January 17, 2012 in Uncategorized
As I type this, our delegation is standing by to welcome congress back to Washington. Keep up with their happenings at:
Ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/occupyroanokeva
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/OccupyRoanoke
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OccupyRoanokeVA
January 1, 2012 in Uncategorized
Occupying higher ground: Roanoke protesters maintain upbeat character - By Katelyn Polantz – The Roanoke Times
The Occupy Roanoke protesters have made a name for themselves by their relationships with police officers and the homeless.
While some Occupy protesters elsewhere have turned violent and hostile to police, Occupy Roanoke offers pleasant conversation.
A city police officer on Saturday parked his cruiser, lights flashing, on Williamson Road next to Occupy’s New Year’s Eve feast in Elmwood Park. The protesters greeted him and shook his hand.
The officer had stopped for a snack because the group contacted the police about the free food, the officer said. Protesters later delivered meals to firehouses and other public service workers as a way to say thanks.
December 24, 2011 in Uncategorized
by Audette Fulson
This holiday season, we at Occupy Roanoke have been sending out a lot of love and care to the community, and to human beings world-wide – especially all those who are Occupying! Recognizing this as a time of profound change, we’ve been paying attention to being open to diverse points of view, to differing religious perspectives, and also to our sense of gratitude wherever change is happening.
Fomenting a revolution is not easy work. Along the way, you need the support of friends and kindred spirits. You need times of rest, and the confidence of knowing others will carry on when you need to lay your burdens down. You need to trust that the road ahead is leading somewhere better. Here at Occupy Roanoke, we offer that to one another.
So this holiday season, no matter what you are or are not celebrating, we’re sending you wishes of peace, justice, and love. Happy Holidays from Occupy RoanokeVa.
December 5, 2011 in Uncategorized
In the United States of America, the election of our governing officials is one of our most sacred rights, and duties, as citizens. This is the place where our voice is most strongly heard. It is how our government derives it’s power. The Declaration of Independence states that “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed.” We give the government consent to lead us through our election process. By electing our leaders, we tell them that we entrust our rights to their good care. Our election process is certainly not a dog and pony show.
November 29, 2011 in Uncategorized
November 27, 2011 in At Elmwood Park
Yesterday, we had visitors from OWS who brought us copies of the NYC Declaration of Occupation. We marched to the Downtown Market and did a Mic Check.
November 26, 2011 in Uncategorized
Dear Homesteaders,
This is for those who cannot make it down in body, but are with us in the spirit of solidarity. We have a gorgeous day, excellent weather and even better company.
We have visitors. Some from OWS. Some others from Richmond are supposed to arrive during the course of the day.
Let us serve this as a hefty entree of reminder. While we are Occupy Roanoke, we are part of a greater body, an organism of voice, an entity of power derived from the mandate of the masses (not some farcical aquatic ceremony… sorry, that part just had to slip in there).
Many of us within the movement use the cliche, “We are Legion”.
Truth be told… we are an evolving force. We are not yet legion, but we are well on our way. Every week, hell, every day, we pick up new members, individuals who have begun to notice the presence of their respective Occupies and have begun to realize the central messages speak to them. We have grown from obscurity with the strength of a rising storm, signaling the coming winds of change.
Cliches. But they serve the purpose.
November 26, 2011 in Uncategorized
General Assembly minutes – November 19, 2011 – Tina Badger
November 21, 2011 in Uncategorized
(Note: All italicized components taken from the CLGC “Occupy Wall Street Response” proposal email, dated 24 November, 2011)
Dear Misters Clark, Lytle, Gedulig and Cranford,
You have done exactly what was expected. Someone was going to come up with a plan to reduce the Occupy movement to a pile of ashes and scatter it to the winds. Something to give those abrasive Occupiers a solid kick to the knicker bits and send them running home crying for the respective mothers, right? You beat other firms to the proverbial punch on that one with your awe inspiring plan to counter, confuse and outright contradict the movement. You should be congratulated, showered with praise and Christmas bonuses! You should be brought before the corporate kings and granted knighthoods, lands, titles, all the glories that arise from providing success for the nobility!
November 18, 2011 in Uncategorized
Let me begin by saying that these are initial thoughts, largely unfiltered and in many ways, they represent an emotional “purging” from an exhausting and illuminating trip to OWS in NY, on the November 17th Intl Day of Action.
Two main impressions are with me at the moment, and then I have many, many thoughts about us, where we go from here, and the like. Those I want to save for another day soon, and a higher level of writing care. 
Thanks for showing patience with this first, more raw post.
My first impression is a very, very, VERY negative one – and that is the level to which the powers that be, though the mechanism of the police, have firm, clear and frightening control over us. The array of tools at their disposal is deeply distressing, and perhaps none so much as their experience and the ease with which they can divert and contain our movement. The overwhelming use of violent force, as scary and horrifying as that is, really pales – for me – in comparison to how easily they just corral and contain even overwhelming popular uprising. After all, violence is bad optics, and tends to evoke sympathetic public perception. It’s easier and more effective to just bleed off energy and spirit and disallow real disruption while permitting a “controlled release of energy.” By the way, if you have not read this (http://newrivervoice.com/archives/6133#comment-49424) yet, you should stop reading this post and read that one Now let me explain a little.
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