Occupy Providence
Encyclopedia
Occupy Providence began on Saturday October 15, 2011. According to the Boston Globe, well over 1,000 demonstrators, including children and adults of various ages, peacefully marched through the capital city before setting up camp at Burnside Park
in downtown Providence, RI. The march made its way through the streets of downtown Providence, pausing outside such institutions as Bank of America
, Providence Place Mall, and the Statehouse. But, Slowly, due to unknown reason, the protesters have slowly dwindled to a rough estimate of 60-100. There have been fights, and also drugs are being used and sold. Not much is known about how the protesters are dealing with these illegal practices.
(which began in New York City on September 17, 2011). According to the official Statement of Purpose as published on the Occupy Providence website on October 24, 2011, participants seek socioeconomic change “by means of a truly democratic General Assembly.” The "Occupy" protests are concerned with furnishing an alternative to corporate and lobbyist
-driven politics and with building "a society by, for, and of the people.” Occupy Providence is “non-violent, non-destructive, non-discriminatory and harassment-free” and prohibits all drugs and alcohol from the site of the occupation.
At the outset of the demonstration, city officials showed cooperation with the Occupy participants as police cleared traffic for the October 15th march and General Assembly. No arrests or acts of violence have been reported to date.
On October 24, 2011 Occupy Providence activists staged a public reading of a letter to Providence Mayor Angel Taveras
. The letter, made audible using the human microphone
system, thanked the Mayor for his cooperation thus far and requested that the protest be allowed to carry on in Burnside Park.
Many Occupy Providence participants that have been interviewed by the press state having no intention of leaving the park, while others are considering moving to another location. On October 26, 2011 the Boston Globe reported Steven Pare’s announcement that the city will consider taking legal action if protestors refuse to end the encampment. Pare cited concern for public health and safety and an ordinance prohibiting use of public parks past 9pm as grounds for action.
Related articles
Burnside Park, Providence, Rhode Island
Burnside Park is a small park situated in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, adjacent to Kennedy Plaza. Named for Ambrose Burnside, a general in the American Civil War from Rhode Island, an equestrian statue was erected in his honor in the late 19th century, and sits in the center of the...
in downtown Providence, RI. The march made its way through the streets of downtown Providence, pausing outside such institutions as Bank of America
Bank of America
Bank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
, Providence Place Mall, and the Statehouse. But, Slowly, due to unknown reason, the protesters have slowly dwindled to a rough estimate of 60-100. There have been fights, and also drugs are being used and sold. Not much is known about how the protesters are dealing with these illegal practices.
Background and aims
Occupy Providence is one of over 900 "Occupy" protests across the globe to be inspired by Occupy Wall StreetOccupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street is an ongoing series of demonstrations initiated by the Canadian activist group Adbusters which began September 17, 2011 in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City's Wall Street financial district...
(which began in New York City on September 17, 2011). According to the official Statement of Purpose as published on the Occupy Providence website on October 24, 2011, participants seek socioeconomic change “by means of a truly democratic General Assembly.” The "Occupy" protests are concerned with furnishing an alternative to corporate and lobbyist
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
-driven politics and with building "a society by, for, and of the people.” Occupy Providence is “non-violent, non-destructive, non-discriminatory and harassment-free” and prohibits all drugs and alcohol from the site of the occupation.
Cooperation with City officials
Though a group of protestors met with Providence’s Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare and other city officials on Thursday October 13, 2011, they decided to decline a city permit to inhabit Burnside Park. More than 100 tents were erected within the first week of Occupy Providence, despite some verbal pressure from city officials for a definitive exit timeline.At the outset of the demonstration, city officials showed cooperation with the Occupy participants as police cleared traffic for the October 15th march and General Assembly. No arrests or acts of violence have been reported to date.
On October 24, 2011 Occupy Providence activists staged a public reading of a letter to Providence Mayor Angel Taveras
Angel Taveras
Angel Taveras is an American lawyer and mayor of Providence, Rhode Island. Taveras is the first Hispanic mayor of the city and the third elected and fourth serving Dominican-American mayor in the United States....
. The letter, made audible using the human microphone
Human microphone
A human microphone, also known as the people's microphone, is a means for delivering a speech to a large group of people, wherein persons gathered around the speaker repeat what the speaker says, thus "amplifying" the voice of the speaker without the need for electrical or pneumatic amplification...
system, thanked the Mayor for his cooperation thus far and requested that the protest be allowed to carry on in Burnside Park.
Many Occupy Providence participants that have been interviewed by the press state having no intention of leaving the park, while others are considering moving to another location. On October 26, 2011 the Boston Globe reported Steven Pare’s announcement that the city will consider taking legal action if protestors refuse to end the encampment. Pare cited concern for public health and safety and an ordinance prohibiting use of public parks past 9pm as grounds for action.
See also
Occupy articles- List of global Occupy protest locations
- Occupy movementOccupy movementThe Occupy movement is an international protest movement which is primarily directed against economic and social inequality. The first Occupy protest to be widely covered was Occupy Wall Street in New York City, taking place on September 17, 2011...
- Timeline of Occupy Wall StreetTimeline of Occupy Wall StreetThe following is a timeline of Occupy Wall Street which began on Saturday, September 17, 2011 as an occupation of Wall Street, the financial district of New York City and is an ongoing demonstration....
- We are the 99%
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