MissNikkiAnn Supports: CT Seven Sisters (@womenwill)

Interdependence Day Is On Its Way

Readers:

The following email was recently sent to our supporters.  If you are interested in our Interdependence Day, please contact Cassie at ct7sisters@gmail.com for more information.

~Seven Sisters

Greetings from the Seven Sisters!

To kick off a season of resistance to the oligarchy, the seven sisters are gathering together all those throughout the state of Connecticut and beyond who sympathize with the international Occupy movements, all those who experience hardship at the hands of the oligarchy.

We declare Saturday, June 16^th, 1-5pm @ Bushnell Park, “Interdependence Day,” a day for families, friends and citizens to gather together in recognition of their resistance to the oligarchy for a potluck in the park, featuring music, speakers, and information tables.  When the uber-rich are threatened, they show police force, so when the people are threatened, it’s time to show people force.  Let’s show the powers that be that we have numbers.  Let’s demonstrate to ourselves that we have power. 

For the past three months we have organized within Hartford, Bridgeport and Waterbury.  Now that we have a permit, it’s time to push our organizing into overdrive, and for that, we need YOU!

We are asking of you the following:

1.       Organize your community/neighborhood,

2.       Identify the immediate needs and concerns of your community,

3.       Locate speakers that can speak to those needs,

4.       Suggest bands for the event,

5.       Arrange carpools and/or buses, and

6.       Be at Bushnell Park on Saturday afternoon, June 16, 2012.

Please respond to this email in the affirmative if you are able to organize your community and attend. 

If you decide to participate, and in preparation for the big day, we will convene conference-call “town halls” for the day of May 16^th in every place where we are organized to see how each of us can contribute to making this event a success.  You will be receiving more information on the town halls in future emails.

Also, depending on your social media needs and preferences, feel free to:

• ·        Friend “Spring Forward” on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/people/Spring-Forward/100003568309330 to declare your attendance for the event.
• ·        Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/WomenWill for in the moment updates and resources.
• ·       Visit our blog at http://www.ctsevensisters.blogspot.com/ where official up-to-date information can be found.
• ·         Email Cassie at ct7sisters@gmail.com with any specific questions or concerns.

Various groups and Occupies are planning direct actions throughout the state for the spring and summer.  By gathering together for one day, in numbers, we can fuel our momentum for the season.

“Let’s show the oligarchy that we have power in numbers.”  ~Seven Sisters

Occupy Hartford Rundown from 10052011's Evening Meeting

By request, I will do a quick rundown on yesterday's Occupy Hartford:

1.  The crowd grew in size from my 5 PM arrival until my 8 PM departure.

2.  There were adults, children AND babies present.

3.  Cops were also present.

4.  Many held protest signs.

5.  Some stood on the Bushnell Park sidewalk and held up their signs for passerbys to see.  One of these was a young boy who could have been between the ages six and ten.  Instead of joining the other children (like Sir, my son who is six and was present) at play, upon his arrival, he took his sign and went right to the sidewalk to hold it up for passing vehicles to see.  The unidentified man who was with him, was further down the street doing the same.  

6.  A unanimous proposal was passed about not smoking with so many children being present with the group.

7.  They spoke about the morning's meeting.

8.  The various "Breadown Groups" (or committees) were recognized as such:  Expression, Finance, Food, Legal, Logistics, Media, Medical, Outreach, Research and Shelter.  I was having a hard time hearing when I think they mentioned (and voted?) on having a Strategy group.

9.  The lawyer stated:  "I am not here to tell you what to do.  I am here to make sure your rights to the Constitution are protected."

10.  I overheard a statement that "One thing we don't want to see here is a failure to communicate."  Eluding to the fact that this failure could prompt conflict with the police.

11.  It was agreed that occupation would begin at most a week from Wednesday (10052011) and at least by Saturday (10082011).  But upon my departure three hours in, they were still unsure.

12.  From what I could see, aside from myself and another unidentified photographer, there was no "blatant" media representation.  I did upload live video footage to www.keek.com, but am in talks with Keek now as to why my videos did not post.

~MissNikkiAnn, keeping you posted

Occupy Hartford's Victory Against the Po-Po (Police) by @OccupyHartford

"The following is a report back from Josh. Official minutes from the 5:00pm G.A. should be following soon. (dave r) 

 The Assembly ended with a difficult consensus that the occupation would begin this Friday. 

There was also consensus that committee meetings would take place at the agreed occupation space at Turning Point Park tomorrow at 8:30 am and 5 pm. 

We also came to consensus that, because there were several people who wanted to begin the occupation tonight rather than waiting until Friday, we would march in solidarity with them to the site. We did so and were accompanied by the Hartford police. 

After most of the group who did not intend to stay the night dispersed, the rest of us (maybe 20 people or so) were informed by the police at the location that we would be arrested if we were in the space after 10 p.m. Peter Goselin from the National Lawyers Guild was there representing us and asked the police if there was any place on city property that we would be allowed to sleep out. The answer was no. The police actually suggested that we go to the capital building, but this was just a matter of passing his problem off onto the state police that are in charge of the capital grounds. 

We immediately contacted Councilman Luis Cotto, who phoned the mayor in hopes of resolving the situation. Before Councilman Cotto arrived, the Swat police showed up with a High power sound machine to drive us out of the park. Things were becoming tense. 

While waiting for word from the Mayor and the city we held an emergency meeting and consensed around the fact that rather than challenge the police to arrest us as 6, we would leave and wait for the larger occupation. 

The city manager (who arrived after being contacted by Councilman Cotto) determined that Turning Point Park is NOT ACTUALLY CITY PROPERTY and belongs to the state. The Hartford Police left immediately, as they no longer had jurisdiction over the land. At this point the Governor’s office was informed by the city of what was taking place. No State Police arrived and there was no discernible reaction from the State. 

With this new information, those of us still present called another meeting in order to decide how to proceed. While the State Police did not arrive or react, we decided it was conceivable that any individual state officer driving around might notice the tents and take it upon himself to do something about it. Rather than risk this possible confrontation with only a few of us there, we decided to leave the space and wait until the full occupation begins on Friday as there is obviously much greater strength in numbers. 

I personally took tonight as an enormous victory. The Hartford Police cannot bother us in the place that we have designated as our occupation space. Seeing them leave after having threatened to arrest us was fantastic. The reaction of the State remains to be seen, but from what I understand Luis has opened a channel of communication with the Governors office regarding this. As far as Hartford is concerned, we have already occupied Turning Point Park! 

 -- 

 -Occupy HartfordCT"

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