Occupy Galveston Celebrating Mardi Gras And The 99%

Occupy Galveston is out and about working for the 99%.

(Above–Occupy Galveston out on the streets.)

Here are details of Occupy Galveston celebrating Galveston Mardi Gras-—

Ready to parade at Mardi Gras? We will be the pre-parade show for the two major Seawall parades!

We are planning on meetings:

Sat, Feb 11th: Meet at 11am in the open, grassy space at 21st and Seawall across from the Galvez.

Sat, Feb 18th: meet @ Seawall and 25th at 6pm. March up 25th.

You can just march or wear costumes, do street theatre, play music, hold signs!

We will be having Occupy Galveston t-shirts made and will be ordering 99% wristbands to throw to the crowds. If you are interested in ordering either of these, please let us know in the next few days.

Invite your friends, family, and Occupy movements from all over! 

There is an Occupy Galveston Facebook page.

Here is Occupy Wall Street.

Occupy Houston Field Organizing Training Session On 12/18

There is an Occupy Houston training session for field organizing this weekend.

Day-by-day Occupy Houston and Occupy efforts across the nation are showing that they will be around for the long haul.

Here is the Occupy Wall Street website.

Here is Occupy Galveston.

Here are details of the Houston training event—

Occupy Houston presents its first in a series of community organizing teach-ins: Strategic Organizing Workshop presenter: Scott Parkin Scott Parkin currently works as Rainforest Action Network’s Senior Campaigner on the Global Finance Campaign targeting mountaintop removal, the government agencies which allow it and the banks that fund it. Scott has worked in anti-corporate globalization, anti-war, labor and environmental movements for over a decade. 5-7PM in the Oak Room at the Stag’s Head Pub, 2128 Portsmouth St., 713-533-1199 Food and beverages are available, so come thirsty and hungry.

If you are an experienced organizer who would like to contribute to this or future sessions, please email us at heightscp@gmail.com  and be sure to put MOBILE OCC in the subject line.

Leading Republican Pollster Frank Luntz Says Occupy Wall Street Is Having An Impact

Leading Republican pollster and strategist Frank Luntz says he is concerned about the impact that Occupy Wall Street is having on public opinion.

From Think Progress—

” The Republican Governor’s Association met in Florida this week and featured pollster Frank Luntz…Luntz told attendees that he’s “scared of this anti-Wall Street effort. I’m frightened to death.” The pollster warned that the movement is “having an impact on what the American people think of capitalism….Luntz said that his polling research found that “The public…still prefers capitalism to socialism, but they think capitalism is immoral. And if we’re seen as defenders of quote, Wall Street, end quote, we’ve got a problem.”

Here is the Occupy Wall Street website.

Here is Occupy Houston. 

Here is Occupy Galveston. 

There is also an Occupy College Station Facebook page as well as Facebook pages for Occupy efforts all across the United States.

Noted author and columnist William Greider has some thoughtful and hopeful things to say about Occupy is his latest column in The Nation.

Take some time and learn about Occupy Wall Street and related efforts across the country.

The work of freedom is up to each of us.

Without forgetting the part circumstance plays in life., we are each responsible for our own future and for the future of our nation.

Occupy Houston Prints Newspaper—Self-Starting And Working With Others Is The Occupy Wall Street Ethic

The first edition of the Occupy Houston newspaper is out.

This is indeed the spirit. It is up to each of us to be self-starters, and to work with others for the good of the nation and of the 99%.

You can pick up a copy of the paper at Occupy Houston at Tranquility Park.

Occupy Houston will today be at the Egyptian consulate and at the Houston Galleria for Black Friday.

Here are some details of the Egyptian consulate protest-–

Friday November 25^th, 2pm-5pm 5718 Westheimer Road , Suite 1350 Houston, TX 77057

Please, come and stand for Egypt freedom against brutality in Egypt. Stand for future of Egypt.

The Galleria event will be at 5:30 PM in the mall.

Here is the Occupy Houston website.

Here is Occupy Galveston. 

Here is Occupy Wall Street.

You can also find these Occupy efforts on Facebook as well as an Bryan-College Station Facebook page.

Let’s be hopeful, creative, and hard working.

Occupy Houston And Occupy Wall Street Moving Ahead—Please Consider Taking Part In An Occupy Effort Near You

Thank you to the Occupy Houston protestors to marched yesterday in Downtown Houston. Regretfully, I was not able to attend this march which was held in part to mark two months since the beginning of the Occupy effort in New York city.

(Both photos in this post are from the Occupy Houston Facebook page. Above are folks in Market Square Park getting set to march yesterday afternoon. Below are non-violent protestors engaging in civil disobedience on a Downtown Houston street.)

There were up to 12 arrests at the end of this peaceful march.

It was important to make clear that Occupy is not at all over after the police raid of the first Occupy encampment in New York City. In many ways, Occupy will be better off not having to use resources to maintain the camps. With issues of income inequality and more fair taxation having been put back on the national agenda, it may be time for Occupy to move into a new phase.

Along these lines, Occupy Houston will be having a meeting on Saturday afternoon at the main Houston Public Library to discuss the next steps. This meeting will be at 2 PM in the fourth floor conference room.

Occupy Galveston will also be active this upcoming Saturday with a protest at 11 AM at 28th and Seawall.

There is now also an Occupy College Station.  Occupy College Station took part in demonstrations marking two months Occupy Wall Street.  There is a great video of this event  in the Bryan-College Station Eagle. The video can be found under where it says The Eagle Videos.

My friend Teddy Wilson has written about Occupy College Station in his Left of College Station blog.

There are Occupy efforts all over Texas and all over the nation . Find one near you.

Occupy Wall Street had a crowd of over 30,000 in New York yesterday to tell Mayor Bloomberg that you can’t evict an idea. The event was for the most part peaceful. There will always be police who are more aggressive than they need to be, and there will always be protestors who make poor decisions about provoking people when peaceful actions would work better. The best option is to take every police officer as an individual, and to view that person from a starting point of respect. All we can control are our own actions.

The facts of gets arrested and who does not get arrested are clear enough. The bank executives and the executives from the finance houses who did so much to cause this recession do not go to jail. The people who engage in wage theft from working people as alleged this morning in a Houston Chronicle story do not go to jail.

There will always be the criticisms of people and interests who would not in any case be on the side of everyday working people. Many of these folks are people who have gone on and on about small government in recent years, but who now have nothing to say when First Amendment  rights of free assembly and free speech are put under stress by the overreaction of public officials.

I don’t know the direction of the movement in the weeks and months to come. But I am very hopeful. New networks of committed activists are being formed. New people are being brought into activism. People who had long been frustrated that issues of economic fair play were not part of the national debate are now finding a home. Working people and the unemployed seeking work are seeing that they are not without allies. Democratic politicians are feeling more confident in more aggressively defending the 99%.

When you work hard, when you work for the benefit of others, and when you work to help guide your own future and the future of you nation—Then you won’t be anything other than hopeful about a better day ahead.

Here is the Occupy Houston website.

Here is the Occupy Galveston website.

Here is the Occupy Wall Street website.

Matt Tabbi at Rolling Stone has been doing a great job blogging about the reasons behind Occupy Wall Street. 

Every person has the ability to fight back and to make progress. While circumstance matters in life, we can all act for what we believe.

Occupy Houston Now One Month Old—A Solar Oven To Bake Bread

At the center of the picture above is a solar oven. I took this picture a few hours ago at the nightly General Assembly of Occupy Houston.

The solar oven will allow Occupy Houston to bake bread.

Occupy Houston is about individuals working together for a more fair and equitable society. Hope and change will not come from above in a political system rotten with big money, and with legalized bribery of politicians of both major parties.

Occupy Houston is now one month old.

Here is the Occupy Houston website.

Here is the Occupy Galveston website.

Here is the Occupy Wall Street website.

You can also follow these and other Occupy efforts on Facebook.

I support Occupy Wall Street because I’m a hard-working, taxpaying citizen of our nation who votes in every election. I want a nation where the willingness to work means you can get a good job, where the most wealthy pay a fair share of taxes, and where we care for each other when times are difficult.

Visit Galveston,Texas—Galveston Business People Are Part Of The 99%

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to spend the day in Galveston, Texas.

Above is a picture of the sunset in Galveston last Saturday.

Galveston is a great spot to see the ocean and to look around at all the history. I’ve visited Galveston roughly every 6 weeks for the 13 years I’ve lived in Houston.

Here is the Galveston tourism website. Be certain to support the local business people in Galveston.

Here is the Occupy Galveston blog. Local business people IN Galveston are part of the 99%.

Sean Hubbard Saying Some Of The Right Things As He Campaigns For Texas Democratic U.S. Senate Nomination—We’ll See If He Means Any Of It

Democratic Texas U.S Senate candidate Sean Hubbard will be in Galveston and Houston this upcoming Friday and Saturday.

While I realize it could all be a scam to draw support in the Texas Democratic primary, I have noticed that Mr. Hubbard on his Facebook page has offered some backing for Occupy Wall Street type efforts in Texas.

Here is Mr. Hubbard’s website. 

Above is a picture from Mr. Hubbard’s Facebook page showing him attending Occupy Dallas. Mr. Hubbard is in the left edge of the picture wearing a white shirt.

Mr. Hubbard is in the picture and removed from the action at the same time.

We’ll see that he says as he continues his campaign. We have nothing to lose in hearing Mr. Hubbard out.

The Galveston County Democratic Club will be having a spaghetti cook off this upcoming Saturday. Mr. Hubbard will be attending this event.

As you may note from reading my most recent post before this one, the time of this spaghetti event overlaps the time of the next Occupy Galveston protest. 

This is likely a coincidence. Maybe folks could drop by both events. That would make for a fine Saturday afternoon.

Here are details of the spaghetti cook off—

Saturday, November 5 · 12:00pm – 2:00pm

Live Oak Baptist Church on Galveston Island 

1020 32nd Street

You are invited to enter the Cook Off! Bring your favorite spaghetti sauce. There will be a $10 entry fee, which will go to the winners! The judges~~former Congressman Nick Lampson, County Commissioner Stephen Holmes, John Pruitt-candidate for Sheriff, and Jackie Acquistapace, candidate for State Senate, district 11.  Mayor Joe Jaworski and Sean Hubbard, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate will be there.

Next Occupy Galveston Protest Is Saturday, November 5th At 28th & Seawall

Above is the poster for the next Occupy Galveston protest.

The poster also has information about how to contact, follow, and, if you wish, provide leadership for Occupy Galveston.

Even in smaller towns and cities in our great nation, Occupy Wall Street has inspired people.

Here is the Occupy Wall Street website.

Stay The Course—Concern Yourself With The Substance Of The Message And With Your Own Hard Work

Above is a picture of myself from Occupy Houston on October 29.

I found the sign I am holding at the Occupy site.

I often use the phrase “Stay the Course” in my personal conversations.

I use the phrase because I recall that Ronald Reagan used it to his benefit.

We should set a goal and then we should stay the course to reach that objective.

I like everything written on that sign.

You’ll notice the misspelled word on the sign.

I don’t care.

I know that spotting misspelled words on signs made by Tea Party backers is something of a sport for some folks on my side of the aisle.

I think this is often done to make fun of the person holding the sign instead of critiquing the view that person is espousing.

If those folks holding up the misspelled Tea Party signs were so dumb, how come they outworked us and beat us so badly in the 2010 elections?

Calling other people dumb does not make it better when you have been whomped at the voting booth.

People may be a lot of bad things. They may be ill-informed about the issues of the day. Or they not be very nice at times.

But people are not stupid.

If you say somebody is stupid, you’re saying you are better than them in some basic organic biological way.

I’m not for that kind of talk.

That sign I’m holding is a great sign.

Let’s worry about the roots more so than the branches.

Here is the Occupy Houston website.

Here is the Occupy Galveston website.

Here is the Occupy Wall Street website. 

Poke around the web and Facebook and find an Occupy effort near you.

Or start one yourself.

Iraq Veteran Scott Olsen Wounded By Police At Occupy Oakland—Please Consider Supporting The Occupy Wall Street Effort

Above is a picture of former Marine Scott Olsen after he was seriously wounded by Oakland police yesterday as they attempted to break-up the Occupy Oakland effort.

Mr. Olsen was hit in the head with a projectile of some kind.

The folks who helped bring about this recession with economic crimes and fraud don’t go to jail, but you see above what can happen when you advocate for economic fairness.

YouTube has a video up that strongly suggests police fired so-called non-lethal force into a group of people seeking to assist Mr. Olsen after he was wounded.

The Voice of America reports that Occupy Oakland protestors are not giving up.

Here is how Jon Stewart reported on the situation in Oakland. 

Tea Party events have in many cases treated very well by police. This has been the case even when Tea Party rallies have involved people brandishing guns in public.

Political protestors of all viewpoints should be given a wide latitude. The current Supreme Court has made clear that First Amendment rights are very important.

The Citizens United case was about free speech for political donations of many kinds and from very powerful interests. The Supreme Court has ruled that the Westboro Baptist Church people may shout offensive things at the funeral services of veterans killed in combat.

Free citizens must be allowed to take part in our democracy. Occupy Wall Street supporters do not have the money to buy millions of dollars in campaign ads, or to buy the votes of politicians on both sides of the political aisle.

I support the Occupy Wall Street effort because I’m a hard-working, taxpaying citizen who votes in every election. I want a society where there are good jobs, where everybody pays a fair share of the taxes , and where we show some care for each other.

 Here is the Occupy Wall Street website.

There are Occupy efforts taking place all over the nation. Look around and you may find one near you.

Here is Occupy Houston.

Here is Occupy Galveston.

If there is not one near you, then start one yourself. 

There are Occupy pages all over Facebook.

People have a right to protest and to ask for a fair society.

I’m certain that many police officers feel the very same way. Police officers are everyday working people.

Please take time to consider the Occupy Wall Street effort and please consider lending your support in some way.

Texas Progressive Alliance Round-Up—Texas In Australia

At the end of this post is the most recent Texas Progressive Alliance round-up. The TPA is a confederation of the best political bloggers in Texas.  TPA members are citizen-bloggers working for a better Texas.

(Above–The Texas Memorial Hall in Texas, Queensland, Australia. Photo by Mattinbgn.)

Every Texan and every American has the ability to attend a public meeting, attend or organize a protest, write or call an elected official, talk to friends and family, start a blog, donate money, write a letter to the editor, volunteer for candidates and causes, engage in acts of civil disobedience, and to run for public office.

This do it yourself outlook is well-represented by Occupy Houston and Occupy Galveston. Find an Occupy effort near you. Or start one yourself.

The work of democracy and freedom is up to each of us.

Here is the round-up—

Off the Kuff looks at the likely effect of voter ID on voter participation. Hint: Fewer people will be able to vote. Who could have guessed?

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme calls out Lamar Smith for his racist legislation that will harm abused women.

WCNews at Eye On Williamson says it’s time for the people of Williamson County to stand up so they no longer ask: how do these people keep getting elected?

Neil at Texas Liberal offered some pictures of Occupy Houston. Neil has visited the good folks at Occupy Houston a few times now and donated some supplies and a few bucks. The Occupy movement has taken hold in many Texas cities and across the nation. Please consider supporting Occupy in some fashion.

The Ghost of Sam Houston has some unkind words for Rick Perry’s energy plan over at Darth Politico.

In the spirit of Halloween, McBlogger takes a look at The Return of the Living Dread.

Next Occupy Galveston Event Is On October 22

The next Occupy Galveston event is just a few days away.

From the Occupy Galveston blog—

We will be holding a public protest against unethical banking practices and corporate crime on Saturday, October 22nd from 9:30am-1:00pm at 22nd & Market St in front of the Bank of America. If enough people gather we may be having an impromptu march to other large banks in the area and organizing a General Assembly nearby. Please come join us, IT IS TIME TO DEMAND THAT YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

We are the 99%, We Will Not Be Silenced!

Above you see a number of fine Americans at a recent Occupy Galveston event.

The Occupy Wall Street represents a broad cross-section of Americans.

You can start an Occupy movement in any city.

Use Facebook or Google to see if there is an Occupy movement near you.

Here is the Occupy Houston website. 

Here is the Occupy Wall Street website.

Occupy Wall Street is about everyday Americans who want a political system that is not bought off by big money, and who want hard work to matter in terms of living a decent life, having access to decent health care, and to being able to retire at some point in life.

Photos From 12th Day Of Occupy Houston—Occupy Wall Street Protests Taking Place Across The Nation

Here are some pictures from the 12th day of Occupy Houston.

I took these pictures a few hours ago.

Below—When I went to Occupy Houston this time around, there were about 35 people taking part. This is at Tranquility Park in Downtown Houston.  In talking to a few people I’ve gotten to know, I was told that the crowd ebbs and flows based on the time of day and what is taking place. Occupy Houston is not as big as other Occupy efforts across the nation. On the other hand, the people involved in Occupy Houston seem on-board for the foreseeable future. They have stuck it out through rain and heat. Given that this movement had never even bveen heard of a few weeks ago, I’d say they are doing well. And you never know when something will take off even more successfully.

You can stop on by Tranquilty Park yourself to say hello and to lend your support.

Below–Some signs on display at Occupy Houston. Do you really imagine that your retirement will work if you don’t have Social Security? Who gets a pension anymore? Can you be sure that your 401k money will be there when you are set to retire? The markerts swing up and down all the time.

Below–Somebody donated a flat screen TV to Occupy Houston. I hope they can keep that thing dry the next time it rains. Occupy has been showing videos and movies on that TV. When I took that picture, the Occupy Houston livestream was what was being shown. So that is me taking the picture on the TV.

Below–The fellow citizen you see in that picture brought his own stuff to Occupy Houston. He then procceded to make his own signs. Nothing is more central to the ork of freedom than the decsion of each individual to work with others for a better nation and a better world.  The work of freedom is up to each of us.

Here is a previous round of pictures from Occupy Houston. Here are pictures from the first day.

Here is the Occupy Houston website.

Occupy Houston is planning various events siuch as an acoustic night and movies related to the ideas behind Occupy Wall Street.

There is also an Occupy Houston Facebook page.

Here is the Occupy Galveston blog.

Here is the Occupy Wall Street website.

Here is why I support the Occupy movement.

Here is how you can start an Occupy movement in the city, town or suburb where you live.

The New York Times reports that Occupy Wall Street is discussing specific dmands as the movement grows.

This article also discusses a process of more specific demnads that has taken place at Occupy Austin.

From the report—

“In Austin, Tex., participants agreed on four demands, including an end to corporate personhood and tax reform. One Austin activist, Lauren Walker, linked the movement’s goals directly to government officials. “This is our time because we’re coming up to the 2012 elections,” she said, suggesting that protesters saw the presidential election as a “deadline” ….” 

Follow Occupy Wall Street and related efforts around the nation and see what you think

Find an Occupy movement near you and get involved.

You Can Start An Occupy Movement In Your City—Texas Progressive Alliance Round-Up

At the end of this post is the most recent Texas Progressive Alliance round-up. The TPA is a confederation of the best political bloggers in Texas.  TPA members are citizen-bloggers working for a better Texas.

Every Texan and every American has the ability to attend a public meeting, attend or organize a protest, write or call an elected official, talk to friends and family, start a blog, donate money, write a letter to the editor, volunteer for candidates and causes, engage in acts of civil disobedience, and to run for public office.

The work of democracy and freedom is up to each of us.

The Occupy Wall Street efforts that have sprung up around Texas and around the nation are also very much do-it-yourself endeavors.

(Above--People doing the work of freedom.)

Here is a comment I got on the blog a few days ago from Gordon Haire of Galveston, Texas—-

Occupy Galveston’s growth has been amazing. On Monday, Oct. 10, a friend offered me a ride to the protest in Houston.

“Why are we doing it here?” I asked.

She told me to start it by posting an event on facebook. I posted the event for noon Wednesday Oct. 12, fully expecting to be a lone protester. More than a dozen people gathered, and several people stopped by and said that they would be joining us for the Saturday protest.

That’s how easy it is to start an Occupy movement in your town.

You can’t beat that.

The Occupy effort is about everyday people working together for the 99% of us who want to work hard, pay our fair share, and live in a society where we care for one another.

We don’t have to allow big money to rule our lives.

If there is not an Occupy movement where you live—Go ahead and start one. If there is already an Occupy movement where you live—Get involved.

There are Facebook pages and websites for many Occupy groups. Poke around a bit and you will find them.

Here is the round-up—-

Off the Kuff took a look at demographic change in one of Houston’s historic neighborhoods.

Harold Cook at Letters From Texas takes a look back at old friend Molly Ivins, when he reviews a new book just released about her. His conclusion: “if you ever spent evenings with Molly, reading the book will give you the gift of spending one more. Even better, if you never got to spend that evening with Molly, you’re in luck – after reading the book, you’ll feel just like you did.”

Bay Area Houston has an interesting audio clip of Teabag darling Galveston County tax assessor/collector Cheryl Johnson.