Misguided Politics Shift Focus From Corrupt Political Systems to Peaceful Protesters

Minnesota Solidarity

Minneapolis, MN. –  After over a month of occupying The People’s Plaza, Minnesotans from all walks of life are now faced with new restrictions that effectively restrict our right to assemble peacefully. The Hennepin County Board of Administrators recently passed Resolution #11-0490, a resolution that was specifically formed as an attempt to control the Minneapolis occupation. Despite public opinion, together, our hearts and minds are pledged to the principles behind the Bill of Rights, which we had the opportunity to cite for the County Board of Administrators prior to this motion passing. As written, our First Amendment clearly reads:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” [Emphasis added.]

While the honorable intentions of Hennepin County are appreciated in regards to our personal safety, we are united in this movement and are preparing one another for the upcoming seasonal changes. As the frigid Minnesota winter heads toward occupations statewide, occupiers that dedicate themselves to this movement are taking preparations to stay warm and safe. For instance, a Teach-In about Winter Survival Skills has been scheduled today, Thursday, November 10^th at 5pm on The Plaza, as other occupiers keep warm whilst occupying a home that is currently in foreclosure. Together, we represent all Minnesotans and are fighting to create a new form of democracy that truly represents the people.

We are from all walks of life, and while ‘special accommodations’ have been made for those of us who sleep on The People’s Plaza, it has been made clear to us that our homeless face more restrictions than those that have been imposed upon us for our ‘safety.’ This is simply one reason why we stand where we do.  In a society where homelessness continues to be an issue affecting so many Americans, the right to occupy within the confines of our society itself is not. We would like to point out that when individuals face discrimination due to their specific circumstances, it is our civic duty to ensure that they, too, are provided with the support they need to continue existing.

While many involved in the Occupy Movement are lucky enough to have a warm place to sleep throughout the upcoming winter months, many others wish to symbolically test their endurance in a concerted effort to peaceably fight systemic oppression, or otherwise have no other options when it comes to being a part of our community; but regardless of our individual situations, we believe that it is misguided to focus the attention of local politics upon the Occupy Movement in an attempt to restrict the rights of a group that has been otherwise tolerated by the seemingly split Board of Commissioners.

A focus such as this is no surprise to us as we look at the system that we wish to reform. As Minnesotan politicians focus their efforts toward debating about whether or not a new stadium should be the main focus of our state government, we continue to stand as the group that advocates for the people, and urge our elected leaders to join us in that goal.

We currently stand as the 99%. When it comes to the focus of where our minds should be, we reiterate that there are larger issues that we need to deal with as a society. Whether our focus remains upon the pensions of those that risk their own safety for us, or upon those that are currently unemployed, it is important to remember that we are all our own leaders and have the ability to help create the change we feel we need both within the current structures that exist and beyond. We have come together to create a voice for the people, and it is our intention to not only maintain The People’s Plaza as a space to help create such a discussion, but also to participate with those that stand in solidarity with the global movement.

Read more at Occupy Minnesota