Proposal: host the first Global GA in Chicago on May 1

[evelyn]

PROPOSAL:
Occupy Chicago shold host the first Global General Assembly of our Global Occupation on May 1st, 2012.

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The actual language of this call to action could look something like this:

Occupy Chicago invites the world to the first General Assembly of our Global Occupation on May 1st, 2012.

In September 2011, Occupy Chicago, in solidarity with more than 1300 Occupations the world over, began to lay the groundwork for a social revolution on a scale the Earth has never before seen. What began as a response to economic inequality and social injustice transformed into a vision for a new society: one based on social justice, equality for all, and respect for all peoples of the world. The framework for this new society began when ordinary people built tent cities on public land and convened General Assembly meetings to begin constructive conversations on bridging the divisions of social and economic inequality.

In those parks and on our city streets, members and sympathizers of Occupy movements, representatives of the 99 percent of humans struggling under the boot of the 1 percent who would hoard the wealth of the world, were met with threats and violence, arrested and imprisoned. Despite the challenges forced on us by the guardians of the State and status quo, we have persevered and persisted, made inroads and alliances with disenfranchised peoples, and forced the global conversation to address the realities of inequality.

Now is the time to unite our voices into a chorus (of something that sounds good, not sure what yet)

Now is the time to truly globalize the movement.

(I feel like there needs to be a third here, but that’s because I have an affinity for things in threes or fives)

Occupy Chicago calls on all peoples of the world to convene on May Day 2012 for the first Global General Assembly. In May, members of the 1 percent, who turned peaceful protest into a crime and hold a global monopoly on violence, will meet at a summit held on behalf of NATO and the G8. The G8, a body representing a group of global elite, will try to once again make decisions for the world without offering it a seat at the table. Our GA is in direct contrast to their G8. We call on all people of the world to convene, discuss our issues and challenges, and begin the process of finding solutions. Unions, community organizations and every day people in Chicago will take the non-violent, peaceful message of the 99 percent to the table of the 1 percent and make our demands. We will celebrate the struggles and victories of past generations of people’s movements, Occupy Chicago’s public spaces and send a clear message to the world that anything is possible.

Join us as we build a better world and a brighter future.

[evelyn]

Some background

This proposal emerged in the Press Committee after the Adbusters announcement of encampment on May 1. Many of us feel that a unilateral decision was made without respecting the direct democracy or consensus-based principles of the Occupy movement. On the other hand, we recognize how difficult it will be at this juncture in time to dismiss May 1. There will be plenty of people coming here, whether we will it or no. We have a very small window of opportunity to use this PR wave to our advantage, and to turn M1 into a day that fits into our own idea of what Chicago Spring is.

I'm not personally on any working group that is planning a large General Assembly and it's come to my attention that such a thing may exist. This proposal is not made with the intention to undermine their efforts, but I hope that members of that working group can weigh in.

I discussed this proposal in depth with Secretariat on Sunday, but didn't have the chance to get it online until now.

[rmperrotta]

PROPOSAL AMENDED:

After listening to the stack last night, we are amending the proposal. First, this Friday, we will vote yes or no to:
- Occupy Chicago will put out a global call to action for May 1, 2012

If that passes, we will then vote on several options for the theme of the call to action. I propose we vote on five or six themes, then vote again on the top two.

The themes suggested so far are:
- The First General Assembly of the Global Occupation
- A Day Without the 99%

Please suggest other themes as well.

Further, I propose we gather on Sunday at 7pm at Cermak and use the non-voting GA time to flesh out a call to action for the theme we chose. I would like to lead a brainstorming session, where we identify:
1) Who are we? (students, teachers, union members, Occupiers)
2) Who are we fighting against? (corporate fat cats, lobbyists, Mayor 1%)
3) What are the points of intervention, where they are weak and we can attack their system? (income inequality, foreclosure, money in politics)

Once we identify the above, we'll have the language we need to write a call around the theme we chose. This short call to action will then be brought to the GA for approval next week.

The inspiration for the workshop I propose to lead on Sunday comes from the brilliant folks at SmartMeme. Check out their Battle of the Story and Points of Intervention worksheets at http://smartmeme.org/section.php?id=86. Please come prepared with ideas on Sunday.

I can't tell you how exciting it is to watch this Occupation come together and plan great things. Please submit your theme ideas, or any other ideas you have. These are exciting time! Hella Hella Occupy!

Love, Rachael P