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Jan 20 Corporate Personhood v. Your Personhood: Who Has More Rights? Panel Discussion

January 19th, 2012 · · Announcements, Events Comments Off - Tags: , , ,

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Where: University of Houston, main campus, SEC building room 102, FREE PARKING! Drive down Cullen to park in the stadium lot across from Entrance 14. Walk across the street into Entrance 14 and you’ll see the SEC building immediately to your left.

Description: On Friday evening, January 20, join us for “Corporate Personhood vs. Your Personhood: Who Has More Rights?” This panel discussion commemorates the 2nd anniversary of Citizens United v. FEC, the latest in over a century of Supreme Court decisions establishing the doctrines that corporations are people and money is speech. Panelists include politician Chris Bell, lifelong activist Arthur Shaw, and NLG lawyer Burke Moore.

Find the flier here

RSVPs Appreciated but not required (Facebook)

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Jan 21: Who Killed Democracy? (Interactive Play)

January 11th, 2012 · · Announcements, Events, Next Event One comment

Join us on January 21 at 11 AM downtown for “Who Killed Democracy?”, an interactive street play featuring music, a parade, good guys, bad guys, and YOU. Bring the whole family for kid-friendly activities, build-your-own-hotdogs, and great conversation with members of Occupy Houston.

RSVPs not required but appreciated (Facebook event page)

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UNIDENTIFIED GUNMAN DOES NOT DETER OCCUPY HOUSTON

November 22nd, 2011 · · Announcements One comment - Tags:

Houston, TX, November 21, 2011 – At approximately 5:15 PM, a man wearing
business attire and carrying a rifle entered Tranquility Park from the
parking garage stairwell at the corner of Bagby and Rusk. He fired several
shots into the air and into the fountain while approaching the steel
bridge which crosses the fountain’s pool. According to Occupy Houston
participants, once on the bridge, the man indicated his intent to take his
own life with the weapon. HPD responded quickly and effectively,
incapacitating the gunman by wounding him in the leg with their sidearms.
The gunman was then taken into custody and immediately rushed to Ben Thaub
Hospital for treatment.

The as of yet unidentified gunman is not a recognized participant in
Occupy Houston, nor has he been determined to have any affiliation with
any of its members. At this time, Occupy Houston is not speculating on the
motives of the gunman, but we extend our sympathies to the seemingly
troubled young man who perpetrated tonight’s act of violence. We are
thankful that no one other than the assailant was injured, and we extend
our gratitude to the officers on scene who reacted quickly and with the
appropriate amount of force as dictated by the situation. Currently,
Occupy Houston has no plans to abandon Tranquility Park. We will continue
to conduct ourselves in the same peaceable manner that we have been for
nearly seven weeks while occupying the downtown area.

Occupy Houston participants will be available at 11:00 AM on Tuesday,
November 22 to answer any further questions regarding the incident and its
impact on the future of the movement.

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[UPDATED x4] 11/09/11 ARRESTS MADE AT TRANQUILITY PARK

November 9th, 2011 · · Announcements, Events One comment - Tags: , , ,

11/09/11 OCCUPY HOUSTON BUSTED BY COPS
ARRESTS MADE AT TRANQUILITY PARK

Information is coming out quickly: 9 arrested, 3 released. 1 (Steven) arrested for jaywalking. Many arrested for being under tarps supported by tables. Watch it live as it unfolds at

* http://www.livestream.com/occupyhouston

Also, follow updates on our Twitter
* https://twitter.com/#!/OccupyHouston

Information is also being posted to Facebook:
* https://facebook.com/OccupyHouston

UPDATE: We have a rough timeline of the situation available. All times are approximate.

  • 8:30pm: Approximately three Houston police officers approached Shaun, a sustainability and peacekeeping volunteer, calling his tarp a structure in violation of city ordinance. The previous night HPD advised us on how to put up a tarp and not violate ordinances, so Shaun refused and stayed with other Occupy Houston members under the tarp.
  • 9:30pm: Approximately 13 HPD officers are present at Tranqility park.
  • 10:00pm: Approximately 18 HPD officers are present at Tranquility park.
  • 11:00pm: Approximately 27 HPD officers in approximately 19 squad cars arrest seven members of Occupy Houston. Some had to be carried away.

HPD officers were in communication with Burke, a councilor working with Occupy Houston, advising on how to remove the tarp and items under the tarp, and how to avoid arrest. Shortly after Occupy Houston members were arrested Burke and his wife were seized then arrested by HPD officers for jaywalking. An HPD squad car was blocking the crosswalk at the intersection of Bagby St. and Walker St. at the time.

A majority of HPD offricers refused contact with Occupy Houston members requesting officer name, and badge numbers.

Those awaiting arrest used the people’s microphone to recite Amendments one through fourteen of the U.S. Constitution and HPD’s mission statement.

UPDATE 2: Houston police officers have confiscated the following items from Occupy Houston:

  • One trash can
  • One table
  • Two tarps
  • Three chairs
  • One blanket
  • One storage barrel

UPDATE 3: We’re uploading video and pictures of the event as we get them:
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The “tent” that started it all
HPD speaking with Shaun prior to arrest

HPD gathering
HPD gathering

UPDATE 4: We have the names of those arrested:

  • Shaun
  • Chris
  • Erick
  • Amanda
  • Rico
  • Matthew
  • Remmington
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WED NOV 2 Scott Olsen / Oakland Strike Solidarity March

November 1st, 2011 · · Events One comment

MARCH IN SOLIDARITY WITH SCOTT OLSEN AND THE OAKLAND GENERAL STRIKE!

STOP Police Brutality!
IN OUR COMMUNITIES
IN OUR MOVEMENT
EVERYWHERE

OCCUPY HOUSTON

JOIN THE RALLY AT TRANQUILITY PARK
11:30, WEDNESDAY, NOV 2
WE MARCH AT NOON
TO THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERRIFF’S OFFICE AT 1201 FRANKLIN

WE CONDEMN THE OAKLAND PD’S VIOLENT ATTACKS ON PEACEFUL OCCUPIERS!
POWER TO THE 99%!

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General Assembly Minutes – Oct. 29, 2011

October 29th, 2011 · · Minutes One comment

GA MINUTES – 10/29/2011

WORK GROUP REPORTS
Diversity – meet @ 850 carpool to KPFT for Queer Voices
Occupy the Streets – will continue travelling the streets
Flash Mob for Thriller Dance – Rehearsals @ 10 PM Tomorrow, target location will be revealed.
Security
- problem of theft
- take what you need from supplies
- need two volunteers for night shift
Facilitation – learns of a new process for consensus would like to meet with those interested

PROPOSALS
Proposal to send signed card to Scott Olsen in hospital – passed
Proposal to join in solidarity march November second at 11:30 Wednesday to Harris County Sherrif’s office – passed

OPINIONS
Mayor Parker’s election is imminent we need to make our presence known

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