Location: New Haven Avenue Beach, Ventnor, N.J.
& Brighton Park, Atlantic City. N.J.
Dateline: 10.15.11
Last week's column, "There’s No Place Like Home" was linked to a posting that showed up on Facebook calling for the organizational meeting of Occupy Atlantic City. It was a natural linking. "Geoff’s Page" mentioned the young people camping out in the streets across the nation. They were posted independently of the other, and by coincidence, with no forethought or plan.
It also led to several people involved with Occupy Atlantic City privately contacting me, and others sharing the last "Geoff’s Page" column on their own Facebook pages, which led me to attend the Occupy AC rally on Saturday, Oct. 15, and write this report.
Roughly 20 people showed up on the New Haven Avenue Beach (in Ventnor). Ages ranged from 20ish to 70ish. There were homeowners, and those in the process of losing their homes. Approximately half had children.
Ideas covered every imaginable topic, with focus on the need to change many aspects of how our “corpocracy” runs.
There were inside perspectives from many fields. Many had college degrees and better. Some had owned businesses until the economy failed. Some were making half of what they used to make. Others had neither job, nor prospects or were working 50 hour weeks and being paid for 40. Committees were set up. Organizational points were covered.
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. Others will be asked to join the meeting via Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social media. E-mails and another meetings this week will shape the agenda.
Some interesting asides from the Oct. 15 meeting:
1) One of the attendees in his 50s pointed out: “Encourage more people who would be perceived mainstream, such as myself, pointing out his gray hair, to participate on all levels.” This gentleman was actually heading out of town where he intended to visit Occupy Austin.
2) The graphics currently on the Occupy Atlantic City Facebook page appear confrontational. Acknowledging the symbol was pulled from another occupy movement on Facebook, it was immediately agreed by all that friendly, inspirational graphics must be immediately developed. We are a visual societly. Ours is a message of hope, love and spreading positive energy for change.
3) There was discussion about the Age of Aquarius, and the continuation of the '60s movement forward. Somewhere things got sidetracked by greed and corruption. “We have to finish what our parents started,” someone said at the rally.
4) Another participant stated, “I was raising babies in the '60s and couldn’t participate. Now, I have to participate to leave my grandchildren a better world.”
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.
Read more from "Geoff's Page" here.
"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."
The statement, which will be released no later than Thursday, Nov. 17, will state, I am told by the organizers, where and when they intend to Occupy Atlantic City.
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, Vegas, Reno, Wall Street is the real casino,” shouted protesters, “We are the 99% and so are you.”
The group wants a totally peaceful and family-friendly occupation, keeping everything legal with strictly no drugs, violence, alcohol or weapons at the Atlantic City encampment. “We have high hopes and we know that we are capable of doing big things if we all work together.”
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.
"I believe in the American dream. If you work hard and get a good education, you will do well and our kids should do better. Yet it's absolutely the reverse of that it seems.”
Washington, DC tells us the recession is over, when many of us seem to be living through a depression. We hear from politicians at all levels what they are doing for us, when many of us seem to think they are the problem. Americans want to go home again. We remember and long for a simpler time and better place… the land of the free and the home of the brave.
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.
If you want your children to continue being physically active and positively occupied once the school year begins, Back to School night is a must.
Article:
More on Atlantic City's Ordinance 49
Article:
Tyler Clementi - It’s Not Cool to Be Mean
Article:
The Real Report – Atlantic City Restricts Tourism
Article:
Out and About - Love Is in the Air
Article:
Underwear Over the Rainbow
Article:
The Real Report – The Price is Right!
Article:
Out and About – Everything’s Gay
Share this Story: