User:Tutto Benissimo

OCCUPY RIVERSIDE

What is Occupy Riverside?

Occupy Riverside is a spontaneous gathering of regional citizens. It has no formal structure, no dues, no hierarchy, no leadership such as would be found in an organization.

Its participants came mostly from Riverside, and some from other Inland Empire cities,, primarily from Redlands, and some from Ukaipa, Menifee, San Bernardino, et al.

When and Where Founded:

Occupy Riverside was founded in January(?) 15(?), 2012 (?) in old Riverside, California, USA. Its location is on Main St., a paved promenade between University Ave. and 9th. St. The whole length of the Main St. Promenade extends from 8th St., passing underneath the Riverside City Hall, passing the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa to the north, terminating at 6th St.

Precedents:

Style and content taken from Spain(?) via Occupy Wall St(?).

Speaker's Podium

A 2' high plinth displaying a formalistic metal sculpture served as the speaker's podium around which participants gathered.

The podium's location was bracketed to the east by the University of California's Arts Block; to the east the Martin Luther King bronze memorial with children, facing the City Hall which is located across 9th St.; to the west, the Caesar Chavez bronze memorial (not built yet) near University Avenue; to the north, a three-story, private parking lot and a Wells Fargo bank branch. The four points would serve as significant references during Occupy Riverside's activities.

The founders specifically chose the location, on public land and a public space, to reflect the commons where people could meet to freely assemble to compare and propagate reformist ideas, to redress grievances, and a place to strategize, agonize, and commiserate about social and political disparities.

Motivations:

Goals:

The General Assembly:

The General Assembly is structured to be decentralized into a form of horizontal democracy.

The First Assembly

Signals:

Infrastructure:

1. Existing lights and power outlets:

2. Donated:

Services:

1. Library:

2. People's Kitchen:

3. Internet Access:

4. Greeting Table:

5. Security:

6. Signs production:

7. Portable Potties:

8.

Activities:

1. Protest:

2. Demonstrations:

3. Marches:

Affinity Groups:

Significant Affinity Groups:

1. Cop Watch.

2. The 28ers.

3.

'Significant Offshoots'

The 28ers

The 28ers was formed when several key participants were dissatisfied with the demonstrative form of Occupy Riverside, and wished to create a group dedicated to a specific outcome: The removal of money from politics. It first met on this date in a private home on St., Riverside, CA.