Tag Archives: tents

News, Politics

Occupy Seattle’s “Night of 500 Tents” (Video)

We are delighted to bring you BHffilms’ latest production, filmed on October 15, the day that Occupy Seattle set up Tent Central in Westlake Park, despite warnings from the Parks Department that that would be rude and inconvenient. In the end, some 150 tents went up over the weekend, then came down on Monday, with police making eight arrests.

Tweeted Mayor McGinn: “Dear #Occupyseattle – You had an amazing weekend. The offer at City Hall still stands.”

Media coverage reveals our obsession with conflict, but MJ Sieber’s videos offer a corrective viewpoint (I called his earlier effort a “protest music video“). Somehow he’s tapped into a long-distance perspective with his closeups of people putting in the long hours of protest, capturing the truly political act, one that has little to do with parties, but with being people who are always negotiating living in community.

News, Politics

Occupy Seattle, Saturday Afternoon Edition (Photo Gallery)

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Apparently wrapping yourself in the flag is no longer the province of the right wing. (Photo: MvB)

Who could truncheon a smile like that? (Photo: MvB)

Seattle's occupying forces were fairly well dressed. (Photo: MvB)

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign. (Photo: MvB)

"My goodness," said the Duck driver as the crowd roared, "it sounds like New Year's." (Photo: MvB)

(Photo: MvB)

Protesters lining Fourth Avenue, which they later blocked (Photo: MvB)

Protesters lining Fourth Avenue, which they later blocked (Photo: MvB)

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I happened to be downtown on *cough* business this afternoon, so I brought along my camera to chronicle a little of today’s Occupy Seattle protest. Music, prayers, testimonials, and good-old-fashioned soak-the-rich harangues drew thousands of people to Westlake Park. As I left, a group had broken off to block traffic along Fourth Avenue. Later, tents began springing up in an act of civil disobedience. Occupy Seattle on Twitter says there are over 100 tents up, adding with an edge to their tweet: “We are running low on food, any food deliveries, pizza etc would be greatly appreciated.”

News, Politics

Hordes of Journalists Occupy Westlake Park, Disrupting “Occupy Seattle” Protesters

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Follow the story of Seattle’s ragtag band of #occupyseattle protesters on Twitter. They’re back this morning, after Seattle police gave the protesters a little taste of what it’s like to be homeless–by forcibly removing their tents from Westlake Park. I suppose that’s to be expected: When you declare solidarity with the poor, you get treated like them. Since there’s nothing worse than holding a protest that no one notices, the police action most likely did the protesters a big favor. Occupy Seattle the Twitter account says that hearings for those arrested yesterday begin at 10 a.m. at the King County Courthouse.