The tents are still up at Turning Point Park, but Occupy Hartford has shown few signs of life in recent weeks. After a strong showing at their kickoff march in early October, active participation has waned. There has been high turnover of activists, both those living in the tents, and those dropping by or showing support from afar.
The declaration of its impending death comes from those who have worked closely with the group, saying that those still involved in the encampment “don’t even know they are on a sinking ship.” In recent weeks, there have been hints that Occupy Hartford was on the verge of imploding.
The inexcusable mishandling of the sexual assault on site may have been the final straw for many who had previously offered their support for the local incarnation of the Occupy movement.
The move away from Occupy Hartford appears to be taking two forms Continue reading 'Occupy Hartford: Post Mortem'»
Most violent crime happens between individuals who know each other. Despite statistics showing this, an unreasonable fear about urban violence exists among those who are not involved in circumstances that would most likely lead to violence. Women, especially, have been fed the fear of being ambushed and raped by the stranger in the parking garage or looming in the bushes. And in almost every case, these fears of assault-by-stranger are unfounded. Women are most likely to experience an attempted assault, assault, or worse, at the hands of someone with whom they have had an intimate relationship.
The exception to this is women who are homeless.
According tot he Plan to End Homelessness, “Homeless women experience sexual assault approximately 20 times more than women in general.” Continue reading 'Occupy Hartford: Not Happy Campers'»
The Hartford Organizing Group (they designed the poster/mock newspaper above) is planning this action for December 8th. Unionized cleaning staff at the Courant are expected to lose their jobs on December 12th.
Making 'Of Lamb' on display at Real Art Ways through December 11th
December tends to be a whirlwind of activity, between festive events, office parties, and the gatherings for family and friends. Here are just a few of December’s open-to-the-public highlights:
December 1, 2011
December 1st is World AIDS Day, which means it is also The Day With(out) Art. Real Art Ways will be participating by screening Untitled all day. This is free. While there, check out the “Making ‘Of Lamb’” exhibit.
In the evening, there is the opening reception for Andres Chaparro’s artwork at Theatreworks (233 Pearl Street) from 5-7:30pm. Continue reading 'Your Guide to December'»
Art, Asylum Hill, Barry Square, Crime & Justice, Environment, Frog Hollow, Hartford, North East, Parkville, Sheldon/Charter Oak, community, downtown, food, fun, global issues, holiday, music, myth busting, neighborhoods, nothing to do, photos, shopping
If the police issue several traffic advisories letting the public know that they will likely be unable to use a street during part of the day, and then they barricade that street so that no vehicular traffic can use it, can activists who — after the road has been made impassable already — are physically blocking an entrance ramp on that block be arrested for impeding traffic?
Yes.
A dozen people, including some with SEIU, CCAG, and the machinists’ union, were peacefully arrested after blocking the Broad Street on-ramp to I-84 East. Peter Goselin, with the National Lawyers Guild, said that the arrests were carried out smoothly.
Continue reading 'Ramping Up Demonstrations'»
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Occupy Hartford, like many other Connecticut residents right now, is directing its ire at CL&P. Besides a rally they have planned for this coming Saturday, the group has released a play on Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses.
In its entirety:
Disputation on the (Lack of) Power and (Absence of) Efficacy of (Executive) Indulgences Commonly Known as The 99 Theses.
By Occupy Hartford CT.
Out of love and concern for the truth, and with the object of eliciting it, we present the following reasons that CL&P must be held responsible for providing the services they promise and for which we pay them. We request that whoever cannot be present personally to debate the matter orally will do so in absence in writing.
1. Our Governor, Dannel Malloy stood at the podium and called for CL&P to “Repent,” which roughly translates to, “Do the job consumers pay you for”
2. The word “Repent” cannot properly be understood as referring to penance by the consumer in terms of increased rates.
3. Repentance means not only in the Executive’s heart; for such repentance is null unless it produces outward signs in various mortifications of the flesh. We mean increased staffing.
4. As long as hatred of the profit loss abides, the penalty of sin abides, viz., until we enter the kingdom of heaven, or refuse to pay our bills.
5. Jeffrey Butler and Co. have neither the will nor the power to demand any rate increases beyond those imposed by law.
6. Mr. Butler himself cannot remit guilt, but only declare and confirm that it has been remitted by CL&P. Clear case, the guilt remains untouched. Continue reading 'Occupy Hartford: 99 Theses'»
The viaduct — that eyesore that divides neighborhoods and requires repairs or removal — will be one site where local activists gather on Thursday for the “National Day of Action for the 99%” (also being called March and Occupy the Bridge for the Jobless).
Nationwide, people will be marching across bridges and in other public spaces to demand that Congress create jobs. Organizers say that “America’s crumbling infrastructure” needs to be addressed. Of I-84, they say “this interstate needs work and so do we. We could create millions of jobs repairing bridges and roads like I-84 in downtown Hartford, as well as schools and parks — fixing up our country will help us meet America’s education, transportation, and clean energy needs.”
Steve Thornton, who is with SEIU 1199 and will be taking part in Thursday’s action, noted that “public safety is not a priority” when it comes to government spending, “but tax breaks” have been in recent years. This action, he said, is designed to shine a light on “upside down priorities.” Continue reading 'Take it to the Bridge'»
Some activists will be using November 5th as an opportunity to loudly and visibly protest Bank of America, but those behind Bank Transfer Day want less talk, more action.
Bank Transfer Day organizers write:
no actions scheduled at banking institutions are organized or condoned by this movement or its organizer. Please close your accounts in the manner they were opened: independently, with respect, without signage
Route for Saturday's march, courtesy of Occupy Hartford
In Hartford, activists will begin marching at 10 on Saturday morning from the Occupy Hartford site to several Bank of America locations. In a press release, Rebecca Burton from Occupy Hartford, states,
Bank of America has refused to use the money taxpayers ‘loaned’ them to help small businesses and homeowners here in Connecticut. We think that’s wrong, and we hope our protest against this bank’s selfish policies will help in the nationwide campaign to get everybody to move their money out of Bank of America–and the other ‘too big to fail’ banks.
Occupy Hartford says that this is a “solidarity action,” and that Occupy Wall Street and offshoot Occupy groups endorse Bank Transfer Day.
But, Bank Transfer Day organizers do not return the endorsement. Continue reading 'Occupy Hartford: Bank Transfer Day'»
“Get a job” is yelled, again, from an SUV speeding by Turning Point Park during early evening rush hour on a day when many are still off from work due to the storm.
A group of fifteen activists — some camping at the site, some not — gathered at the corner of Broad and Farmington to rally in solidarity with Occupy Oakland in general, and Scott Olsen, specifically. Continue reading 'Occupy Hartford: Solidarity with Occupy Oakland'»
They said they would not be deterred by the weather. Given the nature of Saturday’s storm, the Occupy Hartford bunch may have had a few advantages over the rest of us: no trees overhead and they already adjusted to being without power, aside from what the small solar panel could supply. Continue reading 'Occupy Hartford: Surviving the Storm'»
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