Occupiers in Texas Plan to Shut Down the Port of Houston

[RedZero]

http://westcoastportshutdown.org/content/occupiers-texas-plan-shut-down-port-houston

Approved GA proposal from Occupy Dallas (http://occupydallas.org/):

In solidarity with Occupy Oakland, Occupy San Diego, Occupy LA, Occupy Portland, Occupy Tacoma, Occupy Seattle and other movements along the west coast of the United States that will shut down ports in their cities on December 12, the General Assembly of Dallas hereby declares:

On December 12, 2011, Occupy Dallas will assemble in Houston, TX.

The following message is from Occupy Oakland:

“On December 12, the occupy movements in different cities will stage mass mobilizations to march on the ports, create community pickets, and effectively shutdown the hubs of commerce, in the same fashion that Occupy Oakland shut down the Port of Oakland on November 2nd, the day of our general strike. The Oakland Port Shutdown was a historic and effective action, and the memory of that night on the port lives in the hearts of people across Oakland and around the country.”In Houston, we will mobilize and stage a mass march by integrating Occupy Houston, Occupy Austin, Occupy San Marco, Occupy San Antonio, Occupy Now and Occupy Texas.

We have made attempts at local demonstrations in an effort to spread awareness of the economic injustices affecting the 99%. These peaceful assemblies have been organized with the aim of petitioning our government for a redress of our grievances. On a national level, the response to our protest has often included excessive force and unnecessary violence perpetrated by police departments, with thousands of citizens unlawfully arrested.
Occupy Dallas would like to urge other movements in Texas and the surrounding states that wish to participate in the Occupy the Gulf Coast action to join with Occupy Houston before December 12.

We ask that you bring this request before your General Assembly immediately.

In Solidarity and Struggle,
Occupy Dallas

[Lenina Rosenweg]

Solidarity with Occupy Dallas! As I understand OD had planned a general strike for Nov 30. Was this cancelled? Reading between the lines it seems that they have been subject to severe repression.

This is a good direction for the movement to go in.

[Le Socialiste]

This is great news. It's encouraging to see Occupiers in Texas planning actions in solidarity with those on the West Coast, especially when those actions take on goals explicitly drawn along class lines. It's imperative that Occupy Dallas and Houston connect (however briefly) with those working the docks and shipyards. You can occupy the Gulf Coast, but it won't take off unless the workers involved integrate themselves into the movement. Otherwise, we have regular students and others shutting down ports without the support or backing of the people who actually work along the Gulf.

That said, I am pleased to see the direction Occupy is going in (at least on the West Coast), and am encouraged to see groups in Texas trying to take similar action. For whatever reason, Occupy groups in Texas seem to be maintaining a close sense of solidarity with their Bay Area and West Coast comrades. When Oakland had their general strike, Dallas announced they would follow suit (although, like Lenina, I hadn't heard much after that). Either way, I would hope Occupiers on the West Coast see this opportunity and seize on it to establish closer ties with those occupying around and along the Gulf.