News Features

What are they protesting? Whaddya got?

By CHRIS FARAONE AND LIZ PELLY | June 8, 2012

Philly National Gathering

Sparkle Revolution

There's been a lot of controversy over a planned national gathering for Occupiers on July 4 in Philadelphia. The massive general assembly has been seen by some as a power grab that alienates anyone who can't make it. Debate aside, though, progressives from across the country will be traveling to Philly on June 30 for four days of face-to-face discussion. The plan set by a team dubbed the Nation Gathering Working Group — which has been approved by Occupy assemblies in several cities — includes the drafting of a "Vision for a Democratic Future" on the Independence Mall on July 4. Whether that happens or not, this is a premier summer destination spot for galvanizing the grassroots.

Crash a Party

If all of this outrage is heading somewhere — at least for the short term — it's to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida (August 27-30), and its Democratic counterpart in Charlotte, North Carolina, the week after (September 3-6). Judging by the fate of Occupiers during recent anti-NATO protests in Chicago, these major actions are hardly for amateurs, as untold amounts of militarized force are expected to be used against demonstrators. With that said, numerous outposts of Occupy Wall Street have plans to make their voices heard outside of the convention walls, and probably inside as well. This won't be the end of the disruption, but it should serve as the encore for an especially turbulent summer.

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