Occupy Detroit

[Downtown Lady]

Searay, do you expect him to solve the nation's financial crisis single-handedly? Do you think it's fair to expect him to have the answers on what needs to be done?

I think the purpose of the protesters is to protest. Which is what they're doing. If they raise awareness and get these topics in the national dialogue and perhaps re-shape the tone of the 2012 elections, then I think they will have accomplished something of value.

[johnkuhnphoto]

Ok, now that you've narrowed the issues.. and since you're actively soliciting contributions...where is my money going to go, should I choose to donate? How is camping out in a park in a desolate section of Detroit going to change the policies of banks foreclosing on those that don't pay their mortgages or change Michigan's new semi strict [[as compared to our neighboring states) limitations on cash assistance to able bodied recipients?

if you click the link, it gives a basic statement about what the money is used for

"JOIN US. Donate NOW to the occupy Detroit Movement. Your money will go to providing food and shelter to the occupation here in Detroit."

a little of the money will be used to make flyers for people in the city that do not have the ability to go online.

[johnkuhnphoto]

This is really a non answer....you want something done. WHAT? What do you want done? The GREEDY banks to hand out $100 dollar bills at the door? Tell you Oh I won't take a $25 million dollar bonus, I will only take a dollar? You want GE to say Hey I know we didn't pay any taxes last year, but we will this year, I promise? Or how about all the companies say, he we can't afford it, but we'll hire 2000 people? I mean really what do you wan to happen REALISTiCALLY? How will you and the other prostesters accomplish that goal? I would really like a serious answer to my questions....not a non answer "my expectations are that we get something done."

i have no idea how we are going to accomplish any goals. we havent had any meetings. everyone that wants to will get a chance to voice their ideas at the meetings then we will be voting on whats going to happen

[johnkuhnphoto]

Searay, do you expect him to solve the nation's financial crisis single-handedly? Do you think it's fair to expect him to have the answers on what needs to be done?

I think the purpose of the protesters is to protest. Which is what they're doing. If they raise awareness and get these topics in the national dialogue and perhaps re-shape the tone of the 2012 elections, then I think they will have accomplished something of value.

thank you. yes. we are trying to do something! if you attend the meeting on monday you will have a better understanding of whats going on. its free and open to the public. if you dont like whats going on then there is nothing holding anyone there. at least give it a chance?

[Patrick]

It will be interesting to see how this plays a role in the upcoming election.

[fazaz]

Agreed Occupy Together isn't about "the messenger" on this board, or meetings at one church [[the point of the Occupation is individual and unorganized), or a donate money link, or about getting your numbers up "to start" the occupation. Without counting the numbers a friend in another city headed to City Hall last weekend for the start of their Occupation. He said there were 300 people and swelled to 2,000 Saturday night and then back down again. This is pretty much how the first two weeks of Occupy Wall Street went.

"It seems like some of the protest will be involving the banks that are taking away peoples homes and the welfare issue," which was decided at "our meetings." Huh? Not blaming the messenger, but has anyone at these meetings been paying attention to OWS? Some of the people taking part in the occupation don't have homes they have lost and are not on welfare. One occupier said, "$70,000 College Debt. $12,000 Medical Bills. I'm 22. Where's My Bailout?" As Greider wrote berating the press "It’s humanity, stupid!" Everyone.

For this to be dynamic I don't believe the movement can be narrowed down in Detroit to a list of issues generated from a single meeting place, and their donate button [[no information on who is cashing the check). NYers found a no questions way to donate - found restaurants that were willing to deliver to the park from a call in on charge card. Too soon anyway, there aren't any occupiers to feed.

All Detroit needs is to choose a date and a Good location and get on with it.

I support the Wall Street movement 100%, but I'm confused by how this would work here. I mean, they shut down the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC. This city is too darn big and too darn empty... if folks camp out in Roosevelt Park, I could see myself driving right by on Michigan and thinking "oh wow... what are the hipsters doing this time?" without ever knowing the message.

Thanks. And to bailey - twice.

Jobs With Justice has the right idea about location in a different protest:

"We're going to surround Bank of America Oct. 20 downtown at 2 p.m. to protest the Bank's trying to evict Iraqi vet Roderic Ray and their refusal to modify an outrageous, predatory mortgage even though such loans have been declared illegal by a class-action lawsuit."

Teamsternation: marines arrive on Wall Street

[Searay215]

Searay, do you expect him to solve the nation's financial crisis single-handedly? Do you think it's fair to expect him to have the answers on what needs to be done?

I think the purpose of the protesters is to protest. Which is what they're doing. If they raise awareness and get these topics in the national dialogue and perhaps re-shape the tone of the 2012 elections, then I think they will have accomplished something of value.

No I am not expecting him or the other protesters to solve anything....but when you protest, you should generally have an idea of what needs to be changed.

If I were a protester I would speak up and say that I want the government to put more controls back on Wall Street to stop the shameful greed, I would demand that the government close loopholes that alolw companies like GE not to pay income taxes, I would demand that we put tarrifs on goods not made here to make global trading a more level playing field.....those are examples of things I think the protesters should be talking about, instead of saying, "we want things to change" Spell it out for them...have a point. Instead of dressing like its Holloween and looking like fools, stand up and give Good taking points.

If you want them to take you seriously you have to define who you are and what you want.

Trust me I know what I am talking about.....I got GM to give 100's of people raises, treat women as they would men and make working conditions more favorable, and it wasn't just protesting.....I pushed them, told them what was wrong and what we wanted changed. There is more to this story but will leave it there.

[bailey]

If you want them to take you seriously you have to define who you are and what you want.

Trust me I know what I am talking about.....I got GM to give 100's of people raises, treat women as they would men and make working conditions more favorable, and it wasn't just protesting.....I pushed them, told them what was wrong and what we wanted changed. There is more to this story but will leave it there.

Presumably, Searay, you had a big stick to back up that talk. All the things you mentioned you fought for, if not granted, could -I'm assuming- be met with strikes and lawsuits. Meaning you could hit them where it hurt.

The problem here is the Occupy folks haven't got a cudgel. No one is walking off a job, closing a trading floor, stopping a foreclosure, or bringing suit. they're just camping out and yelling at clouds.

[Goose]

Presumably, Searay, you had a big stick to back up that talk. All the things you mentioned you fought for, if not granted, could -I'm assuming- be met with strikes and lawsuits. Meaning you could hit them where it hurt.

The problem here is the Occupy folks haven't got a cudgel. No one is walking off a job, closing a trading floor, stopping a foreclosure, or bringing suit. they're just camping out and yelling at clouds.

once big labor and George Soros starts funneling money into the "movement" they will get more "cudgel"..... ironic as it is.......

[socks_mahoney]

This is really a non answer....you want something done. WHAT? What do you want done? The GREEDY banks to hand out $100 dollar bills at the door? Tell you Oh I won't take a $25 million dollar bonus, I will only take a dollar? You want GE to say Hey I know we didn't pay any taxes last year, but we will this year, I promise? Or how about all the companies say, he we can't afford it, but we'll hire 2000 people? I mean really what do you wan to happen REALISTiCALLY? How will you and the other prostesters accomplish that goal? I would really like a serious answer to my questions....not a non answer "my expectations are that we get something done."

I, for one, would like an end to foreclosures across the nation. No one benefits from foreclosures, not the neighborhoods, not the banks, not the neighborhoods, nobody. I would like to see student debt cancelled. I would like to see a massive increase in taxes on those making more than a million dollars a year...by which I mean 75%. Fuck the "Buffet Rule" Obama is proposing [[39% tax), thats like asking them to buy one less bottle of champagne a year. That money can be used to build a clean energy economy through wind turbines, solar fields, and by making our buildings more efficent. I'm talking public works to put money in the pockets of the masses. We should stop the wars and bring the troops home to protect us from the police state. And maybe, just maybe, we can actually put some of the people in jail whose greed and recklessness caused this crisis.

Now, Sir, what is your solution. Or do you prefer just to be reactionary and heed the current system which is so clearly unsustainable.

What you don't understand is that these general assemblies are the demand. They are a process by which we can democratically decide what needs to be done. It won't be easy, or quick, so I can see why your capitalist mindset makes you so quick to reject it.

Its called "the struggle" for a reason.

ALL DAY ALL WEEK. OCCUPY WALL ST.

[Danny]

YAY! A proletariat peaceful revolution in Detroit and Lansing. I can't wait to see this action against government and corporate favors. We must end PLUTOMONY! break the chains of corporate slavery. Build a stronger union for a better society for our future.

WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE! WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT OUR CHAINS. WE HAVE A WORLD TO WIN. Karl Marx.

WORD FROM THE STREET PROPHET

Let's do this Neda, Bapu Ghandi, King, J. Jackson, and for our children.

[johnkuhnphoto]

Press Release


Activists and Community Members to Hold First General Assembly Meeting on 10/10 to Plan ‘Occupy Detroit’ Demonstration

On Monday, October 10, activists and community members will meet at the Spirit of Hope Church, 1519 Martin Luther King Boulevard in Detroit in order to hold a general assembly planning meeting for the ‘Occupy Detroit’ movement. The movement is inspired by and in solidarity with protests for liberation and against oppression and exploitation that are occurring all over the world. In particular, the movement has arisen out of solidarity with the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protests against economic and social injustice, which have been occurring in New York since September 17. At the general assembly meeting, organizers will discuss the logistics of the event and form various committees related to the demonstration, in addition to discussing the specific issues facing oppressed people in Detroit such as home foreclosures, homelessness, school closures, poverty, and food assistance cut-offs.

The Occupy Wall Street protests have been attended by thousands of people and have drawn support from celebrity journalists, musicians, and actors, and have been increasingly supported by labor unions. Demonstrators have been camped out in the financial district of New York City for nearly three weeks in order to draw attention to economic and social injustices being inflicted on the people of America. Protesters have been speaking out on a wide range of social and economic issues, including government bailouts, tax cuts for the rich, environmental degradation, unemployment, and police brutality, as well as oppressions based on race, gender, and sexual orientation. Occupy Detroit is just one of many demonstrations in solidarity taking place now and in the near future, across the country and around the world. The final date and location of Occupy Detroit will be determined at Monday’s meeting.

www.occupydetroit.us

Contacts:
Michael Shallal
m3h.shallal@gmail.com

Ife Johari Uhuru
ife.johari@gmail.com

[ismoakrack]

Once again, Nolan Finley embarrasses himself:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20111...Occupy-Detroit

[Scottathew]

Wow, is this Finley guy Tea-Party or something?

[EL Jimbo]

Wow, is this Finley guy Tea-Party or something?

Oh yeah. He's also anti-union and anti-worker in the most inflammatory way.

[animatedmartian]

Is anyone ever in the middle nowadays? Reading this just made me feel like it's a never-ending red vs blue fight.

[antongast]

Is anyone ever in the middle nowadays? Reading this just made me feel like it's a never-ending red vs blue fight.

Well, there's Tom Friedman.

[Goose]

end corportate greed!!!

stop the bailouts!!!!

[[except those that benefit the unions such as the GM bailout)!!!!

hypocrites.....

[adamjab19]

Once again, Nolan Finley embarrasses himself:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20111...Occupy-Detroit

Can't figure out why he's pissed that obama is acknowledging the tea partiers and occupiers different. Because they are different. Right? Tea Party is a political party while occuppiers are people that just want change.

[oldredfordette]

http://artisawindowwasher.tumblr.com...236304600/boom

I usually take Bill Maher's show with several grains of salt but Alan Grayson's response to washed up right wing hack PJ O'Rourke's slam of the Occupy movement was worth tuning in. Art the window washer sums it up for you.

[johnkuhnphoto]

http://artisawindowwasher.tumblr.com...236304600/boom

I usually take Bill Maher's show with several grains of salt but Alan Grayson's response to washed up right wing hack PJ O'Rourke's slam of the Occupy movement was worth tuning in. Art the window washer sums it up for you.

i think this is the video for that
LINK

[Mikeg]

.........If you want them to take you seriously you have to define who you are and what you want........

.......What you don't understand is that these general assemblies are the demand. They are a process by which we can democratically decide what needs to be done. It won't be easy, or quick.........

If any of the "Occupy ______" participants want to be taken seriously, they need to do better than the mindless drones at the "Occupy Atlanta" assembly who easily let themselves get turned around 180 degrees from their initial approval to allow US Rep. John Lewis speak to them.

Repeat after me, "This is what democracy looks like."

Thank God the USA is a constitutional republic.

[oldredfordette]

I watched the video, and I thought the whole things was beautifully handled. Rep. Lewis was approving of them. What's your problem, do you need an elected representative or media superstar to give legitimacy for every event? Do you need Glenn Beck or Bill O'Reilley to tell you what to think and do?

[BagAJellyDonuts]

end corportate greed!!!

stop the bailouts!!!!

[[except those that benefit the unions such as the GM bailout)!!!!

hypocrites.....

You really have no clue. The auto bailouts really didn't do much for the unions. In the long run, they saved the suppliers. GM and Chrysler could have shafted all them out of any debt and taken them down with them. Problem is, the real culprits, the banks, they made out like bandits. They took what was "loaned" to them and rode the market bounce. No wonder they paid the "loans" back. They had enough in what they "earned."

In the meantime the real cause of all this nonsense is still acting stupid and we still have politicians supporting the whole deal. The fed and zero percent rates thanks to the utter and complete stupidity of slogans like "free trade" are out of their minds. It's only a matter of time until more failures occur. Banks won't lend if they don't make money. No reason to lend when there is no interest. But you can thank our idiots in Washington for that. They sat on their hands while Asia used us as a toilet for goods and loans. And so many of you support it. It will only get better when Democrats and Republicans stop lying to us. But you don't want that. You want bigger lies like virtually unlimited entitlement programs. Good luck.

[Searay215]

I, for one, would like an end to foreclosures across the nation. No one benefits from foreclosures, not the neighborhoods, not the banks, not the neighborhoods, nobody. I would like to see student debt cancelled. I would like to see a massive increase in taxes on those making more than a million dollars a year...by which I mean 75%. Fuck the "Buffet Rule" Obama is proposing [[39% tax), thats like asking them to buy one less bottle of champagne a year. That money can be used to build a clean energy economy through wind turbines, solar fields, and by making our buildings more efficent. I'm talking public works to put money in the pockets of the masses. We should stop the wars and bring the troops home to protect us from the police state. And maybe, just maybe, we can actually put some of the people in jail whose greed and recklessness caused this crisis.

Now, Sir, what is your solution. Or do you prefer just to be reactionary and heed the current system which is so clearly unsustainable.

What you don't understand is that these general assemblies are the demand. They are a process by which we can democratically decide what needs to be done. It won't be easy, or quick, so I can see why your capitalist mindset makes you so quick to reject it.

Its called "the struggle" for a reason.

ALL DAY ALL WEEK. OCCUPY WALL ST.

So your solution is Socialism? A student loan is an obligation that a person DECIDES of free will and knows that that sum is to paid back. So if I owe you $1000 I can just forgive myself? or is it You just want a FREE ride. I did not get what I got handed to me, I worked hard paid my taxes, and debts. I live a good life.....paid for it, no free rides.

I gave this country 2 years of my life in Viet Nam, right or wrong I did it out of a commitment to the laws and constitution of the US, so people like you can protest. What have YOU DONE for your country?

I don't know when you thought we were a police state.....Do I like wars HELL no, I never heard of a good war. We are drawing down as we speak.....it can'thappen over night or our men would be in more danger.

You want to tax people who make over a million 75%....yea because its not you. Do I think they pay their fair share no, do I think they should be taxes at your ridiculous rate NO.

"it's called "the struggle" for a reason" WTF like you are so suppressed.....you don't know the meaning of suppressed.

Oh I have ideas of what needs to be done, my are a little more sane and achievable.