Not One Day More? OCCUPY THE LOT!

We’ve all had enough.

Not just of ‘this Government’. Not just of ‘austerity’. We’ve had enough of this whole rotten, so called ‘neo-liberal’ establishment. We’ve had enough of Murdochian post-truthmesiters desperately trying to regain control of our minds with fake news dripping in hate and fear. We’ve had enough of the spectacle that seeks to distract, divide and disempower us. Most of us don’t care about whether you’re old or young, Brexit or remain, rich or poor. We are finally starting to understand that we, the people must create the next new world order, not these detached, soulless automatons prowling the halls of Westminster.

Corbynmania is encouraging, because for those of us listening, it’s not all about Jeremy Corbyn, as delightful as he is. It’s not about his fantastic allies in the stinking corridors of power either.

It’s about their vision and their method for accomplishing that vision. Their policies.

It’s not Corbyn they fear, it’s us. The ever expanding precariat. Understanding the policies and supporting them. Hearing the message and responding to the call, taking action. They fear our kindness and our compassion. They fear our limitless capacity for unconditional love. They fear our loving selflessness most when things are at their worst, for that is when we need it most.

A thread jumped out at me from one of the occuchannels recently, saying that this People’s Assembly demo on Saturday (Not One Day More) is being led by ‘da yoof’ and that they’ve specifically asked for ‘a big Occupy presence’ there. This comes after Corbyn’s repeated calls to occupy the empty properties that are being used as landbanks while people are dying on our streets for lack of basic shelter. I can imagine the apparently Corbyn infused spirit of this year’s Glastonbury filling parliament square and it arouses my least cynical dreams for a fairer world. They’ve got SHY FX headlining. And Captain SKA. Singing ‘Liar Liar’ right outside parliament…

I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to make it due to health and funding issues, but I hear the call and am trying to sort a lift out. Whether I go or not, I thought it might be useful to share some of my thoughts and experiences from the last six years with everybody, particularly the next generation of Occupiers, so here goes;

1. Occupations of public space are hard work…and fun!
2. Real Democracy is hard work but worth it in the end.
3. All our struggles are intersectional. Check your privilege.
4. Take leadership from the most impacted.
5. Praxis Makes Perfect.
6. Leaderless does not mean ‘without leaders’. Step up if and when you have to. Don’t fall into the Tyranny of Structurelessness.
7. Listen more, talk less. Listen to the old guard. Know your history.
8. Moneylessness (ie gift economies) expose and purge the corrupt and greedy.
9. Love conquers fear. Every time. Most people are good people.
10. Keep it lit. Take breaks. Don’t burn out. It’s not selfish to look after yourself too.
11. Negotiations with power must be diplomatic but uncompromising.
12. If you can’t dance it’s not your revolution.

One solution, rEVOLution.

Revolution is just the constant state of change that we are all experiencing. You’re either consciously trying to influence that change, or you’re not. Don’t judge people who aren’t too harshly. You will probably need to step back from it all yourself one day.

If you’re still not interested in politics, it is still most interested in you…the revolution is constant and relentless and there are infinite ways in which it will deceive you, distract you, depress the shit out of you and ultimately divide us.

Don’t lose touch with your friends and family as you make new friends and family on the barricades. Don’t fall out with people you disagree with. Agreeing to disagree is OK. You learn more from people you disagree with. If we shut down disagreeable conversations, (or if they are shut down for us with digital algorithms) we preclude serious change.

Love and respect everybody.

Don’t be violent, but don’t be timid either.

We don’t need riots any more than we need A-B marches.

With the greatest respect to all those who were at Grenfell and to the people’s assembly, we don’t need one more minute’s silence or one more minute’s applause either. Of course we should honour the victims, the survivors and the heroic. It’s brilliant that they’re bringing so many people together on Saturday, but we don’t need ‘one massive show of strength and solidarity‘ as much as we need organised, ongoing occupations, empowering people and forcing the necessary negotiations with power.

Diversity of tactics wins. Voting, Protest or Direct Action alone won’t change anything. We need them ALL AT ONCE!

We need communities to come together and stay together, taking back the commons with real, direct democracy. Not just in London but everywhere, all over the country and ultimately, the world.

Like 2011, but better.

We must reclaim the rights of all the dispossessed voiceless people and create this better society ourselves. Corbyn’s revitalised Labour party can help, but that’s all they can do.

It’s down to us to actually make it happen.

Make it count.

Keep it lit.

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