Category Archives: Events

Feb 05

Occupy the Courts – Direct Action

Posted on by

Occupy the Courts Direct Action
Friday, January 20

Thanks to all the groups, organizations, and individuals who helped out, Occupy the Courts at the  Raleigh District Court on January 20th was a success! At one point our demonstration numbered between 40 and 50 people strong. The protest was covered by three TV stations, interviewers, and a few photographers, including OCHC’s ever present independent photojournalist, Kevin Smith. In addition to music and song and a little Mit Romney street theater, we also enjoyed an endless parade of car horns creating the Doppler Effect of support all day long! We made connections, exchanged ideas, and participated in an impromptu NCMultiOccupy General Assembly, where we were able to talk about Triangle events and future Occupy partnerships. Though our space was surrounded by parked police vehicles, told to put away two banners, and the GA facilitator was told to get off a slightly taller than bench-height wall, we were largely unmolested by the police. And it must be said that one of them went out of his way to express his support of our efforts.
Perhaps equally exciting as the event’s success is the amount of coordinated effort contributed by Triangle area groups. Despite the fact that the list of thanks below is incomplete, its various members indicate a connection of purpose and planning among Triangle activist groups. This bodes well for the strength and development of the Occupy Movement in the Triangle and the state of North Carolina in the near future.
Thanks to Occupy Durham for printing pamphlets and planning help; Occupy Chapel Hill for legal observers and planning help; Occupy Raleigh for support; Occupy Charlotte for suddenly showing up with food and support; the Raging Grannies for showing up and singing their “I Wish I Were a Corporation” anthem tirelessly; Jeremy Gilchrist of Occupy Raleigh for toting along his guitar; Frank Ferrell (President, Ninth St. Bakery) for his donation of the Bio Bus; Democracy NC for bringing that enormous gavel and offering future assistance to Occupy and Move to Amend; Mit Romney (Sara Appel) and his satire; all those who made signs and held them up for hours; carpool drivers; Diane Nelson for donating food; those who let us borrow supplies; Lila Little for recording the event and Becca Bogart for loaning her iPhone; representatives and support from Triangle Move to Amend, NC Voters for Clean Elections, Committee to End Corporate Personhood, The Human Rights Center, and NC AFL-CIO; all who participated in the NCMultiOccupy General Assembly; and thanks to all those unnamed here who showed up and lent a hand and voice!

Heathe E.

Jan 23

Response to Roger Stancil’s Memorandum

Posted on by

Press Release

Occupy Chapel Hill/Carrboro in an emergency general assembly meeting during Nomadic Occupy at Carrboro Town Commons Friday January 20 responds to a memorandum (attached) from CH town manager Roger Stancil as follows:

 

We reserve the right of citizens to assemble. We reflect the despair, dreams and sentiments of thousands of town residents angry with economic injustice and inequality at local and global levels. Roger Stancil as town manager is attempting to privatize public space with threats of arbitrary enforcement of ordinances that effectively prohibit free speech and assembly. This is a global issue that the Occupy movement organized to confront.

 

Contrary to Stancil’s statement., OCH/C has not vacated Peace and Justice Plaza. We meet as a General Assembly three times a week as we have since October 2011 and have clearly stated that we will consider encamping again as well as continuing to host teach-ins and marches, and maintain a regular presence. While OCH/C has worked with people within town government, Roger Stancil states that there has been a positive and “constructive dialogue” with OCH/C, when there has been no dialogue between the town manager and the General Assembly at any time. OCH/C has supported and participated in marches and actions to protest Stancil’s response to the Yates action.

 

We call all groups and individuals concerned with human rights and fundamental freedoms to demonstrate with us on Sunday January 29th at Peace and Justice Plaza at 2pm. The General Assembly of Occupy Chapel Hill/Carrboro of Peace and Justice Plaza will present a further report of our grievances with Mr. Stancil’s memorandum and invite others wishing to speak to join us.

-Occupy Chapel Hill General Assembly

=================================================================

Mr. Stancil’s memorandum

From: Roger Stancil

To: Donna Bell , Ed Harrison , “Gene Pease ” , Jim Ward , Jim Ward2 , “Laurin Easthom ” , “Lee Storrow (LeeStorrow.CH@gmail.com)” , Mark Kleinschmidt , Mark McCurry , Matt Czajkowski , Town Council , Penny Rich

CC: Amy Harvey , Catherine Lazorko , Dwight Bassett , Flo Miller , Jason Damweber , John Richardson , Ralph Karpinos , Roger Stancil , Sabrina Oliver , Toni Pendergraph

Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:11:53 -0500

Subject: Ordinances and policies regarding use of public space

When the Occupy Chapel Hill/Carrboro Movement began occupying the public space at the Peace and Justice Plaza in October 2011, we opted to observe and monitor the area without actively enforcing some of the aforementioned regulations, including requiring permits for use of the space, limiting the length of time the space could be used by the same organization, and banning camping and staying on public property overnight. We also did not actively enforce regulations related to smoking in front of the Post Office/Court Building and affixing signs to public buildings.

 

The Occupy Movement vacated the Peace and Justice Plaza on January 10, 2012. The group’s decision to vacate the Plaza presents a timely opportunity for us to consider enforcement of adopted ordinances and established policies and procedures regulating the use of the Peace and Justice Plaza and all other public spaces and facilities.

 

The Town’s relationship with the Occupy Chapel Hill/Carrboro Movement has been positive and a constructive dialogue has been established with the group that we expect will continue into the future despite their lack of long-term presence at the Peace and Justice Plaza. Moving forward, I plan to ensure that all adopted ordinances and established policies and procedures regulating the use of public spaces and facilities, including but not limited to those mentioned in this report, are enforced by Town staff to the extent possible.

 

If the you need additional information, please let me know. If you have a different view or desire to review and possibly amend any of the existing regulations, please let me know so can add an item to a future agenda for discussion and guidance.

-Roger Stancil

Attachments are at: http://councilmail.townofchapelhill.org/searchform.do

=================================================================

Demonstration for Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

Occupy Chapel Hill/Carrboro Calls the Community to Join Us.

We demand our human right to gather easily and often with each other without interference or threat of retribution.  We call for an end of restrictions on assembly and a return to a free commons.

  • Did you know all candlelight vigils are in violation of town ordinances?
  • Did you know more than fifteen people standing on a sidewalk or in a parking lot can be fined or jailed?
  • Did you know any gathering near a street can be ended by the police?
  • Did you know you can’t gather on Peace and Justice Plaza on Sunday?
  • And you must be a nonprofit corporation to apply for permits to meet on plazas and streets?

Ordinances and policies like these allow town officials to selectively and arbitrarily disrupt community events. These laws expressly interfere with the progress of meaningful, non-conventional and organizational attempts at social change. They can be used to stifle everything from worker’s rights protests to neighborhood block parties.

Help us end the privatization of public spaces by corporate town structures.

Help us Take Back the Commons!

Where: Peace and Justice Plaza – Chapel Hill Post Office (corner of Franklin and Henderson)

When:  2pm January 29th

What: Open Mic and Community Gathering

Bring: Signs, Banners, Noisemakers, Friends, Family and Your Voice

 

Solidary,

Occupy Chapel Hill/Carrboro

Jan 11

Press Release from Nomadic Occupy of OCH/C

Posted on by

Nomadic Occupy, the traveling encampment of Occupy Chapel Hill/Carrboro will encamp at Hargraves Community Center (216 North Robertson Street) on Wednesday January 11, 2012 corresponding to the Community Policing Advisory Committee meeting on Town Manager, Roger Stancil’s report, which praised Chapel Hill Police Department’s decision to deploy a SERT team armed with military weapons in response to civil disobedience at the Yates Motor Company building on Franklin Street on November 12 and 13, 2011.

“In person interaction is the heart of the Occupy movement. Nomadic Occupy camps create a space for open dialogue. The last Community Police Advisory Committee meeting was standing room only with no comments. We’re an alternative to the closed process of internal meetings and reviews.” said Maria Rowan of Nomadic Occupy.
“Regardless of what this committee concludes, our community rejects the increase in police violence, racial profiling and the militarization of police. We’ve spoken in council meetings, in petitions for independent review and hundred person marches.” said Sara Nelson of Occupy Chapel Hill/Carrboro.
Contact:
Maria Rowan