Originally posted on my tumblr, on which I’m following the Occupy movements in upstate New York as closely as I can – http://mangiaratti.tumblr.com

On Saturday, October 15, the Global Day of action, about 300 people showed up to “Occupy Binghamton,” a protest that is part of a grassroots movement organized by a large group of people, including Binghamton University, Broome Community College, and the union AFO-CIO. The event began at the park located at the corner of Court St. and State St. in Binghamton, where participants gathered to hold signs for an hour before having a general assembly and citizen speak out.

Cars passing by honked their approval. Some participants could be overheard remarking to each other, “Don’t honk, join us.”

Click to read more and see photos.

 

Having just returned from Occupy Wall Street – NYC, I have learned much about the capacity of people to cooperate and connect. Finally, I see the end to the tunnel of citizen apathy, diminished expectations and assured mutual self destruction. Finally, I see young, old, able, disabled, fortunate and unfortunate sharing, caring and working in the streets for a sustainable future. It is wonderful to witness and more wonderful to participate in.

The permit to occupy Liberty Park (Zuccotti Park) didn’t include P.A systems or megaphones. Thus, people use people to transmit speakers’ words and phrases during General Assembly each evening. The speaker stops often for various parts of the crowd to echo the last spoken clause, before resuming. The crowd reverberates the words and soul of the speaker. We are joined, listening carefully, responding carefully, caring considerably.
If a person wishes to speak or interrupt, he or she or she/he yells out “MIKE CHECK, MIKE CHECK, MIKE CHECK”. The crowd noise invariably lowers, and the new speaker begins to lead the discussion. Interruptions are infrequent, but honored. The mutual respect is palpable.

Each morning at nine, representatives from the various “working groups” sit cross-legged on the concrete under a large red sculpture that to me resembles a spinning gyroscope. Members of the clean-up crew weave around sleeping bodies and this small forum of consensus elected reps. Here too, one hears a muted “Mike check, Mike check, Mike check”. In this case, the caller can’t hear the current speaker and signals to the person to speak up. Courtesy abounds here. Many working groups report – Coordinating, Internet, Sanitation, Art and Music, Outreach, Logistics, Disabilities, Public Relations, Financial, etc. All are given opportunity to share their concerns, aspirations and daily accomplishments, but kept on point and within time constraints. These people are organizing for the long haul, but keeping the short term problems center stage. They sense time has arrived for them to build a movement from the ground up and are taking their role in it seriously.

It is time for us, however we can, to “MIKE CHECK, MIKE CHECK, MIKE CHECK” and take our time to speak out or, at least, make sure we hear and transmit the messages coming from this growing movement. We all can do something, here, there, at work or at play to keep the momentum growing. Wall Street is finally getting nervous and it’s not from regulators in NYC or Washington, DC. It from activated citizens who are standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the streets worldwide.

The “99%” have more power than the “1%” who own most of our country. We just need to collectively exercise that might through non-violence and focused action here and now.

Susquehanna River has a History of Flooding
by The Associated Press

An aerial photo shows the flood waters around West Branch of the Susquehanna River and Susquehanna River merging into one in Sunbury, Pa. Nearly 100,000 people from New York to Maryland were ordered to flee the rising Susquehanna River as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee dumped more rain across the Northeast, closing major highways and socking areas still recovering from Hurricane Irene.

read the rest of the article at http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/Susquehanna-River-Has-A-History-Of-Flooding%20_2011-09-11

Endwell Resident Among 15 Human Rights Activists Facing Trial for Nonviolent Direct Action
the White House in Washington, DC

Washington, DC – Endwell resident Jack Gilroy is among 15 human rights advocates who are scheduled to go on trial on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 for engaging in nonviolent direct action at the White House in Washington, DC. Gilroy was one of the “White House 27,” a group of human rights advocates who staged a die-in on the White House sidewalk on April 10, 2011, to call on President Obama to shut down the notorious School of the Americas (renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation) and to put an end to the U.S. militarization of the Americas. Gilroy and his 14 co-defendants are facing the criminal charges of “failure to obey a lawful order” and “blocking and incommoding.” Despite facing a criminal trial, Gilroy is not intimidated.

To our friends of Rivercrest:

It seems that Matthews’ lawyer recently persuaded the Town of Vestal to allow the demolition of four Rivercrest houses. Three were leveled last week. What a loss to the community!

Rivercrest’s status as Vestal’s one and only local historic district remains unresolved pending a court ruling. Until then Rivercrest should have enjoyed all the protections built into the town’s local law regarding historic preservation. In granting the demolition permits Vestal ignored all the requirements and regulations designed to protect its own heritage.

If you are as stunned, dismayed, outraged, or just plain puzzled why the Town would do such a thing, please write courteous letters to the members of the Town Board as well as to Town Clerk, Emil Bielecki. Tell them how you feel and request an explanation for what has happened.
To see photos of the demolition go to the Preservation Association website:
http://nyslandmarks.com/rivercrest/rcrest4.htm

Please write to:

Supervisor Pete Andreasen Councilman Dave Marnicki
Councilman Francis Majewski
Councilman John Schaffer
Councilwoman Patty Fitzgerald Town Clerk Emil Bielecki

As the marriage equality debate approaches the final days in the New York State Senate, the bill is now only one vote short of passage. Religion has played a significant role on both sides of the debate. Today a number of clergy from different Southern Tier communities of faith voiced their support for marriage equality. They point out that access to marriage is a fundamental human right and one that is consistent with their faith traditions. These are the clergy who have issued statements of support (complete letters/statements follow):

Rev. Steve Heiss
Tabernacle United Methodist Church

Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell
Temple Concord
Binghamton, New York

Rev. Patricia J. Raube
Pastor, Union Presbyterian Church
Endicott, NY

Deacon Barbara Hayden
Pastoral Leader
Redeemer Lutheran Church

Rev. Dr. Arthur Suggs
First Congregational Church
United Church of Christ

Rev. Mark Giroux
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Chenango Bridge, NY

Rev. Douglas Taylor
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Binghamton

Annette Snedaker. Pastor
Grace Adventure United Methodist Church

Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Executive Editor
The Reporter Group

Alex Compton
Lay Minister
The Binghamton Congregation of MCCNY

Rev. Susan E Davis
Pastor
First United Methodist Church of Endicott

Fred R. Brooks, Jr.
Vestal, NY
Ordained Minister (Retired)
The United Methodist Church

Rev. Monica Styron, Designated Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
42 Chenango Street

LETTERS

Statement in Support of Marriage Equality

June 14, 2011

I stand in support of full civil marriage rights for same-sex couples. The Union of Reform Judaism has a long-standing commitment to welcoming gay and lesbian couples into our communities and congregations. Loving couples, regardless of gender or sexuality, sit in our pews and strengthen our communities. Our religious values and principles affirm that we are all created b’tselem Elohim, in the image of God, and charge us “to love our neighbor as ourselves.” As a Reform Rabbi, I am proud of this welcoming tradition and remain committed to the fight for equality in our state. I am committed to working to enable same sex couples and their families to share equally in the responsibilities, protections, and commitment of marriage.

Rabbi Barbara Goldman-Wartell
Binghamton, New York

In his inaugural teaching moment, Jesus stands before the congregation and reads aloud from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19). As a person of faith I believe it is my responsibility to participate fully in Jesus’ ministry of healing and seeking to bring about freedom for those who are oppressed.

The current laws prohibiting marriage between two persons of the same sex constitute an ongoing situation of oppression and captivity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals. This community asks no special privileges, only equal rights and protections under the law and the opportunity to live in peace and freedom with those whom they love.

Rev. Patricia J. Raube
Pastor, Union Presbyterian Church
Endicott, NY

Dear Cousin Tom…

I wish I were contacting you with some scandalous family news, but I’m not.

Gay cousin Michael (Libous) here with some thoughts I need to share. (Governor Cuomo asked me to contact you.)

As you know, our state is in a ‘state’ right now pondering the question of gay marriage and all of its trappings. Having recently met a man with whom I hope to spend the last trimester of my life, many questions arise regarding our current state of civil equality.

I’m sure you’re aware that approximately 1000 federal and some 700 state rights are currently not available to me as a gay New Yorker. This sickens me.