What can we do to demand that the rights of protesters be

[efhmc]

protected when we live outside the voting area where the tear gas, rubber bullets, mace. etc. are being used? I have never been in Oakland or New York, but I want my voice to be heard some place besides on DU. Any suggestions? Watching the Oakland video made me so sad, mad and ashamed. I want to contact someone, do something and I am sure that are many Americans who feel the same. What can I and others do that will have any effect?

Edited to add this information. I am going to call the mayor.

http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca/groups/cityadministrator/documents/webcontent/dowd003833.pdf

[justiceischeap]

1. I'd suggest LTTE in your hometown

that's a good start. Trying to inform your community about what is going on in other communities is valuable. There is roughly 30% of the population that don't know how they feel about OWS... educate them so their opinion changes.

[efhmc]

4. This small paper is locally owned and operated by a

right wing bigot, whose wife is head of the state board of education and that's in Texas. He once included graphic pictures of aborted fetuses a an insert into the paper. Needless to say, I don't have anything to do with that rag.

[justiceischeap]

8. Are there other papers in Texas you could write LTTE to?

Getting the word out is important and if you have to write one in another state or a different part of your state, it helps.

[efhmc]

10. Sure, maybe to the Oakland paper.

Good idea.

[slackmaster]

2. Vote for leaders who respect peoples' rights, freedom of choice, etc.

We get the leaders who we vote for. If you're not happy with them, vote for someone else.

[efhmc]

5. I m a precinct chair and have been for 10 years. We can't

even find people to run here because the right wing repukes have so much money and power. They have even gotten people to change parties by threatening them with to use all their money and power to get unknown and unworthy candidates to run against them. Funny thing just happened in a mayoral race. The incumbent mayor, who was accepting federal money to use solar power to run a new sewage treatment plant instead of rejecting that money and using local funds for lights for a new football field was beaten by a worthless tool of the right wing. I told a repuke friend whose husband had served in a reasonable manner on the board and who was also defeated in this sweep for power that no one has that kind of money to spend on campaigning here except repukes. Guess what the next step was, fire the city manager and get the repuke county chair for the job. This place is a lost cause.

[slackmaster]

7. Here in California it's the same way, except it's well-funded Democrats who make up the incumbency

We implemented term limits, now we have a network of pseudo-apostolic successions and heirs apparent. A newcomer who isn't both connected and beholden to the powers that be (e.g. land developers, the entertainment industry, agribusiness, and big labor unions) has no chance.

[backtoblue]

3. I'm in the same boat as you.

Perhaps we could start talking to our own local police departments and city officials to see how they might respond to large protests. We need to know our local laws and codes and what actions they might take against us.

As for Oakland, I'm not sure what to do to help. I wish I could. nt

[efhmc]

6. Does anyone have a telephone number for the city

government there? Would calling do any good?
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/oakca/groups/cityadministrator/documents/webcontent/dowd003833.pdf

I am going to call the mayor! Not open yet due to time difference but left a message of disgust.

[efhmc]

9. Called the city council and left a message.

You have to listen to three different language messages but it's worth it. 5102383266

[backtoblue]

11. thanks for the number!

I'm gonna call as soon as I can!!!

[efhmc]

12. Thanks. Love the graphics.

[coalition_unwilling]

13. I emailed Gov. Brown to ask why he is still silent and

registered my disgust with the Oakland Gestapo on Mayor Quan's Facebook page.

No response from Gov. Brown yet. Big surprise there, as he was Mayor of Oakland the last time the OPD criminally assaulted protesters (during Operation Shocking and Awful). Won't be voting for him again, it should go without saying.

My wife and I are considering temporarily relocating from Los Angeles to the Bay Areas to lend our support and bodies to the Movement and upcoming General Strike on Nov. 2. Thing is, we may be needed here in LA as former allies have turned Quisling on Occupy LA.

[efhmc]

14. Don't do facebook. Any other e-mail

address?

[coalition_unwilling]

15. I don't have the actual email address. I used a form on the

government website for his office:

http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php

Hope that helps.

[efhmc]

16. Thanks.