Hundreds came out across Upstate,  NY on Saturday, May 25, 2013 to protest against mega food supply-altering monster corporation, Monsanto in Solidarity with a Global march that occurred in 52 countries, over 400 cities and attended by millions world-wide.

The following are photos and snippets of commentary from the marches in the O.U.R.Conference area:

In the rain at the State Capitol in Albany NY- MaM

Albany

On March 25th, 2013, a global March Against Monsanto stood against a corporation who values profits over health while standing for the people’s right to choose whole, unfettered foods.The food chain is essential for all life, for all beings. Educate yourself on the harmful effects of genetically modified organizisms (GMOs) and take a stand. 80% of our corn, soy and other US crops are already contaminated by a process that other countries won’t allow.

It’s an issue important enough that 436 cities in 52 countries took part. Many cities had thousands of attendees. Albany, NY’s march took place regardless of 38 degrees, torrential rain, and 20 mph winds… and we still rocked it! — at New York State Capital Building.

Alfred

Buffalo

One of the best marches I have seen in a while been tons of stuff going on in Buffalo lately if you are interested in the fight against monsanto and GMO foods like this page and look for this project starting soon – John Washington II

I just want to say that I’ve never felt more at home than I did today. It was my first protest and I was so inspired … it’s wonderful to know there’s a local community to reach out to that’s just as passionate as I am.

Elmira-Corning

In solidarity with the national action against Monsanto, we are having an info table and community supper in Corning to share information about the dangers of GMOs and the patenting of seeds, while building community and creating long-lasting alternatives to Monsanto’s products. From 10 am to 5 pm we will have an info table at 90 West Market Street during GlassFest on May 25th while the crowds are flowing. At 2:00 pm we will join the nationwide march by marching down Market Street to Cedar St. and then turning and coming back to 90 West Market St.

Ithaca

It was such an honor to meet all of you today. It was great to see new faces and old friends. Such a showing of support and commitment and courage (to face the bitter wind) It will only get better. This is just the beginning for all of us. Your voices were heard today!!! Cornell Graduation weekend and people from all over the world SAW YOU today in one place as part of history.

Thank you for making this happen!! We were in town for Farm Sanctuary and we felt so blessed to find out that there was a march near us. Yesterday was a day I will always cherish. All of us made history by taking a stand and I feel so proud!

Rochester
March Against Monsanto! (12 photos)
Green Rochester candidates and supporters at the Rochester March Against Monsanto

Syracuse
The March on Saturday was beyond all expectations. Over 130 people came
together to stand against corporate dominance of our food and for
responsible labeling of food. Though we had no expectation that the press
would cover our march, two local news stations did show up and posted brief
stories. A special thanks to the people that made all of this possible. I am
looking forward to seeing what develops from this exciting grassroots event!

Waverly, NY

facebook event pages for Upstate, NY March Against Monsanto events, some still talking, some organizing next steps:

Albany:   http://on.fb.me/177RylS 
Alfred:    http://on.fb.me/11s1kvK
Buffalo:   http://on.fb.me/16K90M8
Elmira-Corning:   http://goo.gl/i7MPA
Ithaca:   http://on.fb.me/Zq8Ebq
Rochester:  http://on.fb.me/16cxv2t
Syracuse:    http://on.fb.me/18d37HT
Waverly:     http://on.fb.me/ZzdGOQ

Halyna Kurylo has spent her life taking care of her family, including her older brother, who is handicapped. After terminal illness in the family, and a devastating 100 year flood causing damage to her home, Halyna has fallen behind in her property taxes, causing her home to be foreclosed this past December. Halyna’s family purchased the home in 1964, and the mortgage is paid off. Halyna’s twin brother of the state of Maine was able to come up with the total amount due to the county in back taxes, but the tax rules will not allow them to reclaim their property, even with the auction less than 2 months away. They have the money in hand, but the county won’t let them pay and keep their home. Halyna is now forced to pay rent to the county to live in a home that she already owns. Where is the justice?

 
The auction of the family home is scheduled for early march of this year, only a month and a half away. Losing her home, Halyna may have no choice but to place her handicapped brother in a county run nursing home, leaving her homeless at the age of 63.

 
This has outraged the community, and the people of Broome County are speaking out against the legislature to change the unjust law, which does not allow a family to redeem their home before the date of the foreclosure auction. Our phone calls and emails are falling on deaf ears and cold hearts. The county is determined to take her home, period.

 
Please help spread the word in solidarity with Halyna and her family, and all of the families in Broome County who have been and will be victim to this unjust law.

 

Want to help? Here is what you can do:

Like and Share this Facebook page supporting the Kurylo family.

 
Help us to continue to put pressure on the County Legislature. Their Facebook page is here:
‐ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Broome‐County‐Legislature/200472596671946?group_id=0

 
Help us continue to put pressure on Broome County executive Debra Preston, who
‘claims’ that her hands are tied. Her office phone number is here:
‐ 607‐778‐2109

 
Ask the Director of Real Property tax Services, Kevin Keough, about the corrupt tax
laws in Broome County. his office phone number and email is here:
‐ 607‐778‐2169 email‐ BCRealProp@co.broome.ny.us

 
For more information on the Kurylo family’s situation, read the news article here:
http://www.wbng.com/news/local/Too-Late‐to‐be‐Rescued‐186091442.html

Healthcare workers union network to hold benefit for victims of Superstorm Sandy

For immediate release: 12/7/12 – The Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 1 Healthcare Coordinating Council (HCC), a network ofmore than 20 locals representing 15,000 healthcare workers in New York and New Jersey,  is sponsoring a fundraiser in support of the victims of Superstorm Sandy.

The HCC members know that the worst devastation done by this storm occurred in New York and New Jersey and as healthcare workers, we continue to be concerned about the people who were affected, the very bad conditions that remain after all these weeks and the healthcare issues these people face.  We are not all able to travel there and aid in the volunteer efforts, but our concern is real and we want to show our support in any way we can. Hence a fundraiser!

The event will be held on Friday, December 14 at the Sportmens’ Tavern, 326 Amherst St, Buffalo. Beginning at 5pm until 8:30pm. There will be live music by Five to One, a 50/50 raffle, a chinese auction and much more. Cover charge $5 with $2 going to Occupy Sandy relief efforts. The proceeds from the other fundraising activities will also be sent to Occupy Sandy.

Occupy Sandy has played a significant role in providing needed relief to those affected by this horrible act of nature. They have opened numerous hubs and distribution centers, transported people and needed supplies to those in need, they are providing meals to hundreds of folks who continue to have no other place to get a hot meal, they are assisting in the clean up efforts, and Occupy Sandy continues to be a constant that can be relied on for support through this most difficult of times.

We urge everyone to attend this important and fun event on Friday, December 14.

Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the Chinese Auction, please contact Ann Converso, RN at 716/867-9552, ann.converso@gmail.com

HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY INTEROCCUPY!

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The following is some aspects of my Occupy and InterOccupy journey, which I offer as anniversary gift, but hopefully, also as an inspiration for the others like me, who aren’t very able to chip in on the ground:

They Built It At InterOccupy.

Pardon the cliché, but since, oh, maybe a month into Occupy I had had consistent transmissions from James Earl Jones’ voice saying “if you build it, they will come.”  This was the head shaking elder in me saying there’s got to be some organization in this leaderful but leaderless horizontal community. I’d never been an activist before Occupy grabbed my heart, but having been the oldest of seven, a secretary, a traveler, a military wife, a mother raising four children under ten while going to school full-time, and now a grandmother, I knew a bit about keeping a schedule.  About organizing.  But maybe I didn’t in this high tech, smart phone driven movement.  Where were people organizing online?

I live in rural WNY, a couple of hours from Occupy Buffalo so only got there twice a month.  It took a long time in the encampment days to find some way to contribute besides showing up for bi-monthly General Assemblies, and occasional extra visits for events and marches. There wasn’t much effective online communication among occupiers in our area:  fear of infiltrators, the trolls, etc., preferring to talk mostly on the ground. So, like many cyber supporters, I mostly read OWS and Occupy pages and alternative articles, and watched videos, to keep abreast.  And livestream!  All praise to livestream for really, really making what was going on in faraway places viewed through a machine real.  I had seen the InterOccupy site, but had never lingered much – one never knew which sites were “real” early on.  The conference calls caught my eye and I thought that sometime, that’d be a cool thing to do, but it was the kind of sometime that happens when elephants fly – I’d been ducking telephones for at least a decade.

On February 5, the OWS, outreach/temp check after the scourge of evictions, Bus rolled into Buffalo. We were all still in states of grieving about our own recent eviction.  It seemed all of Occupy was searching for its next steps and so was I.  How do we stay connected, and how do I? Being so far away, how do I know what two days a month to tithe the busfare, and come to Buffalo if there’s no GA?  On Sunday, the 6^th, folks from OWS, Occupy Buffalo and local community activists had a five hour strategy session at the Vault, with two breakouts in the last hour – local and national. I went into the national, hoping I could do more actual work in support of the larger movement from my perch of being far away and isolated, but being connected online.  Chris Hedges’ article, the Cancer In Occupy, and the ensuing counter statements had just come out and interested me.  I had to ask the pros from NYC about it, and we had an informative discussion about black bloc that left me more able to build a bridge somewhere in between lofty theory and pragmatic consequences.

One of the OWSers suggested InterOccupy as a good site for Occupy activity. John Washington, one of OB’s leaderful, on the ground activists, said IO was great but it was a 24 hour job to keep track of.    Ding. Ding.   My little Occupy niche was born. I finally had a job! A place to contribute daily.  I mostly just copied and pasted InterOccupy event and call announcements on the Occupy Buffalo website forums and facebook page, and brought Occupy Buffalo announcements to InterOccupy, like our nine month long Justice Dialogue Series, which looked at justice in deep philosophical and practical get ‘er done ways.

Soon another fateful thing happened when a Buffalo occupier, who set up an F29 facebook page for Occupy Buffalo organizing, asked if someone could get on the InterOccupy F-29 call that night. Chicken as hell, scared of technology, hard of hearing and hating telephones, I got on the call, and was absolutely amazed at listening to people from all over the US and Canada talking about their actions, their plans, sharing tips and strategies.   I was able to bring those ideas back to OB which helped to inform us of the rising interest of this national call to action by Occupy Portland, an action not organized from the top down, but facilitated by the knowledge that we were becoming united in action by a transparent, horizontal, direct democratic process.   We were organizing on the ground simultaneously in over 80 cities nationwide and talking about it on conference calls and online venues.  We had a small but effective F-29 action in Buffalo directed at Bank of America and, as far as I have been able to confirm, we were the only F-29 action that had no local police presence, but instead three DHS vans and their canine force on hand!

I continued to get on a bunch of calls for M1GS, Occupy Los Angeles’ Mayday call to action, and using this same inward and outward facing process, and with the lion’s share of hard work done by occupiers on the ground, led to an even bigger and more robust Mayday in Buffalo.  I got to learn more about outreach and web use when I had the pleasure of being involved in an Occupy Supply Mayday webinar.   After a few of the M1GS calls, I was hooked on the long distance voice communication process, and decided to volunteer with InterOccupy, and was involved with Outreach and some admin duties, but like all Occupiers, we all wear many hats pitching in with skills or ideas as needs arise.  I learned to use tools:  google docs, doodles, spreadsheets and the like.  Before Occupy, it was strictly email and news articles for me.  Facebook was a scary thing, full of stupidity, that soon became crucial to use.  With my new found skills, I was able to help Upstate NY planners put together the Occupy Upstate Regional Conference in June, conceived on facebook, planned statewide on InterOccupy calls, and pulled together, as always by occupiers on the ground who could attend the crucial strategy and hospitality meetings.

One day on the InterOccupy home page, I saw the Occupy.net announcement, and liked their little fishes of info swimming to one place logo. I tried out the etherpadlite and thought it worked well, but never could quite get more than one person to get on and hold a conversation.  I was still convinced that if we had the right set of tools in the right place, occupiers would use them and more fruitful organizing could begin.  And that for every one of me living in unconnected rural America, there were ten more out there waiting for a way to participate in this movement.  Little did I know when I joined IO that they were beginning a discussion of merging with the little fishes of info people to create a brand new organizing platform.

During the National Gathering in Philadelphia, June 30 – July 4^th, InterOccupy launched just the site many occupiers had been waiting for.  Merging the FLOSS tools created by Occupy.net, many of whom were tech ops folks from OWS, with InterOccupy’s mission to facilitate communication among individuals, Occupies and working groups, a new site, and the Occupy Network was born.

The new InterOccupy.net continues to host the popular conference calls that helped the early occupations stay connected, while greatly expanding the ability for folks interested in the same issue or project or action, to connect, collaborate and organize.  InterOccupy.net is organized around a concept of Hubs.  Each Hub is an autonomous online networking space where users can post minutes, updates, discuss ideas or plans in a forum or the upcoming bulletin area,  post documentation in a Wiki, have a an email list or  be able to click right back to their own website, facebook page or twitter .  Hubs, and indeed all of InterOccupy, are both inward and outward facing.  When Updates are posted to a Hub, they go out on the InterOccupy Newswire, readily seen by others in the movement who may be working on similar projects or who may be sparked to join yours.  Local, national and international news can also be submitted to the newswire by any individual or group, making for a robust exchange and wealth of solidarity information.  Every Tuesday, the InterOccupy newsletter goes out, highlighting the previous week’s stories, resources and statements, as well as posting the upcoming calendar for IO’s hallmark conference calls – still the best place to temp check an organizing idea before moving on to email lists, tools, meetings, or a Hub to further organize and plan campaigns and events.  The newsletter reaches thousands, and the twitter traffic can reach in the hundreds of thousands.  The new InterOccupy site took off with a bang after NatGat, and continues to grow, as groups organically form around local actions in NYC or Kalamazoo, and national or international actions around issues of debt or war or the environment or economy.  It’s given this Occupy supporter, born on October 7, 2011, an occupation.

The notepad I couldn’t get anyone to use six months ago? De rigueur now for international groups’ notes, and used nearly exclusively by us at IO, as we strive to move away from corporate tools and into a cyberspace created, populated and maintained by the values and processes Occupy holds dear – horizontal, transparent direct democracy.

They built it at Interoccupy, and I haven’t had a transmission from James in months.

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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY INTEROCCUPY!

TANK, Pakistan — The Pakistani military blocked a convoy carrying thousands of Pakistanis and a small contingent of U.S. anti-war activists from entering a lawless tribal region along the border with Afghanistan on Sunday to protest American drone strikes.

The protest convoy of about 150 cars set out on Saturday from the capital Islamabad, traveled 400 kilometers (250 miles) and then stopped overnight in the city of Dera Ismail Khan. The plan for the second and final day was to travel another 120 kilometers (70 miles) to reach Kotkai in South Waziristan. But the military stopped the convoy in the town of Kawar.

Khan told the rally that they wanted to continue their journey to Kotkai, but the army said it was too late, and going inside South Waziristan at night was dangerous. Khan said he didn’t want to put his supporters in danger, so he turned the rally around to Tank.

A spokesman for Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Umar Younus, said the army stopped the convoy at a checkpoint and despite insistence by PTI leaders they would not allow the convoy to go any farther.

Regardless of whether he was able to enter the tribal region, Khan portrayed the two-day motorcade as a success.

“We have taken the voice of the people of Waziristan to the world,” he said.

Thousands of supporters had turned out along the route to cheer on the convoy, which stretched about 15 kilometers (9 miles), including accompanying media. Some of those packed into the vehicles waved flags for Khan’s political group and chanted: “We want peace.”

Video on Pakistani media showed barricades with hundreds of police in riot gear, a sign of concerns that the motorcade would be attacked or become unruly.

Around three dozen Americans from the U.S.-based anti-war group CODEPINK joined Khan for the march. The American protesters say the U.S. drone strikes, contrary to the claims of American officials, have terrorized peaceful tribes living along the border and killed many innocent civilians – not just Taliban and al-Qaida fighters.

The convoy aimed to throw a spotlight on the drone attacks, which many Pakistanis oppose as violations of the country’s sovereignty that often kill civilians. The U.S. says its drone strikes are necessary to battle militants that Pakistan has been unable or unwilling to control.

Critics denounced the rally as a piece of cheap theater designed to drum up votes for Khan’s political party ahead of next year’s elections.

“A made-for-TV dog and pony show that will be high on drama and low on substance will resonate with Khan’s base,” wrote Pakistani newspaper columnist Cyril Almeida in the English-language newspaper Dawn Sunday.

pic by Katie Falkenberg/23rdstudios

Some Upstate NY Anti-Drone activists have gone the extra miles to protest the use of drones in Pakistan.  On October 3, they joined members of Code-Pink to travel to Pakistan as a peace delegation seeking to bring a message of peace and solidarity with the people of Pakistan.  Among the delegates are several from our Upstate region,  including  Bonny Mahoney,  an active member of Occupy Buffalo, and a particpant in the Hanover AFB anti-drone protest April 22, where 33 were arrested.

On October 6,  hundreds of political activists, led by the opposition politician Imran Khan and accompanied by 32 American peace activists, departed Chashma, Pakistan’s capital,  in a convoy headed toward the country’s tribal regions to protest American drone strikes. Mr. Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, calls the motorcade a “peace march” to demand an end to American drone strikes, which he says kill innocent civilians and breed militancy.

Pamphlets were distributed in Tank on Saturday, a town along the route, warning of possible suicide attacks and raids to kidnap the foreigners.  A statement from a Taliban faction said to be based in eastern Pakistan warned that militants would welcome the protesters with suicide bombings. “We ask the brave people of Waziristan not to side with the gang of Jews and Christians – otherwise their fate will be terrible,” the Punjabi Taliban said in the statement.

Mr. Khan, his supporters and the American activists appeared to be undeterred by the threats. “The group is determined to go ahead,” said Alli McCracken, a Codepink spokeswoman.  On the journey from Islamabad to Waziristan, the delegation received overwhelming support from Pakistanis who held processions along the route. “I think we were successful in showing people that there are Americans who care about their plight. The people we spoke with made a clear distinction between American government policies and its people,” said delegate Judy Bello from Rochester, New York.  James Ricks,  of Ithaca, New York, said he was going along with the convoy despite the danger.  “I am taking this risk because my government is committing international war crimes, and we want to stop this,” Ricks said.

Today, on the eleventh anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan,  the American peace delegates representing the U.S. peace group CODEPINK  joined political leader Imran Khan and Pakistanis at a rally against U.S. drone strikes in Hatala, Pakistan, near the border between D.I. Khan and South Waziristan. The delegates traveled to the tribal areas in solidarity with the people of Waziristan who have been terrorized by U.S. drone attacks since 2004. This was the first time that the Pakistani government has admitted foreigners into the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in nearly a decade.

“I’m hoping that what (the protest) will show is that the Pakistani people and American people and even the people in the tribal areas want peace,” said Joe Lombardo, a U.S. activist from Delmar, New York.

Back home, a demonstration at the gate of the Air National Guard’s Hancock Field in DeWitt , New York was timed to coincide with the larger protest in Pakistan that involved a number of  protesters from the New York Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars. Ten demonstrators were arrested.

Also in the United States, on October 8, CODEPINK will hand-deliver thousands of signatures to President Obama imploring him to stop killer drone attacks.  Join that effort here,  or Tell US Ambassador to Pakistan: End Drone Strikes! here.

Thanks and solidarity goes out to all our Upstate Occupiers, the New York Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars protesters, and CodePink organizers and activists!

Delegates are available for interviews, and updates from the trip along with multimedia content are regularly posted on www.droneswatch.org. High-resolution photos are available here.

October 8, 2011 – a heady day when the decision was made to Occupy Buffalo in Niagara Square.  The encampment lasted four months and brought the message of social  and economic injustice front and center, where it couldn’t be ignored.  Many thought Occupy Buffalo went away after the heavily armed eviction. However, Occupy Buffalo did some of their most important work continuing on from that day, consistently attending the ECIDA meetings, the NFTA meetings, the School Board meetings and the City Councils meetings, where they were able to be an influence in the city’s decision to remove $45 million dollars of taxpayer’s money from Chase. They continue to protest, they continue to teach, they continue to reach out to the community.

Come Join Occupy Buffalo in celebration and discussion this weekend!

Saturday, October 6

1 – 2 p.m.: Occupy Buffalo Anniversary Celebration

2 – 4 p.m.: Anniversary Assembly: Past, Present and Future of Occupy Buffalo

4 – 6 p.m.: Student Debt Assembly, Prisoners Rights Discussion, Open Issue-Based Discussions and Teach Ins

6 p.m. and onward: Occupy Buffalo Birthday Party

Sunday, October 7

2 – 3 p.m.: Interfaith Peace Network Vigil to mark the 11th Anniversary of the War in Afghanistan

3 – 4 p.m.: “No Wars, No Drones!” Anti-War Rally

More information on facebook.

For a One Year Happy Birthday gift, here’s a post created for our 99th day anniversary:

HAPPY 99 DAYS, OCCUPY BUFFALO!

We’re not the smallest occupation…..

http://i.imgur.com/Y3Hk1.jpg

pic.twitter.com/bGUxiTmo   

That privilege belongs to Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon, which is the world’s smallest park, according to the Guinness World Book of Records, at just 452 square inches. Note the tiny tents, the Occupy Caution police tape and many little blue policemen.  Cameron Scott Whitten, 20, (not shown) arrested on 12/16/11 for refusing to get out of the street and onto the sidewalk.

Big sister, Occupy Portland, continues the work………

 We’re not the biggest occupation…..

Zucotti Park, owned by the 1% and more or less rented to the 99%, until Mr. 1% didn’t like it anymore.  Seventy arrested, camp busted, 5000 books, many computers, tents, personal items dumpstered 11/15/11.
The work continues……….

 But, they’ve heard of us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5IuQR62eBY@3:00,4:20

Part of the OWS 99% Bat Signal on historic 35,000 strong march across the Brooklyn Bridge, 11/17/11.

We are the just right occupation!

Who else had a Dome full of Santas?                                              Photo by Brian Pickard

Occupy Buffalo has been in encamped continuously since 10/8/11. They maintain a non-violent commitment to opposing the 1%. They maintain a working relationship with the city. They maintain a high level of spirit, visibility and engagement in local, state and national issues.  Zero arrests in Niagara Square.

The work continues…….

HAPPY 99 DAYS IN THE SQUARE, OCCUPY BUFFALO! 

Oct 8, 2011 GA                                                                                 Photo by Christina Cooke

MIC CHECK!

Thru the rain…

Thru the snow…

Oc cu py Buff a lo!

150 Upstate NY Occupiers mobilized today in an Anti-Capitalist March in Rochester, New York. They were vibrant, energized, and chanting. They took a main drag, then turned onto East Ave. Neighborhood people seemed to be joining in along the route. JRoz was streaming and all seemed well.

Then the reports from Fnn:
police cam
20 cops
TAC TEAM USING FIRE CH 4. THEY REPORT READY
TROOPERS IN ROUTE TO DOWN TOWN
THEY’RE SWITCHING TO PHONES

The police blockaded both ends of the street, never issued a dispersal order, at least in earshot of JRoz’ stream. No mic checks of warning echoing in the crowd. A few cars brought up the rear. For the next five minutes, the marchers were blockaded, randomly grabbed, pepper-sprayed, beat on and 18 arrested. Enter Officer Krumpky, a befuddled looking suit, lacking any finesse of communication with protesters it seemed, who told JRoz to keep moving and then held him hostage with threats of taking his video, bringing it to court, identifying everyone and putting them all in jail. Oooo. Think he missed a beat into the 21st Century. We are not hiding. We are not threatened. After further admonishment that there are “real folks that have to go real places”, the imaginary protesters disappeared with Jroz’ dead stream.


Many hours later concrete word came that 18 had been arrested for disorderly conduct. Some were out in three or four hours. Some who had no ID on them are being held until Monday morning. A Jail Solidarity crew of about 35 people was going strong late Saturday night. A report on the facebook event page had 12 still in jail.


They need to raise about 2500 for bail for those remaining inside. JRoz was indeed arrested, is out and safe, and has offered his wepay acct for those needing bail. Please donate at:
https://www.wepay.com/jrozlive

The last 12:41 minutes of the 45 minute march:

Video streaming by Ustream

Whose State? O.U.R. STATE! O.ccupy U.pstate R.egional Conference

The Occupy Upstate Conference was hosted on June 16^th in aptly named Perseverance Park in Syracuse, located directly in front of a Chase building. Often overshadowed by New York City and Occupy Wall Street, upstate occupations have been active in local fights for social and economic justice. Many of us have met each other in the city or at Albany State action but, aside from email and social media, haven’t had much communication. Thanks to a dedicated group of people from Occupy Buffalo, Occupy Rochester, Occupy Albany, Occupy Syracuse, Occupy Binghamton and a few others I probably forgot The Occupy Regional Conference was a great success.

Numbers in attendance belie the value of face to face interaction of people representing their cities. A Better World Is Possible Moving Forward Together in Activism was an opportunity for occupiers and affinity groups to share there ideas and vision for the future coordination of Upstate action and organizing. From marijuana legalization to occupy’s role in elections, people from cities state-wide discussed issues that where relevant to them and got the feedback of others. A lot of ideas for issues for all upstate occupations to attack where put forth.

Due to the diligence of the organizers, the conference was visited by Captain Ray Lewis who gave an inspirational speech about his experience with the movement and the necessity for local organizing in the face of police repression. The always entertaining future president of the United States of America Vermin Supreme also joined in with his unique economic perspective. As usual ponies and proper dental hygiene were his main talking points although he did unveil his new combined renewable energy zombie preparedness policy killing two stones with one bird. Who knows what else we will hear from him on his road to the White House?

A few people from Buffalo, myself included, joined Occupy the Roads on their way to Syracuse from Buffalo after participating in Buffalo’s Juneteenth Celebration (3^rd Largest in The Nation). There were reports on Facebook that cops where getting ready to move in on the park. Upon arrival there were banners for every represented Occupation in front of several tents. The juxtaposition epitomized irony: under the light of a looming Chase Bank Tower, a small tent city.

The second day was much more free-form. The main organizers of the conference discussed state wide issues and targets for the future. The discussion centered around the local 1%ers that leverage our resources against us and how we can best attack these issues to garner statewide attention. Protesting “Too Big Too Fail Banks” and the military industrial complex is great, but to grow the movement local issues that affect and mobilize the community create a climate for activism that will foster national action.

The Occupy Upstate Regional Conference was a perfect segue to The National Gathering and I hope other states are looking to coordinate on statewide issues. Despite what Chris Hedges and other privileged writers and academics may see from their desks, Occupy is alive and well and never went anywhere. The only thing that has died is the mainstream media’s ability to commercialize the attention drawn to Occupy without actually talking about issues. Watch out 1% New York. See you all in Philly.

Occupations from all around upstate New York agreed that our event, A Better World is Possible – Moving Forward Together in Activism, hosted by Occupy Syracuse in Preservation Park June 16-17, 2012 was a great success. We were building community from the initial proposal to the event itself. Well before the big weekend, the planning process began to knit us together.



As Nate Kleinman, part of the National Gathering Work Group said on a FireDogLake webinar held June 14, about the upcoming national gathering, he felt the NGWG had already been successful through this process of planning. People from all over the country came together on the Interoccupy calls to plan the Gathering. We came together from all over NY, due to an idea put out about having a conference upstate. Within this process we got to know much about what our concerns are and how to work together towards a goal to benefit the greater good. We had already been successful in forming a new community of occupiers and activists. It was an enriching experience, and gives hope to what we are trying to accomplish, to grow a movement of the people for the people.



Many described the feeling of finally meeting long distance occupiers who had been planning together for two months as that of a family reunion. The conference was well attended by nine Occupies: Occupy Syracuse, Occupy Albany, Occupy Binghamton, Occupy Buffalo, Occupy Elmira/Corning, Occupy Rochester, Occupy Utica, Occupy Watertown, and two people who called Zucotti Park and OWS home. The feeling of family extended by day’s end to the stellar line up of guests and speakers. Capt. Ray Lewis related his experiences as a retired Philadelphia police officer who embraced Occupy and was arrested and chastised for doing so. Bram Loeb of Occupy Albany spoke about fracking, an issue deeply felt in NY. Alan Rosenthal of the NLG, gave a riveting and educational talk about the Prison Industrial Complex, and Sarah Datillo Via spoke about Moms for Marijuana. There were more teach-ins and a delicious dinner at Plymouth Church. We marched to and from the church, chanting and sign-holding. After dinner and back at the park, more love and solidarity came from the great guys in the bicylce powered band, Melodeego. At 8 pm, we had a Pots and Pans Ruckus and march in solidarity with Quebec.



Tents had been set up upon first arriving in the morning, including one by zany Presidential candidate Vermin Supreme and his wife, who stayed for the duration. We settled in to Occupy the park Sat. night, even though a foot patrolman had given warning in the afternoon that the tents and we would have to go by 10 pm. There was an air of apprehension for some but consensus to Reoccupy. Just when the last few folks were climbing in their tents, Occupy the Roads “V” (Whose V? Our V!) and three occupiers from Occupy Buffalo rolled up and some renewed revelry began. The excellent night watch team is reported to have talked down two visits from Syracuse police, one of which was an attempt to ticket the V for illegal parking, when the nightwatchman pointed out that the parking lot directly behind Preservation Park was owned by the Urban Renewal Agency and had no restricitons on weekend parking. The other was an approach by two policement in a squad car who seemed content that we would be out by morning. It was later hypothesized that the police just did not have the manpower or other resources to focus on the Occupiers. Two other permitted events very close to our encampment had kept most of the Syracuse police force busy all day: Juneteenth and Gay Pride Day. This seems to be a good strategic move to consider for Occupy events. Other events nearby are beneficial in bringing numbers of people to the streets, keeping the police busy, perhaps not wanting to derail the other events by confronting Occupy. There can also be nuts and bolts advantages like being able to piggy back on the many Port A Potties avaialble at the Juneteenth festivities.



On Sunday morning we had the chance to really brainstorm together. Issues on the minds of most of Upstate were fracking, the Prison Industrail Complex, and always one percent greed. Eric Block of Occupy Syracuse spoke about their local 1% developer, Bob Congell and the effect his buy ‘em cheap, take every available tax break, and abandon them brand of development has had on Syracuse, and a warning that he was targeting Rochester next. John Washington of Occupy Buffalo spoke about Industrial Development Agencies, and the need to highlight them here and nationwide. Occupy Buffalo has been doggedly attending Erie County IDA meetings since October, and has learned a lot about these non-elected, appointed boards who have authority to disperse county tax dollars. We could all agree that we need to develop and maintain unified oppostion to these development corporations that lay waste to our communities. We all agreed that continued collaboration and coordination in organizing a unified Occupy Upstate was desirable. To that end, we would continue to have upstate conferences at intervals to be determined by the organic planning process used.



Our final step was a Debrief call on Monday night. We had an informative discussion, with David Salerius of Occupy Syracuse giving us lots of facts about the economic situation in Syracuse. We talked about the core planning team and how the host Occupy has much to do in the way of setting up venues, hospitality, etc. in their city. It was proposed that we begin planning the next conference on our Occupy Upstate and Upstate Conference Planning Group facebook pages and resume our conference calls on Interoccupy when we have picked the next city and dates.



I suppose the main message to come out of this great first attempt at a regional conference in Upstate, NY is this:



We are here. We are ready. We are organizing. Watch your backs, 1%!