Call to action: Citizen journalists

Occasionally, we get a chance to make a political point with an action that goes to the root of OWS Principles of Solidarity. On March 8 for instance, Women Occupy together with Code Pink organized to focus on the center of the bank-scum universe, Bank of America on March 8. (See video below).

There have been many paragraphs written about the criminality of certain financiers, and the cozy relationship they enjoy with their regulators. We have seen the damage done. We have documented the hardships and the causes. The evidence of the crimes perpetrated against the 99% continues to mount, and the separation between them and the general population has been reinforced with mind-boggling new legislation that effectively eviscerates the U.S. Constitution, but favors their interests.

Tentatively scheduled for April 6, 2012, the occupation of Santa Ana will commence to bring attention to the ridiculous laws that have been used to persecute and oppress the least-fortunate of the 99%, those that are unable to afford the most basic of necessities, shelter.

The homeless population, growing by leaps and bounds since the cascading foreclosure crisis that is nowhere near it's bottoming-out point, generally stays on public property for the simple reason that to do otherwise is to be in jeopardy of trespassing on private property, a very simple proposition.

The counties that receive millions in funding, have not only have failed in their mission at great cost to the taxpayers, they have also targeted the homeless for prosecution, actually using them as a revenue source, instead of providing those services. This is not what the taxpayers think they are paying for. In fact, as people become more aware of illegal foreclosures, the stranglehold the banks have over regulatory agencies, and their perverse influence over local governments, they also understand that trying to turn the homeless into a revenue source by criminalizing poverty is counter-productive and an insult to everyone involved. That is not why they elected these people.

The details of this action can be found at this link: http://occumedia.com/Occupy-OC.php

There will be time to explain this in detail. Right now, copies of the California Public Records Act are being printed and you can download it from the same website by scrolling down the right column at this link. http://occumedia.com (You may also want to download the Brown Act which also pertains to all Citizen Journalists found just below).

Occupiers also have laws that were written to protect us from harassment and persecution by law enforcement officials like Rauckauckas, that wield their authority against the victims instead of the perpetrators. We can demand their records, even their inter-agency communications. If they refuse to comply, they will be in violation of state law.

Familiarize yourself with the Public Records Act if you'd like to become involved with this effort. Soon we will advise on a strategy for citizen journalists of the Occupation Nation to bring these requests forward, locally, regionally, and with the intention of creating a new source of data for the benefit of the Occupation Movement. This is a Call to Action for all Citizen Journalists.

California will be the center of this effort, because most states don't mandate that public officials operate transparently and with the interests of the public as priorities. We've seen the consequences. But here in California, we have the right to demand all records that pertain to issues consistent with the Principles of Solidarity. (Actually, any goddam thing we feel like asking for according to state law).

If you have never dabbled in records investigation or media production, this is your chance to get involved with others documenting and disseminating the message of social justice and demonstrate the criminality and malfeasance of those that took an oath to protect the people and their interests. (According to the polls, they haven't exactly lived up to the promises they made or expectations of the public).

Look for advisories, training and suggestions on how to get involved with this effort here and at the website linked above. Live streamers are already scheduled, but more are welcome to make sure the coverage is constant.

There will be tents. There will be food. And most of all there will be a classic opportunity to demonstrate why one of the primary topics of discussion has been the War on the Poor, orchestrated and executed by those with the money and influence to suppress dissent. And they've got some very good reasons to suppress it, because the truth is not their friend.

Women Occupy and Code Pink shut down Bank of America:

Here's an example of what happened March 8, one of the actions that took place as a result of Occupy Womena and Code Pink teaming up for nationwide demonstrations against Bank of America:

http://youtu.be/SG8n_tpuE_k

San Onofre action:

Occupations to the south, primarily Occupy SD have been planning a protest for some time at San Onofre nuclear plant. The event is on for tomorrow, March 11, and you'll find the details by clicking on the Communique posted on the home page. The scope of the Fukushima disaster has always been downplayed by the government and the media, but that's what we get whenever the subject goes nuclear.

For some reason the government will go to great lengths to spread fear and panic about something as common as swine flu, but when it comes to warnings about nuclear fallout, they can stonewall for months as evidenced by the handling of the Fukushima disaster almost a year ago.

Pic from Brainvise: Ann Baskauskas

http://brainvise.com/2011/07/18/occupy-this/

Grumpy