May Day– more than any other day– is a holiday for the 99%. For decades, on May 1, workers around the world have honored the memory of Haymarket Square and striking Chicago workers who were fighting for an 8-hour work day.

From Wikipedia…

The Haymarket affair (also known as the Haymarket massacre or Haymarket riot) refers to the aftermath of a bombing that took place at a labor demonstration on Tuesday May 4, 1886, at Haymarket Square[3] in Chicago.

It began as a peaceful rally in support of workers striking for an eight-hour day. An unknown person threw a dynamite bomb at police as they acted to disperse the public meeting. The bomb blast and ensuing gunfire resulted in the deaths of seven police officers and at least four civilians, and the wounding of scores of others.

In the internationally publicized legal proceedings that followed, eight anarchists were convicted of conspiracy, although the prosecution conceded none of the defendants had thrown the bomb. Seven were sentenced to death and one to a term of 15 years in prison. The death sentences of two of the defendants were commuted by Illinois governor Richard J. Oglesby to terms of life in prison, and another committed suicide in jail rather than face the gallows. The other four were hanged on November 11, 1887. In 1893, Illinois’ new governor John Peter Altgeld pardoned the remaining defendants and criticized the trial. [Emphasis added.]

The Haymarket affair is generally considered significant as the origin of international May Day observances for workers.[4][5] The site of the incident was designated a Chicago Landmark on March 25, 1992,[6] and a public sculpture was dedicated at the site in 2004. The Haymarket Martyrs’ Monument in nearby Forest Park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark on February 18, 1997.[2]

When I was growing up in the 1960s, May Day was not celebrated widely in the US. On the TV news, we watched May Day marches in the Soviet Union, and the corporate media billed May Day as a Communist holiday. Thanks to selective education in the public school system, I had no idea that May Day was connected to early battles for workers’ rights in the US.

As wealth inequality between the 99% and the 1% has grown, the US economy has crumbled, forclosures and layoffs have skyrocketed, unions have been attacked, and the middle class has dwindled, May Day has grown in popularity in the US. In 2010, with the passage of SB1070 by the Arizona Legislature, immigration reform and the rights of the undocumented became a May Day cause. Thousands marched in Phoenix and across the US.

Although immigration reform, pay equity, and economic and social justice are pivitol May Day issues, we must remember that May Day is not a Soviet holiday, not a Communist holiday, not a Latino rights holiday, not a women’s rights holiday, not a gay rights holiday, not a black power holiday. May Day is a workers’ holiday.

There are two types of people in the world–workers and owners. As long as the 99% willingly divide themselves with words and deeds into warring factions, we will not win this struggle.

In the spirit of May Day, here is John Nichols of The Nation, speaking in Tucson this year, about uprising, the Occupy movement, and the importance of worker solidarity. Below are links to related videos.

John Nichols of ‘The Nation’ on corporate media, solidarity, and the lessons of Wisconsin

Arizona Unionists Rally in Phoenix to Protest Anti-Labor Laws

Arizona Unionists and Democratic Legislators Speak Out Against Anti-Labor Laws

Arizona Unionists and Supporters Protest Proposed Anti-Labor Laws

Jobs with Justice, Occupy Tucson, and Union Workers march to save postal jobs

As police and local governments begin major crackdowns across the US, the Tucson Police Department and Occupy Tucson continue their nightly dance of citations, arrests, and resistance at Veinte de Agosto Park downtown.

From Alex Maldonado, Occupy Tucson Peacekeeper and Veteran For Peace…

Tonight [Wednesday, Nov. 30], eight Tucson Police Department cruisers, one SUV and another unmarked SUV encircled Veinte de Agosto Park for the nightly issuing of citations for staying in the park after hours for Occupy Tucson.

As citations were being issued, Marisa Muro, peacefully refused her citation and was taken into custody without incident.  Muro is basically deaf with only 20% hearing in each ear.

Since Thanksgiving evening, nine occupiers have been taken into custody for refusing their citations.  Occupiers spend the night at the Pima County Adult Detention Center, have their arraignment hearing in the morning and are then released.

Tucson’s newly-elected Mayor Jonathan Rothschild will be sworn in next Monday, Dec. 5, 2011. Will the police change their tactics then? Only time will tell.

Several Tucson Occupiers climbed the large trees at Veinte de Agosto Park after 10 p.m. on November 28. The Tucson Police, which had been citing protesters nightly for six weeks, issued no citations, made no arrests, and left at approximately 11 p.m.

Since Occupy Wall Street started on September 17, 2011, more than 4,000 Americans in 65 cities have been arrested. In Tucson, more than 700 people have been cited and/or physically arrested.

Joan Zatorski Puca was arrested by Tucson Police on Friday, November 25, 2011. Above is the video of the arrest. Her powerful statement below details her rational for submitting to arrest at Occupy Tucson.

This statement below, is read in the video by Joan’s husband Dr. Christopher Puca as she is being dragged into a TPD cruiser.

Friday, Nov. 25, 2011

After much personal introspection, I came to the decision today that this evening I will place myself in position to be arrested at Pancho Villa Park downtown (Veinte de Agosto Park) and jailed in relation to my involvement in the OCCUPY MOVEMENT in Tucson.

I’ve been carefully studying and meditating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s most erudite essay, his “Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963)” this past week. I am convinced that it is essential for deliberate, immediate attention be refocused on the issues of economic injustice which initially galvanized the OCCUPY MOVEMENT world-wide (as opposed to issues related to local city curfew, park ordinances, or even this issue of First Amendment Rights).

I have come to this conclusion not as a leader of any movement or group but as a singular individual desperately concerned about the profound suffering presently experienced by millions of human beings across every economic and social class, generation, gender, sexual orientation, political persuasion, religious or spiritual belief.

In good conscience, I simply cannot let Mary DeCamp (recent Mayoral candidate, Tucson Peace Activist) be the lone Tucsonan willing to enter jail (as she did in the wee hours of November 25th) as a means of drawing attention to our country’s blatant issues regarding economic injustice.

As an educated white woman, legally disabled by illness, a civil servant with almost 20 years of service to children who were living at or below the poverty line, a mother, grandmother, spouse, avowed Christian, registered and consistently-participating voter, American citizen by birthright, granddaughter of immigrants, who has never been arrested, much less walked into a jail, I believe I am the most “common” example of the “common person” impacted by the devastatingly serious economic issues that thousands upon thousands of people are demanding be addressed.

I am you… we are all one and we are suffering. Only by uniting with one another can our most egregious issues be solved.

Look in my eyes and see the reflection of your own face, your own pain… Look again and see, as well, the possibility for redemption, for resolution, for renewal of all that is good within the soul of America.

In closing, I ask you to surround me with your personal prayers this evening. That I may stay committed to my decision to display non-violent behavior, speech, and attitude in the face of (what may be) a physically and medically challenging experience for me tonight (and beyond).

Joan Zatorski Puca
Tucson, Arizona

For six weeks– through heavy rain and nightly disruption by the Tucson Police Department (TPD)– Occupy Tucson has maintained a peaceful encampment protest in downtown Tucson. TPD has issued more than 600 curfew citations and, recently, physically arrested protesters for civil disobedience in not signing their citations.

On Saturday night, four peaceful protesters were arrested; on Sunday night, TPD came to the encampment with significantly more force– six cruisers and an SUV– but made no arrests. (See eye witness reports below.)

This show of muscle by TPD is out of step with at least three of the Tucson City Council– Karin Uhlich, Richard Fimbres, and Regina Romero– and former city officials George Miller and Molly McKasson.

As the situation is escalates, one has to ask: Who’s in charge? Is it City Manager (and former police chief) Richard Miranda? If so, someone needs to tell him his tactics of harassment are– at the very least– exacerbating the situation and making the movement stronger in its resolve and– at worst– could escalate the peaceful protest into a violent clash.

Tucsonans are behind the Occupiers– as is evidenced by the food and other donations and this totally unscientific poll, which has been running at 65-70% in favor of the Occupation since it was posted a few days ago.

Where do we go from here? My vote is for letting the Occupiers stay in the park– without police interference, further arrests, or curfew citations. We are the 99%.

November 26 report

From Alex Maldonado, Occupy Tucson Peacekeeper and member of Veterans For Peace…

From 10:40pm, Saturday night to 12:10am, Sunday morning, Tucson Police Department cited and released demonstrators of Occupy Tucson for staying in the park after hours, except for four who were taken into custody.

Michael (Mike) Migliore was taken into custody after chaining himself onto one of the poles at Veinte de Agosto Park in making a stance for his First Amendment right. TPD handcuffed Migliore and then proceeded to cut the chains, and escorted him to a police cruiser, where he was led away.

Mary DeCamp was taken into custody for the second time in three nights as she refused her citation. DeCamp was walked from her tent to a general area, where occupiers were being cited. DeCamp was then taken to another police cruiser where she was handcuffed, seated and then led away.

William (Billy) Lolos, who also refused his citation, was also taken into custody as he was handcuffed before taken to the general area. Lolos was then taken to yet another police cruiser and seated, and led away.

One unidentified male was also handcuffed and taken into custody, and was seated in the same police cruiser as Lolos.

All four were peacefully taken into custody without incident as fellow occupiers and supporters gave encouragement to those taken into custody for the third night in a row.

November 27 report

From Alex Maldonado, Occupy Tucson Peacekeeper and member of Veterans For Peace…

‎10:30pm to 11:30pm, TPD bull-rushed the encampment with six police cruisers and one SUV. Ten occupiers were sitting on the U-Turn curb, as there is a possibility of mid to high-teen numbers in citations. TPD’s mood tonight was not as amiable as previous nights. No one was taken into custody.

For those of you who have forgotten why the Occupiers are out there– or never understood the movement. Here is Occupy Tucson’s Declaration…

On Saturday, November 12, 2011, participants of the General Assembly of Occupy Tucson came to consensus and passed the following Declaration of the Occupation of Tucson as a working document. This is a living document and will be updated with new additions as the process continues.

Declaration of the Occupation of Tucson
As we gather in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what has brought us together.As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality that the status quo is unacceptable, and that our political and economic institutions, both corporate and governmental, are failing us; that the corruption of our system has undermined our rights, and it is now up to us, the people, to re-found those rights, and expand upon them. We assert that legitimate institutions derive their power from the people, and, therefore, as the people overwhelmingly reject the monopoly of power exercised by both government and transnational corporations, and in particular large financial corporations and the military-industrial complex, that their power is illegitimate; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by political and economic power, or when the rule of power trumps the rule of law.We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known:

We will not tolerate discrimination in the workplace, or in our governmental institutions, or within our own movement based on age, race, sex, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, developmental ability, physical ability, religious belief, and non-belief.

We condemn and consider illegitimate the acquisition of houses through an illegal foreclosure process by banks and other financial firms.

We condemn and consider illegitimate the massive bailouts that have been passed by Congress on terms unacceptable to the majority of Americans.

We condemn the media’s performance in keeping people misinformed and fearful. We condemn governmental and corporate manipulation of the media for the purpose of spreading disinformation and concealing incriminating or embarrassing information.

We recognize that financial corruption and failure are practiced with impunity under the slogan “Too Big To Fail.” In the midst of their devastating failures, we condemn the rewarding of massive bonuses to financial executives and elites.

We condemn the pressure to limit workers’–including migrant workers’–pay and access to healthcare in order to inflate profits, and overcompensate managers and executives. We demand the recognition of workers’ rights as human rights.

We oppose the systemic orientation of outsourcing more and more jobs, and condemn its use to exert further pressure on workers.

We condemn the scapegoating of the poor, and in particular the scapegoating of immigrants, including those who enter the US, often out of desperation, illegally.

We will not tolerate the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of nonhuman animals, and we condemn those who actively hide these practices.

We condemn the “structural adjustment” policies of the IMF, WTO, World Bank, et al. which have disrupted and degraded developing economies throughout the world. Consequently, we demand the forgiveness of the crushing debts imposed by the above bodies.

We condemn the use of legal teams, lobbyists, and other means to circumvent the spirit of our laws.

We condemn the universal commodification of our culture.

We condemn the practice of blocking generic forms of medicine that could save people’s lives in order to protect investments that have already turned a substantial profit.

We condemn the execution of persons, and oppose the privatization of prisons.

We condemn colonialism in all its forms.

We condemn torture, and we condemn dismissing the killing of civilians as “collateral damage”.

We condemn the creation of weapons of mass destruction, and the profits derived from their creation.

We demand accountability to the people and will not tolerate corruption in government and transnational corporations.

We demand the dissolution of the legal absurdity of corporate personhood.

We demand deeper investment in alternative, renewable forms of energy, and condemn policies that keep us unsustainably dependent on oil and other fossil fuels.

We demand the conversion of the perpetual war economy into an economy that supports peace and sustainability.

We demand accountability of transnational corporations that have purposely covered up oil spills, accidents, faulty bookkeeping, and faulty products—endangering lives and health—in pursuit of profit.

We demand the recognition of a worker’s right to negotiate for better pay and safer working conditions, and the right to negotiate in association with other workers.

We demand a reevaluation of the food supply—including a reevaluation of agribusiness and federal food policies and subsidies—with an emphasis on correcting negligence and dissolving monopolies.

We demand the end of all privatization of the commons such as water, seeds, genetic materials, et al.

We demand education as a right, and we condemn massive student debts as an abridgment of that right.

We demand publicly-financed campaigns, and condemn the use of money to buy disproportionate and undue influence in government.

We demand the end of the revolving-door lobby system between Congress and corporations.

We demand instant-runoff voting to supplant the winner-take-all system in elections.

We demand transparency in the tabulating of ballot returns.

*This list is not all-inclusive and may be amended at any time by consensus of the General Assembly.

We, the Occupy Tucson General Assembly, are asserting our first amendment rights, as well as our power as citizens. We are peaceably assembled; occupying public space; creating a process to address the problems we face, and generating solutions accessible to everyone.

To all communities that take action and form groups in the spirit of direct democracy, we offer support and resources.

Join us and make your voices heard!

Occupy Tucson has been evicted from Armory Park and the main library by the Tucson Police Department late last night. Rousting people out of their tents to ticket them is bad enough, but making them pack up their tents, kitchen, and belongings in the dead of night– after most of them have probably gone to sleep? What kind of an oppressive/passive aggressive city government to we have? What a cowardly action– making them move after dark when no one can see what the police are doing.

Who’s decision was this? The public deserves to know.

Below is a report from Alex Maldonado, one of the peacekeepers. The Occupation has moved to Veinte de Agosto Park (AKA Pancho Villa Park). You may remember that this was the original location.

Thursday night at approximately 11pm, the Tucson Police Department surrounded the perimeter of Armory Park with 80 officers and forced Occupy Tucson to vacate the park.

In two hours, Occupy Tucson had bugged-out and cleaned the park of any trash on the grounds.
The Tucson community showed up and helped during the bug-out process. Some who had only been following the movement on the internet, showed up and aided in the move.

There were no injuries to report on the occupiers. Some TPD officers were even sympathetic to the forced action against the occupiers as they could not help during the move but could only watch.

The Pima County Library Park was also vacated by the occupiers after TPD forced an evacuation of that park.

Currently, there are approximately 40 tents at the new base camp with approximately 60 occupiers holding their ground after what can only be termed as a successful and well organized bug-out from Armory Park.

Occupy Tucson has found its second wind.

I can’t help but think this eviction has something to do with the call to action made on Occupy Tucson’s facebook page yesterday afternoon. The Occupiers asked supporters to call or e-mail El Tour de Tucson organizers requesting that they make a deal with the Occupiers to co-exist at Armory Park on the race day (Nov. 19). When I sent a mail to Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, Inc. (the group that organizes El Tour), I received a very long, somewhat gruff response. Occupy Tucson has more than 6,500 followers on facebook, and when they have put out calls to action in the past, there has been a deluge.

Friday Call to Action: Occupy Tucson is asking supporters to come to Veinte de Agosto Park today (Friday) at 5:30 p.m. to demonstrate your support. Our first amendment freedom is at stake. From their facebook page:

This is a call to ALL, show your solidarity with OCCUPY TUCSON and come down to Viente De Agosto at 5:30 pm tonight (Friday) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyones 1st Amendment Right is at stake , the Mayor, council memeber and TPD needs to see all of you there, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT TUCSON !!!!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE: Local MoveOn.org activists are calling for Tucsonans to show their support for the Occupiers and come to Veinte de Agosto Park on Saturday, Nov. 5 at noon to issue their own citations against corporate robber barons. Here’s the link.

From MoveOn…

Our friends at Occupy Tucson are being issued citations for standing up and speaking out for the 99% of us who don’t have corporate lobbyists.

As many of you have by now heard, the City of Tucson evicted Occupy Tucson from Armory Park and Library Park last night. While this action was regrettable, the movement itself has not been discouraged. The Occupiers have relocated the base camp to Viente de Agosto Park and remains a strong, peaceful and committed community. Let’s continue to stand up for them, as they are standing up for us, the 99% who don’t have lobbyists and corporate legal departments to speak for us!

Thanks to all who have signed this petition in support of Occupy Tucson! We have collected nearly 4,000 signatures in support of the Occupiers, which will be delivered to the City Council at their next official meeting. [Nov. 9 is the next Mayor and Council meeting. ] Let’s show that the people of Tucson support freedom of speech and freedom to peacefully assemble! Meanwhile, the 1% who control over 42% of this naton’s wealth are not being held to account.

On Saturday, November 5th, MoveOn members and our progressive allies in Tucson will gather at Veinte de Agosto Park in Downtown Tucson to issue citations of our own – for crimes against the American public – to three of the biggest corporate banks on Wall Street: Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Chase Bank.

RSVP: http://civic.moveon.org/event/makewallstpayaction/123019

At noon, we will gather at Veinte de Agosto Park at Congress and Church to show solidarity with our friends at Occupy Tucson. After Occupy’s noon general assembly, we (and any Occupiers who wish to join us) will march through Tucson’s financial district to present our tickets to the banks and kick off a “Move Your Money” campaign in Tucson.

Please note that the start of the rally has moved from Armory Park to Veinte de Agosto Park at Church and Congress, which is the new Occupy Tucson base camp. We will gather between noon and 12:30 and march from there to Chase, Wells Fargo & Bank of America for a peaceful sidewalk rally.

UPDATE 2: Here’s a link to images from the TPD raid of Armory Park.

UPDATE 3: Check out the video of the TPD sweep from the Tucson Sentinel.

Occupy Tucson began on Oct. 15 at Armory Park– after a shift from Pancho Villa Park to accommodate Tucson Meet Yourself. Now the demonstration is taking place at 3 locations downtown– Armory Park, Pancho Villa, and the main library.

Tucson Police continue to give campers curfew citations nightly at all three locations– despite the restraining order issued by a federal judge in Tennessee who has prevented the state of Tennessee from issuing curfew citations against Occupy Nashville protesters on grounds that the tickets violated their first amendment rights to freedom of speech.

For more on the arrests and the new Occupy locations, click here.

For a collection of Occupy Tucson videos, click here.

For moving Occupy Tucson testimony from the 2 City Council meetings were no action was taken, check out these links. Particularly moving is the homeless man at the beginning of part 2 of the October 25 meeting.

October 18, 2011 Tucson Mayor and Council Meeting

October 25, 2011 Tucson Mayor and Council Meeting

This is the fifth in a series of personal accounts from the Occupation of Tucson. In this letter, Green Party Mayoral Candidate Mary DeCamp talks about life in the Occupy Tucson camp, her first court date, and the local media (who recently realized that she is running for mayor).

Nov. 1: Notes from the Occupation
by Mary DeCamp

Good morning media folks & friends,
Here’s another update from Camp DeCamp along de campaign trail….

Yesterday was busy.  I started with a 6:30 a.m. in-studio interview at KGUN-9 television station way out on Rosewood.  Luckily, a friend allowed me to intrude early and take a hot shower so I wouldn’t uphold the Flea-Party image that my right-wing friends have tagged all the Occupiers with.  I guess it didn’t matter a whole lot, because from what I saw, much of the video coverage was of generic shopping scenes instead of the candidate’s visage.  The atmosphere there was chilly, perhaps because my good friend & psychologist Dr. Victor Shamas had engaged in a long and heated email exchange with station producer F. Carr over the negative and misleading slant reporter Steve Nunez put on the foreclosure press conference I gave on October 4, 2011 in front of City Hall.  I called Jon Justice, KGUN’s upstairs neighbor and host of the morning talk radio program on “104.1 The Truth,” to see if I could stop in for a visit with them, but Jon refused to take my phone call and the phone screener said Jon wanted nothing more to do with me.  I was surprised, because the day before Jon had graciously shared with me a caricature one of his followers did of me that I thought was pretty flattering.

Running hot and cold in Tucson is par for the course these days.  Daytime temperatures rise while nighttime temperatures dip.  It gives me a whole new appreciation for my homesteading ancestors who crossed the plains in covered wagons and ended up living in sod houses on the windswept prairies.  We’ve got it pretty comfortable when that comparative perspective is applied.

My ancestors would be amazed at all the changes.  I could dash from the eastside back downtown in my car, arriving at City Court for my second appearance in response to the ongoing citations for Occupying Armory Park after the 10:30 p.m. curfew.  After clearing the metal detector and being scanned for weapons, I had time to take a telephone call from Pacifica Radio and talk with them about why a mayoral candidate would be willing to do more than just talk about supporting the Occupy movement.  Evidently it is unusual for politicos to walk their talk by sleeping on the ground along with others who sacrifice their comfort to stand for all our rights, and the folks at Pacifica wanted to hear more about Occupy Tucson, Code Pink, and the Green Party.

The phone call didn’t take long, and I was seated in Judge Shetter’s courtroom along with my friends, to hear whether or not the State would allow the prosecutor’s motion to apply zoning restrictions to our cases. Zoning restrictions mean that the defendants cannot return to the scene of the crime. Usually these restrictions are applied for crimes of moral misconduct like theft and/or prostitution, or if others are injured as in the case of fighting or domestic abuse – those convicted are unwelcome to return to the physical location and make more mischief.  Think what that says about how the City views the Occupiers.  And consider the implications if adopted.  By lumping us together with thieves, prostitutes, and violent offenders, we are banned from returning to Armory Park.  (The first time this plan was forwarded, it was to cover ANY time, the second time, it covered just the hours the curfew was in effect.)  But, if we cannot return, the number of tents steadily decreases and the media can contend that support is waning.  It is a sure way to break the back of the movement.  Pretty slick, huh?  Both judges Chrenshaw and Shetter denied the motion.

The Occupiers will have another court date on November 17 to determine the outcome.  Today, Judge Bernal told the prosecutor to bundle the motions for zoning restriction and present them all together in front of Judge Rojas at 9:00 a.m. on November 7 for a determination then.

After the court date yesterday, I scooted on over to my old stomping grounds, the University.  I had the wonderful opportunity to return to the classroom and meet with a bunch of fresh-faced and intelligent young aspiring journalists at the invitation of Professor Mark Evans.  What a delight!  For once, I was given more than just 2 minutes to lay out my plan for the City.  I swear, I have had longer interviews for waitress positions than what has been afforded me on the campaign trail to plead my case to be the next Mayor of the 33rd largest city in the USA.  Yikes!  What does that say about our media and democracy?  The students were interested, engaged, and had great questions.  I couldn’t believe how quickly the time slid past.

At noon, I met with my all-volunteer campaign team to refile paperwork to qualify for City Matching Funds.  We filed Oct. 26, but the City Clerk’s office disqualified 24 of the 301 donor forms.  So we beat feet, got even MORE of those $10 donations from city-dwellers who are over 18 and American citizens, and went back to petition once more.  The staff in the City Clerk’s office is so wonderful!  It is always a delight and a pleasure to visit there and interact with such pleasant and professional city workers.

<The afternoon was free of further commitments, so I could devote time to maintaining the base camp.  I could do litter patrol, some emotional support for our needy campers, and some office work on the computers in the Armory Senior Center.  Yep, I qualified for the membership offered to those over 50 years old and so I took them up on the deal.  My platform is based on recreating that sort of community spirit in all 131 registered neighborhood associations.  Direct exposure with their operation just strengthens my commitment to plant such seeds in other neighborhood communities.

Supper last night was fantastic – grilled chicken, burgers, and veggie burgers accompanied with a side salad and snacks.  I heard our kitchen got a gold-star rating from the health department, but haven't verified that rumor.

The general assembly offered good information about what all the work groups were up to.  We're still working with other groups that have filed for permits to use Armory Park for their upcoming events, so nothing to report there yet.

Sleep came quickly, and was only briefly interrupted when the Tucson Police stopped by to issue our nightly citations.  Throughout the night, I was roused by occasional horns honking as people drove by and hollered at us to "get a job."  But, all in all, it is amazing how easy it is for the body to adapt to new demands.  Sleeping on the ground isn't bad.  Being surrounded by the stately trees, feeling the fresh air, and knowing that I'm performing my patriotic duty allow me to rest easily these days.

Thanks for your continued interest in the Camp DeCamp Campaign.  Only one more week to go!

Tell your friends, family, and neighbors to vote – hopefully for me, but even if not for me for SOMEONE to lead this City.  I'm hoping if I don't get elected that whoever DOES get elected will adopt all my good ideas.  We all share common ground and want the best for the future.

Thanks, fellows,
Mary DeCamp
www.DeCampForMayor.org

Previous articles in this series:
Oct. 23: Green Tea
Oct. 25: Of Permits and Police
Oct. 26: Tucson Mayor and Council Meeting
Oct. 30: Jon Justice, violence, and illegal sleeping

The Occupy Tucson organizers are holding a Family and Friends campout tonight, October 28 at Armory Park. The event begins at 5 p.m. and lasts through the pancake breakfast on Saturday morning.

Of course, if you want to stay longer, you can. Saturday, October 30 marks Occupy Tucson’s 2 week anniversary at Armory Park.

Here are the details from their facebook page.

Friends & Supporters! Tomorrow [actually today] is the Occupy Tucson Friends & Family Campout! We’ll have fun activities for the kids, pizza & salad for dinner and a pancake breakfast. Bring your tent & sleeping bags! Peaceful & gentle strategies to avoid police citation are available to everyone.

More info:

Healthy child-friendly dinner, sign making tent, fun democracy teach-in, movie & popcorn, family singalong, interfaith goodnight gathering, awake-past-bedtime pajama protest, pancake breakfast.

Bring your tent and sleeping bags.

Stay for dinner, stay overnight, or drop in for breakfast.

*peaceful strategies to avoid police citation are available to everyone.

WHY CAMP OUT?

To show your kids what democracy looks like.
To show the world what Tucson looks like.
To participate.
To great a break from making dinner.
To take pictures of your kids dancing on the sidewalk in their jammies at 11pm!
To expand your hearts.
To change the world.

…and to eat pancakes.

 Last week’s Tucson Mayor and City Council meeting was variously described as “raucous,” and “inspiring.”

Protesters from Occupy Tucson packed the meeting and testified for hours. They pleaded with the Mayor and Council to intervene with the Tucson Police Department to stop against the $1000/night fines against the Occupiers and to intervene with the Parks and Recreation Department to end the $150/night camping permits (the biggest camping permit I know of) and the requirement for insurance.

No decisions on these items could be made last week because these issues were not officially on the agenda.

These issues are still not on the agenda for tonight’s Mayor and Council meeting. Instead, they are flagged as an executive session item on the  study session agenda. In addition to not dealing with the Occupation in public today– unless, of course, Occupiers speak at the call to audience again– the Mayor and Council are not scheduled to have another open meeting until Wednesday, November 9 (after the election).

Also of interest to the 99% and also on today’s study session agenda is a follow-up to a 2007 report on Poverty and Urban Stress in Tucson. This is an excellent report conducted by former Councilman Steve Leal; unfortunately, after he retired, the report was shelved– until a few of us rabble-rousers (including Leal) started making noise about it. Watch for more on this.

Poverty, homelessness, and unemployment are out of control in our city, but if you listen to the Democratic and Republican mayoral and city council candidates, you’d think the biggest issues facing our city were development-related fees and the self-perceived hassles developers have when dealing with the city’s bureaucracy. (Give me a break.)

It’s time for our elected officials to open their eyes and look around. Maybe they should be talking with the 99%– instead of holed up behind closed doors with attorneys, current and former law enforcement (ie, our new city manager), and other bureaucrats.

UPDATE: The Occupiers are going to march from Armory Park to the City Council Meeting later today. The march begins at 4:30 p.m. The City Council Meeting begins at 5:30.

According to Occupy Tucson’s facebook page, 259 citations have been issued in the 10 days since the Occupation began. There are 50 tents at Armory Park, but that number should swell this weekend with the planned Family and Friends Campout on Friday, October 28.

UPDATE 2: For moving Occupy Tucson testimony from the 2 City Council meetings were no action was taken by the Council on the issue of park permits and citations, check out these links. Particularly moving is the homeless man at the beginning of part 2 of the October 25 meeting.

October 18, 2011 Tucson Mayor and Council Meeting

October 25, 2011 Tucson Mayor and Council Meeting