Page 2 - Occupy 2012 (continued from Page 1)

from draconian "security" laws to poor immigration policies. Large numbers shut down a number of ports along the West Coast and halted truck distribution centers to support workers demanding fair wages.

Banks, particularly blamed for their role in the current economic crisis, have been boycotted and picketed nearly everywhere. The "99 Percent" draw particular attention to an economic system that appears to serve the 1 percent at the expense of the taxpayer and society as a whole. Rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court that seem to provide advantage to corporate financial holding companies equal (or in some cases greater) than that of citizens only adds fuel to the fire.

Decades of work and development of nonviolence action principles have contributed to the Occupy movement. This comes as no surprise to the peace and justice community that led the uprising and contributed to training in places like Manila, South Africa, and more recently Cario's Tahrir Square. The stories of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez, Thoreau, Mother Jones, Mandela and others have been shared with today's youth and inspire the next generation who see that another world is possible.

From a set of core principles of nonviolent engagement, a new set of themes has emerged for the Occupy movement.

1. Rule #1 - There are no rules: Each group decides, using consensus among the members present, how they want to organize and engage. This is based on the principle that all persons are inherently equal to one another and no person has the right, or authority, to impose his or her will on anyone else. It also frustrates authoritative types who demand to know "who is in charge".

2. Generally Assembling: Groups come together, usually daily, to make collective decisions and decide what they will do. During these general assemblies (GA) ideas and plans are discussed and until there is common agreement. This is based on the principle of democratic, participatory self-government and something that is lacking in the current "50%-plus-one, winner take all" U.S. political culture.

3. Creativity and Artistry: When dialoging about issues and seeking solutions, creativity and interdisciplinary thinking are encouraged. Often art, meditation, song, silence, dancing - even prayer - is employed to support positive group dynamics among those assembled. This is based on principles of trust and acknowledgement of the gifts of others in a diverse society and stands in stark contrast to the establishment status quo.

4. Disturb, Emerge and Occupy: Integral to occupy groups, to some degree or another, is the concern to broaden and elevate social dialog over entrenched establishments. Activities are often engaged in to "disturb", provoke thought, reframe discussion with the real purpose of changing society. When ignored, or if change doesn't appear forthcoming, then "occupation" sets in to try and force change. This is based on the principle that unreasonable or unjust laws and institutions need to be confronted directly.

5. Nonviolence, Always: One of the greatest challenges for occupations is to try and adhere to nonviolent principles, particularly when a few participants may believe that violence is a suitable method to achieve results. Occupiers believe that nonviolent, direct action stands a better chance to bring about change than any other method. This is based on the principle that the ends and the means need to be the same or, as A.J. Muste suggested, "there is no way to peace, peace is the way."

This collaborative Occupy experiment is continuing to assemble in various forms and using a variety of creative approaches to birth change. Wouldn't it be great is our elected governments followed similar patterns?

At the local level - in big cities and in places like El Paso, McAllen, Corpus Christi and Paris (Texas), activists are coming together to show that the movement is widespread and not limited by "place". It is more about citizens coming together to reclaim public spaces which local governments - elected to represent "The People" have tried to restrict with "free speech zones", "hours of protests", etc. Local issues will be addressed along with global concerns.

At the statewide level organizations will continue attempts to improve state government by drawing attention to the Legislature and its abdication of duty to fund roads, schools and other social needs. Making Texas a state is which every person can freely work, live and learn will be the mantra.

Nationally, the occupation movement will focus on jobs, justice and limiting the power of the "defense" "security" and financial apparatus that threatens The Citizen with bankrupting the public treasury, endless war, usurpation of First Amendment rights and concentration of wealth in the hands of the few at the expense of the many. Throughout the year America will be occupied.

January 17 - Washington, DC - 12-noon. An "Occupy Congress" rally is planned in Washington, D.C. to draw attention to ongoing illegal U.S. detention of persons at Guantánamo and Bagram and to protest the recently signed National Defense Authorization Act (NDDA) which not only spends hundreds of billions of dollars on militarism but also allows the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens without trial.

Local groups will re-emerge as the weather warms and take back public spaces which have been denied to them. As more citizens take over public plazas and parks, city halls, and universities local officials and police departments will need to reexamine their policies regarding the right of people to freely assemble to have their grievances addressed. Electoral primaries will also be "occupied" and new candidates will be elected at state and local levels.

March 23-25 - Stamford, CT. American peace and justice organizations will meet in a United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) Conference with workshops, training and tactical planning for the remainder of the year.

May 15-19 - Chicago, IL. More than 150 organizations, including Texans for Peace, will participate in a national countersummit to protest the agenda of the first combined summit of NATO and the G8 (the political arm of the 1% of the 1%).

Throughout the summer there will assorted new actions and protests, particularly focusing on corporate miscreants at their headquarters in major cities, along with ongoing vigils and occupations from Wall Street to every main street. There will concerted efforts to overturn the Supreme Court's decisions giving public corporations the same rights as "persons", protest against banks and usurious interest rates and home evictions, and demonstrations for jobs and livable wages.

Much of the fall will be focused on national, state and local elections. Occupations of campaign officials, electoral events and rallies can also be expected - across the political spectrum. October will mark the anniversary of the 11th year of the U.S. military occupation of Afghanistan - America's longest war. November will likely see the election of new officeholders who pledge to uphold the rights of The People and change politics-as-usual.

Throughout the year, it will be up to peacemakers to remind our friends and neighbors of the principles of forceful, nonviolent action to achieve good results for all. The late great Texan Molly Ivins penned "We are the ones who run this country. We are the deciders." And, achieving justice will take real work.

Let us decide to occupy our hearts and minds, and feet and hands, with peace and justice in the year ahead!

Charlie Jackson
Texans for Peace

LAST WEEK: Texas Climate - Reaping what we sow