,BREAK+ & ,5T]+ A ,NEW ,WORLD 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,CRIME?,9C4 

,TEXT 3 

,?IS IS ! /ORY ( ! OCCUPATION ( A D]ELICT BUILD+ 9 ,*APEL ,HILL1 ,NOR? ,C>OL9A ON ,NOVEMB] #a#b-#a#c1 #b#a#a1 TOLD 9 ! VOICES ( A WIDE RANGE ( P>TICIPANTS4 ,:ILE AN>*I/S & CORPORATE M$IA HAVE CIRCULAT$ NEWS ( ?IS ACTION F> & WIDE1 ! EXP]I5CES %>$ 9SIDE ! BUILD+ HAVE REMA9$ A SORT ( BLACK BOX4 ,?IS REPORT OP5S UP ?AT BOX1 JU/ AS ! OCCUPI]S OP5$ UP ! BUILD+1 TO REVEAL A WORLD ( POSSIBILITY4 

,9 CONTRA/ TO ! OCCUPATION MOVEM5T 9 SOME P>TS ( ! ,U,S1 AN>*I/S W]E 9VOLV$ 9 ,OCCUPY ,*APEL ,HILL FROM ! V]Y BEG9N+1 S5D+ \T ! 9ITIAL CALL & FACILITAT+ ! FIR/ MEET+S4 ,! PO9TS ( UNITY CONS5S$ UPON AT ! FIR/ GA!R+ W]E BAS$ ON ! ,PITTSBUR< ,PR9CIPLES1 & ! GR\P NEV] ADOPT$ A NONVIOL5CE AGREEM5T4 

,AT ! SECOND ASSEMBLY1 WE DEBAT$ :E!R TO SET UP AN 5CAMPM5T4 ,SOME >GU$ AGA9/ IT1 CLAIM+ ?AT ! POLICE W\LD EVICT US & 9SI/+ WE %\LD APPLY = A P]MIT FIR/4 ,9 NE>BY ,RALEI<1 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 OCCUPATION1 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 ( US1 BUT ONCE WE TOOK ?AT FIR/ /EP1 O!RS />T$ DRIFT+ OV]4 ,T5 M9UTES LAT] !RE W]E TW5TY-F\R OCCUPI]S--MORE ?AN WE BELIEV$ ! LOCAL POLICE W]E PREP>$ TO >RE/--& ?AT NI<T FULLY ?REE DOZ5 PEOPLE CAMP$ \T 9 ,PEACE & ,JU/ICE ,PLAZA4 ,I /AY$ AWAKE ALL NI<T WAIT+ = A RAID1 BUT IT NEV] CAME4 ,WE'D WON ! FIR/ R\ND1 EXP&+ ! ZONE ( ! POSSIBLE4 

,ON ,NOVEMB] #b1 P>TICIPANTS 9 ! G5]AL /RIKE 9 ,OAKL& ATTEMPT$ TO OCCUPY AN EMPTY BUILD+ ?AT HAD PREVI\SLY PROVID$ S]VICES TO ! HOMELESS4 ,?IS CONTROV]SIAL ACTION 5D$ 9 DRAMATIC CONFRONTATIONS ) RIOT POLICE1 BUT OP5$ UP A NEW HORIZON AS W9T] CREPT UP ON ! OCCUPATION MOVEM5T4 

,SATURDAY1 ,NOVEMB] #a#b1 FOLL[+ ! SECOND ANNUAL ,C>RBORO AN>*I/ BOOK FAIR1 UPW>DS ( FIFTY PEOPLE GA!R$ = A M>* 9 SOLID>ITY ) ! OCCUPATION MOVEM5T4 

,WE C\LDN'T TELL IF WE W]E P>AD+ YET4 ,! CR[D HAD BEGUN TO MOVE1 BUT IT WAS /ILL F9D+ ITS RHY?M & COHESION4 ,BUT WE TWO F\ND \R CUE3 !RE WAS A LITTLE BOY1 MAYBE FIVE YE>S OLD1 C>RY+ A BLACK FLAG ON ! 5D ( A SIX-FOOT BAMBOO POLE4 ,IT TOTT]$1 SOMETIMES BUMP+ O!R P>AD]S1 AS HE /RUGGL$ PR\DLY & JOY\SLY TO KEEP IT AL(T4 ,WE W]E ) HIM4 

,UND]COV] (FIC]S W]E ALREADY FOLL[+ P>TICIPANTS1 PEPP]+ !M ) 9APPROPRIATE QUE/IONS4 

,?IS MIDDLE-AG$ :ITE GUY 9 A PUFFY R$ W9T] VE/ %UFFL$ TO CAT* UP ) US4 ,CURI\S & CLUELESS1 HE WAS 9 FROM 0\T ( T[N10 HE KNEW NO?+ AB\T ,AN>*Y OR ,OCCUPY1 & HE WAS HOP+ WE W\LD EXPLA9 ?+S TO HIM4 ,DID WE WANT TO 0SMA% CAPITALISM80 ,DID WE KN[ :AT ! PLAN WAS = TONI<T8 ,SOMETIMES WE C\LDN'T RESI/ SAY+ HIL>I\S NONS5SE TO HIM1 BUT MO/LY WE TOLD HIM AB\T H[ MU* WE LOV$ DETECTIVE MOVIES4 

,! M>* PROCE$$ TO ! #a1-SQU>E-FOOT COMM]CIAL BUILD+ AT #dai ,WE/ ,FRANKL9 ,/REET1 A =M] ,*RYSL]-,PLYM\? DEAL]%IP EMPTY S9CE #b#c4 ,! ABS5TEE [N]1 ,JOE ,RIDDLE1 WAS AMONG ! T[N'S MO/ WIDELY LOA!D PROP]TY HOLD]S4 ,HE HAD NO PLANS = ! BUILD+2 AS IT WAS SITT+ ON PROP]TY VALU$ AT CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLL>S1 ONLY A P[]FUL CORPORATION C\LD POSSIBLY PUR*ASE IT4 

,:5 WE LEFT ! BOOK FAIR1 ,I HAD NO IDEA :AT TO EXPECT1 O!R ?AN ?AT WE W\LD BE HEAD+ T[>DS ! PLAZA OCCUPATION4 ,I WAS CAU<T (F GU>D BY ! L>GE NUMB] ( PEOPLE & FULL ( EXCITEM5T AS WE MADE \R WAY ?R\< A P>K+ LOT TO ! /REET4 ,:5 WE >RIV$1 ,I WAS SURPRIS$ TO SEE ! GR\P MOVE 9 ! OPPOSITE DIRECTION4 ,BY ! TIME WE'D CROSS$ ! /REET TO ! BUILD+1 ,I WAS SO CAU<T UP 9 *ANT+ & LOOK+ >\ND AT ! CR[D ?AT ,I HADN'T TAK5 /OCK ( :]E ,I WAS4 ,AT ?IS PO9T1 ,I LOOK$ T[>D ! FRONT ( ! M>* & SAW ?AT ! W9D[S ( A BUILD+ HAD BE5 DECORAT$ ) TWO L>GE BANN]S4 

,! M>* VE]$ UP ! DRIVEWAY 9 FRONT ( ! BUILD+4 ,AS ! CR[D APPROA*$ ! V]TICAL-SLID+ DOOR1 IT GLID$ UP & TWO OR ?REE PAIRS ( EYES />$ \T FROM UND] HATS & OV] B&ANNAS4 ,AS WE /REAM$ 91 ,I SAW PEOPLE CONV]S+ & LOOK+ >\ND ! HUGE MA9 ROOM1 SILH\ETT$ BY ! ELECTRIC LI<TS ?AT HAD BE5 RIGG$ UP & PLAC$ 9 ! C5T]4 ,SOMEONE H&$ ME A FOLD$ %EET ( PAP] ?AT PRES5T$ ONE ( ! MO/ TRULY EXCIT+ IDEAS ,I HAD EV] SE53 ! PROPOSAL ?AT1 AMID ?IS GLOBAL ECONOMIC & POLITICAL COLLAPSE1 A COMMUNITY C\LD =M >\ND ?IS LONG-AB&ON$ & MALICI\SLY WA/$ PROP]TY & MAKE SOME?+ ( B5EFIT TO ! T[N AT L>GE4 ,AS ,I WALK$ >\ND ! PREMISES1 ,I C\LDN'T BELIEVE ?AT ?IS WAS HAPP5+ BE=E MY EYES4 ,:ILE ,I WAS CAU<T 5TIRELY (F-GU>D1 ,I WAS EAG] TO SEE :]E IT W\LD GO4 

,P>TICIPANTS DI/RIBUT$ LEAFLETS PROPOS+ ?AT ! SPACE C\LD BE TURN$ 9TO A SOCIAL C5T] S]V+ ! COMMUNITY1 9CLUD+ A METICUL\SLY DESIGN$ BLUEPR9T %[+ SOME ( 0! C\NTLESS USES SU* A BUILD+ C\LD BE PUT TO ONCE FRE$ FROM ! /RANGLEHOLD ( R5T40 ,OV] ! C\RSE ( ! EV5+1 !SE H&\TS W]E W>MLY RECEIV$ BY HUNDR$S ( PASS]SBY4 

,I /EPP$ \T TO GET SOME AIR4 ,A C\PLE APPROA*$ ME3 0,:AT'S GO+ ON H]E80 

,I H&$ !M ! PAMPHLET & EXPLA9$1 0,WE'RE TURN+ ?IS BUILD+ 9TO A COMMUNITY C5T]40 

,! MAN'S FACE LIT UP4 0,?AT'S GREAT6 ,I WORK$ AS A *EF NEXT DOOR = YE>S & ?IS PLACE JU/ ROTS H]E60 

,I NODD$ & ADD$ MATT]-(-FACTLY1 0,IT'S AN ILLEGAL OCCUPATION40 

0,EV5 BETT]60 HE SAID 5?USIA/ICALLY4 

,! LEAFLET SPELL$ \T AN ANTICAPITALI/ RATIONALE = OCCUPY+ ! BUILD+1 FRAM+ IT 9 REF]5CE TO ! LOCAL CONTEXT3 

,ACROSS ! ,U,S1 T5S ( ?\S&S ( COMM]CIAL & RESID5TIAL BUILD+S SIT EMPTY :ILE PEOPLE SLEEP 9 ! /REETS OR DESC5D 9TO POV]TY PAY+ EV]-RIS+ R5T4 ,*APEL ,HILL IS NO DIFF]5T4 ,?IS BUILD+ HAS BE5 EMPTY = A FULL DECADE1 GA!R+ DU/ & EQUITY = A F>AWAY L&LORD :ILE R5T SKYROCKETS BEYOND \R ABILITY TO PAY4 ,A BR& NEW 0GRE50 DEVELOPM5T REMA9S EMPTY RI<T UP ! /REET1 G5TRIFY+ ! NEI<BORHOOD SO LONGTIME LOCALS HAVE TO MOVE TO ,DURHAM4 ,?IS IS :AT HAPP5S :5 \R T[N IS %AP$ BY PR(IT RA!R ?AN HUMAN NE$4 

,A H&FUL ( POLICE (FIC]S POSITION$ !MSELVES ACROSS ! /REET1 A ?REAT5+ BUT HESITANT PRES5CE4 

,WE HAD A POLICE LIAISON READY & WAIT+1 BUT !Y NEV] 9ITIAT$ CONTACT ) US4 ,:5 ! POLICE CROSS$ ! /REET T[>DS ! BUILD+1 AB\T FIFTY ( US GA!R$ 9 FRONT ( IT1 *ANT+ 0,A--,ANTI--,ANTICAPITALI/A60 ,! (FIC]S HESITAT$--:AT WAS ?IS /RANGE 9CANTATION8--& )DREW4 ,?AT *ANT CA/ AN 5*ANTM5T1 MAGICALLY PROTECT+ ! OCCUPATION4 

,TWO PEOPLE FROM ! ,*APEL ,HILL ,D[NT[N ,P>TN]%IP ALSO >RIV$2 AFT] ! BUILD+ HAD REMA9$ UNT\*$ = SO MANY YE>S1 !Y HAD CO9CID5TALLY JU/ >RANG$ = AN >TI/ TO MAKE A DISPLAY 9 ! FRONT W9D[4 ,OCCUPI]S 5GAG$ P]SONABLY ) !M1 EX*ANG+ CONTACT 9=MATION TO OP5 NEGOTIATIONS AB\T ! SPACE4 ,LAT] ?IS WAS 9T5TIONALLY OMITT$ FROM ! AU?ORITIES' ACC\NT ( EV5TS1 SO AS NOT TO DISRUPT !IR N>RATIVE AB\T DANG]\S & UNAPPROA*ABLE AN>*I/S4 

,MEAN:ILE1 MORE & MORE PEOPLE W]E >RIV+1 PASS+ ?R\< ! OP5 G>AGE DOOR TO EXPLORE ! BUILD+4 

,VA/NESS4 ,PURE VA/NESS4 ,H[ CAN A BUILD+ BE SO 5ORM\S8 ,A S+LE ORANGE EXT5SION CORD SNAK$ ACROSS ! VA/ CONCRETE FLOOR TO A JURY-RIGG$ CONTRAPTION ( SILV] FLOOD LAMPS4 ,! W>M GRAY YELL[ LI<T FLOOD$ UP & \TW>DS TO A MASSIVE CEIL+ ( LATTIC$ WOOD5 BEAMS1 CA/+ CRISSCROSS$ %AD[S TO ! EAVES ( ! RO( BEYOND4 ,! C9D]BLOCK WALLS SEEM$ TO EXT5D \T 5DLESSLY1 AN IMPOSSIBLE DI/ANCE1 TO A BACK DOOR ?AT HAD TO BE A FOOTBALL FIELD AWAY4 

,SOME PEOPLE BEGAN CLEAN+ ! 9T]IOR2 O!RS SET UP A KIT*51 A READ+ LIBR>Y1 & SLEEP+ >EAS4 ,TRUCKS & C>S W]E PULL+ UP 9 ! DRIVEWAY ONE AFT] ANO!R TO UNLOAD SUPPLIES4 ,A %[ ORIG9ALLY S*$UL$ 9 A LOCAL BASEM5T AS AN AFT]-P>TY = ! BOOK FAIR WAS MOV$ TO ! OCCUPATION4 

,S-- P]=M$ H] SET A CAPPELLA1 KNEEL+ ON A BLANKET 9 ?AT IMM5SE D>KNESS ) ALL ( US PRESS$ >\ND H]1 A SP>K SAIL+ UP 9TO ! NI<T4 ,%E'S ALWAYS AN AMAZ+ S+]1 BUT ?IS WAS SOME?+ ELSE4 ,:5 %E OP5$ H] M\?1 ! :OLE WORLD P\R$ \T3 *ILDBIR? & TE> GAS1 CLE> /REAMS & M\NTA9TOP REMOVAL1 RAGE & EXALTATION & TRAG$Y4 

,OCCUPY+ A BUILD+ MEANS 9VE/+ Y\RSELF 9 A SPACE ?AT MAY BE TAK5 FROM Y\ ANY M9UTE1 9 A TIME Y\ KN[ IS %ORT2 IT =CES Y\ TO BE PRES5T 9 A WAY WE R>ELY >E1 TO CONFRONT Y\R [N MORTALITY4 ,DEA? ACCOMPANIES US AT EV]Y /EP1 DEV\R+ US 9/ANT AFT] 9/ANT1 BUT WE ONLY AWAK5 TO ?IS :5 WE /UMBLE 9TO UNREPEATABLE MOM5TS4 ,)\T ?AT AW>5ESS TO GIVE IT URG5CY1 MUSIC IS ONLY MUSIC2 ?AT NI<T1 IT WAS EXI/5CE ITSELF1 RUNN+ ?R\< \R F+]S LIKE S&4 

,R-- JO9$ H] ) HIS B]IMBAU = ! LA/ SONG4 ,:5 HE HIT ! FIR/ NOTE & PAUS$1 IT E*O$ ?R\< ! BUILD+ & ?R\<\T \R LIVES4 ,DEA? & ! POLICE--! GREAT ]AS]S--W]E CLOSE AT \R HEELS1 BUT = ?AT MOM5T WE W]E IMMORTAL TOGE!R1 VISC]ALLY ALIVE4 

,A JOY\S DANCE P>TY 5SU$ 9 ! FRONT ROOM1 AS SEV]AL DOZ5 PEOPLE CAVORT$ ) 9CREAS+ AB&ON TO LIVE ,D,JS :ILE LOOP$ FOOTAGE FROM ! ,OAKL& G5]AL /RIKE WAS PROJECT$ L>G] ?AN LIFE ACROSS ! WALL BEH9D !M4 ,OV] ONE HUNDR$ PEOPLE FROM MANY DIFF]5T WALKS ( LIFE PASS$ ?R\< ! BUILD+ 9 ! C\RSE ( ! EV5+2 LOCALS :O HAD ONLY SE5 EA* O!R >\ND T[N 9TRODUC$ !MSELVES & CONF]R$ GIDDILY4 ,MANY ( !SE W]E Y\NG] AN>*I/S1 /UD5TS1 & HIP/]S EMPLOY$ 9 ! S]VICE 9DU/RY1 BUT O!RS W]E LONG-E/ABLI%$ RESID5TS OLD 5\< TO REC\NT /ORIES FROM ! DAYS BE=E ! AUTOMOBILE DEAL]%IP CLOS$4 ,!RE W]E EV5 A FEW ATT5DEES :O POSSESS$ POSITIONS ( 9FLU5CE AT ! UNIV]SITY OR 9 LOCAL POLITICS2 LAT]1 ( C\RSE1 IT NEV] CAME UP ?AT !Y HAD P>TICIPAT$ EXUB]ANTLY 9 AN ILLEGAL OCCUPATION4 

,! MO/ EXCIT+ ?+ = ME AB\T OCCUPY+ ?IS BUILD+ WAS ! LOOKS ON MY FRI5DS' FACES4 ,SURPRISE4 ,ACCOMPLI%M5T4 ,POSSIBILITY4 ,UNBRIDL$ JOY4 

,NONE ( US ?\<T WE C\LD HOLD ?IS BUILD+1 BUT SEV]AL H\RS 9 WE W]E /ILL DANC+1 /ILL *ATT+ ) PASS]SBY1 /ILL DREAM+ AB\T :AT W\LD COME NEXT4 ,:AT IF ?IS BUILD+ C\LD ACTUALLY BE \RS8 ,:AT IF WE C\LD BE P[]FUL 5\< TOGE!R TO BUILD ! BEAUTIFUL ?+S WE DES]VE8 ,I HAD SO MANY CONV]SATIONS ) /RANG]S AB\T :AT WE CAN MAKE & BE = EA* O!R \TSIDE ! CON/RA9TS ( CAPITALISM1 SO MANY DAYDREAMS AB\T LIV+ 9 A WORLD :]E EV]YONE HAS 5\<--& ON EA* ( !SE NEW FRI5DS' FACES1 ,I F\ND ! RESOLVE TO MAKE SOME?+ WOR? TAK+ RISKS =4 

,AS ! FE/IVITIES F9ALLY DI$ D[N1 AB\T TWO DOZ5 PEOPLE SETTL$ 9 TO SLEEP 9 ! BUILD+ OV]NI<T1 SECUR+ ! DOORS & UNROLL+ SLEEP+ BAGS ON C>DBO>D & WOOD5 PALLETS4 ,O!RS /OOD WAT*--SOME 9SIDE1 SOME \TSIDE--WAIT+ TO S\ND ! AL>M 9 CASE ( A POLICE RAID4 

,OCCUPY ,*APEL ,HILL HAD 5CAMP$ 9 ! ONLY PUBLIC SPACE 9 ,*APEL ,HILL1 A CONCRETE PLAZA \TSIDE ! BUILD+ ?AT S]VES AS PO/ (FICE & C\R?\SE1 LOCAT$ AT ! $GE ( A LONG /RET* ( B>S4 ,AT #b A4M4 EV]Y NI<T1 PATRONS /UMBLE FROM ! B>S1 TE>+ D[N SIGNS1 KICK+ T5TS1 & %\T+ OBSC5ITIES AT OCCUPI]S4 ,NO WOND] SO MANY OCCUPI]S FL$ TO ,OCCUPY ,*RYSL] = ! CAV]N\S SAFETY ( ! AB&ON$ C> DEAL]%IP AT ! O!R 5D ( ! /REET4 ,:ILE F\R OR FIVE MEMB]S ( ,O,* WAG$ ! /RESSFUL NI<TLY BATTLE TO DEESCALATE 9TOXICANT-FUEL$ ANG] AT ! PLAZA1 ,I SETTL$ ) ONE COMPANION ON ! /OOP 9 FRONT ( ! ,*RYSL] BUILD+ TO /AY AWAKE & WAT* :ILE WE>Y OCCUPI]S GOT SOME WELL-DES]V$ RE/4 

,TRAFFIC DW9DL$1 LEAV+ ONLY A COLD QUIET /REET ( BRICK BUILD+S & GOLD-LEAF$ TREES1 A FEW />S1 & ! JU/-WAN+ MOON4 ,9 ?OSE QUIET H\RS BE=E DAWN1 ANY?+ SEEM$ POSSIBLE 9 ! T[N :]E WE BO? HAD LIV$ MO/ ( \R LIVES4 ,IF ! L&LORD ANTAGONI/IC TO ! T[N LET US /AY1 IF ! T[N ANTAGONI/IC TO ! L&LORD LET US /AY1 IF A NONPR(IT >TS ORGANIZATION ) T5TATIVE ACCESS TO ! BUILD+ P>TN]$ ) US1 IF ANY ( ?OSE ?+S HAPP5$ WE HAD ! SKILLS AMONG US TO W9T] (F ! GRID EASILY4 ,AT ?REE TIMES ! SIZE ( ! PUBLIC PLAZA1 ! HULK+ BUILD+ BEH9D US NOT ONLY (F]$ ROOM = ,OCCUPY'S G5]AL ASSEMBLIES1 TEA*-9S1 & SLEEP+1 BUT AMPLE SPACE TO BECOME :ATEV] A COMMUNITY 5VISION$3 A KIT*51 A CL9IC1 A CLASSROOM1 A LIBR>Y1 A MOVEM5T & >TS SPACE4 ,IT SEEM$ ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS WAIT = MORN+ & BEG94 

,POLICE (FIC]S DROPP$ BY 9 ! MORN+1 UNSUCCESSFULLY SEEK+ TO GA!R 9TELLIG5CE FROM ?OSE ON WAT* DUTY4 ,?IS VISIT WAS ALSO OMITT$ FROM !IR LAT] N>RATIVE ( EV5TS4 ,! >TI/ :O HAD BE5 9VIT$ BY ! ,D[NT[N ,P>TN]%IP TO DECORATE ! /OREFRONT %[$ UP %ORTLY !REAFT]2 A FRI5D ( P>TICIPANTS 9 ,OCCUPY ,*APEL ,HILL1 %E EXPRESS$ SUPPORT = ! OCCUPI]S4 ,?IS DIDN'T PREV5T 5EMIES ( ! OCCUPATION FROM LAT] US+ H] AS AN EXCUSE TO JU/IFY ! RAID4 

,AN ASSEMBLY DISCUSS+ AN>*I/ /RATEGIES AGA9/ ! PRISON-9DU/RIAL COMPLEX HAD BE5 PLANN$ = ! BOOK FAIR V5UE AT NOON4 ,IT WAS MOV$ TO ! FRONT ROOM ( ! OCCUPATION2 DOZ5S ( PEOPLE P>TICIPAT$1 /ICK+ >\ND AFT]W>DS = LUN* CAT]$ BY A SUPPORTIVE LOCAL RE/AURANT4 ,O!RS1 SEV]AL ( :OM W]E C>P5T]S OR CON/RUCTION WORK]S BY TRADE1 W]E BUSY FIX+ UP ! BUILD+3 SWEEP+ ! FLOORS1 UNBO>D+ ! W9D[S1 & BUILD+ /RUCTURES TO SUPPLEM5T ! FURNITURE DROPP$ (F BY 5?USIA/IC LOCALS4 

,AFT] LUN*1 A RUMOR CIRCULAT$ ?AT ! POLICE W]E PREP>+ TO RAID ! SPACE4 ,A FEW DOZ5 ( US GA!R$ = AN IMPROMPTU MEET+4 ,IT /RUCK ME H[ DIFF]5T ?IS WAS FROM ! G5]AL ASSEMBLIES ( ,OCCUPY ,*APEL ,HILL4 ,?OSE W]E (T5 BUREAUCRATIC NI<TM>ES1 BRE$+ BOR$OM & AGGRAVATION AS PEOPLE DEADLOCK$ OV] M9UTIA & DRON$ ON JU/ TO HE> !MSELVES SPEAK4 

,H]E1 !RE WAS NO?+ AB/RACT AB\T ! ISSUES AT H&1 NO?+ ?AT PROMOT$ PO9TLESS >GU+ OR EGO TRIPS4 ,WE W]E PUTT+ \R BODIES ON ! L9E JU/ BY BE+ PRES5T2 !SE W]E REAL *OICES ?AT W\LD HAVE IMM$IATE CONSEQU5CES = ALL ( US4 ,= ONCE1 WE DIDN'T NE$ 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 ,MAYBE ! PROBLEM AT ! PLAZA HAD BE5 ?AT WE W]5'T RISK+ 5\<4 

,WE DECID$ ?AT IF ! POLICE CAME & IT WAS CLE> WE C\LDN'T KEEP ! BUILD+1 WE W\LD ALL LEAVE 9 A GR\P1 TAK+ \R BELONG+S ) US & BE+ SURE NOT TO LEAVE ANYONE 9 !IR H&S4 ,!Y MU/ HAVE HAD ?AT MEET+ 9FILTRAT$ OR ELSE !Y W\LDN'T HAVE KN[N TO SWOOP 9 RI<T AFT] IT2 LAT]1 !Y CLAIM$ !Y W]E AFRAID WE W]E DANG]\S1 BUT !IR REAL FE> MU/ HAVE BE5 ?AT WE W\LD BR+ ! OCCUPATION TO A CLOSE ON \R [N T]MS1 )\T ANY LOSSES4 

,MANY PEOPLE HURRI$ HOME FROM ?IS MEET+ TO GET MORE SUPPLIES & RETURN TO ! BUILD+ PREP>$ TO HOLD IT = ! LONG HAUL4 ,! POLICE TOOK ?IS OPPORTUNITY TO C>RY \T A FULLY MILIT>IZ$ RAID4 

,I WAS SITT+ ON ! BRICK $GE ( ! FL[]B$1 DR9K+ C(FEE & %>+ A *OCOLATE B> ) FRI5DS1 ALT]NATELY WAT*+ ,FRANKL9 ,/REET'S P$E/RIANS & GLANC+ AT ! YOGA CLASS BEG9N+ 9SIDE \R BUILD+4 ,! CONV]SATION WAS LI<!>T$2 WE W]E ALL DIZZY ) ! EXCITEM5T ( TAK+ A /& AGA9/ ! WA/EFULNESS ( ! PROP]TY [N]4 ,WE FE>$ \R JOY MI<T BE %ORT-LIV$--WE ANTICIPAT$ BE+ QUICKLY EVICT$1 & HAD COMMITT$ TO A PLAN TO LEAVE PEACEFULLY :5 ! POLICE >RIV$--BUT NEV]!LESS1 WE W]E REVEL+ 9 \R FUTURE PLANS = ! COMMUNITY C5T] WE HOP$ TO E/ABLI%4 

,I WAS SUDD5LY DI/RACT$ BY ! HEADLI<TS ( A :ITE ,S,U,V1 GR[+ L>G] & L>G] 9 ! BACK DOOR ( ! BUILD+4 ,I HE>D SOMEONE 9SIDE YELL 0,P,O,L,I,C,E60 ,I PICTUR$ A FEW (FIC]S >RIV+ TO TELL ?OSE 9SIDE ! BUILD+ ?AT IT WAS PRIVATE PROP]TY1 ?AT !Y HAD TO VACATE OR BE >RE/$4 ,I SI<$ & BEGAN TO COLLECT MY BELONG+S4 

,BUT AS ,I R\ND$ ! CORN] ( ! BUILD+1 ,I WAS MET BY A GR\P ( POLICE (FIC]S & ,SPECIAL ,EM]G5CY ,RESPONSE ,TEAM MEMB]S--MY BRA9 AUTOMATICALLY LABEL$ !M 0SOLDI]S40 ,SOME W]E WE>+ FAMILI> BLACK ,*APEL ,HILL ,POLICE ,DEP>TM5T UNI=MS2 O!RS GRE5 FATIGUES & TACTICAL VE/S4 ,ALL W]E C>RY+ LOAD$ WEAPONS--AUTOMATIC RIFLES & H&GUNS4 ,MANY HAD BELTS LOAD$ ) EXTRA C>TRIDGES1 AMMUNITION1 & PLA/IC ZIP-TIE H&CUFFS4 ,!Y W]E RUNN+ T[>DS ME1 PO9T+ !IR GUNS & SCREAM+ 0,O,N ,! ,G,R,\,N,D6 ,E,V,],Y,B,O,D,Y ,O,N ,! ,G,R,\,N,D6 ,F,A,C,E,S ,O,N ,! ,P,A,V,E,M,5,T60 

,I PAUS$4 ,SURELY !Y DON'T MEAN ME1 ,I ?\<T4 ,SURELY !Y >5'T C>RY+ ?OSE GUNS BECAUSE !Y'RE SC>$ ( ME4 ,KN[+ ?AT ,I WAS \TSIDE1 & ?AT MY BAG ONLY CONTA9$ NOTEBOOKS1 PAMPHLETS1 & A C(FEE !RMOS1 IT SEEM$ IMPOSSIBLE ?AT !SE POLICE (FIC]S W]E REALLY RUNN+ T[>DS1 REALLY SCREAM+ AT1 REALLY AIM+ !IR WEAPONS AT ME4 ,I TOOK A MOM5T TO SET MY HALF-EMPTY CUP ( C(FEE ON ! $GE ( ! FL[]B$4 ,BUT AS ! B>RELS ( !IR RIFLES DREW CLOS]1 ,I REALIZ$ YES1 !Y >E RUNN+ AT ME4 ,I ?REW MYSELF TO ! CONCRETE1 FACE D[N4 

,I LI/5$ TO MY [N RAGG$1 HEAVY BREA?+ & ! S\NDS ( BOOTS4 ,I WAS TORN BETWE5 ! VISC]AL NE$ TO SEE ! FRI5DS ,I HAD BE5 SITT+ ) & A FE> ?AT MADE ME SQUEEZE MY EYES TI<TLY %UT4 ,I FOCUS$ ON MY BREA?+--91 \T1 91 \T4 ,:AT W\LD HAVE HAPP5$ IF ,I'D HESITAT$ ANY LONG] BE=E FALL+ TO ! PAVEM5T8 ,W\LD !Y HAVE FIR$8 ,IF ,I'D REA*$ 9TO MY POCKET TO PROTECT MY PHONE1 W\LD !Y HAVE KILL$ ME8 

,I HE>D A MAN'S GRUFF VOICE ABOVE ME3 0,PLEASE PLACE Y\R H&S AT ! SMALL ( Y\R BACK40 ,A SECOND PASS$ BE=E ,I REALIZ$ HE WAS ADDRESS+ ME4 ,I TOOK MY H&S FROM B5EA? MY FACE & PLAC$ !M BEH9D ME4 ,I FELT HIM TAKE MY H&S & PULL ONE ?R\< EA* LOOP ( ! PLA/IC H&CUFFS4 ,I HE>D ! TK-TK-TK-TK RAT*ET+ ( ! CUFFS BE+ TI<T5$4 ,I REMA9$ FACE D[N ON ! SIDEWALK4 ,I C\NT$ SEV5TY-TWO ( MY [N DEEP BREA?S4 

,AN OP]ATION COORD9AT$ BETWE5 MULTIPLE POLICE DEP>TM5TS %UT D[N SEV]AL BLOCKS ( ,FRANKL9 ,/REET1 ,*APEL ,HILL'S PRIM>Y >T]Y1 = OV] AN H\R :ILE (FIC]S WAV+ ASSAULT RIFLES /ORM$ ! BUILD+4 ,!Y >RE/$ EI<T PEOPLE & DETA9$ MANY MORE1 9CLUD+ J\RNALI/S & LEGAL OBS]V]S4 ,IRONICALLY1 ! CITY BUS REQUISITION$ BY POLICE TO HOLD >RE/EES BORE AN ADV]TISEM5T = ,WELLS ,F>GO ON ! SIDE4 ,A L>GE CR[D IMM$IATELY GA!R$ ACROSS ! /REET *ANT+ 0,%AME60 & 0,POLICE1 ,POLICE1 ! ,>MY ( ! ,RI*60 & EXPLA9+ ! CIRCUM/ANCES ( ! RAID TO CURI\S PASS]SBY4 

,?AT EV5+1 LESS ?AN SIX H\RS LAT]1 A SPIRIT$ SOLID>ITY M>* ( NE>LY A HUNDR$ PEOPLE TOOK ! /REETS ( D[NT[N ,*APEL ,HILL1 M>*+ >\ND ! MA9 ?OR\<F>ES *ANT+ 0,OCCUPY ,EV]Y?+0 & 0,WE'LL ,BE ,BACK40 ,SOME C>RI$ BLACK FLAGS2 O!RS BORE BANN]S READ+ 0,UND] ,CAPITALISM ,WE'RE ,ALL ,UND] ,GUNPO9T0 & 0,FI<T ,BACK40 ,! MAJORITY ( ! P>TICIPANTS M>*$ AS A BLACK BLOC1 S5D+ A CLE> MESSAGE ?AT !Y W]E NOT 9TIMIDAT$2 MANY SUPPORT]S & CURI\S PASS]SBY FOLL[$ BEH9D4 

,I'M NOT ! K9D ( P]SON :O GETS UP 9 FRONT ( PEOPLE TO TELL !M :AT ,I ?9K--,I'M USUALLY TOO N]V\S TO ADDRESS EV5 A SMALL CR[D4 ,BUT ?AT NI<T ,I FELT LIKE MY VOICE WAS ! VOICE ( ALL ! WOM5 9 ! M>*2 MY VOICE WAS AS /RONG AS ONE HUNDR$ PEOPLE'S VOICES1 SCREAM+1 0,COPS1 ,PIGS1 ,MURD]]S60 AT ! TOP ( MY LUNGS4 ,AFT]W>DS1 ,I TOLD MY FRI5D ?AT ,I FELT LIKE ,I NE$$ TO YELL = ALL ! LADIES1 BECAUSE ,I WANT$ TO BE SURE EV]YONE W\LD HE> US1 TOO4 ,I YELL$ AS L\DLY AS ,I C\LD4 ,IT WAS H>D TO IMAG9E A REASON TO BE ANY:]E BUT !RE1 SURR\ND$ BY ! MO/ AWESOME HUMAN BE+S ,I KN[1 9 ?AT BEAUTIFUL MOM5T4 

,! M>* WAS FOLL[$ BY A B5EFIT %[ PACK$ ) WELL OV] A HUNDR$ PEOPLE4 ,LOCALS & VISITORS FROM >\ND ! /ATE EXPRESS$ SOLID>ITY ) ! >RE/EES1 ! BUILD+ OCCUPATION1 & ! ANTICAPITALI/ MOVEM5T4 ,! [N]S ( ! V5UE HAD OP5LY APPROV$ ( ! BLACK BLOC ASSEMBL+ !RE & RETURN+ AFT] ! M>*2 ?IS M>K$ A WAT]%$ GA9 9 PUBLIC SUPPORT = AN>*I/S 9 ,*APEL ,HILL4 

,EV]YONE WAS !RE1 EV5 ! ,WOM5'S ,/UDIES PR(ESSOR ,I'D DAT$--MY H\SEMATE LOAN$ H] HIS SC>F = ! BLACK BLOC4 ,\R B& SOMEH[ 5D$ UP PLAY+1 TOO1 EV5 ?\< WE W]5'T ON ! BILL & HADN'T PRACTIC$ 9 HALF A YE>2 PEOPLE W]E WAV+ BLACK FLAGS 9 ! AIR AS !Y DANC$4 ,! :OLE WEEK5D WAS LIKE AN AN>*I/ C>TOON1 ) ALL ! CLI*ES CR[D$ 9 BACK TO BACK3 ! BOOK FAIR1 ! WORK%OP1 ! SQUAT1 ! ASSEMBLY1 ! RAID1 ! M>*1 ! %[4 ,I HADN'T SLEPT 9 SOME?+ LIKE #gb H\RS2 ?+S W]E />T+ TO FEEL SURREAL4 ,HAD ?OSE BLOND /UD5TS ) BLACK SWEAT%IRTS OV] !IR ,U,N,C GE> BE5 REAL8 ,W]E !Y REALLY %\T+ 0,FUCK ! ,POLICE60 ) US8 

,MONDAY AFT]NOON1 DOZ5S ( PROTE/]S DISRUPT$ ! PRESS CONF]5CE AT :I* ! MAYOR & POLICE *IEF ATTEMPT$ JU/IFY ! RAID4 ,?IS SWIFT RESPONSE PREV5T$ ! AU?ORITIES FROM SP9N+ A N>RATIVE ( PUBLIC SUPPORT & LIKELY CONTRIBUT$ TO LAT] PUBLIC WILL+NESS TO EXPRESS DISAPPROVAL4 ,M$IA ATT5TION CONT9U$ TO FOCUS ON \TRAGE AGA9/ ! POLICE RA!R ?AN ! VIOLATION ( PROP]TY RI<TS4 

,?AT EV5+1 ,OCCUPY ,*APEL ,HILL GA!R$ = A CONT5TI\S G5]AL ASSEMBLY AT ! ORIG9AL 5CAMPM5T4 ,!RE W]E MORE PEOPLE 9 ATT5DANCE1 & MORE 5]GY1 ?AN !RE HAD BE5 AT ANY G5]AL ASSEMBLY S9CE ITS 9CEPTION2 :E!R OR NOT ONE APPROV$ ( ! BUILD+ OCCUPATION1 IT HAD UND5IABLY BREA!D LIFE 9TO ! LOCAL MOVEM5T AS WELL AS G>N]+ IT NATIONAL ATT5TION4 ,! DISCUSSION REVEAL$ ?AT ! DIFF]5CES )9 ,OCCUPY ,*APEL ,HILL W]E H>DLY FATAL4 ,9 SUBSEQU5T G5]AL ASSEMBLIES IT BECAME CLE> ?AT ! BUILD+ OCCUPATION HAD RADICALIZ$ MANY IF NOT MO/ P>TICIPANTS1 FUR!R EXP&+ !IR NOTION ( ! POSSIBLE4 

,OV] ! FOLL[+ WEEK1 PEOPLE 9SPIR$ BY ! EF=TS 9 ,OAKL& & ,*APEL ,HILL OCCUPI$ BUILD+S 9 ,SA9T ,L\IS1 ,WA%+TON1 ,D,C1 & ,SEATTLE4 ,?IS NEW WAVE ( ACTIONS PU%$ ! ,OCCUPY MOVEM5T FROM SYMBOLIC PROTE/S T[>DS DIRECTLY *ALL5G+ ! SANCTITY ( PROP]TY4 

,ON ,?URSDAY1 OV] ONE HUNDR$ PEOPLE M>*$ UP ,FRANKL9 ,/REET EXPRESS+ SOLID>ITY ) OCCUPI]S WORLDWIDE & REAFFIRM+ !IR OPPOSITION TO ! RAID2 MANY ( !M W]E TAK+ ! /REET = ! FIR/ TIME4 ,! FOLL[+ ,MONDAY1 TWO HUNDR$ PEOPLE FROM A WIDE RANGE ( DEMOGRAPHICS ASSEMBL$ AT ! POLICE /ATION1 M>*$ )\T A P]MIT D[N A MAJOR B\LEV>D TO ! T[N HALL1 & CONT9U$ TO BLOCK TRAFFIC & RAISE A RUCKUS = H\RS :ILE SOME ( !M 5T]$ ! CITY C\NCIL MEET+ TO SPEAK \T OR DISRUPT IT4 ,LOCAL GOV]NM5T WAS 9 DIS>RAY1 ! POLICE W]E P[]LESS TO DO ANY?+ ) PUBLIC DISAPPROVAL AT AN ALL-TIME HI<1 & A DIV]SE SOCIAL MOVEM5T WAS COM+ TOGE!R >\ND AN>*I/-9ITIAT$ EF=TS4 ,A SOLID>ITY M>* ! SAME NI<T 9 ,ATLANTA UND]SCOR$ H[ WIDELY ! RIPPLES FROM ! BUILD+ OCCUPATION HAD SPREAD4 

,?IS /ORY DEMON/RATES H[ SWIFTLY A SOCIAL MOVEM5T CAN TAKE (F :5 A FEW 9DIVIDUALS SEIZE ! RI<T OPPORTUNITY TO PU% ! 5VELOPE4 ,BY CREAT+ AN OP51 IRRESI/IBLE SPACE ?AT TRANS=M$ ALL :O PASS$ ?R\< IT1 ! OCCUPI]S %IFT$ ! POLITICAL L&SCAPE 9 A S+LE NI<T4 ,! AU?ORITIES W]E CONFRONT$ ) A NO-W9 SITUATION3 !Y HAD TO *OOSE BETWE5 C$+ T]RITORY & DISCR$IT+ !MSELVES 9 ! PUBLIC EYE4 ,SWIFT FOLL[-UP 5ABL$ AN>*I/S TO TURN SUBSEQU5T ATTEMPTS AT REPRESSION 9TO ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO =GE CONNECTIONS & SPREAD ! VIRUS ( RESI/ANCE4 

,AS ! ECONOMY WORS5S & SOCIAL CONFLICT 9T5SIFIES1 ! CONDITIONS WILL BE 9CREAS+LY RIPE = CONTE/+ ! PHYSICAL T]RITORY ( CAPITALISM4 ,BUT ?IS CAN ONLY SUCCE$ & SPREAD :5 IT IS VIEW$ ABOVE ALL AS A WAY TO FI<T = SOCIAL T]RITORY4 ,! RELATION%IPS WE BUILD 9 ! PROCESS ( FI<T+ >E ! T]RITORY WE W91 EV5 MORE ?AN ! PLAZAS & BUILD+S WE SEIZE4 

,I DO NOT FEEL ?AT WE LO/1 EV5 :5 ,I WALK D[N ,FRANKL9 ,/REET & READ ! 0CONDEMN$0 SIGN N[ PO/$ \T FRONT4 ,! S5SE ( POSSIBILITY REMA9S2 !RE IS A NEW 9T5SITY :5 WE MASK UP = A BLACK BLOC D[NT[N1 AN ALIV5ESS ?AT PULLS ON ?OSE >\ND US4 ,MY ONLY REGRET IS ?AT WE NEV] GOT TO NAME \R SPACE4 ,ITS MEMORY P]SI/S1 BUT 9COMMUNICABLE1 FACELESS4 ,IF ,I FI<T N[1 IT IS NOT ONLY TO HONOR ?AT MEMORY1 BUT ALSO TO GIVE IT =M = ALL ?OSE :O CAN ONLY IMAG9E IT 9 ! AB/RACT4 ,WE WILL BE BACK4 ,NEXT TIME WE'LL BE READY4 

7,S\RCE3 ,RETRIEV$ ON #i? ,NOVEMB] #bb FROM CRIME?9C4COM47 

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