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Occupy Atlanta Celebrates Bill’s Defeat; Tries to Find Ways to Continue Momentum

WABE

April 4th, 2012

In an apparent jab at the author of a bill banning picketing at some private homes, members of Occupy Atlanta rallied outside a midtown condo building Wednesday, April 4th. Campaign disclosures indicate that’s where Gwinnett County Republican State Senator Don Balfour stays at times during the legislative session.

Balfour sponsored the bill to limit picketing. SB 469 passed the Senate, but died in the House last week, during the final days of the session. Calls and messages to Senator Balfour were not returned by deadline.

Even as they celebrated, members of Occupy Atlanta were trying to figure out how to maintain the momentum, and the publicity, they established last summer and fall. LaDie Mansfield, who pronounces her first name “Lady,” is a member of Occupy Atlanta. She told WABE the group is still planning its strategy for this summer, but foreclosures will remain a central focus.

“One of the things that we’re really moving ahead on this summer is going to be our home defense,” she said. “Home occupation, taking back homes; and those are the things that we’re getting the 99% to unite on, so that we can come out in larger forces when it comes to legislation.”

During the fight against SB 469, the Occupy members managed to forge alliances with groups with whom they normally disagree: the Tea Party, for instance.

Ben Speight, organizing director for the Teamsters Truck Drivers and Helpers Local 728, told WABE he was pleasantly surprised at how easily the two groups worked together to fight SB 469.

“They were great to work with,” he said. “They stood with us, and so it was a learning experience for us all. But it goes to show you that when people use common sense over ideology, we can actually achieve things in this state.”

Speight said Occupy will soon launch what he called ”The 99% Spring,” which he said will include training sessions for people to engage in non-violent civil disobedience. He said the goal is to have protesters from all sides of the political spectrum ready to act against new legislation that lawmakers might prepare for next year, which Occupy might consider attacks on working families. He called the training drive ”the civil rights movement of the 21st Century.”

But Occupy members did not say whether their plans for this year include camping in city parks, as Occupy did last fall.

Mansfield admitted it might be harder to form coalitions as this election year wears on, and campaigns become increasingly partisan. But she said a focus on issues like foreclosures might help.

“Loss of home, foreclosures, affects anybody,” she said.