Occupy San Diego

Occupy San Diego Strikes Back - Day 1 of Occupy 2.0...

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:12:42 -0800

Occupy San Diego Strikes Back - Day 1 of Occupy 2.0 (re-Occupation of Freedom Plaza, #Dec17)

This is an Occumentary filmed in San Diego at Freedom Plaza. It was started because the SDPD have grossly neglected the law in regards to their enforcement of the Illegal Lodging law, by arresting individuals without offering shelter beds. Please share this video everywhere so we can bring to light the unjust and unfair practices of the SDPD.

Occupy SD Donations for our OccupyGreyhounds Trip to OCCUPY DC in Washington DC!!!!

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:59:28 -0800

Occupy SD Donations for our OccupyGreyhounds Trip to OCCUPY DC in Washington DC!!!! :

Information

THANKS TO EVERYONE,

Now we have had such a great response of people that want to go we have decided to keep going. We decided as a group it would be best to leave on the 12th to arrive on the 15th in order to make it possible to get money for some more Occupy SD people that really want to go and show Congress that here in San Diego we are serious about getting Corporate greed out of the Government.

So here is the deal I will post a list of name of other Occupiers that really want to go, some have cash but not quite enough to get there, whatever is raised after the original amount will be used to supply others with funds to go, heck the more the merrier and better we will look getting news coverage the entire way across country. I will add the list of who these people are and try to get their photo up also.

If you have any questions you can message me or come down to Freedom Plaza most likely there.

Thanks
Chris McKay

Notes from Occupy SD Working Group "On Media & Media Committee"

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:26:57 -0800

Notes from “working group about media and media committee” meeting.

In all fairness, media committee had only very short notice of this working group meeting.

Info: occupysd.org and occupysandiego.org domain names are owned by:

Registrant: Jonathan Gross Ocean Beach San Diego, California 92107 United States Registered through: GoDaddy.com, LLC (http://www.godaddy.com) Domain Name: OCCUPYSD.ORG Created on: 23-Sep-11 Expires on: 23-Sep-12 Last Updated on: 19-Oct-11 Administrative Contact: Gross, Jonathan joncgross@gmail.com Ocean Beach San Diego, California 92107 United States +0.6108881718 Technical Contact: Gross, Jonathan joncgross@gmail.com Ocean Beach San Diego, California 92107 United States +0.6108881718 Domain servers in listed order: NS01.000WEBHOST.COM NS02.000WEBHOST.COM Registry Status: CLIENT DELETE PROHIBITED Registry Status: CLIENT RENEW PROHIBITED Registry Status: CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED Registry Status: CLIENT UPDATE PROHIBITED

activistsandiego.org info:

Domain Name:ACTIVISTSANDIEGO.ORG Created On:23-Mar-1999 05:00:00 UTC Last Updated On:21-Aug-2010 09:14:12 UTC Expiration Date:23-Mar-2015 05:00:00 UTC Sponsoring Registrar:Network Solutions LLC (R63-LROR) Status:CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED Registrant ID:25837817-NSI Registrant Name:Activist San Diego Registrant Street1:4246 Wightman St Registrant Street2: Registrant Street3: Registrant City:San Diego Registrant State/Province:CA Registrant Postal Code:92105 Registrant Country:US Registrant Phone:+1.6195288383 Registrant Phone Ext.: Registrant FAX: Registrant FAX Ext.: Registrant Email:Helpdesk@ActivistSanDiego.org Admin ID:25837817-NSI Admin Name:Activist San Diego Admin Street1:4246 Wightman St Admin City:San Diego Admin State/Province:CA Admin Postal Code:92105 Admin Country:US Admin Phone:+1.6195288383 Admin Email:Helpdesk@ActivistSanDiego.org Tech ID:25837817-NSI Tech Name:Activist San Diego Tech Street1:4246 Wightman St Tech City:San Diego Tech State/Province:CA Tech Postal Code:92105 Tech Country:US Tech Phone:+1.6195288383 Tech Email:Helpdesk@ActivistSanDiego.org Name Server:NS1.DREAMHOST.COM Name Server:NS2.DREAMHOST.COM Name Server:NS3.DREAMHOST.COM

Pat is the contact for this domain name. Activist San Diego was said to be “our official sponsor”.

An email list of this working group was taken by one of the attendees. Some names may have not made it to that list.

Points generally agreed to by the group:

Finance committee has excellent transparency, is effective and still has enough members to sustain the committee as of now.
Media committee needs to be accessible and transparent and needs to work closely as individuals and as a group with Occupy San Diego. We need media committee to report to GA just like other committees do regularly.
Financial info and equipment inventory needs to be established in a transparent manner for the media committee. A number of attendees know that three of Occupy San Diego’s laptops have been lost. Individuals that have been irresponsible with Occupy San Diego’s property and passwords should no longer be allowed to have same going forward. They are welcome to continue as media committee members in every other respect.
On many occasions media committee has been addressed to find solutions to the problems but so far has not stepped up to the plate to GA or Occupy San Diego in general to do so. So they have had plenty of opportunities

Mike Garcia reported that he has been a member of the media committee since October 5th, two days before our 1st day of occupation began. He left the group about three weeks ago due to the ineffectiveness in working well together general, and the drama in the group hindering its efficacy. He said that the problems have been “devastating” to the committee. He also pointed out that the Facebook group page can be hijacked at any time by those who have the passwords. Occupy Mission Bay has a Facebook group page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/occupymissionbay/, and he suggested that many of the individuals (over 2000) in the group would join an Occupy San Diego Facebook page if in general some of these issues can be resolved to Occupy San Diego’s satisfaction.

Mike also mentioned that the media committee knows there are problems and they are trying to achieve agreement on possible solutions.

An attendee said that there are three individuals who have admin passwords: William, Eugene, and Rick. But Eugene arrived after this was said and told us he has no passwords.

Chris McKay has one of Occupy San Diego’s laptops but we need the name of the other individual who has a second laptop. He also suggested that we install LoJack on all media equipment computers.

The moderator whose name I believe is Humberto said that he would try to contact some of the individuals in the committee before tonight’s GA.

Meeting was adjourned shortly after 4 PM to give attendees time to attend the finance committee meeting at 4:30.

These issues will be a discussion topic at tonight’s (12-20) GA.

Tues Dec 20 Occupy SD General Assembly Notes

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:23:00 -0800

GA Notes – 12-20:

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Demands committee meets Thursday 5:30. Jan. 6th is the deadline for California ballot measures.
Finance Committee: Working on possibly moving meeting place to someplace other place besides Downtown Johnny Brown’s for meetings. Minuses for moving outside: Rainy weather. Eavesdropping too easy, don’t want to share anything with people who might really same to police or even SDPD directly hearing what’s being said. Issue and possible proposal were tabled.
Education committee would like to get the library set up again a week from Saturday.
Teach-in (concert?) will happen a week from Saturday at 6 PM at Lincoln HS. Food will be provided
Wellness committee will start a Facebook page tonight; the committee needs to know occupiers’ needs, i.e. meds for diabetics. Tentative plans are to start wellness visits for Occupy San Diego on Saturday at 9 PM.
Arts and entertainment committee (Hex) would like to get this committee started and a few on board to start making things happen.
Occupy Greyhound: Talk to Chris McKay about help with getting to DC and back via Greyhound
Zenyatta (sp?) has a holiday planning meeting at 5:30 tomorrow. Stuff like a handmade gift exchange.

AGENDA PROPOSALS:

Facilitations committee proposed having fewer GAs, i.e. M, W, F, Sat and having the other days open mic free speech sessions Stack was opened for a short time then we decided to do crowdstorming. Concerns about coming down from afar only to find there is no GA. It’s a crapshoot. Ernie would like GA to continue to meet daily as has been ever since Oct. 7th. People need to have a way of knowing when upcoming events or discussion times will happen. Have casual/formal GA days every other day it would alternate one to another. Results of crowdstorming:

Group:

Have GAs four times a week, continue open mic (no details)
Ratification process where proposals would have to be consensed upon for two out of three consecutive GAs.
Suggest that facilitation committee meet again.
Group
- Occupy San Diego Is a young movement, why change so early?
- People have issues with coming some days, due to work commitments or other reasons.
Group
- Feel having fewer GAs would decrease level of involvement.
- Point made that different people make it every night.
- Have open mic every day
Group
- Not in favor of substituting open mic for GAs.
- Where’s the evidence that having fewer GAs would work better for the movement.
- Michael Basillas very concerned about the movement losing momentum.

Topic tabled until tomorrow.

Proposal to call all applications to suggest writing “we” in as a write in candidate for elective offices. An excellent discussion was opened up on this and we talked about how best to leverage the elections and whether we ever want to endorse a candidate for any elective office. Also of corporate personhood and Move to Amend (constitution change prohibiting corporate personhood. One occupier suggested that we try to organize third party convention to attract the far right and far left (for lack of better terms) who have given up on the political process. To get the non-voter involved. To be continued! There will be a working group after GA on this issue. The proposal by its very nature produced excellent interchange at this GA and very likely will continue to do so. Sort of a rhetorical question that gets people seriously thinking about where we’re going with Occupy.

Tomorrow night there will be a GA agenda item on media committee transparency and accountability going forward. There are a number of issues with supposedly missing equipment and also Occupy San Diego not having a way to have passwords accessible without giving that to the entire occupation.

At 5 PM there WILL be a facilitation committee meeting.

Great GA, occupiers!

Thanks @Chris West for taking the Minutes!

Occupy-sd: occupyallstreets: Occupy D.C.: 11 arrested while...

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:28:41 -0800

Occupy-sd:

occupyallstreets:

Occupy D.C.: 11 arrested while protesting National Defense Authorization Act

During a march in front of the White House on Monday night protesting the National Defense Authorization Act, 11 were arrested, including protesters from Occupy D.C.’s McPherson square encampment.

The $662 billion measure approved by both houses of Congress would significantly expand the military’s power to detain terrorism suspects indefinitely. The group was demanding President Obama veto the bill.

Protesters were arrested after getting “too close” to the White House gates, according to Occupy D.C.’s Twitter feed. A roundup of photos and tweets from the protest are after the jump.

Source

Monday, Dec 19th GA Notes

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:18:11 -0800

Occupy San Diego - GA Notes – Monday, Dec. 19th:

Co-facilitators were Claudia, and Michael Basillas.

COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Facilitation committee meets Mondays at 5:30 PM, and also a special meeting at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, Dec. 20th, to work on proposal(s) for new GA activities on certain nights, such as soapbox night, also possibly fewer nights of GAs so more people would come. Many have expressed interest in having fewer GAs. The proposal(s) will be presented at GA later Tuesday night.

We need a way to contact food committee, also possibly may need some volunteers. One individual mentioned that the “organizer” needs more money.

Solidarity Committee: “Occupy Greyhound” will be going to “Occupy Congress” which is on Jan. 19th. Check http://www.facebook.com/events/193123490781712/?ref=nf for local info, and contact Michael Basillas and/or Chris McKay if you plan to go. Solidarity Committee has asked to borrow $600 from finance committee to purchase tickets soon. This will be determined at the next committee meeting at a time to be determined likely at 5:30 PM on Tuesday or Wednesday. Solidarity committee needs volunteers, and will need to do some planning for this trip and the stay in D.C.

An occupier commented that there is currently no way to contact anyone in committees, and often there is typically no info posted on meeting times.

24/7 committee member Ernie reminded 24/7 occupiers to try to keep our home clean, and free from dog poop.

Demands committee will meet at 5:30 PM tomorrow, to begin the process of defining our local occupation’s demands. Part of the discussion will likely be about how many demands we would like to establish, there are valid arguments both for a small list so people would know our demands are, and a more lengthy list in odder to cover our bases (one of the many demands may really appeal to some individuals, which might not happen with a short list.) Also possible is having two lists, one brief, the other extensive. The plan is for demands to be talked about weekly at Saturday’s GA at 2 PM. (Note to anyone interested: education committee has had an excellent series of teach-ins on the OWS demands from 11 A M to 1 PM on Tuesdays, they are covered extensively, usually one each week.)

Occupy Women’s committee meets at 3 PM after GA on Saturdays.

Hex is interested in having an arts/music committee plan some events, talk to him if you are interested.

Outreach committee: “Occupy the Hood” meets at Sherman Heights community center on Mondays. Their Facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/ocupemoselbarriosd.

Direct Action committee will announce an impromptu, as yet unspecified direct action at 8:30 AM Tuesday at our home. Come if you want to participate!

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

We talked extensively about the media committee; then called a brief break as there was a man nearby who had some concerns, then broke off into small groups for crowdstorming. One from each group presented the result from each group.

The media admin(s) should be “like Switzerland”, neutral.
Advised post of guideline document on Occupy San Diego’s Facebook page or elsewhere describing what the admin’s duties, guidelines and responsibilities are. GA should give admin(s) the guidelines of how Facebook should be run.
Media moderators should be “grassroots activists”.
Passwords need to be shared in such a way that GA can access them if they deem it necessary.
We might want an alternative to Facebook.
GA needs to tell admins how to run Facebook.
Need way to post info, which is not opinion but facts and documentation.

Media committee needs as to be accessible as possible. When are their meetings, and who is on the media committee?
Address media committee and establish open communications with them.

Approach media, ask for passwords.
No drama please.
Any donations (not from finance committee) need to be spent on resources/supplies that the media committee needs to do the media functions, nothing else. Also advertising for donations is OK but these donations need to go only to the Occupy San Diego general fund only.
Media committee members need to be responsible. Suggested proposal: If someone has somehow misplaced or lost items that belong to Occupy San Diego’s media committee, they are still welcome to participate in media committee but Occupy San Diego can no longer jeopardize itself in the same way again. Bottom line, be responsible if you have a need for Occupy San Diego’s equipment and you can use it again. Two different people said that media committee has thus far lost three of Occupy San Diego’s laptop computers.
Media committee members need to be responsible as our representatives of Occupy San Diego, not like how our elected leaders in America are not acting responsibly in representing us, the 99%.

We need to post info up to the website that Ray Lutz runs, http://www.copswiki.org/Common/OccupySanDiego. Upload to osd-feedback@citizensoversight.org. Events need to be sent to the admin(s) of this website. Passwords need to brought back to Occupy San Diego.
Media people covering events need to be independent of Occupy San Diego, working as an independent journalist such that they can operate without threat or fear or arrest. If Occupy San Diego attempts media coverage SDPD may likely interfere. However in acting doing so they need to use their own equipment, not the equipment Occupy San Diego owns.
Anyone that is using the property of Occupy San Diego’s media committee as an independent journalist needs to give back any equipment they may have to whom it belongs, namely Occupy San Diego.
Facebook, Twitter admin passwords need to be accessible to Occupy San Diego should the need arise.
The occupysd.org domain name belongs to Occupy San Diego, but is currently being “redirected” to a site for an independent organization which covers Occupy San Diego news but is independently operated. (occupysandiego.org) Occupy San Diego needs the capability of directing http requests for the occupysd.org domain name to a website under Occupy San Diego’s auspices.

A proposal was discussed and consensed upon that a working group will meet at 3 PM at our home on Tuesday the 20th, and will through GA address the media committee on what needs to change in the way media committee operates. The working group will cover media committee topics. Existing media committee members are highly encouraged to attend this working group. If media committee will not address the input from the working group, the working group will need to take action, not specified at Monday’s, GA but to be determined by the working group.

There was a discussion of where finance committee should meet in the future, other than Downtown Johnny Brown’s, as there are some who need to abstain from alcohol and are not comfortable in a setting where alcohol is served. Finance committee has agreed to abstain from alcohol during these meetings because of these concerns.

One occupier pointed out the need to balance openness and “security culture”. Conversations inside a restaurant are not as secure, meaning easy to overhear.

Also the finance committee is a “high functioning’ group, unlike most others, and numbers might drop if meetings were moved outside; and the committee is very open and welcome to anyone wiling to help And in an them out.

Chourac (sp?) pointed out that those with lots of belongings are not allowed to enter the restaurant.

Consensed: At the finance committee meeting tomorrow at 4 PM Tuesday this will be discussed in detail.

David Lande is starting a “Free Energy” workgroup or committee, free energy based on Tesla’s work. If interested contact David at wgwrz@yahoo.com.

Proposal for tomorrow: In the upcoming election year, Occupy San Diego should issue a call to all Occupations to write in “you” for president campaign.

Sean, Dante and Hex will facilitate a crowdstorming topic at Tuesday’s GA.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

An occupier is making a book “Why do you Occupy” and will bring it to our home tomorrow, for occupiers to write their experiences in.

The Ruckus society, which practices non-violent civil disobedience, and direct actions will have classes sometime next month.

Quick proposal consensed upon that we are not a leaderless movement, that “we are all leaders”.

occupyallstreets: Citizens arrested for dancing in the...

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:57:50 -0800

occupyallstreets:

Citizens arrested for dancing in the Jefferson Memorial. May 2011

Submitted by: vivaduck

Occupy-sd:

Occupy-sd: taken by Plantz Fotography WE ARE STILL HERE! WE ARE...

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:13:24 -0800

Occupy-sd: taken by Plantz Fotography

WE ARE STILL HERE! WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE! WE ARE THE 99 PERCENT

- We continue to fight for equality on social, political and economical forums.

- We stand against corporation and its coalition partners suppressing the human race.

- We promote non-violent communication to get our message across.

WE ARE HERE SO STAY! TAKE EVERYTHING AWAY ,BUT WE LIVE FOREVER!

occupy-sd: Something I find funny, and...

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:55:44 -0800

occupy-sd:

Something I find funny, and fun.

cleverwittystatement:

Every straight down in Straightville liked Christmas a lot,

But the Gays, who lived just north of Straightville did not.

The Gays hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season,

Now please don’t as why, no one quite knows the reason.

It could be that the straights couldn’t match their decor just right,

It could be, perhaps, it was that their fabulous pants were too tight.

But Ithink the most likely reason of all,

May have been that a Texan released a campaign video calling them unequal.

But whatever the reason, the decor or the pants,

The gays stood there on Christmas, hating this political ant.

Staring down from their fabulous gay palace with a sour gay frown,

At all the close minded pigs who listened in town.

For they some of the straights down in Straightville beneath,

Would listen to the bullshit the Texan bequeathed.

“And they’re nodding their heads!” the gays snarled with a sneer,

“Tomorrow is Christmas and he is spreading hate and fear!”

The gays growled with their gay fingers angrily drumming,

“If they want to hate, let’s stop their Christmas from coming!”

————————

That’s it I have to go to family dinner now.

Also this is a joke if you didn’t get that.

Occupy-sd: Amazing picture.

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:21:19 -0800

Occupy-sd:
Amazing picture.

oxday: [change] : Jesse LaGreca Introduces...

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:47:36 -0800

oxday:

[change] : Jesse LaGreca Introduces OccupyEducated.org - Launching a New Online Library that Can’t Be Destroyed ! (en)
go to :
http://occupyeducated.org/

Occupy-sd:

THIS IS WHY WE PROTEST: Obama failed to veto the NDAA.

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:33:28 -0800

THIS IS WHY WE PROTEST: Obama failed to veto the NDAA. :

occupy-sd

youthiswasted:

American Democracy: 1776-2011.

It turns out that destroying the American democratic republic was easy to accomplish, historians will write someday. Simply get the three major cable news networks to blather on about useless bull**** for a few days, while legislators meet in secret behind closed doors to rush through the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (NDAA), and its evil twin sister, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which is a clever name for an Internet censorship bill straight out of an Orwellian nightmare.

Sure, some independent media web sites and Jon Stewart warned us about this. Ron Paul & Son warned us about this. Amnesty International and the ACLU have been screaming from the rooftops, crying bloody murder. But the American people let it happen, because the vast majority of us simply didn’t find out in time.

And now President Obama’s advisers are saying he is withdrawing his veto threat against NDAA, so it will become law.

As will SOPA, since it is becoming ever more apparent that our “elected officials” in Congress are not satisfied with their 9% approval rating. They want a 0% approval rating.

I have no idea why Congress is pushing through anti-American legislation that is not only incompetent, but openly belligerent.

I have no idea why an American media blackout on NDAA is still in effect — Anderson Cooper, Chris Matthews, Bill O’Reilly and the other broadcast “journalists” have been disgustingly silent on what is undoubtedly the most important news story of the past decade. The single most important news story since September 11th, 2001.

Combined, NDAA and SOPA simply destroy American democracy. That isn’t hype. That isn’t exaggeration. Within a few days, your freedom of speech will be gone — post something controversial online, and the government can legally “disappear” it.

Annoy the government too much, or criticize Congress’ infinite wisdom and mercy, and you may find yourself in military prison for the remainder of your life, without access to a trial or attorney. Even if you’re an American citizen on US soil.

This is a brave new world. Watch what you say. Be mindful of who you associate with. You may criticize your government within the privacy of your own home, amongst close family or friends, but do not post negative comments online. Do not assemble. Do not protest. Do not agitate. Do not give “comfort” to the “enemy.”

This is a sad day for all of us. All of our military spending, all of our fortresses and moats, and it turns out democracy was attacked from within, the historians will write someday. We didn’t even see it coming.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/ndaa-set-to-become-law-the-terror-is-nearer-than-ever-2011-12#ixzz1geidbYTi

Occupy-sd Ouch (Denis Pavlov) is still in jail awaiting trial....

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:27:34 -0800

Occupy-sd

Ouch (Denis Pavlov) is still in jail awaiting trial. His attorney needs eyewitnesses to prepare his case. Anyone who has information regarding this please message me directly and I will relay it to Denis.

occupy-sd: occupywallstreet: akagoldfish: ws-1212-1 by...

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:16:04 -0800

occupy-sd:

occupywallstreet:

akagoldfish:

ws-1212-1 by stanleyrogouski on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Occupy Wall Street demonstrator pushed down the stairs of Winter Garden by Police Officer with concealed face and badge number.

see the last two posts as well. still want to tell me that they are the 99%?

"A Message Of Solidarity From Archbishop Desmond Tutu"

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:04:13 -0800

“A Message Of Solidarity From Archbishop Desmond Tutu”

- Sisters and Brothers, I greet you in the Name of Our Lord and in the bonds of common friendship and struggle from my homeland of South Africa. I know of your own challenges and of this appeal to Trinity Church for the shelter of a new home and I am with you! May God bless this appeal of yours and may the good people of that noble parish heed your plea, if not for ease of access, then at least for a stay on any violence or arrests.

Yours is a voice for the world not just the neighborhood of Duarte Park. Injustice, unfairness, and the strangle hold of greed which has beset humanity in our times must be answered with a resounding, “No!” You are that answer. I write this to you not many miles away from the houses of the poor in my country. It pains me despite all the progress we have made. You see, the heartbeat of what you are asking for—that those who have too much must wake up to the cries of their brothers and sisters who have so little—beats in me and all South Africans who believe in justice.

Trinity Church is an esteemed and valued old friend of mine; from the earliest days when I was a young Deacon. Theirs was the consistent and supportive voice I heard when no one else supported me or our beloved brother Nelson Mandela. That is why it is especially painful for me to hear of the impasse you are experiencing with the parish. I appeal to them to find a way to help you. I appeal to them to embrace the higher calling of Our Lord Jesus Christ—which they live so well in all other ways—but now to do so in this instance…can we not rearrange our affairs for justice sake? Just as history watched as South Africa was reborn in promise and fairness so it is watching you now.

In closing, be assured of my thoughts and prayers, they are with you at this very hour.

God bless you,

+Desmond Tutu

Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town

"If President Obama signs this bill, it will damage both his legacy and American’s reputation for..."

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:57:19 -0800

“If President Obama signs this bill, it will damage both his legacy and American’s reputation for upholding the rule of law. The last time Congress passed indefinite detention legislation was during the McCarthy era and President Truman had the courage to veto that bill. We hope that the president will consider the long view of history before codifying indefinite detention without charge or trial.”

- Occupy-sd

Laura W. Murphy, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office in a statement released yesterday

It’s pretty bad that our government in 2011 is reacting to an attack over 10 years ago to a degree that was deemed excessive even during the McCarthy era.

That bill, of course, was the 1950 McCarran Internal Security Act or the Subversive Activities Control Act (H.R. 9490), which Truman vetoed but the Senate overrode, with 89% in favor. The Emergency Detention statute granted presidential authority to detain “each person as to whom there is a reasonable ground to believe that such person probably will engage in, or probably will conspire with others to engage in, acts of espionage or sabotage.” This provision, however, was repealed by the Non-Detention Act of 1971.

Of the relevant provisions, Truman said:

Sections 100 through 117 of this bill (title II) are intended to give the Government power, in the event of invasion, war, or insurrection in the United States in aid of a foreign enemy, to seize and hold persons who could be expected to attempt acts of espionage or sabotage, even though they had as yet committed no crime. It may be that legislation of this type should be on the statute books. But the provisions in H.R. 9490 would very probably prove ineffective to achieve the objective sought, since they would not suspend the writ of habeas corpus, and under our legal system to detain a man not charged with a crime would raise serious constitutional questions unless the writ of habeas corpus were suspended. Furthermore, it may well be that other persons than those covered by these provisions would be more important to detain in the event of emergency. This whole problem, therefore, should clearly be studied more thoroughly before further legislative action along these lines is considered.

In brief, when all the provisions of H.R. 9490 are considered together, it is evident that the great bulk of them are not directed toward the real and present dangers that exist from communism. Instead of striking blows at communism, they would strike blows at our own liberties and at our position in the forefront of those working for freedom in the world. At a time when our young men are fighting for freedom in Korea, it would be tragic to advance the objectives of communism in this country, as this bill would do.

(via mohandasgandhi)

HOUSE PASSES NDAA, WHITE HOUSE BACKS OFF VETO THREATS

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:52:51 -0800

As noted yesterday, House and Senate conferees were moving the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) forward to the final action in both chambers with compromise legislation that kept in controversial language that would allow for the indefinite detention of American citizens and legal residents of the United States.

Unfortunately, the House of Representatives passed the NDAA overwhelmingly last night by a vote of 283 to 136. It now heads to the Senate for final passage.

For those of you that are just now catching up on this, the House basically voted last night to suspend the right to due process, the right to a trial by a jury of an accuser’s peers, and the right to habeas corpus. And now that the so-called “war on terror” has been expanded to include not only al-Qaeda but also the Taliban and other “associated forces.” Given that the war on terrorism has become an open-ended war with civil liberties being offered by Congress on the alter of the “national security.”

It was also noted that the Obama Administration asked for the language, at least according to Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI). So it should come as no surprise that the White House has backed off the VETO threat for the NDAA.

The White House on Wednesday abandoned its threat that President Barack Obama would veto a defense bill over provisions on how to handle suspected terrorists as Congress raced to finish the legislation.

Press secretary Jay Carney said last-minute changes that Obama and his national security team sought produced legislation that “does not challenge the president’s ability to collect intelligence, incapacitate dangerous terrorists and protect the American people.”

Based on the modifications, “the president’s senior advisers will not recommend a veto,” the White House said.

Adam Serwer notes that despite all the assurances and revisions that have supposedly put the White House at ease, the NDAA is still bad news for Americans.

By making the mandatory military detention provisions mandatory in name only, the Senate had offered the administration an opportunity to see how seriously it takes its own rhetoric on civil liberties. The administration had said that the military detention provisions of an earlier version of the NDAA were “inconsistent with the fundamental American principle that our military does not patrol our streets.”

The revised NDAA is still inconsistent with that fundamental American principle. But the administration has decided that fundamental American principles aren’t actually worth vetoing the bill over.

The Constitution and Bill of Rights have meant little to Congress and the Bush and Obama administrations. Sadly, what little in the way of protected civil liberties were essentially cast aside last night. Our Founding Fathers are no doubt spinning in their graves.

Occupy-sd occupyonline: mangomonkeyboy: Don’t believe the...

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:48:20 -0800

Occupy-sd

occupyonline:

mangomonkeyboy:

Don’t believe the hype, Occupy is educated, they know the deal. They are soilders, artists and the educated.

THIS!

How many people think this guy overwhelmed Fox with awesome before anyone could yell cut? To be so eloquent and point hitting on the fly. BRAVO MOFO, DAMN! Someone give this man a cookie.

TRUE LIFE: I'M OCCUPYING WALLSTREET

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:46:58 -0800

TRUE LIFE: I'M OCCUPYING WALLSTREET

timemagazine: TIME’s 2011 Person of the Year is The...

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:21:37 -0800

timemagazine:

TIME’s 2011 Person of the Year is The Protester

Please read this posting