 On June 8, Occupy The Stage and other activists and New Orleanians marched in Solidarity with Occupy Gezi in Jackson Square and the French Quarter. It was great to march with Turkish families and friends who came out to support protesters in Istanbul. Many local supporters of Occupy Gezi and members of the Turkish community arrived with flags and signs, and we had some markers and poster board, some flags, and made a few more signs. They also brought copies of a printed flyer with information about Occupy Gezi and what is happening in Turkey. They asked one of us to read their statement in the megaphone, which we were happy to do. We marched around Jackson Square and then down Royal Street, waving flags and handing out flyers about the demands Occupy Gezi and what is happening in Istanbul
NOLA Solidarity
Here is a video of Occupy NOLA and supporters of Occupy Gezi marching for Gezi in Jackson Square and then French Quarter!
Finally, this video of NOLA singing in Turkish to Occupy Gezi ends with a wonderful message to the people in Turkey. "I wish I could be with them."
Speech made in Solidarity with Occupy Gezi
Occupy NOLA member's speech I am here today to show support for the Turkish resistance. I am here with Occupy New Orleans in solidarity with Occupy Gezi. I am here in solidarity with the people in Istanbul and Ankara. I am here because there is blood in the streets of Istanbul. I am here in solidarity with every human being who has stood up against government oppression, government corruption, and police brutality. If you have family or friends in Turkey, you might be worried about them. You be angry about what is happening to the protesters in Turkey. I am angry about what is happening to the protesters Turkey. I have been following the news coming out of Taksir Square on what Erdoğan calls the worst menace to society - Twitter. I have seen the tear gas and the bullets and the water hoses in photographs. I watched a young man filming the protest with his phone and talked to him on Twitter. He sent me a picture of the mayor smiling. He asked me to tell everyone that the government of Turkey should resign. What is happening in Turkey is an injustice. The government should allow people to kiss on subways and in public. In April, Ankara subway officials made an announcement asking passengers “to act in accordance with moral rules” after security cameras spotted the couple kissing. That was only the beginning. People say the current revolution in Turkey started with a peaceful protest of the government’s plan to demolish the GEZI PARKI in Taksim on Tuesday, the 28th MAY 2013. This park is one of the very few parks left in the city. The government decided to build a shopping mall in this location. The people of Turkey did not want this and stood up to their government. Turkish people protesting peacefully in the park were attacked by police who used tear gas and water hoses. I have seen photographs of gas canisters and bullets used by Turkish police. This is unacceptable. The people of Turkey are trying very hard to get their message across. The Prime Minister controls all the media. None of the national TV channels broadcasted the country wide protests. This is unacceptable. I understand that the demands of Occupy Gezi and the Taksim Solidarity Platform include the following: One. Gezi Parkı must remain a park Two. The governors, the police chiefs, and the officials who gave orders for a violent crackdown on the protests must resign Three. The use of teargas and similar chemical weapons by the police must be outlawed Four. Detained protesters must be released immediately Five. Laws prohibiting demonstrations in public places must be abolished We sincerely hope that these and other demands are met and are here in solidarity with you. Occupy New Orleans has made similar demands to our government. Corrupt government officials and police should resign. When the government and the police will not listen to us, we only have each other. That is what Occupy taught me. Occupy taught me that where there is anger, there is often love. When the government burns down tents and takes hundreds or thousands of people into custody, there is a reason to be angry. Occupy has taught me that people are still willing to care about one another. I have anger in my heart about the way the Turkish Government and many other governments including the United States government have treated people. With that anger there is also love for the people, all people, who are willing to resist. Occupy taught me that we are human beings who can stand together with a bond that is stronger than police in riot gear. Stronger than any government. If there is nothing I can do alone except tell you that I am here in solidarity with all people fighting government oppression, then I that is what I will do. But I hope to do more. I hope to march. For Turkey. For Istanbul. For the Anonymous Solidarity Network. For Occupiers Everywhere. For everyone who has refused to sit down and allow the government to smash their human rights. Today we march in solidarity with Turkey and with all people who believe a better world is possible. Everywhere Taksim. Everywhere Resistance. What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now. No Jusice. No Peace. Everywhere Taksim. Everywhere Resistance.
Regarding the event scheduled for Saturday, June 8 in solidarity with Occupy Gezi, Occupy The Stage looks forward to showing solidarity and attending a march and rally that reflects the solidarity statement. However, it should not go unnoticed that Occupy The Stage is extremely disappointed with the June 7th posts made on the original Facebook page for Occupy New Orleans. We do not support "taking Jackson Square" and would like it to be clear that the people posting instructions to do so on that poorly managed Facebook page have never met us in real life, have never come to a general assembly, and have never attended an action with us. The page has called for a reoccupation and a taking of Jackson Square rashly and with no planning or consensus. Someone who manages a Facebook page - a page that we consider "hijacked" - has given admin privileges to people we do not even know, and they are sending messages recklessly. We are not interested in lending our credibility to calls for action that are nothing short of attacks on the local artists. We do not trust people who threaten the local community by announcing that they will "take Jackson Square" or "reoccupy" it. We will be happy to march and rally with anyone who wants to show solidarity with Turkey, but we absolutely refuse to disrupt the artists, buskers, musicians, tarot card readers, or other members of the 99% whose livelihoods depend on Jackson Square. We worked hard with MACCNO to make sure Jackson Square stayed open 24/7. Showing solidarity with Turkey does not require disrupting the local community, especially our friends the musicians and artists. We look forward to participating by contributing to a creative demonstration and solidarity march, and we are extremely supportive of Occupy Gezi. However, we are locals, and we have been here a long time, and we choose locations for our actions more wisely. The last time we held a march in Jackson Square, it was to celebrate our role in the ACLU lawsuit that won the First Amendment for the entire city during the Super Bowl. At that time, we showed support for the local artists, tarot card readers, musicians, and buskers, much like we did with our Second Line Protest in support of live music on April 25 of 2013. We consider those who work in Jackson Square our friends, our allies, and indeed, we know many of you. Expect Us, but on the good friendly terms you've met us on in the past. Jackson Square is the people's square, and we will NOT take it from the people. ~ Occupy The Stage
Military use of drones was the focus of Pax Christi NOLA's Station 6 performance at the Way of Justice march that took place Good Friday this year. Traditionally, many Pax Christi USA local groups plan and stage a “Way of the Cross” event on Good Friday, connecting the sufferings of Christ during his passion with the suffering of our brothers and sisters at the hands of violence, greed, poverty, sickness and war. This procession started at 9 a.m at St Joseph's Church on Tulane Avenue near Claiborne. People marched, carrying banners, and stopped at symbolic locations. At each "station", different groups climbed aboard the flat bed truck to perform and raise awareness about a social justice issue related to the location. Creative demonstrations included:
Station 1: The Domination System, at start location Station 2: Health Care, which stopped at the destroyed Charity Hospital
Station 3: Education which stopped at the main branch of the Public Library Station 4: Crime and Punishment, which stopped near Duncan Plaza Station 5: Housing and Welfare, which stopped at City Hall Station 6: War, which stopped at Federal Court small affair playing Plutocrat selling drones in Station 6 performance Station 7: Environmental Pollution, which stopped at One Shell Square Station 8: Hunger, with a stop at the Hale Boggs Federal Building Station 9: Homelessness, with a stop in hotel district Station 10: Consumerism, stopped at Harrah's Casino Station 11: In adequate work, stopped near casino and hotel industry with performance by Stand with Dignity Station 12: Racism, behind Aquarium near white pride statue Station 13: Sexism, at amphitheater at river. Station 14: Hope and Transformation, also at Mississippi River Photo album: Here are the lyrics to "Get A Drone" (Sung to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)
(Uncle Sam waving a drone or two around)
If those coffins make you queasy, GET A DRONE!!
And your infantry is wheezy, GET A DRONE!!
If everybody is uneasy
From Hawaii to Tbilisi,
Never, never, appear sleazy. GET A DRONE!!
(Plutocrat selling some drones )
If they’re occupying Wall Street, GET A DRONE!!
And you’re starting to get cold feet, GET A DRONE!!
You will always look upbeat
While opponents moan and bleat,
If you give yourself a treat, so GET A DRONE!!
(Ten star general waving his drones around and hitting folks with them)
When you haven’t got a friend, just GET A DRONE!!
And your wars are a dead-end, just GET A DRONE!!
You can always still pretend
That it’s freedom you defend,
While you spend, and spend, and spend, so GET A DRONE!!
(Uncle Sam swooping with his drones)
If you’re fearing immigration, GET A DRONE!!
And you trust no other nation, GET A DRONE!!
Put an end to your frustration,
Try mayhem-by-automation,
For it beats negotiation, GET A DRONE!!
(The Voice of Reason – encouraging the audience to join in)
If you want to stop this madness, GET INVOLVED!!
Put an end to all this sadness, GET INVOLVED!!
Take a stand, right now, right here,
Let your voice ring loud and clear,
Work for Peace and Truth so dear, please, GET INVOLVED!!
This was a great way to observe Good Friday.
~ smallz
Occupy The Stage spent the last Saturday of Justice Fest sending postcards to political prisoners. We'd been encouraging people to b ring an original handmade postcard or come and make a postcard at Justice Fest, and a friend was kind enough to donate vintage Jazz Fest postcards to our cause. We had addresses and info on political prisoners so people could learn about their different circumstances, and we're grateful to Op Pen Pal and Mail to the Jail for providing so much information and addresses.
We showed videos and slideshows throughout Justice Fest in solidarity.
Nato5 Solidarity
#FreeAnons #FreeHammond #RIPAaronSwartz
The March Against Monsanto will start in Duncan Plaza across from City Hall in New Orleans on May 25. Organizers are asking that those attending meet at 12:30 pm to march at 1.
Join us Friday, May 3 for a stencil party at Justice Fest! Bring a stencil, make a stencil, or use one of our stencils! 2943 Maurepas Street - All day!
You're invited! Calling all musicians, buskers, artists, circus clowns, flag corps, mimes, puppeteers, regular folks, irregular folks, cats, dogs, baboons, dancers, lovers of music, Every-Damned-Body! Sunday, May 5th at 6pm, we will show our support for all the good folks that make New Orleans great! The Free The Music parade will bring free music to the streets of the Jazz Fest neighborhood to raise awareness about the city's ridiculous crackdown on live music venues and musicians. You don't need to buy a ticket. You don't need a corporate sponsor. Just come out Sunday, May 5, 6pm and be ready to play music and dance in the streets. Costumes encouraged. The Bywater Rising Protest/ Second Line in support of live music venues, musicians, buskers, artists, DJs was great. We decided we wouldn't stop there. RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/232432533555103/ NOTE: This has nothing to do with Jon Bon Jovi. The second week of Justice Fest will last from Thursday, May 2 - Sunday, May 5.
2013 Celebrate justice and music at the location formerly known as the Sacred Shrine of Jon Bon Jovi.
Justice is not dead. Lady Justice has merely been taken hostage. And when there is no justice, there will be no peace.
We do not support the fact that Shell Oil is a corporate sponsor of Jazz Fest. We love NOLA music and culture but not Shell Oil.
We do not support Mayor Landrieu’s crackdown on live music venues, musicians, buskers, artists, and performers. We will resist the ridiculous citations residents living near Jazz Fest have received for having Yard Sales or "transient vending."
We do not forget Guadalupe.
And we hate Clean Zones!
We welcome you to bring info related to Social Justice Issues to this location during Jazz Fest.
In addition to Free Aqua Net Hairspray, the shrine will offer information about different Social Justice issues in New Orleans.
Please feel free to stop by during festival hours and be ready for some creative demonstrations.
EVENTS!
Justice Fest Events - You can RSVP on the individual Facebook event pages if you like! We might add more events or have spontaneous events. Some activities are ongoing, so stop by any time during Jazz Fest. ___________________________________________________________________ Friday May 3 DIY Stencil Party 2:00pm until 8:00pm https://www.facebook.com/events/374830725968708/ Let's stencil! We have some great stencils and spray paint and will stencil anything you bring! Or, bring your own stencils and we can swap designs. Want to learn how to make stencils? Have stencil skills to share? The more the merrier! We have spray paint! If you can, bring your own exacto blade! ___________________________________________________________________ Saturday May 4 9:00 to 11 pm Let’s send 100 postcards to political prisoners - Mail to the Jail https://www.facebook.com/events/158326777669320/ Let's get 100 postcards to send to political prisoners. Bring an original handmade postcard (handmade is ideal, but if you want to bring one you didn't make, that's okay), or come and make a postcard at Justice Fest. We'd love to get a photo gallery of all the postcards and then mail them to political prisoners. We'll have addresses and info on political prisoners so you can learn about their different circumstances, but check out Op Pen Pal http://oppenpal.wordpress.com/mailing-list/ and Mail to the Jail if you have a specific political prisoner you know you'd like to write to. http://mailtothejail.org/ We'll also have fun prizes for original hand made postcards! You can just drop off your postcard on the way to Jazz Fest, or spend some time making postcards and learning about different political prisoners! We'll be showing short films about various prisoners on the porch! ____________________________________________________________________________ May 4 - May 5 Chalk Party https://www.facebook.com/events/543195785731834/ Let's make the sidewalks and streets around the Jazz Fest area beautiful before Sunday's Free The Music Parade! Feel free to stop by Justice Fest for chalk ideas and some chalk, or just get out there and CHALK THE WORLD! __________________________________________________________________________ May 5 Sunday - Face Painting Party 2pm - 5:30pm https://www.facebook.com/events/118444485020416/ Come get your face painted in time to march in the Free The Music Parade! HERE: https://www.facebook.com/events/232432533555103/ We have face paint, and if you have your own face painting kit and skills, feel free to come by, set up, and accept donations. _________________________________________________________________________ Free The Music Parade 6- 8pm May 5 https://www.facebook.com/events/232432533555103/ Calling all musicians, buskers, artists, circus clowns, flag corps, dancers, lovers of music! Free The Music parade will bring free music to the streets of the Jazz Fest neighborhood. You don't need to buy a ticket. You don't need a corporate sponsor. Just come out Sunday, May 5, 6pm and be ready to play music and dance in the streets. Costumes encouraged. The Bywater Rising Protest/ Second Line in support of live music venues, musicians, buskers, artists, DJs was great. We decided we wouldn't stop there. DISCLAIMER NOTE: These events are not sponsored by Shell Oil or Jon Bon Jovi, Bon Jovi, or in any way connected to them except some of them will be taking place at a location that holds the remnants of a Shrine devoted to Jon Bon Jovi that small affair made years ago.
 On April 25, small_affair and ots_nola will be livestreaming/ livetweeting the Protest/ Second Line and using the hashtags #BywaterRising and #NOLANoise! We made the news! Second Line Protest on The Gambit blogSecond Line Protest on Offbeat websiteCalling all DJs, street musicians, live musicians, music venues, buskers and NOLA citizens who love live music! ENOUGH is ENOUGH! Second Line in Support of Stopping the crackdown on music venues and musicians, DJs and buskers. Show support for keeping The Music at Mimi's and other music venues! Show support for street musicians, DJs, and bands! At 6:00pm Thursday, April 25th we will Second Line in the streets in support of New Orleans music and culture. Meet near Mickey Markey Park (700 Piety) @ Royal for a Second Line! Bring your signs, banners, props, puppets, instruments, noise makers, band members, friends, and lovers!
RSVP on Facebook! (not required) Solidarity #NOLANoise
Today we are protesting because violating our privacy is not an option.
The House of Representatives passed CISPA! Now we're taking the fight to the Senate.
CISPA passed the House, but this isn't over yet. It's time for a massive protest for online privacy.
 Gulf Restoration Network: United for a healthy Gulf of Mexico is holding a BP Disaster 3 year Memorial Demonstration on April 20 at 1pm. Come on out to the Amphitheater at Washington Artillery Park across from Jackson Square! On April 20, 2010, 11 people lost their lives and the biggest environmental disaster in our nation's history began. Three years later, BP's oil is still here, and it continues to impact the people, places, and wildlife of the Gulf. Please join us on April 20, 2013, to mark 3 years of BP's ongoing disaster, memorialize all that has been lost, and join the call for justice for the Gulf. The event will include simple visual demonstrations, using our people power, of the ongoing disaster and its impacts on the Gulf, which will be made into a short video and distributed on the internet to raise awareness about the urgent need for restoration and to hold BP accountable for the damages incurred. Please wear black. The first 100 people to arrive will receive a free t-shirt designed for the event, which you can wear during the filming. What: 3 year memorial of the BP disaster, visual demonstration When: Saturday, April 20th at 1pm Where: Amphitheater at Washington Artillery Park (across from Jackson Square in the French Quarter) ***Please wear black*** Contact Amanda at 504-273-4838 or Moorea@nwf.org with any questions. It will likely be hot! Bring a water bottle, we'll have cool water available for refills Supported by National Audubon Society, Environmental Defense Fund, Gulf Restoration Network, NRDC, National Wildlife Federation, Public Citizen, Sierra Club, Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper, LEAN, Build a Better Planet, Epoca Verde, Green Living, Thomas Strategies & Waltzer Wiygul & Garside Law Firm
Legalize Louisiana Picnic and Rally 4pm till dusk!
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