Occupy This Week

Kelly Fragale
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Last night, Mayor Bloomberg ordered the NYPD to evict the Zuccotti Park camp citing public safety concerns.  The report submitted below by Kelly, just hours before the eviction, reveals a peaceful place where people were "coming together in solidarity to formulate a collective vision for the future."  Please read and be inspired as the myriad activist and underground communities of NYC plan to come together for a day of action on Thursday, Nov 17 to prove to the world that such violent adversity will only make us stronger and more united in our determination to change the world. --Ed

Week 8 of #OWS felt the spirit of the 60’s come alive.  David Crosby and Graham Nash played a set early in the week and Joan Baez dropped in from her tour to headline the Veterans Day Celebration on Friday.

Crosby and Nash arrived to Zuccotti Park asking how they could help and what they could contribute regarding tents, blankets, coats etc.  The response was unanimous, the occupiers wanted them to perform and sing a few songs.  

When the duo were interviewed later that day, Keith Olbermann asked what their experience was like playing for the occupiers, they said that they felt like they were “happy to do be doing their jobs”, using music to help unify the people and keep moral up for movement. They drew parallels to the movements that they and their music were apart of in the 60’s and stated “the energy is still here” and overall they are happy to contribute to it.  Nash’s take is, “People are recognizing the basic truth that the system is loaded against them and based on the Constitution, they have a basic right to address their government’s failings”.

Joan Baez headlined the Veterans Day celebration in Foley Square on 11/11/11. In an interview with newstimes.com, she stated: “I don’t plan to go in toting my guitar. This has a very different tone. I am going to want to talk to the people."  She opened her set with a statement about her desire to learn from the movement because there are a lot of things that the movement does the same as what she is used to and a lot of things that are much different. Baez, who is no stranger to protests, has marched with Martin Luther King in Washington and has advocated peace and human rights throughout her career. She was warmly received by the crowd, to say the least.

We can never underestimate the power of music and it’s ability to unify and breakdown barriers.  It plays a central role in keeping spirits high, moral up, and hearts open during this time of people coming together in solidarity to formulate a collective vision for the future.   

I just recently came across a quote from Bill Graham, who over 3 decades staged 1,000’s of concerts availing us to artists the likes of Santana, The Grateful Dead, Crosby Still Nash and Young, John Fogerty and Journey just to name a few. His quote speaks to the power music has to transform and change our world view…

"Who could have dreamed in 1965 that the alternative society would eventually multiply to such extraordinary proportions that it becomes our mainstream?"


*Coming up this week: This week marks the 2month Anniversary of OWS on Thursday, November 17th.  Click on the link to participate in a national day of direct action and celebration!    http://occupywallst.org/action/november-17th/

 

Enjoy these Links!

 

Crosby and Nash

Countdown with Keith Olbermann Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74SmtAbHoA

Rolling Stone Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYhQ-fzgUAQ&feature=BFa&list=PLCE0D49906324B85D&lf=mh_lolza

“Long Time Gone” Live at Zuccotti Park

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgt_Y2_WJ_A&feature=BFa&list=PLCE0D49906324B85D&lf=mh_lolz

“Teach Your Children Well” Live at Zuccotti Park

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PO1WNrlY1E&feature=related

“Concert Clips” Live at Zuccoti Park

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lTTcoylfYU&feature=related

Joan Biaz

Newstime.com Interview

http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Joan-Baez-inspired-by-Occupy-Wall-Street-2258913.php,

“Where’s my Apple Pie” Live at Foley Sq

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hzXz6mpqbE&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

“The Salt of the Earth” Live at Foley Sq

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBDmEA6DmUE

 

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Comments

OWS

Submitted by desertkitfox on Fri, 11/18/2011 - 01:01.
Thanks for the great summary & discussing the importance of music to the cause! I think that this is an extremely important movement that is developing. The mayor of Oakland told the BBC that a consortium of City Mayors (about 17 or so) teleconferenced about what to do with their occupiers. It seems that, in addition to the abuse by police, it had been important to get rid of the encampments. This is an attack on makeshift housing. It looks like an inadvertent aspect here is the establishment's disdain for the reality of homelessness! Even the term of the movement, to occupy, means to reside. I think that this is the mirror image that TPTB don't like seeing!! Can't the response from the mayors now be seen for what it is & for what it implies? Homelessness is a crime that is not acknowledged as such. Many of the occupiers got involved because of having their homes foreclosed upon. Many of the occupiers have been some of our homeless population. I have not heard, seen or read this take on OWS discussed yet. I think such a discussion would have some merit. What do you think? Michael [desertkitfox@gmail.com]