Community Corner

"Occupy" Movement Hits Atlanta — What's Your Take?

Group plans meeting in Woodruff Park tonight

Occupy Atlanta — the local offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street movement that's spread across the country, plans to meet at 6 p.m. tonight at Woodruff Park in Downtown.

Like it's Wall Street cousins,and those at major cities elsewhere in the United States, the Atlanta group is angry about what they say is Wall Street bankers' use and abuse of Americans and America's resources for the personal financial gain of a few.

Patch will be there to cover the gathering and hear from participants what it is they want to change, why and how.

Find out what's happening in East Atlantawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Occupy Atlanta presents these core beliefs as the basis of what the local movement is all about:

  • We unequivocally oppose transphobia and homophobia. We are in solidarity with the LGBTQ community.
  • We unequivocally oppose racism.
  • Absolute respect. 
  • We recognize and embrace the equality of our diversity as Atlantans.
  • We resist learned prejudices.
  • We share burdens by taking initiatives to fill roles and relieve comrades.
  • We encourage all voices.
  • We debate ideas, NOT PEOPLE, and disagree without being disagreeable.
  • We avoid labeling and targeted profanity.
  • We maintain a positive expression of the “message” by not engaging unstable or volatile people.
  • We do not accept physical or verbal violence.
  • We avoid conflict through active listening and awareness of body language and emotional responses.
  • We seek to grow from our mistakes; conflicts within Occupy Atlanta are opportunities to learn.
  • We are either all leaders or none of us are leaders.

So how do you view all the Occupy movements around the country? Is this the left's answer to the Tea Party? Or America's own version of something akin to an "Arab Spring" or people just protesting for protest's sake? Are you planning to attend?

Find out what's happening in East Atlantawith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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