Occupy Austin @ Tumblr

Chicago Teachers go on strike over same issues as Occupy AISD is bring here in Austin #OATX

Chicago is on strike. Why isn’t Austin?

Rahm Is Intent On Shifting Funds To Untested And Unproven Charter Schools: Rahm has been laying the groundwork for a rapid expansion of charter schools, and wants to create nearly 250 more within five to ten years (this would amount to half the system). This massive diversion of funds from the public system is not based on the facts of what actually works for students. The most comprehensive study of charter schools in the United States found that most deliver results similar to those of public schools. Not surprisingly, Chicago’s charter schools are largely devoid of unions and the benefits they provide for students and teachers alike. Charter school teachers tend to earn 8 percent less than normal public school teachers — which makes them an attractive tool for austerity-prone conservatives. CTU wants a more fair distribution of funds.

http://boldprogressives.org/chicagos-teachers-just-went-on-strike-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-why/

This is the same thing AISD is doing here in Austin with the IDEA charter school.

Gulf Port 7 Solidarity Rally Outside APD Headquarters

What: A rally in solidarity with the 7 activists facing state felony charges after their arrests in the December 12, 2011 port solidarity action in Houston.

Who: Occupy Austin and allies.

Why: Occupy Austin is a non-violent movement dedicated to taking a stand against the undue influence of the top 1% of income earners over politics and government.  An undercover officer from APD infiltrated this peaceful movement and encouraged protesters to escalate tactics. Occupy Austin questions why police resources were used in this manner instead of investigating the wrong doings of Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase and Company, Wells Fargo, the American Legislative Exchange Council, etc. An undercover officer provided 7 people with the devices (known as lock boxes) that have resulted in state felony charges for these peaceful protesters. One of these 7, Eric Marquez, has been unable to make bail and has remained in custody since December 12^th, 2011. He is an Iraq war veteran with PTSD, and has reportedly suffered from a staph infection because of the unsanitary conditions in the jail. An account to accept donations on behalf of Mr. Marquez and more information can be found at: https://www.wepay.com/donations/free-eric-marquez.

Who Should Attend: Activists, allies, supporters of free speech, defenders of civil liberties, friends, family.

When: Wednesday, September 5^th, 2012. 4-6 PM

Where: Outside APD Headquarters

“Speech is Free. Expect Us” Message Supports Arrested Chalkers, Upcoming Protests

Austin, Texas August 20, 2012: Yesterday members of Occupy Austin and Peaceful Streets chalkupied the Texas State Capitol. In Austin (and nationwide), the simple act of writing with chalk on public sidewalks has faced persecution from law enforcement. On August 9, Occupy Austin joined Chalkupy the World, a nonviolent day of chalk writing declared by OccupyLA in solidarity with victims of a brutal police attack on chalkers by the Los Angeles Police Department in July. On August 9, Texas State Troopers arrested Audrey Steiner and Corey Williams while they chalked messages of free speech, healthcare and education on the sidewalk at 11th and Congress across the street from the Capitol.

On Sunday, August 19, about a dozen members of Occupy Austin, with support from the Peaceful Streets Project anti-police corruption group, returned to the Texas State Capitol to chalk together. The message they wrote on the pathways of the Capitol grounds: SPEECH IS FREE. EXPECT US. The message highlighted upcoming events which will be held during the Texas Legislature session.

Sarah Dickerson, a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin said, “As someone deeply invested in art, both academically and professionally, I came to ‘chalkupy’ to ensure our freedom of speech and to promote human creativity. It’s a perfect, low-impact way for Occupy to spread its message because chalking is too delicate to cause any damage, and it washes away!”

Tom Morello and OccupySXSW in the News

#OccupyAustin #SXSW #OATX #OWS

YouTube Videos of Occupy SXSW:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfy-isL33M0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99OBu1YWI90

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIRLyxlVXgo

Complete set on Rolling Stone:

http://www.rollingstone.com/videos/new-and-hot/tom-morello-complete-sxsw-rock-room-set-20120318

Rolling Stone Magazine:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-morellos-occupy-sxsw-shut-down-by-cops-20120317

In the Chicago Sun Times:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/music/2012/03/sxsw_tom_morello_occupy_austin.html

Yahoo Music’s 

http://music.yahoo.com/news/tom-morello-plans-flash-mob-dance-party-occupy-224021212.html

on YNN:

http://austin.ynn.com/content/headlines/283657/tom-morello-hosts—occupy-sxsw—show

on KVUE:

http://www.kvue.com/news/Musicians-help-spread-Occupy-Austins-message-143063125.html

Houston Press:

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2012/03/sxsw_new_west_records_party_to.php

Grand Rapids, Michigan local radio WGRD

http://wgrd.com/tom-morello-planning-occupy-sxsw-showcase/

A good blog article about it:

http://courantblogs.com/sound-check/tom-morello-wayne-kramer-occupy-sxsw/

Occupy Austin Condemns Excessive Police Presence

Austin, TX. February 5th 2012-  

Saturday evening, the Austin Police Department used an unnecessarily large police presence to intimidate Occupy Austin protesters who were legally and peaceably gathered at City Hall. Occupy Austin held its regularly scheduled General Assembly at 7pm which complied with the new rules, imposed unilaterally by City Manager, Marc Ott, prohibiting free speech after 10pm and 6 am. During the meeting, the Assembly reached consensus  that rather than reacting to the eviction, Occupy members would bring proposals to Monday night’s General Assembly with concrete ideas on how the movement will continue to move forward. In compliance with the new rules  the General Assembly officially ended at 9 pm. Following the conclusion of the Assembly, 100 Occupiers left City Hall in order to participate in a previously planned march to conclude with a rally at the ARCH in solidarity with, and in support of, the members of the Austin Community that are experiencing homelessness.  

After a silent march, protesters rallied at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH), located on the corner 7th and Neches. The rally was interrupted by  an assortment of police vehicles accompanied by around 4 dozen police officers.  Not desiring a confrontation with the police, Occupiers stopped the rally and  peacefully walked away from the ARCH. Police then lined up along San Jacinto and 6th street in what appeared to be an attempt to corner the group. Occupiers continued to peaceably walk and eventually dispersed into smaller groups. At one point, some Occupiers entered  two 6th street venues with the intention  of enjoying what remained of their Saturday evening. APD dispatched  more than 20 officers to both entrances of the venues. As of this press release there are no reports of arrests. Additional police presence remained at City Hall well after the march in which officers allowed citizens who were well dressed to use the space to pass through and forced those who were casually dressed to walk around the property (a video of the incident is attached).

Occupy Austin is repulsed to see that taxpayer money was waisted yet again on a frivolous and obviously unnecessary police presence which seemed to be clearly orchestrated for providing an opportunity for sensationalist journalism and propaganda about our movement. Occupy Austin stands, as it always has, on the premise that we are a non-violent protest exercising our First Amendment rights. We are comprised of people from all walks of life; we are your sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, and children. Occupy Austin will continue its fight to educate and bring about positive changes that will enable true democracy to prevail through nonviolent marches, the movement of money from corporate banks to local credit unions, teach-ins, and other non-violent, Constitutionally protected, actions.

Occupy Austin threatened with Eviction

Jan 5, 2012 :: Austin TX USA

Despite having repeated in the press many times that Occupy Austin will be allow to continue until summer. Austin Police Chief is now claiming they will evict Occupy Austin from City Hall tonight.

This comes on the tail of multiple incidents of APD police brutality caught on cell phone video. They aren’t saying exactly when, but they claim it will come in the next 24-48 hours.

48 hours from now is when Occupy Austin is scheduled to have their 3 month anniversary party with awards and live music.