Happy Birthday Oakland Commune! Do you want to move to Lake Merritt? It’s last minute I know . . . but here’s a write-up of the thoughts some of your other friends and I were talking about today. Wanted to get them in the air, even though it’s almost time for your party. I wrote this up like a proposal, just for clarity. Whatever you decide, we’ll be there with bells on!
Thanks for everything you’ve been this last month. Thanks for reading this.
Whereas:
* The Oakland Commune anticipates being ousted from Grant / Ogawa Plaza perhaps as soon as tonight;
* People living at the Oakland Commune have a continuing need for the stability, security, and services that the Commune can be a true long-term platform for;
* People working to make a strong and viable and beautiful Commune, and people here and everywhere who are watching us, need this fantastic and complex eruption to survive;
* Police violence and busted heads do not serve either of these needs; and
* Tonight’s 5 – 10 pm Birthday Party will create an amazing celebratory mood and draw great attention–
Why not consider this:
What if the Oakland Commune’s birthday party culminated in a triumphal march to establish new digs at Lake Merritt? Specifically, below Grand, along Bellevue, in the flat space/s near the Nature Center, Jr. Art and Science Center, and permaculture gardens, up from where those little islands the birds love come close to shore.
How the Commune could get there:
* Walking in a calm-yet-jubilant procession that leaves sometime before the 10 pm scheduled end-of-party.
* Accompanied with brass, drums, and every kind of music.
* Escorted by community supporters and the interfaith vigil participants.
* Squarely in the eyes of all the independent activist cameras we can muster.
* Announced by kickass press releases that highlight the solidarity, flexibilty, and unquenchable spirit of the Commune, and say something to the effect of:
“If the City of Oakland truly hopes to meet the mayor’s challenge(http://www.mercurynews.com/occupy-oakland/ci_19298642) to find ‘a plan that does not cause additional injury to people . . . and [Oakland’s] reputation’ then the city will see that we are presenting that plan with our relocation to Lake Merritt.”
Why this spot:
* Lake Merritt is recognized as public space.
* The area is flat enough for tents, largely wheelchair accessible, and very near buildings that could serve well for kitchens and some indoor shelter, say for clinics and for children’s areas.
* An encampment there by the Oakland Commune would be near BART and bus stops. (Also conveniently accessible by water taxi!)
* The nearby rotunda could be used for GA meetings, or GA meetings could continue to be held at Oscar Grant / Frank Ogawa Plaza.
* The public library and Laney College are also close by.
* It’s an easy place to draw people to for events.
* It’s far enough back from the shore, on flat enough ground, to keep harmful nutrient flow from the lake.
* It is lovely, peaceful, spacious, and altogether a less stressful spot for life, work, and long-term organizing than the current digs.
An excellent idea!