May Day with OWS 2012

Some photos from today, too lazy to write captions right now. I’ll get to them later … oh, and photos aren’t necessarily complete endorsements of messages.

Sending my love to the National Lawyers Guild (in green hats)

Queers Against Israeli Apartheid Occupy NYC LGBT Center

Event organized by Queers Against Israeli Apartheid – http://queersagainstisraeliapartheid.blogspot.com/2012/02/faq-for-occupy-lgbt-center.html

Please click “permalink” to view full-size image.

Anyone who would like me to take a photo of them down — please let me know.

Description of event, taken from the Facebook event page:

Occupy the NYC LGBT Center! End the ban on Palestine solidarity organizing! Part of Israeli Apartheid Week. Initiated by Queers Against Israeli Apartheid.

Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 4 p.m.NYC LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St.

Since March 2011, the NYC LGBT Center has banned Palestine solidarity activists (queer and non-LGBT) from meeting at the Center and imposed a “moratorium” on any discussion of the Palestinian struggle. This censorship, in response to pressure from wealthy supporters of Israel’s anti-Palestinian policies, flies in the face of our community’s commitment to diversity and offering safe space for discussion of “controversial” issues. Petitions, appeals to meet with the Center’s board of directors, calls and letters have not succeeded in winning back our right to free speech and assembly.

If you agree that the wealthy and powerful 1% should not be allowed to silence the voices of the 99%, then join us in defying this ban. Occupy the Center!

We demand:
1) End the ban on Palestine solidarity organizing at the Center.
2) Open the Center to all who respect its stated mission.
3) Open the Center’s board meetings and decision-making process to the community.

This event is open to all.

Initiated by Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QAIA)http://queersagainstisraeliapartheid.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/NYC-Queers-Against-Israeli-Apartheid/127621283984596

This event is part of Israeli Apartheid Week. For more on Israeli Apartheid Week, go to http://newyork.apartheidweek.org/, http://www.facebook.com/events/106123286178242/

“NO ANTI-ARAB HATE IN QUEER SPACE END THE BAN” “NYC QUEERS STAND WITH PALESTINIAN QUEERS END THE BAN”

Ana Conner & Tara Tabassi (FIERCE) – Watch this FABULOUS speech HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y949yoJ6B-Y&feature=related #BOSS!

Heidi Boghosian (National Lawyers Guild)

Darnell L. Moore

Dealing with a Ziotroll

Pauline Park (Queens Pride House)

Saturday, October 8th, 2011 – #OccupyWallSt at Washington Square

Today, #OccupyWallSt moved to Washington Square for a Special Assembly.

PS If you’re wondering how we have a mass Assembly without microphones, watch my quick phone video here.

The hand-waving with palms up means that people are liking what they hear.

 

Special guest Mohammed from Egypt speaks.

Some of the faces of #OccupyWallSt.

Amin (Ameen? Need spelling help!) does introdutions. Part of his speech is recorded in the video.

Media committee presents.

Public Relations committee presents.

Direct action committee.

Arts and Culture committee.

Arts and Culture committee.

Special guest Mohammed from Egypt speaks.

Special guest Mohammed from Egypt speaks.

And just a couple of blocks away on the corner of 4th St and 6th Ave, four police vans are stationed, waiting (not shown: a circle of cops chillin’ behind them).

Washington Square Panorama (after Special Assembly)

Friday, October 7, 2011 – #OccupyWallSt

Played around with Adobe Lightroom presets. There was also a march in solidarity with Haiti.

In the process of organizing books in the Occupy Wall Street Public Library. Northeast side of Zucotti park.

Relaxing next to creative poster artists. Northwest-ish side of Zucotti Park.

Poster artist observing another’s work.

These OWS volunteers stock up on extra clothing, which are organized by bin.

An artist in the process of painting from a reference photograph.

Dishwashing.

Police cars are always camped along Liberty St, to the north of Zucotti Park.

Enjoying the OWS library.

Tons of police are always on the lookout behind the barriers enclosing the commotion. This is Liberty St.

Protestors start to march north on Broadway from Zucotti Park.

Protestors start to march north on Broadway from Zucotti Park.

Protestors marching north on Broadway, here approaching Fulton St.

Construction workers cheer OWS protestors near Broadway and Fulton Streets.

One protestor’s sign as we cross Fulton St.

Campers start to turn in for the night. (Here, South side of Zucotti Park)

Back in Zucotti Park during General Assembly, one protestor uses this balloon to protest environmental damage. “Can’t breath in ur spilled oil.”

Haiti Solidarity Protest – Friday, October 7, 2011

Photographs taken tonight starting around 6 p.m. Marchers in solidarity with Haiti are joined by Occupy Wall Street protestors. The details of the Haiti demonstration has been posted by the International Action Center here: http://www.iacenter.org/haiti/wallstreet-haiti101411/

Protestors approach Broadway and Liberty Streets.

Protestors approach Broadway and Liberty Streets.

Protestors march southbound on Broadway from City Hall.

Protestors march southbound on Broadway from City Hall.

A protestor shows his demands regarding US-Haiti.

Protestors march down Chambers Street as they encircle City Hall.

Protestors reach Chambers St as they encircle New York City Hall.

Vid: #OccupyWallSt arrests on Brooklyn Bridge

I’m surprised the NYPD didn’t erase data from my camera.

Sorry for the shoddy quality.

Around 7:00 mins you can hear the officer immediately in front of me address us—he eventually said, “If you don’t go peacefully, you know, we do what we have to do … we got plenty of cops!” (My translation: if you don’t do as we tell you, we’ll beat it out of you).

It is astounding how much more trouble the NYPD created by stopping the march and bothering to take the time and resources to arrest over 700 protestors. (A corporate investment!)

Mainstream media is maintaining the image that crazy, hippie, disorganized lefties stormed the Brooklyn Bridge. In fact, it was the POLICE that led the protestors onto the bridge!!  See video footage here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz67fULXc-0&feature=related I have personally heard testimony of this as well.

The move to lead protestors onto the Brooklyn Bridge—in which it is hard to move around, and is much easier for the NYPD to make mass arrests—is, in my mind, undoubtedly a deliberate move to deter Occupy Wall Street. But haven’t they learned from last week that their oppression only drew more and more people?

(their stupidity boggles the mind)

#OccupyWallSt – Oct. 1st (march to Brooklyn Bridge)

[e-mail]

Update:

Confirmation from Max Blumenthal:
http://twitter.com/#!/MaxBlumenthal/status/119960168963379200
and http://twitter.com/#!/MaxBlumenthal/status/119960933362700289

Also see Angus Carruthers:
http://twitter.com/#!/AngusCarruthers/status/119957350730825730
and http://twitter.com/#!/AngusCarruthers/status/119958535428775936

… who pointed to @Stavitsinai as having been stripped and beaten by settlers.

I received this on the WESPAC list, e-mail addresses have been omitted.

Photos are here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WESPAC_Mid-East/attachments/folder/1910424333/item/828373429/view

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Dan Cohen (west Jerusalem)

עברית אחרי אנגלית – נא להפיץ – התמונות מותרות לפרסום

HEBREW FOLLOWS – PLEASE CIRCULATE – PHOTOS ARE NOT COPYRIGHTED

Please help in circulating the info in any way possible, since the Israeli media has not covered/seems reluctant to cover the appalling incidents which took place today.

This morning (30/9) Israeli activists and Palestinians were attacked by settlers near the settlement of Atarot. The landowner of the plot to which the activists came in order to plant trees was also attacked by the settlers who cracked his head open, as well as attacking his wife. The two were have been hospitalized at Hadasa Ein Karem hospital.

Police officers who were present at the scene did nothing while the activists were beaten and their cameras smashed. Some of the attackers wore police shirts and carried service weapons, which attests to the fact that they are a part of the police force even though they were off duty.

Three other activists have been hospitalized at Hadassa Ein Karem and an additional three have been arrested by the police, who have NOT arrested any of the assaulting settlers, in spite of having witnessed everything.

Later this evening, more activists arrived to protest against the pogrom which had taken place earlier. They too were attacked and beaten, with stoned being thrown at them too. In spite of police presence at the scene, the police did nothing.

As a result of the second attack, 19 people have been injured, requiring medical attention, and three have been hospitalized at Hadasa Ein Karem. Again, several cameras were destroyed. Moreover, cars belonging to the activists, which were parked outside the settlement of Atarot, were damaged by the attackers, who smashed windshields and head and tail lights, as well as puncturing tires.

(photos 14 and 1: settlers attack , photos 12 and 12 : Israeliactivists injured)

Please remember: most Israelis have always been and still are apathetic towards the atrocities of Israeli apartheid. Things are not likely to change, unless we advocate an institutional and economic boycott against Israel.

עברית

אנא עזרו בהפצת מידע זה בכל צורה אפשרית מאחר והתקשורת איננה מסקרת את האירועים המזעזעים שקרו היום.הבוקר הותקפו פעילים פלסטינים וישראלים ע”י מתנחלים בסמוך להתנחלות ענתות.
בעל הקרקע אליה הגיעו הפעילים לשתול עצים, הותקף אף הוא על ידי המתנחלים שפתחו לו את הראש ותקפו אף את אשתו. השניים אושפזו בהדסה עין כרם.
שוטרים שהיו במקום לא עשו דבר בעוד מצלמות הפעילים נופצו והם הוכו. חלק מהתוקפים היו עם חולצות של המשטרה ואף אקדחי שירות המעידים על כך שהם שייכים למערך המשטרה בעצמם על אף שלא היו בתפקיד.
3 פעילים נוספים אושפזו בבית החולים הדסה עין כרם, ושלושה נוספים נעצרו על ידי המשטרה שלא עצרה אף אחד מהמתנחלים התוקפים על אף שהייתה עדה לכל.
מאוחר יותר הגיעו פעילים נוספים למחות על הפוגרום שאירע בצהריים, והותקפו אף הם במכות ואבנים, שוב, על אף נוכחות המשטרה במקום שלא עשתה דבר.
באירוע השני 19 אנשים נזקקו לטיפול רפואי, שלושה מהם אושפזו בבית החולים הדסה עין כרם, שוב מספר מצלמות נופצו.
מכוניות הפעילים שחנו מחוץ להתנחלות ענתות קיבלו אף הן יחס מהתוקפים ששברו את שמשות הרכבים, ניפצו פנסים ופינצ’רו גלגלים.מצורפות שתי תמונות של התוקפים, ושתי תמונות של הפצועים.

זכרו: רוב הישראלים היו ונותרו אדישים לזוועות האפרטהייד. המצב לא צפוי להשתנות בלי שנעודד חרם בינלאומי, מוסדי וכלכלי על ישראל

LGBT Pride – June, 2011 – Philadelphia

I thought I would add some color to the gloominess of this blog with bright & colorful LGBT pride photos—taken in June this year, in Philadelphia. This was my first time at a Gay Pride parade. Ever. (Yes, I know I missed out on a lot.)

BTW I just discovered Adobe Lightroom — and edited all my previous #OccupyWallSt photos, so if you go back, you’ll see they’re less grainy, are lens-corrected, etc. (Not that I couldn’t make these changes with Photoshop, obviously—but I guess I was in a mood to try new software).

Anyway.

#OccupyWallSt Day 10 – General Assembly