Occupy Houston

Last updated
Occupy Houston
Part of the Occupy movement
Occupy Houston.jpg
DateOctober 6, 2011 (2011-10-06) – February 14, 2012 (2012-02-14)
Location
Houston, Texas
Caused by Wealth inequality, Corporate influence of government, inter alia.
Methods
StatusDefeated
Number
Other activity in Houston: 200+ marchers
(march on JP Morgan, October 2, 2011) [1]
40 dancers
(Zombie flash mob, October 31, 2011) [2]

Occupy Houston is a Houston, Texas-based activist group best known for alleged plots against it by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (fake news), investigated and called out on in court by Occupy protester Ryan Shapiro, and for being set up by the Austin Police Department. Occupy Houston was a collaboration that has included occupation protests that stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street. [3] The planned occupation officially started in Houston, Texas on Thursday October 6, 2011 when protesters returned from JP Morgan Chase Tower to establish an encampment at Hermann Square Plaza. [3] [4] During the JPMorgan Chase demonstration there were not any confrontations with the police and numerous different passerby were reported to have sympathized with the tone of the protesters. [5] [6] That same night the police were reported to have commented on how well behaved the protesters were. [7]

Contents

As of June 2012, Occupy Houston had continued to engage in organized meetings, events and actions. [8]

Occupy Houston is a local expression of the global movement to end the corporate corruption of our democracy

— Occupy Houston Organizers, Interview with Channel 2 KPRC [9]

Relocations

It wasn't long before Occupy Houston moved for the first time. During the first week of the occupation Occupy Houston respectfully volunteered to evacuate the park for the Bayou City Art Festival earning Occupy Houston the nickname of "The Nicest Protesters in the World", [10] and "Affable Protesters" [11] by Culture Map. [9] A few of the artists participating in the Art Festival sympathized with Occupy Houston. [9] The location Occupy Houston moved to was Eleanor Tinsley Park where the demonstrators roughed out torrential downpours before finally erecting tents. [9] [12] Shortly after the rain ended, HPD ordered Occupy Houston to dismantle the tents and Occupy Houston after holding an emergency GA, for an extended period of time, eventually complied. [13] Though not requested by HPD, the free standing, temporary, open air pavilions were dismantled as well.

Prior to moving to Eleanor Tinsley, Occupy Houston vowed to return to City Hall [14] and they did. [15] Yet after spending a few days at City Hall the encampment was moved one last time to Tranquility Park—this time the pressing issue forcing the move was the Energy Day festival in Houston which has Hermann Square rented. [16] Though Occupy Houston opted to acquiesce to the demands of the City by evacuating Hermann Square, it did not support the Energy Festival. Instead, Occupy Houston protested the festival on the grounds of its sponsorship by TransCanada, the company behind the Keystone XL Pipeline, and Valero which demanded a further $62.8 million tax refund. [17] The night of the move (as with the initial move) a few remained, perhaps one or two, well into the morning in general protest. Their grievances included the renting of public space to private entities, as well as specifically the KBR display that was erected that night.

Notable events

Involved people held a Corporate House of Horrors during Halloween. [18]

Another notable event that Occupy Houston organized was a Bank Transfer Day divestment march on November 4, 2011. [19] Bank Transfer Day was a national campaign to divest from banks and to bring the financial business to credit unions which are seen as being more community-friendly. Members of Occupy Houston marched on four different banks including Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Amegy to divest and close their accounts. [20] In Texas, 47,000 credit union accounts were opened in the month of November—many of those new accounts have been attributed to the Occupy protests in Texas. [21]

The encampment was evicted in February 2012. [22]

Redacted FBI files, obtained in December 2012 by the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, show that an unnamed group was planning sniper attacks against Occupy Houston. This was first planned against individual protestors in October 2011, and then "a plan to kill the leadership". [23]

Planning

The Official Planning for Occupy Houston started a week before the first protest. [24]

Teams

There are numerous teams working within Occupy Houston:

  • A legal team consisting of 10 members of the National Lawyers Guild. [25] [26]
  • Warehouse (Catalog communal goods check-out and check-in)
  • Logistics
  • Web & Media
  • Facilitation (Help moderate the General Assembly)
  • Sustainability
  • Medical
  • Food

Support from the community

Occupy Houston has found amazing support from the residents in the city. It was reported that a 42-inch flat screen TV was donated, [27] and $1,800 collected. [28] In addition, numerous different bands and artists have played or showed support for Occupy Houston most notably including Bun B of UGK, [29] and the Free Radicals. [30] A few politicians and activists have visited the occupation as well such Dick Gregory [31] and Houston Councilwoman Jolanda Jones. [32] [33] The Coffee Party also airs a show live from Occupy Houston once a week. [34]

This is something that I think everybody at some point and time should be concerned about as a resident of Houston and as a citizen of the world

—  Bun B, Interview with the Houston Chronicle

Not all members of the city have been supportive of the protest though: Houston mayor Annise Parker denied a request to supply city electricity to the occupation or to provide a statement to refuse the enforcement of the civility statute that prohibits tents in city parks. [35]

Other Occupy communities have cited Occupy Houston as an example for the good organizational work. It was mentioned at Occupy San Diego that, "[Occupy Houston] just passed a proposal and action for a de-investment campaign. What are we doing with our GA? Let's get back on track, guys." [36]

Decreasing numbers

With the number of protesters decreasing, Mayor Annise Parker requested that they move off the tax supported land and have some sort of "End Game." [37]

See also

Related portals:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westbury, Houston</span>

Westbury is a neighborhood in the Brays Oaks district of Southwest Houston, Texas, United States. It is located east of Bob White Road, north of U.S. Highway 90 Alternate, and west of South Post Oak Road, adjacent to the Fondren Southwest and Meyerland neighborhoods, just west of the southwest corner of the 610 Loop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houston Police Department</span> Primary law enforcement agency in Houston

The Houston Police Department (HPD) is the primary municipal law enforcement agency serving the City of Houston, Texas, United States and some surrounding areas. With approximately 5,300 officers and 1,200 civilian support personnel it is the fifth-largest municipal police department, serving the fourth-largest city in the United States. Its headquarters are at 1200 Travis in Downtown Houston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenspoint, Houston</span> Neighborhood and business district in Harris County, Texas, United States

Greater Greenspoint, also referred to as the North Houston District, is a 7-square-mile (18 km2) business district and a suburban neighborhood in northern Harris County, Texas, United States, located mostly within the city limits of Houston. Centered around the junction of Interstate 45 and Texas State Highway Beltway 8 near George Bush Intercontinental Airport, the area is a classic example of a planned edge city. The initial 2,000-acre (8.1 km2) retail and office development centered around Greenspoint Mall was a project of the Friendswood Development Company during the 1970s and early 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brays Oaks, Houston</span>

Brays Oaks, formerly known as Fondren Southwest, is an area in Southwest Houston, Texas, United States. The Brays Oaks Management District, also known as the Harris County Improvement District #5, governs the Brays Oaks area as well as other surrounding areas, such as Westbury. The City of Houston also defines the Brays Oaks Super Neighborhood, with separate boundaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward A. Thomas Building</span> Office in Downtown Houston, Texas

The Edward A. Thomas Building, or 1200 Travis, is a 28-story building in Downtown Houston, Texas that is currently occupied by the Houston Police Department as its current headquarters. At one time it was known as the Houston Natural Gas Building. The building houses HPD's administrative and investigative offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Wall Street</span> 2011 American protest movement

Occupy Wall Street (OWS) was a 59-day left-wing populist movement against economic inequality, corporate greed, and the influence of money in politics that had begun in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City's Wall Street financial district, and lasted from September 17 to November 15, 2011. The protests gave rise to the wider Occupy movement in the United States and other Western countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Los Angeles</span> Protest group against economic inequality

Occupy Los Angeles is one of the many occupy movements in the United States, following the original Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protest. Participants of Occupy L.A. first met at Pershing Square on September 23, 2011. Activists came to consensus to occupy public space in solidarity with the growing movement. Occupiers first marched in Los Angeles on September 24, 2011. They next protested a fundraiser being held in Hollywood at the House of Blues for President Obama. Participants met at Pershing Square every subsequent night to plan out the logistics of an occupation set to begin on October 1, 2011. After debating potential locations around Los Angeles, people decided on the lawns around City Hall. Tents first manifested on October 1, 2011 on the grounds of Los Angeles City Hall.

<i>Occupy Boston</i> 2011 protest movement

Occupy Boston was a collective of protesters that settled on September 30, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts, on Dewey Square in the Financial District opposite the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. It is related to the Occupy Wall Street movement that began in New York City on September 17, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy movement</span> 2011–2012 protests against socioeconomic inequality

The Occupy movement was an international populist socio-political movement that expressed opposition to social and economic inequality and to the perceived lack of "real democracy" around the world. It aimed primarily to advance social and economic justice and different forms of democracy. The movement has had many different scopes, since local groups often had different focuses, but its prime concerns included how large corporations control the world in a way that disproportionately benefits a minority, undermines democracy and causes instability.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Canada</span>

Occupy Canada was a collective of peaceful protests and demonstrations that were part of the larger Occupy Together movement which first manifested in the financial district of New York City with Occupy Wall Street, and subsequently spread to over 900 cities around the world.

Occupy Salem was a collaboration in Salem, Oregon based on the Occupy Wall Street movement which began in New York City on September 17, 2011. Occupy Salem has included peaceful protests and demonstrations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Eugene</span> Protest event in Eugene, Oregon, U.S.

Occupy Eugene was a collaboration that occurred in Eugene, Oregon based on the Occupy Wall Street movement which began in New York City on September 17, 2011. Occupy Eugene included peaceful protests and demonstrations. Protesters were concerned about inequities in the distribution of wealth, banking regulation, housing issues and corporate greed. The first protest march was held on October 15, 2011. The march started at the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza and continued downtown before marching over Ferry Street Bridge. It was reported that close to 2000 people were in attendance from all over the state of Oregon. Occupy Eugene continued to hold regular protests and actions until it left the encampment in December 2011. Protesters have stated that they do not have a set group of leaders. Occupy Eugene General Assemblies have met from as frequently as twice a day at times during active occupations, and as infrequently as weekly. Many committees have met since at least the third General Assembly, typically weekly. Decisions are made through a process known as consensus. Occupy Eugene's consensus process operates in a similar fashion to how consensus is being handled in New York City by protesters involved in Occupy Wall Street. Although the exact method varies from Occupation to Occupation. As of October 18, 2011, The Eugene police department was allowing protesters to camp in downtown Eugene, although city law prohibits it. Eugene police also stated that downtown camping won't be permanently allowed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Oakland</span> Protest group against economic inequality

Occupy Oakland refers to a collaboration and series of demonstrations in Oakland, California, that started in October 2011. As part of the Occupy movement, protestors have staged occupations, most notably at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in front of Oakland City Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Melbourne</span> Social movement in Australia, part of the global Occupy movement

Occupy Melbourne was a social movement which took place from late 2011 to mid 2012 in Melbourne, Australia as part of the global Occupy movement Participants expressed grievances concerning economic inequality, social injustice, corruption in the financial sector, corporate greed and the influence of companies and lobbyists on government. Protests began on 15 October 2011 in City Square with a 6-day-long protest encampment, from which people were forcibly evicted by Victoria Police at the request of the City of Melbourne CEO on 21 October 2011. From 2 November 2011, Occupy set up camp in Treasury Gardens before being moved on from that location in December. A significantly diminished number of protesters set up camp at Father Bob's church at his invitation until his retirement in January 2012. Physical manifestations of the movement had largely dissipated by mid-2012 though it adopted a strategy of decentralisation and became influential in the creation of new community networks, affinity groups and collectives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy San Francisco</span>

Occupy San Francisco was a collaboration that began with a demonstration event located at Justin Herman Plaza in the Embarcadero and in front of the Federal Reserve building on Market Street in the Financial District in San Francisco, California. It is based on the Occupy Wall Street movement that began in New York City on September 17, 2011 and is one of several "Occupy" protest sites in the San Francisco Bay Area; other sites include Occupy Oakland and Occupy San Jose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy movement in the United States</span>

The Occupy movement began in the United States initially with the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York City, but spread to many other cities, both in the United States and worldwide. This list article is an alphabetical, non-chronological summary of Occupy events that have occurred in cities in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of Occupy Oakland</span>

The following is a timeline of Occupy Oakland which began on Monday, October 10, 2011, as an occupation of Frank H. Ogawa Plaza located in front of Oakland City Hall in downtown Oakland, and is an ongoing demonstration. It is allied with Occupy Wall Street, which began in New York City on September 17, 2011, and is one of several "Occupy" protest sites in the San Francisco Bay Area. Other sites include Occupy San Francisco and Occupy San Jose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Cal</span> Protest group against economic inequality

Occupy Cal included a series of demonstrations that began on November 9, 2011, on the University of California, Berkeley campus in Berkeley, California. It was allied with the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York City, San Francisco Bay Area Occupy groups such as Occupy Oakland, Occupy Berkeley, and Occupy San Francisco, and other public California universities. "Cal" in the name "Occupy Cal" is the nickname of the Berkeley campus and generally refers specifically to UC Berkeley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Dame Street</span> Peaceful protest in Ireland (2011–2012)

Occupy Dame Street (ODS) or Occupy Dublin was a peaceful protest and demonstration against economic inequality, social injustice and corporate greed taking place outside the Central Bank of Ireland plaza on Dame Street in Dublin, beside the Temple Bar area of the city. Part of the global Occupy movement, it took its name from the Occupy Wall Street demonstration in New York City's Wall Street financial district. Occupy Dame Street had four requests: the withdrawal of the EU/IMF from Ireland, an end to public ownership of private debt, the return to public ownership of Ireland's privatised oil and gas reserves, and the implementation of what the movement describes as "real participatory democracy". The national police force, Garda Síochána, dismantled their camp during a late-night raid on 8 March 2012. The protesters vowed to fight on. Some were never heard of again, while others found other channels of protest. The most detailed account and analysis of events was written by Helena Sheehan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupy Minneapolis</span>

Occupy Minneapolis (OccupyMN) is a grassroots collaboration that began in October 2011 with a series of demonstrations in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Protesters have staged numerous occupations, most notably of the Hennepin County Government Center plaza.

References

  1. ↑ "Occupy Wall Street spin-offs come to Texas". ABC 13. The Associated Press. 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2011-10-18.
  2. ↑ "Zombies Protest-Shuffle to Bank of America". FOX. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  3. 1 2 Jensen, Brian (2011-10-06). "Houston to host Occupy Wall Street solidarity protest today". The Daily Cougar. University of Houston. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  4. ↑ Crawford, Jessica (2011-10-12). "The Occupy Movement Spreads to Houston". The Venture. El Gato Media Network. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  5. ↑ Fountain, Ken (2011-10-06). "OccupyHouston puts 'civility' in civil unrest at downtown protest". The West University Examiner. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  6. ↑ Lupercio, George (9 October 2011). "Houston participates in Occupy Wall Street protests". The Venture. El Gato Media Network.
  7. ↑ Lezon, Dale. "60 Occupy Houston protesters wake up at City Hall". The Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2011-10-20. HPD on the scene this morning said the protesters have been peaceful and well-behaved.
  8. ↑ "Occupy Houston: Events". Occupyhouston.org. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Occupy Houston Protesters Relocate". Channel 2. KPRC. 2011-10-07. Archived from the original on 2011-10-10. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  10. ↑ Rudick, Tyler (2011-10-07). "The Nicest Protesters in the World". Culture Map. Archived from the original on 2011-10-15. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
  11. ↑ Rudick, Tyler (2011-10-09). "Illustrating Occupy Houston: Our affable protesters move for the weekend". Houston. Culture Map. Archived from the original on 2011-11-24. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  12. ↑ "Heavy rain pounds Houston area, doesn't dampen Sunday events". ABC 13 KTRK. 2011-10-09. Archived from the original on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  13. ↑ Acevedo, Jesus (2011-10-10). "Protesters dismantle tents at Tinsley Park". Archived from the original on 2011-10-12. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  14. ↑ "Occupy Houston Protesters Sleep In Park". 39 Online: NewsFix. KIAH-TV Channel 39. 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  15. ↑ Rudick, Tyler (2011-10-11). "Hear why Bun B is down with Occupy Houston: An exclusive interview with the hip-hop legend". Houston. Culture Map. Archived from the original on 2011-10-13. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  16. ↑ Christian, Carol (2010-10-14). "Occupy Houston, diminished in size, moves to Tranquility Park". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
  17. ↑ "Occupy Houston/Energy Day - Silent Protest Signs, Flyers Say It All". Houston Independent Media Center. 2011-10-16. Retrieved 2011-10-17.[ permanent dead link ]
  18. ↑ "Occupy Houston House of Horrors event". 39online.com. KIAH-TV Channel 39. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  19. ↑ Hassan, Anita (2011-11-04). "First-time protesters join Occupy Houston march on downtown banks". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  20. ↑ Willies, Egberto (2011-11-12). "Occupy Houston Divestment March". Daily KOS. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  21. ↑ Tuma, Mary (2011-11-07). "More than 47,000 Texans join credit unions for Bank Transfer Day". The American Independent. Archived from the original on 2011-12-11. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  22. ↑ ""The camping trip is over": Occupy Houston evicted with little fuss after four months, no arrests". culter map Houston. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  23. ↑ Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, pages 60 of documents
  24. ↑ Radley, Whitney (2011-09-30). "Wall Street protests headed here? An Occupy Houston movement builds — in a most low-key way". Houston. Culture Map. Archived from the original on 2011-10-10. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  25. ↑ Shea, Brittanie (2011-10-06). "Occupy Wall Street: 99 Percent Protesters March to City Hall for Occupy Houston". Houston Press. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  26. ↑ Pugh, Tony (2011-10-30). "Volunteer lawyers help 'Occupy' protesters through legal system". Kansas City Star. McClatchy Newspapers.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  27. ↑ Shellnutt, Kate (2011-10-17). "The Occupy movement's $300K bankroll, luxe requests". Newswatch. Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2012-12-03. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  28. ↑ Radley, Whitney (2011-10-17). "Let Occupy Wall Street brag about $300,000 & "hot chicks"; Occupy Houston is good with its $1,800". Houston. Culture Map. Archived from the original on 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  29. ↑ Stanton, Robert (2011-10-12). "Bun B joins Occupy Houston protests". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  30. ↑ "'Occupy Houston' protest set for Thursday". Your WestU News. The West University Examiner. 2012-10-05.
  31. ↑ "Come out to #CampTranquility and hear Dick Gregory speak about BP and the gulf oil spill NOW!". 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
  32. ↑ "Houston city counsel woman Jo Jones is speaking to us and giving us great ideas and encouragement! So awesome!". 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
  33. ↑ "Occupy Houston Facebook Status Update". 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
  34. ↑ Christian, Carol (2011-10-22). "Radio show now airing from Occupy Houston encampment". Chron.com. The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  35. ↑ "Occupy Houston protestors asks city for tents and free electricity". KHOU. 2011-10-26. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
  36. ↑ Holslin, Peter (2011-10-12). "A weekend with Occupy San Diego". San Diego City Beat. Archived from the original on 2011-10-14. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  37. ↑ Gutierrez, Gabe (2012-01-02). "Houston Mayor: 'Occupy' protestors need 'end game'". KHOU 11 New. Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2012-01-03. Occupy numbers decreasing
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.