Hipmama.com correspondent with daily reports from New York, and analysis of the larger movement:
Occupation Day 26: Ireland, finally
10/13:
late entry today. As I've said, i've been neglecting my work, and I had an unfortunate landlord situation to attend to. I hate that shit, and I avoided it for months. Marc Maron spoke on one of his shows about how he never does anything, unless he's trying to avoid doing something else. Yep that's me. I did 25 detailed blog entries about OWS when I needed to confront a landlord.
I thought about skipping today's entry but then I found this video which I have to help make viral as fast as possible. Ladies, watch this. It's Tony Baloney's* new theme song, by Anonymous.
i sure hope nothing happens to/in his pool.
Personally, the protests have totally reached home. In that everyday people in my hometown are going in, participating, bringing home souvenirs, talking about how wrong things are. My good friend, who happens to be a lot older than I am, really spun me on my head last night. She said, “what the fuck is wrong with the musicians these days??? where ARE they??”
excellent question. I don't think kanye qualifies. Immortal Technique was there... who else? I made a semi-career of rattling off names of participants, both high- and low-profile, but my friend wanted to know “WHERE'S BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN?? WHERE'S BOB DYLAN??” her point, there was a time when being a revolutionary wasn't something you did on the sly. Even mainstream artists didn't hesitate to take sides, I don't have to drop john lennon's name to make my point.
I told her I will investigate. And I will. I will compile a list of musicians who took the right side. It didn't occur to me till she mentioned it that I haven't seen mainstream rock artists involved. if you've seen any musicians partaking, please advise.
Enough of my thoughts, onto what I gathered since last entry:
and another good short film about the protests. excellent juxtaposition of the government's stated priorities when it applies overseas, and the reality when it applies here. Powerful. Watch it, damn you!
I AM NOT MOVING:
Occupy protests arrive at London Stock Exchange: http://bit.ly/ne6vNf
video of the recent uprisings in London were inspiring. And no, I am not talking about the looting and fires of the riots, there were massive anti-cuts rallies in London. They will take this thing and run with it.
Oh.. my.. god..
Mayor Billionaire at OWS http://twitpic.com/6zff1d
ok, how many times did he shower when he got home? “UN CLEEAANN! UN CLEEEAAN!”
update: i didn't realize it at the time but when he came to the park today it was to announce that the city would be clearing them from the park. more on that tomorrow, but it looks like friday is d day.
Boston arrests, raw video from AP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6FfO2rRbeQ
i'm seeing tweets from firefighters and EMT's in boston pledging their presence and assistance. Thank you. This is what it's about, people.
OWS NY has raised... get this... 150k. I brought ten bucks last time I was there. Sorry, it's all I had. But I'll be back, with more donations.
Got word that another location in NY is being set up, across from the federal reserve.
Check out this awesomely clever idea for a subway poster. If you're not a new yorker, it looks like the posted notices to service changes in the subway: http://yfrog.com/kly8tcjj
Ireland: http://bit.ly/npZXqO
now, remember Ireland got hit very hard, and very early by this collapse. they were treated shabbily on a world stage. here is their official statement from OccupyDameStreet
Our demand is that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stay out of our affairs. We do not want their influence or control.
Our demand is that the private bank debt that has been socialised and burdened upon the population of the country who had nothing to do with it be lifted. We will not pay and let our children and their children pay for this crisis that private banks and bondholders have caused. It is their problem, not ours.
Our demand is that the oil and gas reserves off our coast that were criminally handed away to private corporations be returned to sovereign control.
Our demand is for real, participatory democracy – where the people’s interests come first, where the people decide what happens.Our demand is for real, participatory democracy – where the people’s interests come first, where the people decide what happens.
I love to read Matt Taibbi. He's been on this issue of wall street crooks for years, and if memory serves i've been regurgitating his articles for that long. I love his ability to get a point across. Here is his “advice” to OWS. What do you think? Be honest. Particularly about the concept of issuing demands, whether it's a good thing, a necessary thing, or will ultimately kill it. Notice how he, Naomi Klein, and I can't even remember who else at this point are so quick to point out, though they were late to join, how they should be doing things. And how in order to be taken seriously, they need to be “clear” and have “structure” and “answers.” do you agree? http://bit.ly/qSEZeu
I
do
NOT.
I've shared my thoughts on this already. Share yours if you're inclined.
* if I have to remind you who Tony Baloney is, he pepper sprayed those girls early on, after they were in police nets. But the video makes that abundantly clear, if you'd just fucking watch it.
Occupation Day 25: Columbus Day and Kanye
10/11:
Yesterday we were back, and it was immensely larger than last time I was there. I was blown away by well by most of it but the kitchen in particular. What was once falafels and pizza has grown to such a large and well coordinated operation. I took pictues of the back of it, you will see it in my public album. They have a grey water system.
Reverend Al Sharpton, who has supported this movement from the beginning, broadcast his radio show from the park monday, which I could remind you was “Columbus Day” http://nationalactionnetwork.net/
Columbus Day brought out the Indiginous Peoples' activists, and created an interesting irony between the two celebrations. Back on church street, a planned Columbus Day street fair was taking place, with protesters occasionally making forays into it to demonstrate. There were also some interesting signs highlighting the juxtaposition of the two.
Rapper Immortal Technique, who's been there from the start, was interviewed yesterday, which aired on Democracy Now today. Go to http://democracynow.org to find it. It's in today's broadcast.
At one point my daughter and I were very dramatically shooed out of Kanye West's way by his entourage. Of all the high-profile people, some more important than others, who have been to the demonstration, this is the first time that I have seen someone feeling so important as to need to clear a path to a good spot for his photo op. In my experience, most people entering the encampment show the humility it warrants.
At one point yesterday I saw a tweet that Boston police made a threat to remove protesters by force. This morning I learned that at 1:30 am, they did just that, raiding the camp and arresting about 100 demonstrators. 200 officers - some in riot gear - gave them 2 min to disburse.
In Chicago, there were 26 more arrests, mostly of teachers in their union shirts.
Permit has been extended indefinitely in DC, bloomberg made a public statement that he has no intention of ordering a disbursement. Me I suspect this is because the politic has decided this can be steered in their direction in an election year.
It's also been revealed that prior to 9/17 when this physical occupation started, there's been a contingent of NYPD that had been hired as private security for these financial firms. It's been very much noticed and commented upon that JP Morgan's 4.6 million dollar donation to the NY police was followed by heavy handed police tactics in NY, as well as clearing out the whole area around their building. But now there is (finally!) discussion of who the police really work for, who they protect, on an ongoing basis rather than just centered around this one protest.
Sorry that's all I have today. I have been doing this log at the expense of my other obligations and I was confronted on it at a board meeting last night. I'm going to have to actually work for at least two days, and I don't yet know how I will do both.... I know, everythings is hards for tokie.
Occupation Day 24: THE BEGINNING IS NEAR!
10/10:
oh my god you have to check out this video... I think it may be the one I have enjoyed most since this motherfucker started. The media talk about the demonstrations being confused, the only thing that is confused is them. They have NO IDEA where to put the information that we don't need them, and we aren't pleased as punch to see them arrive and put us on tv, spin our story for us...
NEWSFLASH! We don't need you! There is a policy to be civil and accommodating toward media, but your relevance is long past, these people are getting their own word out, with the help of people like me. The one thing they haven't figured out yet, their own irrelevance. That's why they're confused. The rest of the world is crystal fucking clear what this movement is.
Anyway, here's what happened when FOX sent geralado rivera to cover the protests. Watch him slink away.
and here is republican congress member peter king, who I believe chairs the homeland security committee. He is frightented of OWS. I think this is the second phase of that gadhi thing, first they ignore you... right? Here: http://bit.ly/p9nBg5
… "The fact is, these people are anarchists," King said on the radio program. "They have no idea what they're doing out there. They have no sense of purpose other than a basically anti-American tone, and [they are] anti-capitalist. It's a ragtag mob, basically."
"It's really important for us not to give any legitimacy to these people in the streets," King said. "I remember what happened in the 1960s when the left-wing took to the streets, and somehow the media glorified them and it ended up shaping policy. We can't allow that to happen."...
this article, “democrats seek to own occupy wall street” warns of what most – if not all – of us saw coming: the 2012 election and specifically democrats trying to attach themselves to this movement. Yes, it will happen. My prediction: even if it does, it still started an unstoppable movement. Some of us will be placated into thinking that if we keep voting for the same people, in the same structure, something different will result. But the larger accomplishment is much simpler. We showed each other how many of us there really are. We're making contacts, forming networks, accessing information... that's all we need really. What happens in politics, doesn't concern me. http://abcn.ws/nfd7WS
so right here is a link I may or may not have placed into my prior posts on OWS, just reporting the news on the movement, free from MSM influence. It would be a good idea to bookmark it: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/category/occupy-wall-street/
al sharpton will broadcast from the protest today.
Slavoj Zizek spoke at the NY protests yesterday:
Seattle police are ticketing drivers who honk in support of protesters.
yet another inspirational video, with bob dylan as accompaniment.
and with that... I am off to NY. I tried to sleep off my cold so now i'm just scraping the crud off me and getting in there. Give em heck, wherever you are!
Dear Occupiers: a letter from anarchists
10/10:
please see the attached pdf, particularly if you are interested in starting a local demonstration, or are trying to help one. there are very helpful considerations in here.
example, this passage: "The “99%” is not one social body, but many. Some occupiers have presented a narrative in which the “99%” is characterized as a homogenous mass. The faces intended to represent “ordinary people” often look suspiciously like the predominantly white, law-abiding middle-class citizens we’re used to seeing on television programs, even though such people make up a minority of the general population.
It’s a mistake to whitewash over our diversity. Not everyone is waking up to the injustices of capitalism for the first time now; some populations have been targeted by the power structure for years or generations. Middle-class workers who are just now losing their social standing can learn a lot from those who have been on the receiving end of injustice for much longer."
Occupation Day 23: Billy Bragg weighs in, and I try to stay on top of a movement that has grown too large for one person to repo
10/9:
not a lot of links today. partly because I'm assuming that now that this story is everyfuckingwhere, you're already seeing news about it, and I am ill again. (think i actually picked up a bug in NY) I plan to be back in again tomorrow, so long as I don't still feel like crapola. My cousin is making a documentary of the protests, so he's meeting me and two friends. I'll tell the fuzz y'all said hi.
I will start with thoughts on my work here with respect to this protest. The protest movement has grown to 1000 locations in the US alone. Having been on board with this since before the occupation started, i'm pretty well-informed of the movement as a whole, and the NY protests specifically, but man has it grown. I can't continue the way I have, clearly. I hope to rise to the occasion of reporting something so much larger than myself, or even the one NY location, symbolically powerful though it may be.
I've worked harder on this series than I have worked on anything that I can remember, for a very long time. I read (almost) every article I repost, in its entirety. I scrounge looking for quality content, rather than quantity. It's important to me that the content I give you accurately represents the movement, or at least a good contrast to focus your outrage on. (to wit, CNN's vapid Burnett lady who went out of her way to find inarticulate people to interview about it, in a direct attempt to discredit it) and while I plan to continue in some form, it's such a size that I can't possibly stay on top of all of it, particularly the shit on the ground in various locations other than NY's two locations. So I welcome and appreciate comments which can inform in this way. But i will have to start making editorial decisions on what goes in and what does not, and i'm not sure what the best criteria will be. i will be careful with this decision, with the focus on what best helps the movement. i make no pretense of comparing to the fantastic bloggers out there, who are all better writers than i, who believe in this as strongly as i do. anyway, i have to consider how my mediocre writing, foul mouth, and tendency to write about silly things can be used to OWS' advantage.
Knowing my OWS posts would be seen by thousands of people who read hipmama.com was my motivation, since it would help the movement, which again, I am deeply and personally tied to. It was always my hope that readers would just take what I threw up here and repost it elsewhere, since it's pretty much the nature of my here, and we've seen by the occupiers' example that this is the best way to disseminate information. As the movement started to really take off, I noticed how the occupiers have resisted every attempt, some more crude than others, to co opt it, to package it, to spin it, to make it about them and “their plan” for recovery. The longer this goes on, the more impressed I am with these people, as they fail to meet every cynical fear I have about it, and my own apparently bigoted views on social action. I'm sitting here waiting and waiting for the other shoe to drop, waiting for something to happen to disillusion me, and it just never happens. I always expected my “coverage” to end when they part ways with what I believe to be their core message, and I guess that remains true, but words fail me to explain how heartened I am by the fact that it just ain't happenin.
Your expressions of gratitude have also made all the diff in my approach. I know I have readership, and I know it's appreciated, but i'm grateful to those of you who took the time to say it. Thank you.
So far the only decision I have made is to set up a mirror blog site at tumblr, which is linked to my twitter, which is where I get a lot of my information. Not sure where I will go from here, and kinda excited to see!
actually, this one in depth page on al jazeerra may be all you need to read about the OWS protests to understand them, short of attending one, which you should: http://aje.me/ptDJHW
this incident was provoked by an enemy of the movement, a columnist from the american standard, who admitted to being a provocateur, in attempt to discredit the movement: http://bit.ly/nRCeCe
sorry I don't have more today. I'm sicker than I thought and haven't had the attention span to read through the overwhelming amount of content from today.
Occupation Day Twenty Two: anti-flag plays today @ 3! and a new movement, OCCUPY [foreclosed] HOMES!
10/8:
good morning. An excellent video from Anonymous, directed to us, the 99%:
in addition to the potential problem of being forcibly removed from Liberty Plaza (see yesterday's post on that), there is the logistical issue of having grown too large for this park. Police have erected barricades around it, by the way, at the behest of Homeland Security. Entering and exiting is through a designated spot, where presumably photos are taken of each face for a database. Battery Park is one contender, but it's a public park, with its own issues related to being allowed to be there. Liberty Park is privately owned, and in order for them to be breaking any laws, the owner (a board, which owns the high rise adjacent) has to formally declare that they are trespassing. They've hinted at it thus far, posting naughty-naughty-we-don't-like-you flyers and stating that the park is not being used for its intended purpose, but stopped short of actually declaring to them and police that they are trespassing. It's not a matter of whether this will happen, but when, and where will occupiers go afterward, or will they simply trespass and allow themselves to be continually arrested. (the latter is not something i've ever seen on the table, just sort of extrapolating)
and a second General Assembly has been formed in Manhattan, which will begin today at washington square. 3 pm.
Ben and Jerry's announces support: http://bit.ly/pPZhW6 how this reconciles with them being owned by unilever, I don't yet know.
pretty awesome graphic about how to know when it's time to end your occupation: http://bit.ly/omww1x
Occupy Yom Kippur, I saw this live, it's downright beautiful. A mere few seconds: http://www.twitvid.com/6HEQ8
they say that after services, the violinist led dancing in the street.
850 cities now participating in OWS demonstrations. I saw in the google news agregator, a top article says “over a dozen.” oh, what a nice laugh that gave me.
And a much larger laugh came from this article here, mayor bloomberg telling us to go easy on banks, they need us. http://bit.ly/omkWbo
nobel prize winning economist, and NY Times columnist declares support for OWS. http://bit.ly/q2n2de
and rush limbaugh called us “human debris” on his show. I know! Shocking! He has a show!
Naomi Klein took questions. Here's a quote:
Another protester asked Klein a version of a question on many occupier's lips: "How do we transform the energy of the movement into something that is actually happening?"
"Something is happening," she said. "You're giving the people courage. You're telling them they're not alone and they're not crazy. You're giving them a space to find one another. But this is not group therapy -- we also want to change the world. This movement has to create democratic structures. It just can't happen overnight, but I beg you not to fetishize not having a structure. We made that mistake, and it destroyed our movement."
ok.... I listen cautiously to that advice.
I don't know how many will take the time to listen, but i'm linking it here anyway:
Kucinich and Chris Hedges on truthdig radio about the 99 percenters being “the best among us: http://bit.ly/pGjhW7 (I didn't realize that on the very same show is an interview with ina ma gaskin! What are the odds?)
ok and here's the link that gave me the vapors: I love these people SO MUCH! New movement: OCCUPY HOMES! That's right. Foreclosed homes. Takin them back! http://occupyhomes.tumblr.com/#me
and get this.... I happened to find quite accidentally that charlie day, of it's always sunny in philadelphia, aka the best shit on tv, was present at OWS in NY. Unless he was being cheeky when he wrote that blog. God, it would be embarrassing if I was wrong, if he was just going for the joke... http://bit.ly/nkXQ7Z
ok and here is a video from TheAnonMessage regarding Op Invade Wall Street. Basically they're saying what most people are saying, don't do it. I'm still trying to figure out why in the hell the op was ever disseminated in the first place. I got it from a youtube channel I subscribe to, always seemed very reliable.
Oh my god look at these pictures in the daily mail! The tim robbins one, for some reason, was the one that got me teary: http://bit.ly/q0jBgz there is no fucking way an american publication would have published most of these images.
as I shared yesterday, obama reached a point with wednesday's epic turnout in 783 cities, where he could ignore this no longer. He feels our pain, rest assured. He knows we're frustrated with how the republicans fucked up our financial system. Wonder how he thought that would go over with the OWS activists?? when/if I see any response, I will post. (don't hold your breath.)
this story keeps multiplying all over the MSM, the harbinger of the movement being co opted. In this article, the president of the federal reserve bank in dallas says he's “sympathetic,” http://reut.rs/qbJfoj similar sentiments have been expressed by biden and obama as well.
Naomi Klein: “let's treat Occupy Wall Street like it's the most important thing in the world. Because it is.” right on sister.
This is a picture at foley square, which is where the union rally was held. Look at how many people: https://twitter.com/#!/OccupyWallStNYC/status/122029439482728448/photo/1
Here is an interesting article, not sure if it's interesting to people outside NY, about how the OWS activists are working with the neighborhood residents, who have dealt with noise and disruption for three weeks. It details a community board meeting, where OWS representatives met with police representatives. Fun fact of note: the Brookfield they speak of extensively, the people who may actually get the park cleared by police.... guess who's on that board? Billionaire mayor bloomberg's special lady friend. http://bit.ly/o7QaAh
can we all agree to check our friends' spelling before letting them post a giant sign for everyone to take pictures of and spread all over the interwebs? Please? http://twitpic.com/6w6b0n
activists in DC estimate 3000 there on thursday.
Pic from DC “We the corporations” http://yfrog.com/h0nz8kjj
There's talk of a march, from Atlanta to DC! Think they'll do it?
Russell Simmons back to NY OWS on thursday, with talib kweli.
There were suspicions – several of them over the past few weeks – of police moles in the crowd. The most obvious fake was a guy walking around handing out “Anonymous cards” which instructed people to riot in the street. Yeah, the demonstration is 100% peaceful. Nice try.
oh and... i just noticed that there was a favorable mention about OWS, by david letterman. yep, it happened i think last week, i don't remember what day but i just saw it last night.
and reverend jesse jackson on today's democracy now supports the movement calling it "the cause of our time."
"I think people are frustrated and ... the protesters are giving voice to a more broad-based frustration about how our financial system works," Obama said.
"What we've seen over the last year is not only did the financial sector with the Republican Party and Congress fight us every inch of the way, but now you've got these same folks suggesting that we should roll back all those reforms and go back to the way it was before the crisis."
please. these same folks include YOU.
ass.
Occupation Day Twenty: MIC CHECK!
10/6:
Well yesterday was the day that thousands upon thousands of students walked out and joined the protest. This alongside labor unions, listed later in this post. Crowds were estimated on the low end at 20,000. one head count was 50,000 once the labor rally joined OWS. I watched live online, my favorite speaker spoke of the early labor movement and how principles never change, and then he thanked the OWS people, for “waking us up.” and for “sparking a new labor movement” and for “showing us how it's done.” the cheers that erupted in response was too loud for my speakers to handle.
Some people ask me if these young kids knew what they were getting into. If they really understood how fucked shit is in the US and how many people and groups would be so exhilarated to join in. uh, hell yeah. Way back in august when they announced this, they knew it would be huge. When I talk to people at the park, they are not in the least bit surprised it grew to this level. They prepared long before the physical occupation, setting up the various teams, training themselves in tactics, and all of their messages are 100% on point in being relevant for the whole nation, avoiding any narrow issues like student loans, which are totally relevant but speak to a smaller group. They knew. I knew. The only people who seem surprised are the news media who think obama's birth certificate, gay marriage, palinisms, are what's on people's political minds. They're the ones who are not relevant. Keith Olbermann today said, and I forgot to copy the quote so forgive me if I butcher it a little, “if you are a news organization and you're not covering Occupy Wall Street, then you're not a news organization anymore.” and truthfully, when I still encounter people who don't know about it, i'm confused. Because i'm still amazed anyone watches network news. You have choices people!
Once again, I urge you to watch today's Democracy Now. Their coverage of this protest is far and away the best. They have the best interviews, best eyewitnesses, best footage, and best analysis. Since I find i'm repeating myself on this point often, I added their link to my sig, just for the duration of this protest. Today's coverage is quite informative, regarding police tactics, and union involvement.
Anyway, stuff escalated in NY yesterday, and in SF. My post is going to be long and I apologize, but there's a lot to report. In no particular order:
Greece! Greek workers walked out in a general strike. OWS activists continually tip their hats to the brave people of Greece, and cite them as their inspiration – alongside those of the Arab Spring: http://f24.my/nux9hj
Mother jones magazine is maintaining an interactive map of occupy protests. Looks pretty thorough to me. http://bit.ly/nV2tnO
10 arrested in St Louis, same place where SWAT teams were protecting the Bank of Americas
Heard at a rally today: “where tyranny is law, revolution is order!”
report that a 9 year old was pepper sprayed. Still researching.
Meanwhile, in san francisco, I see reports that the union that runs BART has endorsed OWS. But I also see they're having trouble with the police, they've been served eviction notices and warned that they will be forcibly removed if they don't comply. (the po-po tried this in NY too, the notices. They weren't legal, and they were used for origami)
looks like shit might escalate there. A convoy of police trucks moved into the camp this morning. Protesters are encircling them, blocking them with their bodies and wooden pallets chanting “block the trucks!” how long that worked/will work, I can't tell: http://yfrog.com/klnbhhaj I also saw a tweet from SF saying that the DPW is tearing down the camp, with police escort, destroying all the donated items they have: tarps, tents, kitchen. But police say protesters can stay. Just not with their stuff, I guess.
In Seattle, the police get violent with protesters there:
now onto NY, where most of the excitement was yesterday. One woman upon being arrested for being on the sidewalk for “unlawful assembly” was asked by reporters what her name is. She responds, “Troy Davis. Emmett Till. Medgar Evers. Martin Luther King.”
the following guardian article is interesting, for its quotes from both james hoffa, and mitt romney (oh and for the fact that they are one of the few who acknowledge the massiveness of this demonstration): http://bit.ly/p4lYiE
oh would you look at this touching video. A cop is saying “my little nightstick is going to get a workout tonight, hopefully.” classy. And... I can't imagine it will take long for the anons to identify him like they did tony baloney. http://bit.ly/oKPhfk
the media team was arrested and loaded into a police van. Here, they posted video from inside the van. Please ignore the racial slur that sadly some people still think is ok to use. One has a broken nose. http://qik.com/picos
shit getting hairy with cops again:
listen to the protesters shouting “who are you protecting?” ok the story with that one is that the police jumped into the crowd pepperspraying indiscriminately, and using batons. The target of this beating is Luke Rudkowski, a journalist who was documenting the police tactics. It gets worse, people now suspect that in the crowd were police posing as protesters starting shit. I'm not sure if it's this vid or another one (i've seen several of the same incident) but you will see a cop videoing.
as of 11:30 thursday i'm reading reports of two separate groups being detained with nets, each group consisting of several hundred people. Gotta research that. One report says they have their hands in the air. Now 12 hours later, I haven't found verification of this.
anonymous' response: Arrest 700, 20000 show up today. Arrest 1000 tonight, you may see 40,000 at 1 Police Plaza tomorrow, noon. We are the 99%
cabin crew's response: You want to kettle our brothers and sisters at #OccupyWallStreet... we will kettle your top brass. Release coming soon. And within an hour: http://pastebin.com/z4HiFFBF
DN is reporting that riot horses are out, many people are kettled and being pepper sprayed.
even local tv station reporter gets clubbed by a cop and their photographer maced. this is NOT fox news, as i had previously thought, but local tv station with no association with fox news. sorry i repeated what was said on twitter, it was late and i missed vital info right there in the link. http://bit.ly/pI0ESQ
reuters estimates 5000 protesters from day 19. I can't see how that's possible. It's got to be twice that. Wait, scratch that, I just saw a headcount of 50,000! whatever it turned out to be, don't believe the news. This was absolutely massive. And the labor leaders were saying we could shut down this whole city if we wanted to!
Wanna know who turned out with their membership? Source: occupywallstreet.org
* AFL-CIO (AFSCME)
* United NY
* Strong Economy for All Coalition
* Working Families Party
* TWU Local 100
* SEIU 1199
* CWA 1109
* RWDSU
* Communications Workers of America
* CWA Local 1180
* United Auto Workers
* United Federation of Teachers
* Professional Staff Congress - CUNY
* National Nurses United
* Writers Guild East
And:
* VOCAL-NY
* Community Voices Heard
* Alliance for Quality Education
* New York Communities for Change
* Coalition for the Homeless
* Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project (NEDAP)
* The Job Party
* NYC Coalition for Educational Justice
* The Mirabal Sisters Cultural and Community Center
* The New Deal for New York Campaign
* National People's Action
* ALIGN
* Human Services Council
* Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State
* Citizen Action of NY
* MoveOn.org
* Common Cause NY
* New Bottom Line
* 350.org
* Tenants & Neighbors
* Democracy for NYC
* Resource Generation
* Tenants PAC
* Teachers Unite
and in attendance, along with unions and students.... drumroll..... DOCTORS! http://twitpic.com/6vofqf
