Moderators:  Stevens and Kylene.

Shadow Moderator:  Alex.

Stackers:  Julie and Tuck.

Time Keeper:  

Peace Keeper:  

Note Taker / Minutes Taker:  Dennis de la Vega.

INTRODUCTION

7:44 pm, Stevens:  General Assembly!  Mic! Check!  Let's get this started.  Mic! Check!  Welcome to the Los Angeles General Assembly. Today is day 175. [SOLIDARITY CLAP]... ...Are there any new people

7:46 pm, Stephanie and Amanda:  We're actually here for a class. ...and here to observe... ...[A QUESTION:  What school?]... ...LMU.

7:48 pm, Devin:  ...and I'm an Anarchist...

7:49 pm, A Woman Volunteer:  [READS OUR 'PRINCIPLES OF SOLIDARITY']... ...The belief that education is a human right; and, making technologies [AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS] ??available??... ...to all.

7:50 pm, Stevens:  ...would anyone like to say a few words.

7:51 pm, Michael Novick My personal statement to nonviolence is based on irreconcilable... ...in regards to contradictions to the people... ...and... ...like Malcolm X [QUOTES X].

7:53 pm, Kylene:  ...[READS A STATEMENT OF UPCOMING PROPOSAL ON ‘3 PERSON RULE’].

TIME SENSITIVE ANNOUNCEMENTS

7:45 pm, Michael Novick:  Tomorrow Race, Sex and Class at the Southern California Library, Selma James; also, tomorrow Julie, myself, Karo and... ...are speaking at Mar Vista... ...; Also, tomorrow the M1GS speakers will be... ...on the Four Winds [ASKS FOR THE FOUR WINDS POINT PERSON SPEAKERS]... ...and on Sunday, on Trayvon Martin from 5 to 9 pm.

7:48 pm, A Man:  Tomorrow at 5 pm, at United University Church [UNIVERSTIY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAMPUS] by Hoover St / Jefferson Blvd entrance (across from Denny’s) with a little conflict with the GA a talk by Clyde Young on ‘Mass Incarceration + Silence = Genocide’ [Mass Incarceration: Its Source, The Need to Resist, Where Things Are Heading, and the Revolution We need!... ...this is... ...[CITES INCARCERATION STATS SINCE 1970s]... ...torture, and yet there's been far too little resistance. So, tomorrow there's a planning of a National Action... ...Clyde Young [GIVES BACKGROUND]

8:00 pm, Omar:  This Sunday there will be an 'Occupy LA Freedom School' Discussion on 'Building Community as We Keep Building the Movement' discussion and action, planning session [Assessing past Occupy LA actions, Community Lunch, and Planning Future Occupy LA actions... ...NonStop... ...at 118 Winston and it starts at 1 pm to 4:45 pm.

8:01 pm, A Woman:  So, we're going to do a slut walk, you know, 'Take Back the Night'; because sluts like me don't like being called, slut and whore... ...and join SLUTS Sexy Ladies Unite to Transform Sexism.

8:03 pm, A Woman:  I'm from ??? of Occupy who needs emotional support... ...So, after the GA anybody who needs some listening join me in the corner.

8:04 pm, A Man:  There's a lady named Rachel... ...she's in danger of being evicted... ...2083 Freeman Avenue in Signal Hill California. There are Occupiers there tonight, they'd like some company.

BREAKOUT GROUP DISCUSSIONS

[SEVEN WOMEN LINE UP IN FRONT OF THE ASSEMBLY]

8:05 pm, A Woman, [(FORMING NEW) Women’s Circle]:  [BEGINS A READING FROM AN IPHONE] On February 16th 2012, Sam Resnick... ...heavily breathing and masturbating... ...[PASSES IPHONE TO THE WOMAN NEXT TO HER TO READ] post... ...a woman [HEREINAFTER NAMED ‘ANONYMOUS’] was... ... [PASSES IPHONE TO ANOTHER WOMAN NEXT TO HER AND SHE READS ALOUD] Anonymous wishes to not take this matter to the police... ...[increasingly] he... ...and provide Anonymous with an apology [SHE PASSES IT AND THEY CONTINUE PASSING AND SHARING THE READING AMONG THEM, JARED IS WITH THEM ALSO]... ...stated on his FaceBook... ...I'll be back on M1GS... ...there had been some similar issues that occurred... ...women did not have a safe place... ...we have decided to form a Women's Circle... ...to address these issues... ...the community has been... ...to hold Sam Resnick responsible... ...Do you seek support... ...? Brainstorm direct, practical actions that we could take as the Women's Circle?... ...What ideas do you have to honor [ALL THE FOREGOING SCRUPLES AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT/ASSAULT ON A PERSON SLEEPING].

8:46 pm:  [ASSEMBLY RETURNS FROM BREAKOUT GROUPS, STACKS OPEN FOR REPORT BACKS].

8:49 pm, A Woman, 1st Group:  ...the use of media like maybe the use of... ...advantages and disadvantages about going to the media with this... ...we could look pretty bad if we're not ahead of it... ...the importance of the action that is being taken by women as an act of empowerment... ...one in four of us have been sexually assaulted... ...look around yourselves... ... there are men who have sexually assaulted... ...getting help for the individual who does possibly not want help for this issue.

8:52 pm, Alex, 2nd Group:  ...we're open about these things that when something does go wrong... ...third party mediator and how a third party mediator... ...that [he] would be banished as a whole from the movement... ...what this movement is and how this movement does have values... ...really about... ...extreme transparency...

8:53 pm, Rina and Daniel, 3rd Group:  ...confronting the person... ...going to social media... ...a lot of Republican representatives who have been waging war on women [YELLOUT:  Not just Republicans!]... ...and that his particular behaviour was not acceptable... ...also if our efforts were not successful... ...to prevent his behavour going into the future... ...something else... ...was printing a story in the Occupied LA Times... ...and that [Anonymous Woman] was watching this on [video]...

8:56 pm, Elise, 4th Group:   ...the way we handle this will more than likely set a precedent for the future... ...and a lot of incidents like this had happened in... ...greeat that the Women's Circle has been really great... ...women or men that know him... ...and that men who know him can confront him with this issue... ...or we end up sending something out that says something like "Don't encourage this person to join the movement..."... ...if he continues to... ...step it up to another level... ...incidents such as this... ...one of the... ...incentives is to don't do something because... ...and supporting one another... ...but really coming together... ...to really engage in this discussion because we really need to discuss it...

8:59 pm, Jule, 5th Group:  ...Women's Circle as a base, a Women's center, with... ...also having an escort... ...we also talked about what Occupy in Oakland did... ...[CITES EXAMPLE]... ...restorative justice idea using the process... ...a people's court... ...people that are in violation and possible censorship of this individual... ...exchange phone numbers.

9:02 pm, A Woman, 6th Group:   ...consciousness raising media... ...most wanted FaceBook page for OccupyLA... ...if he's a repeat offender... ...the lack of process... ...to deal with this... ...progressive discipline... ...women warn him... ...public shaming... ...about what happens at the end of the day... ...and that the men needed to be involved... ...and that the men aren't standing up and the men need to stand up...

9:04 pm, Kylene, 7th Group:   ...rape... ...and a lot of women don't want to go to the police... ...screenings... ...for mental health services... ...sexually transmitted disease... ...it is [Anonymous Woman's] intention that we do not go to the police with this... ...the idea of 'progressive'... ...start small and persist until there is a result, but don't start with the most severe until there is an action to begin with.

9:07 pm, Stevens:  [DEFINES THE MEANING OF OUR 'HAND SIGNALS']... ...lastly is the infamous 'Hard Block'... ...you will be expected to come on up and verify it...

PROPOSALS

1st Proposal

9:09 pm, Frank, Vanessa, and John Waiblinger:   All Proposals must have at least three proposers... ...group formed and informed and in line with our... ...collective decision making... ...These three proposers must be present at the General Assembly at the time of the Proposal... [TEMPERATURE CHECK, CONCERNS AND HARD BLOCKS]...

[CHANT:  THE SYTEM HAS GOT TO DIE, HELLA HELLA OCCUPY!...]... ...[9:28 pm:  SECOND TEMPERATURE CHECK, HARD BLOCKED:  Harms 'Autonomous Action']... ...[9:39 pm:  TIM REMOVES HARD BLOCK].

9:41 pm:  [CONSENSUS WAS REACHED]

9:42 pm:  [DONALD (IN CROWD HEARSAY):  CAME IN FROM THE PERIPHERY]

9:4? pm:  [ARRIVES AT ASSEMBLY STEPS (DONALD:  (INAUDAUDIBLE)]

9:4? pm:  DISMAYED YELLS:  You know what, I am 'Hard Blocking' this General Assembly, COMMOTION AND YELLING]... ...[DONALD:  I see individuals being excluded!]... ...[A WOMAN:  MIC! CHECK! Can we get some Peace Keepers!...]...

2nd Proposal

9:46 pm, Ruth, [NEW] Allies Against Racism:  OLA continues to stand in a wavering solidarity with South Central Farmers... ...OLA does not support any action involving South Central Farms... ...that does not have the support of the South Central Farmers... ...this is a sensitive issue... ...we issue this statement widely...

[9:48 pm:  DONALD SITS BETWEEN THE MODERATORS/FACILITIES AND THE ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, HE YELLS:  I am 'Hard Blocking' this General Assembly]...

9:50 pm:  [MODERATORS AND ASSEMBLY (NOW <ALL> STANDING) MOVE TO WEST END OF STEPS, ALL ARE STANDING AROUND RUTH (ATTEMPTS A RE-READING OF PROPOSAL)]...

9:52 pm, Elise:  [ON DISRUPTING GA 'PROCESS' CONCERNING THE NEED TO (INAUD.)]...

9:53 pm, Ruth [1 OF 3 PROPOSERS]:  [RE-READS PROPOSAL]

9:56 pm:  

10:00 pm:  [CONSENSUS WAS REACHED].

3rd Proposal

10:01 pm, David, Occupy LA / Occupy Venice [OLA/OV]:  Occupy Venice Endorsed an action in solidarity with Occupy Los Angeles [CHEERS, APPLAUSE, HE READS]... ...99 Poets for Occupy Day! On Sunday, April 3th the 99th day of the year; 99 poets will gather at 'Beyond Baroque', 681 Venice Blvd., Venice to Celebrate in Verse 'the Power of the People, 1 pm.  To volunteer or participate, contact Mark at:  escalatePeace@yahoo.com, (323) 515-3713.

10:02 pm:  [CONSENSUS WAS REACHED].

??4th ??Impromptu?? Proposal??

10:03 pm, A Man [STANDING ON THE STEPS FACING FACILITES]:  I propose at the beginning of every GA that the General Assembly [??Temp Checks?? Facilities? ?Team? (?members?)???, INAUDIBLE]... ...[SOMEONE:  (EXPLAINS SOMETHING (INAUDIBLE) TO HIM]...

10:05 pm, ??Ryan??:  [ANNOUNCES:  OCCUPY SKID ROW MARCH HAPPENING EVERY FRIDAY AND ATTENDEES TO MEET OFF TO THE SIDE (EASTWARD PERSHING), HOOTING AND HOLLERING WHILE PACKING UP TO GO, MEANWHILE...]...

10:06 pm:  [DONALD AND RUTH:  SQUARE OFF AMIDST A STANDING ASSEMBLY CROWD, RUTH ANGRILY, INAUDIBLE (: BUT YOU COULD IMAGINE :)]

10:07 pm:  [WE MARCH TO THE LIGHT AND TAKE THE STREETS] Whose streets!!!  Our streets!!!  Whose streets!!!  Our streets!!!  Whose streets!!!  Our streets!!!  Whose streets!!!  Our streets!!!  Whose streets!!!  Our streets!!! [MANY TIMES]... ...We are! The ninety-nine percent! [ALSO MANY TIMES]...

MARCH 19 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Moderators:  Julie and Dele.

Stackers:  Kylene and Esteban.

Shadow Stacker:  John.

Peace Keeper:  Tom.

Note Taker:  Grant.

Minutes Taker:  Dennis de la Vega.

INTRODUCTION

7:43 pm, , :  ...Today is day 170... ...Just a reminder, our General Assemblies are meeting at Pershing Square M, W, F, at 7:30 pm. Saturday themed GA... ...are there any

7:47 pm, Gabe:  ...I'm from Bellingham, Washington and I'm here just to check it out.

7:47 pm, , From San Fernando:  ...and I'm here just to check it out.

7:48 pm, Dele:  ...anyone who wants to give their own perspective on NonViolence...

7:49 pm, A Man:  When you interrogate someone whom you suspect of a crime, you can torcher them... ...but it doesn't work; Or, you can befriend them and... ...they just give you the information that you want. It goes along with nonviolence.

7:50 pm, , From San Fernando:  ...[HE READS OUR 'PRINCIPLES OF SOLIDARITY'].

7:50 pm, John Waiblinger:  ...In terms of violence, I've had a lot of violence imposed upon my body... ...I was a sissy boy... ...I've been gay bashed... ...beat for standing up and saying "[expl.] you."... ...these institutions grew out of a patriarchal... ...where violence was to keep you in check... ...every time I did fight back, I got my ass beat... ...as a movement... ...know, you're strong enough to fight back... ...that we're cognizant of that... ...Sometimes I feel more challenged... ...to fight back... ...I don't feel safe at theis point. I have a felony... ...I'm queer... ...that this is a violent system that we live in, that we can be strong in numbers...

7:55 pm, Julie:  ...our comrades that were arrested... ...we need to talk about that right now... ...for our discussion... ...I'm going to give the 'Hand Signals' right now... ...[EXPLAINS 'HAND SIGNALS']... ...How do people feel about, instead of doing 'Breakouts', that we talk about the arrests... ...Kylene points out that even though we are a small group right now, there is another group doing 'Actions' right now, we will grow... ...[STACKS ARE OPEN].

7:598 pm, A Woman:  ...I think that Anthony was smart. I don't think that they deserved the harsh treatment that they got...

7:59 pm, Julie:  ...there were four arrests. Ryan was arrested and released. Shyma was arrested and charged with felony... ...Anthony was re-arrested... ...[ONE MORE ARREST]...

Tiffany:  I think that direct Actions take a lot of courage... ...at the same time there's a larger fight that we need to... ...my biggest concern is the continued actions... ...the re-arresting of some of our comrades... ...the more arrests that we have, the more money that we take out of the till, the more money that we give to the state... ...not just activists but the entire world because we deserve the entire world.

Beth:  ...I've seen a lot of you that go to these actions... ...people... ...that these are violent... ...all through the day the cops were bothering us. They were bumping into us and they were causing... ...I got shoved today... ...In fact everyone got arrested on felony charges... ...he didn't do anything wrong... ...I say don't post them on FaceBook... ...FaceBook is not you friend. FaceBook is run by the government. This comes direct from FaceBook... ...you can't be tagging... ...don't put it there. Give it to 'Legal'... ...our protestors are facing felony charges and if you don't believe in that, I don't know why your're here.

Alyssa:  ...differennt relationships with the police... ...when they are walking through our crowds and they are bumping us with their shoulders that is... ...we have a right... ...we have a right to our constitutional rights...

Liberty:  ...LA has a crazy dynamic with cops... ...stepped on his calves... ...and nobody could get to him... ...what our other comrades did by stopping him and getting his badge number... ...now they're cracking down on us... ...so we've got to be smarter... ...some of our friends got beat up...

Kylene:  I'd like to say that what Beth was saying is right on... ...that those pictures/footage can be sent to the City Attorney.... ...OccupyLALegal@gmail.com...subject line work Product for attorneys attorney client confidential information.

A Woman:  {...}

Another Woman:  ...when you look... ...turn around and we don't have enough people there... ...we are waisting our money... ...we've got to go on a direct action and we've got to have everybody there... ...we need to become a [expl.] unit... ...?Anthony? shows up to every single action... ...if we keep showing up... ...this should be our training, our practice...

John Waiblinger:  On documenting and getting these videos out... ...what's appropriate to get posted and what's not... ...I would be concerned if no videos get posted...

A Man in Assembly:  I think we should have general consensus... ...[ABOUT WHETHER TO POST VIDEOS]...

John Waiblinger:   It's really important when you take videos that you show what's going on... ...when I was there, that was totally unprovoked [CONCERNING SOMEONE THAT GOT SHOVED]...

Dele:  the way that the offense uses the video... ...to do some editorializing... ...if you are going to do a post...

Tiffany:  Just because 'Direct Action' doesn't support... ...it's more like, in order for this to be something that lasts, we need more people... ...but a small quadrant of people... ...it's not about one of those people but what they stood for... ...the strength we have as a unit... ...it's for your own good, or, it's the samething... ...to bad we had to cut adult education by ??%... ...that's what it is. When we're up against the cops, we're up against the state and the bureaucracyn that funds them... ...all these people going to jail and getting beat down... ...there's got to be a long term strategy... ...we can win.

8:20 pm:  [A RAT CAUSES HYSTEREA IN THE ASSEMBLY BY RUNNING THROUGH ASSEMBLY PEOPLE SITTING ON THE STEPS, A WOMAN SCREAMS, SOME LAUGHING].

8:21 pm, Dream,:  ...we educate ourselves in that field and we branch off...

8:22 pm, Julie:  ...if we're going to support our... ...we need to... ...stand in full solidarity in support of our comrades... ...this week... ...I honor those that got arrested... ...we need to figure out how we... ...if you didn't know we had a police state before, you sure as hell do now...

8:24 pm, Grumpy:  ...In the meantime... ...watching the police in action... ...starting to get angry... ...and... ...I checked the other day and it turns out that I've written 146 blogs... ...Generally speaking when we talk here... ...lwhen we're here at the GA we're talking amongst ourselves, we say things that we might not normally say in print... ...even though we say... ...[expl.] the police... ...Yesterday I wrote a blog 'Picking a Fight'... ...and after that post I thought it would be a good idea to.;.. ...and take a temperature check... ...law enforcement conduct... ...Now, if anybody agrees... ...group, is that the police have now become the aggressor. [POINT OF PROCESS:  (Esteban:)  If you're making a proposal...]...

Julie:  If you talk to the police, anything you say or do will be used against you.[KARO CALLS ON THE PHONE ASKING IF THE ASSEMBLY WILL JOIN THE 'ACTIONS' MARCH AT METRO WHERE SOME OF OUR OWN ARE INCARCERATED]... ...[TEMPERATURE CHECK ON MARCH TO 1ST AND LOS ANGELES].

Burt, [MAKES AN ANNOUNCEMENT]:  There's being arrested and... ...they don't teach them anything that they know... ...they don't teach... ...I was first arrested in 1968.... ...200 or some odd of us, we had gotten arrested... ...we went to jail [POINT OF PROCESS:  This is supposed to be about...]... ...there will be a time when we will have enough people... ...with plenty of people getting arrested. That will build the movement...

We are being stalked by the cops [THE ASSEMBLY PACKS UP AND IS READY TO MARCH TOGETHER TO THE METRO]. [A BRIEF INDOCTRINATION ON THIS MARCH ON NOT GETTING ARRESTED].

[WE LEAVE THE RATS AND COPS WHO SEEM TO INCITE US IN OUR PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY].

[ON THE WAY WE MEET UP WITH SEVERAL MARCHERS FROM METRO 'ACTIONS' WITH KARO].

[SINGING:  SOLIDARITY FOREVER!]

9:11 pm, Karo:  ...protesting is illegal now,... ...we don't have the right to assemble... ...this isn't right... ...their being detained for [socalled] harrassing police. Like, really?

9:12 pm, A Woman:  ...and the took Ryan... ...they used that opportunity to arrest more... ..."I thought this was America"... ...attacked him, pulling him out of the crowd... ...they had no reason to take them... ...this is fascism right now and we need to tell everyone....

9:13 pm, Julie:  I want to talk now about... ...we are all leaders, it's a leaderless movement... [OPENS STACKS]...

9:14 pm, , : ...what ETagging is, is you break into other people's webpage and you... ...we can Occupy the Net... ...this is just a suggestion... ...How to be an e-tagger...

9:15 pm, Shakti:  I agree with... ...obviously in a police state... ...talk to people in your life. Try to get them to understand this movement... ...Also, we can do canvassing... ...I have a few more left and I'd like to hand out more... ...get involved. That's the best way of reaching out to people...

9:17 pm, A Man:  You can do art... ...their tools... ...there's artists already doing it like Shephard Ferry... ...you can donate it to different causes... ...the more you do it... ...you could stay at you [expl.] house and do it... ...if you can do a mural... ...I'm not trying to teach anyone here... ...like I said there's a lot of street artists that are on their way to becoming billionaires... ...the best way you can say [expl.] the system is by using the system... ...[POINT OF PROCES:  TIME, AND HARD BLOCKS].

919 pm:  ...facts are... ...way of... ...our people... ...education I see can be our most effective way of getting our information out there... ...how they can get invloved to turn the direction around. Because the police are ?on our side?... ...they're just doing a job... ...we don't need to be disruptive in getting attention we just need to be... ...and information... ...I've been working on a project OccupyLosAngeles.tv...

9:22 pm, A Man:  ...I think that police across the country have analyzed and figured out this movement as a whole... ...we need to take it more seriously... ...this is a crucial part of the movement... ...that will affect the movement... ...dynamic and where there coming from...

9:24 pm, Carlos:  I don't like when people get arrested... ...I understand that they have a right to express themselves... ...if they're going to get arrested let them get arrested for saving an old lady's home... ...I'm not saying that you're wrong and I'm right. We have to use our heads... ...and I respect you, if you don't like the police... ...I'm asking you to use the knowledge that we have to ??make the movement grow??..,

9:26 pm, Julie:  I agree with Carlos. We need to be more strategic.... ...my friend, he was the one that got arrested... ...every time I come to the GA I bring someone new... ...help build... ...we need to show love. We need to show compassion and that includes showing compassion for each other...

9:27 pm, A Man:  Look at what Occupy has... ...where you could actually talk 24 hours a day and say "How can we make this world a better place to live in?"... ...February 28th, mass... ...a whole raft of people... ...thousands of people gathered at... ...Square... ...Susan Sarandon spoke... ...that involves a lot of different peopl... ...what people have been rightly calling a police state... ...one of the things Occupy has done is that... ...people getting arrested... ...what's the futture of the Occupy Movement. But acually we're

9:31 pm, Karo:  they're here to protect the ruling elite... ...so I want to disagree with the fact that we didn't come out here to get arrested... ...and we are going to come up against the police. Police are not our friends... ...I want to disagree that we are not getting arrested... ...they were... ...we need to share this with everybody, with everyone that you know.... ...we're going to come up against the police, we're going to get arrested. They're the one's that are working for the 1%, They're not one of us... ...we need to keep this movement going because that is the only way that we are going to win.

9:35 pm, Jared:  ...at the end of the day [expl.] them and you have every right to express that... ...

9:36 pm, Jessica:  ...they work for the institution and what I mean by... ...industrial complex... ...this is harrassment... ...political pressure... ...we can't do anything in this country... ...putting our bodies on the line... ...we should never do that, yes. But... ...our problem is with the Banks, the corporation,...

9:38 pm, Sheila:  we know we're living in a police state... ...people constantly forget... ...divide and conquer... ...we've got to stop splintering. We've got to think bigger. Our beauty as a movement is that we love each other... ...life is art... ...remember divide and conquer... ...brothers and sister... ...love them... ...we need our children and we've got to love each other... ...because that's our biggest weapon. Think big.

9:40 pm, Mike:  ...we need to keep building positive [things] the kid's village [names others] needless to say the cops will show up... ...it's all they can do... ...if the cops show up when we're on a march... ...just go Occupy the 1%...

9:42 pm, Will:  ...don't get offended if I say a word that you don't like... ...the point is that we can... ...the way I would do it is finding businesses that we can... ...if it's a piece of art... ...putting it out there... ...that's a big statement... ...what I'm saying is that there's a lot of talent out there... ...once you [A COMMOTION ENSUES OVER 'PROCESS' AND HECKLING:  Let him finish!]... ...What's the point of letting people speak! [YELLS:  letting everybody speak]... ...

9:46 pm, A Woman:  We need to grow to critical mass... ...some potency... ...these arrests [ANOTHER COMMOTION WITH WILL, ASSEMBLY SINGS: SOLIDARITY FOREVER]...

9:47 pm, Barry:  Every time that I hear we are living in a police state it annoys me. We are protesting... ...If we were living in a police state [HE STOPS]

9:50 pm, Julie:  Look, this is their best tactic they bring in provocoteurs and they split us up...

9:51 pm, Barry:  ...get guns, bullets, and bull... ...and this rally here is what we need... ...we should be raising demands and that is what draws people... ...those who favor a war... ...and the Vietnamese people now rule their own country... ...tomorrow at the Westwood Federal building. at ??? there's... ...and protest

9:53 pm, Esteban:  [ESTEBAN READS FROM: EDUARDO GALEANO (BORN SEPTEMBER 3, 1940 <AGE 71>), http://blog.ourclothshop.com/post/224938980/at-cloth-we-love-to-travel-l... THE DEVIL IS POOR]

[TODAY'S CITIES ARE IMMENSE JAILS HOLDING PRISONERS OF FEAR, WHERE FORTRESSES MASQUERADE AS HOMES AND ARMOR AS CLOTHING.

"A STATE OF SIEGE! DO NOT GET DISTRACTED, DO NOT LET DOWN YOUR GUARD, DO NOT EVER TRUST", SAY THE LORDS OF THE WORLD, MASTERS OF IMPUNITY WHO RAPE THE ENVIRONMENT, KIDNAP COUNTRIES, EXTORT WAGES, AND MURDER BY THE THRONG.

"WATCH OUT!", THEY WARN, "THE BADE GUYS ARE RIGHT THERE, HUDDLED IN MISERABLE SLUMS, CHEWING ON THEIR ENVY, RESENTFULLY LICKING THEIR WOUNDS."

THE POOR:  THE RAGAMUFFINS FOR ALL BONDAGE, THE DEAD FOR ALL WARS, THE FLESH FOR ALL PRISONS, THE BARGAIN-BASEMENT HANDS FOR ALL JOBS.

HUNGER, WHICH KILLS SILENTLY, KILLS THE SILENT. EXPERTS SPEAK FOR THEM, POOROLOGISTS WHO TELL US WHAT THE POOR DO NOT WORK AT, WHAT THEY DO NOT EAT, WHAT THEY DO NOT WEIGH, WHAT HEIGHT THEY DO NOT REACH, WHAT THEY DO NOT HAVE, WHAT THEY DO NOT THINK, WHAT PARTIES THEY DO NOT VOTE FOR, WHAT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN.

THE ONLY QUESTION UNANSWERED IS WHY POOR PEOPLE ARE POOR. COULD IT BE WE ARE FED BY THEIR HUNGER AND CLOTHED BY THEIR NAKEDNESS?

9:55 pm, David:  ...we are at a critical crossroads here in our movement... ...our belief in pacifism... ...keep in mind ... ...Gandhi... ...and he never compromise... ...of nonviolence... ...before that action is integrated in your... ...and it comes out in your hands... ...stop the violence in your hearts and in your heads...

9:57 pm, David Waiblinger:  ...we all have different qualities that we love in each other... ...I was so moved on Saturday in spite of all that brutality... ...we need to make this place safe... ...at the queer GAs... ...make this place welcoming and if we want this movement to grow we've got to grow this Assembly...

9:58 pm, Donald:  I think that it is extremely important that we also act as individuals... [ASSEMBLY CHANTS TOWARD POLICE:  FREE THE PRISONERS (SEVERAL TIMES)]... ...I'm trying to get some people to learn the Esperanto language... ...we need to bring this whole thing together... ...in terms of the police, they are not the 1%. They are working for the 1%... ...cut them a little slack, don't...

TIME SENSITIVE ANNOUNCEMENTS

10:02 pm, David, Legal Committee:  We need to fund raise badly [SAYS IT SEVERAL TIMES]... ...we've got 'that' much in our [HOLDS UP A ZERO]...

10:03 pm, A Woman, Teach-In:  We're having a Teach-In on Sex Race and Class What are the Terms of Unity, Saturday March 24. 10:30 to 4 pm, Southern California Library ‎ 6120 South Vermont Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 759-6063 [GOTO: http://www.socallib.org/], A lady called Selma James, UK based women's right and anti-racist activist including Danny Glover. The ‘Topics’ are:  Welfare, The Class of the 1%, What the 1% Doesn't Want You to Know About Welfare. Organization Outside of Political Parties, AntiCapitalism and Social Wage, The Challenge to Organized Labor, What and Where Is the Point of Production, Impact of Global Occupy Movement.

MARCH 14 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Moderators:  Esteban and John.

Stackers:  Omar and Julie.

Time Keeper:  Tom.

Peace Keeper:  Stephan.

Coordinator:  Ryan.

Note Taker:  Dave.

Minutes Taker:  Dennis de la Vega.

INTRODUCTION

7:40 pm, Esteban:  Mic Check!  If we could have everybody sitting down, we can start the GA [SOLIDARITY CLAP]. Welcome! Today is day 165 of our movement. [ASKS FOR TRANSLATORS TO SPANISH AND AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, INTRODUCES FACILITIES COMMITTEE STAFF].

7:43 pm, Dave:  ...my name is Dave and I come to you from Occupy Philly... ...and I will be your Note Taker...

7:44 pm:  [SOLIDARITY CLAP].

7:44 pm, Shakti, Volunteer NonViolence Statement: ...violence doesn't only mean violence to only humans... ...like ten hens in a... ...this big... ...so many Veterans with PTSD. Why is that... ...because killing doesn't come natural to people... ...so March 20th, next Tuesday, don't eat meat on that day...

7:47 pm, Patrick:  ...Mic Check! Occupy Miami... ...the got raided... ...they had guns drawn on them... ...three people were put in handcuffs, three people were interrogated in front of all of the other Occupiers... ...Nobody was taken... ...what happened? It was a scare tactic... ...Occupy Miami...

7:50 pm, Smokey, Volunteer Reader Our 'Principles of Solidarity':  ...Blessings to everybody, hope... ...Engaging in Direct...

COMMITTEE, AFFINITY GROUP, AND TIME SENSITIVE ANNOUNCEMENTS

John, Queer Affinity Group:  ...Saturday's General Assembly will be a Queer themed General Assembly and Action. That is we will... ...be gathering at LA Live, two blocks west of the intersection at Figueroa and ???Wilshire??... ...LGBT movement... ...that has selected Goldman Sachs CEO, Lloyd Blankfein as their National spokesperson for 'same sex' inequality. We think... ...CEO of Goldman Sachs and BlankFein... ...is offensive.

Julie, Antiwar Committee/Pro Peace:  ...protest on the anniversary of the most recent round on the war in Iraq... ...March 20th, Tuesday from 5 to 8

Barry:  ...sidewalk banquet at Pomona College on the 30th...

Gene:  ...the reformed groups that are trying to get the money out of politics have no real interest in trying to... ...their idea is... ...trying to get past non-local... ...I'm just announcing my plan to make a proposal on Monday.

Shakti, M-OCCU-LECTIONS, MOCK ELECTIONS:  ...there are some things we can start doing, canvassing... ...if you're interested, at 600 Spring Street, , We'll have flyers to hand out to people... ...so please come out.

8:01 pm, Ed, :  There is an awesome talk... ...Title: What's Behind the War on Women. Tomorrow night at 7 pm, on Spring street at 519 South Spring. I have flyers.

8:02 pm, Karo:  March 17. Solidarity Park, sweat shop, sea shells, music... ...then we're [going to] march to the queer themed GA.

8:03 pm, Barry, Labor Committee:  meeting on Monday at the Cabbage Patch at 6:30 pm... ...There's a conference of students... ...cutbacks on that morning... ...9 am ‘Conference’... ... a lot to do on Saturday.

FIRST BREAKOUT GROUP DISCUSSION

8:05 pm, Esteban:  ...Two parts; Principles of Solidarity and a game. It will require standing up and taking a position.

8:06 pm, John Waiblinger:  ...[EXPLAINS DISCUSSION(S) TOPIC] It is suggested that you do not sit in the same group that you usually sit in... ...talk to some new people. Meet some new people... ...[TODAY’S DISCUSSION TOPIC (ANOTHER EXCERPT FROM OUT ‘PRINCIPES OF SOLIDARITY’]… …”which are points of unity that include but are not limited:   Engaging in direct and transparent participatory democracy; ... privacy; The belief that education is human right; and practice and support wide application of Open Source…”

8:23 pm:  [ASSEMBLY RETURNS]

8:24 pm, Omar, 1st Group:  Having an 'open source' copyright is a problem... ...Occupation is a movement for open sources of all kinds... ...Artists that make a living of art... ...making a living of Intellectual Property must be considered as... ...Building a crowd based... ...The system needs to be replaced, also to notify the artists that wrote a book or created a painting... ...to know the background of that source... ...we must replace the old system that has been robbing us blindly. We also need to keep...

Dave, 2nd Group:  Corporations are anchored with this whole license... ...the general public is mostly misinformed in regards to licensing in the associated monopolies... ...we also mention existing open source like [NAMES COMPUTER LANGUAGES]... ...Internet... ...capitalizing privatizes everything... ...licensing is becoming a control mechanism...

Tony and John:  ...I believe 'open source' means that nobody owns... ...it should all be free... ...Tony:  I'm a filmmaker that's how I should make a living... ...especially for low budget filmmakers. They make movies and put them online and the bigger companies take them and make a profit out of it.

8:33 pm, Burt:  ...Intellectual property ownership is not unique to Captitalism.  Dmitri Shostokovich who made a living in the Soviet Union... ...there are many people whose lives are greatly enriched by taking copyrighted material... ...open source is... ...but I don't think it should be Universal Rule.

8:33 pm, John or Shawn:  [Occupy Walkers] they are in good spirits, encourage people to come out and spend some time with them if you'd like they aspire to make 20 miles per day.

8:35 pm, , :  I would point out like my friend Burt did... ...[ON (DMITRI) SHOSTOKOVICH]... ...in a true Marxist state where things are... ...according to their needs... ...

AGREE-DSAGREE-MAYBE; A ROLE PLAY

8:37 pm:  [MEMBERS IN THE ASSEMBLY ARE STANDING IN FRONT]

SECOND BREAKOUT GROUP DISCUSSION 

8:39 pm, Esteban:  Statement number one; I believe that police are necessary. [THOSE WHO AGREE MOVE TO RIGHT (LEAST IN NUMBER, MOSTLY ELDER), DISAGREES MOVE LEFT (LARGEST GROUP, YOUNGER), MAYBE(S) IN MIDDLE, THEY GO INTO THREE SEPARATE GROUP DISCUSSIONS].

8:45 pm, Point Person, ‘Agree’ Group:  …even if society was equal there are people who are just out of it, sometimes least in touch with reality... ...maybe they don't act as a neutral party these days.... ...you can reduce the number of police by increasing society.

8:47 pm, Point Person, ‘Dis-Agree’ Group:  …how they protect mostly the one percent... ...the 'Shantha Sinha’... ...that's what we

, , :  ...we divided on one side that a community based policing might be... ...it would be interesting... ...if we included people from all walks... ...basically a community based system...

, Leo, :  ...being always the medic always the one speaking to the police... ...there are police force... ...parking is owned by ACS,,, ,,,there are so many departments of police... ...it's very important that all these parties be an eye... ...[DISCUSSES PARKS AND RECREATION FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES]

, Barry, :  ...note that the societies that didn't have cops but just had jails... ...not that out of all the cops there's yet to be a single letter of... ...his duties... ...there's batons and helicopters...

, , :  ...I know the spirit that it started with and reinforce in your minds... ...the police, tools and functions... ...are subject to the policing of the people... ...the police get out of hand and the politicians get out of hand because the people let them get out of hand.... ...the participation of the people...

THIRD BREAKOUT GROUP TOPIC

8:59 pm, Esteban; Second Statement:   I believe that the current system can be reformed. [THE MEMBERS DIVIDE INTO ANOTHER THREE GROUPS AGAIN AND GROUP DISCUSS, THE LARGEST GROUP DOES NOT BELIEVE THE CURRENT SYSTEM CAN BE REFORMED (REVOLUTIONARIES 2/3 OF ASSEMBLY AND INCREASING TO 3/4)].

Centrist Group:  Some societies can and some can't be reformed and we don't know which ones.. ...is to get money out of politics... ...that is the thing we need to do... ...I do know that small reforms can be made... ...for one thing, we could get bathrooms out here for the homeless... ...so I stand in the middle.

Disagree:  A lot of us believe that the system would be too complex to reform... ...Barry had a lot of comparisons to the working system in Cuba [GIVES STATISTICS]... ...the electoral system needs to be abolished. It cannot work... ...that we should have another party in the middle... ...power to the people to do the reforming... ...Capitalism is not sustainable.

Agree:  The system could be reformed... ...the system has effectively been reformed. We had Glass Steagall act... ...names other reforms... ...but that they can be repealed... ...they lost out the opportunity for radical change [WOMENS VOTE]. Omar:  The original Constitution... ...it's a French idea.. ...that all men are created equal... ...to get rid of... ...is the patriarchy... ...Tom:  ...presupposes that... ...the concept of justice for all as that we the people... ...are tall enough mountain peaks that you could put your hook on to climb. Shakti:  If everybody in the world would agree... ...at the same time... ...so radical that we risk losing our movement...

Esteban:  I believe revolution is needed to create fundamental change.  

MARCH 12 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Moderators:  Ryan and Elena.

Stackers:  Tom and Jeff.

Minutes Taker:  Dennis de la Vega.

INTRODUCTION

7:43 pm, Elena:  Mic Check! We're starting the GA in one minute!

7:44 pm, Elena:  Welcome everybody to the GA. Today is day 164. We have one proposal tonight.

7:44 pm, David:  My name is David. I go by the tag of Elfie... ...I hate the damn LAPD with a passion. I want to see them all in prison!

7:47 pm, Ysho:  Nonviolence... ...you keep your hands to yourself, I'll keep my hands to myself... ...there are violent tactics against us... ...because we've been nonviolent...

7:49 pm, Ryan:  [RECITES OUR 'PRINCIPLES OF SOLIDARITY', BY MEMORY].

BREAKOUT GROUP DISCUSSION

7:50 pm, Elena:  Today our discussion topic is "Education is a human right".

REPORT BACKS

8:17 pm, Esteban:  ...what education as a human right looks like... ...acquiring knowledge and what it looks like... ...what are we teaching?... ...schools are a product of corporations... ...critical pedagogy is a process of... ...today's education system is rivaled by education of other systems... ...we need to focus in on art and the right brain. The right brain is ignored... ...we have money for wars and prisons but we don't have money for schools... ...we also have to smash patriarchy in... ...we also must learn about 'health' directly so that we can take care of each other and ourselves...

Dele:  ...we had a young woman 20, 21 years [of age] and she owes about $50,000... ...what is the future of education in our country... ...[CALLS UPON LUCKY]... ...[Lucky:  ...a lot of people don't know this but depending on how much you... ...from that school district... ...if you have dyslexia or dysgraphia... ...the more likely you are more likely to drop out... ...when... ...dropping out you don't make enough to... ...address the needs... ...get discouraged earlier... ...if you don't take the steps it takes to get into high school]... ...a matter of a shame that we have a President who says that his mom who comes from welfare...

8:27 pm, Ruth:  ...free education. I grew up in Whales... ...my three years and bachelor’s degree at Cambridge was free... ...My dad was from a really [expl.]... ...if you were quite academic... ...they put you in comprehensive school... ...my dad went to grammar school... ...he became a doctor... ...my country in those times was in those days... ...I go the opportunity... ...to go to Cambridge. I never realized how lucky I was until I came here... ...twin sister... ...30,000 pounds of debt... ...I also grew up with free health care... ...sensationalized country... ...but not anymore...

8:29 pm, Shakti:  ...education should be free... ...through levels... ...I guess in India there's a free University. It makes a lot of sense... ...theories about what is the best way to teach children... ...how we have a lot of teachers who've come out against our... ...education... ...children should... ...about their self-interests... ...a lot of them put... ...instead of teaching them about what they want to be... ...we are creating... ...in the process we are supporting this kind of society... ...in the past we didn't have that kind of society... ...I have two children... ...and I'd like to start a cooperative school...

8:32 pm, Donald:  ...ties right into what Shakti was saying... ...some of us doing our own education... ...get better at learning things... ...home-schooling... ...raise the bar for 'home schooling' versus public school... ...it's a hierarchical system that teaches people to be submissive... ...also keeps people from... ...excel in where they are naturally sufficient... ...rather that suppress them, or rather than punish them for them... ...reinforced in our current system... ...like the top of the 1%... ...like Shakti was saying... ...Cooperative Education. I really think that we need to go there.

8:35 pm, Ryan:  The OLA Freedom School is flourishing... ...If you know someone that is here I'd love to hear them [A lady offers Hector of 118 Winston].

INDIVIDUAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

8:37 pm, , :They've been going to the council meetings... ...They're starting an Occupation in Huntington Beach... ...I have some more information if you want to come and talk to me.

8:38 pm, Barry:  [MENTIONS TODAY'S SOLDIER MASSACRE IN AFGHANISTAN]... ...Action:  Answer Coalition tomorrow at noon.

8:38 pm, Esteban:   The General Strike Coalition is meeting tomorrow at Corazon del Pueblo, talking about... ...as a buildup to our 

8:39 pm, Shakti:  Before the General Strike meeting at the LA CAN Office 530 Main Street, at 5:30 pm.

8:41 pm, Nicole, Occupiers for Animals:  this Friday at noon another protest at 3440 Wilshire Boulevard. It's in front of Monsanto Enterprises. We're going to have seeds that you can plant in your own backyard... ...We're going to have 

8:43 pm, Ryan:  Let's do a… …[SOLIDARITY CLAP].

8:44 pm, Ryan:  [GIVES 'HAND SIGNALS'].

8:45 pm, Michelle:  ...six month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street. This is for a flash mob festival at that wide sidewalk over at Solidarity Park... ...we will have a march from... ...Why?... ...M1GS... ...bring your creativity to the event... ...Why?  To continue... ...outreach and... ...[BETH: NOTIFIES THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS 'IN']... ...make signs, stickers,... ...it will be an Occupy LA Day.

8:49 pm:  [CONSENSUS WAS REACHED].

8:51 pm, Nestor:  [ANNOUNCES QUEER THEMED GA THAT TIME].

COMMITTE AND AFFINITY GROUP ANNOUNCEMENTS

8:52 pm, Bilal Ali:  On April 1st, April Fool's Day [NAMES MANY OCCUPIES AND ORGANIZATIONS]... ...we're going to dress as 'assholes'... ...dress as our favorite 'assholes'. I don't want to see anybody dressed as me. [LAUGHTER] I'm coming as myself. If you know some people at LA CAN call [those] people and get them to do this thing.

8:55 pm, Nestor: ...themed GA on ??reformative?? communication

8:57 pm, Billy:  April 1st is about two weeks away. We can Occupy the South Central Farms then or on May 1st... ...what we're really looking for is...

8:58 pm, Esteban:  Two days ago the SENETE ??CNT?? and the other two organizations... ...Here in Spain, people only sing about it. “Hace falta ya una huelga, una huelga. Hace falta ya una huelga general. Hace falta ya una huelga general.”  That means “What’s lacking now is a strike, a strike. What’s lacking now is a general strike.”

9:00 pm, Shakti:  We're starting a canvassing campaign... ...Esteban and I talked about getting people to training... ...we're going to have a meeting about how we're going to do the 'Canvassing Campaign'... ...on this action on the 17th that's coming up... ...get people to sign up... ...I'll go out on the streets and start canvassing this stuff...

9:02 pm, Donald:  If you don't know what Esperanto is... ...it was... ...of being an International language... ...I was working on a language of my own... ...see if I can get some people to learn the Esperanto language... ...it's very structured. It's very easy to learn. But like any language it would take practice...

9:04 pm, Beth... .Work with some other media members... ...so I coopted the meeting and took them to a... ...different backgrounds from all over the world... ...We'd like to write these stories... ...it's really contentious as to whether M1GS is going to be a strike or a party...

9:06 pm, Jojo:  ...If you've got a camera and you're at an Action, film it... ...meeting 530 LA CAN... ...we've got to keep giving footage to people that can't get to all these actions.

9:08 pm, AnaBella:  [DISCUSSES WHY THE ATTACK SOLDIER 'SNAPPED']...he went to a bar and they got in an argument. So they went outside and got into a fight... ...I heard on the radio that he was emotionally disturbed... ...

9:09 pm, Ryan:  Thank you everyone [ADJOURNS GA]... ...if you want to get involved in Facilitations and Moderating the GA come to our meetings at Cabbage Patch. 

9:10 pm, Esteban:  [ANNOUNCES 'CANVASSING COMMITTEE' ORGANIZATION].