- Occupy Atlanta
-
Occupy Atlanta Part of the "Occupy" protests 
People gathered in Atlanta's Woodruff Park to Occupy Atlanta on October 6, 2011 Date October 6, 2011 – ongoing
(46 days)Location Atlanta, Georgia Status Evicted Causes Economic inequality, income inequality, corporate influence over government, unemployment, homelessness, foreclosures[1] Characteristics Demonstration, occupation, protest, street protesters Number Protesters: ranging from 100 to 1000 Arrests, etc. Arrests:
Injuries:52
0Occupy Atlanta is a protest and demonstration that began on October 6, 2011 in Woodruff Park, located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. It is inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement that began in New York City on September 17.[2][3]
Contents
No consensus for a speech by Congressman John Lewis
Tents used in the "occupy" protest
On Friday, October 6, 2011, the protestors at Occupy Atlanta did not reach a consensus on allotting time for U.S. Rep. and Civil Rights icon John Lewis to address the crowd. The main argument against allowing Rep. Lewis to speak was that no one person is inherently more valuable than anyone else, and that allowing a speech at that time was not part of that day's agenda. Lewis did not ask to speak, but was likely volunteered by members of the crowd. He was invited to speak at time later in the day, during the "other business" part of the process, and this proposition was accepted by the assembly. Lewis was unable to attend because of prior committments, but indicated that he was not offended by the incident.[4] On October 9, the group posted an apology on its website and invited Lewis to speak. Lewis was not disappointed he wasn't able to address the crowd.[5]
After the incident, Lewis further voiced his support for the movement:
“ I stand with you. I support you, what you're doing to humanize American corporations, humanize the American government and look out for those who have been left out and left behind.[6] ” Occupy Atlanta and foreclosure
On November 7, 2011, Occupy Atlanta protesters camped out in a home in Snellville. It belonged to a police officer, who had contacted Occupy explaining that the house had been foreclosed upon and that he and his family were shortly to be evicted. The protesters left on the 10th after the local sheriff said that the family could be arrested for accessory to trespassing. Occupy Atlanta has stated that they hope this action, and similar ones planned in the future, will bring attention to the foreclosure crisis.[7][8] A week later, Occupy Cleveland took similar action and succeeded in preventing the eviction of a family from a foreclosed home; the family were given 30 more days.[9]
Incidents
52 Arrests on October 26, 2011
Around 1 AM on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, police blocked off motor vehicle access to Woodruff Park. Mayor Kasim Reed had revoked the executive order he established that allowed the protesters to lawfully stay in the park.[10] Protesters numbering around 120-150 were warned to leave the park or they would be arrested.[citation needed] Reed characterized the situation as a crisis and over 150 officers[11] with 3 helicopters using spotlights[12][13] the SWAT team, and police on horseback and motorcycles were used. At one point during the arrests, protesters not in the park took over the streets. This is when police brought in their motorcycle police to try to break up the crowd that was forming on the streets. Instead of separating, the crowd of protesters marched towards the oncoming police motorcycles and forced them to turn around and head the other way.[12] Fifty two protesters in the park were arrested. Among the arrested was Georgia state Senator Vincent Fort, who said of Reed, "He's using all these resources....This is the most peaceful place in Georgia."[12]
Other incidents
During the day of Tuesday October 25, "An Associated Press reporter talked to [a] man with the gun slung across his back ... as he walked in the park. He wouldn't give his name, but said he was an out-of-work accountant who doesn't agree with the protesters' views, but was there, armed, because he wanted to protect the rights of people to protest. There's no law that prevents him from carrying the weapon in public, but several police followed him for about 10 minutes before moving off."[12]
See also
Occupy articles
- List of global Occupy protest locations
- Occupy movement
- Timeline of Occupy Wall Street
- We are the 99%
Other Protests
- 15 October 2011 global protests
- 2011 United States public employee protests
- 2011 Wisconsin protests
Related articles
References
- ^ Jeremiah McWilliams (October 27, 2011). "Occupy Atlanta says it will regroup; may return to Woodruff Park". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/occupy-atlanta-says-it-1211361.html. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
- ^ Rankin, Bill (2011-10-08). "Occupy Atlanta settles into Woodruff Park". ajc.com. http://www.ajc.com/news/occupy-atlanta-settles-into-1197017.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
- ^ "Occupy Atlanta is Occupy Wall Street in the ATL | City Brights: Zennie Abraham | an SFGate.com blog". Blog.sfgate.com. 2011-07-15. http://blog.sfgate.com/abraham/2011/10/08/occupy-atlanta-is-occupy-wall-st-in-the-atl/?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
- ^ "The man who blocked John Lewis speaks". salon.com. 2011-10-13. http://www.salon.com/2011/10/13/the_man_who_blocked_john_lewis_speaks/. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
- ^ Milligan, Mandi (10 October 2011). "Occupy Wall Street protests come to Atlanta". WGCL. http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/15630309/occupy-wall-street-protests-come-to-atlanta. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ Katrandjian, Olivia (2011-10-08). "Occupy Wall Street Protests Spread Across the Country With No Clear Unified Message - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. http://abcnews.go.com/US/occupy-wall-street-protests-spread-country-clear-unified/story?id=14696466. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
- ^ Anderson, Joel (November 7, 2011). "Occupy Atlanta comes to Snellville to stop foreclosure". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/news/occupy-atlanta-comes-to-1219759.html.
- ^ Anderson, Joel (November 10, 2011). "Occupy Atlanta leaves Gwinnett home after family evicted". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/occupy-atlanta-leaves-gwinnett-1222250.html.
- ^ "Ohio Woman Credits Occupy Cleveland For Saving Her Home". CBS Cleveland. November 14, 2011. http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2011/11/14/ohio-woman-credits-occupy-cleveland-for-saving-her-home/.
- ^ Washington Post (26 October 2011). "Occupy Atlanta, Baltimore clash with police over use of public space". http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/occupy-atlanta-baltimore-clash-with-police-over-use-of-public-space/2011/10/26/gIQADMSiIM_blog.html. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ Gwynedd Stuart (October 27, 2011). "Thoughts in the aftermath of the Occupy Atlanta bust" Creative Loafing. Accessed October 27, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Asssociated Press (26 October 2011). "Riot squads clear Wall St. protesters in Atlanta and Oakland; dozens arrested, camps removed". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/atlanta-police-surrounding-wall-street-protesters-order-people-to-leave-park-encampment/2011/10/26/gIQAG9kcHM_story.html?wprss=rss_national. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Occupy Wall Street: Clashes in Oakland and Atlanta" October 2011. BBC.
External links
- Official site
- "Occupy" photographs from around the nation – from the Denver Post
Categories:- Culture jamming
- Occupy movement in the United States
- Organizations based in Atlanta, Georgia
- 2011 in Georgia (U.S. state)
- History of Atlanta, Georgia
- Culture of Atlanta, Georgia
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