Today, though you wouldn't know it from watching the MSM, 10,000 strong marched in solidarity across Boston and shut down the Charlestown Bridge. The people there were students, unions, seniors, the unemployed, the working poor -- in essence, the 99%.
#OccupyBoston's been one of the best organized and strongest activists in the Occupy movement. I wrote up a description of Tent City on my blog earlier today from my experiences on Sunday.
Well, today, they took that inspiration from the march and occupied a second camp, right next to the first. Now the police have promised a crackdown tonight at midnight, with thousands of protesters locked arms in protest. Today, more than ever, we need the whole world watching!
More below, including the live feed. This is by far the most important night of #OccupyBoston's life -- and will make or break the movement.
Here's the livefeed. It's down until around quarter of 8 so they can get it in position to witness what goes on with the police.
Some background:
As I wrote in my diary from what I saw yesterday, Mayor Menino -- who is the kingmaker in Boston politics --has begun to amp up the rhetoric and suggest an end to Occupy Boston. I said that I was worried it could be soon, and I'm still hoping my fears aren't right.
Standing against Menino and any of the political or economic elite who would like to see an end to the movement to save the 99% is thousands and thousands of people, both people there and present and people paying attention or watching from home. The light of day is the antidote to any possible police brutality, mass arrests or evictions.
Right now, we need direct action:
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Please call Mayor Menino's office and tell him that people have the right to peacefully assemble -- and that the whole world is watching. 617-635-4500.
Call Governor Deval Patrick and express to him your support for the 99% and the right of people to peacefully assemble. 888.870.7770
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UPDATES:
What the protesters need
- Most importantly, they need people. The more people that are there, the more difficult it will be for the cops to decide to raid. If you're around the city, please come out in support. The police have already been forced to push back their deadline -- the people can win this thing if enough people show up to cause the critical mass. Note: Just being there as a witness or bringing donations is a help even if you aren't locking arms.
- Water and food
- Maalax as a neutralizing agent should there be any pepper spray incidents
- Cameras and lights to ensure the whole world is watching
- Listen to the live feed or follow @occupy_boston for more
Update: Pictures
Local GLBT activist and strong OccupyBoston supporter has posted a number of fantastic pictures from the march today and General Assembly tonight.
Update: Videos
5:05 PM PT: More Videos
Channel 7 in Boston did a story on the protests expanding into a second area of the Rose Kennedy Greenway, next to Dewey Sq.
Watch toward the end when they show how absolutely massive today's huge march was -- even if they didn't cover it much in the segment. The 10k strong numbers I've heard seem absolutely reasonable.
5:07 PM PT: I'm having trouble embedding the channel 7 video, so here's a link to it:
http://wn.whdh.com/... 1&h1=Protesters expand on Rose Kennedy Greenway&flvUri=&partnerclipid=
5:13 PM PT: Video from earlier tonight of the new camp emerging: http://www.twitvid.com/...
5:36 PM PT: Decent Channel 5 segment showing the march. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/...
6:34 PM PT: Power has been cut from the media tent at #OccupyBoston. It's starting to look real that the police will come in -- they're trying to stop people from documenting what will happen.
8:02 PM PT: News is finally covering this at 11pm. Will update when all is said and done, to keep things on the record.
The Menino admin is saying the police will only oust protesters from the one camp, but police are saying they'll boot them from both if they don't clear from the new camp.
They must stay, though. The movement is getting too big for just Dewey and so much is at stake.