Occupy movement prepares for nationwide general strike

[steve2470]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/occupy-movement-prepares-for-nationwide-general-strike/2012/04/30/gIQAHJPLsT_story.html

Occupy Wall Street organizers plan hundreds of marches, strikes and teach-ins in 120 cities around the country on Tuesday for what they call a “general strike” for economic justice.

May Day protesters from New York labor unions, immigrants groups and others are expected to march from Union Square to Wall Street on Tuesday for “A Day without the 99 Percent.”

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said that law enforcement is ready to manage what is expected to be a day of wide-ranging demonstrations throughout the city, including possible bridge and tunnel blockades, dozens of smaller pickets and a “pop-up” occupation of Bryant Park across the street from the headquarters of Bank of America. Officials in other cities, such as Seattle, have warned of the possibility of vandalism and violence.

Other big actions are planned for the West Coast, including a large march in the San Francisco Bay area. Organizers said a plan to shut down the Golden Gate Bridge has been scrapped.

[bbinacan]

1. If there's violence

I'm washing my hands of them.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. If there's violence,

it will be the work of agents provocateur.

And your reaction will be precisely what they want.

[bbinacan]

4. And if

there are no agents provocateur? What say you?

[bahrbearian]

16. Seems like your looking for any excuse to wash your hands of the movement.

Do you even support the movement?

[Mason Dixon]

33. Do you support this?

http://abcnews.go.com/US/day-protest-banks-white-powder-envelopes/story?id=16248124#.T59DDu1mjBK

[.99center]

43. Case closed?

Where in the article does it prove that OWS was behind it, all I found was this "Police initially suggested the suspicious envelopes COULD have been mailed by militants from within the Occupy Wall Street movement, but a spokesman for Occupy Wall Street denied any connection to the mailings, saying the NYPD was making a false assumption." Do you know something the police don't? Do you tie all groups to the actions of one individual, or just OWS? If so maybe you this isn't the best place for you since people that have called themselves Democrats and Liberals have done some fucked up things in the past. Do you support running red lights, adultery, slavery, and any other illegal or immoral thing a Democrat has done?

[Mason Dixon]

45. Lets just throttle back

A. Go back and read the thread for a little context

and 2. Lets just say it all happened just the way the article reads. It's entirely plausible that someone or group is out to frame OWS. To that I have this to say, "Fuckin' Duh!"

I'm with the above poster. This movement, this struggle cannot lead itself to violence.

This isn't Hollywood. Its only going to be violence with Police or violence against an innocent 99%er. Like people in the mailroom or Secretaries and Assistants.

These 1%ers don't walk the streets. Police do. They don't open their mail or cook their food or drive their cars. We do. So a car bomb isn't going to take out a CEO from Great Neck, its going to kill an immigrant from Queens. And a battle in the streets is only going to put a lot of fathers in the hospital.

I don't think this movement can claim violence.

As to the below, I'm not really sure I understand you. sorry

If so maybe you this isn't the best place for you since people that have called themselves Democrats and Liberals have done some fucked up things in the past. Do you support running red lights, adultery, slavery, and any other illegal or immoral thing a Democrat has done?

[TheWraith]

11. As always, a wonderfully convenient excuse.

And one not tainted by even the implication of actual evidence, just a preemptive declaration that no true Scotsman--er, occupier--would ever do anything that any person would object to.

[bahrbearian]

19. Does Police violence count?

[limpyhobbler]

34. Yeah seriously. How would this sound?

If the police start some unprovoked violence against the demonstrators, I'm washing my hands of the police.

We see tons of video proof of police attacking peaceful demonstrators. Some people are just looking for excuses to defame this movement.

[PufPuf23]

22. Massive and coordinated (paid by taxpayers) authoritarian action against peaceful protesters

is already an established fact (that was denied by apologists). This class conflict is unfortunately a theme of USA history that includes genocide, slavery, conspiracy, and hypocrisy.

The violence has been pre-planned and is from elements within the state bureaucracies.

There are individuals in the masses that lose sanity and planned groups, but they are the minority and much underfunded, under organized, and under planned compared to State sponsored plans; whether contingency or aggressive against human rights.

[pinboy3niner]

25. There are justifiable concerns about the possibility of another police riot

Especially with local police presence being reinforced by extra Homeland Security presence for May 1 based on what authorities say is an 'unspecific' possibility of a terrorist threat.

[HiPointDem]

30. lol.

[Swamp Lover]

2. I've been begging for a job since July of 2011.

Will someone please give me a job so i can stay home tomorrow? Please?

[pinboy3niner]

27. There are far too many in the same boat as you

That's part of the point of taking it to the streets.

M1GS (May 1st General Strike) is not just a day of not doing things. It's also a day of doing things--joining in local marches, demonstrations, rallies, and other actions:

http://occupywallst.org/article/may-day/

Many of us here will be in the streets tomorrow. Occupying. Whose streets? OUR streets!

I wish you the best of luck in finding work. You shouldn't have to beg for it. You deserve it.

[Swamp Lover]

28. On May 2 the house goes into foreclosure.

Within a few months, as it takes time to wind this down, being on the street won't be an option, it will be a mandate.

[socialist_n_TN]

40. Fuck it. Stay there and make them FORCE you out...........

What have you got to lose?

[got root]

5. I will participate

and spread the word.

This the people's last best hope for real change.

[randome]

15. No, it is not our last hope.

Be careful about putting all your eggs in one basket, there.

[got root]

20. yes, it is our last BEST hope

there is no other basket left.

[bahrbearian]

24. We can't count on our Representatives to fix this mess

they are bought and paid for and they made it happen.

[got root]

26. nor our 'liberal' institutions

everything has been co-opted, but not occupy, and that is why i feel it is truly our last best hope.

[pinboy3niner]

6. LINK: May Day Directory: Occupy General Strike In Over 135 Cities

http://occupywallst.org/article/may-day/

[steve2470]

7. +1 nt

[U4ikLefty]

41. see you in the streets!!!

[pinboy3niner]

44. In the STREETS, bro!!!

And even though it's your turn to buy this time if you and Fire and I should have a chance to break off and share a meal, I'll give you a pass in honor of all the hard work you've put in on the planning and outreach for our Occupy L.A. M1GS. For MayDay it will be 'my shout,' as the Aussies say.

Looking forward to seeing you in the streets!!!

Love & Peace,
pinboy3niner

[countryjake]

8. K&R!

[Cleita]

9. For those of us who don't have jobs to stay home from anymore,

we can still stay away from commerce and not shop, nor even drive if possible. I think the empty Wal-Marts, Von's, Exxon gas stations, banks etc. will make those 1% very uncomfortable with this even if for only one day.

[JNelson6563]

12. +1

[Egalitarian Thug]

10. K&R. We're in. n/t

[socialist_n_TN]

13. I've been encouraging workers to wear red........

In solidarity even if you can't participate.

[ellisonz]

23. That's a great idea. n/t

[greytdemocrat]

37. Yeah!!!

That'll teach em!!!!

[pinboy3niner]

38. Yeah, because symbolic displays of support and solidarity are SO stupid...

[Fire Walk With Me]

14. Change in this country depends upon the people unifying against the hostile

entities holding it hostage: Wall Street, Koch brothers, Goldman Sachs, BofA, Wells Fargo, the military-industrial complex...no rebellion, no change!

[pinboy3niner]

21. +99%

See you tomorrow at #Occupy L.A. #M1GS, Fire!

[U4ikLefty]

42. Hey Fire, look our for me.

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. How well publicised was this?

I think I only first saw something about it on the main DU forums yesterday. If it had that low visibility on a site like DU that should be ideal for the message, I suspect the action won't get to the level that can be called a 'general strike'.

[pinboy3niner]

18. It has been posted here sporadically for about 2 months or more

For more info on the general strike (known as M1GS for May 1st General Strike), see:

http://occupywallst.org/article/may-day/

For an example of organizing for one city, here's info on plans by Occupy L.A.:

http://occupylosangeles.org/?q=node/9077

http://occupylosangeles.org/?q=M1GS

[Kaleva]

29. first I heard of this was this evening.

But then, I spend alot of time in the Lounge and H&M.

[pinboy3niner]

31. Darn! I KNEW I should have posted Occupy threads in the Lounge!

[unkachuck]

32. K&R....excellent!....n/t

[Joe the Revelator]

35. It is going to fizzle...occupy is dead...and has been for quite a while.

[pinboy3niner]

39. Yeah--if you're living in a CAVE, LOL!!!

[limpyhobbler]

36. kick. nt