Occupy Des Moines - Ready For New Round Of Protests

Aerianne · Nov 1, 2011

Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) -- Occupy Wall Street activists plan to amass in Iowa one week before the Iowa caucuses -- up to the day they're held on Jan. 3, CNN has learned.

The plan has been dubbed the "First in the Nation Caucus Occupation" -- a play on words for the first-in-the-nation presidential contest. The idea is to have activists from across the nation, and possibly beyond, descend on Iowa.
The plan: "people coming to Iowa, occupying every presidential (candidate's) office, shutting them down until they start talking real turkey about what's going on in this country, where the 99% of the people who are not benefiting, at the expense of the 1% who are getting away with murder," said Frank Cordaro, one of the organizers.
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http://www.clickondetroit.com/politics/29643128/detail.html

Tyrsonswood · Nov 1, 2011

Right on!

Aerianne · Nov 6, 2011

A new web video comes as evidence the hacker group Anonymous is getting involved in the 2012 election.

The Des Moines Register reports that Anonymous has claimed responsibility for a clip encouraging viewers to disrupt January's Iowa caucuses. The Hawkeye State-based outlet notes that local authorities are not taking the news lightly.

The two-minute YouTube video is narrated by a synthetic-sounding voice leveling a charge that both Democrats and Republicans have "failed us" -- citing ties to megacorporations as a key factor. Taking the argument a step further, the video alleges that both parties are guilty of deliberately driving tens of millions of people into poverty.

"Voting for these parties is unethical," the voice says. "They have destroyed the American democracy."

The clip reveals details of a planned caucus shutdown, beginning two days after Christmas.

"We are calling upon you to occupy the campaign offices of presidential headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa on December 27th, and peacefully shut down the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses on January 3," the voice says.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/06/occupy-iowa-caucus-anonymous_n_1078904.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkAWW9CwIRM"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkAWW9CwIRM

Aerianne · Dec 2, 2011

Occupy Protesters To Target Iowa Drone Facility

An economic success story for Iowa could turn out to be a horror story for civil liberties, say Occupy Wall Street activists who are protesting plans by a California firm to open a facility making drones for government agencies.

Economic development officials cheered this year when AirCover Integrated Solutions Corp. of Redding, Calif., picked Iowa over other states to make its line of unmanned aerial vehicles with cameras meant for emergency response and police work. The firm decided to locate in Cedar Rapids
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"The prospect of having drones flying around, spying on people, is kind of horrific," said Nate Adeyemi, an Occupy Cedar Rapids protester helping organize the rally. "It's such an infringement upon the human right to privacy."

Adeyemi said he expected 100 or more activists to protest outside the century-old Cherry Building, where AirCover hopes to start making its products in January.
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Occupy protesters are considering other rallies in Des Moines outside the Iowa Department of Economic Development, whose board awarded AirCover a $175,000 loan that will be repaid with interest between 2017 and 2020 based on its revenues; and at the University of Iowa Operator Performance Laboratory, which will work with the firm to hone its technology.
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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/02/state/n071326S78.DTL&type=business

Aerianne · Dec 14, 2011

Iowa Republicans Are Preparing For Possible Interruptions In The Jan. 3 Caucuses By Occupy protesters.

At a recent mock-caucus training session in Ames, the county Republican chairman advised local party officials that the caucuses are private party events, even though many will be taking place in public buildings.

If demonstrators become unruly and attempt to disrupt a caucus, then police should be summoned, party officials were advised.

At the same time, if a member of an Occupy group signs in as a Republican voter, he or she should be allowed to participate, the advice went, including during a portion of the caucuses in which issues are discussed.

However, the party officials were reminded that it takes at least two people to make a proposal—one to propose a motion and another to second it. By that calculation, it would take more than 3,500 protesters to have an impact at all 1,774 caucuses.

Party leaders expect any disruptions to be limited to Des Moines and other heavily populated areas, if they occur at all.
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http://www.latimes.com/news/politic...iewed+Stories)&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Aerianne · Dec 18, 2011

Occupy Protesters Rally At Obama's Iowa Headquarters

Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) - Occupy protesters in Des Moines were joined by members of Veterans for Peace outside of President Barack Obama's Iowa re-election campaign headquarters Saturday, calling on the president to end all foreign wars and cut the U.S. military budget in half.

Using the people-powered megaphone the Occupy movement calls a "mic check," some 35 protesters spoke with a unified voice.

"To fulfill the Occupy Wall Street movement's call to return our country's economic and political life back to the 99%, we will need a president who will make the dismantling of the U.S. military empire their number one foreign policy priority," they said.

Protesters had planned to commit an act of civil disobedience, by entering Obama's headquarters and staying put, but were thwarted because the campaign office was closed.

Rather than be discouraged, however, they said the closed office was a victory.

"We know this office is open on Saturdays ... they knew we were coming, and President Obama is afraid to deal with us," said Frank Cordaro, a protester.

A call to the main number at the Des Moines office was not answered on Saturday.

As the Iowa Caucus heats up, so too will the protests in and around Des Moines. The local Occupy movement says it expects hundreds of people from across the country to join its protests in what is being dubbed "Occupy the Caucuses."
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http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.co...testers-rally-at-obamas-headquarters-in-iowa/

Aerianne · Dec 19, 2011

Eight people affiliated with Occupy Des Moines were arrested this afternoon at the Iowa Democratic Party headquarters in Des Moines.
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Twelve people had walked into the headquarters late this morning. They were there to demand that President Obama veto the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the omnibus spending bill. Police told the protesters that they could either leave the headquarters or be arrested.
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Demonstrators had been at Obama’s campaign headquarters much of the weekend. However, the office was closed and protesters were not able to talk personally with anyone about their concerns. Demonstrators decided to move the Obama campaign office occupation at approximately 11 to the Democratic party headquarters.

“They don’t want to be hear to listen to us, we decided to go to the state headquarters and make them listen to us,” Occupy member Daniel Bragg said.

Occupiers were at the headquarters about three hours.
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A building management representative told the group at the Democratic headquarters that the premises is private property.
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http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.c...oines-office-continues-without-police-action/

Aerianne · Dec 27, 2011

Occupy the Caucus Is Ready to Go in Iowa

DES MOINES — As the Republican presidential candidates make their final pleas to voters across Iowa, a local offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street protests here has traded in tents for its own campaign office.

A handwritten “Occupy the Caucus” sign hangs from the second-story windows of an old brick storefront, just blocks away from the state Capitol in the city’s downtown. Organizers rented the office — $1,500 for a one-week lease — expecting hundreds of Occupy demonstrators from across Iowa and surrounding states to gather and take advantage of the news media presence leading up to the Jan. 3 caucus.
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Read More: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/27/occupy-the-caucus-is-ready-to-go-in-iowa/

tikoo · Dec 28, 2011

Raucus Caucus

well , the real heart thing is just coffee time at
the cafe at the edge of the corn patch . my old
dad says he and his pals have been amending the
constitution .

anyway , i might as well go downtown and whoop
on the big drum . last time i did that the most
interesting comment was that it gave that political
event some dignity . nope , i wasn't playing a war
drum - mostly just a heart-beat and sometimes
an energetic splash of jazzzy . a strange girl came by
and was singing . she sang a sweet "iowa , iowa , iowa"
on and on .

and then a media guy took my pic , which later i found
posted on the net . his comment was " i'm pretty sure
the man was mentally ill " .

Aerianne · Dec 28, 2011

tikoo said:

and then a media guy took my pic , which later i found
posted on the net . his comment was " i'm pretty sure
the man was mentally ill " .
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Not surprised at all. The media spins it to make all the Occupiers look like there's something wrong with them.

Aerianne · Dec 28, 2011

Occupy Romney!

About 70 people stood outside Romney campaign headquarters, beat drums, chanted and knocked on the office windows but were otherwise subdued.

Most moved to the sidewalk when Des Moines police asked them to after about 25 minutes except for six who stood in front of the door.

They refused to leave until their demands of the day were met. Those demands were that Mitt Romney return $61,500 he received in campaign contributions from Wells Fargo and that he release his tax returns.

Police then bound the hands of the protesters with plastic ties and led them to waiting wagons while other protesters cheered.

News crews took video and photos of the arrests, as did several of the Occupiers and even the police, who sent a sergeant to the scene with a hand-held video camera.

“The purpose of us videotaping this is we know we’re going to be videotaped by somebody else, but what we’ll do is we’ll use our videotape as evidence that will be taken into property and submitted into evidence when they have their date in court,” Des Moines Police Sgt. Chris Scott said.

Those arrested at the Romney office and the Wells Fargo branch would be charged with misdemeanor trespassing, Scott said, which is a citation offense.

“They won’t have to be put in jail,” Scott said
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Read more: http://globegazette.com/news/iowa/o...1b4-11e1-9ebb-001871e3ce6c.html#ixzz1ht6evmkm

Tyrsonswood · Dec 28, 2011

Occupy Romney's head.... It's vacant at the moment.

tricknologist · Dec 28, 2011

Aerianne said:

Iowa Republicans Are Preparing For Possible Interruptions In The Jan. 3 Caucuses By Occupy protesters.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politic...iewed+Stories)&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
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Iowa Republicans are using this as a pretext to count the votes in a hidden location. They're really freaking out over the possibility of Ron Paul winning, and this is how they're going to rig the vote. I think they'll be some what disappointed if the "occupation" fizzles out since it's going to be their cover for vote fraud.

tikoo · Dec 29, 2011

the DesMoines Occupiers when atttending Ron Paul events are
very serene , polite and smiley . the local media interprets this behavior
as an endearingly funny endorsement .

tikoo · Dec 29, 2011

Aerianne said:

The media spins it to make all the Occupiers look like there's something wrong with them.
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when doing what's essentially a public spirit
action , i will trance out mildly . as in coming
out of it for an unexpected interview - my first few
words might
have an odd syntax .

Aerianne · Dec 29, 2011

tikoo said:

when doing what's essentially a public spirit
action , i will trance out mildly . as in coming
out of it for an unexpected interview - my first few
words might
have an odd syntax .
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That's understandable when you are doing work holding energy, which it sounds like you were. It was out of line, in my opinion, for the interviewer/photographer to say that he was pretty sure you were mentally ill.

Aerianne · Dec 30, 2011

Occupy Protesters Arrested In Iowa As They Target GOP, Dems Days Ahead Of State’s Caucuses

Police arrested more than a dozen Occupy protesters Thursday in Iowa who are targeting Democrats and Republicans just days before the state’s closely watched lead-off presidential caucuses.

Five protesters were arrested outside the Iowa campaign headquarters of presidential contender Ron Paul in Ankeny before the group moved on to the Iowa Democratic Party headquarters in Des Moines, where 12 more were taken into custody. All were ticketed for trespassing and released.
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Occupy the Caucuses spokeswoman Danielle Ryun, who was among those arrested at the state Democratic Party headquarters, said the goal is not to be arrested. But since campaign officials won’t listen to them, protesters are willing to be arrested to get their message across, she said.

“It would be great if we could show up, issue our concerns and have the candidates acknowledge us and change their platform,” she said.
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Protesters at Paul’s campaign headquarters were protesting his proposal to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency if elected.

Ryun said the Paul campaign headquarters were locked when protesters arrived. By locking their doors, campaigns “are signaling to us that they have become disengaged,” Ryun said.

A telephone message left for a Paul campaign spokesman was not returned.

At the Iowa Democratic Party’s offices, protesters targeted President Barack Obama, demanding that he put a stop to home foreclosures, turn down campaign donations from Wall Street, and end indefinite detentions of detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

“They’re all going to get equal play on this,” Ryun said. “We are very disillusioned with every candidate.”
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio.../29/gIQAcvYgOP_story.html?tid=pm_national_pop

Aerianne · Dec 30, 2011

Occupy Ron Paul!

As part of their promise to “go big,” protesters with the 99 Percent movement have been interrupting campaign-related events all over Iowa in the week leading up to the nation’s first major presidential candidate selection contest, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul was not given an exception.

During a rally with veterans last night, candidate Paul saw his speech interrupted by a group of about 20 occupiers, who began shouting as Paul was mid-sentence. After a few seconds, the crowd responded with a boisterous chant of the candidate’s name, over and over again.

“Why do you hate gays?” one of the protesters shouted. “Why do you hate the 99 percent?” Another reportedly asked why he wants to repeal Roe v. Wade and “control a woman’s reproductive decisions.”

“Freedom of speech, ain’t it wonderful?” Paul responded.
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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/12/29/occupy-protesters-interrupt-ron-paul-why-do-you-hate-gays/

Aerianne · Dec 30, 2011

Purpose of Occupying The Caucus

Occupy the Caucus kicked off on December 26th, and will continue until January 3rd, according to the Occupy Iowa Caucuses website. Iowa Republican Chairman Matt Strawn criticized the Occupy the Caucus movement for planning to "disrupt" the process, but occupiers dismiss his judgement as propaganda. CBS reports that, despite what Republicans might want Americans to believe, occupiers are not in Iowa to disrupt the caucus, but participate:

"The main goal is to draw that connection between the corrupt culture on Wall Street and the corrupt political culture in Washington DC," says Ed Fallon, a radio host and former Iowa Assemblyman who has emerged as one of the leaders of the movement in Iowa.

Fallon dismissed Strawn's concerns, saying, "We have made it emphatically clear over and over again that we have no plans to disrupt the process on January 3." Indeed, many occupiers say they plan to participate in the caucuses - but vote "uncommitted" as a protest against what they see as a corrupt political system.

Fallon said the movement simply wants to "call them out" - both Republicans and Democrats - for ignoring the needs of the many to favor the wealthy few.

"The opposition is trying to characterize the movement as a bunch of disgruntled renegades who are unwashed and uninformed," he said. "It's a game they're playing to hype up opposition to what the movement is all about.
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http://www.alternet.org/newsandview...y_will_participate,_not_'disrupt'/#paragraph3

Aerianne · Dec 31, 2011

Occupiers Arrested At Campaign Headquarters

Eighteen protesters connected to the nationwide Occupy movement were arrested Saturday outside the presidential campaign headquarters of Republicans Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.
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More:http://www.boston.com/news/politics...st_5_protesters_arrested_outside_bachmann_hq/

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