We've all heard about the brutal crackdowns on OWS protests throughout the country, but there are a handful of cities and towns that are setting an example of how to work with the occupations, to ensure their peaceful, safe and much-needed protests continue.
I share some of Rick Perlstein's concerns that he articulated on Crooks and Liars on Monday:
The Occupy movement's brilliance at sustaining a physical presence in public space is awesome--and if sustaining a physical presence in public space is your political goal, well, then we can be very, very happy. But that is not my political goal. In fact, the increasing devotion to that goal as an end in itself has come to define the movement, which makes it guilty of the iron law of bureaucracy: the danger that arises when sustaining the bureaucracy becomes more important than advancing the goals for which the bureaucracy exists.
Which is why it's so important that the Mayors and City Councils across the country find a way to let the occupations -- peacefully -- continue; so the occupiers can get down to the business of standing up for the 99%!
For obvious reasons, we here at Netroots Nation have been following the Occupy Providence protests closely. To his credit, Mayor Angel Taveras has made it clear that he's not going to be hosting Oakland 2.0 and instead he'll be challenging the rights of the occupiers to stay over night in court. (and the occupiers have a lawyer, who thinks they've got a case!)
Click here to sign our petition to keep the pressure on Mayor Taveras to let the occupation continue!
But this is silly and unnecessary. The sooner Mayor Taveras (and his colleagues across the country) realizes the real enemies are the 1%, not the folks in tents, the sooner we can all get on the same page and work toward saving the middle class. (and some of that work, we're pleased to report, Mayor Taveras has already been doing)
And there are communities across the country that are embracing -- instead of stifling -- the 99% movement:
At Occupy Little Rock (AR) the city provided the protesters with portable toilets and a dumpster:
Occupy Little Rock, in the spirit of cooperation, plans to relocate from the current site of occupation at the President Clinton Library, to a new occupation site at 4th and Ferry streets. This site is equipped with legal city permits and facilities provided by our city.
In Iowa City, the city council granted Occupy Iowa City a four month permit to remain:
The city of Iowa City has granted a permit to the Occupy Iowa City group to maintain a presence in College Green Park until Feb. 29, according to an approved permit posted on the city website.
In our nation's capitol, Washington, DC, many Council Members have gone on the record supporting Occupy DC:
“Sometimes for people without means, the only way to get a message out is a public display,” said council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3), a constitutional law professor at George Washington University. “Other issues could develop, such as public health, but I think we shouldn’t be too quick to sweep them off the public plaza.”
Albany, NY has opted not to enforce a curfew that would apply to Occupy Albany:
Albany has chosen not to enforce an 11pm curfew for demonstrators in Academy Park. If protesters relocate to a state run site like Lafayette Park a curfew will be enforced.
The great city of Cleveland has learned to live withOccupy Cleveland:
Occupy Cleveland has won the right to hold their protests 24 hours on Public Square.
Occupy LA is more of a mixed bag. The City Council voted to support Occupy LA, while Mayor Villaraigosa said it "cannot continue indefinitely."
The authorities in Nashville, TN have arrested some protesters, but the court has stepped in and ruled in favor of the First Amendment and Occupy Nashville:
Occupy Nashville would like to thank the attorneys that worked tirelessly on behalf of all Tennesseans to defend their 1st amendment rights. Federal Judge Aleta Trauger echoed our sentiment when she stated, after her ruling, that she “can’t think of any more quintessential public forum than the Legislative Plaza."
Occupy Philly has a unique situation. The City apparently doesn't have a problem with the protest, except the plaza they are encamped in is scheduled for renovation starting at the end of the month. Negotiations between the two sides are ongoing.
In San Francisco, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution of support for Occupy SF:
A resolution expressing support for the "Occupy Wall Street" movement that also asks for force not to be used against the demonstrators in San Francisco was approved today by the city's Board of Supervisors.
The resolution ... asks Mayor Ed Lee and the Police Department to "ensure that there will be no unnecessary use of force to dislodge the Occupy SF demonstrators."
Am I missing any cities where the occupiers have been able to work with the local authorities to remain? Leave them in the comments or email them to me (my email is in my profile). Hopefully this list will keep growing and we can move onto the part of the protest where we hold the 1% accountable, instead of holding city parks!