Seattle
815 1st Ave #115
Seattle, Wa 98104
Non-perishable goods only. We can accept packages of any size.
Supplies needed (in no particular order):
Disposable plates, paper towels, disposable cups, utensils, antibacterial spray/wipes, Blankets, Hats, Gloves, Lights, Shelving, Storage, Painter's Plastic, sleeping bags, yoga/camping mats, backpacks, Sandwich and Bread Fillings, Prepared Coffee, Carafes, Prepared Meals, flu/cold medicine, socks, warm jackets, thermal undergarments, umbrellas, portable power chargers such as "Energizer Energy to go XP 18000", Deep Cycle Batteries (car batteries ok), Cigarette Lighter Adapters, Car AC/DC Inverters, MORE PEOPLE!
... and probably more things. If you can think of it, we probably could use it.
Photos
General Assembly sitdown at 4th and Pike, looking east
Fight Like An Egyptian
Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign !
Seattle's Finest Bike Cops
Bank of America branch facing Westlake Park
EMBEDS
Here, the crowd is moving down 4th Avenue to the intersection of 4th Ave and Pike St.
After the General Assembly, with woozle.
Resources online:
OCCUPYSEATTLE
Livestream Seattle
Occupy Seattle FB
Added video montage:
* It's getting late here and the dogs need walking. I will stop by and visit here after 10 am Pacific time. Peace.
4:52 PM PT: Additional video montage from the raw material that my partner and I recorded last night. Enjoy !