Occupy Powell River (facebook) is calling for a unified action against BC Ferries Corporation on Monday, December 12, at all BC Ferries terminals on the BC coast. The action is intended to apply pressure for lower fares and increased government subsidies, as well as for increased local civic involvement and less corporate control in operating the ferry system. This amounts to a move toward restoration of the idea of a marine highway as a public transportation infrastructure, rather than corporate property. People’s Assembly of Victoria participants, and the community at large, are encouraged to demonstrate with signs and hand out pamphlets on Monday, December 12 at the Swartz Bay ferry terminal or, alternatively, at the head offices of BC Ferries Corporation, 800 Yates St., Victoria (at the intersection of Yates and Blanshard). We hope to have an information pamphlet to make available soon. Individuals that are interested in this action should communicate (via the comments section of this post?) about where at Swartz Bay terminal they will meet. In solidarity with Occupy Powell River and other groups along the coast, this is a component of a broader action on December 12 intended to shut down or interfere with all ports on the west coast of North America.

For additional information, please see these links:

• West Coast Port Blockade website - General call to action in North America
• Twitter: #occupytheport
• Dec 12th – Action against BC Ferries (facebook event page). Or PDF doc (for people who don’t use facebook)
• Twitter: #ferryaction

TODAY’S SUPREME COURT RULING:
The People’s Assembly of Victoria won something small in court today. Just like it has every time it goes to court. Today we were not adjourned or granted an extra night for the judge to consider his decision. No, today was it. The court, in taking a night, could not find a way to deny the city its ask for an injunction. The law did not allow for it. Instead, the judge did for us what he could. He did not grant an enforcement order. You see, the City was not only asking us to move out of the square, but to move out or else. The or else being police action against those that decided to stay past the 7am November 19th eviction order. The Mayor says he plans to go to court on Monday to get that enforcement order. I don’t doubt it.

GLOBE & MAIL SPECIAL REPORT:Santa Claus coming so protesters out, Victoria mayor decides
“ In Victoria you can rage against The Man, but don’t mess with Santa Claus. When Mayor Dean Fortin sent city lawyers into B.C. Supreme Court seeking to evict the encampment that has dominated a public square adjacent to city hall since mid-October, it was not with a burning desire to clear the ragged lot out before voters head to the municipal polls on Saturday. Rather, the progressive Mr. Fortin is playing the Grinch to the Occupy Movement because Santa Claus is coming to town. On Nov. 26, 20,000 people are expected to gather for the annual Santa parade.”

“OCCUPY” 2.0:
So ends Occupy v. 1.0, so begins Occupy v. 2.0, onwards and upwards. The People’s Assembly of Victoria is just getting started. We’ll be seeing you, in the square, on the streets, on your bus, on your side. After all, there’s still a few issues left to resolve….

(click picture to see larger image)

…And many more surprise (!) events to come.

In the morning of Wed, Nov 17th, our legal team representatives Rajinder , Anushka and assistants, presented the below 14 page long document containing some  55+ (!) written arguments before the Supreme Court of British Columbia. It starts out with number 2 as follows:

(click image below to view the entire document)

“2. The Petitioner submits that the Respondents “never sought or obtained permission from the Director for the holding of the Demonstration”. We are indeed in a sorry state, if freedom of political expression and assembly require pre-authorized approval from state officials before it can take place. The Charter [of rights & freedoms] exists to guarantee these specific rights of all, including the Respondents. We can not look at the democratic movements sweeping the Arab World and praise them if we are of a mind, as the City of Victoria seems to be, that any such expression requires express pre-approval from the City.

The written argument then goes on to challenge the local bylaw, stating that peacefully assembly is contrary to sections 2(b) & 2(c) of the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms, arguing precedence of structures previously erected in the Parliament Hill regarding cruise missile testing (in 1994). That “Political expression … is necessary to be at or near the seat of authority. If expression were conducted hidden away in basements or back alleys it will have little or no value“. And then… It then carries on for another glorious 10 pages including putting into question: (paraphrase) “What is more important? Rights or [xmas] Lights?” and finishes with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. and requesting a 5 step remedy including the dismissal of the injunction, termination of the bylaw (or another just remedy) or keeping the bylaw but limiting it to allow us to carry on.

Regardless of the judgment outcome this Friday (Nov 18) morning  at 9:15AM, many of us are extremely proud of the outstanding work presented by our legal team who worked tirelessly in a matter of a few short days to present the above case and we are very thankful to them for all their efforts thus far.

Dear Victoria Community,

( Click image below to read entire letter)

“This is a call for support and participation. The time has come for change in the world. Throughout the year of 2011, uprisings all around the Earth have shown that the people have awoken, that the people will no longer allow the global powers to continue on as they do. A dialogue has been started, people everywhere are talking about change, and the ‘Occupy’ movement is a growing part of it. Globally, there are nearly 2000 cities participating in the ‘Occupy’ movement, each standing in solidarity with ‘Occupy’ Wall Street as well as creating their own reform identity.

Here in Victoria, the People’s Assembly of Victoria (‘Occupy Victoria’) is thankful for the people who have exuberantly supported the movement with their time, energy, donations, and participation so far. We have successfully created a space for open dialogue and discussion about the important issues that continue to affect us every day. With each individual coming from their own experience and life situation, these issues are diverse and range from homelessness and addiction to uncontrolled use of natural resources and corporate greed. Everybody’s issue is an issue….[Click image on left side to read the entire letter] “

“Emergency” GA tonight!
(Please note the use of the word “Emergency” here is not to instill any kind of panic, but simply implies that a single urgent decision needs to take place ASAP and cannot wait until the next GA (Thu Nov 17 @ 7PM). See below for details).

WHAT: The People’s Assembly of Victoria (OccupyVictoria) Legal work group has called for an “Emergency” General Assembly be hosted tonight.
WHEN: Tue, Nov 15th, 2011 @ 7PM
WHERE: Centennial Square, stage area
WHO: Anushka of the legal work group will be facilitating the GA.
WHY: This morning the court ruled the #OccupyVictoria movement at Centennial Square was only going to be granted an additional 2 days to mount a legal case in defense of the city of Victoria’s requested injunction to evict all permanent structures (i.e. tents) from Centennial Square. The court case will reconvene Thursday morning, Nov 17th to make a potentially final decision on the injunction request. As such, we need to come together tonight and make a single unified consensed decision regarding a single proposal (see below).

PROPOSAL :
“Do we want to officially move the ‘encampment’ at Centennial Square elsewhere, end it all together, or proceed to stage a legal battle?”

NOTE:
Subject to amendments: The above proposal is subject to amendment during the GA. Please bring your ideas / thoughts / recommendations.
Single topic of discussion: Please note, no other topics/proposals/issues will be discussed in tonight’s GA. The next ‘normal’ GA will be held at 7PM on Thursday night at Centennial Square.
‘Encampment’ definition: The use of the word ‘encampment’ above implies all permanent structures such as tents, fences, tarps, kitchen/media area etc, which is what the injunction specifically addresses. It does not imply that we can not/should not continue to re-use Centennial Square for hosting GA’s, rallies, or other time-limited events that do not comprise of permanent structures.