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Protesters hold signs during an Occupy Las Vegas protest on the Las Vegas Strip on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011. The protest was held in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street demonstrations in New York and in other parts of the United States.
By Aida Ahmed 
Published Friday, Oct. 21, 2011 | 9 a.m.
Updated Friday, Oct. 21, 2011 | 3:11 p.m.
Occupation site
After negotiations with the county, the Occupy Las Vegas movement has found a fixed home and plans to start camping out today on a lot at the northwest corner of Tropicana Avenue and Paradise Road.
The group signed papers Friday morning to formalize the agreement with the county and started moving onto the site at 2 p.m., said organizer Gina Sully, who made the announcement.
“This is (our) first occupation parallel to Occupy Wall Street,” Sully said this morning.
The group has held marches in Las Vegas — including on the Strip and downtown — to protest corporate greed and the influence of money in politics.
"This space is what Zuccotti Park is to the original protesters in New York," Johnathan Abbinett, one the members who helped secure the location, said in a news release. "We require very little to get our voices heard, but a secure place to practice our first amendment rights is crucial. I hope this location will allow more citizens to participate in our movement. People are already calling it Occupy Park."
The lot where the group will set up is six to eight acres with space for protesters to sleep. The group had been fighting restrictions on sleeping in public places.
Sully said the group has more than 2,000 members. “We’ve had well over 1,000 people at each of the last three marches,” she said.
Sully said she can’t put a number on how many occupiers might be camped out Friday night because most will be coming and going.
The agreement allows the group to occupy the location for up to 30 days, around the clock. Clark County spokesman Dan Kulin said there also is a list of conditions that must be met.
“They have to have Porta Potties and trash cans and Dumpsters,” Kulin said. “(They can’t start) fires and cannot build any building structures.”
Gina Sully,who is one of the organizers of the Occupy Las Vegas Group, did work on the "Post-Capitalist Project". Here is an article titled "Rethinking Marxism":
http://postcapitalistproject.org/node/60...
Her name is referenced in this article in the last paragraph.
Here is the stated purpose of their project:
"The Post-Capitalist Project is a cooperative, nonsectarian venture of left journals, popular education centers, and electronic media. Our goal is to make easily available the wide range of new programs, experiments, and theories analyzing the transition beyond capitalism toward a socialist future, recognizing that "socialism" is a protean concept encompassing many different historical experiences and future possibilities".
http://postcapitalistproject.org/about
Some within the Occupy Wall street AND Occupy Las Vegas groups are using Wall Street and the rich as a means to broaden appeal for a socialist system in America.
The Occupy protesters are the problem. I wonder how many of them are drawing unemployment, how many are not employable and how many lack the skill, training and experience. When times are good everyone is fine, but when the economy takes a dump, by circumstance caused by all, its time to protest. Protest is not the solution, solution are don't at the polls. I you survey these protesters, many would vote for Obama. I still say the Occupy protest is funded by the democratic party. It to distract America from the real issues, unemployment, foreclosures, and a extreme weak economy. Obama America Jobs Act is not different from the jobs bills of the past, it just cost more.
What a load of garbage.... I mean, that's what that vacant land will look like with the itinerant slackers loafing about.
If they want to impress us they should occupy that same corner during the months of July and August.
It takes real courage to protest during the best weather months of the year.
Express445, I am one of those protesters you stereotyped. I am a parent with a small child who is gainfully employed, I didn't vote for Obama, and I don't work for a union. Occupy LV is a very diverse group and I would encourage you to come down and walk among us and see for yourself vs. relying on the media to influence how you perceive us.
Heretic, that intersection is highly visible, and how it's maintained will go just as far at improving people's perception of us as anything we say or put on a protest sign. OccupyLV has tried to work with everyone from the county commissioners to Metro PD and it's an approach that has worked well. Now I'm not speaking on behalf the group, just myself here, but I know many of us want to leave a good impression.
And RefNV, when you have a group covering 99% of the population you will get all types. Just because she believes that way doesn't mean the rest of us do, but we respect her right to think the way that she does.
This is by no way any thing like the Tea Party. The Tea Party movement has gained national prominence for leading organized protests against big government. But the movement itself is far from a cohesive group of supporters. No less than eight separate and sometimes competing organizations make up the Tea Party network. And though it purports to be a grassroots movement, wealthy and politically-connected individuals have been feeding the phenomenon, according to research by Huffington Post Eyes&Ears citizen reporters.
The Tea Party Express and The Tea Party Patriots, both claim to be new grassroots organizations, spawned out of frustration over the bailouts. Yet neither group really fits the dictionary definition of grassroots -- "involving the common people, especially contrasted with... an elite" -- due to their ties to the wealthy and powerful. The main players has been Koch Industries, David and Charles Koch oil billionaires who formed and are funding the Tea Party and Republican Tea Party candidates.
Teabaggers generally echo stupid myths about entitlement spending (it actually only accounts for about 1% of federal budget spending), have no idea that most poor people in America are not lazy, actually do work and don't want to be on welfare, and have no idea what socialism actually means or that socialist reform in this country is actually what allowed a middle class to flourish and ultimately make the U.S. one of the most prosperous nations in human history.
The OWS protestors are not a majority of white elderly protestors but from all walks of life and believe it or not of every political party who are middle class and working poor, young and old each with their reason for protesting.
Wall Street is the place to start because that's where the lobbyist are trained to 'buy' our politician who is suppose to represent their constituents but cater to Corporate America and the elitst wealthy.
We are tired of getting screwed by the 'bought' puppets in Congress and taxed to support the wealthy and corporations who operate overseas and hire employees overseas as we make them richer with our taxes.
To the naysayers, I am gainfully employed, educated, and consider myself to be rather conservative on alot of issues. And I am "still," planning on joining in on these protests and helping out when and where I can.
Ordinary people are sick and tired of the system being rigged solely for the benefit of the biggest corporations and the ultra wealthy. When people complain about it, some will say to stop complaining and do something about it.
Well, the 99% are out there trying to do something about it. If you dont agree with them, that's fine. But branding them all as lazy unemployed hippies is both false and counterproductive. Think for yourself and stop getting all your talking points from Faux news.
The message on the sign being held by the young lady in the photo conveys the main issue I have with these protesters: "This is NOT the future I was PROMISED".
Hate to break it to you, but that's life, Ms. Protester. You were never PROMISED anything. Now learn to deal with it.
Maybe these folks should consider the following:
Wall street didn't pass any of the legislation that bailed out the banks, the car companies or the unions and which subsequently hurt their retirement accounts.
Wall street didn't pass any of the legislation which lowered Social Security reimbursements to doctors and hospitals which makes their health care more expensive and harder to find.
Wall street didn't take any money from lobbyists, special interests and unions to buy your votes.
Wall street didn't sanction Fanny Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Reserve or have any say in their operation.
Wall street didn't pass Obama Care which has resulted in more expensive and less health care, more regulation and fewer choices.
Wall street didn't increase the cost of medicine by preventing the fifty states from shopping for prescription medicines across state lines or across borders into Canada, etc.
Wall street didn't pass TARP I or II, stimulus I, II or now III spending more money than all previous congresses or administrations combined.
Wall street hasn't raised our national debt to levels that can never be paid back. Wall street didn't write the tax code that you find so objectionable and wall street didn't' send any US forces to foreign lands, give any funds to foreign governments, borrow your future and that of generations to come from China, India, Japan and other countries.
Wall street didn't establish, fund, regulate or control the EPA which stymies energy development & production or commercial growth; wall street didn't establish, fund, regulate or control the Dept. of Education which spends enough to send every child to Harvard with the poorest results or the dozens of other ineffective and even destructive agencies and departments that waste money, make life difficult and restrict freedom.
Wall street aren't the ones telling you want you want to hear and changing their message for each constituent group.
In lieu of listing the hundreds of other items that are pertinent I'll just get to the point.... WHO DID?
The elected representatives of the US House of Representatives which by Constitutional law are the only body tasked and permitted to spend taxpayers funds, the US Senate which by Constitutional law is the only body tasked and permitted to offer consent and advice to the House of Representatives and the Executive Branch or the Executive Branch which is the only one of the three branches of government tasked with and permitted to sign into law or veto legislation.
While both political parties share the responsibility for their actions: What party has been in power for over 80% of the time since all this legislation was passed and these departments and agencies were created?
The Democrat Party.
And who elected these politicians in both parties? YOU DID!
It seems to me voting is more productive than demonstrating.
Brass, we will be briefly "occupying" voting booths as well as we are encouraging voter registration.
BRASS, best comment EVER!
How many mud pies can they make in a 24-hour period?
I'm curious: where do I go to sign up to camp for free on County-owned land? If a homeless guy tries to sleep/camp on county lands, he'd get tossed off. But we're going to allow these malcontents to live there for free?
Large majority of the protestors are employed. I believe in NYC, it was 85% or more.
People are angry and they should be..but it needs to be directed at the fact that we have shipped meaningful jobs overseas all so we can buy cheap clothing, cheap electronics, just about everything being sold in Walmart.
We went from a country that produced tangible items to a country of workers that pushes paperwork around and somebody makes $100,000 on it. I give a lot of credit to companies like Ford that have committed to bring back thousands of manufacturing jobs to the USA. I don't see software companies doing that. I don't see other manufacturers doing that.
People are angry and they should be. Politicians made it easy for companies to shift operations overseas.
It all comes down to money. The political system is beyond corrupt. Nothing gets fixed until the money is taken out of politics.
LMAO at some of those signs...talk about ignorance..
"this was not the future I was promised"
??? there are no guarantees and no one, especially politicians are accountable in this society. You ARE guaranteed the PURSUIT of happiness.
"greedy corporations, politicians are not for sale"
..that requires cooperation on the politicians part..if politicians were not peddling influence to the highest bidder then no matter how much anyone offered it would not matter.
occupy "wherever" should be focusing on washington because that's where all the laws and policies that created this mess came from.
of course the unions and public sector employees (majority of "occupiers") can't go against their nanny government so they try to place all the blame on wall street.
comments by BRASS are why "occupy" has no legs and can only garner support from progressives, liberals, and unions. That's quite a few folks but a helluva long way from the proclaimed "99%". Hopefully the dupes doing union bidding can come to their senses and focus on the real problem...washington DC.
Congratulations Occupy Las Vegas, we're giving you a plot of land to poop on right under a runway and right in the heart of the "fabulous" district of Las Vegas. Get over yourselves already! Yes, the 99 weeks of unemployment checks you received, paid for by the rich and the corporations was great, but this is real life now. Time to get a real job, and stop squawking that you can't afford the latest PlayStation because the government cut off your unemployment checks.
On a sort of related topic, how will they get power while they're there. These people are going to need a way to log into their World of Warcraft games, and to heat up their Hot Pockets. Also, will each of their mom's becoming to clean up the messes they leave. I can't imagine a single one of these people who doesn't live in their mom's basements!
Have fun in the dirt. This "movement" will have as much impact as the union people walking up and down Warm Springs Rd on their day off trying to get people to stop shopping there because it is not a union shop.
Sorry folks, but regardless of what you believe about this Occupy thing, walking around with signs won't do a thing. Here's some ideas that could help you:
1) Run for office
2) vote people that share your views into office
3) organize a boycott
That one sign that that person is holding in the picture "Tax the rich" is so ridiculous, I actually chuckle. That's the uneducated speaking right there...
Corporations are not required to have a soul, they are supposed to make money. If you do not like the laws that allow them to make their money, the way that they make it, that's fine. Work to change the law.
Yawn....
BTW - "there" = Glaziers supermarket...
I just relaized what the 99 was for...these are the folks that are getting the 99 weeks of undemployment...
Where's spell check when I need it...
The name of the movement expresses the groups identity. It is to shine a penetrating spot light on Wall Street. There is a constellation of issues beyond Wall Street and all are free to express their position.
Brass. I must say you spent a great deal of time with your pedantic prose. Others seem to view this group as a threat with no rational basis. That being said: What we all face is an information problem. You can not get to the heart of an issue via cable news or local media. Look to the investigative reporting in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Vanity Fair and a relatively recent article from Rolling Stone, "Why Isn't Wall Street in Jail?" Give this a read Brass.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/new...
Peace to all - particularly to you old hippies and neo-hippies, and falsely accused hippies. Indeed, there are bald headed hippies so be on guard one may be your next door neighbor. Of course, one can be just plain old "hip" at any age.
Is there any chance of posting a copy of the agreement with the story? Who is paying for the services that will need to be provided for?
I can see one immediate problem: every homeless person in the area is going to flock there since they will have a place to camp for 30 days and can't be rousted. Granted, every homeless person probably fully supports the movement anyway.
I just hope the "occupy" protesters read these comments and come to realize what union/government dupes they are and refocus their efforts to the real problem...WASHINGTON DC.
The stereotyping tells me that people don't read. Many of the OccupyLV people are gainfuly employed, are not with or funded by a union, and all they want is to change the direction America is going.
Yes, it really is that simple.
They should be out in SearchLight letting Harry know how happy they are about the $500 million they sent to Finland to create jobs!
Ps. They got the decimal in the wrong place, they are the .0000000000000000000000000000000099% THANK GOD!
glad they are not on the strip,i am visiting in 2 weeks.here in potrland,or people are being arrested for lewd conduct,blocking streets,one was arrested for pulling a gun on another,and they are using the park they are "occupying" in downtown to use it as an outdoor bathroom as well.some way to send a message.these people are filthy loser crybabies.i am unemployed and blame no one.get a life!!!
I'm part of Occupylasvegas. I'm employed fill time and we are not funded by any of the groups mentioned. I would say that people in the group have many different political beliefs, but the one thing that they do agree on is the influence of money in our politics isn't severing average Americans. I think it's worth mentioning anyone one willing to carry a protest sign and walk for three hours chanting is a very patriotic person and is taking that time for love of country. Just to let you know a little about me. I haven't miss a chance to vote in a election since 1972 , I severed my country , never collected welfare , consider myself a positive member of society and have very deep concerns about the direction of our country. I am no less an American than someone who feels like they don't agree with me. I'm very well versed in current and past events in this great country of ours. I'm part of the 99% joins us.
The Republicans continue to kill innocent people with their tainted products and unsafe working conditions. Sandoval has not provided the jobs he promised and has embraced Rick "the racist rock" Perry.
... We, from "Occupy Buffalo," send-OUR-regards!!! How-'BOUT-Steve Wynn, part of thee 1%, showing-SOME-Solidarity?!? His ex-&-Lesbian daughter SHOULD!!! DON'T count on the FORMER Mayor Goodman EITHER!!! Having-STARTED-my 35+ yr. Print-Journalism career at the right-wing LV Review-Journal, I know you've-GOT-your hands-FULL-in S. Nevada with OPPOSITION!!! Especially from the fascist Mormon Church! Good-LUCK!!!
The Occupy Las Vegas group in total represent less than 1% of Las Vegas. Greater than 99% don't associate with them. So it's the 1% in Las Vegas who occupy a shanty town camp versus the 1% who have created jobs for Americans, contribute to 401K's and create products & services people buy.
It's the "have contributed to society" group versus the the group who have "contributed nothing".
Enjoy those port a pottys. Where will you wash/sanitize your hands?
<<Yes, the 99 weeks of unemployment checks you received>>
That is NOT what the "99" stands for.
I'm sure all the negative and nasty comments from the majority of posters here about this group and why they are protesting was the same sentiment coming from King George and Parliament about the "rebels in the colonies" back in the day (albeit different phrasing but nastiness all the same. And maybe arrogance mixed in with a little naivete thinking the colonists are nobodies and what are they going to accomplish.)
It all had to start somewhere, didn't it? And we all know what happened.
The OWS group has an action(bashing Wall St and those rewarded for ideas & effort) without clearly defining their values and principles for doing so. It's why this group will never grow. There is no mainstream identity. This group is a collection of 1% strewn across the country that brings in the unions when it's time to march(here it's the SEIU union). This pattern will stay the same until the small band of 50-100 hard core OWS groupies get tired of marching.
The big question is; where are the other 98% of your 99%ter's??
Where is the other 98%? Will we see them down on Trop & Paradise?
The OWS group is mooing at the cow.....
I love it --- a few folks out in a lot and folks are threatened by them. spectacular. why you worried, fellas? if it's no big deal just ignore them. Oh yeah --- someone put you in charge of judgment. Sorry. I forgot.
A proud 99er
LOL...great location! Dont they know with the aircraft landing and taking off right over their heads no one will be able to hear them!
Who is paying for the dumpsters, trash cans and porta potties? And who is paying to have them emptied?
Set up a job fair tent. There won't be nothing left there but the mounds of trash they will leave behind anyways..
Its amazing how many people dont care about 9/11 conspiracy,HARRP systems,private owned prisons/ work camps that are 70% full with people on cannabis charges,offshore banks printing US dollars and no health care.
simple!!!!!!
1.Legalize it!end the 70yr old prohibition.GO green.
2.Have cannabis pay for all US citizens to have health care.
3.empty the prisons/jail/work farms of people in on cannabis/ related charges OUT.Replace them with the 70% of polititions,oil co and drug co and people responsible for 9/11 conspiracy and HARRP system.
4.Boycott the one percent that are fu....g up our beautiful earth.
onelove
As I've said elsewhere, to attack the people making a claim rather than attacking the factual content of the claim is what logicians call the ad hominem fallacy, and it's just plain old bad reasoning.
Here are some facts: The Occupy Las Vegas movement pays its own way; although we accept donations from members and sympathetic community members, we aren't taking any tax money or anything from anyone who doesn't offer it to us. Many of us are spending our own hard-earned money to ensure that we all have what we need to get through the occupation.
Many of us are gainfully employed, although others have lost jobs and businesses during the downturn in the economy. Finding a job isn't as simple as some people like to make it seem. Remember, this is an economic climate in which businesses are refusing to hire those who do not currently have a job. See this article from Time magazine--hardly a hotbed of left-wing propaganda, by the way. (http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/...).
OLV has a mission statement. In that document, the group outlines what it is agitating for. It's available here: http://occupylasvegas.org. Click on the button in the upper right corner. In a large group that draws from all positions in the political spectrum, unanimity of purpose is rare. Yet we have managed to get unanimous agreement for this document.
If you'd like to see what we're doing and how we operate, please join us at our pot luck dinner and General Assembly meeting on Thursday evening. Details will be posted on the website. I hope to see you there.
THE LAS VEGAS SUN HAS ALL MY INFO YET HAS CENCORED MY POST.
SO MUCH FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.