Thinking about jail, race & the OWS Movement
Filed under: Global Economy & Politics, Me Stuff, Race, Society & Economy, U.S. Politics
I’m involved in OccupyChicago. I stand on the corner with a sign for a couple of hours every few days, plus I go to the larger demonstrations. I was arrested over the weekend for a sit-in to defend the medical aid station set up by National Nurses United.
Being in jail for 18 hours was unpleasant, but really, not that big deal. When I was finally released, there were about 50 OccupyChicago people in front of the cop station throwing a party for us. Most people don’t get cheers and a welcoming committee when they get out of a South Side Chicago jail cell.
As I was being processed out, I saw a few young black guys staring out of their cells. They may have been hard guys on the street, but away from their pals, they just looked like scared kids to me. Whether they had actually even committed crimes was irrelevant. We punish the innocent and the guilty alike. Read more
We were busted for defending a nurses’ first aid station
Filed under: Global Economy & Politics, Me Stuff, Society & Economy, U.S. Healthcare, Unions
The Occupy Movement world-wide speaks for what Johnny Cash, The Man in Black, called,”The poor and the beaten down, livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town.” We want to change the global economy so that working people can live in dignity rather than be plagued with unemployment, debt, low wages, poor health care, inadequate education, pollution and homelessness.
Here in Chicagoland OccupyChicago has led vigils, protests and marches for the past month. On the evening of October 23rd, 3000 of us held a noisy march through downtown to Grant Park to set up an encampment. When we arrived there was already a medical tent. This was soon supplemented by other tents as people set up for what they hoped would be a long stay.
OccupyChicago had decided that we needed a permanent encampment as a base of operations, and I agreed. NYC had one and look how much that helped. I knew our chances of success were not good, but I was willing to join a demonstration to at least try.
I was at Grant Park when the 11 pm curfew was announced. Read more
A Friday With Occupy Chicago
Filed under: Global Economy & Politics, Me Stuff, Society & Economy
I’ve been a part-time participant in #Occupy Chicago. We’re not a large group. Yesterday afternoon when I was there, we peaked at around 150. There were more of us on Friday evening. We had an afternoon General Assembly in Grant Park with the organizers taking great pains so that all could be heard, even the shy and normally quiet. It was conducted with several Chicago police in full view. That was interesting.
We are normally on LaSalle Street in front of the Federal Reserve in the heart of the financial district. The Board of Trade towers over us with its Mordor-like architecture. The Mayor’s Office up the street has made it logistically hard, not letting people set up an encampment on the sidewalk, but #Occupy Chicago has learned to cope. Given the violent history of the Chicago police, the cops have been on their best behavior by comparison.
We’re noisy but then the sounds within the city canyons are like that anyway. There is no peace to disturb. Every few hours, people march around the Chicago Loop with their signs and noisemakers.We get lots of friendly honks from cabbies, truck drivers and just ordinary people braving the city traffic. Tourists like to snap photos from above their open-air tour buses. Some pedestrians give us friendly smiles. Some stop to chat. Others try to pretend they don’t see us. The one thing we don’t get is a lot of open hostility. Read more
It’s Time To Say It Out Loud: America Needs More Socialism
Filed under: Global Economy & Politics, Society & Economy, U.S. Politics, Workplace
When I was a kid I played in a pasture and what a playground that was. There were weird bugs and colorful plants to play with, birds to look at and even box turtles to pick up and admire. Then there was also a lot dull looking but benign tall grass that made finding the interesting stuff more challenging and fun. In short, a diverse stimulating environment.
But it also had hazards, like piles of horseshit, which were definitely to be avoided. In that way, it reminds me of textbooks I’ve seen over the years, both as a student and as a teacher. Some fairly dull stuff, some very informative stuff and piles of intellectual excrement that you don’t want to step in.
Which brings me to the following textbook-style dictionary definition of socialism:
“Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.”
The Fire This Time…And The Next
Filed under: Global Economy & Politics, Me Stuff, Society & Economy
For the past several days I have been engaged in an online discussion with English people about the riots. It has been a profoundly troubling experience. There is a tight nasty feeling in the pit of my stomach as I write these words. All of the deep, dangerous class and racial divisions in English society are in full view and people are no longer talking in niceties. That was the fire this time. Where will the fires break out next time? No one can say, but as an American, I believe we are on a similar road that led to to Tottenham. These thoughts below are part of that online discussion. These have been edited for clarity..