Los Angeles Indymedia : Activist News

LOS ANGELES, November 25, 2011 - The Mayor announced this afternoon that he is ordering the closure of Solidarity Park (formerly known as City Hall Park). Standing with police chief Beck the mayor said that closure of the park would begin at one minute past midnight this Sunday night.

Reaction from occupiers was swift, with chants of "Hell no. we won't go" heard when the news reached the camp. One occupier is quoted has saying "They can shutdown our location, but they can't shutdown the spirit of the movement". The Occupy LA encampment is now the largest last standing camp in the nation. There are about 450 tents at the camp now with a camp population estimated at near 500 campers.

Occupiers are now mobilizing in two main groups: those prepared to engage in non-violent civil disobedience to resist eviction and those who can not risk arrest but can provide support in other ways. Occupiers are asking supporters to come to the camp this Sunday evening at 8:00 pm to help them defend the space.

From the Newswire: Occupy LA Braces for Police Raid this Sunday at Midnight | Occupy LA, Day 56 - Last Camp Standing | Shots from The GA that said NO by Robert Stuart Lowden

LOS ANGELES, November 17, 2011 - At seven o'clock in the morning thousands of people from the Occupy Los Angeles movement and associated groups converged on the 55 story Bank of America Plaza building in the skyscraper riddled area of the downtown financial district. The crowd was loud and impassioned, chanting "Banks got bailed out, We got sold out" or "This is what a police state looks like". There was every possible age and progressive political viewpoint represented by the inspired crowd.

There was heavy union participation in the first and second marches. Groups such as The Service Employees International Union and United Long Term Care Workers which is California's largest union were in full presence amongst others such Good Jobs LA . The police presence was the heaviest yet presented in the ongoing drama of Occupy Los Angeles. Tear gas weapons, rubber bullets and truncheons were displayed openly. The protest remained non violent throughout the days events and the weapons were not used. Occupiers cried "You are the 99 percent" to the LAPD officers with little visible reaction from the cops.
Full Report from the Newswire: Occupy Los Angeles Ups The Ante on November 17th (part three) by Robert Stuart Lowden

Also by Robert Stuart Lowden: Street sit-in and arrests, part 1 | N17 part two | Occupy BofA action | BofA action arrests

RIVERSIDE (CA) - Sunday, November 6, 2011 - Approximately 25 police in riot gear raided the peaceful encampment of Occupy Riverside yesterday afternoon. They dismantled and confiscated tents to the jeers of the demonstrators. The booth set up for the People's Kitchen and the media table were consolidated in the center of the plaza, and, in attempt to defend these stations and personal belongings, occupiers linked arms and formed a human chain around them.

In total 11 were arrested. There are many reports of police violence during the arrests; Many people were slammed to the ground, had their faced smashed into the concrete, and had the knees of officers applied to their necks and heads.

Reports from the Newswire:

Report From Occupy Riverside Police Raid by Rockero

Riverside Occupy encampment broken up by Kevin Akin

VIDEO: Occupy Riverside Raid November 6, 2011 by fbjr222

RPD Raid on Occupy Riverside 11-6-11 by OccupyRiv

BREAKING: Occupy Riverside getting raided RIGHT NOW by LA-IMC

UPDATE with video: Rally to Protect Free Speech from Police Brutality by Rockero

LOS ANGELES, November 5, 20011 - Saturday morning, fifty fours stories down from the top floor at the Wells Fargo skyscraper, a vigorous crowd protested and marched through the banking district of downtown Los Angeles. The protest was part of a nationwide day of action called "Bank Transfer Day". A coordinated action to move funds from large multi-national institutions to credit unions and smaller community banks.

Kristen Christian is a Los Angles Gallery owner and former B of A customer who started the revolt on her facebook page. Her page that states the case for using credit unions and small non investment banks while punishing the larger banks for their behavior since 2008 and before. She originally sent the her page out to 500 friends and now has 28,000 nationwide supporters. Some demonstrators cut up their credit cards in protest. Reports from the newswire:

Occupy Los Angeles Marches for Bank Transfer Day, set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 by Robert Stuart Lowden

VIDEO: Occupy LA Occupies California Plaza on November 5th by Kevin Lynn

As the Occupy LA camp approached its one-month mark, various issues were being addressed: Participants have been discussing how to create balance between revolution and partying, how to make the camp more engaging and inviting for passersby, and what to do if the Mayor/City Council decide the camp is no longer welcomed. Also, the occupation has agreed to join forces with the South Central Farm. Some of these issues were recently discussed on Uprising Radio.

The numerous world/societal problems being addressed at the occupation, besides the 1%, which affects everything, include legalizing marijuana, the continued dangers of nuclear weapons and nuclear energy, chem trails, impact of the war economy on Americans, and environmentally-sane lifestyles. New signs are being created all the time at the camp.

Photos: Pictures of Occupy L.A. (Oct. 24, 2011) R of the Northeast L.A. Radical Neighbors | Occupy LA / Imagine Fairness by Robert Stuart Lowden Occupy LA / Imagine Fairness /Photoset 2 by Robert Stuart Lowden

Meanwhile, indigenous people around the country are calling on the Occupy movements to represent and support first people's wishes and views. A poster seen at various demonstrations points out that "Wall St. is on occupied Algonquin land." Recently, "Occupy Albuquerque" has been renamed to "(Un)Occupy Albuquerque".

Here in LA (known as Yangna to the Tongva people), the emphasis has been placed on trying to get Occupy LA to support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. The US, of course, is among the few countries that voted against it (along with Australia, Canada, and New Zealand). (Although, here in California, San Luis Obispo Country officially recognized it last August 9. More here.) Poltical prisoner Leonard Peltier has also been emphasized, both here and on Wall Street. An issue very close to home is the desecration of Tongva burials at La Placita (aka: La Plaza), and there has been talk of having a march to there from Occupy LA.

Article: Report: The Indigenous Committee at Occupy LA by RP

On October 21, Occupy LA marched on Fox News because of its role in creating so many of our dire problems plus its ridicule of the Occupy Movement. Story and photos: Occupy LA and Others Protest Outside Fox News Shareholder Meeting by A | Video: VIDEO: Protest At Fox Studios by FYI

There has been some criticism about the running and operation of the camp: "In spite of some people's best efforts, OccupyLA has managed to re-create all the ills of the society we purport to change, right down to the do-gooders who want to tweak our system to make the problems less visible." Commentary: OccupyLA Still Here, and Coming Soon to a Hood Near You by Federica Lorca

In Riverside, the occupation that began on October 15 remains vibrant and strong with a reported 60 people participating in daily actions and about 30 camping. There has been a demonstration at a local Wal*Mart and solidarity with the people of Oakland in the wake of the massive police brutality there. One incident of police brutality has been reported in Riverside.

Reports and pictures by Rockero: Update from Occupy Riverside Day 12 Riverside Womyn of Color for Decolonization Spearhead Oakland Solidarity Rally | Video: Occupy Riverside disrupts auction of WWII vet's foreclosed home by Occupy Riverside

Updates by IMC-LA: BREAKING: Occupy Riverside reports three arrests outside of a Chase bank | BREAKING: Occupy Riverside getting raided RIGHT NOW | Photos from Riverside Raid