Occupy Dallas will demonstrate in protest against Westboro Baptist Church assertion that God Hates Gay Citizens

Occupy Dallas will demonstrate in protest against Westboro Baptist Church assertion that God Hates Gay Citizens. Please join us!
http://www.godhatesfags.com/schedule.html Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, TX January 2, 2012 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM WBC will picket the TicketCity Bowl between Penn State and Houston University to remind this nation that God Hates america and sends raping coaches as a curse for this nation's rebellion.

Occupy Dallas
Twitter: #OccupyDallas
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OccupyDallas
God Hates Bowl Games? Westboro Baptist Will Ring in the New Year With Visit to Dallas. Dallas Observer read on here

Dallas Observer include #OccupyDallas in 2011: The Year in Dallas Photos

See slideshow here 

Occupy Dallas: Still Standing Even Though Tents Are Down -KERA

DALLAS, TX (KERA) - It's been a month since Occupy Dallas protesters were evicted from their camp behind City Hall. Protesters promised to continue daily downtown demonstrations but that faded. KERA's BJ Austin says some occupiers say they'll be back!

"The movement is by no means dead. It's morphing into something that's a little more long-term and sustainable, and capable of growth, actually." 

Listen here 

Dallas officer suspended one day for using force against Occupy Dallas protester

Dallas Police Chief David Brown on Thursday suspended a veteran police officer for one day after an internal investigation found the officer used unnecessary force when he pushed an Occupy Dallas protester from a planter last month.

Brown also restricted Officer Jimmy Hollis, a 19-year-veteran, from working off-duty jobs for 60 days. Hollis declined to comment when reached by telephone. The chief did not respond to requests for comment.

Stephen Benavides, the protester who Hollis pushed that day, called the discipline inadequate.

“That unnecessary force basically inhibited our ability to peacefully assemble and express ourselves,” Benavides said. “This was a violation of civil rights and civil liberties.”

The highly publicized incident came during the Nov. 5 Occupy Dallas protest at the Bank of America building at 901 Main St. Protesters accuse the police of inciting a riot because of the way they handled the protest.

Benavides and other protesters also accused Hollis of pushing Benavides off the planter. Police initially said there was no evidence to back up the allegations.

But video surfaced that appeared to show Hollis shoving Benavides off the planter just before Benavides’ arrest. He was arrested on a charge of assault on a public servant for allegedly swinging a flagpole at a different officer.

According to a department news release issued Thursday, the chief has requested that Dallas County prosecutors refer the case against Benavides to a grand jury.

“This will mean that the District Attorney’s Office, at the request of Chief Brown, will present the case to the grand jury without arguing for or against an indictment,” the release said. “This will allow the decision on whether or not an indictment is appropriate to rest solely with the Grand Jury.”

Benavides said he is hopeful that the grand jury will “look at the evidence and see that there was no assault on a public servant and dismiss these charges.”

The release also said Brown had asked the city attorney’s office to dismiss all “use of sidewalk” citations issued during the protest that day.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20111215-dallas-officer-suspended-one-day-for-using-force-against-occupy-dallas-protester.ece


Dallas Observer 
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2011/12/dpd_chief_brown_suspends_offic.php 


CBS DFW
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/12/15/officer-suspended-for-roll-in-occupy-dallas-scuffle/

Members of Occupy Dallas participate in Houston Port protest

"THE 99 PERCENT."
"WE ARE THE 99 PERCENT."
There were more protestors at the port than we’ve seen at any one time for the Occupy Houston protest. That’s because organizers put out calls to Austin, Dallas and San Antonio for fellow occupiers to join them.
"Ask not, what America can do for you. Ask what together we can do for the freedom of man."
That’s how things went for the first 40 minutes or so of the protest. Various people yelling out impromptu statements followed by the rest of the group repeated it.
http://www.flickr.com//photos/kuhf/sets/72157628394025655/show/  

20 Occupy Houston protesters arrested

Police arrested 20 Occupy Houston protesters Monday afternoon as more than 100 demonstrators from as far as Dallas and Austin gathered just outside the Houston Port in a coordinated action with other Occupy demonstrations targeting the nation's ports.

More than 1,000 Occupy Wall Street protesters blocked cargo trucks at some of the West Coast's busiest ports Monday, forcing terminals in Oakland, Calif., Portland, Ore., and Longview, Wash., to halt operations.

read on

Occupiers in Texas Plan to Shut Down the Port of Houston!

Approved GA proposal from Occupy Dallas:
In solidarity with Occupy Oakland, Occupy San Diego, Occupy LA, Occupy Portland, Occupy Tacoma, Occupy Seattle and other movements along the west coast of the United States that will shut down ports in their cities on December 12, the General Assembly of Dallas hereby declares:

On December 12, 2011, Occupy Dallas will assemble in Houston, TX.
The following message is from Occupy Oakland:

“On December 12, the occupy movements in different cities will stage mass mobilizations to march on the ports, create community pickets, and effectively shutdown the hubs of commerce, in the same fashion that Occupy Oakland shut down the Port of Oakland on November 2nd, the day of our general strike. The Oakland Port Shutdown was a historic and effective action, and the memory of that night on the port lives in the hearts of people across Oakland and around the country.”

In Houston, we will mobilize and stage a mass march by integrating Occupy Houston, Occupy Austin, Occupy San Marco, Occupy San Antonio, Occupy Now and Occupy Texas.

We have made attempts at local demonstrations in an effort to spread awareness of the economic injustices affecting the 99%. These peaceful assemblies have been organized with the aim of petitioning our government for a redress of our grievances. On a national level, the response to our protest has often included excessive force and unnecessary violence perpetrated by police departments, with thousands of citizens unlawfully arrested.

Occupy Dallas would like to urge other movements in Texas and the surrounding states that wish to participate in the Occupy the Gulf Coast action to join with Occupy Houston before December 12.

We ask that you bring this request before your General Assembly immediately.
In Solidarity and Struggle, Occupy Dallas

Official Statement Concerning Recent Tragedy from Occupy Denton

Darwin Cox (1988 - 2011)

Occupy Denton mourns the loss of a fellow occupier, a kind and idealistic young man and a friend. Darwin Cox passed away.  He was found in a tent on the Occupy Denton camp where he had been given shelter after a fellow occupier saw him suffering from a fever.  Darwin’s lifelong struggle with drug addiction is suspected to have played a role in this tragedy. While drug use or possession is strictly against Occupy Denton’s policy, it was the Occupy Denton camp where he found friendship, respect, and compassion for his warm, caring, and generous character. Occupy Denton will dearly miss him, and forever appreciate the fortune of having shared a space and time with our friend, Darwin Cox. We give our deepest condolences to his family.

One of Occupy Denton’s core issues is the struggle against homelessness. Specifically, the lack of a safety net and inclusive shelters for the homeless left Darwin with nowhere else to go.  Tragedies like this happen every day and fail to make the nightly news or the newspapers.  Our current social structure criminalizes the homeless as well as those suffering from addiction.  This is one of the reasons why Occupy Denton emerged, why Darwin joined, and why Occupy Denton will continue the struggle for the marginalized and oppressed.
Occupy Denton will observe a vigil on Monday, December 5th at 7 P.M. on the lawn between the Physics and Art buildings at the UNT campus.  The vigil will mourn his loss and commemorate his life.  A deep sense of connection and family has emerged among the occupiers. Darwin’s loss has deeply shaken us.  Our love and resolve will continue with Darwin in our hearts.
Solidarity,
Occupy Denton

Dead man at Occupy Denton [ KNTU and ABC ]

DENTON, Texas (KNTU)  The body of a white male was found Sat., Dec. 3, at the Occupy Denton campsite on the UNT campus according to a UNT official.
The encampment is situated in a grassy area between the Physics Building, Curry Hall, and the Art Building at the corner of Ave. A and Mulberry St.
Occupy Denton's website has identified the dead man as Darwin Cox.
UNT and Denton police were sent to the Occupy campsite after someone called authorities about the body between 5:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. said UNT spokesman Buddy Price.
He also said no one was at the campsite when officers arrived to find the man's body in a tent.
With crime scene tape surrounding the campsite, Price said none of the Occupy Denton protesters will be allowed into the encampment until the investigation of the man's death is complete.
Denton police told the NT Daily the man, now identified by Occupy Denton as Cox, was 23 years old.
Members of Occupy Denton told the campus newspaper Cox was not a UNT student.
"This is a friend of ours who had found a family here," said Garrett Graham, an Occupy Denton organizer. "We’re dealing with it like a family."

Man Dead at Occupy Campsite on North Texas Campus
ABC News
An official at the University of North Texas says a man has been found dead at a campsite on the school's campus where Occupy Denton protesters have been gathering.