Activists target Citizens United Supreme Court ruling

IRVINE, CA (December 13, 2011): With Irvine’s City Council officially on holiday hiatus from its normal bi-weekly city council meetings, the designated Subcommittee comprised of Mayor Sukhee Kang and Councilman Larry Agran worked with Occupy Orange County CA @ Irvine via the assistant city manager, Sharon Landers, to extend the movement’s Letter of Understanding that allows them to continue camping on the lawn in front of Irvine’s Civic Center until noon on Wednesday, December 21, 2011. Occupy Orange County is now the last remaining encampment in Southern California.

Despite the cold and rain, a group of protesters continue to make their statement with tents as a symbol of the millions of Americans that have been foreclosed on due to the severe economic crisis in this country coupled with the lack of cooperation by the banks that hold the mortgages.

The Center for Responsible Lending has indicated in a recent report that by the time the current economic crisis passes 13 million homeowners will have been foreclosed on. The average American home consists of 2.59 inhabitants bringing the number of citizens pushed out of their homes to almost 40 million.

As part of the 99% the movement’s participants feel that a major factor contributing to the ever widening financial gap between the average American and the wealthy board members of corporations has been the January 2010 Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. FEC which opened the floodgates to unlimited corporate spending on elections. Their decision deemed any corporation a ‘legal person’ with 14th Amendment protections of full personhood.

At a recent General Assembly, participants of the Irvine based movement passed a proposal stating, “A primary focus of Occupy Orange County is to get money out of politics because this is a key step toward confronting the remaining grievances of both Occupy and the American people.”

During the past year several legislators including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) have proposed similar constitutional amendments that would overturn the Supreme Court decision favoring Citizens United. The constitutional amendment proposed by Move to Amend will clearly establish that money is not speech, a corporation is not a person, all corporations are subject to regulation, all campaign contributions will be disclosed and allows for no loopholes. This amendment will put people in charge of our government, and corporations in their proper place.

On Friday, January 20, 2012 Occupy Orange County CA joins with Move to Amend and four other national organizations in a day of awareness and education to draw attention to the need to pass this amendment. Over 40 cities are participating in this national day of awareness. The public is encouraged to come out in support of the initiative called Occupy the Courts. The Federal Courthouse in Santa Ana at 411 W 4th Street will be the site of the public demonstration beginning at 11:00 AM. A full day of demonstration, a mock presidential debate and speakers will end at 6:00 PM.

For more information on Occupy the Courts on January 20, 2012 please go to http://tinyurl.com/d46naea To volunteer for this initiative email Volunteer@Occupy-OC.org. To sign an online petition in support of amending Citizens United go to www.MovetoAmend.org where over 150,000 people have already signed.

Occupy Orange County CA is a local activist movement in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street. The leaderless group currently occupies the park located at 1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606. Awareness and education is the group’s major focus as they work to restore the US government to the people for the people. For more information, please visit www.Occupy-OC.org

As some of you may know, Emhan Novad is one our most dedicated and articulate members. His positive personality and gung-ho attitude is a source of great inspiration to the the movement. I don’t know how this high school senior does it, but he his epic.

Today he made it up to Long Beach to take part in the Occupy the Ports demonstration, and got some camera time:

Bank of America.  Citibank…or, as they have been affectionately referred to:

SKANK of America and Shitibank.

Maybe you are one of their customers, or bank at Wells Fargo or JP Morgan Chase.

You are probably not feeling the love, with their ATM fees and lousy service.  How dare they?  Especially after you helped bail them out.

Leave them.  Drop them like a bad habit, or a cheating partner.  Or like a cat that just clawed your forearm for no reason…or like that dude that friended you on Facebook, just to spam you with his multi-level marketing scam…or…

But I digress.

Here’s how:

1. Open your new bank account with a small deposit, leaving the bulk of your funds with your old bank. Deposit just enough to avoid any fees you may be charged for maintaining a low balance.
2. Next, make a list of all the automatic payments and deposits scheduled to go in and out of your old account each month. If you have direct deposit, ask your employer to reroute your paychecks to your new account. Find out what date the first deposit will occur, then reschedule each automatic payment or debit to come out of your new account and make sure to ask the company what date the change will apply.
3. Leave some cash in your old account for at least one month.
4. Once you are sure that all automatic payments and all direct deposits are coming and going from your new account, electronically transfer the final funds from your old account.
5. Once the transfer clears, follow the procedure laid out by your old bank to close your account. If you don’t close it, you might get hit with a monthly account maintenance fee even after you stop using it. Get written confirmation that the account is closed.

Perhaps you’ve heard the terms “Dirty Filthy Hippies” and “Occu –Poo.”

I know I did.  I heard them while sitting at the Thanksgiving table with my “out-laws.”

As usual, there was old kooky uncle Don, devoted Tea Bagger, espousing about the flinging of fecal matter and generally vile nature of the Occupation camps.

Wifey chimed in, tossing about Fox News talking points.

“What is their message?  They don’t know what they want…A bunch of dirty filthy hippies!”

It was like an episode of Beavis and Butthead, where they sit  on the couch and opine about the merits of some MTV video.  There was even the occasional half giggle/half grunt of “uh-uh-uh-huh-uh-uh-uh.”

I engaged in a sidebar with my brother-in-law, a reasonable high school teacher while the mouth-breathers held court.  We had common ground because teachers are bearing the brunt of budget cutbacks caused by this economic collapse.

Wacky old aunty Lori (bless her heart) chimed in.

“It’s all because of the illegals!  That damned bi-lingual education…”

Sister-in-law Laurie, a fifth grade teacher, had to correct her.

“Uh, bi-lingual education was banned years ago..”

So on it went, and I was not interested in hanging out at grandma and grandpa’s stuffy “mobile estate” (aka trailer) and spend the post-dinner period getting shitfaced and trying to have a rational discussion with folks that get their news from massive email chains with subjects  like “Beginning the downfall of The United States !!!!”

I excused myself and went home with my 10-year daughter to play some Call of Duty and chillax.  I am sure the conversations at the trailer proceeded without me, and I bet they involved talk about “those damn Obama people” and the “dirty filthy hippies” and the occasional “what are we going to do about Kevin? He now believes this shit!”

What we have to realize is that our movement is defined in the minds of simpletons like those in my family by our most colorful and spirited members.  And the media goes out of its way to find the raging anarchist, the hygienically challenged, the delusional and perhaps mentally  unstable person that happens to be in the vicinity of an Occupation camp.  For better or for worse, this is what defines us.

But does it even matter?  I came home last night after a long day of demonstrating in front of WalMart, helping out at the camp, and a late-day committee meeting to find Wifey surly and sarcastic, chatting with the lady that lives across the street.  This lady, a close friend of the family, was upset that the addle-brained mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, was repeatedly interrupted by an Occupier while giving a press conference announcing the eviction of Occupy LA.

“That’s just wrong,” she said.  “You people should wear suits or something in your little camps.”

“You should see our presence at City Council meetings.  We do wear suits, and it is a very diverse and respectful crowd, with the majority of speakers being middle-aged,” I responded.

“Dirty filthy hippies!” Wifey chimed in.

I threw a wadded up napkin at her, told both ladies to get a clue, and went upstairs.

So on one hand, we are supposed to be nothing but a bunch of dirty filthy hippies who don’t know what we want…at the same time being a bunch of dangerous anarchists who want to topple our society, while being a bunch of clueless whiners going nowhere, or maybe a pack of crazed socialists with the power to initiate a massive confiscation of wealth from the 1%…but still a gang of unemployed free-loaders demanding that the government pay for our health care and educations, or yet still, a powerful force funded by George Zoros/ Rothchilds/Michael Moore/pick one, or just petulant stoners with no future “raging against the machine,” or…

They should STFU.

The fact is, those that oppose us don’t know who the hell we are.  That is because they don’t bother to investigate anything beyond the Hannity sound bites and Gingrich dog-whistles.  If they were told that Michael Moore stated that the sun rose in the East, they would challenge that fact by stating Michael Moore is a liberal shill.  If Obama mentioned that Libya was in Africa, they would say that he is spewing leftist propaganda.  And if you say that the Occupation has expressed their goals in the form of over 20 grievances and Moore has whittled our message down to 10 bullet points, and most of issues can be highly summarized in five paragraphs, their heads would still explode.

Because our demands cannot fit on a bumper sticker.

Now is that our problem?  Does it really matter what non-critical thinkers, the simpletons, those intentionality unread and uneducated Americans think of us?  At the end of the day, we are just scaring the crap out of them anyway, because we represent change.

Not political slogan change, but real fundamental change.  And most people fear change, especially the ill-informed reality show addicts and paranoid senior citizens convinced that those damn filthy hippies are going to take their Medicare and Social Security and throw them out of their trailer parks, and use that money for silly crap like educating our children and improving our infrastructure.

After all, that is what Rush told them we are all about.

So does it really matter what they think?  We shouldn’t care what they are saying about us, but revel in the fact that they are talking about us.  Period.

We have their attention.

The world is watching.  And that’s a good thing.

I believe this article should be a wakeup call to the occupy movement.

http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/senators-demand-military-lock-american-citizens-battlefield-they-define-being/

We are up against a well-oiled machine that is able to make new laws that affect all of us. The 1% that runs this country and world are getting scared, so they will do whatever they can to stop us. This includes and is not limited to incarcerating Americans for any reason they choose without due process. We gave up our civil rights carte blanche after 9/11, which I believe was a huge mistake. Fear will make people agree to things they normally would not. Fast forward to today and we see legislation introduced like the above mentioned link; I think it is a natural progression from the Patriot Act.

What I believe the occupy movement needs to do is get organized…really organized like the people who put together the XL Pipeline protest.  They had a plan and won. I know we are a “leaderless” movement but we do have “leaders” whether we choose to admit it or not.  I think it would be better that this organic movement evolves to have facilitators organize and come up with a solid plan to fight the 1% and then vote on it in GA. I think anyone giving a hard block has to come up with a better reason than “because I don’t want to be told what to do”. This is not meant to be a put down. We are at war and we need to think like that. We are up against powerful people who will stop at nothing to make us lose. I’m sure you see what is happening in Egypt; don’t believe for one minute this will not happen here in the US because it can.

I personally would like to see our group use what little donations we have to buy ad space, whether it is newspapers or billboards, or some other media that will reach mainstream Americans;  buy gas to use for transportation costs  when we meet with other occupy groups, or to travel  to Sacramento to meet with our state representatives. I know there are some who will cringe at this thought but sometimes we have to hold our nose and work with people who we would normally stay away from. Don’t get me wrong I am still in favor of protesting and getting arrested if necessary to stay in the media spotlight, however I think we should also be open to new avenues of communication like sending elected delegates from our village to speak to Sacramento about our complaints. We need to expand our visibility. We need to be in areas with petitions that mainstream Americans can get behind. We need to educate them to show them what’s in it for them. The media, especially Fox Noise has a large audience that believes everything they are told. These people do not research that information for whatever reason. Many people will do what they are told because it is easier for them to go with the flow than cause problems. These are the people who have jobs and are afraid of losing them; these are the people who are looking for work and don’t want to do anything that might jeopardize them from getting work; these are the people who make “fear based” decisions….I know this because I used to be one of them until 20 years ago when I started waking up. Back then I was fortunate enough to attend a progressive college that encouraged me to think for myself.

I understand that we have come together as a group because we were angry about the direction our country is headed. Many people are but they are not willing to join us physically just yet. I believe it will happen eventually. I would like to see us channel our anger into an articulate assertive position that mainstream America will understand and get behind.  What I do not want to see is these peaceful protests turn into violence because some members of the movement (I am not talking about our group) are impatient and want change now. All it takes is one person to bring a gun to a protest and shoot at the police, and then camps like the one proposed will be put into place. I would like to end my letter with a quote:

All truth passes through three stages.

First, it is ridiculed.

Second, it is violently opposed.

Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

Arthur Schopenhauer

In solidarity,

Inge Scott

As of 11/22/2011:

Term
• Authorization to camp overnight ends at 12:00 noon on November 23,2011
• Agreement may be extended with the same or new conditions
Limited location

• NW corner of Alton Parkway & Harvard Avenue
• Between wall and the sidewalk
Safety
• No cooking, fires, open flames or smoking
• No onsite storage of flammable liquids
• Electrical equipment to comply with electrical code
• No heater (powered by any means) may be operated within any tent at any time

Sanitation
• Port-a-potty provided at Occupy OC demonstrators’ expense. Location shielded
from public view
• Trash collection services at Occupy OC demonstrators’ expense
• Area approved for overnight camping, adjacent parkways and other portions of
the front lawn used by the Occupy OC demonstrators to be cleaned and restored
by them to their preexisting condition as of October 25, 2011

Noise
• The period of time between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following day are
designated as “quiet hours,” during which period no generators may be used and
the demonstrators shall not engage in any activities that directly create or result
in the production of noise that is unreasonably bothersome or annoying to nearby
residents
• Use of amplified sound or a public address system requires City approval
• In addition, Municipal Code Section 3-4-122 (Disorderly Conduct) gives the City’s
Public Safety Department the ability to address inappropriate noise levels and
Municipal Code Section 3-4-125 (Public Address Systems) requires a City permit
to operate a public address system

Lawn maintenance
• Area to be vacated two days per week for five hours each day to enable mowing,
watering and inspection of sprinklers and water lines
Activities/events at the site
• Any functions or events on the lawn area at which more than fifty people are
expected to attend require a written permit from the City

OccupyOCAgreement

OCCUPY OC FULLY EXECUTED AMENDMENT 2

http://irvine.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=22&clip_id=2964

IRVINE, CA (November 23, 2011): Last night, Irvine’s City Council met to consider the ratification of the limited agreement with Occupy Orange County to camp overnight at City Hall for specified periods of time. After listening to three hours of speakers, 7 in opposition and 34 in favor, the City Council unanimously voted to approve the ratification of the limited agreement allowing the demonstrators 24 hour use of the designated area in front of City Hall.

Speaking on behalf of Occupy Orange County was Mr. Lynn Davis, President of the Tustin Unified School District Board of Education. Highlighting the educational benefits of the movement, Mr. Davis said, “I can tell you that I know personally, young people from our school district, some from conservative families, some from liberal families who have taken the educational opportunity that Occupy Orange County presents to go down and discuss various matters of importance to our nation and in doing so to practice the skills of democracy; to speak, to listen, to gather facts, to agree, to disagree and to form knowledgeable opinions. This is an important educational opportunity for these young people – real world democracy in action that they don’t have a chance to practice in other places and I really appreciate that the City of Irvine has made that possible for them.

In contrast to a few other well publicized cities, the City of Irvine and Occupy Orange County have also shown that the source of these events can occur in an environment of mutual respect and civility between government and the people, between law enforcement and demonstrators, and between demonstrators and their neighbors. For this, too, is serving as an example of proper civil respect; the City of Irvine, the Irvine City Council, the Irvine Police Department and Occupy Orange County all deserve our thanks and congratulations. You all have once again shown why so many people speak so highly of the Irvine community.”

Later in the evening, Occupy Orange County’s Civic Liaison, Greg Diamond addressed the chief complaint of nearby residents, the car honking in support of the movement. Mr. Diamond stated, “The Council did not vote for us to be here. We have the right to be in the park between 6 AM and 10 PM. The Council can’t keep us out of the park. We also have the right to be on the sidewalk from 10 PM to 6 AM. What has happened is by allowing us to move into tents at night when the honking is most destructive, the noise has been reduced. We are trying to work with the people by being good neighbors. To say we should be kicked out of an area because of what others do is called a heckler’s veto, which is a restriction of free speech. An idea of giving into a heckler’s veto is a stand against the first amendment and I urge to vote against it.”

One supporter suggested changing the current “Do Not Honk” traffic sign to “Quiet Zone” would result in further noise reduction. The other complaint lodged against the Orange County Occupy movement is the perceived damage to the lawn which now appears dead, but is actually dormant for the winter. The City of Irvine assistant City Manager, Sharon Landers continues to work with the Occupiers to find a resolution that will be agreeable to both the city and the movement.

With the approaching Thanksgiving weekend and traditional shopping mania the Occupy Orange County group will continue with its protests and marches to bring attention to the greed and corruption that has resulted in the current economic crisis.

Occupy Orange County CA is a local activist movement in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street. The leaderless group currently occupies the park located at 1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606. Awareness and education is the group’s major focus as they work to restore the US government to the people for the people. For more information, please visit www.Occupy-OC.org

Public Information Office 949-429-9877
Info@Occupy-OC.org

Occupy OC Gears Up for Massive Protests This Weekend

Occupy Orange County CA (http://www.occupy-oc.org/) participants have rebuilt their “occupy village” (at the corner of Harvard Avenue and Alton Parkway in Irvine) for the fourth day in a row and are planning a to-be-announced-soon schedule of protest events starting this Wednesday in Irvine with the largest protest to take place on Saturday (details TBA).

The group’s “occupation” encampment continues to attract hundreds of OC residents daily. Through cooperative organization, Occupy Orange County CA is open and available day and night to any and all peaceful citizens who desire to protest with signs on the sidewalk, attend committee meetings, take part in a nightly general assembly at 7 p.m.and stay through the evening and early morning hours with other night watch participants. General Assembly is the movement’s self-governing, transparent and inclusive democratic process that allows all participants a voice in the movement’s decision making.

City of Irvine Violates Its Own Municipal Law

Occupy Orange County CA participants say the city of Irvine has been working in incremental cooperation with the group so far without word as to when they will be allowed the right to camp on the land in front of the Civic Center as a symbolic expression of the discontent with the banking industry’s handling of foreclosures. A surge in homelessness is an expected result of the millions of foreclosures. As reported by Center for Responsible Lending, “independent analysts have projected that between 10 and 13 million foreclosures will have occurred by the time the crisis abates.”

“Allowing Occupy Orange County night watch participants to sleep in tents on the lawn will also stop cars from honking in the middle of the night and, therefore, stop the noise for any Irvine citizens who live in close proximity to the intersection. We urge the city of Irvine to allow Occupy Orange County night watch participants to sleep in tents on the lawn so we can be respectful to our neighbors.”

To support Occupy Orange County CA participants’ rights, please sign this petition:http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/irvinecalifornia/

Last Saturday and through Sunday evening, Occupy Orange County CA participants say Irvine Police’s special events officer had informed them early Saturday that they would be allowed to lie down in sleeping bags on the sidewalk. Instead, Irvine Police forced them to keep walking in violation of the city of Irvine’s own municipal code section 4-4-105, which reads:

Sec. 4-4-105 – Obstructing sidewalks and highways

It is unlawful for any person to loiter, stand or sit in or upon any public highway, alley, sidewalk or crosswalk so as to in any manner hinder or obstruct the free passage therein or thereon of persons or vehicles passing or attempting to pass along the same, or so as to in any manner accost or molest persons passing along the same.

Occupy Orange County CA participants were told by Irvine Police that sleeping parallel to the boundaries of the sidewalk and allowing pedestrians a path for free passage would satisfy the above municipal requirement. However, in direct violation of the above law, Irvine Police did not allow peaceful citizens to obey Irvine’s own civic codes.

The movement, which comprised of concerned citizens, urges everyone to join them in their “night watch vigils to announce to the City Council that the Occupy participants are here for however long it takes to eradicate the greed and corruption from corporations and banks that are destroying the American dream.

About Occupy Orange County CA

In solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Los Angeles and Occupy San Diego, Occupy Orange County CA welcomes all citizens to participate locally in this ever-growing grass roots movement, which is giving voice and space for OC residents to peacefully protest against systemic corruption, greed and injustice in America. As with Occupy Wall Street, the Occupy Orange County CA is a leader-less movement with all participants working together cooperatively without monetary compensation to communicate publicly their dissatisfaction with the current corruption in America’s financial and political spheres.

For the latest Occupy Orange County CA information, please become a fan of our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OccupyOrangeCountyCA

Also visit the official Occupy Orange County CA website at: Occupy Orange County CA (http://www.occupy-oc.org/)

###

Media Contact: Occupy Orange County CA, 949-429-9877, OccupyOrangeCounty@yahoo.com

Media Liaison: Occupy Orange County CA, 908-489-6024, OOCMedia@yahoo.co

Occupy OC is Up and Running 24/7 for Citizen Participation

After a weekend of protesting with literally thousands of OC residents participating, Occupy Orange County CA (http://www.occupy-oc.org/) participants are committed to keeping the encampment at the corner of Harvard Avenue and Alton Parkway (1 Civic Center, Irvine) going strong both day and night. About 30 core Occupy Orange County CA night watch participants have lived at the site for three days now and have been forced by Irvine Police to walk at night even though Irvine’s own municipal code would allow them to lie down on the sidewalk in sleeping bags.

The group’s “occupation” encampment continues to attract hundreds of OC residents daily. Through cooperative organization, Occupy Orange County CA is open and available day and night to any and all peaceful citizens who desire to protest with signs on the sidewalk, attend committee meetings, take part in a nightly general assembly at 7 p.m. and stay through the evening and early morning hours with other night watch participants.

Occupy Orange County CA participants say the city of Irvine has been working in cooperation with the group so far and have promised to allow overnight camping in tents on the lawn if the group swells in the hundreds in the evenings.

“Allowing Occupy Orange County night watch participants to sleep in tents on the lawn will also stop cars from honking in the middle of the night and, therefore, stop the noise for any Irvine citizens who live in close proximity to the intersection. We urge the city of Irvine to allow Occupy Orange County night watch participants to sleep in tents on the lawn so we can be respectful to our neighbors.”

To support Occupy Orange County CA participants’ rights, please sign this petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/irvinecalifornia/

On Saturday and through Sunday evening, Occupy Orange County CA participants say Irvine Police’s special events officer had informed them early Saturday that they would be allowed to lie down in sleeping bags on the sidewalk. Instead, Irvine Police forced them to keep walking in violation of the city of Irvine’s own municipal code section 4-4-105, which reads:

Sec. 4-4-105 – Obstructing sidewalks and highways

It is unlawful for any person to loiter, stand or sit in or upon any public highway, alley, sidewalk or crosswalk so as to in any manner hinder or obstruct the free passage therein or thereon of persons or vehicles passing or attempting to pass along the same, or so as to in any manner accost or molest persons passing along the same.

Occupy Orange County CA participants were told by Irvine Police that sleeping parallel to the boundaries of the sidewalk and allowing pedestrians a path for free passage would satisfy the above municipal requirement. However, in direct violation of the above law, Irvine Police did not allow peaceful citizens to obey Irvine’s own civic codes.

About Occupy Orange County CA

In solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Los Angeles and Occupy San Diego, Occupy Orange County CA welcomes all citizens to participate locally in this ever-growing grass roots movement, which is giving voice and space for OC residents to peacefully protest against systemic corruption, greed and injustice in America. As with Occupy Wall Street, the Occupy Orange County CA is a leader-less movement with all participants working together cooperatively without monetary compensation to communicate publicly their dissatisfaction with the current corruption in America’s financial and political spheres.

For the latest Occupy Orange County CA information, please become a fan of our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OccupyOrangeCountyCA

The Occupation in Orange County began this weekend.  We were 1,300 strong, a great beginning. Now that we are here, it is up to ALL of us to be united to show the Powers that be our resolve and dedication. We are exercising our Rights of Free Speech and Peaceful Assembly.  We must speak their language, which is NUMBERS.   It is imperative that we demonstrate to THEM that our village is growing.   To help us grow our numbers please come and stand with us tonight.  We will be on the sidewalks from 10pm – 6 am.   Come and participate all-night or part of the night.  We must show our resolve to be the change we want to see and regain our country back.  We are the 99% that no longer will tolerate the GREED of the 1%.

Police Violate Irvine’s Own Municipal Code

After a highly successful turnout with more than 1,000 OC residents marching in Irvine on a sunny Saturday afternoon, about 20 Occupy Orange County CA (http://www.occupy-oc.org/) participants were forced by police to walk all night long even though Irvine’s own municipal code would allow them to lie down on the sidewalk in sleeping bags. Despite this obstacle, Occupy Orange County CA participants continued marching and today the protest and encampment at the corner of Harvard Avenue and Alton Parkway continues undaunted.

According to one Occupy Orange County CA night watch participant: “We were first kicked to the sidewalk at 10 p.m. because the park closed at that time and we were told we must keep moving or we would be in violation of loitering. Two law enforcement officers stayed to what appeared to be a break in their shift watching the occupiers. We marched the intersection in a candlelight vigil until our legs would not carry us any longer. At that point, we sat down on the sidewalk with our signs until 6 a.m. Twice police cruisers came by and did not bother us, however, this was after several people, including our legal representative called the night watch officer. They knew their actions were now being observed as we had posted immediately to Facebook when the incident occurred. We are in gratitude to all citizens who called the Irvine Police department accountable. You at home can help this movement by being our voice on the internet and phones.”

To support Occupy Orange County CA participants’ rights, please sign the petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/irvinecalifornia/

Occupy Orange County CA participants say Irvine Police’s special events officer had informed them early Saturday that they would be allowed to lie down in sleeping bags on the sidewalk. Instead, Irvine Police forced them to keep walking in violation of the city of Irvine’s own municipal code section 4-4-105, which reads:

Sec. 4-4-105 – Obstructing sidewalks and highways

It is unlawful for any person to loiter, stand or sit in or upon any public highway, alley, sidewalk or crosswalk so as to in any manner hinder or obstruct the free passage therein or thereon of persons or vehicles passing or attempting to pass along the same, or so as to in any manner accost or molest persons passing along the same.

Occupy Orange County CA participants were told by Irvine Police early Saturday that sleeping parallel to the boundaries of the sidewalk and allowing pedestrians a path for free passage would satisfy the above municipal requirement. However, in direct violation of the above law, Irvine Police did not allow peaceful citizens to obey Irvine’s own civic codes.

About Occupy Orange County CA

In solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Los Angeles and Occupy San Diego, Occupy Orange County CA welcomes all citizens to participate locally in this ever-growing grass roots movement, which is giving voice and space for OC residents to peacefully protest against systemic corruption, greed and injustice in America. As with Occupy Wall Street, the Occupy Orange County CA is a leader-less movement with all participants working together cooperatively without monetary compensation to communicate publicly their dissatisfaction with the current corruption in America’s financial and political spheres.

For the latest Occupy Orange County CA information, please become a fan of our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OccupyOrangeCountyCA

Also visit the official Occupy Orange County CA website at: Occupy Orange County CA (http://www.occupy-oc.org/)

Starting at 7:30 p.m. on a balmy Saturday evening in Irvine’s Civic Center Plaza (1 Civic Center, Irvine, corner of Harvard Avenue and Alton Parkway), please join hundreds of other concerned OC citizens and attend the first General Assembly of Occupy Orange County CA (http://www.occupy-oc.org/). The General Assembly of Occupy Orange County CA is a time to gather movement committees, hear committee proposals and listen to movement participants.

About Occupy Orange County CA

In solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Los Angeles and Occupy San Diego, Occupy Orange County CA welcomes all citizens to participate locally in this ever-growing grass roots movement, which is giving voice and space for OC residents to peacefully protest against systemic corruption, greed and injustice in America. As with Occupy Wall Street, the Occupy Orange County CA is a leader-less movement with all participants working together cooperatively without monetary compensation to communicate publicly their dissatisfaction with the current corruption in America’s financial and political spheres.

For the latest Occupy Orange County CA information, please become a fan of our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OccupyOrangeCountyCA

Also visit the official Occupy Orange County CA website at: Occupy Orange County CA (http://www.occupy-oc.org/)

WELCOME ALL PEOPLE to Occupy Orange County CA! More than 1,000 concerned citizens have gathered at Irvine’s Civic Center Plaza (1 Civic Center, Irvine, corner of Harvard Avenue and Alton Parkway) to participate in the inaugural Occupy Orange County CA (http://www.occupy-oc.org/) protest and occupation, which continues all day through the evening (see schedule of events below).

In solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Los Angeles and Occupy San Diego, Occupy Orange County CA welcomes all citizens to participate locally in this ever-growing grass roots movement, which is giving voice and space for OC residents to peacefully protest against systemic corruption, greed and injustice in America.

“We urge all Orange County citizens to join us TODAY to peacefully voice your dissatisfaction with corporations’ disproportionate influence in the political sphere. Those who profit off the suffering of others will be held accountable. We are the 99% and we are too big to fail.”

Saturday, October 15 Schedule of Events

Noon-2 p.m.: Protest March to Irvine Financial District

2 p.m.: UCI History Professor Mark Levine Speaks

2:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Open Mic

7:30 p,m.: General Assembly

Parking update: Please beware the Irvine PD is towing cars parked i green zones, which are two-hour parking spaces only.

About Occupy Orange County CA

As with Occupy Wall Street, the Occupy Orange County CA is a leader-less movement with all participants working together cooperatively without monetary compensation to communicate publicly their dissatisfaction with the current corruption in America’s financial and political spheres.

For the latest Occupy Orange County CA information, please become a fan of our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OccupyOrangeCountyCA

Also visit the official Occupy Orange County CA website at: Occupy Orange County CA (http://www.occupy-oc.org/)

Decorated with too many awards to count for feeding more than 300,000+ meals to hungry Orange County children, Top 10 2011 CNN Hero Bruno Serato of the iconic Anaheim White House restaurant is showing his support for Occupy Orange County CA (http://www.occupy-oc.org/) at noon in the Occupy OC Media Lounge (located in the park at 1 Civic Center in Irvine, Calif.). Serato, who had to mortgage his Huntington Beach home twice to keep his restaurant afloat during the recession and to continue feeding Anaheim Boys & Girls Club kids, will be available for interviews.

This week, Internationally-recognized humanitarian and award-winning restaurateur Bruno Serato launched his autobiography, “Feeding The Kids Of America.” The celebrated owner of the award-winning Anaheim White House restaurant catapulted to international acclaim for his extraordinary work in feeding local “motel kids,” so named because their disadvantaged parents are relegated to living in cheap motels and meals are sparse.

Serato has been recognized the world over for his charitable efforts, most recently as a 2011 CNN Top 10 Hero (votes are currently being cast for the ultimate prize). He also has received the Cornerstone Humanitarian of the Year Award on the steps of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and Humanitarian of the Year honor from the Southern California Restaurant Writers Association. Caterina’s Club has earned international recognition including stories in People Magazine and prime network coverage on the “CBS Evening News” as well as countless exposure in media all over Europe.

“We are in gratitude to Bruno Serato for his presence at Occupy Orange County and urge all Orange County citizens to take to the streets and in Irvine’s Civic Park Plaza on Oct. 15 to peacefully voice your dissatisfaction with corporations’ disproportionate influence in the political sphere. Those who profit off the suffering of others will be held accountable. We are the 99% and we are too big to fail.”

In solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Los Angeles and Occupy San Diego, Occupy Orange County CA welcomes all citizens to participate locally in this ever-growing grass roots movement, which is giving voice and space for OC residents to peacefully protest against systemic corruption, greed and injustice in America. As with Occupy Wall Street, the Occupy Orange County CA is a leader-less movement with all participants working together cooperatively without monetary compensation to communicate publicly their dissatisfaction with the current corruption in America’s financial and political spheres.

For the latest Occupy Orange County CA information, please become a fan of our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OccupyOrangeCountyCA

Also visit the official Occupy Orange County CA website at: Occupy Orange County CA (http://www.occupy-oc.org/)

Saturday, October 15: Occupy Orange County CA in Irvine

10 a.m.: Starts at 1 Civic Center Plaza in Irvine with a march to the intersection of Barranca Parkway and Jamboree Road.

RSVP to Occupy Orange County CA: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=124386474331209