occupy: Longmont, Colorado

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Occupy Longmont City Council Chambers

By James Kenworthy

23 November 11

Occupy Longmont occupied the city council chambers Tuesday night November 15th. We packed the room; about 150 people showed up; standing room only. The issue was fracking. Longmont is on the edge of a oil shale field and local owners of mineral leases have decided that they want to drill in two large city parks on the eastern edge of the city. One of these parks has a reservoir on it that used to be a glacial lake. There are plans to drill under the lake. The other park has a creek running through it.

The issue was not well publicized but word got out and the information shot through the grape vine. Many people spoke with sincerity and passion. Two new council members and the new mayor now realize that the public has a voice and will be heard. Public invited to be heard lasted for about two hours with each speaker allotted three minutes. It was a long, but worthwhile night.

The issue is fracking, but the movement is the Occupation This is a perfect example of an effective neighborhood network, facilitated by the internet, and juiced by word of mouth. We had less than a week to get organized and organize we did . The structure was already in place because of the Occupy movement. We wish to express our gratitude to the stalwarts in New York City for stirring the pot. Keep it up. We will find our way with inspiration, creativity, cooperation, and action.

We will rally, as usual, at Long's Peak and Main on Saturday, the 26th at 1:30 and we will hold a 2 hour GA on November 30th at 7 pm at 723 Main St.

Main Street and Long's Peak Avenue

By James Kenworthy

6 November 11

Longmont Colorado held it's fifth weekly demo Saturday, November 5th from 1:30 to 2:25 on Main Street and Long's Peak Avenue. About forty people showed up Our numbers were diminished because some of us were in Boulder picketing a bank. We are waiting to hear from them.

People of all ages were there, from grannies that had to sit down to folks in their early twenties. We had drummers, a guitar player; veterans, ex city council members; all serious activists in it for the long haul. We did it for seven and a half years while Bush was president, and we are ready to do it until we get results.

The traffic flow was good and the support from traffic was very good.. An occasional finger or rude comment generated good natured laughter. We will demonstrate at that time and place for the duration of short winter days or until the corporate system is reduced to a reasonable level of power or lower.

We went inside The Progressive Center for a discussion at 2:45. and shared websites and information on the locally owned radio station, KGNU. The event is evolving. It became apparent that a majority of this group were educated, thoughtful people. We are looking forward to many such useful conversations.

Small City America Speaks Up
"We support The Occupation”
“We are the Occupation”

by James Kenworthy

7 October 11

Longmont is a small city in Colorado 30 miles North by Northwest of Denver. Yesterday we had our second rally at Longs Peak and Main Street in support of The Occupation. About 100 people attended. A few police cars drove by and took no apparent notice of us. A TV station from Denver was there and interviewed some people. KGNU, a public radio station from Boulder (not an affiliate of NPR), was also there and did interviews.

Of course Channel 4 edited (chopped) the remarks to delete most of the meaningful stuff. KGNU did a good job of reporting. We will rally again next Monday at 5pm and every Monday into the foreseeable future.

We rallied for seven and a half years while Bush was president and never had so many people turn out during all that time. The people are ready. We had grannies, old guys, high school kids and all ages in between. We had people of all hues, singing, drumming and chanting; just ordinary people on an ordinary day working for justice.