Occupy 417

Today's event went swimmingly; an update is coming soon.

In the meantime, see this article in the KC Star and feel free to send a link to your photos to media (at) occupykc.net with your attribution preference.

\Photo by Graham J Green.

View 12.30 March Route in a larger map

12.30 March Route:

1. Start at Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park: 12th and Walnut
2. March to Federal Building (housing a Social Security Office) - 601 E. 12th St. 
3. March to Public Defender's Office - 324 E. 11th St.
4. March to One KC Place - 1200 Main St. 
5. March back to Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park at 12th and Walnut

Facebook event

Meet at Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park at 11am. March departs at noon. 

March route updated 12.29.2011.

View 12/30/2011 March Route: Submitted to KCMO & KCPD in a larger map

Meet at Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park around 11am. March departs at noon.

Regarding the permit for the December 30th event, Death of the Social Safety Net, which we posted on earlier this week: Occupy KC has enjoyed a very open and mutually respectful dialog with the Kansas City police officers who regularly visit our occupation site. We also value our cooperative relationship with the city.
We still plan to march on December 30th. However, we will ensure that all participants are made aware that we currently do not have a permit to march in the street. (For the record, this has been the case in the past as well, and our marches have always been peaceful and without incident.)
At the request of Center Patrol, delegates from Occupy KC will meet with the police Wednesday at 3:30 pm to discuss the the positions of both sides to ensure that any interactions are peaceful during the march. Please note that this has not been submitted for consensus by the General Assembly of Occupy KC and only reflects a collaboration of the Media Workgroup.
Kansas City Star: KC police decline to reduce parade costs for Occupy group Dec. 23, 2011

http://g.virbcdn.com/_f/files/5f/FileItem-176840-BW_Occupy_Carols.pdf

     Come sing some 99%er carols with us at camp tomorrow, Friday, December 23 at 6:30pm. Click the link above for a printable booklet of lyrics.

Funeral of Emile Victor Clay, image by Michael P. Smith, 1996;
© The Historic New Orleans Collection

This is not just any funeral.

The banks broke the economy and now politicians are trying to balance the government's debt on the backs of seniors, the poor, the working class, disabled and students by making massive cuts to our hard-earned social safety net - social security, Medicare and Medicaid, student aid, unemployment insurance, social services and more.

These programs weren't gifts from politicians or economic elites. The American people fought hard to win them, and we've got to protect them. The needs of the 99% should not be sacrificed because of the misdeeds of the 1%! We can win if we take a stand -- our power is in our unity.

Occupy KC invites you to join a musical mourning inspired by the Jazz Funeral for Democracy in New Orleans with a touch of KC Blues. The funeral procession will depart from Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park at 12th & Walnut, stop in front of the Social Security Administration for a eulogy and then head to millionaire Senator Roy Blunt's office where seniors, the disabled, and others affected by the cuts will soapbox about the impending loss of our social programs. The procession will continue through downtown to lay the departed to rest at the foot of 1 Kansas City Place, home of a Bank of America branch and Ernst and Young, a “heavy hitter” firm who lobbies hard for the 1% on both sides of the aisle.

We warn our guests that the grim reaper will be creeping nearby.  Bring noise makers and dress appropriately to ward off his scythe.

NOTE TO MUSICIANS: The music for this event will be provided by “Funeral for a Friend Marching Mourners” (Hearts of Darkness, Vibe Tribe) and by any local musicians who want to participate. The more the merrier, so if you want to blow your horn, beat your drum or shake your tambourine for social and economic justice, email directaction@occupykc.net.

For more background on jazz funerals, read this and this, and watch this, this or this.

Event Details:

When:  Assemble at 11am, march at 12pm.  Friday, December 30th.

Where: Oppenstein Brothers Memorial Park

             12th & Walnut, Kansas City, Missouri 64106 (map)

             Add to your   || RSVP to the Facebook event

Print Event Flyers:   Full Page  jpg | pdf    4-Up  jpg | pdf    

     

We recently requested a permit for an event on December 30th during which we intend to march in the street. The fee for this permit was set at $4,132, which is about four times the amount of cash we currently have on hand. After much discussion, we decided via consensus to propose the following in hopes of reaching a compromise.
December 19, 2011 Dear Board of Police Commissioners,

Thank you for taking the time to listen to Occupy Kansas City’s request for an indigency waiver sought in accordance with city ordinance 70-263(f) and KCPD memo 02-16. We are writing in the spirit of cooperation and with the hope that this letter will bring about a compromise, given the concerns you expressed during your meeting last Friday.

• First, OKC offers to shorten its march. Rather than marching west on 9th to Broadway, it will turn at Wyandotte, two blocks before Broadway. This will dramatically decrease the march length.
• Second, OKC will train marshals for its event in order to help manage the march. OKC's hope is that the department will feel comfortable utilizing fewer officers. OKC will happily meet with Officer Wilcox to achieve this plan, if the department finds it feasible.
• Third, OKC offers to pay $250 to defray the costs of its march. This constitutes a major portion of all the money OKC has to operate. It will be a serious sacrifice, but one OKC will make given the urgency and importance of the message it wishes to convey and given the department's tight budget.

It is OKC’s hope that the police department is also willing to compromise by working with us to reduce the cost of the march. It seems well within the realm of possibility that far fewer than eighteen officers and a sergeant could handle this short march, especially given our commitment to assist with march management. We do not know how Officer Wilcox arrived at the $4,132 figure. However, if the police were deployed for one hour, it would appear that OKC is being charged more than $200 for each officer. We hope that the actual overtime pay of officers could be substituted for this figure. That, together with a smaller number of officers, may mean that our $250 comes very close to covering the costs of the march. OKC also wonders why shutting down the streets entirely (rather than one or two lanes) and shutting them down over the entire course of the march, rather than one section at a time, is necessary. If the Board would consider compromising on some or all of these issues, perhaps an agreement can be struck.

We ask the board not to dismiss the significance of marching in the street. The Supreme Court of the United States has long recognized public streets to be critical First Amendment arenas. Indeed, it would be difficult to imagine the historical movements of our nation's past marching while confined to the sidewalks. This important form of protest should not be reserved for wealthy organizations alone. We hope you will work with us so that all voices can be heard.

We live in an era where wealthy corporations have immense influence over the policies that affect the lives of every-day Americans. The only way ordinary people can have a meaningful say is through intensive exercise of their First Amendment rights. As we speak, decisions are being made in Congress that will be felt for decades to come. In this historical moment, the rights of Americans to have a full and equal say in these decisions is ever more sacred.

Occupy Kansas City extends its thanks for your willingness to give this offer to compromise serious consideration. As mentioned at the board meeting last week, OKC appreciates the amicable relationship it has between the city and the KCPD and it has every intention of making that relationship last.

Yours truly,

Gina Chiala & Occupy KC

[PDF] | National Lawyers Guild | 

See also: "Occupy KC hopes police will waive cost of protest," Kansas City Star (contact), 12-16-2011

The Occupy KC People's Investigation, Search and Seizure of Economic Destroyers Unit (P.I.S.S.E.D) were deployed to Bank of America in downtown KC on 12.15.2011 to set up an Economic Crime Scene. As the the nation's largest bank, BOA has engaged in a wide array of economically criminal deeds that kick the feet out from under the 99%, drive smaller banks and credit unions out of business, destroy the housing market and allow the now-familyless homes they have seized to deteriorate. 

To be sure, BOA is not the only economic criminal in our national midst, and OKC will investigate other members of the 1% in the coming weeks and months. But since BOA is one of the most detrimental forces in the daily economic lives of the 99%, it only made sense to make them the first target of P.I.S.S.E.D. here in KC.

More to follow.

In the meantime, move your money.

Occupy KC 

Photos by Christian Souliere. 

DECEMBER 15, 2011

Kansas City—Occupy KC announce that members of the 99%, including residents of Kansas City are initiating investigation of a robbery.

The perpetrators are part of a complicated web of organized crime which pervades most levels of American society. Their organization is fairly decentralized, but a local hideout does exist, in downtown Kansas City at 1200 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64105.

The Occupy KC People's Investigation, Search and Seizure of Economic Destroyers Unit (P.I.S.S.E.D) has received hundreds of reports of theft, conspiracy, bribery, fraud and tax evasion by the suspects. Members of the community have reported having their homes illegally seized, their earnings stolen and their savings depleted or devalued. The vast resources accumulated by BANK OF AMERICA have in turn permitted them to bribe our Senators (who suddenly got richer), who then returned the favor by rewarding its curiously risky investment choices with trillions in taxpayer-funded bailouts and custom tax loopholes.

Congressionally-approved TARP bailouts totalling nearly $600 billion were not enough to satisfy the astounding greed exhibited by the criminals. Recent investigations have shown that BANK OF AMERICA and its partners in crime received funds through secret loans directly from the Federal Reserve and other profits, bringing the bailout total to over $7 trillion.  BANK OF AMERICA and their ilk took every action to keep these facts from the public, over a million of whom were busy being forcibly removed from their homes.

The suspects are described as having a sociopathic lust for wealth. They are to be considered dangerous. They are not usually armed, but are easily able to buy police protection (they prefer direct payment as opposed to being taxed more and giving the money to the police that way).

To date, traditional law enforcement has failed to apprehend a single one of these robber barons. We, those disturbed by this state of affairs, have decided to take matters into our own hands. We request the assistance of our fellow citizens, and ask anyone with information about this unabashed plundering of the nation’s wealth and the erosion of our democracy to please meet us at this banking cabal’s local crime-scene at noon for interviews.

NOTE: THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE ECONOMIC CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION IS BANK OF AMERICA - 1200 MAIN STREET, KANSAS CITY, MO 64105

The Unit may also be contacted in confidence at leaks@occupykc.net.

Yours in the quest for economic justice,

Occupy KC

DECEMBER 15, 2011

NEWS RELEASE

CITIZENS INVESTIGATE MASSIVE ECONOMIC ROBBERY

Kansas City—Occupy KC announce that members of the 99% and residents of Kansas City are initiating investigation of a robbery.

The perpetrators are part of a complicated web of organized crime which pervades most levels of American society. Their organization is fairly decentralized, but a local hideout does exist [TO BE ANNOUNCED] in downtown Kansas City.

The Occupy KC People's Investigation, Search and Seizure of Economic Destroyers Unit (P.I.S.S.E.D) has received hundreds of reports of theft, conspiracy, bribery, fraud and tax evasion by the suspects. Members of the community have reported having their homes illegally seized, their earnings stolen and their savings depleted or devalued. The vast resources accumulated by [TO BE ANNOUNCED] have in turn permitted them to bribe our Senators (who suddenly got richer), who then returned the favor by rewarding its curiously risky investment choices with trillions in taxpayer-funded bailouts and custom tax loopholes.

Congressionally-approved TARP bailouts totalling nearly $600 billion were not enough to satisfy the astounding greed exhibited by the criminals. Recent investigations have shown that [TO BE ANNOUNCED] and its partners in crime received funds through secret loans directly from the Federal Reserve and other profits, bringing the bailout total to over $7 trillion.  [TO BE ANNOUNCED] and their ilk took every action to keep these facts from the public, over a million of whom were busy being forcibly removed from their homes.

The suspects are described as having a sociopathic lust for wealth. They are to be considered dangerous. They are not usually armed, but are easily able to buy police protection (they prefer direct payment as opposed to being taxed more and giving the money to the police that way).

To date, traditional law enforcement has failed to apprehend a single one of these robber barons. We, those disturbed by this state of affairs, have decided to take matters into our own hands. We request the assistance of our fellow citizens, and ask anyone with information about this unabashed plundering of the nation’s wealth and the erosion of our democracy to please meet us at this banking cabal’s local crime-scene at noon for interviews.

NOTE: The exact location of the economic crime scene investigation will be posted on this website today, 15 December at 11:30am.

The Unit may also be contacted in confidence at leaks@occupykc.net.

Yours in the quest for economic justice,

Occupy KC

A motion was proposed last night to address the actions of a specific member of our group.  The motion sought was to come to consensus regarding the future involvement of Micheal Mikkelsen in Occupy KC and a corresponding statement regarding the same.  The intent behind the motion was to continue to ensure the safety of all community members of Occupy KC, including Mikkelsen himself.  After much deliberation and discussion a consensus was reached.

Michael Mikkelsen has been accused over the last several years to have assaulted women in various degrees ranging from inappropriate advances, to stalking, and most seriously the recent charges of first degree sexual assault (http://www.abc17news.com/news.php?id=3489).   It seems that no attempts at  restraining orders or community justice has been able to stop his persistent and unwelcome advances on women.

We feel that Michael’s actions have revoked his ability to have any involvement, at any level, with Occupy Kansas City.  Our hope is that this action coupled with the many previous actions of other activists and community members will encourage Michael to seek the help that many of us believe he needs.   

Occupy Kansas City takes the safety of our community very seriously.  We seek to continue to create a space for people of all colors, sexes, sexual preferences, classes and religions to assemble peacefully.  Thank you for your continued support.

In solidarity,
Occupy KC



Additional information, provided by a group not affiliated with Occupy KC, can be found here - TrueFriendsSpeakOut.org When the minutes from last nights GA are available we will provide those here as well.

Today, December 12, the West Coast Ports are being Shut the %@#! Down.

Information still coming in.

Sources below come from westcoastportshutdown.org.

Read  Press Release on Seattle Port Shutdown Logistics

Here is the list of Major Actions / Supporters in this shutdown:

Coordinated Port Blockade Actions & Schedules

Get plugged in to your local occupy participating in the coordinated shut down!

The following ports have been shut down 12/12/11:

Port of Anchorage

Website(s): occupyanchorage.org
Facebook: Like Page
Twitter: twitter.com/OccupyAnchorage
Other Info: Presently planned as a symbolic action.
Occupy the Anchorage Port Rally at 1pm outside at Town Square Park.
March at 1:30pm to outside the Anchorage Port.

Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach

Website(s): occupylosangeles.org
Facebook: Event Page
Twitter: twitter.com/occupyla
Other Info: Meet at 5:00am
Harry Bridges Park
1126 Queens Hwy
Long Beach

Occupy Los Angeles and Long Beach will carry out a port action, "Occupy the Ports/A Day without Goldman Sachs," on December 12 as part of the Dec. 12 day of action, Boycott and March previously adopted by the GA. The occupation will take place at at least one facility owned by SSA Marine, a shipping company belonging to Goldman Sachs, (coordinated with a possible port shut down by the port truck drivers) as a build up towards a General Strike on May 1, 2012.

Port of Longview

Website(s): occupycowlitz.org
Facebook: Community Page
Twitter:
Other Info: Meet at Ozzie's car wash at corner of Industrial Way and Oregon Way (lots of parking) at 5:30 am, march accross to west Port Way and east Port Way.

Port of Maui

Website(s): occupymaui.org
Facebook:
Twitter:
Other Info: Community Picket at the Port, ILWU local union members will not be crossing picket lines.

Port Hueneme

Website(s): occupy805
occupyoxnard.org
occupysb.org
Facebook: Event Page
Twitter: twitter.com/occupyoxnard
Other Info: Occupy 805 GA is a regional GA that includes Santa Barbara, Ventura, Oxnard,
Camarillo, and Thousand Oaks

Meet at 6:00am Port of Hueneme, CA, Main Civilian Gate. A Community picket line, Occupy SB is organizing carpools leaving the morning of 12.12.11. Bring water, food, signs & sweaters.

Port of Oakland

Website(s): westcoastportshutdown.org
occupyoakland.org
Facebook: Event Page,  Like Page
Twitter: twitter.com/occupytheport
Map of the Port of Oakland

Organizing meetings are every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5 P.M. PST in Oscar Grant Plaza in front of City Hall in Downtown Oakland

Action Schedule:

5:30am March to Port from W. Oakland BART
3pm meet at 14th & Broadway
4pm March to Port
5pm March to Port from West Oakland Bart

Port of Portland

Website(s): occupyportland.org
shutdowntheport.com
Facebook: Event Page
Twitter:
Other Info: To get text message updates, text @december12 to 23559

Port of San Diego

Website(s): occupysandiego.org
Facebook: Event Page
Twitter: twitter.com/occupysd
Other Info: Meet at 6:00am
Chicano Park
National Avenue
San Diego, CA 92113

Action Schedule:

6AM Chicano Park, March to Port
9AM Cesar Chavez Park, All-day Party and Actions aka Fiesta Popular
3PM Rally at the Barrio Logan Trolley Stop, March to the Port
5PM until LATE ~ Rally and Marches and Dinner in Cesar Chavez Park

Port of Seattle

Website(s): occupyseattle.org
Facebook: Event Page
Twitter:
Other Info: March from Westlake Park at 1pm to the Port of Seattle!

Press Release on Seattle Port Shutdown Logistics

Port of Tacoma

Website(s): occupytacoma.org
Facebook:
Twitter:
Other Info: Occupy Tacoma in Solidarity with all West Coast Port Shutdowns Informational Picket in support of longshoreman and truckers. Meet at 11:00am at Occupation Park and 12:00pm at the Port of Tacoma Road and 509 Overpass.

Port of Vancouver, BC

Website(s): occupyvancouver.com
Facebook: Event Page
Twitter:
Other Info: Meet at Callister Park (Renfrew & Hastings, East Vancouver) at noon to block the New Brighton Port entrance for a 12-hour West Coast Coordinated Port Shutdown. Statement from Occupy Vancouver

Participating Occupations

• Occupy 805
• Occupy Albuquerque
• Occupy Anchorage
• Occupy Astoria
• Occupy Austin
• Occupy Berkeley
• Occupy Boulder
• Occupy Chicago
• Occupy Coos Bay
• Occupy Dallas
• Occupy Denver
• Occupy Eugene
• Occupy Eureka
• Occupy Fresno
• Occupy Greensboro
• Occupy Hilo
• Occupy Homer
• Occupy Honolulu
• Occupy Houston
• Occupy Humboldt
• Occupy Kona
• Occupy Long Beach
• Occupy Longmont
• Occupy Longview
• Occupy Los Angeles
• Occupy Marin
• Occupy Maui
• Occupy Merced
• Occupy Minneapolis
• Occupy Oakland
• Occupy Olympia
• Occupy Orange County
• Occupy Oxnard
• Occupy Phoenix
• Occupy Portland
• Occupy Sacramento
• Occupy Salt Lake City
• Occupy San Antonio
• Occupy San Diego
• Occupy San Francisco
• Occupy San Luis Obispo
• Occupy Santa Barbara
• Occupy Seattle
• Occupy Tacoma
• Occupy Thousand Oaks
• Occupy Vancouver, BC
• Occupy Waimea
• Occupy Wall Street

Thousands of Patriots converged this week on DC for the Take Back the Capital event. They are Americans from many walks of life, including "the unemployed and underemployed people from every state, students, community activists, union members, healthcare advocates, and travelers from Occupy sites from coast to coast."

Many Occupiers from Occupy KC joined the national effort, heading to DC on a bus—referred to as the Occu-bus—this past week. They were not alone; Buses were organized from many major cities across the U.S. 

OccupyKC members finding their way to the office of U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (Rep) for a chat.

Protesters block K Street.

During a major shutdown of K Street on Wednesday (December 7th, 2011), 62 protesters were arrested, including 9 from Kansas City. According to reports, the arrests did not involve the use of tear gas, pepper spray, or other means used so commonly on protesters at events in several major cities since the Occupation began. The officers weren't even in riot gear. 

The protesters had linked arms at the intersection of 14th and K-Street, and managed to bring this intersection to a halt for hours as police removed each peacefully protesting individual. Those lying in the street were attended to by medics during the link-down, who even kept them warm with mylar blankets as they awaited their removal, chanting "Whose Streets? Our Streets! " 

The Washington Examiner spoke with an Occupy KC member as the events unfolded: 

Lying down next to other Occupiers waiting for his arrest, Wesley Brockman, who'd come to D.C. with a group from Kansas City and St. Louis, said he was protesting lobbyists' influence in politics and didn't mind getting arrested.

"I want to stand up for something I believe in," he said, blinking rainwater out of his eyes. "I have two daughters and I want to make a better world for them."

Indeed. Everyone in DC this week is fighting for a better world—as are Occupiers across the country and the Globe.

Our talking points?  Try this: We Have Only Just Begun. 

Occupy KC protesters alongside others in DC.

Read more:

(this is a small sampling. there are thousands of articles out there. share your favorite) 

RadiomanKC Blog Documenting the Occupy KC Occubus trip to DC

Truthout.org  Unemployed Confront Congress at Take Back the Capitol  (article)

Washington Post  ‘Take Back the Capitol’ protesters swarm congressional offices (image gallery)

Kansas City Star  Protesters arrested in DC after K Street shutdown  (article)

Reuters  Economic protesters target Washington lobbyists (article)

Daily Kos  Occupy Newt Gingrich: Video of Fundraiser Mic Check (video/article)

YouTube  search query: "Take Back the Capital"

Even Time Magazine had to admit, of the Top Ten Events of 2011, OWS and the Occupy Movement were without a doubt, Number One on the list.  Go Occugadget Go.

In Solidarity,

Occupy KC  |  see our facebook page for more.  |  Global Revolution livestream

Sponsors included Occupy KC and UAW Local 249, the Jobs Now! Coalition, the UMKC Economics Club, UMKC College Democrats, and the UMKC Institute for Labor Studies.

With an honesty he has come to be known for in his speeches, Bill Black discussed the Lies and Agendas of the Banking Class on November 30th at UMKC, to a standing room only crowd.  

He was joined by Judy Ancel, from the Institute for Labor Studies, and Jeff Wright, president of UAW Local 249 (Ford KC Assembly Plant). The underlying message from all speakers: this country is in economic trouble, and only as an educated collective can we change things—and only we can—because those in power are certainly not going to do it for us.  

White-collar criminologist, former financial regulator during the S$L crisis, and author of The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One, Bill Black has an intimate knowledge of the capacity of our government agencies to do the right thing during a crisis.

However, as he points out, for this to be the case, these agencies must be empowered with strong regulation, and have department heads that adhere to an ethical code of operation, rather than tow the corporate-party line. In other words, they have to be prepared to prosecute the guilty, and institute proper financial legislation to repair the damage wrought. He reminds us that this has definitely not been the case in the current crisis—an international crisis—where to date, the FBI has assigned only 150 officers to investigate millions of cases of fraud. 

His speech also discussed the relationship between the large banking institutions and their wealthiest clients—those whose money has kept the elite banking class and their institutions afloat and thriving. He revealed a Citigroup Memo to these clients where they actually call for a Plutocracy, and encourage their clients to massively increase their own wages, and diminish benefits to workers, all while pushing their assets out of the country. Oh, what a Christmas card. 

He continued with many excellent points of information, and provided the audience not only with an educational evening, but one which he delivered with wry humor, reflecting on the audacity of the elite.

Below are some videos filmed by a member of Occupy KC ( mnickells2 ).  

If you were there and have any awesome photos our videos, join our Flickr Pool or hit us up on YouTube.

Jeff Wright, one of the opening speakers prior to the Lecture by Bill Black at UMKC on 11-29-11.

Bill Black Speaks on "The Great Lie"

Bill Black: "The Government Won't Investigate"

Bill Black reveals a Citigroup Memo appealing to their wealthiest clients. 

Citigroup Memo: Part II

As Corporate America, desperate for more cash, began Black Friday a day early this year, Occupy KC members saw their greed, and raised them a Mic Check—make that five Mic Checks!

On Thanksgiving night, Thursday, November 24, 2011, the Occupy KC group made a series of five stops, mic checking retail locations along the way. 

Their stops included:

Stop 1: The Plaza (during their annual lighting ceremony)

Stop 2: Wal-Mart (at 51st & Roe Blvd.)

Stop 3: Wal-Mart (at 75th & Nieman Rd.)

Stop 4: Wal-Mart Supercenter (at Shawnee Mission Pkwy.)

Stop 5: SuperTarget (at Shawnee Mission Pkwy.)

We were lucky to have MetaphorMedia there to film. Thanks! 

After nearly two months of Occupying at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, the Comfort Working Group thought it was time to give thanks to those who have put so much time and energy into maintaining the Occupation. 

Thanksgiving at Occupy KC was a special day—where those who normally help prepare and serve food to all those who come by the site, were themselves served up a full course traditional Thanksgiving meal. For too many Americans—especially the unemployed, poor and homeless—this is often a day of going without, while the rest of the country sits with family, friends, and more food than they can eat.

But at Occupy KC this year, and at Occupations across the county, they had found a new family—and this new family shared their meal of thanks together. And here in KC, it was a beautiful, sunny day.

Flyers for this event: 1-up pdf : jpg  |  4-up pdf : jpg

This is an ALL-DAY training event to teach Movement-Building Skills.

We highly recommend people stay for the entire day, as the day's training of skills development build on one another.

We are also having a brainstorming session at the end of the day, which will draw on the skills participants will learn throughout the day.

Full Schedule of Training Events found here: (pdf)

Occupy Kansas City Temperature Check: Concerns/Problems The following questions are designed to assist members of Occupy Kansas City in identifying which problems are most important to residents of Kansas City and members of 99%. Which of the following problems do you believe are most important to be addressed in Kansas City?

• Jobs
• Wealth Inequality
• Health Care
• Affordable Housing
• Foreclosure
• Predatory Lending
• Corruption
• Worker's Rights
• Education
• Police Brutality
• Taxation
• Influence of Corporations on Government
• Food Deserts
• Clean Energy
• Sustainability
• Social Services
• Discrimination
• Other:

What are some ideas for ways that you believe Occupy Kansas City can address the problem that is most important to you? Please identify the problem that you would like for Occupy Kansas City to address and your idea for a related action.

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WALL STREET: The Great Jobs Killer Tuesday, November 29 at 7:00 pm UMKC Student Union Theater 5100 Cherry KCMO Admission: Free

Speakers:

William Black, white-collar criminologist, former financial regulator,  author of The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One. Featured in the Michael Moore documentary Capitalism: A Love Story.

Jeff Wright, president, UAW Local 249 at the Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant

Occupy Kansas City is among the co-sponsors of a dynamic presentation on the UMKC campus to be held November 29th called “Wall Street: The Great Jobs Killer.” 

This program features economics and law professor Bill Black, a nationally recognized speaker in the finance field. He’s a former federal regulator who was part of an effort to jail some 800 individuals during the 1980s Savings & Loan collapse.

This presentation explains how Wall Street’s greed and gambling brought big banks down and the economy with them between 2007 and 2008. Because of this downturn, an estimated 25.4 million Americans are out of work, estimates Pat Hayes, editor of a UAW 249 union newspaper. UAW 249 is one of the other sponsors of the Bill Black event to be held at UMKC Student Union’s Theater on Nov 29th at 7pm, 51st and Cherry.

Besides Occupy KC and UAW Local 249, other sponsors include the Jobs Now! Coalition, the UMKC Economics Club, UMKC College Democrats, and the UMKC Institute for Labor Studies.

Professor Black is recognized as a powerful speaker who has been featured on various network news interviews including PBS and MSNBC. He was featured in the Michael Moore documentary, “Capitalism: A Love Story.” Black is part of the UMKC Economics department and wrote a book titled “The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One.” Also speaking will be the president of the UAW local.

The speakers will outline how America got into this economic mess as well as suggestions on how to get out of it. UAW spokesman Hayes says the Obama Jobs Plan is a start but it will take a Depression style WPA project to put many of the 25 million Americans back to work. The WPA government program was designed to build infrastructure like schools, buildings, roads, and bridges  to keep Americans working between 1935-1942. Many of those projects are still in service today. 

Find us on facebook at Jobs Now! 

Flyers for this event: 2-up pdf : jpg  |  1-up pdf : jpg

Add your signature to the Letter From the American Heartland online.

Judy Ancel, Director
The Institute for Labor Studies
The University of Missouri-Kansas City

Read Bill Black's The Anti-Regulators are the “Job Killers” at New Economic Perspectives.

recent Bill Black video, Jobs Now, Stop the Foreclosures, Jail the Banksters:

Occupy KC joined cities accross the nation and world, celebrating an International Day of Action. 

Here in Kansas City, Occupy the Bridge brought thousands of commuters a message as they passed under a number of bridges in Kansas City in need of repair. (The largest of these Rallies was on the I-70 bridge at Prospect.) The message: This is an Economic Emergency. The infrastructure of the country is decaying. The much needed jobs in our nation can be filled rebuilding our country, rebuilding our communities. Occupy KC was joined by local unions and local residents of Kansas City for this event.

     

       

above photos taken by .Rebecca Noble. thank you!

check out more pictures on our flickr pool. 

Do you have some great images, video or links from this event? let us know!

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local coverage links on November 17th event:

KMBC News article | KC Star article | Fox4 article | KMBZ mp3 

KKFI Labor Forum (11.17 mp3)