In a broad show of support, over sixty Occupy groups have now endorsed the second Occupy National Gathering, known as Occupy Wall Street (Inter) National Gathering: Decolonize the 99%, taking place Wednesday August 21 through Sunday August 25, 2013, in Kalamazoo, MI.
These groups are spread across 26 different states, ranging from Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and California to the West; Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, and Kentucky across the South; Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, and Florida along almost the entire East coast; and Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio in the Great Lakes Region adjacent to the host state of Michigan, home of Occupy Kalamazoo, the host Occupy for the National Gathering.
Endorsing Occupys come from several major cities, such as Boston, Buffalo, New York City, Detroit, Chicago, Denver, Dallas, New Orleans, and both Portlands (OR and ME). And they include a wide spread of smaller cities and towns, such as Bellingham WA; Fresno, Petaluma, and Santa Barbara, CA; Tucson, AZ, Santa Fe, NM, and Aspen, CO, out west; Raleigh, NC, and Gainesville, Bradenton, and Sarasota, FL, in the Southeast; Dover, DE, Bergen County, NJ, Norristown, PA, Staten Island, NY, and Concord, NH, in the Northeast; and Duluth, MN, Naperville, IL, and Grand Rapids, Traverse City, and Muskegon, MI, in the Great Lakes area.
Additionally, several thematic Occupy groups have endorsed, including: Air, Disabled, Environment, Homes, Love, Radio, Sandy, Sandy NJ, Women, and Yoga, along with the Occupy Wall Street Occu Evolve, and OWS Labor Outreach Committee.
The recent surge in endorsements is consistent with the National Gathering’s survey of USA Occupys that showed more than 40 percent are still active compared to the peak of the encampment period, as evidenced by current Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, and websites.
All Occupy persons and groups are welcome and encouraged to attend the Occupy Wall Street (Inter) National Gathering. This invitation extends to all Affinity and Solidarity groups, and interested members of the public.
The topics covered will include Local Community Empowerment, Unfettered Media, Environment, Economic, Trade, and Racial Justice, Peace, and Solidarity with the Marches on Washington.
The international component will include virtual participation from several countries outside the US. This reflects the important global dimensions to many Occupy issues. And the NatGat survey found that there are many still active Occupys in Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, France, Germany, various other European nations, Australia, New Zealand, and the capitol cities in several Asian, South Asian, and Middle Eastern countries.
On the roads to Kalamazoo! See you there!
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