ANSWER Coalition
Activist member of the ANSWER coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and a participant in Occupy LA
PROFILE
Ian Thompson
Guest
FROM Ian Thompson
Which Way, L.A.?
Occupy Movement's Last Gasp or a New Beginning? The latest Field Poll shows California voters evenly split on the "Occupy" movement. Those who identify think financial institutions are responsible for today's economy. The other side blames the government. From New York to Oakland, occupiers have been removed by force, providing additional visibility and, for some, a kind of credibility. Occupy LA is barely holding on. Is it all over, or has it generated the kind of energy that can make it rise again? If it has an impact on next year's elections will it be good for Democrats or Republicans?
To the Point
Occupy Movement's Last Gasp or a New Beginning? New York Police roughly ousted Occupy Wall Street campers in Zuccotti Park, and occupations in cities around the country had similar endings. The use of force gave the movement additional visibility, and even a kind of credibility. In Los Angeles, it's a different story. In October, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the City Council endorsed Occupy LA and gave campers raincoats on a stormy day. Now the Mayor has declared the encampment around City Hall both "unsustainable" and illegal. But the LAPD has yet to make more than a few token arrests. In two months, occupiers have spread to 900 cities worldwide, created the "99%" catchphrase and made income inequality part of the national dialogue. Now there's talk of "occupying" next year's political party conventions, or maybe the Congress. But will Occupy Wall Street ever compare to the civil rights or anti-Vietnam movements? Is it the Tea Party of the Left? We get a range of opinions.
Which Way, L.A.?
'Occupy Oakland' Is Over, at Least for Now Police in riot gear from Oakland and seven neighboring cities lined up to evict protesters occupying the City's Frank H. Ogawa Plaza at 5am this morning. Two hours later, there was nobody there. So what's happening at outside City Hall?
Which Way, L.A.?
Report from Occupy LA The Occupy Wall Street movement is spreading. Several hundred protesters were arrested yesterday crossing the Brooklyn Bridge en masse, and related demonstrations took place in Chicago, Boston and downtown LA. Here, starting on Saturday, they've been camped on the lawn outside City Hall, moving onto the pavement to sleep and moving back to the lawn in the morning. Ian Thompson is an activist with the ANSWER coalition, participating in Occupy LA , camping out at City Hall.
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