Intro: "Imagine 50,000 people from all around the world taking to the streets of Chicago, using various non-violent, direct-action tactics designed to disrupt the most powerful nations on earth from meeting. Imagine people from all over the world coming together in the Windy City to say enough is enough; economic inequality must go."
On the twelfth day that Occupy Chicago protesters marched outside the Windy City's Federal Reserve Bank and the Board of Trade.(photo: peoplesworld)
Why Chicago Is Occupy Ground Zero
09 February 12
Reader Supported News | Perspective
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he year was 1999, and the world came to Seattle. A loose-knit coalition of direct-action groups, labor, and faith-based activists delayed the start of a meeting of the World Trade Organization, and forced it to end early without any agreements. The potential is there once again to build that kind of coalition, this time to disrupt a meeting of NATO and the G8.
Imagine 50,000 people from all around the world taking to the streets of Chicago, using various non-violent, direct-action tactics designed to disrupt the most powerful nations on earth from meeting. Imagine people from all over the world coming together in the Windy City to say enough is enough; economic inequality must go.
Imagine Rahm Emanuel showing that he is the new Richard Daley, ordering Chicago's finest to crush the protests. Imagine the labor movement coming together and marching as one, the way they did in Seattle, then joining the youth in the street to defend them from over-zealous police.
Imagine leaders of faith-based communities telling NATO that might does not make right, and that militarism is a root cause of poverty.
Imagine young people arm-in-arm sending a message to the heads of eight of the world's most powerful countries that they are ready to build a new world that is not controlled by the wealthy elite.
Let us not just imagine these things, let's make them happen in Chicago this May. It happened once in Seattle: the anti-globalization movement grew after Seattle, but lost momentum after 9/11.
I was in Los Angeles on 9/11. We were organizing what would have been a historic march that was backed by labor, immigrant's rights groups, and dozens of other social justice groups. "The Mobilization for Global Justice" was cancelled, as most groups decided it would not help their cause to be in the streets protesting while the nation was mourning.
It has been a long road back. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq distracted our attention in the United States. It was September 17th, 2011, when we finally got our focus back.
We can once again come together and fight corporate greed. While we must continue to fight to bring the rest of the troops home from Afghanistan, we must recommit to the fight for economic justice here at home and around the world.
We must be inclusive. It's not time for fighting over who should lead, but a time for all groups fighting for economic justice to unite and a build a common mosaic.
We don't have to agree on tactics. Let labor build a massive rally and march, let the Occupy movement attempt to establish an encampment, let faith-based groups hold marches and vigils, and let direct-action groups attempt to disrupt the summits. The anarchists will be there too, let's hope they do not sabotage the work of the organizations that will be working to change hearts and minds.
2012 will be a long year. After Chicago many will be heading to Charlotte and Tampa for the conventions. While important, we will not have the same unity that we can build in Chicago.
Just realized ... I have focused on American groups, ignoring that the World will be coming to Chicago.
Scott Galindez attended Syracuse University, where he first became politically active. The writings of El Salvador's slain archbishop Oscar Romero and the on-campus South Africa divestment movement converted him from a Reagan supporter to an activist for Peace and Justice. Over the years he has been influenced by the likes of Philip Berrigan, William Thomas, Mitch Snyder, Don White, Lisa Fithian, and Paul Wellstone. Scott met Marc Ash while organizing counterinaugural events after George W. Bush's first stolen election. Scott will be spending a year covering the presidential election from Iowa.
Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.
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Remember as OWS might say, and Wikipedia does sayt, Banks caused the Great Depression. Prof. Said also for 1829 depression so they executed him. USA banks coukld now petition GOP to move Elixabeth Warren to Gitmo? That may save your Bankers?
You ask good questions, but I asked them of her some months ago and her reply was that she would be just as strong and fearless with the other issues. I think team 99% may have finally found their team leader.
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Elizabeth Warren for President in 2016!!!!
Wow! You heard it here first. Keep in mind that Obama quickly moved from Illinois politics to the White House.
Or, will we be happy to let them express regret and then let them go back to business as usual.
So far, of course, they've gone back to business as usual and not shed a single crocodile tear.
On the other hand, I don't care much if some of these fraudsters go to the slammer or not. I don't even care much if they are somehow forced to pay restitution. What I want is for it never to happen again ... and that means real regulation - with Glass-Steagall being the MINIMUM.
Wonder if she can get them doin' hard time and paying back some of their ill-gotten gains.
Suggest that the pillory be reinstated and line 'em up along Wall Street with rotten tomatoes or horse-shit before they begin their long trek to Abu Grahib.
Go after 'em and be as merciless as they have been and are, Eliza'!
That's all it takes to get through transparently wrong behavior to the core of what needs to be done.
I still send her what I can afford each month. Yes, we signed petitions to get her in the Senate, and we're going to do the same to make her President. No more inside cronyism and revolving doors. Power to the People.
And if she does wind up having a few bankers indicted, the author's warning that some banks may go out of business is also ludicrous and insulting. Why shouldn't a criminal enterprise have to pay the price for its crimes? And there would certainly be plenty of other banks to take their place. I, for one, am not worried.
She's a GEM because she's Elizabeth Warren. NOT because she's another carrier of the XX Chomosome.
We love her- she has more balls than most senators. If Corey Booker runs and gets in - that would also be a great addition.
Elizabeth Warren has come along-- AT LAST -- someone who is fighting FOR THE PEOPLE!!!! BRAVO, and let's ALL SUPPORT HER TO THE ULTIMATE DEGREE!!!
I THANK YOU, Elizabeth Warren, and my hat is off to you, because speaking the TRUTH is not something we hear a lot these days!!! BRAVO and MORE THANKYOU'S!!
Beverly Smith
Go for it, gals!
As a fellow member of the male gender, get real. We have no shortage of elected women to demonstrate the blindness of your position.
Elizabeth Warren is as GREAT as HUMANS come !
Voting for anyone based upon what's between their legs instead of what's between their ears is simply childish.
I agree with what you say, par, that if some banks go out of business because they are unable to operate justly and legally, than they should. In the 1930's, FDR seized a number of banks and placed them under government control until they came round. This is the sort of action that is required. Kevin Roose is either worried about sounding like a radical, perhaps for career reasons, or is a closet apologist for the financial services industry, but he lacks a sense of what is necessary in these extreme circumstances. Warren is exactly right to criticize the reluctance of regulators and DOJ officials at all levels, so extreme that it resembles nepotism.
Now, there are two ...
Not only are the Republicans in bed with the Wall Street criminals, along with some Democrats, even Obama is involved in covering up corporate crime. Attorney General Holder is also a Wall Street lackey, along with much of Obama's cabinet. Also remember that even Bill Clinton signed off on ending the protections that were instituted un Glass- Steagall, so I wouldn't trust Hillary either. We also need public financing of elections along with instilling our Supreme Court with justices that have the interests of our nation as a whole as a primary interest. Since a democracy gets what it deserves, we have become too passive and dumb as an electorate, so as to let these corporate criminals take control of our nation.
Alan Grayson is the Representative from Orlando, but he would be a great Senator. From your post to God's ear!
We need a two-pronged approach.
When a corporation agrees to an out-of-court settlement, that ought to be taken as an admission that some illegal conduct did occur. That should be a consideration for the Justice Department to seek indictments and trial for the individuals (i.e. executives) who were responsible for those crimes.
Since a regulatory agency could act against a corporation and the Justice Department against individuals there should be no double-jeoparey questions.
Show that the Law exists, for everyone.
Put them in prison along with all the poor and middle class people who may or may not belong there.
That's why we need a two-pronged approach because such an agreement with a regulatory agency wouldn't apply to an agency such as the Justice Department. One agency can't make a agreement that subverts the authority of another agency, no more than your neighbor making a deal with the city that affects your rights.
No quarter, Dr. Warren. Go get 'em. We have your back.
This woman has a handle on the situation.
Senator Elizabeth Warren wears glasses in order to see better;
Sarah Palin wore glasses in order to appear better.
Isn't it incredible that just one person can shine such a light on the path that has been lost in the slime and murkiness of government today?
Dr Jill Stein and Senator Warren!
Then we would not need to have a real revolution in order to regain positive momentum on all fronts.
But yes, BRAVO!!! and AMEN! to Sen Warren.
As senator he voted for the bail outs and as president OweBama doled out our money -- to his political friends.