I say as much in the close of my “Occupy Wesleyan: A Retrospective” post, but since I highly doubt many of you will make it to the end, here it is again (yes, I quote myself; I’m just that meta):
An interesting case study in how a mistake can reproduce itself: the Middletown Press reported that it was the REAL MRoth who revoked Hickenlooper’s diploma–a story that was promptly picked up by the Denver Post, where it is running on the front page of the site.
Thanks to commenters “BC” and “Colorado”!
An update: the Denver Post has since altered its article to reflect the actual events.
Luckily, we have screenshots after the jump!
Update, part deux: some do-gooder has since changed Hickenlooper’s wikipedia page, citing the Middletown Press/Denver Post articles, to reflect Roth’s supposed revocation.
Again, screenshot appears after the jump.
Updat3: And, at long last, the Middletown Press story has been changed. At least they mention their correction (vs. the Denver Post, which pretends it had it right all along)…
Also, be sure to check out the respective comments sections in the above links… they’re priceless.
By now, the Occupy protests are ubiquitous enough that they have effectively stretched to all corners of the country, even reaching a town so small that the progress of the firearm deer harvest easily makes front-page news (I mean, who doesn’t need to know the effect of wind conditions on patterns of deer movement?). So why shouldn’t we get to take a part in the action (again)?
Today, at 4PM, likeminded 99%-ers and our sympathizers (come on now, we can’t ALL be the 99%) gathered on the steps of Olin for a heady 45-minute march through campus to voice our frustrations to whomever would listen–er, I mean, our corporate masters.
Coverage also from our very own Ezra Silk ’10 (former Argus editor), Ashik Siddique ’10, Gianna Palmer ’10, and Ryan Villareal at America, Occupied (and, for more extended coverage, at their blog of the same name)
Hearkening back to my post earlier this week on the eviction of Occupy Wall Street comes today’s previously planned day of action in New York City, marking the two-month anniversary of the beginning of the Occupation in Liberty Square/Zuccotti Park. Thus far, today, upwards of 200 protestors have been arrested, thousands have marched, and this is only the beginning. (Where might the city’s illustrious mayor be at this climactic time, you ask? Why, meeting with business leaders, including Rupert Murdoch, of course.)
Other events planned for today include an occupation of the subway, a rally at City Hall, and, subsequently, a march to the Brooklyn Bridge.
If you’re feeling a little “Che” today yourself, be sure to join the Occupy Wesleyan demonstration, starting at 4pm at Olin (for more information, check out DMZ‘s baller post). Viva la Revolución!
For more information on today’s actions in the city, click past the jump.
All #OccupyWallSt participants in Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park) were forcefully and violently evicted from the park in the middle of the night last night. wieb$ covered the incident here or check out this gripping live twitter feed of the event.
Meet on Thursday, November 17, at 4:00 PM on the front steps of Olin, even if you are just curious or want to learn more.
“Hey, Batte!” EDIT: Click through the jump for a map of the planned route for the march, which will end in a ceremony on the podium of Obama Hill! Also, facebook.
Editorial update, 4:06am: For those who haven’t been frantically reloading the livestream over and over again the past 2.5+ hours like me, I thought I would contextualize the situation a bit. Around 1:15am or so I received a text from the emergency mass text number warning of the impending raid (incidentally, I had received texts earlier in the evening regarding nonviolent action workshops in preparation for an eventual eviction action).
Unlike the evictions that have occurred at other #occupy sites around the nation, this one came without warning or official statement, and appeared carefully crafted to prevent a counter-protest like the one that prevented the previous eviction attempt in mid-October (with closures of the subway and the Brooklyn Bridge, for instance). After calling everyone I know in New York and going a bit apeshit with the facebook updates, I found my way to the livestream, along with 25,000 other viewers (at the peak).
Tensions have run high all night since the police first arrived, with complaints centering on the harassment/obstruction of journalists, the blatant disregard for the property of the protesters, and, of course, the legitimacy of the eviction itself. Apparently, via texts from friends (and friends of friends)–who arrived by cab due to the blockade of public transportation–police officers were witnessed indiscriminately pepper-spraying crowds, who massed outside of a 2-4 block radius established around Zucotti Park/Liberty Square. Various gatherings have sprung up in the vicinity.
So far, according to accounts from protesters, among those arrested are at least one journalist and one city-councilman, who suffered a head injury; in addition to pepper spray (and possibly tear gas?), a sound cannon/Long Range Acoustic Device may have been deployed. No confirmation yet on the fate of the 25-100 demonstrators corralled within the park, though I assume they have all been arrested (@JoshHarkinson reports “all around me, protesters were being pepper sprayed and zip cuffed”).
David Cobb was the Green Party’s 2004 nominee for President of the United States. He will be visiting Wesleyan on October 29 as part of a speaking tour with the organization Move To Amend, which was formed in the aftermath of “Citizens United” to promote a more democratic society, including a constitutional amendment ending corporate personhood and a voters’ bill of rights.
Cobb will be speaking about corporate personhood, Occupy Wall Street, voting in America, money in politics, and related issues. The title of the talk is “Creating Democracy and Challenging Corporate Rule.”
Cosponsored by the Wesleyan College Greens and Democracy Matters.
So, Wesleyan: you may already be aware of our activist history. Interested in getting involved in the present?
Care about the security of our future? Concerned about the current state of affairs around the world? Want to be part of history in the making? We do! September 17th (this Saturday) marks the beginning of a global movement to occupy financial districts, Tahrir Square-style, to call for true democracy and symbolically protest corporate globalization! People will be coming together to set up camp and peacefully occupy the streets in cities around the world. Saturday morning we will be leaving as a group to partake in the historic event!
Come to the informational meeting, THURSDAY at 6PM @ 190 High St. (the UOC), if you think you may be interested in partaking. We will use the time to discuss logistics, talk about what is likely to happen, as well as what message we would like to convey as Wesleyan students. In addition, we will be brainstorming signage and other creative statements. The meeting will be potluck-style…bring food if you can, some will be provided. Come let us know what you think!
Email wesleyanwallstreet(hat)gmail(cat)com with questions and comments.