Occupy Minneapolis

https://www.facebook.com/events/371194999582473/ (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/371194999582473/)
http://stcloud.occupymn.org/2012/05/13/protest-during-state-gop-convention-in-st-cloud/ (http://stcloud NULL.occupymn NULL.org/2012/05/13/protest-during-state-gop-convention-in-st-cloud/)

Join us for a Rally to bring attention to the one percent’s legislative assault on working families and our civil rights. While the state GOP convention is in town, we want to bring attention to the government and corporate officials, in partnership with American Legislative Exchange Council, who are pushing an anti-worker, union-busting, anti-family, racist, sexist, pro-war, corporate welfare agenda. With Voter ID and the Gay Marriage ban on the ballot we want to highlight the myriad of damaging proposals, and bring together folks who are concerned about this corporate takeover of our democracy.

Participants are gathering at noon on Saturday, May 19th on the steps behind the courthouse in St. Cloud.  If you have questions you can contact Casey Hudek at 612-913-6743 or email stcloudstandingtogether@gmail.com (stcloudstandingtogether null@null gmail NULL.com).

If you are interested in attending the final planning meeting, it will be Wednesday from 6-8.  You can use the above contact information to find the location.

###
The views expressed in the article above, unless indicated otherwise in the article, are not those of Occupy Minneapolis, nor its press team.

https://www.facebook.com/events/371194999582473/ (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/371194999582473/)
http://stcloud.occupymn.org/2012/05/13/protest-during-state-gop-convention-in-st-cloud/ (http://stcloud NULL.occupymn NULL.org/2012/05/13/protest-during-state-gop-convention-in-st-cloud/)

Join us for a Rally to bring attention to the one percent’s
legislative assault on working families and our civil rights. While
the state GOP convention is in town, we want to bring attention to the
government and corporate officials, in partnership with American
Legislative Exchange Council, who are pushing an anti-worker,
union-busting, anti-family, racist, sexist, pro-war, corporate welfare
agenda. With Voter ID and the Gay Marriage ban on the ballot we want
to highlight the myriad of damaging proposals, and bring together
folks who are concerned about this corporate takeover of our
democracy.

Participants are gathering at noon on Saturday, May 19th on the steps
behind the courthouse in St. Cloud.
If you have questions you can contact Casey Hudek at 612-913-6743 or
email stcloudstandingtogether@gmail.com (stcloudstandingtogether null@null gmail NULL.com).

If you are interested in attending the final planning meeting, it will
be Wednesday from 6-8.  You can use the above contact information to
find the location.

###
The views expressed in the article above, unless indicated otherwise in the article, are not those of Occupy Minneapolis, nor its press team.

(http://media NULL.salon NULL.com/2012/04/KiteStrike NULL.png)All you really need to do is nothing and can simply fly a kite to remind the 1% that they can go fly a kite any day without any signiocficant impact. If the 99% decide to shut down for a day, the impact is far greater. So great, that it is often referred to as a general strike and it is illegal for union leaders to get together and plan one.

Occupy, as a non-union assembly, however, can plan and organize whatever it likes.  A general strike/shutdown for May 1 was agreed upon way back in February by an Occupy Minneapolis General Assembly because the people of Occupy here and across the nation agreed it would help accomplish the goals of Occupy Wall Street and the many occupations operating in solidarity with it. It would highlight the power of the 99% and the irrelevance of the 1%. All it takes is the 99% operating, undivided, together.

Want to do more? Bring a camera, bring video equipment, bring a lawn chair, bring a kite, and help make sure the whole world is watching what happens on a day without the 99%. Become a tactic star (http://the99spring NULL.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/full-day-participant-guide NULL.pdf) and decide what else you can do on May 1 to stop the hostile takeover of our democracy by the 1%.

###
The views expressed in the article above, unless indicated otherwise in the article, are not those of Occupy Minneapolis, nor its press team.

A MoveOn.org Civic Action MEDIA ADVISORY FOR Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 10:00am

Leaving the Fort Snelling station promptly at 10am on Tax Day.

This Tax Day, Minnesotans who are looking for a better tax system that isn’t rigged by the 1% and its fronts like the Chamber of Commerce and ALEC to benefit only the richest will board the Light Rail and use our Constitutional rights. First, a quick visit to the massive Mall of America corporations like Verizon that get tax rebates. Next, it’s all the way to Downtown, covering the windows with signs of the 99%, not massive ads benefiting huge media corporations that benefit from a tax system that allows advertisements to be written off.

What will a Light Rail train look like with its windows filled with signs of the 99%? Not nearly as glossy as the corporate advertisements of the 1% and its banksters, but like the school drawings of our children, a lot more friendly. We are left with little if any disposable income for elaborate ad schemes as the result of the current tax system. We’re happy to pay for wonderful transportation like the Light Rail, but we want the 1% to pay their fair share, too, because they, with the exception of massive oil companies like BP and ExxonMobil that get tax rebates and subsidies, profit from keeping traffic clear, reliable transportation, and a smog-free environment more than any of us individually.

This is a 99% Spring non-violent direct action coordinated at the 99% Spring Training in Northeast Minneapolis on Sunday with leadership of members from MoveOn.org, USuncut.org, Other98.org, and the Occupy Minneapolis Events Committee.  It is also endorsed by the Occupy Trespass working group.

• WHAT: Hop on board to Tax the 1% Tax
• WHO: MoveOn.org, USuncut.org, Other98.org, Occupy Minneapolis Events
• WHERE: Fort Snelling Light Rail station, 6053 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis 55417
• WHEN: 10:00am, Tuesday 4/17
• WEB: http://actions.the99spring.com/actions/events/show/6707 (http://actions NULL.the99spring NULL.com/actions/events/show/6707)

###
The views expressed in the article above, unless indicated otherwise in the article, are not those of Occupy Minneapolis, nor its press team.

Barb Johnson: trying to pass ex post facto style resolution banning Occupy, homeless & First Amendment rights

9:30AM Friday April 13th, 2012 – Council Chamber, Room 317 City Hall

Council President Barb Johnson has shared a resolution that she will be moving at tomorrow’s Council meeting. The intent of this action appears to be to prohibit Occupy MN protesters from using City-controlled public plazas. The full text is below the fold.

Help us pack the City Council hearing tomorrow morning at 9:30am in the Council Chamber, Room 317 City Hall

Call or email Barbara to tell her: Rather then finding ways to stifle and silence this movement, you should be exploring ways to help ensure that its message is heard and that its work to bring more economic justice to our community. HANDS OFF the Occupy movement!

(612) 673-2204 barbara.johnson@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

This resolution positions the City on the side of the 1% against the 99%. It is clearly designed to send a message that Occupiers will be arrested, giving the MPD a green light (and proactive political cover) for more of the mass arrest events like we saw last Saturday.

See additional coverage here: http://www.startribune.com/local/blogs/147223015.html (http://www NULL.startribune NULL.com/local/blogs/147223015 NULL.html)

Thanks to Cam Gordon for getting the word out about this (full text of the resolution here): http://secondward.blogspot.com/2012/04/resolution-targeting-occupy-use-of.html (http://secondward NULL.blogspot NULL.com/2012/04/resolution-targeting-occupy-use-of NULL.html)

Event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/206593959451717/ (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/206593959451717/)

Additional comment by ~hongpong: US Constitution Article 1 Section 9: “No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.” Council chair Barb Johnson’s attempt to create a new resolution in the spirit of an ex post facto Law kicking the existing Occupy Minneapolis protest off Peavey Plaza is prima facie unconstitutional, and therefore going to suck down a lot of taxpayer dollars in a lawsuit they’ll lose if it is “passed” & unlawfully applied. 

******

CONTACT INFOS
Their city emails (which are mostly not posted, nice work guys) can
probably be constructed from the kevin reich/quincy pattern :/

Mayor: R.T. Rybak 612-673-2100, 331 City Hall, Minneapolis, MN 55415.
E-mail: <mayor@ci.minneapolis.mn.us (mayor null@null ci NULL.minneapolis NULL.mn NULL.us)>, <rt@minneapolis.org (rt null@null minneapolis NULL.org)>

Ward 1 – Kevin Reich
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2201
kevin.reich@minneapolismn.gov (kevin NULL.reich null@null minneapolismn NULL.gov)

Ward 2 – Cam Gordon
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2202

Ward 3 – Diane Hofstede
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2203

Ward 4 – Barbara Johnson
Council President
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2204

Ward 5 – Don Samuels
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2205

Ward 6 – Robert Lilligren
Council Vice President
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2206

Ward 7 – Lisa Goodman
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2207

Ward 8 – Elizabeth Glidden
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2208

Ward 9 – Gary Schiff
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2209

Ward 10 – Meg Tuthill
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2210

Ward 11 – John Quincy
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2211
John.Quincy@minneapolismn.gov (John NULL.Quincy null@null minneapolismn NULL.gov)

Ward 12 – Sandy Colvin Roy
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2212

Ward 13 – Betsy Hodges
350 S. 5th St., Room 307
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2213

******

UPDATE 11:30PM: OPEN PROCESS / PUBLIC NOTICE FAIL: Johnson’s resolution is NOT indicated on the official agenda: http://www.minneapolismn.gov/meetings/council/WCMS1P-089049 (http://www NULL.minneapolismn NULL.gov/meetings/council/WCMS1P-089049) - but they ARE putting up bonds for Peavey Plaza / Orchestra Hall work, a result of the closed design process there (http://www NULL.startribune NULL.com/local/minneapolis/131492208 NULL.html). Johnson’s conduct here is proof of bad faith, of the knowledge her repellent proposal would naturally attract public opposition if it were proposed fairly & openly. It is ONLY available to us because of Councilman Cam Gordon’s blog (http://secondward NULL.blogspot NULL.com/2012/04/resolution-targeting-occupy-use-of NULL.html).

Resolution establishing rules for public plazas owned or controlled by the City of Minneapolis

WHEREAS, the City of Minneapolis owns a number of public plaza, including but not limited to Peavey Plaza, Riverfront Plaza, Cedar-Riverside Plaza, Loring Greenway and Nicollet Mall (the “Plazas”)’

WHEREAS, the City desires to protect and enhance public use and enjoyment of the Plazas as well as to protect public health and safety;

WHEREAS, the City further desires to coordinate uses of the Plazas granted by permit with the use of the plazas by individuals; and

WHEREAS, the City respects and desires to protect and enhance all lawful uses of the Plazas, including uses involving the exercise of first amendment rights;

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the City Council of the City of Minneapolis:

That in addition to applicable state and federal laws and regulations and City ordinances and permits, use of the Plazas shall be subject to the following rules:

1. These rules shall apply to plazas owned or controlled by the City, including but not limited to: Peavey Plaza, Riverfront Plaza, Cedar-Riverside Plaza, Loring Greenway and Nicollet Mall (the “Plazas”);

2. The Plazas shall be available for the use and enjoyment of the public between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight.  Outside of those hours, the Plazas shall be available only for the purpose of traveling through the plaza without delay;

3. Use of the Plazas for camping, sleeping or any living accommodation purposes is prohibited.  This prohibition includes preparations to sleep such as setting down bedding or laying [sic] down on the ground for the purposes of sleeping;

4. Personal property or possessions may not be left unattended or stored on the Plazas.  Any unattended or stored personal property or possessions may be removed pursuant to M.C.O. 427.100;

5. No portable toilets or cooking or fire building devices are allowed on the Plazas, except as specifically allowed in a permit issued under City ordinances subject to any conditions specified therein;

6. Any persons not in compliance with the above rules shall be provided a copy of the rules and given a reasonable amount of time to comply.  If the person(s) have not complied with these rules after a reasonable amount of time has passed, they may be issued a written notice of trespass for the pertinent plaza by the chief of police or the chief’s designee.  The notice of trespass may not exceed one month.  After being served with a notice of trespass, if a person remains on or is found on the pertinent plaza in violation of the notice of trespass, the person may be arrested for trespass.

US Bank buckles under pressure, delaying sale of veteran John Vinje’s home until May 29^th

 See a video of John’s victory here:  http://www.theuptake.org/2012/04/11/occupy-homes-defends-bloomington-home-from-sheriffs-sale/ (http://www NULL.theuptake NULL.org/2012/04/11/occupy-homes-defends-bloomington-home-from-sheriffs-sale/)

After a week of escalating pressure demanding US Bank postpone the sheriff’s sale of John and Lucinda Vinje’s home, Occupy Homes won another 11^th hour victory today. John Vinje led a contingent of 50 Occupy Homes MN supporters into the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Civil Division where the sale was to take place at 11:00am this morning. Speeches, chants, and song filled the marbled hallways in the ground floor of city hall. No potential buyers were seen entering the courtroom the entire time, and just after 11:30am it was announced that US Bank had delayed the sale to May 29^th.

Following the victory, John said: “This shows that the power is now with the people, and not with large, monolithic corporations, like US Bank. Homeowners throughout Minnesota facing foreclosure, facing sheriff’s sales, should get together with their community and demand a postponement and renegotiation. They should get connected with Occupy Homes because we can save homes throughout the state of Minnesota when we all work together.”

Today’s action followed a week of escalating pressure on US Bank, including a national call-in campaign aimed to VP Tom Joyce, and a march on US Bank CEO Richard Davis’ mansion on April 7th. Ty Moore, an organizer with Occupy Homes explained: “We’ve got the banks scrambling already, but this fight is just beginning. John’s victory, following Monique and Bobby’s victories, is sending a message. Minnesota homeowners aren’t going to leave their homes quietly and in shame anymore. It’s the banks and CEOs like Richard Davis who should be ashamed!”

Occupy Homes MN achieved national media attention after winning Bobby Hull’s foreclosed home back after US Bank bought his property at a sheriff sale, and repeatedly delaying the eviction of Monique White, who also received her original mortgage through US Bank. John and Lucinda Vinje are among a growing number of homeowners joining together through Occupy Homes to fight back against the unjust and illegal banking practices behind the foreclosure crisis.

John and Lucinda Vinje bought their home in 2008, the first house either of them had ever owned. John is an Air Force veteran now working as a security guard, and Lucinda has worked a government job for ten years. But when financial difficulties caused them to fall behind on payments by just two months, US Bank refused their request to repay their arrears in installments and immediately began foreclosure proceedings. Meanwhile, Lucinda has been forced into “medical retirement” due to a chronic condition, adding financial strain on the family.

If US Bank would renegotiate their mortgage to current market value as the Vinje’s request, they could afford the payments. After six months of delays, in March US Bank offered them a measly $97 less on their monthly payments. Both John and Lucinda have worked their entire lives, but now stand to lose the only home they have ever owned.

See a video of John and Lucinda’s story here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= (http://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/watch?v=hJixbSAfIpw)

###
The views expressed in the article above, unless indicated otherwise in the article, are not those of Occupy Minneapolis, nor its press team.

Monday, 1:30pm

Government Center Plaza

After evicting protesters attempting to reoccupy Peavey Plaza, Minneapolis Police arrested a dozen during a peaceful march. Videos show officers pulling several people off public sidewalks, slamming one violently into the street and deliberately censoring the mainstream and independent press.

Join members of Occupy Minneapolis for a rally at Government Center Plaza on Monday at 1:00pm to speak out against the repression by the Minneapolis Police Department and demand Mayor RT Rybak order his police to leave the occupiers to demonstrate in peace in public spaces paid for by their tax dollars.  Afterwards we will discuss plans for our next reoccupation attempt, and methods to protect ourselves from police brutality.

We had hoped to reestablish an occupation to bring attention to social and economic inequality, corporate greed, and the foreclosure crisis, but instead were met with a crackdown by the Minneapolis Police Department.

It’s absolutely shameful that the Minneapolis Police are attacking and arresting peaceful protesters exercising their once thought inalienable rights while the bankers and corporate crooks who crashed our economy are walking free.

Photos and videos from April 7th protests and arrests earlier. Bail is slowly being posted at this time and more info will be available soon. These clips and stills have been compiled by members of the OccupyMinneapolis media committee. Detailed legal info on MN Statute 609.74: Minnesota Statute used to repress Occupy Minneapolis right now: Unconstitutional speech block & apparent pseudo bomb scare drive repression (http://hongpong NULL.com/archives/2012/04/08/breaking-minnesota-statute-used-repress-occupy-minneapolis-right-now-unconstitut) at HongPong.com.

VIDEOS

Minneapolis police severely damaged at least one video camera — other cameras are being held right now. At about 1:22 an officer imparts a ton of force into a large commercial video camera, causing damage. Video by Rogue Media (creative commons) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_iOXECa1Rw

(http://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/watch?v=r_iOXECa1Rw)

Slow motion version: http://youtu.be/s2uDcMI71rs (http://youtu NULL.be/s2uDcMI71rs)

(http://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/watch?v=s2uDcMI71rs)

HongPong – http://youtube.com/hongpong
(http://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/watch?v=zPJy11fY1KI) -

Niko G – http://twitvid.com/5UWLL

UneditedCamera – http://www.ustream.tv/user/uneditedcamera
15min segment thru march on Nicollet Mall & sudden arrests. Dangerous use of horses at 2:30

Earlier march around downtown (starts about 9PM)

Dealing with security at People’s Plaza after the arrests (short)

*******
Photos – all images are creative commons license with attribution. Please attribute to OccupyMinneapolis.mn

FACEBOOK EVENT (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/125914217536954/)

At noon on April 7th, members of Occupy Minneapolis will set up encampments at Peavey Plaza and Loring Park. The sites will become the new homes of the local branch of the movement and the official move in, tents and all, will begin at 12pm on Saturday. The date is also the 6-month anniversary of the initial occupation of Government Plaza in downtown Minneapolis.  Organizers hope that having multiple spaces will offer many benefits and boldly reinforce the desire to one day occupy all available spaces within the city.

Reoccupy Minneapolis organizer Sam Richards said, “We are calling for everyone to bring their families, friends and tents, and together we can usher in the American Spring in our city.”  Occupy Minneapolis has significant momentum coming out of a winter filled with training for organizers and the formation of a number of action oriented groups.  Richards hopes that the new spaces will help facilitate dialogue between the growing network of groups that are working diligently.

“Over the winter, we’ve had many successes, engaging in anti-foreclosure struggles and organizing towards a mass day of action on May 1st, as well as plenty of other exciting actions and projects,” said Ben Egerman, another organizer, adding, “But this is just the beginning. We hope the lessons learned since last October have allowed us to form an approach that will create a strong community and platform for people to demand social and economic justice.”

 This Friday: Planning Meeting at Peavey Plaza (north end), 6PM. Event post. ReOccupy Minneapolis public group with links & art

CORRECTION: nothing in this press release is true. We still welcome the mayor’s office to buy us hammocks.  That’d rock. -B

Occupy Minneapolis will be changing locations for the April 7th Reoccupation, previously planned to take place at Loring Park and Peavey Plaza, following an invitation from Mayor Rybak’s office to use their space as the site of the social movement. The reoccupation celebration will still take place at noon on April 7th, but will begin with an official welcoming and speech from Mayor Rybak.

Since the winter, members of Occupy Minneapolis have eagerly anticipated the spring so they could set up an encampment like that set up at Government Plaza last fall and similar camps in city parks across the nation. Organizers were attempting to set up such an encampment at Loring Park and Peavey Plaza until word came unexpectedly from Rybak’s office welcoming them.

According to Occupy Minneapolis organizer Sam Richards, he and others working towards the April 7th reoccupation had engaged the mayor’s office in order discuss how to balance protesters’ free speech rights with City ordinances and regulations, adding, “frankly, this was not the response we had expected.”

“The mayor has always agreed with Occupy Minneapolis’ demands for a more equitable society,” said Andy Holmaas, the mayor’s Community Outreach Director. “After a series of internal discussions over the past few weeks, the mayor agreed that we would be happy to have Occupy. Sure, space is limited, but we’re all more than willing to work around Occupy Minneapolis protesters,” adding that if needed, additional offices in City Hall would be opened to host a kitchen and communal sleeping spaces.

The mayor’s office has recommended that protesters forego their usual tents, instead offering to provide hammocks as an alternative.

“We want to extend our warmest gratitude to Mayor Rybak and his office for working with us to make sure there will be no threat of eviction as we fight against big banks and corporate greed this Spring, and are hopeful other mayors around the country will follow the bold example set by his office,” added Richards.

“The Skyway General Assembly agrees to take itself off the online calendar after April 6th. The remaining Skyway GAs will develop proposals to offer the new occupations.”

The above proposal was passed at the Skyway General Assembly March 31st, 2012 with 11 in favor, 1 stand-aside and no down-votes or blocks.

On Tuesday, March 21, 2012, the General Assembly endorsed by unanimous vote the text of Lee’s letter to the editor. Lee will now send this letter to various neighborhood newspapers including The Alley, Southside Pride, The Sun, and The Patch. He will also send a copy to Minnesota Public Radio. This is the first in a planned series of letters explaining to our neighbors what Occupy is about. It answers one of the requests made at the retreat in February for some short explanations in simple language that people could with friends and family to explain why they were supporting the Occupy movement.

This is the text of that letter:

Injustice Started Occupy Minneapolis

Justice can be broken down into many subsets – agricultural, environmental, economic, educational, racial and governmental. Members of Occupy come from all walks of life. We are diverse in our backgrounds and our views but one of the central points which bind us together is the word ‘injustice.’

“Banks got bailed out, we got sold out,” is a common theme for the members of Occupy Homes. Occupy Homes has been doing the job that our elected officials should be. Crony capitalism purchased politicians who bailed out banks, which continued their legally and morally questionable foreclosure practices rather than negotiating with the millions of distressed borrowers who were victims of economic hardship. The auto industry was bailed out but our families were thrown out homeless onto the streets. Corporations and special interests have purchased our government. Elections cost millions of dollars and our voices are not heard. This is wrong. Your voice matters more to Occupy than the voices of the rich and the powerful.

The cost of gasoline and foods keeps rising, the cost of college keeps increasing, yet our salaries are shrinking. We at Occupy are demanding fairness and justice. We do not want a free ride, but we are outraged that most of our elected officials feel that we are their servants when they were meant to be ours. We demand publicly financed elections. We demand an end to corporate personhood and end to the corporate veil that protects officers and directors from prosecution.

The General Assembly of Occupy Minneapolis

These are the 2 General Assembly and All Committees approved dates for getting the tents, gear, signs, sleeping bags, clothing, and many other things (even garbage) Hennepin County and its privatized security force took from Occupy Minneapolis while it was occupying People’s Plaza.

Join the Re-occupation Alliance Saturday, March 31st when we will be marching from Loring Park at 12:30pm, heading down Hennepin Avenue and ending at Peavey Plaza to stage a daylong occupation and “People’s Festival.” The People’s Festival will celebrate the diversity and creativity of the movement and offer an opportunity to plan for the reoccupation to take place at Loring Park and Peavey Plaza on April 7 at noon (LINK:http://www.facebook.com/events/125914217536954/ (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/125914217536954/)).

It is time to do some major spring cleaning. The economic and political systems of this nation and abroad have to change in order to fulfill the promises that have been made to those that hold them up. We are about to see a full revival of the ambition and perseverance that is at the core of this movement and are exhilarated with the prospect of what is to come.

The march will wake up the city and get people excited for many more actions and events that will take place during 2012. Come to celebrate the energy of the Occupy movement and help make it kick off the reoccupation strong on April 7th and beyond!

Join the march and let your voice be heard. The American Spring is upon us and we cannot let this unique moment in our history slip away!

The F29 Working Group of Occupy Minneapolis invites you to join in solidarity with Take Action MN (http://www NULL.takeactionminnesota NULL.org)‘s protest against voter ID Friday at 12:30 at the state Capitol. TakeActionMN also endorses the Occupy Women’s Rights Rally (http://j NULL.mp/OWMN2012) tomorrow. This is a great chance for us to join in solidarity with other protest organizations and show that Occupy is going to hold our politicians accountable.

The House voted to pass the Voter ID amendment Tuesday at 3am. This is after ALEC-approved (http://www NULL.alecexposed NULL.org) Republican Rep Kiffmeyer (House Chair) held a hearing at the capitol that was only announced the day before. She was able to use her position to close that meeting to public testimony, and would only take questions on the bill’s constitutionality (as opposed to, say, why it might be an unfair law).

If you are unable to be there, please sign the petition for the Minnesota Senate to vote no (http://act NULL.credoaction NULL.com/campaign/mn_voterid).

###
The views expressed in the article above, unless indicated otherwise in the article, are not those of Occupy Minneapolis, nor its press team.

Honor the Struggles for Women’s Liberty this Women’s History Month in this Occupy Minneapolis endorsed event.

Come hear speeches and join us in celebration and conversation about women’s historic struggles!

Join us to celebrate the historic and heroic struggles of women for democratic rights. Throughout history women have taken to the streets, organizing and leading movements for the abolition of slavery, for union rights, for civil rights, education rights, to name just a few.  Women suffragists engaged in a 70 year struggle for the basic right to vote.  African American women had to fight for the full entitlement to vote for 45 years longer.

Date/Time
Date(s) – 24 Mar 2012 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Location
People’s Plaza

Desdamona will be performing, along with Misty Rowan and others. Speakers will include women and girls highlighting women’s historic and current struggles!

• Disenfranchise over 200,000 elderly, disabled, and homeless
• Deny the vote to 500,000 who use Election Day registration
• Wreak havoc on absentee voters, especially Native Americans
• Disenfranchise poor and low income women and communities

Contact: womensrightsm24@gmail.com
Facebook event: http://j.mp/OWface2012 (http://j NULL.mp/OWface2012)
Occupy Together event: http://meetu.ps/4PG8H (http://meetu NULL.ps/4PG8H)

The General Assembly has endorsed going green with the local Anonymous in the 2012 St. Patty’s Day Parade in downtown St. Paul. Occupiers will join in the parade and encourage other parade goers to occupy the streets of Minnesota more than once a year as Anonymous members dance.

Free sunscreen will be available to deal with the very non-Ireland weather conditions this year.

WHEN: 11:30am
WHERE: Wall St! and 5th St. That’s the parade starting point. Go there if you’re late. Otherwise, as per the event details, go to Wabasha & Exchange St. to help Anonymous occupy the Scientology Church for a little while before we join the parade.

St Patrick Day Parade route map

###
The views expressed in the article above, unless indicated otherwise in the article, are not those of Occupy Minneapolis, nor its press team.

The OHMN Organizational Outreach and Fundraising Committee is holding a benefit dinner:

• When: Friday (March 16th) from 6:00pm to 8:30pm (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/334064596644381/)
• Where: Walker Community United Methodist: 3104 16th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN

Occupy Homes MN is organizing to halt foreclosures and support community members to defend their neighborhoods!

February brought the exciting victory for one home occupation in South Minneapolis. Homeowner Bobby Hull is proud to stay in his home! Unfortunately, the banks are pushing forward to evict Monique White from her North Minneapolis Home. Occupy Homes has been rallying with nearly daily events to defend this home.

Luckily for Occupy Homes MN more and more organizers are getting involved and community support is on the rise.

Now we need your support!

Come enjoy a turkey and ham dinner or vegan pasta at Walker Church while listening to some great poetry, local musicians, and other performance arts.
Your voice can be heard, too! It’s an open mic!
Dinner is a sliding scale $5-20 donation.

The time to be heard is now! Join us for a night of celebration and performance.

Want to make a donation but cant attend the event? Here’s a link to make an online contribution:
https://www.wepay.com/donations/179488 (https://www NULL.wepay NULL.com/donations/179488)
###
The views expressed in the article above, unless indicated otherwise in the article, are not those of Occupy Minneapolis, nor its press team.

In support, but independent, of recent Occupy Homes and Occupy Minneapolis actions, MoveOn.org (http://pol NULL.moveon NULL.org/event/saveourhomes/128090) members will rally at the local Obama for America (OFA) office in Minneapolis, Minnesota to demand that government-controlled mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac provide relief to ten million underwater homeowners by adjusting their mortgages to reflect the true value of their home. Participants will call on President Obama to stand strong with the 99% and replace the acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Ed DeMarco, appointed by George W. Bush, who oversees Fannie and Freddie and refuses to support homeowners.

President Obama can replace DeMarco and make sure Fannie and Freddie, which hold 60% of all mortgages, provide relief to the millions of Americans struggling with mortgage debt.

The event will take place on Thursday, March 15, at 11:30a.m. at the OFA office in Minneapolis, MN; University Ave. S.E. 55414.

The event is part of a MoveOn.org national day of action called “Save Our Homes,” which includes more than 200 actions around the country. It is being held on the same day as the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs meets in Washington, D.C., to discuss the fate of homeowners. Events are taking place across the country at OFA campaign offices, at the biggest banks, and in front of homes facing foreclosure.

“Americans are sinking in underwater mortgages. It’s far past time that government-controlled mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac provide some needed relief,” said a MoveOn member. “Clearly, Ed DeMarco doesn’t care about homeowners; if he did he would allow them to adjust their mortgages to reflect the true value of their homes. If we’re going to get our economy back on track, President Obama must replace DeMarco and make sure Fannie and Freddie provide relief to the millions of Americans struggling with mortgage debt.”

###
The views expressed in the article above, unless indicated otherwise in the article, are not those of Occupy Minneapolis, nor its press team.

Stop Foreclosures & Evictions – Moratorium Now!
Pack the Public Hearing @ the Capitol and Make Our Voices Heard!
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14th –12:00 til 2:00 (may go later)
(For flier go to http://mnbailout.wordpress.com/ (http://mnbailout NULL.wordpress NULL.com/) )
State Office Building (across from State Capitol) Room… 500 South

Press conference at 11:30, room 181 SOB

The MN Coalition for a People’s Bailout has a bill, sponsored by Senator Scott Dibble and Representative Karen Clark who have introduced The People’s Bailout Bill (S.F. No. 1521 and H.F. No. 1886) which proposes:

- A 2-year moratorium on home foreclosures
- A 2-year moratorium on evictions of renters from foreclosed properties

MN Politicians CAN Stop Foreclosures in MN by putting a moratorium on foreclosures WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND PRESENCE at the MN state capitol on WEDNESDAY, March 7 at NOON. Demand that our state legislators protect OUR interests, not those of the privileged few—remind them that their votes depend on it! We are the 99%; our voices together cannot be ignored!

Talk to your legislators! Click here for talking points:
http://mnbailout.wordpress.com/fliers-etc/ (http://mnbailout NULL.wordpress NULL.com/fliers-etc/)

###

the views expressed in the article above are not necessarily those of the whole of Occupy Minneapolis, nor of the team managing OccupyMinneapolis.MN

Occupy Rally Against the Money in Politics and ALEC at the Capitol, Tuesday from 3-6pm.

Occupy Minneapolis is holding a rally against the influence of money in politics this Tuesday, March 13th, from 3 to 6pm, on the steps of the state Capitol. Join us in one of the defining political battles of our time, the fight to get corporate money out of politics.

*Fight the Corporate Attack on Democracy*
*STOP the “Right to Work” and “Voter ID” Laws, Defend the Rights of Immigrants*

Corporations use ALEC (http://www NULL.alecexposed NULL.org) to work around the rules governing lobbying and transparency and produce bills for state governments. These bills ALWAYS serve the corporate interest. They then use money to coerce the politicians in state level governments to ensure that these bills become part of the conservative agenda. In a time of economic crises, and unprecedented political obstructionism, the corporate interest will always be served in your state government. Meanwhile, the needs of people are served only when it is politically convenient.

ALEC is the author of numerous bills designed to increase corporate profits at the expense of the people, including the **”Voter ID”** bill and **”Right to Work”** laws.

We are calling on all citizens to fight with us to put the government back into the hands of the people.

Speakers:

• Speakers from AFSCME
• Jack Nelson Pallmeyer, for MNASAP
• Mike Dean, for Common Cause
• Mike Cavlin, for the Green Party
• Liz Loeb, Opponent of “Voter ID” laws
• Michale Katch, for the Independence Party

Mic-checks, Capitol press visits, and more!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/380013732027716/ (http://www NULL.google NULL.com/url?sa=D&q=http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/%23%21/events/380013732027716/&usg=AFQjCNH01foE_QqQaYErb4tecAVu5Znf7w)

Occupy Homes MN and Supporters Delay Homeowner’s Eviction

Despite Freddie Mac’s attempt to ram Monique’s eviction through the courts, about 100 supporters from a broad coalition of faith leaders and community organizations packed the courtroom and successfully delayed the hearing until Friday at 1:00pm, but the fight is far from over!

Check out the great local TV coverage here (http://kstp NULL.com/news/stories/S2524859 NULL.shtml?cat=1) and coverage from national blog ThinkProgress here. (http://thinkprogress NULL.org/economy/2012/03/05/438175/occupy-minneapolis-foreclosure/?mobile=nc)

On Friday, homeowner Monique White (https://www NULL.change NULL.org/petitions/ceo-us-bank-negotiate-with-monique-to-stop-her-eviction) received a summons to appear in court on March 5th so the bank can ask permission to serve her with an eviction notice. This means we have one week to stop this court date from happening, after which it will become increasingly difficult to save Monique’s home.

We need all of your help to halt Monique’s eviction this week.

Occupiers of Occupy St Paul (http://www NULL.occupysaintpaul NULL.org/) and Occupy Minneapolis unite in solidarity to rally and demand an end to the suppression of the Occupy Movement.

The New York General Assembly of Occupy Wall Street has endorsed a plan for mass action on Tuesday, February 28 – #F28 – against the suppression of the Occupy movement. They are calling for Occupies around the country to march in solidarity with them on that date.

At 4:30 pm on Tuesday, February 28, Occupy Minneapolis and Occupy Saint Paul will rally together at The People’s Plaza.

This is the first-ever joint action planned by both Occupy Saint Paul and Occupy Minneapolis together. It is also a crucial national action endorsed by Occupy Wall Street in New York, and they are counting on local Occupies such as ours to give their own rally additional impact. OSP and Events Committee of Occupy Minneapolis encourages all Occupiers to spread the word and bring as many friends as possible to this extremely important event.

For additional information on this national event, please visit:
DontSuppressOWS.org (http://www NULL.dontsuppressows NULL.org/)

Enjoy lunch in a cozy outer-suburb and meet with Grover Norquist and the Chamber of Commerce as they plot ways to evade taxes for Wall Street, corporations, and the 1%

 According to the “Taxpayers League” event promotion, the media loves Grover Norquist.  Come and welcome this media darling as we expose and educate people living and working in the cozy, peaceful suburb of Vadnais Heights about the cozy, in-person meeting between Norquist and his “Taxpayers League” (aka, League for Lowering Taxes on the 1%) and the Chamber of Commerce (aka, Chamber of the Corporate Giants who don’t want Wall Street to pay its fair share).

 Whether it be creating front organizations with generic, misleading names, offshore bank accounts, tax evasion, creating fake 501(c)(3)s like ALEC, shadow corporations to hide contributions to Super PACs, or buying politicians and regulators, the 1% can already afford to avoid taxes and spend hundreds of millions each year lobbying for more ways to avoid paying their fair share of taxes.  Maybe they’d actually be job creators if they spent it on something other than lobbyists, lawyers, offshore tax havens, and media shills.

Will a $25 per-person luncheon really pay Norquist’s and the Chamber’s expenses for a special meeting club in a remote suburb?  Who are they really lobbying?  Who are they really meeting with?  How much money is being passed under the conference room tables to subsidize tax-free advertising campaigns?  What corporate CEOs, billionaires, and politicians will make a “surprise” “guest” appearance?  Whose property and sales taxes will rise as a result?

This is a Stand for the Dream action as part of the new Rebuild the American Dream Movement.  The American Dream wasn’t built upon the richest paying the least taxes.  We will remind the Taxpayers League and the Chamber of Commerce of on-shore American history and expose their mission to Minnesotans in this suburban area.

WHAT:          Protest the 1% Tax League

WHO:            MoveOn.org (http://MoveOn NULL.org/), USuncut.org (http://USuncut NULL.org/), #F29 members of Occupy Wall Street/Occupy Minneapolis

WHERE:       Jimmy’s Conference Center, 3565 Labore Rd, Vadnais Heights 55110

WHEN:          11:30am – 1:30pm, Tuesday 2/21

WEB:             http://civic.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=127008 (http://civic NULL.moveon NULL.org/event/events/event NULL.html?event_id=127008) , moveonhenry@gmail.com (moveonhenry null@null gmail NULL.com)

 ****VISUALS: Signs, crowd in an odd place, maybe a bathtub with bathwater****

###

February 17th was supposed to be the last day homeowner and Marine Bobby Hull’s would live in his childhood home. Thanks to hundreds of phone calls, emails, marches and civil disobedience as part of a campaign waged by Occupy Homes MN, the bank has called Bobby and have stated their intent to negotiate a modification of his loan that would keep he and his family in their home!  Instead, of moving out on this day, we’ll pitch a tent and a stage in front of Bobby’s home where friends, neighbors and hundreds of supporters will celebrate that the bank has called Bobby to attempt to negotiate, and the eviction has been halted for now.

This is amazing news, but the fight is not over until they sign on to a final agreement so we need all of your support now more than ever to pressure the bank to ensure Bobby gets to stay in his home.

 

Here are two actions you can take to support Bobby this week:

1).  Come to the Foreclosure Free Block Party (and spread the word!):

What: Join hundreds of community members to enjoy some amazing artists, great food, and the warmth and protection that only comes when neighbors stand together in unity to send a strong message to the big Banks: We will NOT be moved from our homes without a good faith negotiation and fair resolution to the foreclosure crisis.

When: Event from 4-8pm (press conference at 7pm)

Where: 3700 Block of Columbus Avenue South, Minneapolis (in and outside of Bobby’s Home)

Special Guests: 

Toki Wright (DJ Set): http://rhymesayers.com/tokiwright (http://rhymesayers NULL.com/tokiwright)

Grant Hart (from Husker Du): http://www.granthart.com/ (http://www NULL.granthart NULL.com/) 

Guante: www.guante.info/ (http://www NULL.guante NULL.info/) 

and more!

Facebook Event (Invite friends and share!): http://www.facebook.com/events/265449893525741/ (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/265449893525741/)

Event Flyer Here (http://www NULL.tumblr NULL.com/photo/1280/socialistmn/17558063098/1/tumblr_lzcfduXkkJ1qlliiq)

More information on Bobby Hull: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDQ2_Cp7now (http://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/watch?v=sDQ2_Cp7now)

2). Donate to Occupy Homes MN

As a completely volunteer run organization we count or your generous donations to allow events like this block party to happen and for us to continue growing to be able to defend more homeowners from foreclosure!

 

(https://www NULL.wepay NULL.com/donations/occupy-homes-mn)

New home defense to begin Monday February 20th:

What: Occupy Homes MN will rally to defend another military veteran homeowner who has decided to stand up and fight their foreclosure in response to the 26 billion dollar settlement between the nation’s 5 largest banks and both state and federal governments. If the banks think that this settlement means they have made right the wrongs they have inflicted on our 

communities, they’re sorely mistaken. We’re more committed than ever to defending people’s homes from foreclosure and demanding justice.

When: Monday, February 20th 11:30am: Carpool from the People’s Plaza

12:00pm: Set up tents and banners at the home.
12:45pm: Rally at the home 

Where: Address to be released later this week (Carpool from the People’s plaza 300 6th St. S. Meet in first floor lobby)

For updates RSVP to the facebook event here  (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/347128481974679/)

Thank you for your support, together there is nothing we can’t achieve,

Occupy Homes MN

For more information Like us on Facebook (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/OccupyHomesMN) & Follow us on Twitter (https://twitter NULL.com/occupyhomesmn)

If you or someone you know is facing foreclosure email us at OccupyHomesMN@gmail.com (OccupyHomesMN null@null gmail NULL.com) or call us at 612-460-STAY!

###

(http://www NULL.mnasap NULL.org)Minnesota tax-payers, who saw our state government shut down over a $5 billion 2-year shortfall, have already spent $37 billion funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Still, some of our leaders seem hell-bent on war with Iran. “It is time to unleash our imaginations and envision what the quality of life could be in our state if we had redirected the $37 billion Minnesota tax payers have spent on the Iraq and Afghan wars into meeting essential needs,” said Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, founder of MN ASAP.  By some accounts, at least 919,967 people have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, and more than 600,000 U.S. veterans of these wars qualify for disability.

The MN ASAP resolution calls for a reduction and redirection of military spending back to Minnesota for local control. The resolution has been endorsed by 37 Members of the Minnesota State Legislature and 33 organizations around Minnesota, including Occupy Duluth.  Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer has spoken at Occupy Minnesota (Minneapolis.

On Tuesday, February 14^th, Valentine’s Day, from noon to 1PM, MN ASAP supporters will “Make Out, Not War” in the “People’s Plaza” (352 South 5^th Street, Minneapolis, MN).  We will make out against bloated military spending, austerity in Minnesota, the National Defense Authorization Act, and the possibility of war with Iran.  We will “make out, not war” in solidarity with the Occupy Movement and those who object to the corporate domination over our would-be representative democracy.  Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer will speak at this event, we will have a group-sing-along, and theatrical demonstrations in support of our message.

###

Come to this OccupyMinneapolis weekend whether you’ve been active in the
Occupy Movement all winter, drifted away, or have been wanting to get
involved. Contact people who haven’t been around for a while.

Just as the earth expels the unneeded material of the past as it gets ready
for spring, so too can the Occupy movement. During the first day of the
gathering, we will look  back at what has happened over the past four
months. We will celebrate our successes and we will share our struggles. We
will hear familiar voices and welcome new ones. On the second, we will look
forward. What’s most important for Occupy Minneapolis heading into the
spring? How can we expand the movement and integrate a more diverse set of
voices? We will reflect on questions like this and begin planting seeds for
our work in the coming spring. The revolution is all of us coming together
to create the world anew.

WHERE:The Re-Gathering will be in a large space in NE Mpls., The Minneapolis
Federation of Teachers Headquarters, 67 – 8th Ave NE, 55413 (From University
Ave.NE, go 4 blocks west on 8th Ave.NE; from the west, Plymouth Bridge is
under construction, use Broadway and come south on Marshall or Main to 8th
Ave.NE) Bus 11 & 32.

WHEN: Saturday: 9-10am coffee and rolls; 10am-6pm activities and dinner.
6pm-10 pm
Occu- Cabaret, Mc’d by E. Bring your talent! Music, poetry, humor.
Sunday:  Noon-6pm, newcomers especially invited.
Meals and childcare provided. Donations accepted.

See full schedule at facebook event OccupyMinneapolis Re-Gathering
http://www.facebook.com/events/267699253302928 (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/267699253302928)

Organized by members of Women Against Military Madness (WAMM), the
OccupyMinneapolis Coordination, Morale, and Facilitation Committees,
endorsed by the OccupyMinneapolis General Assembly

###

the views expressed in the article above are not necessarily those of the whole of Occupy Minneapolis, nor of the team managing OccupyMinneapolis.MN

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – In response to yesterday’s 26 billion dollar settlement between the nation’s 5 largest banks and both state and federal governments, Occupy Homes MN will rally on Monday, February 20th to defend another military veteran homeowner who has decided to stand up and fight their foreclosure. Organizers say the settlement demonstrates the need for grassroots pressure now more than ever to hold big banks and CEO’s accountable for massive fraud that caused the crash of the housing market.

The settlement between 49 states, the federal government, and the nation’s 5 largest banks is the result of the widespread usage of various illegal tactics such as ‘robo-signing,’ leading to the housing market crash and recession. According to a recent article on MSNBC, the 26 billion sum represents less than 5% of the damage inflicted by the housing bust. The settlement will offer between $1,500 and $2,000 to a small fraction of homeowners needing assistance, as the majority of homeowners are not eligible under the terms of the settlement. (Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/09/10365356-mortgage-settlement-leaves-most-homeowners-to-fend-for-themselves (http://bottomline NULL.msnbc NULL.msn NULL.com/_news/2012/02/09/10365356-mortgage-settlement-leaves-most-homeowners-to-fend-for-themselves))

While this deal shows that our actions are having a big impact on a national scale, it amounts to nothing more than a cash for keys offer for the poor and middle class in America, we aren’t leaving our homes and we aren’t slowing down as we demand justice for the 99%. On Monday, Feb 20th, we will rally to defend the home of a veteran who has decided to fight back against the bank who is foreclosing on their home.

Yesterday’s settlement fails to address the fraud and abuse inflicted upon the American people by the banks that continue to tear apart our communities while reaping record profits. Offering $2,000 to someone whose home was foreclosed on due to fraud and negligence is like a bank robber offering to pay back $2,000 while they pocket $200,000 in stolen cash as they head toward the next bank, smoking gun in hand.

If the banks think that this settlement rights the wrongs they have inflicted on our communities, they’re sorely mistaken, we’re more committed than ever to defending people’s homes from foreclosure and demanding justice.
More information about the new homeowner will be released next week.

###

the views expressed in the article above are not necessarily those of the whole of Occupy Minneapolis, nor of the team managing OccupyMinneapolis.MN

Join the anti-ALEC working group of Occupy Minneapolis in creating our OWN piece of model legislation to fight the political influence of corporate money and ALEC. By creating a bill for the MN state house, we will take our political message out of the hands of establishment politicians and a complacent media and put it in the hands of the people. Help us prepare for a mass action at the capitol on February 29th to make the institutions of our society confront the manipulation of our democracy.

Planning meeting @ 1pm, UMN Weaver Densford Halls Rm 2-110, 308 Harvard Southeast.  Protest on Feb 29th from 4-7pm at the state capitol.

###

the views expressed in the article above are not necessarily those of the whole of Occupy Minneapolis, nor of the team managing OccupyMinneapolis.MN

Protestors will dramatize “Indefinite Detention” at Obama Headquarters

On Friday February 3rd, individuals from Occupy Minneapolis, the Committee to Stop FBI Repression and other organizations will hold a protest in front of Obama for America Campaign Headquarters at 2722 University Ave SE at 4:30 pm. Protestors will call for a repeal of the NDAA provisions to allow indefinite detention of Americans and for an end to the attack on civil rights. Protestors will carry out a dramatic display of what indefinite detention would look like, at Obama’s campaign headquarters. Speakers will include Colleen Rowley- FBI whistleblower, members of Occupy Minneapolis, Committee to Stop FBI Repression, Wayne Wittman-Veterans for Peace, individuals currently being targeted by the FBI and others.

“President Obama and Congress have declared war on Americans. This is an outright attack on our basic civil liberties The last time America was declared a military zone was in 1942 when Roosevelt authorized the internment of Americans ”, stated Sarah Martin of Occupy Minneapolis and Women Against Military Madness. “This is a basic repeal of the 4th, 5th , 6th, 7th and 8th amendments to the Constitution. It takes away our right to legal due process and a right to our day in court before a jury of our peers.”

President Obama signed the NDAA into law on December 31, 2011 after stating earlier that he would veto it. NDAA 2012 allows for the indefinite detention of Americans anywhere in the world, including in the U.S. if “suspected” of support for organizations declared “terrorist groups” by the U.S. Government or associated with U.S. government designated “terrorist organizations.”

Sam Richards of Occupy Minneapolis said, “The NDAA of 2012 is the largest assault on our rights since the Patriot Act. Obama ran as a champion of civil liberties. We demand an end to the attack on our civil rights! “

Jess Sundin of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression whose home was raided by the FBI on September 24, 2010 stated, “ The government is already engaging in attacks on anti-war and international solidarity activists. While the U.S. government spends billions waging war on people of the world, they want to criminalize our right to speak out against their unjust wars.”

###

the views expressed in the article above are not necessarily those of the whole of Occupy Minneapolis, nor of the team managing OccupyMinneapolis.MN

The Website team of OccupyMinneapolis.MN are proud to announced that new press release guidelines, found here, were passed through the General Assembly last night, 15 in favor, 1 standing aside, 1 opposed, with no blocks.  These guidelines are designed to offer the most minimal intrusion possible, while ensuring that the “News” section is relevant, reflects the horizontal nature of our movement, and operates in solidarity with various efforts that understand themselves within our movement.

We are now in the process of forming a “website press team” to evaluate whether or not submitted press releases adhere to these guidelines, and help make sure that future releases do so.  The website press team is a group whose membership is open to those who are willing to be active members of the online community at occupyminneapolis.mn (http://occupyminneapolis NULL.mn/) and understand this document and commit to using it as the guidelines for acceptance for press releases on the site.  If you want to be a part of this team, please email submissions@occupyminneapolis.MN.

If you would like to submit a press release, please send it to submissions@occupyMinneapolis.MN.

###

the views expressed in the article above are not necessarily those of the whole of Occupy Minneapolis, nor of the team managing OccupyMinneapolis.MN

When the Occupy Minneapolis General Assembly set sail across choppy seas many weeks ago, like the vikings of yore, they had no way to set up forums, events, or for members of officially recognized committees and informal groups to communicate online with each other and the outside world. It was in the midst of these dark times that the General Assembly of Minneapolis handed down a quest: to create an official website at OccupyMinneapolis.MN.

A noble band of web-warriors was assembled, and they set out to construct a website that could be a tool for Occupiers in Minneapolis and beyond, that encouraged horizontal organizing, and remained as non-hierarchical as possible. With a berserker  zeal, they adapted the open source code of NYCGA.net (http://nycga NULL.net), created by Occupy Wall Street’s TechOps & Internet Working Groups, to create OccupyMinneapolis.MN: a site which not only presents press releases and events from Occupy Minneapolis, but allows users to join and participate in committees and groups and engage in the movement directly.  Control over events, forums, documents, and more, is handled by groups, not by website content gatekeepers.

Today, the dark ages end. Rejoice by creating an account and joining working groups, committees, or starting one of  your own!  Read the user guide we’ve created! Events can be synced out to Google Calendar & RSS feeds. Instead of “Like”-ing someone else’s activities or status updates, you can twinkle them, just like in real life! If you have something that could help out – Volunteers or donations —we have a page for that, too! Raise your goblets high, fellow Occupiers, for today, our future is bright!