We will meet at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1pm today with television and print media coming, our Mayor and others speaking. This blog includes video from Standing Rock, explains why we are not going to Allsups, why you should turn off your phone before coming to the protest, and more…
Initially, I felt the symbolism was perfect: supporting the Vets in Standing Rock at the National Cemetery and then marching two blocks to the Allsups that sells Phillips 66 gas to protest Phillips 66 investment in DAPL. But several folks pushed back indicating that Allsups is one of the major employers of immigrants, people who are often one missed paycheck away from financial crisis. The design of the event was set up quickly through email among New Energy Economy, EarthCare and Retake Our Democracy but we have adjusted our plans and will skip Allsups and go to Wells Fargo (a DAPL investor) on Paseo de Peralta. For more information on the 17 banks (including Wells Fargo) that are funding the pipeline and for contact information and scripts for the message to convey.
Click here for a NY Times video from yesterday that gives you a sense of the scale of the Standing Rock settlement, now reported to exceed 12,000. It will give you an idea of just how cold it is and how large the assembly of protesters. It may also inspire you to come today. The City Council is discussing and voting on a resolution to demand that Congressional leaders and President Obama stop DAPL.
Thanks to all who made suggestions.
Another supporter wrote to warn that it would be a good idea for folks to shut off their cell phones before they arrive. At other Standing Rock protests in Santa Fe, a likely everywhere, drones hover overhead. As this article describes, this is not innocent fun, but governmental data collection. So if you want to stay off lists gathered by NSA, etc. turn off your phones. Click here to read the article.
I wanted to also report that I have gotten some excellent input into the Canvassing model we are developing and so will be making some adjustments before sharing it in the next blog. One simple, but important change, is in the name for the activity, changing from ‘canvassing’ which conveys partisanship, to “Community Conversations,” which conveys more kinds of communication and a more informal, non-partisan form of communication. I hope that more of you sign up for Sunday the 11th and our Action Planning Teams. 450 of you jammed 1420 asking for things to do. And so far we have only about 15-20 people signed up for various breakout sessions. We can’t just come to big meetings, listen to great speakers and then stay home. Hope to see a packed house next Sunday. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
About 75 people jammed into the living room of Mariel Nanasi and Jeff Haas to hear former Mayor David Coss and Tomas Rivera, the founder of Chainbreakers. The gathering was a fundraiser for Chainbreakers, an inspiring volunteer and member-based organization founded 14 years ago. While for the first four years, their work focused on collecting bikes needing repair and giving them to low-income individuals who needed them them to get to work. This work included training people to repair and maintain their bikes. Then In 2008 with the economic downturn, their work expanded as they began organizing on issues related public transportation, housing and civil rights. Master organizers, one of their outreach strategies was to reach out to people on buses and engage them in conversation, a strategy that Retake Our Democracy should consider. Click here for a tremendous article about how Chainbreakers used conversations on buses as a means of organizing and obtaining information about the needs of low-income individuals. Click here for more on Chainbreakers and their inspiring work.
Hope to see many familiar faces today at 1pm. Let’s stand with our Water Protectors and the Vets protecting them.
Categories: Actions, Activist Organizations, Activists Websites, Boycotts, Civil Disobedience, Criminal Justice, Immigrant Rights, Indigenous Rights, Standing Rock
anyone interested in car pooling from de vargas mall?
Hi Paul, While it may be true that there are governmental data collection drones hovering around and turning off our phones is wise for anyone who does not want to be tracked, the comment from your reader may have come from their experience at the last Standing Rock demonstration (11/15) in front of B of A and Wells Fargo on Rodeo. At that event a guy from the local store SuperToys was flying a drone and taking video at the request of one of the organizers to /*support the protest*/ and post on Facebook. That was not clear to protestors, myself included until I went over to him to talk to him, so that may be part of the concern. If he has been asked to come again, it might be good to announce the reason for his presence so we can all give a big wave and shout out to the folks at Standing Rock! See you soon, Bob Alei
I have contacted the Royal Bank of Scotland and they have assured me that they have parted ways with Energy Transfer and never supported DAPL. They should come off the list of banks
Meeting is at 1pm, but there are three sessions, so maybe that is what has confused you.
It isn’t my list, so I can’t do that. But when we convene the Research Team next Sunday, one of the tasks will be to do some serious research on this.
Please check your sign up form as it lists two different times for the Dec. 11 diversifying the base meeting. Thanks.