,OCCUPY 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 

,TEXT 3 

,! /ORY GOES ?AT ! V]Y FIR/ GA!R+ ( ,OCCUPY ,WALL ,/REET BEGAN AS AN OLD-FA%ION$ TOP-D[N RALLY ) SPEAK]S DRON+ ON--UNTIL A ,GREEK /UD5T 7& P]HAPS--AN AN>*I/87 9T]RUPT$ IT & DEM&$ ?AT !Y HOLD A PROP] HORIZONTAL ASSEMBLY 9/EAD4 ,%E & SOME ( ! Y\NG/]S 9 ATT5DANCE SAT D[N 9 A CIRCLE ON ! O!R SIDE ( ! PLAZA & BEGAN HOLD+ A MEET+ US+ CONS5SUS PROCESS4 ,ONE BY ONE1 PEOPLE TRICKL$ OV] FROM ! AUDI5CE ?AT HAD BE5 LI/5+ TO SPEAK]S & JO9$ ! CIRCLE4 ,IT WAS ,AUGU/ #b1 #b#a#a4 

,H]E1 9 ! ORIG9 MY? ( ! ,OCCUPY ,MOVEM5T1 WE 5C\NT] A FUNDAM5TAL AMBIGUITY 9 ITS RELATION%IP TO ORGANIZATION4 ,WE CAN UND]/& ?IS %IFT TO CONS5SUS PROCESS AS ! ADOPTION ( A MORE 9CLUSIVE & !RE=E MORE LEGITIMATE DEMOCRATIC MODEL1 ANTICIPAT+ LAT] CLAIMS ?AT ! G5]AL ASSEMBLIES ( ,OCCUPY REPRES5T$ REAL DEMOCRACY 9 ACTION4 ,OR WE CAN FOCUS ON ! DECISION TO )DRAW FROM ! 9ITIAL RALLY1 SEE+ IT AS A GE/URE 9 FAVOR ( VOLUNT>Y ASSOCIATION4 ,OV] ! FOLL[+ YE>1 ?IS 9T]NAL T5SION ]UPT$ REPEAT$LY1 PITT+ DEMOCRATS DET]M9$ TO DEMON/RATE A NEW =M ( GOV]NANCE AGA9/ AN>*I/S 9T5T UPON ASS]T+ ! PRIMACY ( AUTONOMY4 

,?\< ,DAVID ,GRAEB] 5C\RAG$ P>TICIPANTS TO REG>D CONS5SUS AS A SET ( PR9CIPLES RA!R ?AN RULES1 BO? PROPON5TS & AU?ORIT>IAN OPPON5TS ( CONS5SUS PROCESS P]SI/$ 9 TREAT+ IT AS A =MAL MEANS ( GOV]NM5T--:ILE AN>*I/S :O %>$ ,GRAEB]'S FRAMEWORK F\ND !MSELVES \TSIDE ! CONS5SUS REALITY ( !IR FELL[ ,OCCUPI]S4 ,! MOVEM5T'S FAILURE TO REA* CONS5SUS AB\T ! MEAN+ ( CONS5SUS ITSELF CULM9AT$ ) UGLY ATTACKS 9 :I* ,REBECCA ,SOLNIT & ,*RIS ,H$GES ATTEMPT$ TO BR& AN>*I/ P>TICIPANTS AS VIOL5T ?UGS4 

,H[ DID ?AT PLAY \T 9 ! H9T]L&S1 :]E SMALL-T[N ,OCCUPY GR\PS TOOK UP ! DECISION-MAK+ PRACTICES ( ,OCCUPY ,WALL ,/REET8 ,! FOLL[+ N>RATIVE TRACES ! T5SIONS BETWE5 DEMOCRATIC & AUTONOM\S ORGANIZATIONAL =MS ?R\<\T ! TRAJECTORY ( ONE LOCAL OCCUPATION4 

,A DECADE & A HALF AGO1 ,I P>TICIPAT$ 9 ! SO-CALL$ 0ANTI-GLOBALIZATION MOVEM5T10 SO DESCRIB$ BY J\RNALI/S :O PREF]R$ NOT TO SAY 0ANTICAPITALI/40 ,BEG9N+ ) A GR\NDSWELL ( LOCAL 9ITIATIVES1 IT CULM9AT$ 9 A /R+ ( MASSIVE RIOTS AT 9T]NATIONAL TRADE SUMMITS FROM ,SEATTLE 9 ,NOVEMB] #aiii TO ,G5OA 9 ,JULY #b#a4 ,AL?\< ,I HAD BE5 AN AN>*I/ = SOME YE>S ALREADY1 ,I LE>N$ AB\T CONS5SUS PROCESS 9 ! C\RSE ( ?OSE EXP]I5CES4 ,LIKE MANY O!R P>TICIPANTS1 ,I BELIEV$ ?AT ?IS =M ( DECISION-MAK+ PO9T$ ! WAY TO A WORLD )\T GOV]NM5T OR CAPITALISM4 ,WE *]I%$ ! SEEM+LY IMPOSSIBLE DREAM ?AT ONE DAY ?AT DECISION-MAK+ PROCESS MI<T BE TAK5 UP BY ! POPULATION AT L>GE4 

,T5 YE>S LAT]1 ,I VISIT$ ! ,OCCUPY ,WALL ,/REET 5CAMPM5T AT ,ZUCCOTTI ,P>K4 ,IT HAD ONLY EXI/$ = TWO WEEKS1 YET IT HAD ALREADY DEVELOP$ ITS POLITICAL CULTURE3 DAILY ASSEMBLIES1 0MIC *ECK10 CONS5SUS PROCESS4 ,?IS WAS ALL FAMILI> TO ME FROM MY 0ANTI-GLOBALIZATION0 DAYS1 ?\< MO/ PEOPLE !RE CLE>LY DID NOT %>E ?AT BACKGR\ND4 

,I HE>D A LOT ( LEGALI/IC & RE=MI/ RHETORIC 9 ! C\RSE ( MY BRIEF VISIT4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 ?IS WAS :AT WE HAD DREAM$ (1 \R PRACTICES SPREAD+ \TSIDE \R MILIEU4 ,C\LD ! PRACTICES !MSELVES 9/ILL ! POLITICAL VALUES ?AT HAD ORIG9ALLY 9SPIR$ US TO EMPLOY !M8 ,SOME ( MY COMRADES HAD >GU$ ?AT DIRECTLY DEMOCRATIC MODELS C\LD BE A RADICALIZ+ /EP T[>DS AN>*ISM4 ,! FOLL[+ MON?S PUT ?AT !ORY TO ! TE/4 

,TWO WEEKS AFT] MY VISIT TO ,MANHATTAN1 ,I WAS BACK 9 MY HOMET[N 9 ,MIDDLE ,AM]ICA1 ATT5D+ \R ,OCCUPY GR\P'S SECOND ASSEMBLY4 ,A HUNDR$ PEOPLE FROM A WIDE RANGE ( BACKGR\NDS & POLITICAL P]SPECTIVES W]E DEBAT+ :E!R TO E/ABLI% AN 5CAMPM5T4 ,IT'S NOT EASY = A CR[D >BITR>ILY CONV5$ ?R\< AN OP5 9VITATION ON ,FACEBOOK TO MAKE A DECISION TOGE!R4 ,SOME >GU$ AGA9/ OCCUPY+1 CLAIM+ ?AT ! POLICE W\LD EVICT US1 9SI/+ WE %\LD APPLY = A P]MIT FIR/4 ,9 ! NE>E/ CITY1 OCCUPI]S HAD APPLI$ = A P]MIT BUT W]E ONLY GRANT$ ONE LA/+ A FEW H\RS2 EV]YONE :O REMA9$ AFT] IT EXPIR$ WAS >RE/$4 ,A FEW ( US ?\<T IT BETT] TO GO =W>D )\T P]MISSION ?AN TO EMBOLD5 ! AU?ORITIES TO BELIEVE WE W\LD COMPLY ) :ATEV] WAS CONV5I5T = !M4 

,A DIFF]5T FACILITATOR W\LD HAVE LET ! DEBATE REMA9 AB/RACT 9DEF9ITELY1 EFFECTIVELY QUA%+ ! POSSIBILITY ( AN OCCUPATION 9 ! NAME ( CONS5SUS4 ,BUT \RS CUT RI<T TO ! *ASE3 0,RAISE Y\R H& IF Y\ WANT TO CAMP \T H]E TONI<T40 ,A FEW H&S W5T HESITANTLY UP4 0,LOOKS LIKE FIVE444 SIX1 SEV5444 ,O,K1 LET'S SPLIT 9TO TWO GR\PS3 ?OSE :O WANT TO OCCUPY1 & EV]YONE ELSE4 ,WE'LL RECONV5E 9 T5 M9UTES40 

,AT FIR/ !RE W]E ONLY A HALF DOZ5 ( US MEET+ ON ! OCCUPI]S' SIDE ( ! PLAZA1 BUT AFT] WE TOOK ! FIR/ /EP1 O!RS DRIFT$ OV]4 ,T5 M9UTES LAT]1 !RE W]E TW5TY-F\R ( US--& ?AT NI<T DOZ5S ( PEOPLE CAMP$ \T 9 ! ,PLAZA4 ,I /AY$ UP ALL NI<T WAIT+ = ! POLICE TO RAID US1 BUT !Y NEV] %[$ UP4 ,WE'D WON ! FIR/ R\ND1 EXP&+ :AT EV]YONE IMAG9$ TO BE POSSIBLE--& WE [$ IT TO PEOPLE TAK+ ! 9ITIATIVE AUTONOM\SLY1 NOT TO REA*+ CONS5SUS4 

,\R OCCUPATION WAS A SUCCESS4 ,OV] ! FIR/ FEW WEEKS1 SCORES ( NEW PEOPLE MET & GOT TO KN[ EA* O!R ?R\< DEMON/RATIONS1 LOGI/ICAL WORK1 & NI<TS ( IMPASSION$ DISCUSSION4 

,! NI<TLY ASSEMBLIES S]V$ AS A SPACE TO GET TO KN[ EA* O!R POLITICALLY4 ,FIR/1 WE HE>D A WIDE RANGE ( TE/IMONIALS AB\T :Y PEOPLE W]E !RE4 ,!SE RANG$ FROM BOR+ TO FASC9AT+1 BUT !Y DI$ \T SWIFTLY ONCE ! BUS9ESS ( MAK+ DECISIONS VIA ASSEMBLIES GOT UND]WAY4 ,NEXT1 WE WEA!R$ L5G?Y DEBATES AB\T :E!R !RE %\LD BE A NONVIOL5CE POLICY1 ) NONVIOL5CE S]V+ AS A CODE WORD = LEGALI/IC OB$I5CE4 ,?ANKS TO ! P>TICIPATION ( MANY AN>*I/S1 ?IS DISCUSSION WAS SPLIT PRETTY MU* D[N ! MIDDLE1 BUT IT 5ABL$ MANY OCCUPI]S :O HAD NEV] BE5 P>T ( SOME?+ COMP>ABLE TO HE> SOME NEW >GUM5TS4 

,IT WAS 9T]E/+ TO WAT* SO MANY PEOPLE GO ?R\< SU* A RAPID POLITICAL EVOLUTION4 ,I 5JOY$ ! DEBATES1 ! DRAMA ( WAT*+ MIDDLE-CLASS LIB]ALS /RUGGLE TO CONV]SE ON AN EQUAL FOOT+ ) AN>*I/S & O!R ANGRY POOR PEOPLE4 

,ON ! O!R H&1 ! ASSEMBLIES W]E 9EFFECTIVE AS A WAY TO MAKE DECISIONS4 ,AFT] WEEKS ( GRUEL+ DAILY SESSIONS1 WE GAVE UP 5TIRELY ON =MULAT+ A MISSION /ATEM5T AB\T \R BASIC GOALS1 CONS5SUS HAV+ BE5 REPEAT$LY BLOCK$ BY A LONE CONTR>IAN4 ,SOME PEOPLE MANAG$ TO PU% A C\PLE SMALL DEMON/RATIONS ?R\< ! CONS5SUS PROCESS1 BUT !Y ATTRACT$ ALMO/ NO P>TICIPANTS4 ,! ASSEMBLY'S /AMP ( APPROVAL DID NOT CORRELATE ) PEOPLE ACTUALLY 9VE/+ !MSELVES2 ! MOM5TUM TO MAKE AN EF=T SUCCE$ WAS DET]M9$ ELSE:]E4 

,:ILE ! NI<TLY ASSEMBLIES HELP$ US GET TO KN[ EA* O!R POLITICALLY1 IF Y\ WANT$ TO GET TO KN[ PEOPLE P]SONALLY1 Y\ HAD TO SP5D TIME AT ! 5CAMPM5T4 ,/&+ NI<T WAT*1 FAC+ (F ) DRUNK COLLEGE /UD5TS & O!R REACTION>IES1 ,I BECAME ACQUA9T$ ) MANY ( ! OCCUPI]S :O HAD FIR/ >RIV$ AS DISCONNECT$ 9DIVIDUALS4 ,IT WAS ?OSE CONNECTIONS ?AT GAVE US CAUSE TO BE 9VE/$ 9 EA* O!R'S EF=TS OV] ! FOLL[+ MON?S4 

,UNEXPECT$LY1 ! LIB]ALS W]E AMONG ! MO/ 9VE/$ 9 ! PROTOCOL ( CONS5SUS PROCESS--H[EV] UNFAMILI> IT WAS1 !Y F\ND IT REASSUR+ ?AT !RE WAS A PROP] WAY ( DO+ ?+S4 ,?IS EMPHASIS ON PROTOCOL CREAT$ RIFTS ) ! ACTUAL 9HABITANTS ( ! 5CAMPM5T1 MANY ( :OM FELT ILL AT EASE COMMUNICAT+ 9 SU* A =MAL /RUCTURE2 ?AT CLASS DIVIDE PROV$ TO BE A MORE FUNDAM5TAL CONFLICT ?AN ANY POLITICAL DISAGREEM5T4 ,FROM ! P]SPECTIVE ( ! LIB]ALS1 !RE WAS A DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY 9 :I* ANYONE C\LD P>TICIPATE1 & ?OSE :O DID NOT ATT5D OR SPEAK UP C\LD NOT COMPLA9 AB\T ! DECISIONS MADE !RE4 ,FROM ! VANTAGE PO9T ( ! CAMP1 ! LIB]ALS %[$ UP = AN H\R OR TWO EV]Y C\PLE DAYS1 & EXPECT$ TO BE ABLE TO DICTATE DECISIONS TO PEOPLE :O W]E 9 ! CAMP TW5TY-F\R H\RS A DAY--(T5 NOT EV5 /ICK+ >\ND TO IMPLEM5T !M4 

,AS A P>T ( ! M9ORITY ?AT WAS FAMILI> ) CONS5SUS PROCESS YET SIMULTANE\SLY A D5IZ5 ( ! CAMP PROP]1 ,I C\LD SEE BO? SIDES4 ,I TRI$ TO EXPLA9 TO ! LIB]ALS :O JU/ %[$ UP = ! ASSEMBLIES--! ONES :O UND]/OOD ,OCCUPY AS A POLITICAL PROJECT RA!R ?AN A SOCIAL SPACE--?AT !RE W]E ALREADY FUNCTION+ DECISION-MAK+ PROCESSES AT WORK 9 ! 5CAMPM5T1 H[EV] 9=MAL1 & IF !Y WANT$ TO E/ABLI% BETT] RELATIONS ) ! RESID5TS ( ! 5CAMPM5T1 !Y %\LD TAKE ?OSE PROCESSES S]I\SLY & TRY TO P>TICIPATE 9 !M1 TOO4 

,AFT] ! FIR/ FEW WEEKS1 ! FL[ ( NEW P>TICIPANTS SL[$4 ,WE BECAME A KN[N QUANTITY ONCE MORE4 ,CONSEQU5TLY1 WE BEGAN TO LOSE \R LEV]AGE ON ! AU?ORITIES4 ,MEAN:ILE1 IT WAS GETT+ COLD] \T1 & W9T] WAS ON ! WAY4 ,BAS$ ON \R EXP]I5CE ATTEMPT+ TO =MULATE A MISSION /ATEM5T OR CALL = DEMON/RATIONS1 IT SEEM$ CLE> TO US ?AT IF !RE WAS TO BE A NEXT /EP1 IT W\LD HAVE TO BE DECID$ \TSIDE ! G5]AL ASSEMBLIES4 

,I GOT TOGE!R ) SOME FRI5DS ,I HAD KN[N & TRU/$ = A LONG TIME--! SAME GR\P ?AT HAD CALL$ = ,OCCUPY 9 \R T[N 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 ,WE DISCUSS$ :E!R TO OCCUPY A VA/ EMPTY BUILD+ A FEW BLOCKS FROM ! PLAZA4 ,MO/ ( US ?\<T IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE1 BUT A FEW FANATICS 9SI/$ IT C\LD BE DONE4 ,WE DECID$ ?AT IF !Y C\LD GET US 9SIDE1 WE W\LD TRY TO HOLD ONTO IT4 ,BUT ! PLAN HAD TO BE A SECRET UNTIL WE W]E 91 SO ! POLICE C\LDN'T /OP US4 

,! BUILD+ OCCUPATION WAS A SUCCESS4 ,OV] A HUNDR$ PEOPLE FLOOD$ 9TO ! BUILD+1 SETT+ UP A KIT*51 A READ+ LIBR>Y1 & SLEEP+ QU>T]S4 ,A B& P]=M$1 FOLL[$ BY A DANCE P>TY4 ,?AT NI<T1 DOZ5S ( PEOPLE SLEPT 9 ! BUILD+ RA!R ?AN AT ! PLAZA1 RELIEV$ TO BE \T ( ! COLD4 ,ONCE AGA91 ,I /OOD WAT* ALL NI<T1 WAIT+ = ! POLICE--! /AKES W]E HI<] ?IS TIME1 BUT !Y DIDN'T %[ UP4 ,SPIRITS W]E HI<3 ONCE AGA91 WE HAD EXP&$ ! SPACE ( POSSIBILITY4 

,! FOLL[+ AFT]NOON1 AS WE CONT9U$ CLEAN+ & REPAIR+ ! BUILD+1 A RUMOR CIRCULAT$ ?AT ! POLICE W]E PREP>+ A RAID4 ,SEV]AL DOZ5 ( US GA!R$ = AN IMPROMPTU MEET+4 ,IT /RUCK ME H[ DIFF]5T ! ATMOSPH]E WAS FROM \R USUAL G5]AL ASSEMBLIES4 ,!RE W]E NO BUREAUCRATIC =MALITIES1 NO DEADLOCKS OV] M9UTIA4 ,NO ONE DRON$ ON JU/ TO HE> HIMSELF SPEAK OR />$ (F LI/LESSLY4 ,!RE WAS NO PAY(F = GR&/&+ OR *ID+ EA* O!R AB\T PROTOCOL4 

,H]E1 !RE WAS NO?+ AB/RACT AB\T ! ISSUES AT H&4 ,WE W]E PUTT+ \R BODIES ON ! L9E JU/ BY BE+ PRES5T2 !SE W]E REAL *OICES ?AT W\LD HAVE IMM$IATE CONSEQU5CES = ALL ( US4 ,WE DIDN'T NE$ A FACILITATOR TO LI/5 TO EA* O!R OR /AY ON TOPIC4 ,) \R FRE$OM AT /AKE1 WE HAD EV]Y REASON TO WORK WELL TOGE!R4 

,! DAY AFT] ! RAID1 A HUGE CR[D GA!R$ AT ! ORIG9AL 5CAMPM5T = A CONT5TI\S G5]AL ASSEMBLY--! BIGGE/ & MO/ 5]GETIC \R T[N WITNESS$ ?R\<\T ! 5TIRE SEQU5CE ( ,OCCUPY4 ,\R DECISION TO OCCUPY ! BUILD+1 >RIV$ AT \TSIDE ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY1 HAD IRONICALLY MADE ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY IRRESI/IBLE TO EV]YONE4 ,SOME PEOPLE W]E 9SPIR$ BY ! BUILD+ OCCUPATION & \R RESPONSE TO ! POLICE RAID2 O!RS1 :O ASSUM$ ! G5]AL ASSEMBLY TO BE ! GOV]N+ BODY ( ! MOVEM5T1 W]E \TRAG$ ?AT WE HAD BYPASS$ IT2 /ILL O!RS1 :O HAD NOT BE5 9T]E/$ 9 ,OCCUPY UNTIL N[1 CAME TO 5GAGE ) US BECAUSE !Y C\LD SEE WE W]E CAPABLE ( MAK+ A BIG IMPACT4 ,EV5 IF !Y W]E ONLY !RE TO >GUE ?AT WE %\LD 0BE PEACEFUL0 & OBEY ! LAW1 WE HOP$ ?AT 5T]+ ?AT SPACE ( DIALOGUE MI<T EXP& !IR S5SE ( :AT WAS POSSIBLE1 TOO4 

,SO ! ASSEMBLY B5EFITT$ FROM ! BUILD+ OCCUPATION1 :E!R OR NOT PEOPLE APPROV$ ( IT4 ,BUT !Y ONLY CAME BECAUSE ( ! P[] WE HAD EXPRESS$ BY ACT+ ON \R [N4 ,IT WAS ?IS P[] ?AT !Y S\<T TO ACCESS ?R\< ! ASSEMBLY--SOME TO 9CREASE IT1 SOME TO COMM& IT1 SOME TO TAME IT4 ,9 FACT1 ! P[] DIDN'T RESIDE 9 ! ASSEMBLY AS A DECISION-MAK+ SPACE1 BUT 9 ! PEOPLE :O CAME TO IT & ! CONNECTIONS !Y =G$ !RE4 

,OV] ! FOLL[+ WEEK1 PEOPLE 9SPIR$ BY ! BUILD+ OCCUPATIONS 9 ,OAKL& & \R LITTLE T[N OCCUPI$ BUILD+S 9 ,/4 ,L\IS1 ,WA%+TON1 ,D,C1 & ,SEATTLE4 ,?IS NEW WAVE ( ACTIONS PU%$ ! ,OCCUPY MOVEM5T FROM SYMBOLIC PROTE/S T[>DS DIRECTLY *ALL5G+ ! SANCTITY ( CAPITALI/ NOTIONS ( PROP]TY4 ,\R T[N SAW ITS BIGGE/ UNP]MITT$ DEMON/RATIONS 9 YE>S4 

,MON?S LAT]1 ,I COMP>$ NOTES ) COMRADES >\ND ! C\NTRY AB\T H[ ?IS MASS EXP]IM5T 9 CONS5SUS PROCESS HAD GONE4 ,EV]Y:]E1 !RE HAD BE5 ! SAME CONFLICTS1 AS SOME PEOPLE :O SAW ! ASSEMBLIES AS ! LEGITIMATE SPACE ( DECISION-MAK+ CRITICIZ$ ?OSE :O PROPELL$ ! MOVEM5T =W>D = ACT+ AUTONOM\SLY4 ,EV5 9 ,OAKL&1 ! MO/ CONFRONTATIONAL 5CAMPM5T 9 ! C\NTRY1 !Y NEV] MADE A CONS5SUS DECISION TO KEEP POLICE \T ( ! CAMP--?AT DECISION WAS MADE BY 9DIVIDUALS1 9DEP5D5TLY4 ,A FRI5D FROM ,OAKL& REC\NT$ TO ME H[1 :5 HE PREV5T$ AN (FIC] FROM 5T]+1 A Y\NG RE=MI/ :O HAD JU/ LE>N$ ! BUZZWORDS ( CONS5SUS PROCESS ANGRILY %\T$ 0,I BLOCK Y\1 MAN6 ,I BLOCK Y\60 AT HIM4 ,9 A PHOTOGRAPH TAK5 AFT] ! RIOTS ) :I* OCCUPI]S RETALIAT$ AGA9/ ! EVICTION ( !IR 5CAMPM5T1 SOMEONE HAS WRITT5 ON A BROK5 W9D[1 0,?IS ACT ( V&ALISM WAS ,N,O,T AU?ORIZ$ BY ! ,G,A10 AS IF ! ,G,A W]E A GOV]NM5TAL BODY1 ANSW]ABLE = ITS SUBJECTS & !RE=E 5TITL$ TO LEGITIMIZE OR DELEGITIMIZE !IR ACTIONS4 

,?AT %[S A PR(\ND MISUND]/&+ ( :AT CONS5SUS PROC$URE IS GOOD =4 ,LIKE ANY TOOL1 P[] FL[S FROM US TO IT1 NOT ! O!R WAY >\ND--WE CAN 9VE/ IT ) P[]1 BUT US+ IT WON'T NECESS>ILY MAKE US MORE P[]FUL4 ,EV]Y S+LE /EP ?AT MADE ,OCCUPY SUCCE$ 9 \R T[N1 FROM ! CALL = ! FIR/ ASSEMBLY TO ! DECISION TO OCCUPY ! PLAZA TO ! DECISION TO OCCUPY A BUILD+1 WAS ! RESULT ( AUTONOM\S 9ITIATIVE4 ,WE NEV] C\LD HAVE CONS5S$ TO DO ANY ( ?OSE ?+S 9 AN ASSEMBLY ?AT 9CLUD$ AN>*I/S1 ,MAOI/S1 REACTION>Y POOR PEOPLE1 MIDDLE-CLASS LIB]ALS1 POLICE 9FILTRATORS1 PEOPLE ) M5TAL HEAL? ISSUES1 ASPIR+ POLITICIANS1 & :OEV] ELSE HAPP5$ TO /OP BY AT R&OM4 ,! ASSEMBLIES W]E ESS5TIAL AS A SPACE :]E WE C\LD 9T]SECT & EX*ANGE PROPOSALS1 CREAT+ NEW AFF9ITIES & BUILD+ A S5SE ( \R COLLECTIVE P[]1 BUT WE DON'T NE$ A MORE P>TICIPATORY--& !RE=E EV5 MORE 9EFFICI5T & 9VASIVE--=M ( GOV]NM5T4 ,WE NE$ ! ABILITY TO ACT FREELY AS WE SEE FIT1 ! COMMON S5SE TO COEXI/ ) O!RS :]EV] POSSIBLE1 & ! C\RAGE TO /& UP = \RSELVES :5EV] !RE >E REAL CONFLICTS4 

,AS ! MOVEM5T WAS DY+ D[N1 ! FACTION ( ,OCCUPY ?AT WAS MO/ 9VE/$ 9 LEGALISM & PROTOCOL CALL$ = A ,NATIONAL ,GA!R+ 9 ,PHILADELPHIA ON ,JULY #d1 #b#a#b1 AT :I* TO 0COLLECTIVELY CRAFT A ,VISION ( A ,DEMOCRATIC ,FUTURE40 ,B>ELY #e PEOPLE %[$ FROM >\ND ! C\NTRY1 A T9Y FRACTION ( ! NUMB] ?AT HAD BLOCK$ PORTS1 OCCUPI$ P>KS1 & M>*$ 9 ! /REETS4 ,! PEOPLE1 AS !Y SAY1 HAD VOT$ ) !IR FEET4 

7,S\RCE3 HTTPS3_/_/CRIME?9C4COM_/#b#a#f_/#d_/#a#d_/OCCUPY-DEMOCRACY-V]SUS-AUTONOMY47 

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,JANU>Y #a#d1 #bbb 3 ,OCCUPY -- ,ADD$4 

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