Occupy Chicago weekly newsletter

Welcome Welcome to the Occupy Chicago weekly newsletter. Below is a list of events, teach-ins, trainings and information on our General Assemblies and Neighborhood Occupations. Please forward this to friends, families, and coworkers. For the most up to date info on Occupy Chicago be sure to check: Website: http://occupychi.org (includes our weekly calendar) Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OccupyChicago (most up-to-date information) Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/OccupyChicago (@OccupyChicago #occupychi #ochi) Livestreams: http://occupychi.org/livestream If you have Occupy-related events, comments, feedback, or would like to help in putting together this newsletter, please email ochi_newsletter@riseup.net. #noNATO Jail Solidarity Two weeks ago, thousands of people from the social justice movement, peace advocates, occupiers, students, and labor came together to face the forces of the self-appointed world police and military arm of the 1%: NATO. Demonstrators protested the culture of militarism war, and oppression pursued by NATO, by creatively bringing their messages to the streets. The Chicago Police department went about attacking peaceful demonstrators in the form of direct assault, disappearance, general harassment, fear-mongering, and misinformation. As of now there are still 8 #noNATO activists being held on a variety of bogus charges from accusations of terrorism to resisting arrest. Please support them financially by donating to the bail fund here. For more information on how to support through other means (visitations, letters, etc.) click here. Occupy these Upcoming Events Mental Health Movement – Save Our Clinics Occupations Ongoing, 24/7 Woodlawn Mental Health Clinic, 6337 S. Woodlawn Ave. Northwest Mental health Clinic, 2354 N. Milwaukee Ave. Occupy Chicago stands in solidarity with the Mental Health Movement as we fight for mental health clinics to reopen after Mayor 1% shutdown half of the city’s mental health clinics.There are two 24/7 ongoing occupations at the above two clinics. Come out and help support the Mental Health Movement by spending some time at either occupation. You can also drop off much needed food and drinks (coffee!) at either occupation. You can also support the movement by donatinghere. UIC Medical Support Staff Strike Solidarity Wednesday, May 30, 7:00PM to Friday, June 1, 6:00PM UIC Medical Center Entrance (S. Wood & W. Taylor, Pink Line Polk Stop) UIC Professionals from SEIU Local 73 is on strike from Wednesday to Friday this week. The Labor Outreach Working Group is calling for people to join them in solidarity during the strike. There will be a 24 hour picket line in front of the UIC Medical Center entrance. #noNATO Jail Support Meeting Friday, June 1, 5:30PM-7:30PM  Unit 501, 500 W. Cermak (Enter at 2147 S. Lumber) Come and discuss jail support and what Occupy Chicago can do to help the 5 occupiers being framed with terrorism charges along with the other fellow comrades that are still in jail for for other charges following the NATO summit. Discussion will include fundraising ideas, letter writing, jail visitations, and any other ideas that come up. Chicago Peoples’ Library Campaign – Albany Park Library Saturday, June 2, 12:00PM Albany Park Library Meeting Room, Kimball&Foster After much pressure from the Peoples’ Library Campaign for a public hearing about the future of the Albany Park neighborhood library, last Thursday city officials presented their idea for a $15 million dollar new construction. While the campaign has been successful in preventing them from closing it down on June 9th, the library is still scheduled for demolition this fall with no plans for continued services. This is a meeting called by concerned members of the community to learn about and discuss alternative TIF spending and options to improve normal library services. The library is one of many in the city slated for cuts by Mayor 1%. Occupy Chicago Weekly Orientation Saturday, June 2, 1:00-2:00PM Congress & Michigan, by the Bowman/Horse StatueInspired by the NATO week of action? Wondering how to get more involved with the Occupy movement? Then this event is for you! Occupiers will be there to explain any and all questions: How can I get involved with working groups? What are our demands? What do we have planned for Chicago Spring? We’ll have a mix of newbies, occupiers and activists. Our hope is to give the lay of the land, discuss the issues we all care about and get people immediately connected to the groups and projects that they are most passionate about. We’ll also aim to give people the basic tools needed to occupy – some basic effective organizing tips, ways to use social media, etc. Come Occupy with us! Occupy Chicago Summer Action Assembly Saturday, June 2, 5:00-7:00PM Congress & Michigan, by the Bowman/Horse StatueNow that NATO is over, let’s come together for a brainstorming session on possible events and actions for this summer. The discussion will be free flowing and will hopefully help flesh out ideas and build the framework and networks necessary for further organizing. General Assembly: Occupy Chicago Movement Building Discussion – Movement Structures Saturday, June 2, 7:00-9:00PM Congress & Michigan, by the Bowman/Horse Statue Occupy Chicago has come a long way since its first day back in September 23rd. Join us as we continue a series of open discussions on the past, present, and future of Occupy Chicago. This week’s discussions will be focused on the larger structures of Occupy Chicago. What role has/should the General Assembly play in our movement going forward? What is the relationship between Occupy Chicago, working groups, neighborhood occupations, and other organizations? How can we continue to create spaces that will allow for people of different backgrounds to feel welcome. How can we facilitate this sort of autonomy and diversity of opinion while maintaining effective channels of coordination? How can we collectively reach consensus upon important issues without going through overly bureacratic processes? How can we create spaces for effective discussion important issues before we force ourselves to come to decisions on them? What other questions do you have? End Government Repression of the Occupy Movement and free the NATO 5! Monday, June 4, 5:30PM Jackson & Lasalle (by the Chicago Board of Trade/Federal Reserve Bank) On Monday June 4th @5:30PM we will be gathering at Jackson and Lasalle in response to the recent police crackdown on occupy activists. We will be marching to city hall and having a speak out at Daley Plaza to denounce the infilitration and repression of the Occupy Movement, evident most during the week of the NATO summit here in Chicago We will be calling for the release of the NATO 5 and demanding an end to police repression of nonviolent activists everywhere. Join us and speak truth to power! We are the 99%! We will not be silenced! Weekly Neighborhood Occupation Meetings Occupy Rogers Park General Assembly Sundays 5:00pm-7:00pm Click here for this week’s location Occupy El Barrio General Assembly Tuesdays 6:30pm-7:30pm Click here for this week’s location Occupy the South Side General Assembly/Teach-In’s Thursdays 7:00pm-9:00pm Click here for this week’s location Occupy Evanston General Assembly Saturdays 1:00pm-2:00pm Click here for this week’s location Occupy Chicago Northwest Side Assembly Saturdays 11:00am-1:00pm Click here for this week’s location Occupy Chicago General Assembly Wednesday and Saturdays 7:00PM-9:00PM Congress & Michigan, by the Bowman/Horse Statue Working Group Meetings Social Media/Press Saturday, June 2, 2:00PM-4:00PM Jackson & Lasalle (by the Chicago Board of Trade/Federal Reserve Bank) Coalition Against Corporate Higher Education Saturday, June 2, 6:00pm-8:00pm Click here for this week’s location Labor Outreach Tuesday, June 5, 6:30-8:30pm Click here for this week’s location Occupy the Date Occupy the Southside Juneteenth Celebration Thursday, June 14, 6:00PM Getting in touch Interested in emergency SMS/text alerts about important actions/events? Text @OccupyChicago to 23559 to sign up! For email alerts, visit http://cel.ly/c/OccupyChicago Expect at most 3-4 texts/week. For more daily updates, announcements, news, action&meeting times&locations, text @ochicom to 23559 to sign up. For email alerts, visit http://cel.ly/c/ochicom Expect at most 2-3 texts/day max. Click here to donate to Occupy Chicago For General Inquiries or Committee-specific questions: http://occupychi.org/contact Subscribe here, or send an email with the receiving email address toochi_newsletter-subscribe@lists.riseup.net   http://occupychi.org/2012/05/31/occupy-chicago-updates-week-may-28 Unsubscribe here, or send an email to ochi_newsletter-unsubscribe@lists.riseup.net using the same email address you are receiving this email from. For more support and options regarding subscriptions go to https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/ochi_newsletter See you in the streets, Occupy Chicago