General Assembly – 22nd February 2012

General Assembly 22/02/12 Occupy LSX

Facilitation team – Saskia, Sara, Jonni, Phil            Minutes – Jack

Saskia – Welcome to the Occupy London General Assembly. We are still here! We have already made a mark. For tonight’s meeting, first of all, a little moment, then feedback from the court. We will then have a practical discussion about the eviction. This will be in break outs and we will feedback. Then a discussion about t the future of occupy.

[Goes through hand signals.]

Saskia – I would like to read out something somebody wrote this morning. It references a famous blues song. “Occupy London was blessed by an exceptionally warm winter and suffered no rain. But now, the sky is crying. Tears are rolling down the streets.

Sara – Hello, I would like us to stand for a minute. A minute of silence before moving to the substance of the meeting. Hands held high. Take a look around at your brother and sisters. We did this in October/November. It was very powerful.

[Minutes silence followed by raucous cheers.]

Saskia – Thank you brothers and sisters, we are strong together. We have changed the world and we will change the world. Now it is time for us to hear from Tanmny for some feedback from the court.

Tammy [arriving to cheers!] – SO all the appeals were coolly dismissed which stinks. However we’ve got an awful lot more to get done. Looking at this crowd of amazing people, it is quite disappointing… not the crowd… but the courts, who love to use the word proportionality. But in the wider world this test does not seem to be as important as looking badly on a few tents. SO much more to come.

George – DO we have to human mic? … Ok…. sorry to the members of the press that this means this meeting will last twice as long as otherwise would.  The judgement today continued to repeat factual inaccuracies that we have heard from ht beginning. Such as that we are impeding access the cathedral, excluding the public including the space we occupy, despite the fact that this movement is totally inclusive, and that we have welcomed 100% of the people, if they wanted to have constructive conversations. What we’ve seen today is the courts continue to place the rights of property of the 1% above all other rights, while we have to fiddle around with the crumbs left for us. The needs of the 99% are made subservient to the interests of the economy as seen by the 1%. We will move forward form this predictable use of power to find the many silver linings contained within the cloud of this poor decision.

Saskia – We thought it would be useful to talk about eviction. DO you agree [meeting responds warmly] then what we suggest that you break into small groups of no more than 10. Appoint a facilitator and a note keeper to help frame the discussion. Things we should think about. PRACTICAL stuff about what do I do. DO I want to be arrested? Or not? What do I do if there is direct action going on around me? Where should we have our immediate post eviction GA since it is clear that our path to the steps will be blocked? Maybe it would be helpful to identify a buddy or an affinity group. These are all suggestion. You have 20 minutes then we will take feedback. 3 to 4 points of PRACTICAL action from each group. But let’s not all iterate the same e points. Please break into groups now.

NOTES FROM MINUTE TAKER’S GROUP

Practicalities of eviction

-          Good idea to grab items you don’t want to lose. Take a rucksack with you? (Could be confiscated if arrested though. They can do this.)

-          Even if not planning on getting arrested/ arrestable, write GBCs number on your arm in marker pen. If you or see anyone get arrested phone the GBC hotline.

-          Keep a note book and write stuff down you witnessed. The 5 Ws are key if you see anything

-          First aid…. Pre existing medical condition, write that on your arm as well.

-          Create at this meeting about a statement of non violence, an agreement that we won’t be violent. Then we can see violence as NOT PART OF US. Lock-ons etc. Are not non violent – could that be a proposal.  – A temp check would be better.

-          Have a backup plan of what to do if you become trapped outside a kettle. – This happened on 15^th October; people got cross of this and broke the police lines. – On that day communication was key… let’s remember the carrying distance of mic checks.

-          Find a named place away from the site a way to have people not just milling around.

-          City Thameslink

-          Millennium bridge, north side

-          After the eviction, worries that people will be left behind here, can we try to keep an eye out for those left wounded on the battlefield.

-          Buddy system

-          Bring a hot flask if you can.

-          Rubbish – tidy up the place as much as possible. It’ll look bad if we leave detritus…. but we may not have possibility to do this when the bailiffs come in…

-          Updates from legal people to let us know what section powers are in place.

… Of first post eviction GA.

Proposal – that first 7pm post eviction. Where is the question…?  Meet at steps. Go to guildhall.

FEEDBACK

-          We have good quality whistles. If you hear them, stuff is happening.

GROUP 1

-          Police and bailiffs may provoke violence. Can we avoid it turning into one big fight? Peaceful protest songs, link arms, sitting down. If we are not evicted tonight is there a possibility of everyone moving out voluntarily.

-          Assembly after eviction. The bank station in front of the bank of England. SOI or Finsbury sq.

-          If eviction is speedy and unannounced. What do we do about larger items

GROUP 2

-          Some of the tents especially TCU could be moved to church land. We know the church is split. Giles Fraser is here.

-          When we do the first Post eviction GA we could make it a very public event. In Oakland, about 3000 people gathered outside the library and marched back to the square to hold their GA. Be great to do something like that here.

-          Also, a phone tree.

-          Lastly, is anyone here from ring of prayer?

SISTER RUTH

-          Ring of prayer has many volunteers, fat old nuns like me that are hard to lift. Going to sing hymns and say prayers.

GROUP 3

-          First, I’ve been asked to read an email from CoL corp. “The timing of any enforcement of the court orders is a police operational matter. The reason for this is that have been clear attempts by those connected with the camp, to encourage more people to come to the site, to make enforcement more difficult. I confirm my request that the order is complied with. Enforcement will be minimised in this case. Anyone that thinks they are homeless should present themselves at the Guildhall and ask for community services, where their situation will be considered.

-          Grab items to keep safe.

-          Write GBC phone number and pre existing medical conditions that you may suffer on your arm in a marker pen so if you have any attack people will know what to do.

-          Have a backup plan for if you become trapped outside the containment such as on 15^th October.

-          Find named places off site to serve as a safe spot. EG. City Thameslink Station or Millennium Bridge. To provide people with somewhere to go and be with others.

-          Post eviction GA somewhere, the meeting is already happening. Where is up to us…

SASKIA – we know we are having a GA, originally at St Pauls, but since this area may become blocked off we have to find alternatives.

BREAK FROM FEEDBACK….

Tammy – Our response to the email … more polite then deserved.  I want consensus before we send our response.

“The general assembly has decided it would be responsible of the police to give some forewarning to make arrangements for our vulnerable people and in this way, we should hope the CoL will behave in an honourable manner.”

BACK TO FEEDBACK

GROUP 4

-          Essential to have cameras, but also collect evidence at the end for legal defence.

-          The GA should reaffirm its previous commitment to do this in a non violent manner.

-          In line with media attention, that people have banners and a sentence to explain why they’re there.

-          Finally, we ask for as many as possible to stand together and agree on a cause of action.

-          I just got here from Cairo to support you. This is a global movement

GROUP 5

-          I got here from Peckham, GLOBAL MOVEMENT YEAH!

-          TCU should be staffed 24 hours from now on

-          Announce an assembly for everybody that supports this movement, whether or not evicted by then.

-          It is clear that some people want to leave of their own choosing and some want to resist eviction. The important thing for us is to say we are one occupy. The people who leave should leave in one black but say they will come back to protect those that stay. Therefore we stay united,

BREAK IN FEEDBACK

Proposal – To hold the national gathering here in London. After talking to Liverpool, they have agreed to transfer the conference to here. SOI and St Pauls should host the meetings. Can anyone offer couches to those coming!

GROUP 6

-          What to do… suggestions were. Be in TCU and be ready to be carried out.

-          Bear witness with film or notes and be prepared for that role

-          Help tranquillity and look out for those panicking.

-          Positively resist and show it is not our will to leave.

-          If there is DA near you, people said they would stand back if peaceful but not if violent Rejoice that its happening if non violent

-          People noted as legal observers to see what happens

-          On post eviction GA… Suggestions were park round corner form Tesco. Millennium Bridge and the Tate modern.

-          Each mobilise as many as possible with our own networks.

Naffy – for people here on eviction, and you have a Smartphone. Please look at getting App called bambuza. It will provide streaming of video onto the Occupy lsx TV channels. Just let someone on the livestream – occupylondontv.org.uk. Also see the website for how to follow the twitter feed occupylsxsos to get updates. From this feed about up to date eviction info 86444 “follow @occupylsxsos” to get sms updates.

Saskia – on that note, be aware of FALSE updates, this happened at BOI. These are designed to split people.

Would you still like a discussion about what next?  [Warmly received]

Ruth – Can we have some practical solutions about these suggestions?

Saskia- for practical reasons we must assume eviction is from NOW on. SO any preparations should be made from now… no more planning, DO.

Matt – [offers more bust cards relating to case for people to be informed]

? – People should write the number on the cards handed out on their arm as well.

? – Many 1000s signed a pledge to say they would support Occupy in the face of eviction. How do we contact them?

Saskia – remember we STILL DON’T KNOW WHEN EVICTON WILL BE. If people want to support, then they should come NOW.

Ragnild – Had a number of proposals from various groups about what to do. Should we get consensus on these? Can we strategise?

Saskia asks for check on proceeding with this… {Warmly received]. OK then, before that can we please just have a few announcements about where Occupy is headed. Because of a consensus reached our GAs are not going anywhere

ANNOUNCEMENTS

[Reminder of post eviction GA structure.]

Tuesdays

1pm – Finance GA – Finsbury Square

7pm – WG feedback – Finsbury Square

Friday

Roving GA – meeting at St Pauls.

Saturday

2pm – Homecoming G.A. – Steps of St Pauls

Ragnild – just a reminder roaming GA will always be in diff location, if you can’t’ start at st Pauls, we’ll announce on twitter where it will be.

Jamie – Here are some ideas. We are already visiting loads of universities inc. Cambridge last Thursday. We are already visiting schools, first one 10 days again, went down a storm. We are already outreaching to teenagers in many ways including Rockupy, where they voiced concerns through music. WG are very strong, meeting here on a weekly basis. E.g. Corp WG already working nationally and globally with occupy, with indigenous acitivists and minors unions. Occupied Times will aim to continue to print and distribute. Process of idea sharing is growing and growing and growing.

? – We now have 3 authorised demos on pavement of parliament square ongoing to the future. Authorised by the met. Occupy London, Occupy the future, Occupy the commons. They are authorised. If you want to go there, then please do. We need to be there for before the march 30^th, so when SOCPA is repealed.

Saskia – If you want to talk about this with Chris, talk about it with him.

Fanny – if you don’t know already, the next big action days for this movement are going to be in May for the 12^th and 15^th. Planning process for walk the boroughs. Need more people contributing to planning actions. We’ll bring this to GA sometime in the future, once eviction is over and settled. See, we have stuff coming up.

Liz – [feedback about walk the boroughs] – will hold GA in each borough of London, one every 3 days. We are building a website, to update people. Very exciting. An invitation to the people of London. Meeting on Saturday 5pm here at St Pauls OR where GA is held

John – I PROPOSE WE HAVE A GA AT 1pm to take forward the comments and point that was raised in the eviction discussion, for decision.

Clarification – As this is imminent, can we not decide now?

Saskia – I get the feeling that people want to NOW agree on location of the first post eviction GA.

PROPOSAL LISTS WORKED BY GROUP

-          Finsbury Square

-          Tate Modern outside if shut inside if open

-          Speaker’s Corner

-          Trafalgar square

-          Postman Park

-          Millennium bridge

-          Bank station

-          School of Ideas

-          Area in front of Westminster cathedral

-          Parliament Square

-          Guildhall

Whittled down to 3….

Tate modern –

In Front of Westminster Cathedral.

Parliament Square – won clearly.

Jim – to add to this. After the case I headed to parliament square to talk to Maria. We could not access the square because of fences.  [Phoenix massively disputed this claim as he had also JUST come back from there.]

Saskia – because of this… let’s just review…

[Lots of confusion, we honestly haven’t missed on anything by not writing about it. There were calls for lots of back up plans for the locations and indecisiveness. It was suggested process made the call closer to the time. Process broke a bit... we lost the discussion to lots of people wanting to make their points. Saskia apologises for losing control a little and asks to try and get it a bit on track.]

Arthur – considering the queen will be visiting, should we not all turn up on that day?!

Saskia – are people happy to finalise the final location as a BACKUP to the lack of a st Pauls.

[Attempt for consensus again]

CONSENSUS REACHED – If St Pauls is not available we will head to Parliament Square if that won’t work we’ll head to Westminster Cathedral if we have to.

SHOUT OUTS

Tanya – Questions about the ring of prayer. This is to be a separate effort. Look at ecclesia website for more details.

Ruth – How and when is notification is to be done.

Tanya – Phone tree.

Saskia – suggestion that those wanting responsibility of starting the tree… talk to Tanya.

Max – many people have non violent resistance cards. If anyone wants one, I’ve got loads.

Phoenix – Learning from experience of many evictions. There is something called a phone tree and we also have a text tree. If you want to be on the texter network, see info from earlier in the meeting.

[my laptop packed up here, but nothing further of major importance missed as the assembly was wrapping up for the night anyway]

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