Four People were arrested today, in New Orleans, for protesting a meeting of the American Petroleum Institute. They are being charged with criminal trespassing, despite there being no signs stating that they were not allowed, the meeting was public, when asked to leave they complied. A Louisiana state police officer manhandled several people inside and blocked their vehicle outside, keeping them from leaving, before finally identifying himself as a police officer. Donations for bond and legal fees can be made through: https://www.wepay.com/donations/ots-jail-support Livestreams of the arrests can be found here: http://bambuser.com/v/3150179 http://bambuser.com/v/3150191 http://bambuser.com/v/3150220
 Dear Editors, Please find our current press release attached (also below). For inquiries about interviews, press photos, or more information please email us at info@occupyneworleans.us or call 504-377-1331 Best Regards, Occupy New Orleans General Assembly _________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOccupy NOLA will be holding a Rally for Transparency at University of New Orleans in response to the administration's decision to fire long-time key faculty members and put the University of New Orleans Press on hiatus. As tuition and class size increase and faculty and faculty jobs are cut, any new administrative positions should be made public. Please join in our support of faculty and students. Date: August 8, 2012 Time: 9:45 am Location: Meet at Building 12 Earl K. Long Library Why: Demand President Fos reveal UNO budget cuts and all administrative salaries! Occupy NOLA demands that the University of New Orleans: - Publicize list of budget cuts
- Publicize all administrators' salaries to show that administration is bearing its proportion of the cuts
- Stop utilization of budge cuts for political ends
- Publicize a list of all new administrative positions (including salaries) created by President Fos
- Be more open and transparent with decisions that affect the low-residency MFA program and Creative Writing Workshops
We invite you to participate! Please see the notice on the Occupy The Stage website for details! In Solidarity with students and teachers! ~ Occupy New Orleans General Assembly and Occupy The Stage occupyneworleans.us occupythestage.net
Occupy This Press Release! Print It Out!
 The University of New Orleans Press has be put on "hiatus." UNO professors have lost jobs amid state-mandated budget cuts. As tuition and class size increase and faculty are faculty jobs are cut, any new administrative positions should be made public. Are you upset about budget cuts at The University of New Orleans? Demand President Fos reveal UNO budget cuts and all administrative salaries! OCCUPY NOLA demands the University of New Orleans · Publicize list of budget cuts · Publicize all administrators' salaries to show that administration is bearing its proportion of the cuts · Stop utilization of the budget cuts for political ends · Publicize a list of all new administrative positions (including salaries) created by President Fos See the following links for details:DriftwoodInstitutional Research & Data Management (IRDM)PetitionFacebook EventUPDATES: This dilemma is receiving national attention. Read more:Another Press on Chopping BlockDirector of U. of New Orleans Press Loses Job Amid Budget CutsAmid growing furor, UNO spokesman assures: 'UNO Press is not being closed'Responses posted on Facebook Event Wall (note, we did not post anyone's names here in case anyone was concerned about his or her privacy. Please Contact Us if you would like to be quoted or would like to have your quote removed).Things seem to keep getting worse. Now, we've been told by Bill Lavender that his last day is Wednesday (and not at the end of the month as we were originally told) and today I see that UNO has an open position posted for an Assistant Professor of English who will be responsible for "the direction and reading of MFA theses."
Perhaps I am jumping to conclusions, but it appears like the individual who will be directing and reading my thesis hasn't yet been hired. I am supposed to turn in a draft of my thesis on the first day of the Fall Semester. It's extremely distressing to me to think that I don't have a contact in the Low-Res Program.
I expect to graduate this December. I have worked very hard over the past 2 years to get to this point and I am very concerned about how this will impact me and the other students in the program, especially those who, like me, are on the cusp of graduation.
Again, I certainly realize that things like budget cuts have an impact on programs and institutions. However, it seems disingenuous to dismiss the elimination of Bill Lavender's position as a "budget cut" while hiring for a strikingly similar one simultaneously.
Today, I am an embarrassed student of UNO. As I watch this situation unfold, I am truly heartbroken.
At this point, short of reinstating Bill Lavender, I'd recommend an honest and clear communication with all Low-Res MFA students that clearly outlines both the situation and the plan to move forward, including a contact person who will be available and knowledgeable to help us through this tough time. This should have already been done.
Thank you for taking the time to hear my ongoing concerns. I wish that I hadn't felt compelled to write again. Unfortunately, as the situation deteriorates, I felt it necessary._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I think it's important, "closed," "on hiatus" or whatever, that the administration and the governor see that the press has support and is an important instrument. Too often arts and "liberal" studies get the shaft when budget cuts happen. You should see the shakeup in the Talented Arts programs of the state's school boards. The one thing this state has been doing right-- supporting kids who are "good at art" who otherwise might not get personal attention from a good artist-- and the state is making it increasingly difficult for them to do their jobs. The squeeze is on._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Now the MFA program is being disassembled! Who is calling the shots? Is the new chancellor just another flunkie for Jindal just so the chancellor can keep HIS LOUSY job? Come clean on it all if Mr. Chancellor you are really serving us in the New Orleans Metro area, no denials, just come clean show all or it will be time to go to court!____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ It's happening all over. Cut the budget, slash the humanities, raise the tuition, cut the teachers, increase administration. Education becomes big business. Students become consumer at the beginning, product at the end, deep in debt and have to take whatever job they can get. All of this to increase the wealth of that same small percentage of the population.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
For an interesting timeline, read The Curious Timeline of the Bill Lavender Case Expect Us!
~ Occupy The Stage
Occupy This Flyer and Print It Out!
On July 25 in New Orleans, we Chalkupied the Amphitheater near Jackson Square with messages to President Obama, whose $250 Victory Reception was nearby. We had to wait for the torrential downpour to stop before chalking, but we learned that chalk looks brighter when the pavers are wet. The French Market Security and Manager told Occupy NOLA Chalk is "graffiti" and a felony, threatened to have everyone arrested if they didn't clean up the Chalkupy, and then had their employees clean up the Chalkupy. Here is the video the livestreamer took of security telling Occupy The Stage chalk is graffiti. http://bambuser.com/v/2854777Thank you to everyone who came out in the rain and supported this action!
Join OTS & Occupy NOLA when Obama Visits NOLA to "Occupy The Vote"
On Wednesday President Obama will visit the French Quarter to attend a campaign fundraiser Reception For the Obama Victory Fund (OVF) at the House of Blues. The National Urban League Conference is billing Obama's visit as as “Occupy the Vote.” This suggests that the Occupy Movement is supporting a fundraiser for a holder of public office who has been the fervent supporter of a trillion dollar plus bailout of the banking giants at the expense of everyone else. Nothing could be further from the truth! Here is what Occupy NOLA will be requesting from the President on his July 25th visit to New Orleans. - Withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan now!
- Issue an executive order preventing LA Governor Jindal and company from gutting medicaid and public hospital funding
- Stop the demolition of The Iberville Housing Development
- Create jobs for All
- Mass, direct-government employment program, now!
- Put all New Orleans teachers fired after Katrina back to work now! No more scabs for America's teachers
- End government support of for-profit education.
- Institute a Federal Public Works Program paid for by big oil companies including Shell and BP to clean up the Gulf of Mexico and restore the infrastructure of the Gulf.
Give President Obama a 99% UnWelcome: Meet 2pm Wednesday. June 25th to Chalkupy The Amphitheater across from Jackson Square (near the corner of Decatur and St. Ann). Bring chalk, signs, pots and pans, chants, friends, and, most importantly, yourself. Image Gallery - Occupy These Flyers If You Need Inspiration To Make Signs!
 A Call to ActionLouisiana is facing roughly $859 million in federal Medicaid funding for this year. Occupy NOLA invites you to protest at the home of State Representative and House majority leader Anthony (Tony) Ligi. Ligi supports Jindal's legislation pushed by ALEC includes school vouchers, charter and virtual schools, public retirement reform, Medicaid reform, public employee health benefits reform and sweeping privatization—all part and parcel of Jindal’s legislative agenda. Ligi received $20,700 in contributions from ALEC.Tell Ligi that Louisiana will not stand for this!Meet Friday, July 27 at Occupy The Stage, 2735 c Toulouse and caravan to reign upon 5216 Senac Dr. Metairie! We'll have a route by Friday (trying to decide if we should take the interstate I-10 or Earhart expressway). Key Demands- No Cuts to Medicaid
- No Closure of Public Hospitals or Cuts
- No to School Vouchers and Yes to Public Schools
Please join us. You can RSVP to Occupy NOLA's Facebook event.~ Occupy New Orleans General Assembly
Hi, this is small affair, and this was one of my favorite days with Occupy The Stage. On On March 31, Occupy The Roads was visiting New Orleans, and Occupy The Stage brought an enormous banner to the Police Brutality protest which hundreds of people attended. This march, organized by United New Orleans Front, was in response to the NOPD killings of Wendell Allen and Justin Sipp. That day was the first time my livestream was rebroadcast on Global Revolution TV. A brass band played "I'll fly away" as I caught up with the front of the march and Justin. "Please learn how to hold the camera," someone typed in the chat and I realized I'd been dancing. Nola Anarcha wrote a terrific article about this event here: 400 March Against Police Violence, Racial and Class Oppression During The Final Four Tournament Below is a clip of my interview with Justin where we discuss the March Against Police Violence and Occupy The Stage.
Founding member of OTS's Speech from Protest on Steps of Louisiana State Capital w/ Occupy Baton Rouge March 12.
Someone from Occupy Baton Rouge reached out to Occupy NOLA and said they had retrieved his speech from the steps that day and were kind enough to type it and post it on Facebook. Thank you Occupy Baton Rouge for all the solidarity.
 Speech Justin from Occupy The Stage was making when almost arrested when Occupy NOLA joined Occupy Baton Rouge on the steps of the state capital.
Speech March 12, 2012 Louisiana State Capital
written by Justin Warren of Occupy The Stage
Ladies and Gentlemen, my fellow free peoples of the world. Our governing bodies in their current state have proven themselves ineffective within regards to the interests of the common man. The beautiful ideal that was Democracy has been perverted and totally replaced by the repugnant and relentless pursuit of the almighty dollar, Capitalism. For our entire lives we have been fed lies that lead us to assume such absurdities as the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer and there is simply nothing to be done about it. That those institutions which should be the sole responsibility of our government are better of in the hands of soulless, faceless, and socially irresponsible corporations.
We're told cutting education and expanding our prison systems are the sure fire treatments of our social ills. The heart of Democracy now has more people in prison, per capita than any other nation in the world. And we are told this is the land of the free.
Through the lobbying system, corporations have been able to not just influence, but completely hijack our government. We have been stripped of the liberties, we have been stripped of our property, we have been robbed of our freedom.
Now, a growing number of people around the world are waking up to the realization that we simply have nothing left to lose. All over the world people are standing up and shrugging of the authority of their oppressors.
We are bearing witness the single greatest social correction the world has ever known, and it's about damned time.
All throughout history the ebb and flow of elitist tyranny, and the social correction of massive upheaval has been a constant. This time however we have the ingredients to get it right. At this height of our technological advancement, we must, for the sake of our owner prosperity, get it right.
To all the social parasites and those that hold dear the absurd and repugnant :
There is a really big storm coming, and your god may be the only one to forgive your transgressions.
small affair's transcription is below.
Our governing bodies of the entire state have proven themselves ineffective with regards to the interests of the common man. The beautiful ideal that was democracy has been perverted and totally replaced by the repugnant and relentless pursuit of the almighty dollar. You may know this as capitalism.
Our entire lives, we have been fed lies that led us to assume such absurdities are true: the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer and there is not a goddamn thing we can do about it.
[We are told we our fates will be] min :44 Occupy BR Video http://youtu.be/emE-Si34Sls better off in the hands of soulless faceless socially responsible corporations. We’re told their goal of cutting our education and expanding their business is the solution to our social ills. Our democracy now has more people in prison per capita than any other nation in the world and we are told that this is the land of the free.
Corporations and banking institutions have been able not just to influence but completely hijack our government. We have been stripped of our liberties, of or property; we have been robbed of our freedom.
Now a growing number of people around the world are waking up to the realization that we simply have nothing less to lose.
All over the world the people are standing up and shrugging off the authority of their oppressors. We are bearing witness to the single greatest social correction the world has ever known.
And it’s about damn time.
All throughout history, we have been bound by this elitist tyranny and social correction of massive upheaval has been in practice. And […] capitalism. min 00:34 Louisiana State Capital gets occupied http://youtu.be/vHfYJ9h5Vok
We have the right to make it right.
We must, for the sake of our own [...] unable to transcribe due to police grabbing him.
Min 00:50 - Louisiana State Capital gets occupied http://youtu.be/vHfYJ9h5Vok
At this point, the Louisiana State Police approached him from behind and attempted to grab him, and he dropped the piece of paper and ran. This is the best I can do at this time. I will update this post when I get the copy of the speech from Occupy Baton Rouge.
This man is currently being held in Orleans Parrish Prison waiting for East Baton Rouge to extradite him. Occupy NOLA's legal team has said there is nothing we can do to stop that. "Once he gets there and booked, we can figure out the next steps."
I will be tweeting this speech from the @ots nola Twitter account.
Thank you all for the amazing solidarity you have shown during this difficult time.
small affair
Occupy The Stage Digital Media Team
| These videos were uploaded to YouTube by citizen journalists present on the steps of the Louisiana State Capital on March 12.
"Disturbing The Peace"
 Founding member of Occupy The Stage Occupy New Orleans "disturbing the peace" on March 12 in solidarity w/ Occupy Baton Rouge
"Resisting Arrest"
 Founding member of Occupy The Stage from Occupy NOLA "resisting arrest" for on steps of Louisiana State Capital in solidarity with Occupy Baton Rouge
"Resisting"
These are screenshots taken from the end of the second video.
Anyone with photographs of that day is welcome to contact us.
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For Justin Sipp, Wendell Allen, Trayvon Martin; for all those maimed or murdered by NOPD. Occupy NOLA will participate in The Mothers March Against Injustice! The Mother’s March Against Injustice, sponsored by United New Orleans Front, will begin at 12 noon on Saturday, May 12. Along with many others, members of Community United for Change, The United New Orleans Front and supporters of the families of Justin Sipp, Wendell Allen, and Trayvon Martin, we will meet at Congo Square and march to City Hall for a Mother’s Day Rally.  We are Justin Sipp sign from 3/31 Police Brutality Protest New Orleans, LA.
Why is our system so afraid to use it's own criminal justice system to put the shooters on trial in a public court to determine whether they're guilty of a crime or not?
Bring a picture of your loved one! Join our struggle!
 Families and supporters of Justin Sipp and Wendell Allen killed by NOPD. March 31, 2012 protest against police brutality. The following information was provided by one of the organizers of this march. The United New Orleans Front (UNOF) Mothers' March is being held to pay homage to great sacrifices and strength of African American women as they anchor our families amidst the perpetual attacks against the Black community, especially black males, in this racist, capitalist society. Far too many individual lives have been cut short by early death at the hands of our racist enemies or at the hands of this racist, capitalist systems created self hatred where young Black men wantonly murder each other at the drop of a hat. America has created a school to prison pipeline where this government refuses to provide a proper education for our youth; thus setting them up for failure and the racist, capitalist trap of incarceration, literally re- enslavement in the US prison system. The Mother's Day March is also a Memorial Day March recognizing those who have lost their lives in this hellish existence that is forced upon the Black Nation as a whole but especially the Black working class. We will honor our dead brothers and sisters and those unjustly locked behind prison walls. We will cry out for justice – demanding that the US government acknowledge the historical and continuing injustices perpetrated on the oppressed Black Nation. We will also demand that the state of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans atone for both past and present oppression and exploitation. We the grieving Mothers of New Orleans advance the following demands: • We want justice for all murder victims • We want the prison doors swung open for those unjustly incarcerated. • We want an end to the pipeline to prison • We want quality education for our children • We want quality, supervised recreation for our children • We want safe, decent, affordable housing for our families • We want living wage, unionized jobs for New Orleans workers • We want an end to domestic abuse • We want quality, affordable childcare • We want universal health care and a hospital in NO East • We want a return to local control of our schools • We want an end to police terror • We want an end to US war in Afghanistan and around the world • We want the Right to Self-Determination for the Oppressed Black Nation Come join Occupy NOLA as we support this March and Rally 12 noon Saturday, May 12, 2012! Meet in Congo Square (Armstrong Park) and march to City Hall. Sponsored by the United New Orleans Front.  Justice for Justin Sipp Justice for Wendell Allen
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