“I believe that I speak for all gathered here when I say that we do not support violence of any kind on our streets, we honor our young people and wish them not to be harmed nor abused within our “justice system”, which has no relationship to what a balanced person would consider justice,” said Samsarah Morgan.
OAKLAND – A year ago today police raided and dismantled the Occupy Oakland encampment, on October 25, 2011. Occupy activists called for nonviolence at protests commemorating the anniversary at a press conference in front of City Hall this morning. They particularly called on Oakland Police to be nonviolent.
Standing in Oscar Grant Plaza, flanked by an ad hoc group of noteworthy Occupy activists, Samsarah Morgan explained why the press conference was called.
“I believe that I speak for all gathered here when I say that we do not support violence of any kind on our streets, we honor our young people and wish them not to be harmed nor abused within our “justice system”, which has no relationship to what a balanced person would consider justice,” said Morgan .
“It has also come to our attention that there have been flyers posted in some neighborhoods speaking of violence towards the “Black Bloc,” which Morgan said the group opposed.
Morgan introduced herself as a counselor midwife and teacher; and also a member of several committees of Occupy/ Decolonize Oakland.
“With the blessings and support and of the allies surrounding me, I declare a rebirth – and I declare a separation from any group internal or external which says in any way that Occupy Oakland is dead!”
“Occupy Oakland lives! We are here, we will be reaching out to our beloved city, building bridges and assisting in any way to feed, house, educate and provide the means for financial and emotional security and support for the people of Oakland. We are the 99 per cent and we are here to serve the interest of the 99%,”
“I wish to also say that no one person, group or ideology can lay claim to Occupy Oakland – The genius of the Occupy Movement is that is it an open template, given as a gift, that communities all over the world can apply and change to meet their circumstances. “
Morgan was careful to note that the press conference was not called by Occupy Oakland and that her comments were not approved at an Occupy Oakland General Assembly.
Others who spoke at the press conference were Timothy Fong, Shake Anderson, Dafina Kuficha, Pastor Nichola Torbett, and Green Party candidates for the Oakland City Council, Theresa Anderson (At Large), and Don Macleay (Dist. 1).
Fong said all the issues which gave birth to the Occupy movement still exist.
Macleay emphasized that the Oakland Police had been the most violent by far, and has acted as a force of repression.
Theresa Anderson said she was there for her “Occupy family” and to serve the community.
Pastor Torbett said that people connected to the interfaith tent from the encampment were still actively to taking nonviolent action for justice and called for justice for Alan Blueford and Oscar Grant.
Additional coverage: Text of Samsarah Morgan’s remarks: http://www.urbannana.com/?p=419
Occupy Activists Call for Nonviolence on Anniversary – Particularly by OPD : Indybay.