the RESPECT party

The Occupy movement is a beacon in the political wilderness. It began with the Occupy Wall Street camp in September following the model of the Tahrir square camp in Cairo, the most potent symbol of the Egyptian revolution. The idea has spread globally with the Occupy movement establishing itself in over 90 countries. They are the revival and growth of the anti-capitalist movement that erupted after the Seattle protests of 1999.

This movement has succeeded in pushing a challenge to the neo-liberal, free market policies gripping much of the global economy. These policies have driven society over a cliff with unregulated gambling that has saddled the banking system and governments with unprecedented debt while property and food price speculation devour the poorest. We lose jobs, services and get wage cuts while the 1% reaps the profits. The 99% of society getting poorer is finding a voice against the 1% that grows richer each day. The world cries out for change.

The Occupy movement is about the failure of our political structures, major political parties and economic institutions. Not only have they failed to stop or resolve the gathering economic turmoil that now threatens a new recession and credit crunch, they have failed to even discuss an alternative model for society. In Italy and Greece, bankers are put in charge of the government, people whose policies have brought Europe to calamity. Every Occupy camp breaks open the debate about the alternative and that the 1% acts only in its own interest and we must act in ours.

In recent days, the most powerful symbols of the movement, the Occupy Oakland and Occupy Wall Street camps, have been subjected to police attack using dodgy and dishonest excuses. In London, there is a renewed threat to evict the camp at St Paul’s Cathedral. Repression and trying to put hands over the mouths of protestors will not work – it is this very ignorance and wilful blindness that has created the Occupy movement and will fan its revolt.

Instead of addressing the concerns of us all and opening up discussion of alternatives to austerity and allowing the richest to profit at our pain, disgraceful and tawdry attempts are being made to criminalize the Occupy movement. It is shameful that democratic, peaceful dissent is being dragged through the courts and police cells and those behind this should be held to account and thrown from office. We urge support for the Occupy movement and those being dragged before the judges. They are the innocent – the guilty sit in Cabinet, the boardrooms of the multinationals and the plush office of the City.

10 people were arrested under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act, Section 132(4) - Illegal Protest, while on an authorised march 5th November 2011. They are all scheduled to attend Westminster Magistrates Court this Friday, 18th November 2011.

For an account of one of the arrested, please see: http://www.scriptonitedaily.org/2011/11/voices-from-occupation-5th-november.html

Please come and show your support for these people. This is a peaceful presence to raise awareness of the issues impacting so many of us today. Bring banners, bring drums, bring your voices and your energy to raise awareness of the criminalisation of legal protest in the UK.