To mark the both the one-year anniversary of the start of the Occupy Wall Street movement and the continued economic morass here in Rhode Island, Occupy Providence is holding a “round the clock occupation at the State House” starting today.
The Providence Journal covers the action, the one year anniversary and the evolution of Occupy Providence today on its front page.
Here are the details from the activist’s email listserv:
Occupy Providence is holding a round-the-clock occupation at the State House, on the 1-year anniversary of the start of the Occupy movement.
From Sunday September 16th to Monday the 17th, Occupy Providence will protest the damage to Rhode Island’s economy caused by state leaders. Property taxes on the 99% have been rising, while the 1%’s income taxes are much lower than in the past. State officials hike college tuition, making it harder for Rhode Islanders to get educated and achieve high-quality employment.
Rhode Island has had a persistently high unemployment rate for years, but the state government has cut back on the Department of Labor and Training, making it harder for unemployed people to find jobs. And as government cuts services for the 99%, state leaders continue to waste taxpayer money to benefit well-connected people like Curt Schilling. State politicians are still promising to use taxpayer money in the future to cover any leftover unpaid debt from Schilling’s 38 Studios, even though the taxpayer is not legally obligated to cover this unpaid debt to Wall Street.
Occupy Providence’s occupation this weekend is an effort to strike back against state leaders’ policies, which have damaged the state economy and will do more damage to Rhode Island unless the 99% win a larger role.
This election season was chosen by Occupy Providence as the time for the Statehouse occupation, because no matter who wins the fall elections, our politicians will still damage Rhode Island by favoring the 1%. The
Occupy movement, now celebrating its first anniversary this weekend during the Statehouse protest, is one of many efforts by the 99% to win back a share in decision-making and restore the people’s voice.Occupy Providence will also be supporting the teachers of Chicago in their efforts to fight cuts to education and resist undemocratic corporate-run charter schools.
The location of the occupation will be on the Smith St. sidewalk in front of the State House.
Schedule:
Sunday September 16th
12pm – Rally in Burnside Park
1pm – Move in march to the State House
2pm – Picket outside the State House. People’s soap box
4pm – Teach-in time
6pm – General Assembly
8pm – Working GroupsMonday September 17th
10am – Wake up
12pm – Working Groups
4pm – Teach-in
6pm – March in solidarity with OWS and the CTU strike.
8pm – People’s soap box, wrap up discussion
10pm – Clean up and leaveOccupy Providence’s main Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/OccupyProvidence The event page for the Statehouse occupation:
http://www.facebook.com/events/224331451029829/