We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. (The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States, 1787)

The Nature of OWS
There is such a sad feeling in this country now that our government seems to have completely failed us. Justice. Domestic Tranquility. Common Defense. General Welfare. Blessings of Liberty. All seemingly gone or vanishing. It’s been coming for a long time. 2008 is our generation’s 1929.

And for nearly three years, the proposed remedy to the meltdown in the economy has been less of everything……less service, less education, less support, less building, for the 99 percent and less regulations and less taxes for the 1 Percent and the rest of the Top 5 Percent.

Occupy Wall Street has changed the conversation. Until now Big Money associated with the Conservative Right and Represented by the GOP has controlled the conversation and Democrats have fallen in line with much of the media accepting their script. It was deficits 24/7. Those to the Left, the Populists, the Progressives moaned, groaned, complained and argued. But to little effect.

And then the Occupy Movement emerged: a true populist group, not prepackaged, not co-opted, not sponsored, not bought and paid for. It was authentic, angry, disorganized and messy.

But what became clear was that the Occupiers were connecting with and activating a lot of people, inspiring them to snap out of their apathy and to demand change. If all they accomplished is to reestablish a sensibility amongst most Americans that we need serious changes in the way the wealthy and their corporations control our nation and its economy; and that we need to reverse the real class warfare that has transferred huge amounts of power and wealth from the middle and lower classes to those who were already wealthy and powerful, then we will have a voting public pushing candidates to either follow them or be swept aside. Then substantial, fundamental change will really come.

Who speaks for the Movement? No one and every one. There is a unique character to the OWS movement. Born out of social networking, it has a unique sense of “we” and “us”. The Occupiers sincerely don’t want and would distrust anyone who became the voice or face of OWS because they see it as communal. For them “official representation” is seen as a form of disrespect for the primary character of the movement. Furthermore, putting the movement into a few hands makes them the target for smears, attacks and easy labeling which in turn reflects on the Movement.

Objectives
So what do they want? What does the Occupy Movement stand for? The core idea is pretty evident: The injustice of the rich and powerful 1% rigging the system against the 99%. It is important that the rest of the messeage be as succinct and clear; and be limited in scope and realistic. The Movement needs to define A) What is Wrong, B) What Needs to be Done, C) How Do We Do It?

So far the Common Ground that has emerged is that the great economic and social injustice has been perpetrated on and then hidden from us. This reality is being made known and taken to heart. With knowledge comes resolve to remedy the injustice. The remeedy will require Legislative, Judicial and Executive Action.

If Occupy hopes to effect those changes it wants, the Occupiers must depend on the system that we have. Sidestepping it will accomplish nothing but worn shoe-leather, nights in jail, and soggy rain-soaked sloganeers. They have to work with what we have. Political involvement is imperative by the movement at large in the coming months.

The most effective and expeditions way to do this is to identify leaders in government and in business who share the Movement’s core values and push them forward as leaders for the 99 Percent who share the Movement’s goals.

Among the most important specific goals are:
A) Insist that Every Government Effort be Shaped and Promoted as Work for the Majority
B) Get the Big and Secretive Money out of the Electoral Process beginning with efforts to expand disclosure and transparency in funding and to overturn Citizens United.
C) Restore an Appropriate Level of Taxation for the Wealthy and the Big Corporations.
D) Rebuild the industrial, manufacturing, commercial base focusing on small and midsize business and jobs

All of this needs to be accessible in a Declaration of Principles and Aims that will be the common reference point for those of, with, and for the Occupy Movement.

Strategy
Occupy started as a social networking movement, and that remains central to its identity. Occupations take place in the “Real” and “Virtual” worlds. Keeping both alive is essential to the Movement. Twitter feeds, blogs, websites, satellite and network presence will remain linked to folks living in tents, gathering in assemblies, making speeches and homemade signs, marching and chanting. The sites are the Ethernet, the World Wide Web, city parks, banks, corporate headquarters, centers of political power, small towns and large cities. What is now needed is a blueprint as to next steps. Some thoughts:

1) Within the Next 10 Days. Hold a “Moving On” Rally to close the Movements “First Season” in every city/town where an Occupy Event has taken place, large or small. Feature The Declaration, strong grass roots speakers, creative signs, singing/chanting, a march to a symbolic place and then a closing in a gesture of solidarity. Negotiate with city governments to avoid confrontation. If necessary shrink the size of the encampment to a manageable level.

2) Maintain an encampment in the Big Cities where possible: Washington, New York, Atlanta, Los Angelos, Seattle (and any others where a local group is willing to organize). Rotate Occupiers as needed. Have big gathering days (one night/day a week or on key dates). The rest can be smaller and symbolic. Make a national call for sleeping bags, blankets, tarps, heavy clothing, etc. to see the people through the cold with collection centers; for money donations; get a Credit Union to manage the funds donated

3) Call for a National March/Occupation In Washington in Mid-June. Schools will be out. The weather will be cooperative. Time it to match the Congressional Calendar to be sure the House and Senate will be in Session (and when they announce the date tie it to that Calendar so that any change by the members hoping to avoid the Occupation will be labeled as the cowardice it would be).
– While encouraging everyone who can to get to DC, encourage smaller in-solidarity-with occupations as part of the whole plan.
– Set up meetings with individual members of Congress and the President.
– The pivotal moment in the Occupation should be at the Capitol with a formal presentation of the Declaration to representatives of the national government. It will be interesting who shows up and who doesn’t. Presence or absence will make a statement.
– Make a special effort to get the MSM pulled into the event. Involve them from the first. Plan for maximum coverage: think visually. Keep to your announced and widely disseminated schedule. Have designated spokespersons available at organizing centers with prepared materials ready for distribution.
– Use the assembly model to plan out the next six months focusing on the national elections aiming to turn the Movement into Occupy the Election.

Tactics: A Code for Common Occupation
To be effective those who respond to the call to occupy will need to know what to do and what not to do.
– Remember everyone is watching. Supporters watch to be inspired. Opponents watch to find proof of fraud, ignoble behavior, or sinister motives.
– No drugs and very moderate alcohol use.
– In signs, posters, slogans and chants be clever without being gross.
– Follow the leaders: agree to abide by the decisions made in the assemblies
– Movement leaders (with help) must teach and insist upon the ways of non-violence in word and deed in what they do as they encamp and march, and in how they react to the behavior of others (the crowds, the provocateurs, the anarchists, the police). Violence on their part will feed into the right wing’s image of the Movement and give officials and the police excuses to crack down.
– Think defensively. Backpacks with heavy cloth soaked in water, swimmer goggles and bike helmets will provide nonthreatening protection to those caught up in a tear gas, flash bang grenades, pepper spray and batons assaults.
– Keeping to the Encampments at Night. No night movement. No night demonstrations. That is where/when the trouble happens. That is when it is easiest for things to get out of control and for over-reaction on both sides to escalate. That is when provocateurs on both sides can work their deviltry cloaked by darkness and confusion.
– Consider using some of the donated cash to hire a reputable security firm to provide protection, protect the encampment areas from thieves and vandals, assist organizers in keeping order, and in liaison work with the police.

A Word About Authorship: This piece is the result of the work of a small group of “vets” of the Civil Rights and Anti-War Movements working on-line, and done in cooperation with the Occupy Organizing Committees in Two Cities. Members of the PlanetPOV community contributed a number of ideas to the work. With thanks to AdLib, Adonai, Chernynkaya, Emerald1943, Foodchain, KillgoreTrout, Sabreen60, and SueinCalifornia

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Proud to be an Independent Progressive. I am a progressive- a one time Eisenhower Republican (from 1965 through 2004)who is now a Democrat. I live in a very RED STATE and am a community activist with a very BLUE AGENDA. I was a professor of history, and am now a researcher and gentleman farmer. My political positions are mixed - thus my preferred identification as a Progressive Independent. I am conservative on matters of military intervention, in regard to abortion, immigration, the public school system, gun rights, taxation, voter ID. But I am a traditional conservative, a Buckley, National Review, Eisenhower Republican..... I am a liberal on matters of health care care, funding education, taxation (yes one can be both liberal and conservative on this), civil rights, and alternative energy development/climate change.

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bito
Member

Break-Out Group Discussions for Sunday 11/6 General Assembly: Demands.

We demand a massive, democratically-controlled public works and public service program, with direct government employment, to create 25 million new jobs at good union wages. This is to be paid for by new taxes on the wealth and income of the rich, on financial transactions, and on corporate profits, by reinstatement of the Glass-Steagall Act, as well as by ending all U.S. wars, disbanding mercenaries, ending aid to authoritarian regimes, and closing overseas military bases. The new jobs will aim to radically expand access to education, healthcare, housing, mass transit, and clean energy – and are to be open to all, regardless of immigration status or criminal record.

http://www.nycga.net/2011/11/05/break-out-group-discussions-for-saturday-115-general-assembly-demands/#comment-3599?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

kesmarn
Admin

They are really largely on the same page as our president, b’ito. Now if only they can persuade some Republicans to get on board, or else to join the ranks of the unemployed.

KQµårk 死神
Member

IDK some of this sounds like the liberal overreach that happened in Greece and Spain that ultimately led to unemployment close to 20% and financial ruin.

Emerald1943
Member

KQ, I would agree. This is just too scattered and vague. But as Bito pointed out, these are issues for discussion groups. “Disbanding mercenaries” and closing foreign military bases ain’t gonna’ happen without some significant changes to the DOD, but they may be fun topics to discuss. Gives people a chance to vent! 🙂

KQµårk 死神
Member

You are right about being vague. I should not be so negative because I think setting goals is a great sign.

Emerald1943
Member

KQ, I also don’t want to be viewed as negative or critical of the ideas or the energy of the movement. I simply do not want to see that immense energy wasted on pie-in-the-sky ideals that cannot be accomplished. I want to see something substantive come from this.

There is a unique opportunity here with OWS! This may be our best hope to bring about fairness again for working people in this country.

agrippa
Member
agrippa

Murph, that is a very good article.

So far, I do not have a good reading on where OWS is going. I suppose that I will find out.

SueInCa
Member

Murph

I really only have one question. Why allow alcohol at all? It just seems to me to be a recipe for disaster as much as drugs. While alcohol is legal, there is no denying it alters your thinking and actions. If I were making the decisions, it would also be excluded. Go ahead and drink in the appropriate situation, I just don’t see a protest as being that situation.

Thanks for the mentions of PP, we certainly have a good community here.

Emerald1943
Member

Murph, I got so excited about your statement and goals for the movement that I completely forgot to say a big thank you for acknowledgement of PPOV! That was so nice of you to do. We really have some SUPER folks here who totally support the OWS!

Sabreen60
Member
Sabreen60

Murph, I agree with much of your article. Another person posted this at the Obama Diary and I happen to agree with parts of it, especially about giving credit to OWS for changing the subject to jobs. It’s another Point of View:

theo67
November 7, 2011 at 2:33 pm

Thank you – giving credit to OWS for the change in media coverage is just one more way people can deprive the President from any credit after he’s launched a non-stop, aggressive onslaught on the media and the Republicans with the American Jobs Act. Not a day has gone by that he hasn’t been speaking about the AJA, including when he’s at an international conference. Every single speech or statement he’s done, including the announcement of the end of the Iraq war, has included a mention of building this country and creating jobs.

To credit the OWS movement, who are occupying WALL STREET, (with only one faction occupying Congress – who are actually holding up jobs creation) – is illogical. The OWS people have done nothing constructive to move the attention to jobs. They’ve not talked about the jobs bill. They’ve not called out GOP obstruction. They’ve not asked the unemployed and 99ers to come and join them in their movement. They’ve occupied a port, risking many jobs. They’ve convinced a million people to take their money out of the big banks – which also risks the jobs of the lower level bank workers – but it doesn’t do one thing to create a single new job. They would have deserved some credit if they’d called on Congress to pass the jobs act. Maybe we’d be seeing some construction jobs and re-employed teachers right now. Forget about jobs – they haven’t even said a word about Mr. Cordray needing to be approved by the Senate so he can head the CFPA, and start implementing regulations to reign in Wall Street. They haven’t said a word about Republican obstruction to taxing the rich so that the AJA can be enacted.

Tell me how the OWS people have changed the topic to jobs, when they’ve spent most of the time complaining about police action? Or calling on people to not vote. Or had 100 different messages. Or spent more time applauding the likes of Dylan Ratigan or Michael Moore.

President Obama deserves all the credit for changing the topic of conversation. Period.

KillgoreTrout
Member

Sabreen, I think the movement is not about any one particular issue. The president is working hard to get congress to cooperate with him on the jobs issue. They refuse. They will continue to refuse because they DO NOT want Obama to get ANY credit AT ALL for making changes that benefit the American people. They despise OWS and everybody in it. They are a big part of the problem, not the solution.
I do think that calling on people NOT to vote is a very stupid thing to do. I’m not sure that this is a genuine part of the movement as a whole. OWS is still in it’s nascent stages and getting things more organized and succinct is going take a little time. We DO have to make an appeal to the police to knock off the violence and suppression tactics that have been used in some cities. Violent confrontation does not help the movement OR the police. The police have to be made aware that they too are part of the 99%. It’s their jobs that are also at risk. I think the concerns within the movement go way beyond job creation only. The movement has to point out just how corrupt and nonfunctional our system of government has become. Opposition to Obama’s job’s bill is a perfect example of just how nonfunctional and self serving a large part of our government has become. This is about the slow, continuing downfall of democracy itself. We the people, are not being respected or represented as the founders intended in The Bill of Rights and the US Constitution. People want more than just jobs.

Emerald1943
Member

KT, good comment! The police in many cases have really blown it badly. By using unprovoked violence on peaceful demonstrators, they have only strengthened the movement and galvanized the protesters. You’d think they would have learned their lesson by now. Remember when they first pepper-sprayed those women in New York? That was the beginning of regular press coverage for OWS, and it brought many more people into the movement.

You are absolutely spot on…We The People are not being respected! It is unfortunate that the elections are not going to happen for another year! Let’s hope that OWS gets its arse in gear and starts to get involved in the political process. Whether they like it or not, that’s the way things will change…or not.

Sabreen60
Member
Sabreen60

KT, I agree with you especially about the police. I guess what I was hoping from OWS was to really push for jobs. Malcohm X said “butter or bullets”. You can’t get more basic than people being able to feed themselves. I wanted to see OWS push for policy that is on the table NOW. WallStreet is not going to do anything to put people back to work – but Congress can. They probably won’t, but they certainly have the power by passing jobs bills. If thousands marched on the Congress maybe it would have an impact. I’m not saying I disagree with OWS drawing attention to the disparity of incomes in this country. Hell, we’ve been saying that for the last 30 years as we watched it get worst over the years. I am thankful that OWS are making people understand that Wall Street robbed us. They want to see folks behind bars, but some don’t seem to understand that because of deregulation much of what Wall Street did was legal. I hope they will push for even stronger regulations for Wall Street. I don’t know, I guess I had the wrong expectations.

Emerald1943
Member

Sabreen, I have been somewhat disappointed with OWS too. They have tremendous power, but many are completely against getting involved with elections and politics. As I said, this limits the power of the movement! This is a mistake, IMO. I was hoping that by now, they would come up with a list of demands.

I can understand their disgust with the traditional two-party system. Both are corrupted by big business special interests. I think we all want to see the banksters behind bars, but it has to be proven that they broke the law. Lots of OWS people don’t understand that banking deregulation helped them to rob us legally.

This is such a huge issue. It’s really no wonder that this disparate group of people have such disparate opinions. I hope they can get it together before November 2012.

KillgoreTrout
Member

Sabreen, I would push for the reinstatement of Glass/Steagal. It worked for decades and there was no good reason to ever have repealed it.
I would caution against any signs or sloganeering that would suggest violence. This would help reduce the overall nervousness and paranoia on the side of the cops. If they think people are carrying guns, or planning to commit violence against them, they will be that much quicker to use more heavy handed methods of crowd control. I don’t think you were suggesting violence or threats, but your quote by Malcolm X made me consider the aspect of violence regarding the movement and those who seek to quell the movement.

Sabreen60
Member
Sabreen60

No I was not suggesting violence. It is hard for people to be rational when they are hungry – when their kids are hungry. I just meant that JOBS, IMO, is what people need RIGHT NOW. All the policy questions, the retooling of the government, throwing banksters in jail is all well and good. But ask one of 15 million unemployed what’s most important to them. Ask the underemployed. People want to be able to take care of themselves and their families FIRST. If we can put people back to work, then the ranks of OWS may swell.

KillgoreTrout
Member

I agree about the tremendous importance of creating jobs. Unemployment is a part of the grievances that OWS supports. The problem is that the traitors in congress are not going to allow Obama to pass his job’s bill. These traitors to we the people are also a part of the OWS list of grievances. (so far, unofficial) This is what I mean when I say the system is broken and no longer functions as intended. Those who support these naysayers in the GOP are the 1% and definitely want to see the OWS movement fail. Jobs ARE needed now. But the OWS movement is against those who stand in the way of job creation, but as I said, there are other issues as well.

Emerald1943
Member

Sabreen, I would agree with you about the jobs…that should be the #1 issue.

One thing that I don’t understand about OWS is the lack of support for the President’s Jobs Act. I would have thought that the movement would have embraced his attempts to push the bill through Congress. Maybe they are supporting it, but I haven’t seen it so far. I know that there is a large number of folks in OWS who don’t want anything to do with politics, but as I’ve said before, that’s the system we have to work with. If OWS would throw its weight behind the President, I believe he could coast to a big win in 2012. IMO, he is still the best hope we have to fix the problems.

Emerald1943
Member

Hi KT! I trust you are well! 🙂

I agree with you about the Glass-Steagall bill. I don’t think I’ll ever understand why Clinton did that…and also NAFTA! Two HUGE mistakes on his part, IMO. It allowed the banksters to gamble with OUR money, and NAFTA allowed the corporations to move overseas for cheap labor. I don’t understand why we can’t fix these problems! Oh…I forgot! The teabaggers!

SueInCa
Member

Em
He did it for Citibank. They had already purchased Travelers and Robert Rubin was Sec Treasury. Rubin later went to work for Citi. I think he was setting himself up to do exactly what happened in the CDO era. He had already seen how the US would pay for a company not to go down because of it. Think Long Term Capital Management and what happened there. Here is the link to The Warning http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/warning/

From WIKI
“In 1997, Rubin and Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan strongly opposed giving the Commodity Futures Trading Commission oversight of over-the-counter credit derivatives when this was proposed by Brooksley Born, the head of the CFTC. Rubin’s role was highlighted in a Public Broadcasting Service Frontline report, “The Warning”.[10] Over-the-counter credit derivatives were eventually excluded from regulation by the CFTC by the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000. According to the Frontline documentary, they played a key role in the 2008 financial crisis”

Emerald1943
Member

Sue, thanks so much for the information. I didn’t follow politics much at that time…busy working to make my business successful. It’s always been a mystery to me how they could do something so transparently bad! But they did set it up beautifully. I still believe that Hank Paulson did much the same thing when the TARP bailout was demanded. You know that he must have made out really well with kick-backs from his buddies at G-S! One of my pet peeves!

KillgoreTrout
Member

Just fine Em. Hope the same for you.

Emerald1943
Member

Hi Sabreen! I’m a little confused. Since when did the media coverage “change”? I’m not so sure that it has. In fact, there has been a scarcity of information about the OWS in the past week or so since the demonstrations at Oakland. It’s been pretty quiet.

The person who wrote this comment obviously has an axe to grind, and not without some reason. I personally agree that President Obama has not gotten any credit for ANYTHING he’s been trying to do, including pushing the AJA. It has been pretty appalling IMO. The repubs have always been great at controlling the message, one of my pet peeves. The Dems…not so much. The repugs are really quick to come out and put the President’s ideas down, refusing to even debate the plan. In the end, the President takes nothing but criticism from them AND the professional left!

The case can be made for OWS pushing the jobs issue from the outset. Many of the first protesters held signs about jobs, among other things. But the issue of jobs is only a part of the entire picture. The current situation is due to the policies that have left the 99% in the dust over the past 15 years, including tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs, the closing of manufacturing plants, the tightening of credit for small businesses, the foreclosure crisis, etc. It all fits together and no one issue can be divorced from all the others. It’s the big picture that counts, and that picture is all about the systematic impoverishment of the American middle class!

I do agree with the writer that Michael Moore and Dylan Ratigan should be taken to task for encouraging people NOT to vote! That is despicable! Only by voting can we expect any changes to happen. Unfortunately, that is the system that we have…and we have to deal with the problems using that system. It’s all we’ve got. I don’t think OWS really applauds them…maybe they’re just a little star-struck when they show up to do their schtick!

There are lots of folks involved in the OWS movement that have completely given up on politics and a political solution to the problems. IMO, this is limiting the power of the movement. Only by getting involved in the political process can any goals, for jobs or anything else, be achieved.

Murph, in his statement for OWS, is correct. Candidates who back the aims and goals of the movement should be supported. The power of the movement will only really be felt at the voting booth. Like I said, it is the system that we have…no changing that now.

In my humble opinion, we don’t need to criticize President Obama, nor do we need to criticize the OWS movement. We, the 99%, MUST continue to work together to make the changes so badly needed. I will be the first one on the band-wagon to protect and give credit to President Obama. It is my opinion that he is our only hope to listen to the 99% and to try to help cure what ails us.

I’m just sayin’… 🙂

Sabreen60
Member
Sabreen60

Em, I think you missed the point. The media coverage has changed from “deficits” to “jobs”. This poster takes issue with those who say “OWS” caused the media to change focus and NOT “President Obama”.

Emerald1943
Member

Sabreen, so sorry! I guess I had a little knee-jerk there! I’ve been thinking and writing so much about OWS lately and the lack of media coverage of the movement itself. It has been almost comical to see the MSM change its tune, but I don’t know who is saying the OWS caused the shift. I wasn’t aware of that particular criticism.

I went over to the Obama Diary and did not find the original post. But thanks for posting it. It was interesting and refreshing to see someone actually defend the President for a change! 🙂

KillgoreTrout
Member

Very well done Murph. It’s obvious that you put a lot of work into this and came up with a clear and concise article.
We really do need a Declaration of Principles and Aims. That should put the lie to those RW talking heads who say the Movement has no clear goals or ideas for change.
Having a march and occupation in DC is absolutely essential. We should call out the media and dare them to be silent or dismissive about the movement and who is involved in it and why. We really need to drive home the truth about who truly comprises the 99%, which is everybody who does not belong to the “big club.” We need to show people from all walks of life, all ages, races, gender and types of jobs, from construction workers, teachers, firemen, police, doctors, nurses……etc. We need to force the media to report the truth and stop making up lies about who is in this movement IE, hippies, druggies and anarchists trying to relive or imitate actions of the 60s.
Thanks for all your time and energy you put in to researching and writing this piece, and the shout out to the Planet and it’s members.

Emerald1943
Member

KT…even if some of us are “hippies, druggies and anarchists”! 🙂 Mea culpa!

KillgoreTrout
Member

Hey Em, we can hide in plain sight! 😉

Emerald1943
Member

KT, Murph has done a great job! But he’s “outing” us for sure! 🙂

Emerald1943
Member

Murph, WELL DONE! I can see the words of our Planeteers in this statement! I am glad that we were able to help.

I assume that this document will be published widely within the Movement and that the various general assemblies will consider it.

I particularly liked the idea of using donated funds to hire security firms. Working WITH the police is a great place to start although I know that is being done in some locations. Even though we have seen some rogue cops in Oakland who have “rioted” against the protesters and caused much harm, I believe that most law enforcement people are basically good and, if truth were to be known, stand with the 99%. Enlisting them to work with private security where possible is a good policy. After all, they are supposed to be about protecting and serving the people, and with good communication between the movement, the police and the security firms, the goal of safety can be easily accomplished.

I am especially anxious to know the response to the suggestion for a national strike/march on Washington. I know that this is where the movement needs to go if changes are to be made. I still believe that, with proper planning, we can get a huge turnout there. I want those sniveling Congressmen to look out their windows to see a million people on the front steps of OUR Capitol building! Social networking is wonderful, is it not? It will be easy to get the word out! With adequate notice, people will have time to make plans and get their funds together for the trip. I highly recommend Amtrak! It’s not expensive and can be a nice relaxing ride.

On this same note, possibly local general assemblies might consider sending delegations to represent those who cannot attend. Perhaps donated funds could be used to help those who otherwise could not come up with the money for a ticket and accommodations. I am not sure of the DC ordinances about camping on the Mall. There could be a problem with that. We will have to do a little research. I do know that public transportation in Washington is good and cheap, both bus and rail, making it very easy to get around. Perhaps a location in the outlying areas for camping could be arranged such as Arlington or other areas outside of the city itself.

Good on you, Murph! I know that many in the movement will appreciate your concern and your hard work to pull it together. I look forward to seeing more in the coming days! 🙂

Meanwhile, if I can help you in any way, please just say so. I’m sure the others feel the same!