Location: Across from Brighton Park, Atlantic City
Dateline: 11.16.11
ACWeekly.com's "Geoff’s Page" has been asked to release the following information on behalf of the Occupy Atlantic City movement.
Organizers tell Atlantic City Weekly that the Occupy Atlantic City encampment has been called for this Saturday, Nov. 19, starting at 9am on the former site of the Sands, across from Brighton Park at Indiana and Pacific avenues.
"Now owned by the Pinnacle Corporation, we chose this site because now it is nothing more than an ugly, empty sand lot," stated the organizers.
“This big empty sandlot is the perfect site for occupation," they added. "[Pinnacle] came in, knocked down a functioning casino, put many people out of work, then said the site wasn’t big enough and started eminent domain proceedings against residents and smaller businesses who have been here for decades. They knocked down the Post Office and left a gaping hole in the middle of the town. Even the city had to fight with them to get them to throw some grass seed down. And, now, look at it. It's disgusting.
“It clearly illustrates there are better ways to do things," they added. "When they knocked the Sands down, all the little people lost their jobs while the executives took bonuses that year for a job well done.”
A video interview with the organizers of Occupy Atlantic City coming soon exclusively on "Geoff’s Page."
Until then, here is a statement released at midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 16, by Occupy Atlantic City:
Greetings!
In the wake of tonight's Supreme Court order that Occupy Wall Street cannot remain an encampment at Liberty Plaza, it is important for us to have the largest turnout that we possibly can for our occupation!
We need to show our community and this nation that the oppression OWS protesters are dealing with is NOT breaking this movement. Instead, it is making us stronger, as it has always done throughout history. Please join us — as history will be made in Atlantic City and we want every one of you, your families and your friends, to be a part of it.
N19 = Saturday, November 19th: Our occupation in Atlantic City, N.J. will begin!
We will be meeting at 9:00 a.m on N19 on the Sandlot (Indiana and Pacific Ave.) — the abandoned lot where Sands once stood (currently owned by Pinnacle/Ace Entertainment) next to Brighton Park. We will begin assembling our tents and information area immediately upon arrival.
Geoff Rosenberger and Josh Kinney of AC Weekly have been incredible to us throughout the duration of the planning stages for Occupy AC, [reporting on our meetings thus far] so we have decided that our official media announcement will go directly through the AC Weekly Web site at acweekly.com.
All other media requests will be referred to the following link, so that only accurate information can be obtained by media sources in the days ahead. Please forward this link widely and check up on it within the next 24-48 hours for more specific information
If you plan on camping, please bring enough water and food to feed yourself (and others, if possible) for at least a few nights and for up to one week. We plan on setting up a kitchen, but it will take time.
Bring a lock for your tent. While we will all be looking out for one another, nothing is guaranteed, so make responsible choices to protect yourself.
Do NOT bring weapons, drugs, or alcohol. Have a tent buddy, if possible. Never leave the park alone.
Do NOT bring valuables or large amounts of cash if you plan on staying at the occupation. If you choose to do otherwise, it will be at your own risk.
If you take prescription medication, please bring it with you, but make sure to bring your prescription, as well.
We need DONATIONS!
Warm clothing, hats, scarves, gloves/mittens, blankets, sleeping bags, toothbrushes, hygiene products, tents, tarps, cardboard, poster board, plywood, milk crates, large plastic storage bins, first aid supplies, kitchen utensils, food, large plastic water jugs, bottled water, camp stoves, grilles, tables, chairs, rain gear, trash bags, art supplies, books, duct tape, solar panels, charging stations, generators, chalk, flashlights, batteries, music instruments, etc. Drop them off from 9:00am onward to our occupation site.
OWS has put a call out for a National Day of Action this Thursday, November 17th, in solidarity with OWS, as they’ve vowed to shut down the NYSE @ Wall Street, many corporations and big banks throughout Manhattan.
We will not be organizing a solidarity action in AC, as some of us are going to NYC and others will be here and entirely focused on organizing N19.
If you can make the trip to NYC to participate in shutting down Wall Street, we encourage you to do so. If you are unable to make it to NYC, we ask that you show your solidarity with OWS on N17 "locally" by doing any/all of the following:
[E-mail this] with everyone on your contact list, collect donations, put up fliers about Occupy AC in your neighborhood, have a conversation with your neighbors about Occupy AC, write to local publications and/or reach out to community organizations about N19 in AC.
If you have cash to spare – go to a dollar store and pick up a few things that our occupation will need.
MAKE SIGNS AND BANNERS to donate to the camp, make copies of informational fliers about issues that are important to you and bring them to our occupation, etc. Even if you won’t be camping, there is so much that you can do to help us. We appreciate all of the assistance that we receive.
We will NOT be having a General Assembly tomorrow (Wednesday the 16th) evening @ Redding’s. If you have any questions, ideas or concerns, come out on Saturday and there will be plenty of time for everything.
General Assembly information for N19 will be sent out within the next 48 hours. We will figure out times for our upcoming daily GA’s on N19, after our occupation has been set up.
Thank you all for your support and for being involved with this! Hope to see everyone on N19.
— Occupy Atlantic City!
Well, there you have it. N19 has officially entered the lexicon.
Stay tuned.
Click here to read the Occupy Atlantic City Declaration of Occupation.
Geoff Rosenberger is a Broker Associate at Marketplace Realty. Read more of the acweekly.com columnist, Margate City resident and self-proclaimed visionary's "Geoff's Page," including local snap shots, thoughts, Atlantic City news, random musings, GLBT-related news, "The Real Report," and happenings every week — only at acweekly.com.
E-mail Geoff at geoffrosenberger@comcast.net or call him at 609-385-7585.
This past weekend saw peaceful demonstrators standing on the corner of Indiana and Pacific avenues forewarned they would be arrested immediately if a tent were erected on the Pinnacle (former Sands) site they are calling the "sandlot."
In relation to Occupy movement's two month anniversary...
Are you there? Want to share your thoughts and photos?
The occupiers will be allowed to peacefully assemble during the day, they have been told by local authorities. They will not be allowed to camp overnight on city property or privately held lots, such as the former Sands site.
It was announced the encampment and occupation of Atlantic City would begin this coming Saturday, Nov. 19, at a location to be announced.
Atlantic City’s Brighton Park was occupied Saturday afternoon, Oct. 22, by a group of more than 30 people who stood in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement. Occupy Atlantic City members plan to meet again Saturday, Oct, 29, back at Brighton Park.
After a tour of the area the Occupy Atlantic City organizers agreed among themselves that their next in-person meeting would be at Brighton Park, in Atlantic City, Saturday, Oct. 22, at 11am.
An “Occupy South Jersey” rally has been scheduled for Sunday at 3pm at the Bank of America branch on New Road and Bethel Road in Somers Point.
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1. Anonymous said... on Nov 16, 2011 at 04:10PM
“Isn't that "private property?" Couldn't Pinnacle Inc. just call the Police and have you all charged with trespassing?”
2. Muhammad X said... on Nov 16, 2011 at 06:01PM
“The "forward this link" is a dead link.
”