Occupiers, 99%-ers, Fellow Insurgents,

The rumors are true.  Deep in the bowels of Brooklyn the plans were hatched, the forces gathered, the dream made real. The Illuminator (http://theilluminator NULL.org/) has been given form and will ride out on its maiden voyage this Saturday night as part of Low Lives: Occupy (http://www NULL.occupywithart NULL.com/blog/2012/2/18/press-release-for-low-lives-occupy-f18 NULL.html)!  Its mission:  To smash the myths of the information industry so that people might see for themselves what the 99% movement is fighting for.  The Illuminato (http://theilluminator NULL.org/)r is a tactical media tool and spectacularization machine, a beautiful and useful instrument to be used to grow and strengthen the movement in New York City and around the country.  We’ve got big plans.  Go to the website (http://theilluminator NULL.org/), follow us on the social media outlet of your choice, and stay tuned.

To catch us on Livestream on Saturday night at 7:28, 8:26, or 9:24pm, check in on the Low Lives channel: http://www.occupywithart.com/llo-live-channel/  (http://www NULL.occupywithart NULL.com/llo-live-channel/)

To catch us live, follow us on one of those aforementioned outlets.

See you in the Streets,

The Illuminator Team

THE ILLUMINATOR

Mission:  To smash the myths of the information industry and allow people to find out for themselves what the 99% movement is fighting for.

The Illuminator is a cargo van equipped with video and audio projection, as well a fully stocked infoshop and mini-library. It is designed to bring relevant news, often largely censored by the mainstream media, as well as related films and music, to a range of communities as it travels around the country.

The Illuminator is fun!  Expect to see inspirational messages and symbols, old cartoons, comedians, as well as documentary and feature films, all reflecting the spirit of the occupy movement. Expect comic books.  Expect Hot Coco, or cold lemonade.  Expect lively conversation.

The Illuminator is a tactical media tool, available to the movement.  Whether its coming to a demonstration or rally and adding a bit of visual energy and pop, or its the centerpiece around which an event is organized, or even if its randomly appearing at a busy intersection and creating a spectacular surprise, The Illuminator will be a useful and beautiful instrument.

The Illuminator is a shapeshifter and a transformer of public space.  It shifts from a bland white cargo van into a mobile spectacle. It transforms from an enclosed private space into a public space for public conversation, entertainment and education.  It transforms spaces that are normally used for transit into sites for community engagement.  It transforms watching videos into a community event.

The Illuminator disrupts the patterns of everyday life, and embodies the social and political transformations for which the occupy movement/99% movement continues to fight.

The Illuminator is just the beginning.  Stay tuned for the second half of The Mobilizers for the 99%.  The debut of The Changemaker is coming soon….

On February 9th at Brooklyn Tech High School, more than 2,000 parents, students and teachers voted “No Confidence” in the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP), a rubber-stamp for Michael Bloomberg’s undemocratic and racist system of mayoral control over New York City’s public schools. In complete indifference to the will of parents, students, teachers, and the borough appointees on the panel, the mayor’s puppets voted to close 18 schools and truncate 5 more. These closures are devastating to local communities and a testament to the utter failure of a decade of mayoral dictatorship over the public school system.

We should not be surprised by this vote. The PEP is dominated by a majority of unelected puppets of the mayor and the 1%, who have never voted against a school closure, despite endless testimony by those affected. It was for this reason that we attempted to use the “people’s mic” to take control from the PEP and place it in the hands of the people. This tactic was unsuccessful in its objective of creating an alternate structure within the PEP and stopping the vote, but we were proud to stand with students from closing schools who bravely turned their backs on the PEP and attempted a coordinated disruption of their proceedings via this tactic.

Out of fear and contempt for those affected by their disastrous policies, the panel attempted to lock out hundreds of students and teachers from the hearing, in violation of open-meetings laws. While we did not succeed in stopping the vote, we exposed the deeply undemocratic nature the of the PEP, the Chancellor and the Mayor, who are now more isolated than ever. We will learn from this action and return stronger.

Chancellor Walcott would like to believe we are simply “Occupy Wall Street protesters” controlled by the UFT. This distortion of facts shows a desperate wish to see us as outsiders or pawns of the UFT leaders rather than the large school-based grassroots force we’ve become. In fact, February 9th was organized and carried out by a large coalition of individuals and community groups who are rights-holders in the public school system; students, parents and teachers.

Several media reports chose to highlight the so-called “divisions” between Occupy the DOE and the UFT, who attempted to organize a separate “People’s PEP” at an alternate location instead of joining the planned action inside. In the end, however, the UFT leadership joined the masses of people in direct confrontation to the panel inside the Brooklyn Tech auditorium. This display of unity, however late, is welcome. We must continue to build coalitions between parents, students and school workers to mobilize for mass democratic and non-violent action to defend our schools.

Every school closure, every encroachment by charter-school privatizers and profiteers, every attack on teachers’ union rights will meet resistance. We demand REAL reform of our schools. We demand smaller class sizes. We demand an anti-racist curriculum. We demand an end to high-stakes testing. We demand equitable funding. We demand direct, democratic governance by a People’s Board of Education. We will not stand by while our public schools are auctioned off to the profiteers of the 1%. We are the 99%, and we will continue to escalate our campaign of non-violent struggle against mayoral control.

#OccupytheDOE

http://www.occupythedoe.com/

Re-published from OurSchoolsNYC (http://www NULL.ourschoolsnyc NULL.org/2012/02/this-is-why-i-occupy/)

Far from the majestic columns of Wall Street, tucked between a bodega and an aged brownstone, sits Paul Robeson High School. A portly entrance towers over the single-family Brooklyn row houses that flank the fortress, a once-proud bastion of public education in an increasingly-downsized district. Mike Bloomberg reminisces about the days when he wrangled power away from the local education boards, ushering in a new era of accountability and efficiency. His vision: to turn ‘unruly’ large high schools into mini-Academies of small schools. They would be built in partnership with companies like IBM and charter management companies, the franchisers of public-private hybrid education. Schools like Robeson were his laboratory.

As Bloomberg went about shutting down schools his Department deemed failing,

Robeson swelled in numbers to accomodate the increasingly needy – and farther-traveling – students. Class sizes soared. The modest rise in teacher pay didn’t do much to counter the difficulties of trying to teach young people in an increasingly-corporate edu-business bureaucracy. But the Mayor surged onwards.

(http://www NULL.ourschoolsnyc NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/image-1 NULL.jpg)

At the same time, only an A-train away, the Mayor’s cronies tightened their stranglehold on education in their imposing new home: Tweed Courthouse. They constructed myriad layers of wasteful bureaucracy to insulate themselves from any responsiveness to real educators. When the soaring ambitions of non-educators in Tweed carried them to more glamorous and lucrative private-sector jobs, Bloomberg just replaced them with cocktail-party friends. Then he’d make sure his old employees could still get pricey contracts to outsource the endless number-crunching that education had become under his iron fist. The revolving door of Edu-Business was always turning.

Back at Robeson, the students have gotten word that their school is scheduled for “phase-out”, whereby each year their school will be deprived of a new Freshman class and all of the per-pupil funding and resources that comes with it. Technically, all of the students here will have the opportunity to graduate. In reality – by the Department’s own measure – around half will drop out in the next three years, some others will transfer to other failing schools, and the remainder will witness the emaciation of their school as a brand new school carves its way into their halls and classrooms. They will likely not have the opportunity to transfer to this

new school, which will be stocked with new teachers and a principal from another space-starved neighborhood away. Space has replaced learning as the valueable commodity in education.

When the small schools and hybrid public-private charter schools fail by the Department’s shifting metrics, their students will be shifted around in a morbid game of cups. Innovative educators will attempt to circumvent the endless Bloomberg bureaucracy, either legally by starting community charters or quietly in their public school classrooms. Public education will stagnate under a reform movement that worships progress over people.

For the massive triumph he enacted on democracy, Bloomberg did make (at least) one error in judgement: you can’t silence everyone.

(http://www NULL.ourschoolsnyc NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/IMG_5068 NULL.jpg)

Each school he directs his panel to shutter, each threatened funding cut to a teacher benefit or student after-school program, sparks a new silent army of dissidents. Entire communities in Bed-Stuy, in Harlem, in the South Bronx, in Midtown, in Coney Island have reached the tipping point of their allegience to a failed education regime. The departure of each high-ranking school official stacks one more weight on the scales of justice. Teachers and parents won’t stand by as the Department pits school against school, community against community, charter against public, union against parent.

No. We will Occupy the DOE. And take it back.

Join students (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/104521729674642/), parents, teachers, principals, school staff, community leaders, elected officials and more this Thursday, Feb. 9, 5:30pm, at Brooklyn Technical HS in Fort Greene as we unite our voices against a failed DOE and for an equitable, just system of public education. 

Justin Wedes is an educator and activist living in Brooklyn, New York. He helped form the New York City General Assembly, who brought you Occupy Wall Street. He currently works with the OWS Social Media team, and teaches media literacy and leadership after-school in NYC schools.  

This email is from Marisa Holmes…

Sunday Brunch Dialogue and Planning

Sunday Feb 5th, 11 AM

16 Beaver Bagels and OJ provided

Dear OWS family, This is an invitation to caucuses, working groups, affinity groups, and any other member of the OWS community to be a part of a planning brunch for a larger community-wide discussion on core issues we are all grappling with. These issues include but are not limited to:

- Accountability

- Transparency

- Structural and interpersonal dynamics of privilege

- Hierarchies within OWS

We believe our community can grow stronger if we know one another, what resources we each have access to, and how our “groups” are organized. We believe we can be stronger when we have examined issues of power, leadership, and structures together.

We hope that any member of the OWS community interested in these matters brings their voice to this planning meeting, so we encourage you to send this to anyone who might want to participate. Sunday we will explore these issues while crafting ideas for an agenda and process for a larger community gathering. We are aware that many of these conversations are happening already. We ourselves have had this conversation with many people within the OWS movement. This is simply an attempt to have that conversation as a larger community. Let’s come together in the spirit of solidarity, openness and transparency. Bagels and orange juice will be provided, feel free to contribute something festive!

Love and Solidarity,

Jason Ahmadi

Nicole Carty

Tashy Endres

Lisa Fithian

Marisa Holmes

George Machado

MEDIA ALERT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Occupy Indianapolis: Greg Lambert, greglambert@greglambert.com (greglambert null@null greglambert NULL.com) (317) 731-2269

Occupy Indiana: Tracy Lubbehusen tracy.lubbehusen@gmail.com (tracy NULL.lubbehusen null@null gmail NULL.com) (812) 239-3160

Occupy Purdue: Bill Mullen, bill.mullen2@gmail.com (bill NULL.mullen2 null@null gmail NULL.com) (765) 430-1312

Saturday, Feb. 4

Oakland Solidarity March

5pm – South Lawn

Indianapolis State House

Sunday, Feb. 5

Occupy the Super Bowl!

12pm – South Lawn

Indianapolis State House

Occupy the Super Bowl!

Occupiers, Labor Unions Join With

NFL Players to Oppose Attacks on Workers

INDIANAPOLIS 2/3 – Indiana Occupiers, labor rank-and-file, organizers and activists will  Occupy the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, IN Saturday and Sunday to protest the passage of union-busting Right to Work legislation.

The occupation is in solidarity with trade unions across Indiana, including members of the National Football League Players Association.

“This isn’t an attack on the Super Bowl or those who plan to attend,” says Greg Lambert from the Occupy Nomads and Occupy Indiana. “It’s an attempt to stop a war against working people being waged by Governor 1% Daniels, and the corporations and banks who buy and sell America’s politicians. This is a life-or-death struggle for the people of Indiana, we have to use this opportunity to tell our story while the country has its eyes on our state.”

On Saturday February 4th, Occupiers and their allies will gather at the south lawn of the Indiana Statehouse, at 5 p.m. to rally and march in support of Occupy Oakland.

A direct action event will take place at noon Super Bowl Sunday on the south lawn of the Indiana State House in Indianapolis, where Wednesday Governor Mitch Daniels signed into law HB 1001 attempting to dismantle union power and workplace democracy in Indiana.

More than 15,000 workers seized the State House Wednesday to try and stop Right to Work.

Sunday’s event will use the State House as a people’s stage to rebuild solidarity and resistance.  The event will be non-violent and geared towards all audiences including fans attending the New England Patriots-New York Giants football game.  Organizers especially invite out-of-state guests to Indiana to come and see the real effects of Right to Work on workers’ lives so they might go home to warn their brothers and sisters of its consequences.

“Right-to-Work takes away our livelihoods, and further degrades the rights of workers which have been under attack since the day they were signed into law,” says Tracy Lubbehusen from Occupy Indiana. “If the people of Indiana and their families were not desperate, we would not be taking to the streets in these numbers. What are you supposed to do when your elected officials refuse to put people first?”

“We wonder how Mitch Daniels and the other 1% politicians attending the Super Bowl will feel when they see Unions, Occupiers, and other people they claim to represent standing together against attacks on worker’s rights,” says Rachael Perrotta, a participant in Occupy Chicago. “Even the NFL Player’s Association has condemned Right to Work. Our movement is growing more cohesive, entering into a new phase of coordinated organizing with our allies in labor.”

Occupy Purdue, a participant in Sunday’s direct action, is in solidarity with the Occupy Wall St. movement, which empowers real people to create real change toward a more equitable society. Occupy Purdue invites all non-violent people to join.

Occupy Indianapolis seeks to get corporations out of the American political system. and stands in solidarity with the Global Occupy Movement. Occupy Indianapolis invites all people of peace to join us.

- END -

Occupy Indianapolis // Occupyindy.blogspot.com (http://Occupyindy NULL.blogspot NULL.com/)

Occupy Purdue // Facebook.com/occupypurdue (http://Facebook NULL.com/occupypurdue)

Here’s a letter signed by CM’s Ydanis Rodriguez, Jumaane Williams, Robert Jackson, Letitia James, Melissa Mark-Viverito, and Fernando Cabrera in support of the #J15 Gobal Candlelight Vigil!

1.14.15 Ows-mlk Letter PDF (http://www NULL.scribd NULL.com/doc/78291866/1-14-15-Ows-mlk-Letter-PDF)

(see the updated list – and add your own! – to the Vigils Map (https://squaresdatabase NULL.crowdmap NULL.com/))

Dunedin
Occupy the Octagon, Dunedin, New Zealand 21:00 (9pm) We have candles and tents enough for everyone!

Halifax
On his birthday and in the spirit of Dr. King’s vision for racial and economic equality, peace, and non-violence, we are holding candlelight…

Beacon
Pete Seeger is joining us in Beacon, NY

Tahrir Square
Ramy Essam will be performing in Tahrir Square.

New Orleans
Vigil being planned on the Moonwalk.

Asheville
Candlelight Vigil for Unity On his birthday and in the spirit of Dr. King’s vision for racial and economic equality, peace, and non-violence,…

Beaverton
Washington Co Peace Vigil will be joining the world for a Candlelight Vigil for Unity in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. Corner of Hall &…

Manchester
Candlelit vigil and party, 7:00 pm, Albert Square, Manchester, UK

Tampa
Occupy Tampa will be holing a candlelight vigil in support of #J15 and in unity with other global occupations. It is also worth noting that…

Redlands
Occupy Redlands will be doing a Candlelight Vigil in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Sunday, January 15th from 7-8pm. The “I Have a Dream”…

Sioux Falls
SD MLK Candlelight Vigil – 10th Street & Second Avenue http://www.facebook.com/events/111920868929577/

#J15 Solidarity Assembly
In solidarity with #J15, a daylong radical gathering of queer femme-spectrum folks and our allies, taking place at Judson Memorial Church also…

MLK Vigil, Salem
#J15 Worldwide Candlelight Vigil

#J15 Occupy Dayton
Occupy Dayton is holding a vigil on Sunday, Jan 15 at 7 p.m. n Courthouse Square, Main Street, Dayton Ohio! Come light a candle with us! http://www.facebook.com/events/231544330257220/

Occupy Charlottesville J15 Candlelight Vigil
Will occur Sunday Jan 15 2012 @ 7pm.

Occupy Tampa J15 Vigil
Occupy Tampa in unity with other occupations throughout the world will be holding a candlelight vigil at 2101 W. Main St Tampa, Fl. Please join…

#J15 Niagara
Visit Facebook page for developing details

#J15 Vigil Portland
#J15 Vigils Around the World! Occupy Portland On his birthday and in the spirit of Dr. King’s vision for racial and economic equality, peace,…

Jan 15th Vigil
Occupy Tampa in solidarity with other Occupations and uprisings around the world and in honor of Dr. King’s vision for social equality and peace…

Reno
Occupy Reno and Occupy Carson City are inviting the local community to join us at 7pm in front of City Hall. More info: occupyreno.org

Schwerin
Platz der Freiheit , Dr. Külz-Str. 2, Schwerin More Information »

Los Angeles
Occupy Los Angeles will be lighting their candles at 7pm. Awakened and unified….

Dallas
Occupy Dallas will participate in a candlelight vigil honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King and his commitment to non-violent protesting….

MLK Birthday Candlelight Vigil for Unity
Calling all Occupiers, citizens, friends, and neighbors. In solidarity with the Worldwide Candlelight Vigil for Unity, we will meet at Camp…

OccupyNow! J15 Candlelight Vigil in Dallas
Description Join us in solidarity with this world wide demonstration!!. Bring candles, lighters lanterns, Love, etc. Be sure to dress warm!…

Jacksonville
Occupy Jacksonville invites you to attend a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday with poetry readings and a candlelight vigil, at…

Occupy Orlando MLK Events January
MLK Sign making party Bring supplies and MLK quotes! When: Friday, before and after the General Assembly Where: Orlando City Hall MLK Orlando…

J15 March Springfield MO
Re-Launching our Hopes and Dreams in the Spirit of Dr. King! On his birthday and in the spirit of Dr. King’s vision for racial and economic…

Occupy the Dream, Chicago
Occupy the Dream! Martin Luther King Day Celebration and Public Meeting! Come together with 1,200 other people from across Chicago to celebrate…

Rådhuspladsen
#J15 Verdensdemonstration 15 at Copenhagen City Hall Square 3:00pm until 6:00pm Over hele verden demonstreres samme dag i Occupy bevægelsens…

15J Rathausmarkt
15J Hamburg Rathausmarkt 15:00-18:00 Uhr

15J: NRW-Demonstration – echte Demokratie ist ein Menschenrecht!
Wir alle erleben, wie unser politisches System mit seiner fragwürdigen Machtverteilung versagt. Politik, die zur Zeit betrieben wird, kann die…

J15 Düsseldorf
Meeting Point: Main Station Düsseldorf 2 p.m.

Geneva 0
Camp des indigné-e-s genevois aux Bastions, depuis le 15 octobre 2011. #J15 vigil event: https://www.facebook.com/events/215089901912047/

15E Valladolid (España) se manifiesta con Pingüinos.
Manifestación que sigue a la noche en blanco pingüinera indignada para recordar al nuevo gobierno que no son necesarios ni los guardarrailes…

OCCUPY ST.GALLEN
Die friedliche Veranstaltung beginnt um 12 Uhr. Unser Hauptanliegen ist das Gespräch mit den Menschen auf der Strasse. Mit der Bevölkerung…

Jyväskylä
Sunday of Dreams in honour of Martin Luther King at the corner of Kauppakatu and Kilpisenkatu from 12:00 to 17:00.

As a way to thank community members for their support and kindness, today OWS embarked on a holiday gift-giving tour. Adorably-packaged vegan doughnuts were delivered to various locations throughout the city, starting with Zuccotti Park, where street vendors and–ironically–security personnel became the first recipients. The staff of the nearby Burger King and MacDonalds restaurants were visited next (to show appreciation for allowing so many o

ccupiers access to their bathrooms), along with those working at Steve’s Pizza and Charly’s Subs. Several boxes were also

brought to SIS, to thank building security for their help a

nd patience. The first rou

nd of deliveries was concluded with a visit to the Amalgamated Bank, which has publicly announced its support for OWS.

Following this, a second batch of gifts was sent out. WBAI radio, Charlotte’s Place, and Jivamukti Yoga were among those visited. Another team went – with livestream (http://bambuser NULL.com/channel/owslivestream)! – To conclude the trip, a few remaining gifts were spontaneously distributed to employees of Forbidden Planet and The Strand, both establishments being known to support OWS. The overall effort was conducted very smoothly,

and proved to be a fun and festive way of strengthening community relations

.

Check out pics/video (http://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/embed/ebbDEueFifg) from our day:

OWS is committed to creating a safe environment for campers at #LibertyPlaza, so we are excited to announce the creation of the People’s Firehouse – or Fire Department of Liberty Plaza (FDLP)!

By consensus of the General Assembly, the People’s Firehouse – named in honor of Engine 212 in North Brooklyn, which was occupied for 18 months (http://prattcenter NULL.net/northside-town-hall-community-center) after budget cuts forced its closure – will serve the camp around the clock and be staffed by trained fire experts. It’s also on twitter right here (http://twitter NULL.com/#!/occupy_firedept) and on Facebook (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/pages/FDLP-Fire-Dept-of-Liberty-Plaza/189680064447257?sk=wall)!

Here’s the proposal that passed GA last night, creating the People’s Firehouse:

OWS Comprehensive Plan for Health Safety (http://www NULL.scribd NULL.com/doc/72387316/OWS-Comprehensive-Plan-for-Health-Safety)