What's Up With Occupy?

The Occupy movement that swept the nation last year, surprising many with the broad support it ignited and the shocking police violence it provoked, may have dwindled from the headlines but certainly hasn't gone away. Over the past six months, those who finally yelled “Enough!” to the domineering culture of corporate greed and fraud have continued to meet, discuss and organize. The seeds planted last fall have not died; they've sunk roots and have already begun to bear fruit.

Occupy Petaluma (OP) has likewise remained vigilant and busy, focusing on specific issues and working openly with the community and local government bodies. About 50 concerned individuals came forward to camp in the heart of Petaluma to demand a responsible, accountable society.

For each who did, a dozen more shared the same cry of outrage at the criminal self-interest of the 1%. Countless others know something is wrong but don't know how to grapple with the powerful forces that have hijacked our government and devastated our economy with impunity. Just because we know they’re lying doesn't let us off the hook.

The spirit of Spring Awakening rippling through the internet and again galvanizing Occupies across the country is proof positive that this important struggle continues. New websites like Occupy.com and OccupyTogether.org have sprung up to coordinate efforts to restore social, economic and environmental justice; online petitions have achieved impressive results; and a national day of non-violence workshops has been organized to help communities develop effective ways to mobilize the power of the majority.

In Santa Rosa, the "99 Percent Spring Action Training" starts at 1pm on Sunday, April 15, at the Arlene Frances Center, 99 Sixth St.

Occupy Petaluma spent this winter forging an effective communications and decision-making process. Meeting for General Assemblies twice every week and maintaining 2 facebook pages, the website OccupyPetaluma.com and an online forum, OP has successfully launched numerous projects and two primary campaigns:

Early this year, the Foreclosure Crisis Workgroup launched a , creating a national model adopted in numerous communities to raise awareness and resist the impacts of destructive mortgage practices. Since February, they've been hosting weekly “Vigils for Our Neighbors in Foreclosure,” gathering every Sunday at 2pm in Walnut Park to share stories and solutions with those who have lost their homes or are fighting to keep them.

In March, they inititiated a state-wide action to occupy County Recorder's Offices, designating them a "Crime Scene" and urging California Attorney General Kamala Harris to prosecute banks guilty of fraud. Most recently, the Foreclosure Crisis Workgroup has joined a national "Rolling Hunger Strike" to increase pressure and prevent millions more families from losing their homes. For more info on this urgent campaign, visit ForeclosurePreventionZones.com.

The Occupy Democracy campaign focuses on getting big money out of the electoral process. This working group is promoting the California Disclose Act to require that the top three funders of every political ad be identified by personal name or corporate logo on the ad itself. Occupy Democracy has also joined forces with the national grassroots organization Move to Amend to push for a constitutional amendment to end corporate personhood and require federal, state and local governments to regulate campaign spending.

Supported by resolutions passed by the City Councils of Petaluma, Sebastopol and Windsor, as well as the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Assembly Joint Resolution 32 is currently making its way through the California legislature. The public is invited to learn more about why this Constitutional Amendment is needed at a screening of the new film “Koch Brothers Exposed,” Sunday April 29 at 7pm at .

Also on the active OP agenda is the taking place in Petaluma’s Walnut Park on Saturday, April 14th, at 1:00pm. An experiment to foster community connections, people are invited to bring something to give away and perhaps leave with something they need.

As the tempo and opportunistic arguments of the 2012 presidential race accelerate, a corresponding dedication to stand up for the un-spun truth is called for. This is the moral muscle in the body politic that Occupy Petaluma continues to flex in the confident hope that others will heed the example and join in demanding positive change. OP urges that you attend one of the upcoming candidate forums to assure that the compassionate and democratic values upon which our country was founded are firmly on the table as this election year unfolds.

Everyone has a role to play in determining the future and, last I heard, the majority still rules in this fair land of ours. So embrace the challenge that comes with your vote, grasp your civic responsibility to identify and chip away at the crust of corruption that threatens to consign our democracy to the dustbin of history. Watch for the Occupy Petaluma float in the upcoming Butter and Egg Days parade and cheer them as they go by. We’re all in this together, and smart enough to know that a fair, benevolent and productive world is possible.

The daily struggle to protect this vision is not only worth the effort, it's an honor. The world that our grandchildren will inherit depends on it.