We have gathered togeather as the people… In a general assembly of the people… To insist upon and facilitate the conversation… That will carry us from the world we lived in yesterday… To the better world we will live in tomorrow.

- Human mic off -

I am a facilitator… Here only to facilitate that conversation… As we shape our world… And in that role, the side I take… Is the side of moving in the direction we’ve assembled to move… Which is forward… While protecting our stance of inclusion.

As this generation has risen, in Occupations across the world, often without the luxury of electricity, we have learned that the most peaceful way to witness and understand the will of the Village is through a series of simple hand gestures as follows.

When you agree with what’s being said, then the sign language gesture for applause (which is “spirit fingers”) is a way to show approval.

When someone is belaboring a point, “Wrap-it-up” is a lasso, swung over the head.

When you feel something’s been made unclear, or you need a point of clarification, holding up a quotation mark, or your bunny ears, is decidedly the way to go, and we will get to you in order. In so much as we can ask the speakers to be articulate, we must also ask that YOU, be understanding.

There is one last sign of concern. When a proposal has been raised, and ONLY when a proposal has been raised. You might cross your arms above your head to signify a hard block. A hard block shows that you believe the proposition either endangers the movement or the people of which its comprised and that you will require approximately 2 minutes to express to your village just WHY. When there are several hard blocks we will then usher the process by hearing 3 of them.

When you cannot hear a speaker, you are free to call a Mic Check… MIC CHECK! At which point they will respond by repeating the phrase and re-upping their volume.

When we begin to lose our all too important unity, you may hear a speaker sound off only that word, unity… At which point, we resolve and return to our aim.

The structure of the Assembly has been handed not down but FORWARD to you, from your Pre-Occupation ancestors, after countless proposals. It is inherent for Day One ONLY. It is expected that you will evolve it, as it is now yours.

FIRST, all newcomers will be oriented, as we have just done…

SECOND, each of the committees at large in the village will send forth a representative, who will update the Occupation on their projects, proposals, announcements, and needs.

THIRD, will be time out for free-standing proposals and announcements. Proposals, and Concerns, from the people, to the people… And the needs of those not in the residence at the village.

If a given subject clearly requires further exploration before it can be presented as a proposal or announcement… The facilitator may call a BREAKOUT SESSION, at which point an open meeting on the topic will be scheduled immediately following the GA to bring the topic to a resolution, which we will then hear the following day.

Because our DEFAULT POSITION as the village, is SUPPORT of each other… the WAY that we vote… is to ASSUME affirmation. And what we LOOK FOR in assembly, is just the Hard Block against us. As our sister should not need our permission to create her best destiny.

- PROCEED WITH COMMITTEES -

- PROCEED WITH OPEN FLOOR -

- ESTABLISH NIGHT WATCH -

- CONCLUDE -

MIC CHECK – Mahatma Gandhi told us, that, “Civil Disobedience becomes a sacred duty, went he state becomes lawless or corrupt” We are not using the park as a place to sleep. We are using it, as a form of speech. Because we finally believe, that it takes a village. – And THAT IS WHY… The Occupation Continues.

- SOLIDARITY CLAP -

- CAMP CLEAN UP -