This week in Sacramento, Occupiers from around the country are inviting people to gather to share knowledge and skills, build coalitions, find the intersections, celebrate successes – and prepare for another year of popular, grassroots organizing.
After taking place in Philadelphia in 2012 and last year in Kalamazoo, Mich., the third Occupy National Gathering moves west beginning July 31. The theme for the 2014 gathering, "Together We Rise!", emphasizes the importance of networking, coalition building and dialogue by activists of all colors, persuasions, and associations.
On Wednesday, a day before the Gathering begins, an anti-racism training for the public will be hosted by the Catalyst Project. Primarily designed for white activists, attendees will participate in an eight-hour session to address privilege, reveal blind spots relating to race in activism and propose practical steps to move forward as one movement.
Thursday is slated as First Nations/Environment Day, while Friday is scheduled as a Free Day, with time and space for attendees to lead their own activities. Saturday will be Action Day and Sunday will be a Network & Cooldown Day. The Gathering will be held mainly on the grounds of Capitol Park, with the exception of Saturday's peaceful, non-permitted convergence at Southside Park.
Confirmed activities for the four-day gathering include a Native-led blessing ceremony at sunrise; a Native-led panel discussion on environmentalism; daily yoga; music by the Fresh Juice Party; Zapatistas workshop; DeAmericanization; consensus decision-making workshop; media reform workshop; Jesus as Radical; Homeless Bill of Rights; NSA and the security state; solidarity economy workshop; Move to Amend; Idle No More; Justice for Jimmy Martyr; Better Off Budget; memorials for Occupiers who passed; film "Who Bombed Judi Bari?"; alternatives to violence workshop; FemGA (general assembly with a feminist perspective); DIY protest puppetry; guerrilla gardening; Debtors Assembly from Strike Debt Portland; Know Your Rights training; Overpass Light Brigades; indoor/outdoor movie nights, and a performance by the San Francisco Mime Troupe.
One aim of the event is to leave plenty of time free for attendees to form and lead their own skillshares, teach-ins, topical discussions, assemblies, actions and more. Numerous rallies and protests are planned in the capital for Saturday. For those who cannot join in person, log on and watch events through LiveStream; at least three streamers will be recording NatGat2014 throughout the gathering.
To get more information or to contribute in kind, monetary or in-person help, go to the NatGat2014 website. Follow NatGat2014 onFacebook and Twitter. Or sign up on celly.
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