Bronx artist INTIKANA brutalized and arrested by NYPD during Zucotti Park raid

Here is a press release and video related to young activists fighting for our civil liberties. Besides the disturbing allegations against some of our NYPD during the Occupy Wall Street protests, as alleged in the press release posted below, they also attached a creative video featuring an interesting host of poets, singers and activists. As the video states "Freedom is Not Free". Let’s remain vigilant to make sure our civil liberties are never treaded upon! Kudos to the movements clearly expression through the spoken word, written word and video.

Gregory

**********

Press release sent :

South Bronx - On the early morning of Tuesday, November 15, 2011, RDACBX member and Bronx artist Intikana was brutalized and arrested by police while filming on Fulton and Broadway in Manhattan during NYPD’s raid on Zucotti Park (aka Liberty Plaza). Due to the excessive force implemented by arresting officers, Intikana suffered a concussion, hematoma to the head, a fractured wrist, visible bruises to the body, injuries to the neck and back with possible injury to the lungs. This excessive force was exercised on not just Intikana but hundreds of peaceful protestors, journalists, and innocent bystanders.

RDACBX strongly condemns Intikana's immoral arrest, as well as the brutality inflicted upon him and others at the hands of the NYPD. As a Hip-Hop artist and educator based in the Bronx, Intikana is a valuable asset to his community, contributing his time and energy to address the very social and economic ills that the Occupy Wall Street protestors were denouncing.

The RDAC BX, along with our community allies, demand that the NYPD be held accountable for its unjust treatment of Intikana and others arrested at their predawn raid. In the Bronx, home of the poorest congressional district in the United States, our neighborhoods have disproportionally been affected by the crimes of the proverbial 1%. The process of gentrification, furthered by greedy real estate/banking interests, and enforced by brutal stop and frisk policing which profiles Black and Brown youth, has wreaked havoc on our community. In denouncing the brutal arrest of our member Intikana, RDAC BX also calls for an end to the increasing militarization of our streets, which criminalizes the actions of peaceful citizens in defense of corporate interest.

DROP ALL CHARGES AGAINST INTIKANA!
NO TO A POLICE STATE!
DECOLONIZE ALL STREETS!

Fordham University Faculty, Students and Alumni Conduct first “99% Club” Meeting

For anyone wondering where the "Occupy Wall Street" movement is “going” please note news received from Boogiedowner readers about Fordham University's first 99% Club meeting. Over 30 people representing faculty, students and alumni were in attendance. Their planning on having their next meeting at a larger venue to accommodate a much larger anticipated attendance. There also advocating for “99% clubs” to spread world wide. I posted the goals the Fordham University arm expressed to date for everyone to see where this segment of the movement is going. If interested in attending their next meeting I am told they established their own facebook page.

I am curious to see if or how the movement will get involved in electoral politics. There are already interesting e-mails being sent related to this topic on both sides of the issue. What are your ideas on this issue?

Good Luck to all the activists.

Gregory

*********

99 Percent Clubs can be organized at your school, at your workplace, in your home, at your neighborhood community or senior center or in your church, synagogue or mosque, Here are four simple organizing principles for these clubs

1. To disseminate accurate information about the Occupy movements in the US and around the world.

2. To provide material support ( which may in the form of food and clothing, legal assistance, or pressure on elected officials) to the Occcupy movement in your own city and town

3. To organize around economic inequality issues and threats to freedom of expression where you live and/or where you work.

4. To create networks among people who support the Occupy movement that enable them to mobilze support for demonstrations organized by that movement.

The strength of these clubs is that they allow people a wide variety of situations , including those who are homebound or disabled, to participate in the Occupy movement.

Bronx Students Occupy Public Education, Release 10-Point Plan

The Occupy Wall Street movement has sparked Bronx students to start an organization called The Dream Yard A.C.T.I.O.N. They created a list of demands which were e-mailed to the BoogieDowner.

Their demands should spark discussion and then positive change in the NYC Public School system. It's good to know grass roots efforts are organizing to protect our public schools system. Hopefully the public will be more vigilant and prevent abuses like the latest fiasco where legislators classified pizza as a vegetable to increase pizza sales to public school. And then we wonder why we have an obesity problem in America!!!!

Good luck to the student activists.

Gregory
*****



By Jorge Rivas
A group of young activists from the Bronx called say they’re being deprived of a quality education, and they’re prepared to fight for something better. The Resistance, which was formed through a youth arts organization called The DreamYard A.C.T.I.O.N Project, have developed a 10-point education platform for New York City public schools. The group has also launched a Facebook page to support their efforts. They’re demanding the following reforms:

1. We demand free quality education as a right guaranteed by the US Constitution.
2. We demand the dismantling of Bloomberg’s Panel for Educational Policy. We demand a new 13 member community board to run our public schools (comprised of parents, educators, education experts, community members, and a minimum of 5 student representatives).
3. We demand quality instruction. Teachers should ethnically, culturally, and racially reflect the student body. We demand experienced teachers who have a history of teaching students well. Teacher training should be intensive and include an apprenticeship with master teachers as well as experiences with the communities where the school is located.
4. We demand stronger extra-curricular activities to help stimulate and spark interest in students. Students should have options, opportunities, and choice in their education.
5. We demand a healthy, safe environment that does not expect our failure or anticipate our criminality. We demand a school culture that acknowledges our humanity (free of metal detectors, untrained and underpaid security guards, and abusive tactics).
6. We demand that all NYC public school communities foster structured and programmatic community building so that students, teachers, and staff learn in an environment that is respectful and safe for all.
7. We demand small classes. Class sizes should be humane and productive. We demand that the student to teacher ratio for a mainstream classroom should be no more than 15:1.
8. We demand student assessments and evaluations that reflect the variety of ways that we learn and think (portfolio assessments, thesis defenses, anecdotal evaluations, written exams). Student success should not depend solely on high stakes testing.
9. We demand a stop to the attack on our schools. If a school is deemed “failing”, we demand a team of qualified and diverse experts to assess how such schools can improve and the resources to improve them.
10. We demand fiscal equity for NYC public schools: as stated in the Education Budget and Reform Act of 2007 by the NYS Legislature, NYC public schools have been inadequately and inequitably funded. We demand the legislatively mandated $7 billion dollars in increased annual state education aid to be delivered to our schools now!

NYC Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez Arrested At Zuccotti Park Eviction

While home last night watching one sold out news correspondent after the other propagating ideas that destroy the American middle class, I came across an episode of Countdown with Keith Olbermann that was in all regards exceptional. In addition to the 80 plus grandmother who was pepper sprayed and arrested at a West Coast Occupy rally he also aired the following clip with Ydanis Rodriguez were the NYC Councilman discussed his arrest, alleged beat down and 17 hour detention by the NYPD. If you did not see the clip here it is. When I locate the grandmothers interview I will post as well.

Kudos to Keith Olbermann and MOXNEWS. Were fortunate to have them as an alternative media source.

Gregory

*********

Professor Mark Naison: What Occupy Wall Street Has Accomplished in Two Short Months

Mark Naison of Fordham University recently forwarded the following about the accomplishments of the Occupy Wall Street movement to date. With all the misinformation and propaganda against the movement I consider it a must read.

Gregory

*******

What Occupy Wall Street Has Accomplished in Two Short Months

Mark Naison
Fordham University

Many people in the media, as well as many citizens, complain that Occupy Wall Street has no leaders and no goals. While Occupy Wall Street and its spinoffs around the nation have certainly not developed “leaders” who articulate its goals to the media or negotiate with public officials, it has already registered a formidable list of accomplishments for a movement this young

Here is my list of some of the important things this movement has done, with more to come as it grows and matures

1 Put the question of economic inequality in the center of national discourse for the first time since the 1960’s, even though such inequality has been growing dramatically for the last 20 years. The vocabulary the movement has developed to describe this inequality “ the 1 % and the 99%” have become a permanent part of our political discourse and has focused great attention on how the mal distribution of wealth has undermined democracy and eroded the living standards of the great majority of Americans

2 Called attention to the stifling impact of student loan debt on young college, professional and trade school graduates who face the double whammy of a stagnant job market and crippling debt. The attention given this issue inspired President Obama to marginally ease the loan burden of current recipients. In the future, it might well prompt a radical reconfiguration of the debt or a major program of loan forgiveness

3. Created political pressures that prompted the postponement of a decision by President Obama to begin construction of the controversial Keystone XL natural gas pipeline

4 Inspired a wide variety of actions to prevent foreclosures and evictions and to bring relief to beleaguered home owners and tenants


5. Put the undemocratic character of many education reform policies, particularly school closings, under much greater scrutiny, creating pressures on policy makers that will make these closings much more difficult to implement them without more consultation and input from parents, students, teachers and community members

6. Given the labor movement a new vocabulary to challenge attacks on collective bargaining and union recognition, providing added ammunition to the successful campaign to defeat an anti-collective bargaining bill in the state of Ohio.

7 Focused attention on the issue of police brutality and the militarization of urban police forces in ways that reinforces longstanding complaints of police misconduct and abuse in Black and Latino communities

This would be an impressive list of accomplishment for a movement that has lasted two years. But Occupy Wall Street has only been with us for two months!

November 16, 2011

Mark D Naison
Professor of African American Studies and History
Principal Investigator
Bronx African American History Project
640 Dealy Hall
Fordham University
Bronx, NY 10458

BoogieDowner Occupy Wall Street Notes: University Professors Conduct Education Forums While Councilman Rodriguez Plans New March

Even though the majority of the main stream media wants the rest of America and the world to believe the "Wall Street Occupiers" are a radical left wing fringe, most of the e-mails received to date at the BoogieDowner about the protests, have been from educators at prestigious U.S. universities. As various Fox News Network correspondents seeks the least informed to ask questions to and then conclude they need to be educated on the topics by their own networks, professors from universities such as Fordham, C.U.N.Y, and Columbia's Teachers College are conducting education summits at the Zuccatti Park. Another interesting point to mention is that according to the e-mail below, NYC Councilman Rodriguez is scheduling a march of his own with a connection to the “Occupy Wall Street” movement. Is this the beginning of the “Occupy Wall Street” movement’s introduction to main steam politics?

Rather than a dogmatic agenda, the protests are turning into a modern day “Agora" for Socratic thought which will hopefully have a long lasting effect on our nation. Hopefully it will infuse higher order thinking skills back into the American educational system. But then if we had a society that was aware, properly educated and had informed unbiased media, would they tolerate subsidiaries of large corpoartions like Brookfield receiving $700,0000 in small business grants or Charter schools which are for-profit institutions, some of which pay $1 a year rent the the NYC Department of Education for space. Please review the e-mail sent again by Mark Naison of Fordham University and conclude for yourself.

Gregory
********

Great day at OWS. Went down for a grade in organized by Teacher Activist Groups,, but stumbled upon an great Save Our Schools Teach In organized by Celia Oyler and other faculty from Columbia Teachers College. One of the best open discussions discussion of education issues I have ever been part of with people of many ages and backgrounds taking part.

Main points, at least to me.

1. That corporations like Pearson are making tremendous profits as a result of Federal and state mandates to impose high stake tests, and have bought off many officials. 2. That the "value added" approach to rating teachers is incredible inaccurate and demoralizes teachers and magnifies the test score gap. 3. That teachers can't just fight against strategies that squeeze creativity from their classrooms, they have to fight racism and segregation in the nation's schools and the entire society. Fourth, that people in working class communities in New York are determined to make sure that OWS is expressing their interests and concerns. On Thursday, there will be a big march from Washington Heights to Wall Street let by community organizations and elected officials, including Councilman Rodriguez, who was there at the teach in. I came away from the teach in feeling excited and primed or action.


Next, I went across the street to the Grade In where there were about 30 teachers gathered. As we were taking and grading, we were approached by a theater company from Red Hook who specializes in Pedagogy of the Oppressed via Paolo Freire. They asked us to participate in a trial run of a play they were doing which simulated a classroom of eighth graders who had different feelings about "teaching to the test." Teachers joined in the play and the results were
pretty exciting, and instructive.


All in all, it was three plus hours of with educators marked by spontaneity, creativity, honesty and true comradeship. Real issues were discussed in without rancor and rage. I felt I was part of a true "Parliament of the People." If THIS is what democracy looks like, I'm down with it!

Mark Naison

Bill O'Reilly Puts his Foot in his Mouth on Letterman by Predicting End of Occupy Wall Street Rallies as Local Activists Hunker Down for a Long Winter

Did anyone witness Bill O'Reilly of the Factor put his foot in his mouth by predicting on David Letterman that the Occupy Wall Street movement would dissipate after the attempted eviction on Friday morning? Please see the e-mail sent by local Occupy Wall Street organizers Mark Naison of Fordham University and Ira Shor of CUNY advocating for the collection of winter gear to sustain the protest through the winter. Again Mr. O'Reilly proves his ability to completely miss the pulse of average Americans as protests spread thought America.

What Mr. O'Reilly should be investigating in his “no spin zone” is the follow up related to Greg B. Smiths, October 14th Daily News article entitled "Owners of Zuccotti got a lotti 9/11 money". The article alleges subsidiaries of Brookfield Properties LLC, the $8 Billion conglomerate that owns Zuccotti Park, filed and received at least three six-figure grants meant for small business hurt by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Why is a subsidiary of a conglomerate worth an estimated $8 billion receiving small business grants from the Empire State Development Corporation???? So far $700,000 in small business grants to Brookfield LLC subsidiaries have been discovered. To review the digital article found on the Daily News site, with a slightly different title, and get the full stench here is the link:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/occupy_wall_street/2011/10/14/2011-10-14_zuccotti_park_owners_received_nearly_700000_in_govt_handouts_since_911_terrorist.html

It's a shame that every time the American public turns around they find a large corporation abusing their power and influence. It's no wonder the streets are flooding with irate protestors.

Gregory
*********
E-mail sent by Mark Naison and Ira Shore in their attempt to support Occupy Wall Street Protests:

"The Wall Street Occupation Needs Winter Gear! We the 99% have a great stake in the Wall Street Occupation. We can help the Occupation win by supplying its needs and by spreading its protest message across America. Food is already pouring in because so many oppose the 1%. Now, winter is coming! The Occupation needs warm, waterproof gear to make it to Spring: boots, socks, sleeping bags, tarps, polartec shirtsand pants, thermal underwear, gloves, scarves. Please start with others a "99% Club" where you are to protest inequality and to collect gear for the outdoor camps in NY and other cities where thousands sleep every night.

Send Gear to: OWS, c/o UPS Store, 118A Fulton Street, #205, NY, NY 10038
Checks or Money Orders to: Alliance for Global Justice, 1247 "E"Street, SE Washington, DC, 20003. Write on Ck or MO "Occupy WallStreet" or call 202-544-9355 to donate funds for winter gear. Our Winter Soldiers on Wall Street are counting on us and we are counting on them."

Mark Naison, Fordham Univerity
Ira Shor, CUNY Graduate Center

Congressman Serrano Voices Support for Occupy Wall Street

For the last few days the Republican PR machine has been prophesizing that no political figure would come out in support of the Occupy Wall Street protests. Here is another U.S. Congressman who proves them wrong again. For an update from a Congressman who is not a tool of the super rich and in touch with reality, please see the following press release sent by U.S. Congressman Serrano.

Gregory
*********

Congressman Serrano Voices Support for Occupy Wall Street

This week, Congressman Serrano spoke out in support of the basic economic message of the Occupy Wall Street protests. The protests, which began in mid-September, are expressing opposition to an economic system that has eroded working people’s economic security while simultaneously greatly enriching a small segment of society, and to a political system that has failed to address those concerns.

“I’ve been watching the growing attention that the Occupy Wall Street protestors are garnering and have to say that I couldn’t agree with their economic message more,” said Serrano. “For years, many of us have been talking about the squeeze on working families and the favoritism toward the rich that has infected our national policies, but these protestors have helped spread that message to new and bigger audiences. This is a very welcome development. They have hit on a simple truth—the economic policies that our nation has enacted over the past several decades have made it harder and harder for the vast majority of the population to live a decent, stable life. Working families have the right to be outraged and fed up, and I believe these protestors are channeling that justified indignation.

“We just spent a very long spring and summer in Washington listening to a debate about severe cuts to government spending—spending that supports working families. Meanwhile the jobs situation was blinking red the entire time. Poll after poll showed that people across the nation cared far more about job creation than government spending, but to hear the Washington discourse it would have seemed to have been the exact opposite. Now we’ve wasted months on the outlandish debt debate and done nothing to support job creation. No wonder there is such frustration.

“The protesters ask why we are focused on rebuilding roads and bridges and schools in Afghanistan and Iraq when we have out-of-work workers, crumbling bridges, roads and schools right here at home. I take it a step further and ask why we are spending money to occupy these nations and to support a hugely bloated military budget. We should bring the troops home, and redirect a significant portion of the defense budget to social and infrastructure spending here in our nation.

“The protestors have done our nation a great service in restarting a conversation about the skewed economic priorities of some politicians and the nation’s wealthy who they seem to represent. I am of the firm belief that we need a fundamental re-shifting of our nation’s economic policies and tax code to ensure that they help the vast majority of Americans, and not just the wealthy few. We need to invest in our future through schools and social spending. We need to favor ordinary people, not the powerful moneyed interests. I applaud what the Occupy Wall Street protesters are doing, and I add my voice to theirs as they ask Washington to focus on the real needs of working families.”

Bronx Occupy Wall Street Supporters Joining Protestors on October 15th

Fortunately there was not a showdown in Zuccotti Park this morning during the attempted "foreclosure of Zuccotti Park" from the Occupy Wall Street protestors. Besides the hundreds of thousands of individuals who signed the petition circulated yesterday to protest the proposed eviction disguised as a "cleaning", hundreds if not thousands of additional supporters showed up at 6am this morning to show solidarity with the movement.

It made me proud to be an American witnessing the news clips during the last 24 hours which showed brave men and women, from all walks of life, cleaning the park and waiting for their opportunity to be arrested in support of Democracy. I feel guilty that I was not there in solidarity with the protestors. It's a shame that much of the spin from the major media owned by the 1% or their puppets, does everything they can to undermine these American HEROES protecting our Democracy.

If the owners of the Zuccotti Park, Brookfield Properties, are so concerned about hygiene, why not place portable bathrooms at the park in support of the protestors and free speech in America? Some interesting allegations/finds were made/exposed in today’s Daily News article entitled “Owners of Zuccotti a lotti 9/11 money” written by Greg B. Smith. Firstly, Brookfield’s subsidiaries received “at least three six figure grants meant for small businesses hurt by 9/11, even though it’s an $8 billion company with 2,500 employees records show”. Secondly, the article alleges “Brookfield’s parent company owns and manages seven major office buildings around lower Manhattan with 12.8 Million square feet of office space, including the World Trade Center, which was heavily damaged in the attacks”. Not only is the large conglomerate collecting funds meant for small businesses, but I would assume the recent crushing Port Authority hikes, which a large portion is allocated to the reconstruction of the World Trade Center, will end up in their pocket as well. As the allegations are investigated it’s no wonder why the park owners, who I also assume maintain the park for major tax concessions or other perks such as increased FAR or building variances on other developments would deny the thousands of protestors potable bathroom stalls and then complain about park hygiene. I am a strong proponent of personal property. America is built on the principle but someone needs to secure the agreement between the park and government entity that defined the deal that converted the park to a 24 hour public access park. I am sure the “99%” paid handsomely for Zuccotti Park. Just like

Please review the e-mail circulating related to tomorrow’s gatherings and demonstrations. I also attached a photo taken at the demonstration showing the growing disparity in wealth in America. The only class warfare going in is an assault by some in America stop 1% against Americas poor and middle class.

Gregory
********

The 99%...

On October 15th, HISTORY is being made. For the first time ever, a Global Demonstration will occur in hundreds of cities around the world. Millions of people will peacefully protest in solidarity, representing 99% of humanity. There are numerous causes being fought for, all spearheaded by a single principle...THE PEOPLE's VOICE MUST BE HEARD.

October 15, 11am, we will be gathering at Fordham Plaza in the Bronx. From... there we will head to the train and go down to Occupy Wall Street as one unit.

It is time Bronxites gathered together, and in the spirit of our reputation as being tough no nonsense citizens, we will show our resolve and peacefully protest, walking in solidarity with our neighbors.

The Bronx contains one of the five poorest Congressional Districts in the entire COUNTRY. Yet we house a sport franchise that has the highest payroll in professional sports...That is but one example of the duality our borough endures.

Please spread the word, as this will be the beginning of us manifesting our own local occupation and further events.

BoogieDowner Photos from the Community: Occupy Wall Street Photos taken Sunday October 8th

Here are some photos I took at the Occupy Wall Street Protest this past Sunday. I went to get a first hand look at what was going on and at to provide my testament, with photos, to anyone who could not go themselves. It was a peaceful demonstration of average Americans, with a few colorful exceptions, who are fed up with the lies, corruption, greed and incompetence destroying the American middle class. Enjoy the photos.

Gregory
*******

"Occupy Wall Street" Protests Scheduled to Take Place in the Bronx this Friday

As "Occupy Wall Street" style protests sweep the country, Moveon.org activists sent the following e-mail related to a protest scheduled for this Friday in the Parkchester section of the Bronx. For more on the protest planned please review the e-mail received today. Are we seeing a revival of activism in America?

Gregory
*******

Host: Michelle P., MoveOn member
Where: Parkchester Station, Bronx #6 line - Meet @ Starbucks (in The Bronx)
When: Friday, Oct. 14, at 12:00 PM

Can you come?

"What: The media is finally starting to pay attention to the tens of thousands of people demanding Wall Street pay to create jobs, not cuts. This is our chance to push for policies that work for the 99% of us who can't afford lobbyists. Whether protesting banks not paying their fair share, rallying for jobs, or standing in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, we'll amplify our message for politicians: jobs now--make Wall Street pay!"