Occupy Dallas and 8 other local groups rallied Saturday " Death of the American Dream " against war in Iran

Fed up with tax dollars being used for war, killing innocent civilians, peace activist from North Texas hold a rally calling for aggressive behavior to end. Dallas, Texas USA 4th February 2012.
Members of at least eight peace groups rally on Dallas streets calling for no attacks or sanctions on Iran. Dallas Peace Center, CodePINK Dallas, North Texas Veterans for Peace, CodePINK Fort Worth, Pax Christi Dallas, Occupy Dallas, North DFW 99% and Occupy Now were represented.
see more photos

Lots and lots of great videos of event here 

LGBT protesters gather outside Dallas City Hall to call on Mayor Rawlings to sign marriage pledge

They began by chanting, “Sign the pledge, it’s not too late, how long do we have to wait?” An hour later, they ended by singing, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
About 100 LGBT protesters gathered outside the main entrance of Dallas City Hall on Friday night, to call on Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings to sign a pledge in support of same-sex marriage. With several TV news cameras rolling, the protesters waved rainbow flags, banged cowbells and held signs with messages like, “We the people. Gays need not apply.”
The protest, organized by GetEQUAL, came more than three years after one of the largest gay-rights demonstrations in Dallas history took place at the same location — in response to California voters’ decision to approve a Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in 2008.

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Occupy Denton moves on from member’s death

The toxicology report for 23-year old deceased Occupy Denton member Darwin Cox revealed more about his death, determining it to be caused by “mixed alcohol and morphine (heroin) intoxication.”
Cox’s body was found Saturday, December 3 in a vacant tent at the Occupy Denton site. According to the report, the time of death was 4:30 p.m.
Troy Taylor, Denton County Medical Examiner chief investigator, said the manner of death was ruled to be an accident.
“We are deeply saddened by the news and we extend sympathies to Darwin Cox’s family,” said Buddy Price, UNT news promotions manager.
According to Maureen McGuinness, vice president of student affairs, the university will hold a meeting in two weeks to decide how to further respond to Occupy Denton and Cox’s death.

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Members of Occupy Dallas left today to attend Occupy Congress in DC

According to OD Face Book :

OCCUPY CONGRESS TRIP: Occupy Dallas 1 will be at Pegasus Plaza by 10:00 AM. Launch will be initiated after all parties have had a chance to join up or call in. If you are interested in joining the trip you are welcome to call Kyle Helton at 214-951-6475, David Barahona 972-781-8781, or Veronica Navarro 214-815-8139 no later than 9 Am Saturday. Occupy Dallas 1 is full and the seating on other caravan vehicles is undetermined at the time of this printing. Seating will be determined by a 100 yard dash down Main St. and then a javelin throw. Don't let the track and field discourage anyone from trying to come along. I just can't guestimate our current status very well.

Or my personal favorite poster

Occupy Dallas General Assembly Meetings minutes 11/29- 12/31 2011

OD General Assembly Meetings 1129- 1231 2011

Occupy Dallas 2012 and the fight against hate & inequality by DuelingPatriots Blogtalk Radio

Listen to internet radio with DuelingPatriots on Blog Talk Radio

Occupying the Westboro Baptist Church's Protest at the TicketCity Bowl in Fair Park

Football fans who came to Fair Park for the Houston-Penn State match-up at the Cotton Bowl couldn't help but see the sideshow: As promised, the Westboro Baptist Church showed up at the TicketCity Bowl to remind sports fans that God hates them, Joe Paterno, the Pope, gays, Obama ... pretty much everyone. But Fred Phelps' clan, which has added a "God Sent the Drought" sign to its ever-expanding inventory, wasn't alone: They were met by around 40 counter-protesters, some from Occupy Dallas splinter group OccupyNow. The counter-protesters greeted the WBC's infamous "God Hates Fags" signs with a few of their own. There was also some light heckling and a little same-sex heavy petting.

"We're out here to protest hate in all its forms," said 21-year-old Kooper Caraway of OccupyNow.

"And we're here to draw attention to hate-mongering," said Whytney Blythe, 22, also of OccupyNow, "Which is part of what's perpetuating the issues we're facing today. Living in a fear-based system is unhealthy for everyone. And it's also important to be at the protests against Westboro to show support for the victims that they might target."

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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.

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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. 

Occupy Collin County

Webpage:
http://occupycollincounty.com/

Facebook:
Occupy Collin County on Facebook

Occupy Plano on Facebook

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/#!/OccupyPlano 

Occupy Texarkana Federal Court building action November 30th ! [photos]

A a small group of protestors held a demonstration Wednesday morning (Nov. 30) at the Texarkana Post Office and Federal Court building.
The group did "mic checks" throughout the demonstration from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The local protest was held in conjunction with a number of similar recent demonstrations including Occupy Dallas outcrying corporate and governmental corruption.

more great photos here

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/OccupyTexarkana

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/OccupyTXK 

What If They Sent in Social Services to Help Occupations Instead of Riot Cops to Bust Heads?

Cities are cutting back on vitally needed social services, while at the same time, buying expensive military gear for their police departments.

Occupations across the country have struggled to feed and shelter the least fortunate among us, and then faced often violent police crackdowns at great taxpayer expense. Pause for a moment and imagine what might result if mayors sent in social workers to help people rather than riot police to bust some heads?
In a society that tends to avert its gaze from the homeless, the hungry, the addicted and the mentally ill, the Occupy movement's compassion has become an albatross around its neck. “We don't exclude the people at the margins,” one protester at Occupy Oakland told me. “We invite them in and feed them.”

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Group Wants to UNoccupy UNT Students want occupiers removed from UNT's campus

View more videos at: http://nbcdfw.com.

A group of University of North Texas students want to clean up their campus, and that means kicking out the Occupy Denton group.

Occupy Denton is camped out in front of UNT's art building, and UNoccupy UNT wants them gone.

UNoccupy UNT says the protesters are creating a site for sore eyes.

"Walking by, you can smell them, and you see them. You can see the trash cans, but if you really take a closer inspection, you see a lot of really grotesque things," UNoccupy UNT leader Alex Delgado said. "They have clam chowder that expired in July that they are eating out of."

Delgado started a petition to remove the occupiers from campus

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Occupy Movement to gather at Texarkana post office

Occupy Texarkana will be holding a demonstration in solidarity with Occupy Dallas and the Occupy Wall Street movement as a whole on Wednesday, November 30th, 2011 from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. at the downtown Post Office in Texarkana.

This demonstration coincides with a general strike called for by the General Assembly of Occupy Dallas to protest unfair and abusive practices by corporations on both an individual and a governmental level, and the General Assembly of Occupy Texarkana joins in issuing this call and invites all who support the movement to participate throughout the day.

Literature will be available, and it is the hope of Occupy Texarkana to perhaps change perspectives regarding the Occupy Wall Street movement. Everyone is invited to participate, make their voices heard, or just to listen and learn what the movement is about.

Occupy Texarkana is committed to a peaceful demonstration and preemptively disavows any attempt to subjugate the message with violence or other inappropriate or illegal action. Proper permits have been obtained from both states and from the federal government.

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