Mike Check: Occupy this?

Comment

Comment by Moya Marlene Atkinson on January 2, 2012 at 2:25pm

Hi Laura,

Thank you so much for your comment. In this response, I can't comment on the need for custodians to earn the County's Living Wage, but I'm very glad to comment on the Occupy Movement.

There are two events coming up on the topic of huge inequality and an amendment to the Constitution to repair the damage done by the Supreme Court's decision re: Citizens United v. FEC. Go to: Sat. Jan. 14, 2-4, Shirlington Library, Organize for constitutional... - it's my blog which was posted yesterday. As ar esult of this meeting, we plan to create groups to promote resolutions to our local jurisdictions in support of an amendment, as well as to provide educational opportunities. Also, check out Annie Leonard's "The Story of Citizens United v. FEC.. It's only 9 minutes long. You can find it on The Story of Citizens United v. FEC.

Our Global Peace through Justice group held a very well attended program on this topic at our church on December 11, so the January 14 program will be an excellent opportunity to follow up and take action. All are welcome!

Save the dates - January 20 - Occupy the Courts. January 21, Occupy the Corporations. For information on these events in downtown DC, go to: Occupy the Courts. Occupy the Corporations.

And lest we forget, our own church has been active in supporting the two Occupy sites in DC. During October, November and December 22 and 29  we provided meals, sleeping bags and food to both sites. We're working with the Network for Spiritual Progressives to plan a more sustained long term presence, including monthly commitments from thirty-thirty-one congregations to provide meals once a month. It may be difficult to feed the total number of Occupy participants - around 200 at each site, but we can at least provide something, so that the organizers know they can depend on something each day.

On Saturday, Feb. 4 the Unitarian Universalisats for Social Justice of the Metropolitan DC area will host a morning workshop at the Mt. Vernon UU Church from 8:30-12:30, where we hope that we will galvanize member congregations and any folk who'd like to come, to join us. Kevin Zeese, of the Occupy DC Freedom Plaza site will be a plenary speaker, as will Aquene Fairchild, Senior Organizer with Public Citizen of the Constitutional Amendment issue  to restore democracy. Members of the UU Church of Fairfax will discuss Prof. Lawrence Lessig's work;  he is the author of Republic Lost. A formal flier on this workshop will be posted shortly.

Want to support Global Peace through Justice's work? Contact Sara Anderson (saraandray@aol.com) or me (moyaatk@ayahoo.com).

Comment by Laura Dely on December 27, 2011 at 10:47am

Occupy highlghts the broad strokes of economic inequality that permeates our country today. It is exciting to  see the enthusiatic response to their cries of "We are the 99%!" There have been reports, editorials, documentaries about American inequality, but the passion needed to change that came about with the Occupy movement.

In the cold months, it would be great if the movement sponsored forums to discuss and learn how we got to this extreme inequality. I hope too that Arlington County will use its leverage with its landlord to see that the County Offices are cleaned by custodians earning the County's Living Wage, which is actually several dollars more than what the landlord pays them. If the County can't get that change, then we UUs should engage the local Occupy Movement and engage them in a campaign to highlight the poverty wages that companies may legally pay thier workers today, and work to get the County's custodians paid the Living Wage.