NATIONAL DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST TO SPEAK IN BOISE

David Cobb, a fiery, humorous Texas orator, lawyer and former Green Party Presidential candidate, will be speaking in Boise on Wednesday, May 9th, at 6:00pm at the First Congregational United Church, 2201 Woodlawn Avenue. His talk is entitled “Creating Democracy & Challenging Corporate Rule.” This event is free to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

“David gave up his law career to dedicate himself to re-instating participatory democracy in our country. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Green Institute and in various roles with the Sierra Club, the Liberty Tree Foundation, the Program on Corporations Law and Democracy, and is a founder and spokesman for the national Move to Amend coalition.” Salem-News.com

“We are inspired by historic social movements that recognized the necessity of altering fundamental power relationships,” says Cobb. “Move to Amend is a long-term effort to make the U.S. Constitution more democratic.” The goal is a constitutional amendment to limit the power of corporations in our society, achieved by court decisions beginning in the 1880′s, that give corporations the same rights as actual human beings. The most recent ruling by the Supreme Court on the “Citizens United” decision in 2010 allows corporations to spend unlimited money on political campaigns as a 1st Amendment free speech right.

David’s presentation is sponsored by MovetoAmend.org and the Public Information Working Group of Occupy Boise. Donations appreciated. If you have questions or would like additional information, contact Mary at 258-3443.

Today, May 5th, the General Assembly reached consensus on the following proposal:

To restrict the Occupy Boise Vigil to the west lawn of the old Ada County Courthouse, between the sidewalk along 6th Street and the interior western sidewalk, and south of the area the State will be fencing for construction. All tents and other items and infrastructure belonging to Occupy Boise in the eastern side of the premises will be removed, or moved over to the new area. Individuals who elect to leave their tents from the eastern side of the site will be solely responsible for what happens to them, and they will not be considered any part of the Occupy Boise demonstration.

The reason for this reconfiguration is to address and assist with the inability of our Vigil Keepers to maintain the entire area, and to hopefully reduce or eliminate certain unwelcome activities that have been occurring at the site, especially on the weekends.

We will be having a meeting tomorrow, May 6th, at 11:00, at the camp, for the purpose of deciding upon which tents will be moved, maintained, or removed. All interested parties are invited to attend.

Come one, come all!  Down your tools and help us in honoring May Day and giving the Powers-That-Be an earful!

EVENTS

12:00—2:00 – Listening Across Differences:  Occupy Boise Vigil Site (6^th and Jefferson downtown) — Mary M. Clare, author of 100 Voices: Americans Talk About Change will speak about opening the door to dialogue to guide the reclaiming of our democracy

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Rally at Ann Frank Memorial

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. March to Capitol Park

5:30  – Celebration and conversation 

Listening Across Differences

Tuesday, May 1
12:00—2:00

Occupy Boise Vigil Site (6th and Jefferson downtown)
If weather is bad, please check big whiteboard at 6th & Jefferson for alternate location

Mary M. Clare, author of 100 Voices: Americans Talk About Change will speak about opening the door to dialogue to guide the reclaiming of our democracy

About the Author

Mary Clare is a professor and director of the Psychological and Cultural Studies Program at Lewis & Clark College in Portland Oregon. Her research and scholarship have focused on applications of psychology in schools with particular emphasis on identifying and correcting enculturated systems of oppression.

100 Voices: Americans Talk About Change
Mary hit the highways to survey Americans of all ages and backgrounds for their thoughts on the state of the country. Beginning with the prompt, “What does change mean to you?” this book is a journey to listen to the opinions and beliefs that stretch across a nation. Clare scribes with the hope of opening a door for dialogue across our differences, allowing each of her subjects the space to tell their stories. Each one proves compelling in itself, while showing that the concept of change is a shared hallmark of American identity.

In a time of manic politics and the acute distortion of democracy, this book points back at us – the people of the United States. These one hundred voices call for the radical act of listening to one another. Here is a book that arises directly from the cultural zeitgeist to guide the reclaiming of democracy.

Questions? Call Barbara at 342-3387.

Listening Across Differences Flyer

Media for the 99%: Where to Find Comprehensive Coverage of May Day’s National Protests

Tuesday is International and Immigrant Workers’ Day — May Day — and protests and strikes are planned in cities all over the country. Following the countless, explosive actions from coast-to-coast will no doubt be a chore. But to ensure easy access to updates from protesting cities, a diverse group of independent media outlets (including AlterNet) called the Media Consortium have teamed up to “reflect the breadth, diversity, and complexity of the American people” by hosting Media for the 99% — a place for coordinated, national multimedia coverage on May Day.

****The Department of Administration is accepting written public comment on the proposed rules through 5 p.m. on Friday, June 1. ****

New Anti-Occupy Rules Governing State Properties Published by Department of Administration – Boise Weekly
Posted by Andrew Crisp on Wed, Apr 25, 2012 at 1:51 PM

Citizens can now get their first look at two sets of proposed rules designed to curb demonstrations, not unlike Occupy Boise, on state property near the Idaho Capitol. The 2012 Idaho Legislature gave the green light to the Department of Administration to authorize new rules regarding behavior on Capitol Mall properties.

In two documents, one covering the interior of the Capitol Building, and another covering the grounds around the Capitol, the Department of Administration created definitions, time constraints and limits on “events” and “exhibits,” even as free speech, on the Capitol Mall and other Idaho state lands.

“The duration of an Event or Exhibit shall not exceed eleven (11) consecutive hours, or seven (7) consecutive days, including time for set-up and clean-up,” the department wrote.

It also limits events and exhibitions to the hours of 7 a.m.-6 p.m., which sets more restrictive limits than Judge B. Lynn Winmill’s decision in February, which barred only sleeping on state property.

Damage to the state’s grass areas, use of bicycles on unapproved pathways, affixing signs and cooking on state property are all banned under the current wording of the rules. Those restrictions could be interpreted as grounds to evict the group occupying the lawn off Sixth Street.

The rules come as the result of a bill passed by the Idaho Legislature in the final days of the session, which passed along a party line in both chambers, originating in the House Ways and Means Committee. During that hearing, lawmakers supporting the measure said it gave the State greater authority over public lands.

“This keeps in place [Judge B. Lynn Winmill's] order, and the judge has equated the erection of monuments as symbolic speech,” said Oakley Republican Rep. Scott Bedke. “But if the erection of monuments is speech now, or expression, then it becomes no different than the four pages of rules we have if you’re going to exercise your First Amendment rights on the Capitol steps.”

The move also allows the Department of Administration to limit use of Capitol Mall and other state properties through other temporary rules. That includes limits on activity within the Capitol Mall and Idaho State Capitol exterior, both of which include more extensive bans on protest and behaviors.

The Department of Administration is accepting written public comment on the proposed rules through 5 p.m. on Friday, June 1.

Occupy Boise Holds Up Construction at Old Courthouse  - Boise Weekly
Posted by Andrew Crisp

 But until the courts lay down a final verdict on the specifics of the encampment, the Department of Administration is remaining patient with its approach to the Old Courthouse grounds. Until then, new rules devised by the department governing state property, including time constraints and other concessions, won’t apply to Occupy.