Occupy St. Augustine: HUGE Turn Out In America's Oldest City

[FayeforCure]

Despite threats from the local Tea Party, ahead of the event and during the event:



Occupy St. Augustine: HUGE Turn Out In America's Oldest City
By Rhonda Parker, St. Augustine Politics Examiner




St. Augustine â€" Organizers asked for the “face of St. Augustine” and citizens of America’s oldest city obliged on a cold and windy Saturday afternoon, with a steady crowd of around 400 gathering in the historic Plaza de la Constitucion in the heart of the downtown, and a stream of tourists and visitors coming to watch and even join with citizens concerned about jobs, economic issues and corporate greed.

“This is the oldest free marketplace in the new world. This is hallowed ground for free speech. We need to do whatever it takes to take this plaza back for its people,” said resident J. D. Pleasant, who was among at least a score of impromptu speakers from the crowd who took turns at the open public mic  in front of the plaza’s central gazebo.

“Look around â€" this is St. Augustine,” said John Hartman, who wanted to point out he was just an ‘ordinary American’, and that was a registered Independent. “This is the face of our city and of ordinary America. If you look at the diversity of this crowd, I think this shows how many people are concerned about the state of things. This should have happened 20 years ago, but now people are speaking up now. I just hope it’s not too late.”


  Isabel Sharp, 79, had her protest sign attached to the front of her walker. “Do I look like a radical to you? I came out here to show the government that this is about all the people. We’re struggling to survive while the rich get richer, and yet I can’t even afford milk. A loaf of bread is $2.99. My next door neighbor makes minimum wage and works three jobs now to support his wife and kids. Meanwhile, you see our jobs going overseas, because it’s in the best interests of the one-percent. This is why you see young people, young families, and us oldsters on our canes and walkers here today. There are veterans and homemakers out here, and there are the students â€" those gorgeous young people are another reason I’m here. They deserve better. They are the future and yet we’re leaving them with a mess.”

Another older resident, Kathleen Cole, said she came out because she wanted to see “democracy in action - from the grassroots up.”

Said Cole, “This is what freedom of speech is all about, the will of the people.”

Chris Ranung, an AFLCIO member said he hadn’t planned on speaking, but felt inspired by the young students and Flagler College “Anonymous” members, who helped organize the protest.

He said later, “When we marched in the 1960s, we had the support of the older generation â€" our parents, teachers and community leaders. They stood behind us, and so now I feel the need to support this younger generation who are working to get our country back on the right track.”

Gene Schepers was one of 24 members of the local Unitarian Church who came with their signs, and some were in costume. He appeared to be dressed as a court jester.

“I’m here as a private citizen and I just wanted to say to the government, ‘this has to stop.’ We need to vote ‘em out. Vote third party. I call the parties the ‘Democans’ and ‘Republicrats.’ They’re all the same. They represent the corporations and their lobbyists, not the people they were elected to serve.”

Flagler College student Kaley Dietrich, 19, said she didn’t consider herself a radical or troublemaker. I’m here because want a better future.”

Michael Parker, also a student and an Occupy St. Augustine organizer, pointed out the honks from passing vehicles and shouts of approval even from trams of tourists going by on South King and Cathedral Streets. “People are wandering up, then sticking around. We’re even getting a lot of positive response from tourists. Some are even joining in.”

A large Hispanic church group of at least 20 members from Haines City, Florida crossed over from St. George Street and talked at length with members of the Occupy St. Augustine group.

Said Pastor Barbara Santana, “We’ve all heard of this, and just wanted to ask some questions. We agree with most of these concerns â€" especially about our jobs.”

Iraq War Veteran Tom Santoini had his sign written on a pizza box because he said he wanted to show solidarity with Madison Wisconsin Occupy Protesters who were the recent beneficiaries of pizza donations delivered by public employees of the city. http://www.afscme.org/news/press-room/press-releases/wisconsin-public-workers-deliver-for-occupy-wall-street-send-pizza-in-solidarity

“Where are our city officials? Where is our government?” Santoini asked, pointing out that as a veteran, he took an oath to ‘protect and defend’ the Constitution and the American people from all enemies, ‘both domestic and foreign.’

“This is why I’m here. I feel we are facing an unprecedented threat to our country, and it’s coming from within. I took a vow and I take it very seriously,” Santoini said.

“There is a huge disconnect between the government and the people. No one is representing us â€" the people down here,” said James, age 26, who didn’t want to give his last name because he said he was still an active duty soldier.

James said until recently, he was part of detail sent to ‘disassemble bombs,’ but in reality, he said he saw soldiers sometimes participating in things he felt were human rights violations. “Our government is lying to us about a lot of things. We, the people, need to start demanding the truth.”

John Curry, who has been visiting the city on business, came down with a sign that said “A Good Sign.”

“I’m here because I support what the people represent. I support what the people support,” Curry said.

Organizers say they were pleased and surprised at the turn-out.

“I got up ,saw the weather this morning and thought it would keep people away. I guess I was wrong,” said organizer Terry Buckenmayer.

Aubrey Skillman, who first came up with the concept of an Occupy St. Augustine, said he had to call the event a “huge” success. “This exceeds our expectations. That we have so many people of different ages and backgrounds is very impressive. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
 

Skillman also said he was pleased with the behavior of the crowd.

“Everyone has been peaceful. It’s been about the issues and the people having a voice,” Skillman said.

St. Augustine Police Department had a few officers in the plaza overseeing the event. Sgt. Brian Fraser called the protesters “peaceful and well-mannered.”

“We’ve had no problems. Everyone’s been very friendly and cooperative. A lot of people have come over to talk to us and make us feel welcome,” said Bike officer Kevin Schmoll.

“This is a nice group. It’s been a peaceful gathering. There’s nothing wrong with citizens expressing their free speech,” Fraser added.

A local branch of the Tea Party who call themselves “The Town Criers” did show up with their signs  and “Don’t Tread on Me” flags in opposition to the Occupy protest as promised. However, after demonstrating along Cathedral St. for a few minutes, decided to move to their usual Saturday location on St. George Street for part of the afternoon.

“We didn’t want to seem like we were a part of this,” said leader Lance Thate of the group’s change of location. Thate described The Town Criers as the “most  active” Tea Party group locally. (see links below for information on the St. Augustine Tea Party).

“We don’t agree and so we’re here to put our noses in,” said Dave Heimbold, the Tea Party branch’s local chairman. But Heimbold added that he believed in the Occupy group’s right to express their views.

“We support their right to assemble and exercise their freedom of speech, we just disagree with their political views,” Cindy Falco-DiCorrado also said.

Later, the Tea Party marchers returned to the plaza and during a march-through exchanged dialogue â€" and a few arguments â€" with Occupy protesters. While discourse sometimes became impassioned and the group had a few Occupy hecklers, Falco-DiCorrado and Occupy speaker Jon Foster agreed they had some common ground.

“The groups agree on many points of what’s wrong â€" but don’t see eye-to-eye on how we got here, or how to fix it,” one onlooker observed while Falco-DiCorrado talked with students.

Marion Roger, who was on vacation in St. Augustine with his mother and aunt, said he’d participated in Tea party Rallies in Orlando, Florida, but now turned out for all the Occupy protests in Florida he could manage, in spite of his job as an auto parts delivery person.

“We just need to unite for now and give power to the message. We have the same message,” Rogers said.

Skillman also commented, “I wish we could have gotten them (Tea Party members) to join us. I wish they would have spoken. We would have been happy to have them participate.”

Elizabeth Boozer and Christopher Pitts were also visiting the old city from Tampa and said they were members of Occupy Tampa, which continues to occupy a Tampa park in shifts. Boozer said they hadn’t known about the St. Augustine protest, but came to the Plaza when they saw the signs.

Boozer said the main thing she wanted people to know was that many Occupy supporters were hard-working people. “We hear a lot of ‘get a job’ comments, but we do have jobs, and some of us can’t participate like we’d want to.”

Pitts added, “We’re working people. We are the face of the ninety-nine percent.”

Boozer said she was amazed at how such a small city had been able to bring so many concerned citizens.

“This is impressive. This really is a special place, and very important as Florida and America’s oldest city.  I was very moved by the older people, children, old people, local business owners and even some people I saw with canes and walkers. The government needs to see that this isn’t anything radical. People are just fed up and they are speaking up.”

Citing some antagonism in Tampa and even open hostility, clashes and even assaults and arrests in other cities between law enforcement and protesters, Boozer also wanted to complimented city police for their calm attitude and support of citizens’ right to assemble.

Kendra Dion of Atlanta also commented on SAPD officers. “They seemed very laid-back and relaxed, even supportive of the protesters. This shows how this doesn’t have to be an ‘us-against-them’ type of thing.  People are just fed up. We’re all are being affected, and it’s time for people speak up. This is the American way.”

For more information, check out the Occupy St. Augustine group’s Facebook page at:

http://www.facebook.com/OccupyStAugustine “We are St. Augustine” FB page:http://www.facebook.com/groups/103584209752990/“Occupy St. Augustine” in the news, links:

http://www.examiner.com/politics-in-jacksonville/occupy-st-augustine-gro... http://www.examiner.com/politics-in-jacksonville/occupy-st-augustine-fir...

http://www.examiner.com/politics-in-jacksonville/occupy-st-augustine-org... http://www.examiner.com/politics-in-jacksonville/occupy-st-augustine-pro...

http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2011-10-11/occupy-st-augustine-pl...

http://www.examiner.com/politics-in-jacksonville/occupy-protests-photos-...

http://www.examiner.com/politics-in-jacksonville/occupy-st-augustine-huge-turn-out-america-s-oldest-city

[FayeforCure]

The under-reported story to me is how many veterans are at these Occupations. I spoke at length with a Canadian vet who served in Somalia in the '90s and is now "pitching in" at Occupy Toronto. In the U.S. I met several vets from Iraq and Afghanistan. They volunteered to fight for a country they now feel has fewer opportunities for them and their families. Vets are the middle-class. It was the vets who created the suburbs and the Baby Boomers after WWII. They are as big of stakeholders in the country as anyone and they've been given a rotten deal just like the rest of the 99 percent. Vets have the distinction of being deified by the right-wing on occasion. That's until it comes to having their benefits cut ... then they should blame themselves for not being rich.

Meet the new face of Occupy Wall Street: Scott Olsen, a 24-year-old Marine and Iraq War vet who was shot in the head with a "non-lethal round" during a raid on Occupy Oakland last week. His skull was fractured and it put him in a coma. He has since woke-up to being a rallying cry for the movement. I followed a march in Toronto to the U.S. consulate to denounce police brutality in Oakland. I counted two national news trucks and a local reporter there to cover the demonstration. There was even a solidarity march to the U.S. Embassy from Tahrir Square in Egypt.

Olsen's story is compelling. Not just because he fought in a foreign war and while in his home country, utilizing his first amendment right to peaceful assembly he was fired on by police. His may be the name you know from Occupy Oakland, but like Rosa Parks, he's part of a bigger story. He's a symbol for something we've managed to not talk about. Which is we've had two (sometimes three) wars in this country in the last 10 years and those who've fought overseas are coming home to an America with a shockingly high poverty rate. An America with the worst economic inequality in four generations. An America with less for those who work and fight and die.

Which is why they're camped out and asking the question: "What have we been fighting for?"

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20111106/COLUMNISTS107/111060301/COLUMN-Many-veterans-part-Occupy-Wall-Street?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs