Published on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 by
Waging NonviolenceOccupy Chicago After Arrests: We Will Re-Occupyby Jake Olzen
“Bring five friends with you next time,” announced Ashley Bohrer, 23, beaming with pride at Occupy Chicago’s Monday afternoon General Assembly (GA), “and have them bring five friends with them!” This is how Occupy Chicago (or perhaps better recognized by its Twitter hashtag #OccupyChi) is growing through social networking – both in person and via digital media. Bohrer, a graduate student at DePaul University working on a Ph.D. in philosophy, has been with the occupation since nearly the beginning.
“I’m upset. I’m angry. I have a personal story—like most of the people here—it’s different but I have massive student debt. I have a job but I live below a living salary.” Bohrer is animated and articulate as our conversation is interrupted numerous times by others seeking interviews, other activists sharing updates about their committee work, and people stopping by thanking her and Occupy Chicago for their presence.
As the local manifestation of the global occupation movement—see Occupy Together—sparked on Wall Street, Occupy Chicago has been at it almost just as long. Monday, October 17 marked Day 25 of an ongoing presence in front of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank at Lasalle and Jackson in Chicago’s financial district. Over the weekend, after having been told it could not keep a permanent camp at the bank, the GA agreed to relocate its occupation—while maintaining a regular presence at the bank—to Grant Park. At the corner of the park known as Congress Plaza (Michigan and Congress), nearly 2,300 Occupy Chicago supporters rallied in support of the movement. The Chicago Tribune, recounting the events of the evening, reported that 175 people were arrested on a municipal ordinance violation that states Chicago Parks close at 11 p.m.
After Chicago Police had issued a number of very clear warnings—and people moved across the street while maintaining vigil for those choosing to be arrested—cops began to clear the park of personal belongings, tents, and arresting occupiers. The arrests were orderly and professional—good practice for CPD and the City of Chicago who will be hosting the NATO-G8 Summit in May 2012. Occupy Chicago and the National Lawyers Guild, who lends legal support, have put the number of arrests at over 250. Bohrer was one of those arrested and it was her first time participating in civil disobedience. Those arrested were detained, processed, and released on a bond of personal recognizance, but not until early Sunday morning. Supporters waited outside the jails, in the rain, until the last of Occupy Chicago activists were released. .............(more)
The complete piece is at:
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/10/18-7
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