affinistim

Tim Affinis · @affinistim

30th Dec 2011 from Twitlonger

@heratylaw @HarryElephante @OaktownPirate re OWS nonviolence stance documentation. NV appears to be woven into the historical DNA of OWS - as reflected in multiple statements adopted by the NYCGA as well as in its prehistory (including the original calls to occupy Liberty Park)

Statements adopted by NYCGA
http://www.nycga.net/resources/principles-of-solidarity/
"Today, we proudly remain in Liberty Square constituting ourselves as autonomous political beings engaged in non-violent civil disobedience and building solidarity based on mutual respect, acceptance, and love."

http://www.nycga.net/resources/statement-of-autonomy/
"We welcome all, who, in good faith, petition for a redress of grievances through non-violence. We provide a forum for peaceful assembly of individuals to engage in participatory as opposed to partisan debate and democracy. We welcome dissent."

http://www.nycga.net/resources/declaration/
"We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known."
"Exercise your right to peaceably assemble; occupy public space; create a process to address the problems we face, and generate solutions accessible to everyone."

http://www.nycga.net/resources/good-neighbor-policy/
"Zero tolerance for violence or verbal abuse towards anyone"

OWS pre-history:

http://www.truth-out.org/violence-and-vandalism-dont-threaten-system-occupys-positive-image-does/1321024450
"Occupy is unique in a lot of ways, but it descends from a lineage, too. A number of those of us who helped to start Occupy Wall Street (who exchanged planning emails over the summer and assisted in establishing its earliest functions) were present this spring for a meeting with Egyptian revolutionaries Ahmed Maher and Waleed Rashed, of the April 6th movement. In the first calls for a Wall Street occupation, Tahrir Square was often cited as an inspiration. Well, the Egyptian revolution was a nonviolent one and the young people of the April 6 Movement, who provided much of the energy behind the revolution, were doctrinally committed to nonviolence. Maher and Rashed repeatedly, over the course of their meeting with us, mentioned Otpor!, the nonviolent Serbian student group that helped to overthrow Slobadan Miloševic, members of which have also met with Occupy Wall Street."

Additional articles on OWS prehistory:
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/09/a-report-from-the-frontlines-the-long-road-to-occupywallstreet-and-the-origins-of-the-99-movement.html
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2011/10/david-graeber-on-playing-by-the-rules-–-the-strange-success-of-occupy-wall-street.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/01/1022039/-An-Anonymous-history:-OpESR-to-Occupy-Wall-Street:-Genesis
E.g. Quotes from the David DeGraw article:
"A sub-group within Anonymous then joined with the AmpedStatus 99% Movement and we began a collaborative effort known as A99....On Mar 12, 2011, Anonymous A99 announced their first operation by posting a video to the AmpedStatus YouTube page. The effort was called 'Operation Empire State Rebellion' (#OpESR). The video 'OpESR Communication #1' stated the following: 'We are a decentralized non-violent resistance movement, which seeks to restore the rule of law and fight back against the organized criminal class...'"
[First attempt to occupy Liberty Park]"'On June 14th at 1pm EST, a group of activists will begin occupation of Liberty Park....This is a non-violent action that seeks to express dissent and raise awareness of the failures of our current political discourse, until our demands are satisfied.'"...
"As the debate among Anonymous A99 was happening and a date for occupation was being finalized, Adbusters magazine issued an open call for an occupation of Wall Street on September 17th. Anonymous, A99 OpESR, US Day of Rage and the NYCGA quickly endorsed the action. With the NYCGA focused on community-based organizing, Adbusters, Anonymous, AmpedStatus, A99, US Day of Rage, WagingNonViolence and many other sites actively pushed out the message online urging people to take part in the action....The only unifying call to action seems to be: 'Anything you can do to rebel against the system of economic tyranny in a non-violent manner is welcome.'"

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