Participate in and support the 99% Spring

I heard police sirens.
I heard that windows were smashed.

I saw none of this. But you know how I said I’m done with protesting things? I said that here, four years ago. I never want to protest anything ever again. So I don’t. I am only for things, not against them. So I didn’t participate in the anti-capitalism march. I am not anti-capitalism. You can’t be when you’re not anti- anything. I hung out at the interfaith meditation/prayer area instead. I was with an Imam, a Zen Priest and assorted Christians. No riot there.

Tomorrow is the general strike. I am taking off a portion of the day to participate. I’ll probably do the bike swarm from SCCC to Westlake at 11:15, then attend the noon rally. Then, I suppose, eat lunch. Ride home.

My fear level is high. The mayor has already made threats. I am afraid of agent provocateurs. I am not interested in being tear gassed. I am not sure if being on the bike will be a help or a hindrance.

Maybe this is stupid. I am slammed at work, maybe I shouldn’t go. But what if no one went. I feel I should go. I don’t want to say later that I did nothing.

I was reluctant, because it was such a time investment. And reluctant because, if you didn’t do it in person, it was all video, which is probably the worst way for me to learn. But I did the training anyway, and I was impressed with how good it was.

Training over yonder: http://training.the99spring.com/training/99spring/

I know a lot of people on the left are not hopping up and down with joy about the 99% Spring. They see “mainstream” typically Democratic political organizations as co-opting the grassroots Occupy movement. The fear expressed is that the energy and enthusiasm of Occupy will be flipped into a re-elect Obama campaign. And I can tell you this, these folks are no fans of Barack Obama or the Democratic Party.

My thought: what are we to make of these mainstream organizations in an election year NOT organizing and training people to re-elect Obama, not elect Democratic candidates? Instead, they are training and organizing people for direct political action. Their goal has been to train 100,000 people. 40,000 got in-person trainings. How many like me did the on-line training?

And hey, cranky Occupyers – if you claim to represent the majority of the country, you can’t be a bunch of ideologically purists. You’re then your own little 1%, let me tell you, just ones with no money, no power, and a lack of ability play with others. You need to join with labor unions and Greenpeace, and yes, the dreaded MoveOn.org if you really want to get more than just yourselves involved.

And frankly, I agree with this article that Occupy did more to co-opt MoveOn.org than the reverse.

So, I’ve come out of the trainings a little inspired, a little hopeful. I’m going to participate and see what happens.

this blog entry puts it well. I’ve read a lot of criticism of the 99% Spring from the left. Such a fear of being co-opted and used. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize, folks. Dang.

I will be involved.

I will see it through.