Occupy Underground

Were in them, or organizations involved in civil rights, the environment, the ASF, our various locally created groups or alliances, or however we met. We did have the advantage of the college campuses to network, or union halls, or the various anti-war churches.

Many anti-war Democrats helped. And the VVAW were our big brothers, teaching us and giving us their strength and discipline. I remember being put up in D. C. at a beautiful cathedral the night before the march on the Pentagon. The SWP was also an aid for those who were in the YSA and we knew what to expect, we only got teargassed, though. The biggest difference I see in these actions is the sheer numbers. We were able to mobilize tens of thousands. Whether we went to LA or DC or places in between, we're talking crowds of a smiliar to those at MLK's 'Dream' speech in D.C. I have not seen such crowds since although what is going in NYC today is big.

Part of our strategy to organize was that we met several times in parks or homes before the actions, practicing our response to police violence, etc. The UC students who were peppersprayed were using our techniques. We socialized with each other most of the time that we were not marching. We often had professors, union officials, SWP, and older citizens, parents of some of us who helped us arrange longer transportation to go across the country or gave us places to practice what we were going to do and create temporary community on their land if we were in a rural area.

We discussed such things as agent provocateurs, the methods the police would use, who to contact for aid if injured, and talked with liberal lawyers to arrange our support if arrested. We sang our songs and got ourselves ready, in spiritual ways, each to his own, and practiced exercises about trust, handing each other over our heads, stuff like that to get emotionally ready.

I think it was easier because at that time we actually did have a 'liberal' media that gave us some common terms to use with each other. Anyone who talked the big talk about 'kicking ass and killing the pigs' were not allowed to go with us, we ferreted them out as agent provocateurs. There were no people running around with their faces hidden, so we knew who was to our side and our backs.

Occupy is dealing with a much different dynamic. It is taking in all the strangers from the street, because of social disintegration due to technological isolation and lack of a commons. We had a lot of commmons then, campuses, parks, other things that were low-cost and affordable to mobilize.

I hope none of that if offensive or depressing or however one might take it and I hope you and your love will be safe. The WTO coverage I watched the whole time, as I was far away, cheering the peaceful and creative people trying to educate. And weeping as I saw them being beaten, just like I had back in 1968 and other years. I see some of the kids and others now have gas masks, but we just took bandannas and eye wash with our medics, but we did not cover our faces. Compared to now, though, we were 'anonymous,' although Nixon did have a lot of people on lists.

Stay safe and let us know how the action goes. Our love goes with you, and we thank you, those of us unable to go.