My wife and I will be attending Occupy Los Angeles tomorrow and

[coalition_unwilling]

Sunday. I hope to make a full report of our visit after the weekend.

In the interests of providing solid content, does anyone here at DU have questions about OLA they would like me to ask while I am at City Hall? I see myself as doing participatory journalism and thought I could provide service to my brothers and sisters at DU by asking questions on their behalf.

Just let me know by responding to this thread (or sending me a message, if you wish to remain confidential),

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. K&R!

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. Yeh, why are the latrines at the top of the hill?

It's so much easier to walk downhill when you're pinching one, and in addition,during an earthquake, crap rolls downhill... I'm jus' sayin'.... :P

[coalition_unwilling]

6. Sounds like a question for the Sanitation

Committee :)

[grasswire]

3. tell them you represent 176,000 internet activists...

...and you will take messages.

[robinlynne]

4. I just want to say thank-you. Your reports are wonderful!

And to let Los Angeles people know there are carpools every Wednesday evening at 5:30 from St Bedes Church to occupy Los Angeles. courtesy of Westside Progressives.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. St Bede's is an Episcopal church near Palms and Centinella

for those wondering..

[libodem]

5. Proud to call you a fellow DU'er

Be safe. Waiting for a full report.

[coalition_unwilling]

7. Some of the questions I have and will be trying to answer:

1) What preparations are being made in the event that an eviction attempt by the nominal authorities is made?

2) What progress has OLA made in getting on-site food preparation permitted?

3) What progress has been made on firming up the list of preliminary demands and objectives?

4) Why is it so hard getting questions about OLA answered definitively?

I will also be trying to get a general sense of how General Assembly is running, mainly by attending and participating in them on Sat and Sun and also by attending the Facilitation Committee meeting(s).

My wife will be debuting some of her newest signage, copy of one of which immediately below:

[robinlynne]

18. What should we bring to help if we go to Occupy LA? water?

[coalition_unwilling]

19. Excellent question and one I've been asking myself. I know that

the Resource Committee handles all donations and presumably will have the best fix on what is needed. I'll be sure to ask.

[MISSDem]

8. don't get hit in the head

or you'll be wishing you had stayed at home.

[coalition_unwilling]

22. Aw, thanks for your concern. Aside from

the fact that it would not entirely be my decision to make as to whether I "get hit in the head," i.e., the law enforcement person (LAPD? Sheriff's Deputy? CIA\DIA goon?) who struck me would have a hand in so deciding also, I'm pretty stoic about the possibility of a police riot while we're on site. There won't be much I can do about it should the cops start running amok. Should the LAPD or other LE personnel hurt my wife during a melee, however, I will consider my conditional commitment to non-violence concluded.

I wish I could spend more time down there than I have been -- the parking situation downtown is horrendously expensive during the week and mass transit in LA is a sick joke (meaning a 20-minute car drive when there is light traffic would take 2 or more hours by bus from my part of LA to downtown). The smell of freedom wafts through the air though and, once smelled, becomes intoxicating. I'm really looking forward to visiting this weekend.

[sandyj999]

9. You will be doing it for me and I thank you.

[kestrel91316]

10. They are starting up Occupy San Fernando Valley at the Van Nuys Civic Center.

That's where I will be going as time permits.

[Fire Walk With Me]

13. At the courthouse? The great big ugly square building looming over the entire valley?

[kestrel91316]

16. There's more than one building there now, lol.

[Fire Walk With Me]

17. I know, I've been there, it's just that from driving across Mulholland

you can look out across the valley and it's like some ugly invading spaceship setting up shop to destroy all humans or something. Big, ugly, looming thing.

Happy you're going to be there! :hi:

[kestrel91316]

20. I hope eventually they do an Occupy Warner Center, lol. That's near my neighborhood, lol!

[me b zola]

29. I'm homesick

Wave at Reseda for me.

:loveya:

[Luminous Animal]

11. I am looking forward to hearing your report. You are a fantastic writer.

And, by the way, if you ever feel like visiting the Occupy scene in the Bay Area, I would be happy to host you and your wife.

[coalition_unwilling]

25. Thank you for the compliment and your gracious offer. I feel I am

witnessing a "new birth of freedom" (to quote Abraham Lincoln) and am in the presence of latter-day heroes each time I visit OLA. So it is the sacred quality of the subject matter that helps to inform my writing and, if any credit is due, it is due to the brave foot soldiers manning the battle lines of liberty and to the audience who supports them. Hope that doesn't sound like false humility, as I really do feel humbled each time I am in their presence and that I am performing a sacred duty in reporting on their doings.

[fascisthunter]

12. kick!

[City Lights]

15. I look forward to your report. Stay safe! eom

[Zorra]

21. Thanks!

:grouphug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. My turn to play mom...stay safe

[MrMickeysMom]

24. Please share...

In a very strong way, I'm with you.

[coalition_unwilling]

26. One self-kick for the morning crowd. - n/t

[U4ikLefty]

27. I was there today (Saturday). Did you see the wedding at about 3pm?

A beautiful Native American ceremony that brought two gorgeous young adults together.

It was so awesome & I am grateful to have stumbled into such a joyful thing.

[coalition_unwilling]

28. No, my wife and I got a bit of a late start yesterday and did not

arrive at OLA until 4 p.m.

I will be publishing a full report on Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Preview of coming attractions: if you stayed for the General Assembly, I was the 'Timekeeper' :)

Agree 100% about the 'awesome' and only wish more folks from DU could attend in person.