OccupySacto.org

OccupySacramento General Assembly Minutes – DAY 61

Monday, December 5, 2024 5:40 p.m. PST
Location: Cesar Chavez Plaza

Facilitator: Tiffany
Stack Taker: Matt
Timer: Adam
Minutes: Michele

OS = OccupySacramento
F = Facilitator
P = Proposer
R = Reporter (for report back from committee or working group)
PoP = Point of Process
PoI = Point of Information
CQ = Clarifying Question

1. Facilitation
1.1 Welcome
(POP-UP AD FOR OS T-SHIRTS)
1.2 Introductions
1.3 Explanation of Hand Signals
1.4 Introduction of Agenda - report backs, old business, new business, announcements, chant, adjournment, soapbox

2. Report Backs

2.1 Matt – Resolutions and Statements Committee
The committee sent the following message to Natalie Sentz, a News10 reporter who interviewed and wrote negative things about OS, regarding the station’s lack of coverage of the National Defense Authorization Act - a law that passed with 93 'yea' votes to 7 'nay' in the Senate and is under review by the House of Representatives, and places domestic terror investigations and interrogations into the hands of the military, opening the door for trial-free, indefinite detention of anyone, including American citizens, so long as the government calls them terrorists.

Hello again Natalie,

Forgive me if I am interrupting you by using an informal means of communication to contact you concerning an issue unrelated to our previous subject matter.

I have been watching News 10 recently and have been waiting for the subject of the National Defense Authorization Act.

It greatly disturbs me that this piece of legislature is amending our constitution so radically at an in appropriate time. I am sure you know all about it so I will save you the details of how it is declaring that the definition of "terrorist" may be at the discretion of the government whether or not a person is an american citizen, or how it is suspending habeas corpus.

I am writing because I haven't seen the issue presented to your demographic and I would greatly appreciate it if you would "do a piece on it" I believe is the terminology. If the bill of rights is being destroyed I think that the people who can't use the internet should know as well.

As stated before, if this is the inappropriate channel for communication about things of this matter, I apologize and request the link or address where this issue may be resolved. Perhaps in my busy schedule between school and volunteer work I have missed the article and/or the "piece" I would appreciate it greatly if you could let me know where to find it.

Thank you,
JustMatt

R: Everyone can come up and get her e-mail and bombard her with requests for coverage.
PoI: Both Senators Boxer and Feinstein voted for it.

2.2 Sean Laney - Education Committee
We are starting to educate the public more – we are starting to have more organized material to put out there. We need volunteers for teach-ins. They don’t have to be in the park. If you are teaching something in the library or at a community center, tell us and we’ll advertise it as Occupy-friendly. We are trying to get classrooms arranged at the library. We are working with Kirk on providing a tent circle and a big sunshade for the park for teach-ins and GAs – they would also be an art project for us.
We are still fundraising for t-shirts – comfortable, double-spun cotton.

PoI: It feels great wearing them.

2.3 Darrell – Finance Committee
We are still squeaking along. We are looking forward to getting some money soon to help keep the Occupiers across the street warm. We are going to allocate an amount less than $100 for thermal underwear for them.
We need volunteers in the morning for them for coffee and dollar-meal food.

CQ: Do we have a power source?
CQ: Is anyone coordinating the volunteering?
R: We need to restart someone coordinating it. In the meantime, it would be nice if someone would make some cowboy coffee and bring it down. I will finance the purchase of coffee, if someone can do it.
CQ: What time?
R: As early as you can. Pick up the traveler containers at night, fill them with coffee and bring them back with food the next morning (as much as you can buy off the dollar menu from McDonald’s for $20- Darrell will pay for it if you pick it up).
We are coming up on payment time for Clearwire – approximately $250 - and education bill will be coming up. We are looking for donations as soon as you can – the money will go straight into the bank to cover those needs.

PoI (Peter Clark): I will provide coffee and food tomorrow morning.
PoI (Adam) : I will do it on Wednesday.

2.4 Kathy – Occupy Foreclosures Working Group
Our first action is tomorrow on National Day of Action to Stop Foreclosure, taking place in more than 30 cities. Meet at 11 a.m. at the park – there will be cardboard here to make signs. At noon, we will march to the Attorney General to demand a moratorium on foreclosures.

CQ: Are there flyers?
R: On the info table and online.

2.5 Brother Carter – Urban Outreach
We need bodies at the Occupy Foreclosures march tomorrow. During the march, we’ll also be promoting the December 10 Universal Declaration of Human Rights event at the park.
December 15 – Bill of Rights event – will provide details later.
Wednesday, December 7 – First Amendment Day party at 11 p.m. Some people can be watchers, but we want 10-15 or more people willing to be incarcerated. There was someone out here praying, who was arrested along with three other people. It’s not about camping here anymore. We need to stand up for the First Amendment. Dr. King went to jail 31 times and I’m 30 times behind. First Amendment rights are the cornerstone of this movement and that’s what they’re trying to take away.

CQ: Were the arrests for violating the curfew?
R: The police said so, but the Constitution doesn’t have a curfew.

2.6 Mary – Information
I’ve been in the hospital for 1-1/2 weeks with pneumonia. Thank you to everyone for helping out at the table and with the schedule. We don’t have flyers for the Saturday and Wednesday events – we need people to help with that.

3. Old Business

3.1 Proposal from YMCA Protest Working Group (Peter Clark, Brother Carter, and Darrell)

The proposal introduced on December 3, amended to read as follows:

MOTION: We ask Occupy Sacramento to join us in a march in front of the YMCA on Thursday, December 8th, from 12:30-2:30 pm. We are asking the CA State Auditor’s and Attorney General’s Office to investigate allegations that YMCA staff has forced kids to fight one another, like my son Joaquin, who was bruised, scratched and swollen, after being forced to fight another child.

P: Why is this needed: (1) To dissuade organizations in powerful positions like the YMCA, Daycare Licensing, and powerful supporters from violating the rights of the weak, then relying on their strength to thumb their noses and evade accountability; (2) to empower the disenfranchised, the poor, and those afraid to come forward, in daycare abuse and other cases, to come forward. A thorough investigation by the CA Auditor and Attorney General is all I ask. Let the investigation take its course. Resources are available for park sleeping, etc. Thus resources must be afforded for child abuse.
CQ: What group is protesting – whose march are we joining?
PoI (Brother Carter): The working group of three people. He needs us there for a couple of hours to make a presence. I’m backing it because I love children. Organizations that work with kids need to be held responsible. All he wants is a presence. He’ll make sure we’re fed.
F: He wants us there to join him to ask for an investigation.

Temp check – consensus.

Vote – 15 for, 0 against.

MOTION PASSED.

4. New Business – None.

5. Announcements

5.1 Matt: Under the proposed bill, anyone who’s a threat to the government (that’s us) can be detained indefinitely and sent to Guantanamo. There has been a media blackout on this. There has been interest in forming a working group on this, and I would like to.
Also, I’ve met with DJ Scorpion and have his number – am working with him and Autumn, April, Kirk, and Gary to be part of a radio group.

5.2 Darrell: The information table stuff is still here. Whoever is on duty for tomorrow needs to come get it or call me tomorrow and I’ll tell you where it’s stashed.

5.3 Sue: This is an announcement about First Amendment rights on radio stations. The airwaves are public property. Until last week, we had three hard-right conservative radio stations trashing Occupy. Last week Wednesday, local FM station 92.5 changed its format to begin simulcasting with sister station KFBK, AM 1530 – with talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh. Now we have four right-wing stations. Clear Channel is the largest radio station operator in the country. There will be a protest in front of Clear Channel on Monday at 10:30 a.m. and we will go inside to inspect their files, which are public – a clear message that the airwaves are public. Los Angeles and New Orleans will be inspecting their files the same day – we expect more cities to join in and to get national attention. This fits in with the OWS goal to go after those who purposefully keep people misinformed and fearful through their control of the media.

PoI: Clear Channel is owned by Mitt Romney.
Sue: We have the right to have our local voices heard. We have flyers available.
PoI (Sean Laney): I’ll put it on Facebook.
Sue: We have to act in a timely manner to stand up for our rights. Thee is an OccupyClearChannel Facebook page. Cres will help get the word out on it. In Wisconsin, they found out Republicans get free airtime on Clear Channel and not Democrats. We need to start occupying the radio stations and have our voices heard.

5.4 Sean Laney: I strongly support this – it is a very effective, low-impact, low-profile action. You won’t face arrest or police. You can go through their records (a nonloophole people can use). Livestreamers: a lot of you are really smart – show up at the radio station to dig through their records.
PoI (Cres): There could be a police presence to “protect” the radio station.
Sean: Bradblog.com is promoting it. We’re trying to make it a national action on Monday. The documentary “Broadcast Blues” spells it out well.
PoI: Green 960 used to be all progressive radio hosts – now there is just one. KGO – most of the progressive hosts were just fired.
Sean: You may want to go back again on days following the protest to inspect Clear Channel records.
Matt: This would be better in a teach-in.
Sean: It needs to be organized, have the legal cites in hand.
PoI: We should have a teach-in and see the documentary.

We need $600 to make buttons that will make us $1500.

5.5 Adam: I want to start a clothing and food drive for the homeless for the holidays. If you’re interested in getting involved or can donate, contact AdamPetkus@gmail.com.

5.6 Matt: Alleges multiple thefts by Ben – wants him expelled.
PoI (Sean Laney): His concept of ownership is that he can take what he wants, but no one should touch his stuff.

6. Chant: The people united will never be divided! (louder) The people united will never be divided!! (louder) The people united will never be divided!!!
Adjournment – 6:45 p.m. Next GA is Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.