#OccupyWallSt? YES/NO

Something big happened on Wall Street. It’s a new kind of occupation in the financial world. Like you, members of False Profit, LLC have been watching it blow up our feeds this past month. Like you, we’ve been trying to make sense of what’s going on.

On the one hand, we recognize a kindred spirit when we see one. #OccupyWallStreet is spreading a message that is at the core of our own nebulous shared beliefs. We could sum it up like this: #OccupyWallStreet is a movement that understands that people are persons, too.  Their Declaration reads like a well-written version of the manifesto we wrote a decade ago:

As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality: that the future of the human race requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power. We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.

The manifestation of these beliefs is the continued public demonstration at Liberty Square and more and more national and internationally linked actions.

On the other hand, the importance of #OccupyWallSt is as uncertain as it is promising. Some of us have extensive experience in progressive movements, and not all of us see an endgame that goes our way.

As with the #OccupyWallSt phenomenon itself, False Profit, LLC does not have single response. What we can tell you is how our individual members are involved:

1. Putting our no-joke actual physical bodies out on the street with the rest:
   http://occupywallst.org
   http://www.occupysf.com
   http://occupyboston.com/
   http://www.occupytogether.org/
2. Starting occupations in our towns and cities across the country:
   http://occupytogether.wikispot.org/
3. Ditching our banks for credit unions (seriously why did we wait this long?):
   http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/l2p3i/bank_transfer_day_get_your_out_of_the_hands_of/
   http://www.facebook.com/Nov.Fifth
4. Donating suits for marches, a.k.a. “tactical camouflage”:
   http://www.suitsforwallstreet.org/mailing-address (for #OccupyWallStreet)
   For #OccupySF email dre{at}false-profit{.}com
5. Joining a working group like internet, media, outreach or leading a teach-in:
   http://nycga.cc/groups/
   http://www.occupysf.com/forum/index/5-committees
6. Being legal observers:
   Contact the NLG (http://www.nlg.org/) at  (212) 679-5100
7. Donating money:
   http://nycga.cc/donate/
   http://wiki.occupysf.com/index.php/Donate
8. Donating stuff:
   http://nycga.cc/category/requests/
   http://wiki.occupysf.com/index.php/Donate

However the winds blow for this American Autumn, we hope what’s going on is getting you thinking and involved in some way.

One more thing:  Before you find yourself on the Brooklyn/Golden Gate Bridge, dressed as a torn dollar bill and holding a sign that says “No money, Mo’ Problems”, get informed about your rights:

• #OccupyWallSt Legal Fact Sheet:
  http://nycga.cc/resources/legal-fact-sheet/
• The National Lawyers Guild (NLG)’s You have the right to remain silent:
  http://www.nlg.org/publications/you-have-the-right-to-remain-silent/
  NLG hotline numbers: http://www.nlg.org/occupy/
  If you are arrested, NLG’s What to expect at your first court appearance
• The EFF’s Know your rights!
  If officers try to search the data stored on your computer or portable electronic device, or seize it for further examination somewhere else: https://www.eff.org/wp/know-your-rights
• EFF’s Police tips:
  https://www.eff.org/files/EFF_Police_Tips_2011.pdf