I have to say, as a frequent participant of Occupy Denver (OD), not representing any particular group and only my own viewpoint, that I have also witnessed mysogynistic behaviors at OD that are not only disturbing, but speak volumes about why the demographics of the crowd at OD do not reflect a true contrast with that of the founding of the United States itself. It is still mostly white males in control, and the only difference is that property ownership is at a significantly lower rate. White, male property owners dominated the founding of the United States, and OD is dominated for the most part by white males, though most of them do not own production property. I think the difference is irrelevant if those in dominant positions are unwilling to even reflect on their own power and privilege. Whether they own alienable property or not is beside the point, in other words, and were they to assume roles of real power we really couldn't be surprised to see them revisit the same oppressive behaviors, and still impose unjust policy in the same light. What troubles me now is that Denver Anarchist Black Cross has been so supportive of victims of police brutality at OD, for which DABC deserves props like never before, but that ungrateful OD participants don't even take that as a sign to consider their own personal positions on issues of gender and racial disparities. Many with OD have been unruly, hostile and provocative toward the media and police and those who behave in this way, by and large, are not only not anarchists but they are the very same mysogynist jerks who demean the best of their own side of the fence, those who spend time, money and resources, and even risk their own safety and freedom, to support the OD movement as a whole.

The Denver Police and their corporate media lapdogs have already decided that their line is to blame anarchists for everything bad that may be attributed to OD via their claim that anarchists have somehow taken over OD. The irony is, I suppose, that the actual anarchists involved there have been the only ones to display such extraordinary levels of mutual aid, mutual respect, and self-discipline. My fear is that at-large anarchists will be blamed for behaviors that directly contradict anarchism itself, and it is the behavior of those mysogynists that is more justifiably to be scrutinized, by anyone, but to pin that behavior on anarchists is a practice of misrepresentation of anarchist ideas and viewpoints yet again by the corporate media. In other words, what justifiably would be bad public relations for white, male, right-wing mysogy-prone groups that have been strangely deeply involved in OD, is actually being spun by the corporate press against anarchists overall. Historically I wonder how much of peoples' understanding of anarchism is misunderstood, or simply mistaken out of innocent ignorance, and how much of this history of misunderstanding was constructed intentionally by opponents with clear agendas. The dynamics of this current view of the movement that OD is part of certainly indicate that such confusion and misunderstanding is intentionally exploited and/or fostered by arrogant corporate pigs who view anarchism with enmity. Thank you for speaking up, you are not alone and there are many who completely agree with you about this matter.

Hahahahahaha!

I'm so ready. The Anti-capitalist march was the best thing about Saturday. It's nice not marching with snitches and bourgie fucks.

It is none of their damn business what Ms. Simeone does in her spare time.  No employer has a right to put such a condition in a worker's contract.

Phase two of #OccupyDurango includes continued presence in Fassbinder Park, 17th Street and Main Avenue in Durango, CO with General Assemblies held at 5:30 PM daily.

Throughout the week, we are calling on all occupiers and supporters to spread the word, recruit friends, and send the message that after being pushed out by the police last weekend, we're calling for support from the community with the intent of having enough numbers to hold our ground and stay Friday and/or Saturday nights.

Excellent report and pics.  Wish I could have been there.

Glenn Spagnuolo, GLenn Morris, Ward CHurchill (the only one with any cajones) Richar Meyers and Tina Braxton.. My oh my the same old pacifist antagonist crew still whining and crying about non-violence and protesting.. Wake up people. We trained this generation to be desensitized to violence and we expect them to join  the whine  and the the gimmes and not persist Sorry not this time..  

We're awaiting a response from Colorado AIM about altering the wording of the statement they proposed and #OccupyDenver ratified, and if we get the go-ahead, we'll change "Denver" to "Durango" and put it up for consensus ratification at our General Assembly this Saturday.

There's a good contingent of folks pushing a decolonization agenda down here, so that's a hopeful sign, but Durango's a pretty socio-economically privelged town, so there's always the danger that this could devolve into the global 1% (even if they're amongst the 99% in this country) being upset about the loss of privilege that has come with the beginning of the collapse of this economic system and civilization.

When I logged in, I received a message stating it was a one-time log-in set to expire on Oct 10.

Occupy Denver stands in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street. With this being said, I will quote something from them that also addresses this issue.

"As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not
lose sight of what brought us together. We write so that all people who feel wronged by
the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your allies.

As one people, formerly divided by the color of our skin, gender, sexual orientation,

religion, or lack thereof, political party and cultural background, we acknowledge
the reality: that there is only one race, the human race, and our survival requires the
cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption
of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their
brethren; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but
corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that
no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power.

We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest
over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. {snip}

To the people of the world,
We, the New York City General Assembly occupying Wall Street in Liberty Square, urge
you to assert your power.

Exercise your right to peaceably assemble; occupy public space; create a process to
address the problems we face, and generate solutions accessible to everyone.

To all communities that take action and form groups in the spirit of direct democracy, we
offer support, documentation, and all of the resources at our disposal.
Join us and make your voices heard!"

A Message From Occupied Wall Street (Day Five)
Published 2011-09-22 07:51:42 UTC by OccupyWallSt

If you agree with this, we welcome your contribution and commitment.

Molly

But why is her account disabled?

Anonymously referring to someone as cointelpro, and disparaging their organizing abilities without cause is a pretty despicable behavior. I don't agree with everything that Glenn has written, but i respect his views and i share some of his expressed concerns. I can't say the same for anyone who launches attacks from behind the veil of anonymity.

I am not here to discuss Glenn Spagnuolo.  However, I have personally seen letters from Occupy Wall Street members to members of Occupy Denver used to enforce non-violence only fundamentalist arguments.  Those website are made by a few members and do not represent brick and mortor organizations, but people who own the Occupy Denver Twitter Account as well as the website have taken positions and deleted comments, blocked members, etc.  New SDS doesn't count for much, and speaking in support can be taken out of context and does not mean that they agree with the specific organizing strategies.

But as to the other commentators, it's hard for people to want to go to the Friday GA given everything.  People are threatened with being "Doxed" for not promoting strict non-violence-only-fundamentalism, when that is against the Occupy New York principle of pprivacy.  Furthermore, the idea that problems with internal security should be addressed to the police by identifying those who make you insecure is deeply troubling.  Firsltly, the police operate with violence and the threat of violence in almost everything they do.   To actively solicit their help is creating violence, and not only that, the violence that you create you are also outsourcing or otherwise making the police do your dirty work for you.  Secondly, it is totally against the concept of unity, solidarity, autonomy, self-empowerment, and totally destroys solidarity.

When GAs have multiple facilitators, rules are bent for some and not others, decisions are not abided by, past decisions are used to brow-beat current ones, interruption is common, and people are isolating and turning on each other, etc. we should question what good coming to them can accomplish.

Compañero de lucha, it's been a long time since I've seen you in person, and it makes me very happy to read your thoughts, which very closely (though not completely) mirror my own.

I appreciate your words, "When Occupy Denver’s non-violence becomes truly committed to a principled revolutionary change, then and only then should it be applauded. If this occurs, maybe some of the radicals may even consider joining you." 

My question is, how will this group get there?  When will radical organizers (and I really mean organizers, not twitterers) who are indigenous, queer, immigrant and of color come and just own (decolonize, as it were?) the space and make it what we really want it to be? 

What will it take?  Adoption of St. Paul principles?  Something else?  I'm willing to spend a couple hours this Friday at 5pm to try to answer this question.  My (potentially naive) hope is that something concrete comes out of it, because otherwise it will be a damned shame.  But I'm at least willing to try.  Maybe I'll see you there.