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OCCUPY MINNESOTA

FONDLY REMEMBERING OVER A DECADE OF LOVE & COMRADERY

October 7th, 2011 – October 7th, 2023

THE MOVEMENT LIVES

The Occupy Movement is a leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. We are using the revolutionary Arab Spring tactic to achieve our ends and encourage the use of nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants.

OccupyMN.org was the first ‘officially unofficial’ website for the Occupy Movement in the state of Minnesota. Our goal at the time – as website administrators – was to provide an accurate reflection of the Occupy Movement and to also provide solidarity & support to the global movement – locally, nationally, and globally.

As such – the OccupyMN.org network has branched out to become the Paper Revolution collective. We’re still a grassroots collective network of individuals, activists, and website curators operating in affinity and support of of the “Occupy” movement, however we recognize that as time passed the OccupyMN and Occupy Wall Street movement (along with it’s energy) had evolved.

This has allowed our collective energy and the resources built originally during the beginning of the Occupy Movement to continue to be utilized in support of a the world that the OccupyMN movement saw possible.

Today we still provide tools and curate content to support the collective global movement of individuals continuing to work against all corrupt systems of control – be it governmental, corporate, or societal. We continue maintain this page – and other social platforms to continue the revolution.

This page and the OccupyMN.org domain name remain actively curated in homage to all comrades who met upon The People’s Plaza and to continue to be utilized as a resource for our Minnesotan and global movement alike.

ABOUT OCCUPYMN

This document was accepted by the NYC General Assembly on September 29, 2011

Translations: French, Slovak, Spanish, German, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese [all translations »]


As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. We write so that all people who feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your allies.

 

As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality: that the future of the human race requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power. We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.

 

  • They have taken our houses through an illegal foreclosure process, despite not having the original mortgage.
  • They have taken bailouts from taxpayers with impunity, and continue to give Executives exorbitant bonuses.
  • They have perpetuated inequality and discrimination in the workplace based on age, the color of one’s skin, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation.
  • They have poisoned the food supply through negligence, and undermined the farming system through monopolization.
  • They have profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless animals, and actively hide these practices.
  • They have continuously sought to strip employees of the right to negotiate for better pay and safer working conditions.
  • They have held students hostage with tens of thousands of dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right.
  • They have consistently outsourced labor and used that outsourcing as leverage to cut workers’ healthcare and pay.
  • They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility.
  • They have spent millions of dollars on legal teams that look for ways to get them out of contracts in regards to health insurance.
  • They have sold our privacy as a commodity.
  • They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press.
  • They have deliberately declined to recall faulty products endangering lives in pursuit of profit.
  • They determine economic policy, despite the catastrophic failures their policies have produced and continue to produce.
  • They have donated large sums of money to politicians, who are responsible for regulating them.
  • They continue to block alternate forms of energy to keep us dependent on oil.
  • They continue to block generic forms of medicine that could save people’s lives or provide relief in order to protect investments that have already turned a substantial profit.
  • They have purposely covered up oil spills, accidents, faulty bookkeeping, and inactive ingredients in pursuit of profit.
  • They purposefully keep people misinformed and fearful through their control of the media.
  • They have accepted private contracts to murder prisoners even when presented with serious doubts about their guilt.
  • They have perpetuated colonialism at home and abroad.
  • They have participated in the torture and murder of innocent civilians overseas.
  • They continue to create weapons of mass destruction in order to receive government contracts.*

 

To the people of the world,

 

We, the New York City General Assembly occupying Wall Street in Liberty Square, urge you to assert your power.

 

Exercise your right to peaceably assemble; occupy public space; create a process to address the problems we face, and generate solutions accessible to everyone.

 

To all communities that take action and form groups in the spirit of direct democracy, we offer support, documentation, and all of the resources at our disposal.

 

Join us and make your voices heard!

 

*These grievances are not all-inclusive.

Resolved. That the General Assembly of OccupyMN orders that Congress introduce an amendment to the United States Constitution to end corporate personhood, effectively stating that “corporations are not people and money is not speech.

The OccupyMN Statement of Unity was passed through consensus on October 22, 2011 at The People’s Plaza in Minneapolis. It provides a broad view of the long-term goals of OccupyMN and occupiers alike.

 

We are creating a global sustainable community that values the health of the Earth and its inhabitants over corporate profits.

We are a diverse group of people and we find strength in that diversity. No one person or group speaks for all of us as a whole. We wish to see an end to the corruption of both corporations and government. We will persist until the voices of the people overcome the corrupting influence of money.

Proposed to OWS Spokes Council by Safer Spaces Work Group revised as of 02.20.12; to be made available in multiple languages.

 

I. Statement of Intention on Entering the Space

I enter each OWS space with a commitment to:

 

  • mutual respect and support
  • anti-oppression
  • conflict resolution
  • nonviolence
  • direct democracy

 

I:

  1. support the empowerment of each person to challenge the histories and structures of oppression that marginalize some, and divide us all . These may include racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, transphobia, xenophobia, religious discrimination, ageism, and ableism, among others.
  2. commit to learning about different forms of oppression.
  3. understand individual freedoms are not above our collective safety, well-being, and ability to function cooperatively; individual freedom without responsibility to the community is not the OWS way.
  4. accept the decision of the community if I am not able to follow the agreements below.
Translations: Spanish

On September 17, 2011, people from all across the United States of America and the world came to protest the blatant injustices of our times perpetuated by the economic and political elites.  On the 17th we as individuals rose up against political disenfranchisement and social and economic injustice.  We spoke out, resisted, and successfully occupied Wall Street.

 

Today, we proudly remain in Liberty Square constituting ourselves as autonomous political beings engaged in non-violent civil disobedience and building solidarity based on mutual respect, acceptance, and love.  It is from these reclaimed grounds that we say to all Americans and to the world, Enough!  How many crises does it take?

 

We are the 99% and we have moved to reclaim our mortgaged future. Through a direct democratic process, we have come together as individuals and crafted these principles of solidarity, which are points of unity that include but are not limited to:

  • Engaging in direct and transparent participatory democracy;
  • Exercising personal and collective responsibility;
  • Recognizing individuals’ inherent privilege and the influence it has on all interactions;
  • Empowering one another against all forms of oppression;
  • Redefining how labor is valued;
  • The sanctity of individual privacy;
  • The belief that education is human right; and
  •  Making technologies, knowledge, and culture open to all to freely access, create, modify, and distribute. (amendment passed by consensus 2/9/2012)

 

We are daring to imagine a new socio-political and economic alternative that offers greater possibility of equality.  We are consolidating the other proposed principles of solidarity, after which demands will follow.

 


1 The Working Group on Principles of Consolidation continues to work through the other proposed principles to be incorporated as soon as possible into this living document. This is an official document crafted by the Working Group on Principles of Consolidation. The New York City General Assembly came to consensus on September 23rd to accept this working draft and post it online for public consumption.

Passed by the General Assembly at Occupy Wall Street. November 10, 2011 and passed revision by the General Assembly at Occupy Wall Street, March 3, 2012.

 

Occupy Wall Street is a people’s movement.

 

It is party-less, leaderless, by the people and for the people. It is not a business, a political party, an advertising campaign or a brand.  It is not for sale.

 

We welcome all, who, in good faith, petition for a redress of grievances through non-violence. We provide a forum for peaceful assembly of individuals to engage in participatory democracy.  We welcome dissent.

 

Any statement or declaration not released through the General Assembly and made public online at www.nycga.net should be considered independent of Occupy Wall Street.

 

We wish to clarify that Occupy Wall Street is not and never has been affiliated with any established political party, candidate or organization.  Our only affiliation is with the people.

 

The people who are working together to create this movement are its sole and mutual caretakers.  If you have chosen to devote resources to building this movement, especially your time and labor, then it is yours.

 

Any organization is welcome to support us with the knowledge that doing so will mean questioning your own institutional frameworks of work and hierarchy and integrating our principles into your modes of action.

 

SPEAK WITH US, NOT FOR US.

 

Occupy Wall Street values collective resources, dignity, integrity and autonomy above money.  We have not made endorsements.  All donations are accepted anonymously and are transparently allocated via consensus by the General Assembly or the Operational Spokes Council.

 

We acknowledge the existence of professional activists who work to make our world a better place.  If you are representing, or being compensated by an independent source while participating in our process, please disclose your affiliation at the outset.  Those seeking to capitalize on this movement or undermine it by appropriating its message or symbols are not a part of Occupy Wall Street.

 

We stand in solidarity.  We are Occupy Wall Street.

By Dr. Zakk Flash – Dr. Flash is an anarchist political writer, radical community activist, and editor of the Central Oklahoma Black/Red Alliance (COBRA). He lives in Norman, Oklahoma.

 

The recent wave of protests sweeping the United States under the banner of Occupy Wall Street—and elsewhere around the world under other monikers, like the Indignant Citizens Movement, ¡Democracia Real YA!, and the various blossoms of Arab Spring—has captured the imagination of millions on the egalitarian Left and libertarian Right. Inevitably, thankfully, it has also ignited fierce debate about the nature of sociopolitical and economic inequality and of democracy itself.  But as the cogs of corporate media seek to bewitch us with the specter of political gameplay, they also scheme to pacify the lonely rage of societies under fascist colonization by using an ancient tactic: divide and conquer. We are left to feed on one another like jackals.

 

Our strength—as the surveillance state well knows—lies in our solidarity. The IWW slogan “an injury to one is an injury to all” is apt; the people of Tunisia, frustrated by widespread poverty, political corruption, and poor living conditions, rose to defeat the iron fist of their dictator after the self-immolation of vegetable vendor Mohamed Bouazizi. In Egypt, Hosni Mubarak was ousted, in part, because of outcry over the brutal police murder of Khaled Saeed. Pictures of his viciously battered face, when added to growing social and political unrest, launched a wave of revolutionary fury.

 

It is no wonder, then, that the Occupy Movement gained its initial support when members of the New York City Police Department were caught on amateur video dousing peaceful protesters with pepper spray and beating others with truncheons. In Oakland, the community rallied behind protesters when Iraq War veteran Scott Olsen was critically injured by a police projectile. The City of Oakland, long known for the kind of illegal actions that gets one placed into federal receivership, turned a nonviolent gathering of its people into a war zone, complete with rubber-coated steel bullets, rifle-launched CS gas canisters, and explosive flashbang grenades. The Reich-wing assaults on liberty have united an erstwhile estranged citizenry; the American proletariat, like other people globally, is beginning to shake off useless notions of the intrinsic goodness of government.

 

Worldwide, people were sold on the idea that elections equal freedom, that representation was self-determination. We looked toward politicians to solve our problems and when they failed, we replaced them with other politicians. Regime change meant nothing.

 

The hollow promise of capitalist advancement has been revealed to be a pyramid scheme and the men behind the curtain are scrambling to use the mechanisms of authoritarianism in a last ditch effort to “restore order.”

 

Their order is, of course, unwinnable war, ecological disaster, and grievous imbalance of wealth and power. They use their established cultural dominance to justify their status quo as inevitable and beneficial to all, instead of as a social construct beneficial only to a handful of oligarchs. Futhermore, they maintain that false construct by painting their opponents as the bastard children of Chaos, violent and unorganized outsiders who have come to disrupt the natural state of things. They did it in Egypt, they’re doing it in Bahrain, and they’re doing it here.

 

That the people want violent upheaval is a lie equivalent to the neoconservative statement that “they hate us for our freedom.” There are no people on Earth who desire a permanent state of war—unless you buy the propaganda proclaiming that corporations are people and have equal rights, including the pursuit of happiness. Their happiness lies at the feet of the fascist state’s false god—terror in the name of national security.

 

Overcoming our fear doesn’t require a movement; it requires us to move. While Howard Zinn, author of You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train makes impassioned calls for “nonviolent direct action, which involve[s] organizing large numbers of people” he reminds us that those who question the war machine are often called “unrealistic” and advises his readers to keep all options on the table.

 

 

“To be “realistic” in dealing with a problem is to work only among the alternatives which the most powerful in society put forth. It is as if we are all confined to ‘a’, ‘b’, ‘c’, or ‘d’ in the multiple choice test, when we know there is another possible answer. American society, although it has more freedom of expression than most societies in the world, thus sets limits beyond which respectable people are not supposed to think or speak.”To be “respectable” is all too often to sit on the sidelines of history, remaining neutral or moving at a marginally useful pace. However, if resistance movements are to avoid violence and bloodshed, they must work out ways in which the radical and the respectable can work, hand-in-hand, to both mobilize the greatest amount of people and, at the same time, remain an effective force for change.  Power concedes nothing without a demand.

 

 

 

The Saint Paul Principles provide a clear way to maintain that solidarity within the diversity of the movement. 

 

When our movements split on sectarian lines, we save the enemy the trouble of dividing before they conquer us. In every resistance movement, the story becomes the same: the defenders of the status quo placate some of their adversaries, and then stop at nothing to crush those who won’t compromise. The opposition is divided in two by a mixture of seduction and violence. Energy is wasted in dispute and recriminations, each faction insisting the others are messing things up by “not getting with the program.”

 

Our task is to do away with exploitation and oppression, not reconcile ourselves with lesser versions of them. By supporting a diversity of tactics, activists gain the freedom to adapt to quickly changing situations; each tactic accomplishes a particular goal, contributing toward the larger goal. Diversity of tactic is truly an experiment in democracy, the process of solidarity spelled out with regard for the contributions of each of the people involved. By avoiding needless arguments on the merits of a particular tactic, resistance movements are free to focus on strategy—the culmination of tactical achievements towards to broader objective.

 

However, without general agreed-upon principles of unity, there is no movement—just collection of individuals in close proximity. Shared purpose is essential to community, however disagreed upon particular tactics are. Here we should keep in mind the words of English writer G.K. Chesterton:

 

“Merely having an open mind is nothing; the object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.

Direct action gets the goods and accomplishes that shared purpose. Utilizing the St. Paul Principles as a compass, different groups apply different tactics according to what they believe in and feel comfortable doing, with an eye to complimenting other efforts. Activists codified them in 2008 during demonstrations at the Republican National Convention as a way to have a concrete declaration of standards in the context of a broad spectrum of activists and to actively extinguish divisiveness from respective groups. They allow for organization to maximize our potential, without the paralyzing bureaucracy of hierarchical leadership. They work.

 

 

Tactics are not religion; everyone would be better off without treating them as if they are.It behooves each individual to determine whether a particular action is a tactic that furthers the goal of the movement or particular grievance or whether such tactic acts as mere symbol. Acts that rely on symbolism are only effective if they bring inspiring attention to the cause; the occupation of Alcatraz by members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) brought the attention of the nation when it highlighted economic disparity on tribal reservations and the refusal of the US government to honor treaties it had signed with indigenous people. Effective resistance focuses on that sort of long-term strategy over ceaseless debate on tactic, allowing links to form between autonomous resistance groups to create larger coalitions within the working class.

 

 

Generally, violence on behalf of the State is not as open in the United States as it is many other places; sociopolitical hegemony ensures it isn’t often necessary. Therefore, it is often needless to blockade neighborhoods against paramilitary police forces, for instance. This is not the case in places like Syria, where harsh measures by the government silence dissent and a commitment to passive resistance could mean death. Diversity of tactic means flexibility in the face of inflexible violence. The specific context, time, and nature of the struggle dictate whether defensive measures such as the shields carried in Oakland to protect from riot police assault are necessary or not.

 

Coupled with respect for diversity of tactic is a separation of space. This seems to be the most misunderstood of the St. Paul Principles and, as such, it is the most important. Separation of both time and space ensures that peaceful marches, boycotts, and pickets remain peaceful—unless, as all too often happens—agents of the police state find it necessary to escalate towards violence, as they have in New York, Oakland, Bahrain, Tahrir Square, and elsewhere.

 

Keeping actions that may be deemed radical by reactionaries—like the appropriation of abandoned buildings for free social collectives like Infoshops and community organizing—separate from uncontroversial marches and pickets makes it less likely that the police will escalate their use of force. Unfortunately, it is no guarantee. The revolutions sweeping the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa have rulers quick to suppress any dissent, peaceful or otherwise. There is no such thing as American exceptionalism.

 

The Occupy Movement is an alliance of sovereign peoples coming together for a common cause. The individualism of its members, in the midst of a movement, must be recognized and respected. We gather under a common name, with similar goals, but with individual backgrounds, needs, and visions of the future. To achieve real and lasting peace, however, the branches of the Occupy Movement and its many members must stand in solidarity. Discussion is a necessary component of healthy democracy and should be encouraged. However, it behooves us to remember that the health of democratic movements is also impacted by the cancer of sectarianism. Internal divisions and rivalries will rip any movement apart at the seams.

 

Mahatma Gandhi named some of the roots of violence as wealth without work, commerce without morality, and politics without principles. The capitalist state uses violence to perpetrate itself and calls those who oppose it the perpetrators of violence. To guard against state repression of dissent, a certain security culture must be cultivated. Tactics such as the black bloc, which was developed by the Autonomist movement to combat fascism, are wonderful tools that can be used to protect protesters from governments who devoured George Orwell’s 1984 thinking it was a training manual. The surveillance state hasn’t been content to place CCTVs on every street corner; at every rally or protest, one is sure to find police officers filming the people gathered. It is not paranoia to think that dossiers are being assembled on “persons of interest.”

 

On the other hand, care must be taken to not succumb to an atmosphere of suspicion and fear. Assume that infiltrators are among you already and act accordingly.  It is counterproductive to avoid addressing injustice.  John F. Kennedy was correct in his assertion that “there are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction.

 

To conquer what Martin Luther King, Jr. called the “giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism,” we must recognize human rights as our ultimate goal. We face a Leviathan that pits us against each other, eliminates us by co-opting our movements or brutally suppressing them, and does it by manipulating societal beliefs, explanations, perceptions, and values. To address the needs of the people, pacifism as pathology must be abandoned and a less dogmatic critique needs to be adopted and put into practice. A diversity of tactics, with the St. Paul Principles as a foundation to stand on, provides the freedom for that critique. And freedom is what we’re all about.

By Dr. Zakk Flash – Dr. Flash is an anarchist political writer, radical community activist, and editor of the Central Oklahoma Black/Red Alliance (COBRA). He lives in Norman, Oklahoma.

 

The recent wave of protests sweeping the United States under the banner of Occupy Wall Street—and elsewhere around the world under other monikers, like the Indignant Citizens Movement, ¡Democracia Real YA!, and the various blossoms of Arab Spring—has captured the imagination of millions on the egalitarian Left and libertarian Right. Inevitably, thankfully, it has also ignited fierce debate about the nature of sociopolitical and economic inequality and of democracy itself.  But as the cogs of corporate media seek to bewitch us with the specter of political gameplay, they also scheme to pacify the lonely rage of societies under fascist colonization by using an ancient tactic: divide and conquer. We are left to feed on one another like jackals.

 

Our strength—as the surveillance state well knows—lies in our solidarity. The IWW slogan “an injury to one is an injury to all” is apt; the people of Tunisia, frustrated by widespread poverty, political corruption, and poor living conditions, rose to defeat the iron fist of their dictator after the self-immolation of vegetable vendor Mohamed Bouazizi. In Egypt, Hosni Mubarak was ousted, in part, because of outcry over the brutal police murder of Khaled Saeed. Pictures of his viciously battered face, when added to growing social and political unrest, launched a wave of revolutionary fury.

 

It is no wonder, then, that the Occupy Movement gained its initial support when members of the New York City Police Department were caught on amateur video dousing peaceful protesters with pepper spray and beating others with truncheons. In Oakland, the community rallied behind protesters when Iraq War veteran Scott Olsen was critically injured by a police projectile. The City of Oakland, long known for the kind of illegal actions that gets one placed into federal receivership, turned a nonviolent gathering of its people into a war zone, complete with rubber-coated steel bullets, rifle-launched CS gas canisters, and explosive flashbang grenades. The Reich-wing assaults on liberty have united an erstwhile estranged citizenry; the American proletariat, like other people globally, is beginning to shake off useless notions of the intrinsic goodness of government.

 

Worldwide, people were sold on the idea that elections equal freedom, that representation was self-determination. We looked toward politicians to solve our problems and when they failed, we replaced them with other politicians. Regime change meant nothing.

 

The hollow promise of capitalist advancement has been revealed to be a pyramid scheme and the men behind the curtain are scrambling to use the mechanisms of authoritarianism in a last ditch effort to “restore order.”

 

Their order is, of course, unwinnable war, ecological disaster, and grievous imbalance of wealth and power. They use their established cultural dominance to justify their status quo as inevitable and beneficial to all, instead of as a social construct beneficial only to a handful of oligarchs. Futhermore, they maintain that false construct by painting their opponents as the bastard children of Chaos, violent and unorganized outsiders who have come to disrupt the natural state of things. They did it in Egypt, they’re doing it in Bahrain, and they’re doing it here.

 

That the people want violent upheaval is a lie equivalent to the neoconservative statement that “they hate us for our freedom.” There are no people on Earth who desire a permanent state of war—unless you buy the propaganda proclaiming that corporations are people and have equal rights, including the pursuit of happiness. Their happiness lies at the feet of the fascist state’s false god—terror in the name of national security.

 

Overcoming our fear doesn’t require a movement; it requires us to move. While Howard Zinn, author of You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train makes impassioned calls for “nonviolent direct action, which involve[s] organizing large numbers of people” he reminds us that those who question the war machine are often called “unrealistic” and advises his readers to keep all options on the table.

 

 

“To be “realistic” in dealing with a problem is to work only among the alternatives which the most powerful in society put forth. It is as if we are all confined to ‘a’, ‘b’, ‘c’, or ‘d’ in the multiple choice test, when we know there is another possible answer. American society, although it has more freedom of expression than most societies in the world, thus sets limits beyond which respectable people are not supposed to think or speak.”To be “respectable” is all too often to sit on the sidelines of history, remaining neutral or moving at a marginally useful pace. However, if resistance movements are to avoid violence and bloodshed, they must work out ways in which the radical and the respectable can work, hand-in-hand, to both mobilize the greatest amount of people and, at the same time, remain an effective force for change.  Power concedes nothing without a demand.

 

 

 

The Saint Paul Principles provide a clear way to maintain that solidarity within the diversity of the movement. 

 

When our movements split on sectarian lines, we save the enemy the trouble of dividing before they conquer us. In every resistance movement, the story becomes the same: the defenders of the status quo placate some of their adversaries, and then stop at nothing to crush those who won’t compromise. The opposition is divided in two by a mixture of seduction and violence. Energy is wasted in dispute and recriminations, each faction insisting the others are messing things up by “not getting with the program.”

 

Our task is to do away with exploitation and oppression, not reconcile ourselves with lesser versions of them. By supporting a diversity of tactics, activists gain the freedom to adapt to quickly changing situations; each tactic accomplishes a particular goal, contributing toward the larger goal. Diversity of tactic is truly an experiment in democracy, the process of solidarity spelled out with regard for the contributions of each of the people involved. By avoiding needless arguments on the merits of a particular tactic, resistance movements are free to focus on strategy—the culmination of tactical achievements towards to broader objective.

 

However, without general agreed-upon principles of unity, there is no movement—just collection of individuals in close proximity. Shared purpose is essential to community, however disagreed upon particular tactics are. Here we should keep in mind the words of English writer G.K. Chesterton:

 

“Merely having an open mind is nothing; the object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.

Direct action gets the goods and accomplishes that shared purpose. Utilizing the St. Paul Principles as a compass, different groups apply different tactics according to what they believe in and feel comfortable doing, with an eye to complimenting other efforts. Activists codified them in 2008 during demonstrations at the Republican National Convention as a way to have a concrete declaration of standards in the context of a broad spectrum of activists and to actively extinguish divisiveness from respective groups. They allow for organization to maximize our potential, without the paralyzing bureaucracy of hierarchical leadership. They work.

 

 

Tactics are not religion; everyone would be better off without treating them as if they are.It behooves each individual to determine whether a particular action is a tactic that furthers the goal of the movement or particular grievance or whether such tactic acts as mere symbol. Acts that rely on symbolism are only effective if they bring inspiring attention to the cause; the occupation of Alcatraz by members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) brought the attention of the nation when it highlighted economic disparity on tribal reservations and the refusal of the US government to honor treaties it had signed with indigenous people. Effective resistance focuses on that sort of long-term strategy over ceaseless debate on tactic, allowing links to form between autonomous resistance groups to create larger coalitions within the working class.

 

 

Generally, violence on behalf of the State is not as open in the United States as it is many other places; sociopolitical hegemony ensures it isn’t often necessary. Therefore, it is often needless to blockade neighborhoods against paramilitary police forces, for instance. This is not the case in places like Syria, where harsh measures by the government silence dissent and a commitment to passive resistance could mean death. Diversity of tactic means flexibility in the face of inflexible violence. The specific context, time, and nature of the struggle dictate whether defensive measures such as the shields carried in Oakland to protect from riot police assault are necessary or not.

 

Coupled with respect for diversity of tactic is a separation of space. This seems to be the most misunderstood of the St. Paul Principles and, as such, it is the most important. Separation of both time and space ensures that peaceful marches, boycotts, and pickets remain peaceful—unless, as all too often happens—agents of the police state find it necessary to escalate towards violence, as they have in New York, Oakland, Bahrain, Tahrir Square, and elsewhere.

 

Keeping actions that may be deemed radical by reactionaries—like the appropriation of abandoned buildings for free social collectives like Infoshops and community organizing—separate from uncontroversial marches and pickets makes it less likely that the police will escalate their use of force. Unfortunately, it is no guarantee. The revolutions sweeping the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa have rulers quick to suppress any dissent, peaceful or otherwise. There is no such thing as American exceptionalism.

 

The Occupy Movement is an alliance of sovereign peoples coming together for a common cause. The individualism of its members, in the midst of a movement, must be recognized and respected. We gather under a common name, with similar goals, but with individual backgrounds, needs, and visions of the future. To achieve real and lasting peace, however, the branches of the Occupy Movement and its many members must stand in solidarity. Discussion is a necessary component of healthy democracy and should be encouraged. However, it behooves us to remember that the health of democratic movements is also impacted by the cancer of sectarianism. Internal divisions and rivalries will rip any movement apart at the seams.

 

Mahatma Gandhi named some of the roots of violence as wealth without work, commerce without morality, and politics without principles. The capitalist state uses violence to perpetrate itself and calls those who oppose it the perpetrators of violence. To guard against state repression of dissent, a certain security culture must be cultivated. Tactics such as the black bloc, which was developed by the Autonomist movement to combat fascism, are wonderful tools that can be used to protect protesters from governments who devoured George Orwell’s 1984 thinking it was a training manual. The surveillance state hasn’t been content to place CCTVs on every street corner; at every rally or protest, one is sure to find police officers filming the people gathered. It is not paranoia to think that dossiers are being assembled on “persons of interest.”

 

On the other hand, care must be taken to not succumb to an atmosphere of suspicion and fear. Assume that infiltrators are among you already and act accordingly.  It is counterproductive to avoid addressing injustice.  John F. Kennedy was correct in his assertion that “there are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction.

 

To conquer what Martin Luther King, Jr. called the “giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism,” we must recognize human rights as our ultimate goal. We face a Leviathan that pits us against each other, eliminates us by co-opting our movements or brutally suppressing them, and does it by manipulating societal beliefs, explanations, perceptions, and values. To address the needs of the people, pacifism as pathology must be abandoned and a less dogmatic critique needs to be adopted and put into practice. A diversity of tactics, with the St. Paul Principles as a foundation to stand on, provides the freedom for that critique. And freedom is what we’re all about.

The Occupy Movement is an expansive network of individuals and groups working together to fight for economic justice in the face of rampant criminality on Wall Street and a government controlled by monied interests. We, “the 99%”, are trying to wrestle government control out the hands of the “1%”. OccupyMN is a people’s movement. It is leaderless and party-less by design. It is not a business, a political party, an advertising campaign or a brand. It is not for sale.

The following is a list of resources and links to active campaigns within the Occupy Movement:

OccupyMN Resources:

Minnesota Autonomous Efforts:

National Autonomous Efforts:

F.A.Q.'s

A. We are a volunteer collective of individuals that are standing in solidarity with the Occupy Movement and are working to connect Minnesota with the Global Revolution Movement. We stand with the principles of both Occupy Wall Street and our local OccupyMN networks. The Occupy Movement is an expansive network of individuals and groups working together to fight for economic justice in the face of rampant criminality on Wall Street and a government controlled by monied interests. We, “the 99%”, are trying to wrestle government control out the hands of the “1%”. OccupyMN is a people’s movement. It is leaderless and party-less by design. It is not a business, a political party, an advertising campaign or a brand. It is not for sale.

Occupy Wall Street is part of an international people’s movement fighting for economic justice in the face of rampant criminality on Wall Street and a government controlled by monied interests. #OWS is the 99% trying to wrestle control of its government out the hands of the 1%. Occupy Wall Street is a people’s movement. It is leaderless and party-less by design. It is not a business, a political party, an advertising campaign or a brand. It is not for sale.

A: Occupy Wall Street is the occupation near Wall Street in New York City. There are other occupations around New York City including Occupy Brooklyn, Occupy Queens, Occupy Staten Island, and Take Back the Bronx. All occupations are autonomous. The media often refers to other occupations, such as ours, as Occupy Wall Street because Wall Street companies are at the heart of the of the many injustices that ties the movements together.

OccupyMN refers to the original occupation in Minneapolis, MN. but may refer to one of the many other occupations that took place within the state of Minnesota. Cities such as Duluth continue to hold Occupy gatherings on a frequent basis while other occupations, such as Occupy Minneapolis, continue to stay active and stand in solidarity with a broad variety of other movements.

A: Occupy Wall Street is structured on anarchist organizing principles. This means there are no formal leaders and no formal hierarchy. Rather, the movement is full of people who lead by example. We are leader-full, and this makes us strong.

Instead of picking leaders, which you would then have to follow, leaders emerge organically. These people become leaders because others choose to follow them. At anytime you can choose to follow someone else. You can follow more than one person. If people like your ideas, they may choose to follow you. Anyone can become a leader.

A: Occupy Wall Street is not and never has been affiliated with any established political party, candidate or organization. Our only affiliation is with the people.We find strength in our diverse political perspectives as we work together to build a better world. We reject politics that divides people against one another based on their beliefs. We value true participatory democracy.We hope that this exercise in participatory democracy will bred mutual respect, interdependence and understanding among the 99%, and help shed today’s political climate of divisiveness, disrespect, mistrust, and marginalization.
A: We oppose all forms of injustice and oppression, especially those stemming from Wall Street’s crimes and abuse of control. Economic exploitation and injustice has many faces, therefore we tackle many issues. Yet, we are not merely a protest movement. We communicate not just outrage, but a full-on call to action. Get your city to transfer its money out of corrupting banks. Sing at the auctioneer until they cancel the illegal foreclosures. Join groups writing letters to the SEC exposing the Corporations’ lies they use to beg for mercy for their crimes. Teach shareholders the power of shareholder activism. Don’t just protest. Take action. Direct action.
A: We do not have one or two simple demands, though many demand them of us. Why? Because we believe that making demands of a corrupt system makes our success contingent on the will of others. It legitimizes the corrupted, it disempowers us.Our actions are our demands.What is your demand? What are you doing about it?
A: We will keep taking action so long as injustice, exploitation, and repression flourish. We will keep taking organizing until broad swaths of the people realize that it is only we, the 99%-ers, can reclaim society from the domination of the 1%. Freedom is never a spectator sport. We have an obligation, particularly if we claim to love democracy, to build serious and meaningful change from the bottom up.
A: Lots. Besides getting the entire world to talk about economic injustice, we have inspired towns and cities across the country to move their money out of the predatory banks like Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, HSBC, Wells Fargo and others. We have kept people from being thrown out of their homes through auction blockades and eviction defense. We have inspired shareholder activism. We have brought street protest back to life. We have exposed the corruption of governments who have been bought out by the 1%. We have brought people together across political, racial, and class divides to build a better future. And we’re just beginning.All these are steps on the way to the broader, deeper systemic change we aim for. We’re just beginning.
A: Search for your town or city’s name plus the word “occupy.” You can also check directory.occupy.net.

A: During marches and actions, it is unlikely that you will get arrested unless you are prepared to. If you are unwilling to be arrested, or feel you cannot because you are not a U.S. citizen, or are a minor, there are ways to protect yourself from arrest, the most important being: remaining non-violent. Check here for legal information and advice on these topics.

A: First, you should know that you don’t need anyone’s permission to be a part of Occupy. You don’t even need to be in New York to be involved with OWS. If you are committed to justice, equality, and liberation for all people (see our principles for reference) and you have an idea for an Occupy action or group you are empowered to start it. If you want to plug into existing Occupy networks check out occupytogether.org and interoccupy.org. Given that time has passed, many Occupy groups have ceased in activity under the ‘Occupy Movement’ umbrella, however you will find many Occupiers continuing to take direct action in the many various movements throughout your city. Simply get into the streets – protest with your fellow comrades – and you’ll likely find one of us.

A: Occupy Wall Street continued to organize all winter. We met in public spaces all over New York City, continued to have assemblies, and had actions almost every week. During the winter Occupy Minneapolis first retreated into the Minneapolis skyway system. Occupy Minneapolis later gathered in other spaces to avoid weather, such as the Walker Methodist Church (2012)  prior to being damaged by arson. Occupy Minneapolis continued to meet frequently at 4200 Cedar community space (2013/14) – other Minnesota occupations continued to meet in spaces within their own city, such as Occupy Duluth which continues to meet at the Coney Island Cafe during winter.

 

Many occupations in other cities continued through the winter including encampments in Anchorage, Iowa City, Atlanta, Madison, New Haven, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Little Rock, Lincoln, Houston, Louisville, Memphis, Rochester and Toronto. If you thought we had gone away, you may want to consider switching to a different newspaper.

OCCUPYMN INFORMATION BOARD

THE OCCUPATION OF MINNESOTA

Both Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Minnesota were not the first movements to have ever used the tactic of occupation as a form of political protest. The Occupy Movement was inspired by the occupation of Tahrir Square during the Arab Spring along with the occupation of the Wisconsin State Capitol building in February to March of 2011. Individuals and groups have been using the tactic of occupation for many years, including locally – for instance in Minneapolis activists occupied a portion of forest along Highway 55 and created the Minneahaha Free State & Four Oaks Encampment in an effort to halt road construction through a portion of Minnehaha Falls Park, which is a site held sacred to many Indigenous Minnesotans. The American Indian Movement along with other Indigenous American groups have also used the tactic of occupation, most notably during the Occupation of Alcatraz Island along with the Occupation of Wounded Knee. Activists had also utilized tactics similar to that of occupying during the Civil Rights Movement.

Although not the first call for an occupation –  the initial call to Occupy Minnesota in October of 2011 was not only heard in Minneapolis, but all throughout the state whereas various occupations spawned in more than one city during the days following the initial occupation in Minneapolis. Prominent Occupy Minnesota groups formed in Austin, Bemidji, Duluth, Fargo-Moorhead, Grand Rapids, Mankato, Marshall, Minneapolis, Northfield, Rochester, Saint Paul, and at the University of Minnesota. While some of these occupations were short-lived, a few of these movements continued for years such as Occupy Minneapolis and Occupy Duluth. Movements such as “Occupy The Hood” also rose up in neighborhoods around Minneapolis providing support to the occupation at People’s Plaza while simultaneously representing people of color and advocating for change on the streets of Minneapolis.

Occupy Duluth continued to meet and act frequently up until the 2020 pandemic set in. Despite the many attempts by Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis, activists from Occupy Minneapolis would continue to meet frequently to organize actions while building up support networks to help breath life into other movements such as Occupy Homes, March against Monsanto, March Against Corruption, Idle No More, Native Lives Matter, the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), the fight against Enbridge Line 3/6, Black Lives Matter, along with many other campaigns and actions for justice.

THE PEOPLE'S PLAZA

The initial occupation of Hennepin County Government Center’s plaza in downtown Minneapolis began on October 7, 2011 under the name OccupyMN. The plaza, located off the light rail station and adjacent to City Hall, was renamed The People’s Plaza by rally organizers. Hundreds of protesters showed up at the plaza, including union members from United Steelworkers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, UNITE HERE, AFSCME, SEIU, IWW, CTUL, the Sheet Metal Workers, Citizen’s United Against Police Brutality, Socialist Alternative, the American Indian Movement, along with many other supporting groups and individuals.

On October 13, Occupy protester Melissa Lynn Hill was given a trespassing notice for writing messages in chalk in The People’s Plaza. She was barred from entering the Government Center or the plaza for a year. Two days later, while acting as a legal observer for the National Lawyers Guild and standing on a sidewalk near the Plaza, Hill was arrested. Her attorney successfully sued Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek for violating her constitutional rights, costing Hennepin County $15,000 in settlement.

Sheriff Stanek later ordered that tents could not be pitched in the Plaza and forbade people from staying overnight. Occupy protesters defied the orders, staying overnight in the plaza. On October 15, in conjunction with world-wide protests that day, a group of occupiers set up a number of tents in the grassy area on the south side of Hennepin County Government Center. The tents were torn down by the police later that night. Subsequent attempts to set up tents were met with force.

Marches on October 17 included attendees from Minnesota for a Fair Economy, Students for a Democratic Society, and Socialist Alternative. Protesters occupied the 10th Avenue Bridge, blocking traffic for about a half hour. Eleven people were arrested on the bridge.

After the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office indicated they would no longer allow signs in The People’s Plaza, the General Assembly voted to allow the American Civil Liberties Union to represent them in a potential lawsuit against the County. On November 4, Hennepin County employees removed signs from the plaza over the objections of the occupiers, who later replaced the signs, risking arrest. The next week, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners drafted new rules forbidding people from sleeping in the plaza.

Despite the constant efforts of  both the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County to put an end to the occupation of the People’s Plaza, members of Occupy Minneapolis continued to meet daily upon the plaza – once winter set in the movement survived as activists would occupy the Minneapolis skyway system in order to hold their general assemblies and coordinate actions throughout the Twin Cities area. Eventually the Occupy Minneapolis movement was invited into several local locations such as the Walker Methodist Church and the 4200 Cedar Community Space. Occupy Minnesota activists continued to coordinate various actions and planned for an eventual resurgence into downtown Minneapolis once again.

REOCCUPY & PEAVEY PLAZA

Spring 2012 saw a resurgence of activity for Occupy Minneapolis. Dual occupations of both Loring Park and Peavey Plaza, nicknamed “Reoccupy Minnesota,” took root on April 7, with occupiers voicing their intent to stay throughout the summer. Mixed messages were given to protesters when police spokesman Steve McCarty indicated that the Minneapolis Police Department would allow tents to remain overnight in Peavey Plaza and Police Chief Tim Dolan later contradicted him, visiting the Plaza himself to pass out copies of city ordinances to occupiers. That night, protesters took to the streets, marching their tents through downtown Minneapolis. Twelve of the marchers were arrested and, during the fracas, a police officer shoved KSTP cameraman Chad Nelson, knocking his camera to the ground and injuring him.

On April 10, members of Occupy Minneapolis went to City Hall and asked that Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak condemn racial profiling and police brutality. Days later, Barb Johnson, President of the Minneapolis City Council, introduced a resolution to close the city’s public plazas at night. Council members Cam Gordon and Gary Schiff criticized the move, and the plan was sent to the Committee for Public Safety, Civil Rights and Health for a public hearing. The resolution eventually passed – and with the construction of the Minnesota Orchestra adjacent to Peavey Plaza, the city of Minneapolis eventually fenced-off the plaza entirely to both occupiers and the public.

Anti-Eviction & Foreclosure Defense Actions – Occupy Homes

Occupy Minneapolis was among the first cities in the United States to organize the occupation of foreclosed homes as part of the Occupy Homes initiative. Occupy members worked with Neighborhoods Organizing for Change to prevent the eviction of several Minneapolis residents.

North Minneapolis resident Monique White was the first homeowner to work with Occupy activists, who set up tents in her front yard. She faced eviction after her home was foreclosed by US Bank and turned downed an offer of “cash for keys.”

Occupy Minneapolis occupied the home of University of Minnesota anthropology professor Sara Kaiser, located in the Corcoran neighborhood and foreclosed by US Bank. On November 19, 2011, Minneapolis police tried to evict the Occupy Minneapolis organizers housed there. Protester Michael Bounds (Panda) was arrested inside the house. After situating himself in front of a police cruiser, Devin Wynn-Shemanek was nearly run over, then arrested and charged with obstruction of justice. Officers then attempted to board up the house’s windows, but were thwarted by protesters who linked arms and surrounded the house. Once the police left the property, 50 protesters reoccupied the house, livestreaming their actions.

Organizers from Occupy Minneapolis joined with Neighborhoods Organizing for Change to help ex-Marine and Vietnam veteran Bobby Hull save his home from foreclosure by Bank of America (BoA). While Hull owed $275,000 on his mortgage, his home only brought in $80,000 at auction. A BoA spokesperson said that Hull did not meet the guidelines for home retention. Occupy worked with Hull’s neighbors and put pressure on the bank to prevent an eviction that was scheduled for February 17, 2012. In January, activists dressed as pirates delivered a petition to US Bank requesting the renegotiation of mortgages for foreclosed homeowners and demanded a meeting with US Bank CEO Richard Davis. The organizers eventually succeeded in securing a loan modification for Hull that allowed him to remain in his home.

When individuals face foreclosure and eviction they may choose to engage in direct action that directly takes a stand against the banks and unjust foreclosure/eviction system. OccupyMN supports and stands in solidarity with individual initiatives to reclaim shelter when faced with homelessness. Occupy Minneapolis helped blossom one of the most successful movements against the foreclosure process in the state of Minnesota. Our collective has extended solidarity to the efforts of the anti-foreclosure movement and encourages individuals at-risk of loosing their homes to build a support network and campaign for the saving of their homes.

We advise that individuals that begin campaigning seek legal assistance from organizations such as the ACLU, NLG, or other legal representatives prior to engaging in direct action.

Occupy Homes Resources:

Why did Occupy Minneapolis cut ties with “Occupy Homes MN” and what did that mean for the movement?

On March 20th, 2013 the content creators for Occupy Minneapolis released a statement in regards to the non-profit organization known as “Occupy Homes MN”.  Despite the rhetoric and framing of their organization – many occupiers still continue to actively support their efforts and the efforts of the movement in regards to the anti-foreclosure and eviction movement today.

“As the content creators on the OccupyMN Facebook page & Twitter, we can no longer share a content process & resources with Occupy Homes MN effective immediately. While it is laudable to work on housing issues, we cannot reconcile a working process with this commercialized group any further. We are in a unique position where we must Block our further participation in a feedback loop of public promotion & private stipends, message shaping and fundraising. Since, unlike any other known “occupy” group, Occupy Homes MN demands cash payment for what was once an egalitarian participation process, there is no way we can resolve our differences under those terms. Many of us helped create, volunteered with and were arrested with Occupy Homes, until unethical tactics serving the goal of evolution into a profitable Non-Governmental Organization achieved dominance. We are sorry that our pages have not been able to be used to defend our friends and discuss the truth about these harmful hierarchical tactics, including censorship & banning volunteers from the listserv for speaking out. Additionally, we can not work with or accept messages that promote classist attacks on the most vulnerable in our society such as the chemically dependent homeless who were attacked as “drug house” rot in recent PR campaign material. We wish them well, but we must have our own space which does not operate on a commercially oriented basis.”

Minnesota Law Enforcement Distributed Drugs to Activists & At-Risk Individuals In Attempt To Discredit the Movement

On May 2, activists with Occupy Minneapolis released a documentary video called MK Occupy Minnesota. The video documents testimony from participants that police officers in Minneapolis gave them cannabis as part of a Drug Recognition Expert program.

Video documentation by local activists and independent media shows that police officers and county deputies from across Minnesota have been picking up young people near Peavey Plaza for a training program to recognize drug-impaired drivers. Multiple participants say officers gave them illicit drugs and provided other incentives to take the drugs. The Occupy movement, present at Peavey Plaza since April 7th, appears to be targeted as impaired people are dropped off at the Plaza, and others say they’ve been rewarded for offering to snitch on the movement.

Local independent media activists and members of Communities United Against Police Brutality began investigating police conduct around the Plaza after witnessing police dropping off impaired people at the plaza and hearing rumors that they were offering people drugs.  We videotaped police conduct and interviewed participants, learning some very disturbing information about the DRE program.

Officers stated on record the DRE program, run by the Minnesota State Patrol, has no Institutional Review Board or independent oversight. They agreed no ambulances or EMTs were on site at the Richfield MnDOT facility near the airport where most subjects were taken. Multiple times, participants left Peavey Plaza sober, returned intoxicated, and said they’d been given free drugs by law enforcement. We documented on more than one occasion, someone being told they were sober by one officer, and then picked up by a different officer, and returning intoxicated.

Given the dangers of impaired driving, there is value in training law enforcement officers to distinguish between the effects of various drugs and several common medical conditions. However, we have captured video footage of instances in which DRE trainees recruited subjects who are not already impaired, and those participants say they were given drugs by the officers.

Although program documents indicate that participants must sign a waiver, https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/msp/form… there was no indication from any of the participants interviewed that a waiver was offered or obtained. Further, video footage seems to validate the recollections of participants that no medical personnel or ambulance were on site during the observation and testing in Richfield. A DRE officer told one of our investigators that no Institutional Review Board assessment of the program has been made, a requirement of all experiments involving human subjects. Since it’s unethical to encourage people to take drugs–whether by giving them drugs directly or enticing them with food, cigarettes, or other rewards (which participants say they were given)–it is unlikely such a program would pass IRB review as it endangers the test subjects.

According to the WCCO article from May 2011, officer trainees in the past have worked with various non-profit organizations to recruit drug users. It would appear now that they are no longer relying solely on this tactic, instead recruiting users directly and, participants say, providing them with drugs. After the sessions, these individuals are then dropped off in public areas without supportive care, creating a public safety hazard. In an example at Peavey Plaza caught on film, an individual who said he’s been smoking courtesy of the police for an hour, crossed a line of Minneapolis police barricades, climbed to the top of a large sign and sat 15 feet above the sidewalk swinging his arms and legs in front of a police camera.

Our investigation points to particular efforts to target and recruit youth. Further, law enforcement officers have been taped recruiting people from the Peavey Plaza area of Nicollet Mall and have dropped off a number of impaired individuals at Peavey Plaza. In some instances, Minneapolis police squad cars were present while DRE trainees recruited people at Peavey Plaza. After receiving drugs, some subjects were asked to snitch on the Occupy movement or asked about various people and activities of Occupy, they said. Given efforts by the Minneapolis city council to pass an ordinance designed to restrict access to Peavey Plaza by the Occupy movement, the conduct of DRE trainees points to the possibility that they are working hand-in-glove with Minneapolis police to discredit and disrupt the Occupy movement.

“I think most people would be very surprised to have our tax dollars used to get people high,” states Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality. “These activities call into question the methods and motives of this DRE training.”

On April 10, members of Occupy Minneapolis went to City Hall all and asked that Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak condemn racial profiling and police brutality. Days later, Barb Johnson, President of the Minneapolis City Council, introduced a resolution to close the city’s public plazas at night. Council members Cam Gordon and Gary Schiff criticized the move, and the plan was sent to the Committee for Public Safety, Civil Rights and Health for a public hearing. The resolution eventually passed – and with the construction of the Minnesota Orchestra adjacent to Peavey Plaza, the city of Minneapolis eventually fenced-off the plaza entirely to both occupiers and the public.

DID THE OCCUPY MINNESOTA MOVEMENT END OR SIMPLY EVOLVE?

“Some people” will state that the Occupy Movement has completely ended and fallen out of existence while other people believe that the movement itself has simply evolved beyond the Occupy Movement branding and spectrum, particularly due to the constant militarization of the police against the occupations themselves. “Some people”, mostly ignorant critics, will also state that the Occupy Movement itself ended up as a failed social experiment while other people continue to believe that the Occupy Movement brought forward the awareness and energy to help build support networks which have brought other important issues into the spotlight, and that many ‘Original Occupiers’ continue to be actively committed to change within their communities.

Occupy Minnesota continued to be active in the Twin Cites area long after the forced eviction and subsequent closure of Peavey Plaza. After the closure of Peavey Plaza Occupy Minneapolis continued to meet at various locations throughout the community including the various occupied homes in the area, the 4200 Cedar Community Space, the Minnehaha Radical Free Space, Hard Times Cafe, and the Walker Community United Methodist Church while still utilizing The People’s Plaza as a destination and gathering point for activism and continued protests. During the chaos surrounding the evictions and pending closure of Peavey Plaza, in May of 2012 Occupy activists dedicated their solidarity to help successfully organize a Occupy May Day, a day for a general strike and weekend of action in the streets.

Shortly after the release of the MK Occupy Minnesota documentary and subsequent removal and closure of Peavey Plaza, the Walker Community United Methodist Church was consumed by fire on May 27th, 2012. Not only was this a loss for the entire community, but it significantly impacted both Occupy Minneapolis and the entirety of the activist community, as many activist organizations were based inside various offices throughout the church. During “Old Walker’s” history they played host to many organizations one may not have expected to find in a small-to-medium neighborhood church. In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre and KFAI “Fresh Air” radio (back then one of the few independent listener-supported stations) were two organizations among many that were founded in a tiny basement office or attic studio of the “Old Walker.” Some of the organizations didn’t last forever, though: the south Minneapolis chapter of the Black Panthers, draft counseling during the Vietnam War, along with a celebrated and fondly remembered lesbian theater troupe. While many of the tenant organizations that were based in the church at the time of the fire have critiqued the investigation into the cause, claiming it as botched. Former tenants claimed that the building was demolished so quickly, that it did not allow time for the recovering of possessions or the time for an adequate examination and investigation into the cause of the fire. The fire was later determined to be accidental, with probable cause focusing on a possible lightning strike to the roof during evening thunderstorms. Nonetheless, occupiers continued to meet in alternate spaces while participating and organizing multiple events throughout the Twin Cities areas.

Some other notable Occupy Minnesota supported or organized events that occurred post-plaza-eviction would include the Minnesota March Against Monsanto, Minnesota March Against Corruption, Minnesota Million Mask March,  National Day Against Police Brutality, Justice for Terrance (Mookie) Franklin, the March for Trayvon Martin, Justice for Mike Brown, Justice for Jamar Clark, Justice for Eric Garner, Justice for Philando Castile, Black Lives Matter, Justice for All Stolen Lives (Native Lives Matter), Paint It Red (a campaign to raise awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women), the Movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline in Cannonball, ND, the Movement against the Enbridge Pipeline in Northern MN, along with local efforts to legalize both same-sex marriage and cannabis. Occupy Minneapolis also subsequently continued to gather and celebrate on a semi-regular basis well beyond their third year anniversary.

The former Walker Church consumed by flames on the evening of May 27th, 2012.

Continuous Movement, The Occupy Tactic, & The Resurgence for Jamar Clark

As people began to believe that both the Occupy Movement and Occupy Minnesota were fading out of existence the Minneapolis activist community once again dusted off this old tactic, took to the streets, and occupied the city once more in an attempt to hold space, build community, and grieve a tragic loss of a citizen… this time with more distrust in the local law enforcement teams along with city officials due to their prior history in reaction to the Occupy Minneapolis movement along with having the knowledge

In reaction to the execution-style shooting and injustice brought upon 24-year old Jamar Clark the community reacted and continued to fully embrace support from all networks dedicated against police brutality and injustice, thus solidifying the foundations of what would become the many various Black Lives Matter groups and the movement within the Twin Cities and state. Jamar Clark’s life was taken by the Minneapolis Police Department on November 15th, 2015. The Minneapolis Police were initially responding to potentially both an assault and domestic assault that occurred at one of Jamar’s friend’s house during a birthday celebration. Jamar’s girlfriend allegedly got into an altercation with the hosting and celebrating couple. According to witness accounts, Jamar intervened in the altercation and attempted to calm his girlfriend down, resulting in him being hit by her. Jamar and his girlfriend left the party. No witnesses have come forward to divulge what happened after Jamar Clark and his girlfriend did after they left the birthday celebration, however both the Minneapolis Police Department and an ambulance were dispatched in response as somebody had called for help. Jamar Clark’s face upon his return to the area was allegedly bruised and swollen. As paramedics and officers escorted Jamar’s girlfriend into an ambulance, Jamar became reactive and was immediately detained, placed under arrest, and while an EMS Supervisor had a knee on Jamar’s back, Jamar was fatally shot in the head by an officer and his shotgun.

While the Black Lives Matter movement most notably became prevalent after the deaths of both Eric Garner in New York City and Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri – the Minneapolis area had yet to firmly establish a modern solid foundation and voice in order to build a movement that fully called-out and advocated against police brutality and injustice – especially in regards to people of color. Given the establishment of the many pre-existing community groups fighting against this type of injustice along with a new generation of community members who had lived to learn from the history of the Civil Rights Movement, the local oppression against activist movements such as Occupy Minnesota, and were witnessing the beginnings of their own Black Lives Matter Movement. The Minneapolis and Minnesotan community engaged in full-force direct action to protest and call attention to both the execution of Jamar Clark along with the many other victims of police brutality and rage.

On November 15th, 2015, after a day of action in response to the shooting of Jamar Clark the community of Minneapolis began to hold space and occupy the space around the Fourth Precinct of the Minneapolis Police Department. This time the tactic was initiated less as a social-experiment but more as an effort to hold space, grieve, protest, and provide resources to the community as they digested their loss and continued to build up distrust in both the Minneapolis Police Department along with the City of Minneapolis and their leadership itself. The one clear demand of the occupation was an independent investigation into Jamar Clark’s death, along with the release of the details surrounding his death.

On November 23rd, 2015 as actions continued within the Occupation of the Fourth Precinct, three masked men ventured into the occupation site. Throughout the past few days occupiers were informed about possible threats to their safety at the expense of potential retaliation by white supremacist and fascist groups that were focused on the area due to the national spotlight, thus they had their guard up. After multiple occupiers noticed that the masked trio were acting suspiciously, a group of individuals formed and requested that the men leave the occupation and vigil site. The masked men complied and were willingly escorted to the outskirts of the occupation – however once removed from the site of the occupation one of the masked individuals pulled out a gun and opened fire toward the group of individuals escorting them from the encampment, leaving five people injured. According to their own initial live-streams and video postings, the shooter and his accomplices had pre-meditated their plan, preliminarily stating that they were ‘on a mission’ as they ventured towards the site of the Occupation of the Fourth Precinct. It seems as if their intent was to create some sort of trap in an effort to murder occupiers of the Fourth Precinct, without regard to any person’s life. The shooter was eventually sentenced to 15-years, while his masked accomplices were given lesser charges and sentences.

This occupation existed for only 18 days prior to being forcibly evicted. The Minneapolis Police Department’s efforts to remove the occupation and encampment inevitably succeeded – despite the continued resistance of community members to dig-in, hold space, and continue with the vigil to mourn their loss while demanding answers. At 4:00 a.m. on December 3, 2015 police grouped up and handed out fliers stating protesters had ten minutes to leave. Later police began removing the encampment as many activists walked away in desperation to avoid arrest. There were eight protesters who refused to leave the occupation site and were placed under arrest. This action was again led by a militarized police force against peaceful activist, yet again bringing an end to yet another occupation within Minnesota… it would not, however, be the last occupation to take place within Minneapolis or the state of Minnesota.

The Minneapolis Uprising & the Occupation of George Floyd Square

The occupation tactic, rekindled in the Occupy Wall Street movement, witnessed a poignant resurgence during the Minneapolis Uprising that followed the tragic death of George Floyd in May 2020. George Floyd’s killing at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer set off a wave of national and global protests, prompting an intense outcry against racial injustice and police brutality. As protesters flooded the streets, they embraced the occupation tactic, initially converging around the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, forever memorializing it as the hallowed ground of the “George Floyd Square.”

The Minneapolis Uprising marked a turning point in contemporary activism, with its unique blend of passion, resilience, and the occupation tactic at its core. The eyes of the world were trained on this city as the epicenter of a powerful and deeply emotional movement for change.

News outlets across the nation and the globe played an essential role in capturing the essence and significance of the Minneapolis Uprising. Prominent publications such as The New York Times, CNN, and BBC News provided extensive and ongoing coverage of the occupation in George Floyd Square. Their reporting helped shine a spotlight on the profound impact of George Floyd’s death and the subsequent occupation, ensuring that the movement’s message reached an even broader audience.

George Floyd Square became more than just a physical location; it became a symbol of resilience and a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice. This symbolic space, adorned with murals, flowers, and messages of solidarity, served as a gathering point for activists, community members, and allies alike. It stood as a testament to the determination of those who sought change in the face of systemic racism and police violence.

The Minneapolis Uprising & the Occupation of George Floyd Square underscored the evolution of the occupation tactic, adapted from earlier movements, to address the pressing issues of racial justice and police misconduct. While Occupy Wall Street initially focused on economic inequality, the occupation in Minneapolis shifted the narrative towards confronting systemic racism. It demanded accountability for police brutality and raised crucial questions about the role of law enforcement in marginalized communities.

The Minneapolis Uprising and the Occupation of George Floyd Square represents a watershed moment in the ongoing fight for social justice. This multifaceted movement, fueled by the occupation tactic, showcased the adaptability and resilience of grassroots activism. It redefined the narrative from economic inequality to racial justice, all under the watchful eyes of a global audience. As the occupation tactic continues to be employed in various forms of resistance, it remains a powerful tool for demanding change, seeking justice, and pushing society towards a more equitable future. The Minneapolis Uprising serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of those who persist in occupying public spaces, advocating for change, and keeping the memory of George Floyd alive.

George Floyd Square: An Autonomous Haven of Resistance and Community

Amid the fervor of the Minneapolis Uprising following the tragic death of George Floyd, one symbolic location emerged as a testament to the resilience of the community: George Floyd Square. What began as a place of mourning and protest soon evolved into something more profound—an autonomous zone that embodied the spirit of resistance.

Nestled at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, George Floyd Square became an epicenter of activism. At its heart lay a mural bearing the words “I Can’t Breathe,” echoing George Floyd’s final plea. This space was transformed by the community into a memorial adorned with flowers, art, and messages of solidarity.

As the occupation of George Floyd Square persisted, it took on a life of its own. The zone became a microcosm of self-governance, where the community collectively decided its rules and norms. Volunteers took on roles as peacekeepers and caretakers of the memorial, ensuring its sanctity.

Within the square, community members and activists initiated the creation of community gardens, providing fresh produce and a sense of collective ownership over the space. They organized events such as free food distributions, educational workshops, and health clinics, addressing immediate needs and promoting self-reliance.

Art played a central role in the space, with numerous murals, sculptures, and installations adorning the area. Artists used their creativity to convey messages of unity, justice, and remembrance, serving as a powerful form of expression and resistance.

In the absence of traditional law enforcement, community members took on roles as peacekeepers and security personnel, working to maintain safety and resolve conflicts within the square. Decision-making occurred through democratic assemblies, allowing community members to have a say in the management of the square.

George Floyd Square also featured autonomous infrastructure, including barricades and checkpoints, intended to control access and protect the space. The square hosted various events to celebrate milestones and commemorate significant dates related to the George Floyd case and the broader movement for racial justice, drawing participants from across the country.

The Minneapolis Uprising & the Occupation of George Floyd Square underscored the evolution of the occupation tactic, adapted from earlier movements, to address the pressing issues of racial justice and police misconduct. In this evolving landscape, George Floyd Square exemplified the enduring spirit of protest and the community’s unwavering commitment to seeking justice. It stood as a symbol of the ongoing struggle for racial equality, challenging the status quo and inspiring a new generation of activists to question, engage, and reimagine the world around them. George Floyd Square, born out of tragedy, became a beacon of hope and a powerful reminder that the fight for justice and equity continues.

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