City
Occupy Seattle to Stay in Westlake, Hold Meeting Tonight
I just got back from mingling with the Occupy Seattle demonstrators in Westlake Plaza. It seems like they'll be there for a while if they're not disturbed.
Still, it's important to note that inertia, not any organized planning process, is the reason for maintaining the status quo; several protesters I spoke to suggested that the group would be hard to keep together if they were moved away from Westlake.
Most of the demonstrators who opposed a move were also concerned that a move to City Hall would diminish the protest's visibility. "We're occupying a visible part of the city—well-travelled streets. We want to get people informed. It would be harder to do that at City Hall," said Gabriel Bell.
That non-decision probably won't sit well with the businesses that surround Westlake Plaza. Most of the employees I talked to couldn't go on the record. The employees of See's Candy were an exception—they were allowed to say the rally was "bad for business," a line I'm sure their bosses fed them (though I didn't ask).
Everyone I spoke to was quick to invite me to a meeting of the "General Assembly" of Occupy Seattle (i.e. all the protesters), which will be held at 6:30 tonight in Westlake. Look in tomorrow's Fizz for my coverage of the meeting.
Still, it's important to note that inertia, not any organized planning process, is the reason for maintaining the status quo; several protesters I spoke to suggested that the group would be hard to keep together if they were moved away from Westlake.
Most of the demonstrators who opposed a move were also concerned that a move to City Hall would diminish the protest's visibility. "We're occupying a visible part of the city—well-travelled streets. We want to get people informed. It would be harder to do that at City Hall," said Gabriel Bell.
That non-decision probably won't sit well with the businesses that surround Westlake Plaza. Most of the employees I talked to couldn't go on the record. The employees of See's Candy were an exception—they were allowed to say the rally was "bad for business," a line I'm sure their bosses fed them (though I didn't ask).
Everyone I spoke to was quick to invite me to a meeting of the "General Assembly" of Occupy Seattle (i.e. all the protesters), which will be held at 6:30 tonight in Westlake. Look in tomorrow's Fizz for my coverage of the meeting.
