Power to the People! Occupy Wallstreet!

2011-10-24 "Police Arrest Nurse Volunteers At Occupy Chicago" by Beth Buczynski
[http://www.care2.com/causes/police-arrest-nurse-volunteers-at-occupy-chicago.html]
Nurses volunteering at a first aid station for Occupy Chicago protesters were included in a mass arrest of over 100 people during a late-night crackdown at the encampment. The police officers removed all protester property from the site and tore down tents, including the first aid tent [http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/10/24/police-arrest-130-tear-down-first-aid-station-at-occupy-chicago/].
The action has been condemned by National Nurses United (NNU), the country’s largest union of nurses, which has set up first aid stations in five other occupied cities, including Occupy Wall Street in New York [http://www.care2.com/causes/OWS%20Is%20The%20People’s%20Revolution:%20Will%20You%20Join%20It?%20[Video]].
“Even in wartime, combatants respect the work of nurses and other first responders. Yet Mayor Emanuel and Chicago seem to care as little about that tradition as they do in protecting the constitutional rights of free speech and assembly.” said NNU Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro in a statement. “These arrests are disgraceful and unconscionable, and will not deter our nurses from continuing this mission, setting up the station again, and continuing to support the protests.”
On Monday morning, Occupiers showed their solidarity with the arrested nurses by joining members of NNU as they picketed the mayor’s office at Chicago’s City Hall.
The arrests occurred at approximately 1 am as Occupy Chicago participants attempted to rebuild their camp in Grant Park for the second time [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-10-23/news/chi-occupy-chicago-aims-to-try-occupying-grant-park-again-tonight-20111022_1_protesters-federal-plaza-congress-plaza].
In many cities, police departments have been content to wave public park closing times and camping rules as long as protesters remain peaceful, respectful of non-protest pedestrians and do not disrupt the flow of vehicle traffic.
Emanuel has been perhaps the most aggressive mayor in the nation in repression of the occupy Wall Street movement with mass arrests on at least two occasions now. The Chicago Tribune Saturday reported that city officials are trying to send a message to world leaders of being “tough” on demonstrators in advance of upcoming meetings of G-8 and NATO leaders in May.


2011-10-24 “Occupy” Movements Raise Libraries Across the Country" by Anna Klenke
[http://www.care2.com/causes/occupy-movements-raise-libraries-across-the-country.html]
Despite the growing influence of the Kindle, iPad, Nook, Kobo and Sony Reader, books aren’t dead yet. And they’re gaining ground in Boston and other cities as the Occupy movements raise low-tech tent libraries in the midst of their protests.
The Occupy Boston tent library has no due dates or fees, a simple check-out system, and nearly 500 donated books organized by category. It has also developed “an expanding archive of Occupy Boston’s meeting notes and proposals, and a nascent program of speakers and writing workshops” (New York Times).
Some of the most popular books include Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States and the works of Noam Chomsky.
Librarians and booksellers who support the movement are the primary organizers of the library. John Ford, an alternative bookstore owner, said of the library’s goals: “I hope, at the very least, it just makes people more inclined to be thoughtful about what they’re doing here.”
Boston protesters use the library for research and inspiration as they stand by their convictions and brave the elements in the tent shelters. One woman described the process of reading as “a moment to yourself, a moment of clarity.” [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/us/tent-libraries-occupy-boston-and-beyond.html?_r=1&smid=tw-nytimes&seid=auto]