Occupy Erie: Devolving Conditions, Evolving Spirit
A rainy night at the Gazebo in Perry’s Square early in the occupation.
Today, a lawyer is expected to come to our GA. I am not sure who it is, or what he knows, or where he is from. But it will be a visit welcomed by all. While none have suffered at the hands of police, all have felt the arrival of General Winter, Joseph Stalin’s savior during World War II. And General Winter knows the Erie battlefield well. We hope the lawyer can help figure a way for us to be able to survive the repeated barrages of sub-zero cold, snow, ice and gale force winds that are the artillery of General Winter. So far, our only help here has come from Occupy Supply.
And what a great amount of help it has been! While the supplies sent have been greatly welcomed, the knowledge that this front in the Occupy Movement is not forgotten is a gift that warms us like the summer sun. Each time the City strips us of our weather protection, they harden our resolve to stay. Yet the less we have to defeat those attacks by General Winter, the more likely we are to suffer attrition.
I now have the duty of Occupy Supply Liaison. It is my job to show you what we have battled so far, and what we need to succeed in defeating General Winter. The best way to see the devolution of conditions is with pictures. The evolving spirit can be heard in the Erie City Council meeting we attended this week. I handed my camcorder off to a fellow Occupier to record the meeting. I have yet to edit it for length and relevance, and when I do I will post it here. But a quote to City Council from the Occupiers demonstrates the fortitude we have: “You think by taking our stuff and not giving it back will force us to leave when the weather really gets bad. But it won’t, we will still be here in the spring”
Occupy Erie, eye pokes and eye candy after the jump: [cont’d.]
Occupy Erie: Devolving Conditions, Evolving Spirit
Occupy Erie had Official Visitors again yesterday morning, for at least the seventh time since the middle of October. Each time they come, more gear is taken, more stringent rules announced. Canopies, tarps, sleeping bags, cardboard, and a child’s tent, all thrown into the back of a City truck each time. We are told we can get our stuff back, but it will only be returned to the proper owner. And we have yet to be told when and where to go to get it. Maybe this spring or summer. There has only been one arrest to date.
Today, a lawyer is expected to come to our GA. I am not sure who it is, or what he knows, or where he is from. But it will be a visit welcomed by all. While none have suffered at the hands of police, all have felt the arrival of General Winter, Joseph Stalin’s savior during World War II. And General Winter knows the Erie battlefield well. We hope the lawyer can help figure a way for us to be able to survive the repeated barrages of sub-zero cold, snow, ice and gale force winds that are the artillery of General Winter. So far, our only help here has come from Occupy Supply.
And what a great amount of help it has been! While the supplies sent have been greatly welcomed, the knowledge that this front in the Occupy Movement is not forgotten is a gift that warms us like the summer sun. Each time the City strips us of our weather protection, they harden our resolve to stay. Yet the less we have to defeat those attacks by General Winter, the more likely we are to suffer attrition.
I now have the duty of Occupy Supply Liaison. It is my job to show you what we have battled so far, and what we need to succeed in defeating General Winter. The best way to see the devolution of conditions is with pictures. The evolving spirit can be heard in the Erie City Council meeting we attended this week. I handed my camcorder off to a fellow Occupier to record the meeting. I have yet to edit it for length and relevance, and when I do I will post it here. But a quote to City Council from the Occupiers demonstrates the fortitude we have: “You think by taking our stuff and not giving it back will force us to leave when the weather really gets bad. But it won’t, we will still be here in the spring”
Occupy Erie, eye pokes and eye candy:
