You've probably heard about the huge early morning police raid on Occupy Oakland and the evening teargas attack in Oakland on Tuesday. I was very involved in Occupy Oakland — it was a beautiful and exciting experiment in participatory democracy. The daily general assemblies, attended by hundreds of people, created an un-precedented dialog about income inequality, class, and whether the capitalist system is serving us. 

I was at the camp for the raid at 4:45 am and back on the street (after work) for the march Tuesday night that was heavily tear gassed and fired on with rubber bullets and concussion grenades. I wasn't hurt but I got a good facefull of gas and helped carry Scott Olson, the Iraq vet who was shot in the head, to safety after his injury. (A photo of this is here: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/10/25/18695124.php) The police over-reaction has expanded the number of people involved from perhaps  around 1,000 to many thousands since then. 

Last night Occupy Oakland returned and took back the encampment site with around 3000 people. We had our regular general assembly meeting and decided, through a long modified consensus process with a 90% vote required to approve a proposal, to adopt the following proposal. The vote was

1484 for
77 abstain
46 against

note: we had a consensus meeting with 1,600 people!!!!! I have never seen anything like it in 25 years as an activist, especially coming the night after a police teargas attack. The meeting was focused, non-violent, and inspiring. 

The GA approved this PROPOSAL:

We as fellow occupiers of Oscar Grant Plaza propose that on Wednesday November 2, 2011, we liberate Oakland and shut down the 1%.

We propose a city wide general strike and we propose we invite all students to walk out of school.Instead of workers going to work and students going to school, the people will converge on downtown Oakland to shut down the city.

All banks and corporations should close down for the day or we will march on them.

While we are calling for a general strike, we are also calling for much more. People who organize out of their neighborhoods, schools, community organizations, affinity groups, workplaces and families are encouraged to self organize in a way that allows them to participate in shutting down the city in whatever manner they are comfortable with and capable of.

The whole world is watching Oakland. Let’s show them what is possible.

The Strike Coordinating Council will begin meeting every day at 5pm in Oscar Grant Plaza before the daily General Assembly at 7pm. All strike participants are invited. Stay tuned for much more information and see you next Wednesday.

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If you are in the Bay Area, consider doing something to promote the general strike.

The economic and political systems are not serving the interests of the vast majority of people. The Occupy movement is applying pressure against an unjust system — a general strike allows many more people to participate and hits those in power where it really hurts.

I think the General Strike is going to be flexible. For anyone who can, don't go to work – call in sick, take a personal day, take a vacation day, don't show up. If you go to work, consider a slow-down strike/work to rule/don't get anything done. Take an extra long lunch and long breaks. 

If you're a teacher, teach about the history of general strikes and organizing efforts against economic injustice. If your job is important (medical, etc.) that is okay – no one is going to call you a scab for doing what you think is appropriate. Small businesses can close but if they stay open they are asked to do something to support the strike. Students: walk out. Self employed??? I'm self-employed and will not work but not everyone can afford that, which is okay. Un-employed: see below. From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs!

There will be 3 gatherings at 14th and Broadway during the day for anyone who is off work or for after work:

9:00 AM
Noon
6:00 PM

At those times, we'll shut down selected corporations, banks, and other members of the 1%. Targets are to be determined. Many details are to be determined. There are nightly meetings at 5 at Oscar Grant Plaza to figure it all out. Many aspects will probably be handled by people working autonomously.

I would be interested to hear from you and/or please forward this far and wide, tell your friends and co-workers and neighbors, make something happen that you think is appropriate. This is not just about the police using teargas in Oakland — we need to keep our eyes on the prize and expand the conversation about whether the system is working. 

If the system is not working, we need to force it to change. 

I invite everyone who hasn't been to an occupation so far to join the general strike events on November 2.

Hella Hella Occupy!

love,

jesse 

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