http://la.indymedia.org/news/2011/10/248838.php
We reluctantly awoke and made plans to discuss the issue during tonight's general assembly. We are also making plans for a much larger general assembly this Thursday, complete with bold new action proposals, and we invite all those interested in furthering the resistance to corporate domination to join us.
by Rockero Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 at 3:47 PM
rockero420@yahoo.comOctober 16, 2011
RIVERSIDE, California - We are currently in day four of the peaceful occupation of the pedestrian mall of Downtown Riverside. Despite our best efforts at constructive dialogue with all parties, including agents of the police state, cops this morning demonstrated that their negotiations have been in bad faith when they roused us two hours prior to the agreed-upon time. At some point today, we learned that the resistance had taken the bold move of expropriating public space invaded by the financiers to spread a message of truth.
Approximately 100 people attended yesterday's General Assembly and dinner.
There was a lively debate about the use of chalk to mark the public walkways with our revolutionary slogans. Cops don't want us to do it, some people are willing to comply with them, and others feel that their right to self expression is sacred.
The essence of the debate, however, was the degree to which we are allowing the oppressor to limit our action and cage our minds.
While not discussed as a proposal or counterproposal, the ultimate sense was that while we honor the tradition of reclaiming the walls for revolutionary art and we value the right to self-expression, we need to be selective about our battles, safeguard our presence and the future of the movement. One suggestion that seemed relatively well-received involved "allowing" the use of chalk during our large actions, particularly on the weekends, thereby limiting the number of times the city enters to clean it off.
Some concerns arose in other areas as well, including issues of security, logistics, sustainability, facilitation,and of course, the cops.
A female police officer arrived late at night to "warn" us about the hate crimes that continue to plague Riverside's gay and lesbian community, and that the higher traffic that results from Thursday night's bar scene would create a stronger police presence. Nonetheless, she assured us that she and her partners, who she claimed would be on shift until 8:AM, had no problem with us being here and even sleeping.
Nonetheless, 5:30 AM brought a rude awakening--thankfully by our own peacekeepers and not law enforcement--but they were followed shortly after by the cops, who forced us to get up and remove our bedding.
There was a lively debate about the use of chalk to mark the public walkways with our revolutionary slogans. Cops don't want us to do it, some people are willing to comply with them, and others feel that their right to self expression is sacred.
The essence of the debate, however, was the degree to which we are allowing the oppressor to limit our action and cage our minds.
While not discussed as a proposal or counterproposal, the ultimate sense was that while we honor the tradition of reclaiming the walls for revolutionary art and we value the right to self-expression, we need to be selective about our battles, safeguard our presence and the future of the movement. One suggestion that seemed relatively well-received involved "allowing" the use of chalk during our large actions, particularly on the weekends, thereby limiting the number of times the city enters to clean it off.
Some concerns arose in other areas as well, including issues of security, logistics, sustainability, facilitation,and of course, the cops.
A female police officer arrived late at night to "warn" us about the hate crimes that continue to plague Riverside's gay and lesbian community, and that the higher traffic that results from Thursday night's bar scene would create a stronger police presence. Nonetheless, she assured us that she and her partners, who she claimed would be on shift until 8:AM, had no problem with us being here and even sleeping.
Nonetheless, 5:30 AM brought a rude awakening--thankfully by our own peacekeepers and not law enforcement--but they were followed shortly after by the cops, who forced us to get up and remove our bedding.
We reluctantly awoke and made plans to discuss the issue during tonight's general assembly. We are also making plans for a much larger general assembly this Thursday, complete with bold new action proposals, and we invite all those interested in furthering the resistance to corporate domination to join us.
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