Occupy Everywhere!
"Corporations Aren't People! We Are the People!"
The Alliance was founded fifteen years ago in 1996 on the understanding that the system of corporate power, which masquerades as democracy, underlies all the individual issues activists have been campaigning on for lo these many years.
In the U.S., and increasingly around the world, corporate power, wielded by the financial and business elite, and capitalism have combined to create a system of great wealth disparity and governments beholden to corporate interests resulting in the loss of any meaningful participation in our political system by the people. How can we even call what we have today a "democracy"?
Now the moment of revolution has arrived as the people have risen up to chant for all to hear, “We are the 99%” and to say with their bodies, “We are not going to take it any more,” echoing with their determination the earlier civil rights song of liberation, “We shall not be moved,” even as they faced water hoses and dogs.
Our determination must extend to “We shall not be fooled” as the corporate governing system most likely will throw us a bone to make us think we’ve really won—or won something—so they can continue business as usual.
Out of this determination, real democracy is being born—democracy of, by and for ALL the people. As occupations have spread from New York City across the country, decisions are being made by consensus, where every voice is being heard. Now, after people have worked for years on individual issues, a real movement for change has emerged that is gathering momentum. As Cornel West says, “We are in a magnificent moment of democratic awakening.” The Republicans can’t stop it and let’s be sure the Democrats don’t co-opt it.
This is a non-violent revolution and it needs every one of us to participate in solidarity with the students and recent graduates saddled with debt and unable to find jobs, with the millions who have lost their homes to foreclosure, with the millions upon millions who today cannot find a job paying a living wage, with those without adequate healthcare, and with each and every one of us who is suffering under the yoke of unbridled corporate capitalism, and everyday assaults on people and nature.
Along with the focus on Wall Street, we need to bring to the occupations a focus on the pervasive role of corporate hegemony and how it impacts our lives and our communities. Our cry should be “Corporations are not people. We are the people.”
Here are reports from AfDers who have helped create Occupy actions in their hometown or attended one. Please send us your reports and photos—we will be happy to add them to the page! Email a...@thealliancefordemocracy.org to let us know how you are participating.
Go to AfD’s “Tools for Organizing" page for materials and ideas to contribute to the occupation to teach about corporate personhood and corporate rule.
Order our brochures - “Corporations are not People” and “Corporate Bribery: Our Democracy is for Sale” by calling Barbara at 781-894-1179 or emailing her at a...@thealliancefordemocracy.org. We also have bumper stickers and signs to download and print.
And here are great ideas for bringing street theater to the occupations – images of the Supreme Court adorned with corporate logos, “I Miss Democracy,” corporate personhood skit and more.
Use the Fall 2010 issue of Justice Rising on the Solidarity Economy to do a workshop on economic alternatives. Use the articles to talk about what is going on in Cleveland Ohio with worker-owned cooperatives and green businesses; about financing the social economy in Quebec; or about promoting participatory budgeting in your town. To build the grassroots campaign for financial change, “move your money” to the local credit union or community bank and work with your town, city or county government to do the same. Or develop a local currency, like Davis Dollars.
And here are the other topics covered in Justice Rising useful for occupation teach-ins.
Be creative, be determined, but most importantly, be there.
This is the moment. It may not come again for a long, long time.
Want to keep us growing? Our Facebook page is an easy way to share AfD news with friends and help spread the word about grassroots alternatives to corporate rule.
Become a member of Alliance for Democracy—join or give a tax deductible gift online here.
photo: AwaikinTuDae
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