Excerpt: "Wednesday, despite cold and rain, over a thousand occupiers and union members took their message to K Street, the home base for lobbyists who the movement complains have bought our democracy. The march culminated in a civil disobedience action that included setting up tents and placing furniture in the street around 14th and K Street. Over 50 participants were arrested for blocking traffic."
Protesters taking part in civil disobedience on K Street, Wednesday, December 7th. (photo: Scott Galindez/Reader Supported News)
08 December 11
Reader Supported News | Report
undreds of Occupiers from around the country are in Washington, DC as part of a SEIU-sponsored event, "Take Back the Capitol." The weeklong event brings together representatives of encampments from around the country and union members who are participating in a week of meetings, training and actions.
A National General Assembly on Tuesday night, in the rain at the base of the Washington Monument, drew over 100 representatives from various Occupy encampments to network and share experiences designed to strengthen the national movement.
While the SEIU organized and bused in the various Occupiers, there is some distrust between the Occupiers and the union. Many Occupiers are worried that the union is attempting to co-opt the movement to help with President Obama's reelection campaign.
Many are expressing the goal of educating the union on the Occupy movement, and including them in a final General Assembly meeting on Thursday night.
Wednesday, despite cold and rain, over a thousand Occupiers and union members took their message to K Street, the home base for lobbyists who the movement complains have bought our democracy. The march culminated in a civil disobedience action that included setting up tents and placing furniture in the street around 14h and K Street. Over 50 participants were arrested for blocking traffic.
Thursday they will converge on the Capitol, where the Occupiers will join union members in lobbying their representatives, and actions will occur at congressional hearings. An event is also planned at the White House.
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.
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