Supporter at
Freedom Square 
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Sunday, October 9, 2011
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WINTER IS COMING - a reminder, if you or your community is able to offer material support to OWS in Zuccotti Park this winter, either through gifts of blankets, or through physical space (industrial kitchens in high demand), or through volunteers, please contact our Support Committee via Juan-Carlos Ruiz
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November 10th
This coming Thursday from 10a - 12p, we will be holding a faith-leader meeting here at Judson to go over all these details and answer any questions. All are welcome
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THANKING OCCUPY WALL STREET'S NEIGHBORS
November 11 to 13
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Pushing back against some of the negative press OWS has received, we are encouraging all our communities to visit the financial district this weekend to
1) spend money at local businesses, and
2) help clean-up the neighborhood. This can either be done in coordination with folks in Zuccotti Park, or you can organize your own community clean-up action this weekend.
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GOING FORWARD
If you would like to help organize, host, or participate in one of the multi-faith services (usually Sundays at 3:30p in Zuccotti Park),
please contact Rev. John Merz (ascensionbrooklyn@gmail.com)
or Eric Jackson (ejackson@drew.edu) |
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Learn more about the Spirit behind the movement
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About Us
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The Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing is a coalition of religious organizations and individuals working with and on behalf of homeless, poorly housed, and at-risk individuals. A not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, The Assembly was founded in 1986 at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City.
The Assembly addresses homelessness in two ways: helping those who are homeless recover from the trauma associated with their homelessness and begin to rebuild their lives - through our Life-Skills Empowerment programs; and by working with our broad base of coalition partners in supporting the establishment of public policies that will provide needed services to those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and supporting policies that will produce and preserve housing affordable to homeless and low income New Yorkers.
IAHH Brochure
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Occupy Wall Street Faces More Challenges as its Impact Continues to Grow - concerns about a possible "clean-out" of Zuccotti Park by NYPD
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A note from Reverend Michael Ellick, Minister
Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square Park South
New York, NY 10012
646.734.0162
a coordinator with Occupy Faith NYC
Friends,
There have been signals from reliable channels that the NYPD might "clean out" Zuccotti Park. While these reports could be premature, intentional static, or even rumor; the OWS community has asked that we put out an alert. While it still seems premature at present for people to be going down there in force, individuals who would like to be on their rapid response system, can do so by texting 23559, and writing @occupyalert in the text box.
If a call goes out for individuals to go down and stand with them, or to start calling the Mayor's Office in support of these ongoing protests, you will be notified by text message, and I will send out an email to the "occupyfaithNYC" list.
Occupy Oakland
Some have expressed concern at news reports that Occupy Oakland's general strike turned violent. At this point it seems that any violence was initiated by the Police, and that all protests were designed to be entirely peaceful. But it is an important reminder that Occupy Faith remains entirely committed to non-violence in these demonstrations.
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Sign-On Statement, Multi-Faith Support
of "Occupy Wall-Street"
| "We, the people of faith communities throughout New York and the United States, see in the spirit of Occupy Wall Street a promise of democracy renewed.
Our spiritual traditions are clear: the impoverishment of the many for the benefit of the few destroys us all. The cries of our people are clear: the American dream is compromised; the middle is slipping away; and in our politics, fairness is dissipating. The Soul of our Nation is threatened by many false idols.
So together we affirm the golden rule: do to others as you would have them do unto you. We commit ourselves to the restoration of justice for all in our economy, and compassion in our politics, that together we might behold a revolution of values for all our people. We ask all Americans to join us in this prayer, that once again our country might be the fulfillment of hopes and dreams for all who reach its shores."
To sign onto this statement, go to |
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Reports of Police "Referring"
Homeless People to Zuccatti Park
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There have been recent reports, including the Gawker article linked here that police have been sending homeless people to Zuccatti Park, causing some difficulty to the OWS community. We also know that a number of social workers and others have been in Zuccatti Park to assist the community to address the issues resulting from this situation.
The Interfaith Assembly and our partners have begun discussing some possible responses to this - including organizing a teach-in with OWS on homelessness and affordable housing sometime next weekend.
Please look for updates in our upcoming e-newsletters for developments and details. |
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Much More from OCCUPY FAITH NYC
Upcoming Actions and Events
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November 17th - Plans are in place for a major celebration of the "two month" mark on Thursday, November 17th. As part of the early morning phase of this celebration (shhh... it's a surprise, but think "shock and awe") we are collecting specific stories of people and/or families who have suffered from our current economic system. The issues could be varied, but if you have stories from within your community that you'd like to share, email austin@alignny.org
Day of Action (11/17) Subway Teach-Ins: all across the city on November 17th, people will be "occupying" subway stops (nothing illegal) by gathering for public "teach-ins," handing out literature, etc. You and your faith community are welcome to join in with one of the existing stops that have been selected, or to organize your own occupation at your own neighborhood subway stop. So far the stops include:Atlantic Terminal and Broadway Junction in Brooklyn; Jackson Heights and Roosevelt Mall in Queens; 149th 3rd Ave (or Grand Concourse) in the Bronx; 125th St Broadway in Manhattan; and the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in Staten Island. More info as requested.
Day of Action (11/17) Moves to Foley Square at 4p: after the teach-ins, groups will all take the subway together to Battery Park, where they will convene and march up past Zuccotti Park to Foley Square at 4p. The plan is to make this the largest gathering of Community Groups, Activists, Faith Communities, and Labor in the history of NYC - so PLEASE HELP US GET THE WORD OUT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND/OR EMAIL. If you can't do any other part of this day, please bring your faith communities (and everyone) to Foley Square at 4p for this special gathering. Faith Communities will gather inside the park, immediately West of the Fountain, by the intersection of Centre & Pearl St. Help us put this day in the history books. And blogs.
Day of Action (11/17) The Brooklyn Bridge: After the Foley Square rally, a large portion of this crowd will the march to the Brooklyn Bridge to practice non-violent civil disobedience. The idea is to temporarily close the bridge down, and send a message in doing it. Naturally, it will be up to each and every faith leader (and their communities) to decide if this is a move you want to make, so we will say no more about it and leave it up to each of you. If you are interested, there will be trainings offered on Saturday 11/5 and Saturday 11/12 at 10a at Judson Memorial Church.
November 11th - 13th - Pushing back against some of the negative press OWS has recieved, we are encouraging all our commuities to descend on the financial district this weekend to 1) spend money at local businesses, and 2) help clean-up the neighborhood. This can either be done in coordination with folks in Zuccotti Park, or you can organize your own community clean-up action this weekend.
November 21st- Living Wage Event at Riverside Church. More information on this as we get closer, but please save the date. |
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