Petition Response: Why the Electoral College is Important

Why the Electoral College is Important By Tonya Robinson, Special Assistant to the President for Justice and Regulatory Policy Thank you for taking the time to participate in the “We the People” petition process. We launched this online tool as a way of hearing directly from you, and are pleased to see that it has been effective in soliciting your feedback. We understand your interest in the petition to support granting citizens the ability to vote for the President directly by dissolving the Electoral College, and appreciate the opportunity to share the Administration’s views on this issue. While supporters of the popular vote argue that the Electoral College gives a disproportionate amount of influence to smaller states, reforming this system also raises difficult questions. For example, others have argued that a national popular vote would create a similar problem, granting the largest cities and states a disproportionate amount of influence and drowning out the voices of voters in less populous states. In any event, the President cannot address this issue alone. As you may be aware, Article II of the United States Constitution, as amended, sets out the number of “electors” that each state is entitled to have, which is equal to the total number of that state’s Senators and Representatives in Congress. Article II further allows each state’s legislature to determine the means of choosing its electors. While the future of the Electoral Colleges is certainly a legitimate topic for public debate, the President does not have the power to change this Article of the Constitution. A constitutional amendment, which requires a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress (or a Convention under Article V of the Constitution) and ratification in three-fourths of all fifty states, would be required. Tell us what you think about this response and We the People. Stay Connected Stay connected to the White House by signing up for periodic email updates from President Obama and other senior administration officials. cbard1 Manage Subscriptions for cbard1@verizon.net Sign Up for Updates from the White House Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy Please do not reply to this email. Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

OWS Updates for the Week of May 23

Your inbox: occupied. News and calls to action from #occupywallstreet in NYC. View online.

Last weekend, scores of occupiers took buses from New York to Chicago to join thousands of people from the social justice movement, peace advocates, occupiers, students, and labor to face the forces of the self-appointed world police: NATO. The demonstrators protested the culture of militarism, war, and oppression pursued by NATO, by creatively bringing their messages to the streets. Once again peaceful demonstrators were pushed back violently and then blamed for the violence. The only suitable answer for those who try to silence us is to speak even louder, take more streets, occupy more public space, and continue to inspire the 99% to create democratic change. Occupy these Upcoming Events Every Wednesday, 4pm The People’s Gong This Wednesday, and every Wednesday thereafter, we call on all people to join Occupy Wall Street in ringing the People’s Gong. We first meet at the steps of Federal Hall, mic check, and afterwards we return to Liberty Plaza to debrief and work on projects across OWS. We invite all working groups to re-occupy Liberty Park with us and join the report-back circle at 7:30pm. Wednesday May 23, 6pm Winning at Work: Labor Law for the 99% Communication Workers of America, 6 Harrison Street “If it’s effective, it’s illegal”. This is common wisdom for anyone trying to organize in workplaces today. The OWS Labor Alliance presents a workshop with Daniel Gross and Sonia Lin about how to challenge the hurdles facing workplace organizing. Wednesday May 23, 8:30pm Occupy: Chicago was a TRIP The Yippie Cafe, 9 Bleeker Street We’ve all heard it: Chicago was freaking CRAZY. So if you were there, come out to Occupational Hazards: we’ll have free food for Chicago Occupiers (and anyone else) and a soapbox to tell your story. This event features Sumumba of OccuEvolve, here to discuss how Occupy can reach the next level, and a musical guest. Thursday, May 24, 8am Goldman Sachs 2012 Shareholders Meeting Goldman Sachs, 30 Hudson St, Jersey City This year most financial groups are holding their shareholders meeting outside of NYC – away from Wall St. and OWS. Citigroup is having theirs in Dallas. Goldman Sachs is holding theirs conveniently across the river in Jersey City. Field trip anyone? Thursday, May 24, 630pm National Occupy Networking This Summer – A Town Hall Meeting The Brooklyn Commons – 388 Atlantic Ave. Seven months ago to the day, the Occupy movement spoke to each other for the first time on the first ever InterOccupy conference call. Join us this Thursday to celebrate how far we have come, and discuss how we can build together through the summer and into year two! Learn about what is happening and how you can plug in! Saturday May 26, 12pm Summer Disobedience School Bryant Park, 42nd Street and 6th Avenue The OWS Direct Action Group is launching Summer Disobedience School. We’ve completed Spring Training – and we’re moving and communicating in the streets like never before. Join us! Saturday May 26, 1pm Critical Walking Tours The Gandhi statue in the southwest corner of Union Square Engage the city, your body, and others, by putting yourself in motion on a set of 6 summer discussion-walks to engage the political, ecological, and your embodied urban environment – New York City. Each walk will start at different point in the city with a short inspirational text and space from which to launch our journey and discussion. Sunday, May 27, 2pm OccuPicnic at Astoria Park Astoria Park, 23rd avenue and 19th street, Astoria, Queens Occupy Astoria Long Island City would like to invite everyone to an Occupy Picnic! We’d like to celebrate the Occupy movement, catch up with all our friends throughout the five boroughs and make new friends. Tuesday, May 29, 630pm OWS Summer Reboot 33 West 14th Street In the Community Dialogues there was a break-out group around GA, Spokes, and structure. These points came up consistently: intentionality, inclusivity, community, communication, coordination, access, transparency. Now, we must ask ourselves what a structure looks like that meets these needs. Come to the Summer Reboot! Create the OWS you always imagined! (re-scheduled from Wednesday, May 23) This week’s featured Occu-Project INDIGNACIÓN Indig-Nación is the first Spanish language newspaper of OWS, and we aim to be an instrument that mobilizes and builds bridges between Latino occupiers, grassroots organizations and those yet to enter the conversation. Although a wide spectrum of Latinos have participated within the Occupy movements, the media discussion in Spanish regarding Occupy is underwhelming at best. We believe it’s essential for diverse voices in Spanish to intervene in the public conversation by sharing their personal stories and connecting Latin American history and experiences of struggle to our current situation. Learn More Daily #OccupyUnionSq Info Table, 9am – 9pm @OWSUnionSquare Every day Occupy Union Square has an info table open and staffed, acting as a hub to promote the constant flurry of events and meetings occurring in the park and across OWS. Click here to find out how you can help out with immediate needs of the Union Square occupiers to keep it running and growing. Help is particularly requested for providing content on the new website: occupyunionsquare.wordpress.com. For Text Message alerts on your cellphone about daily events, actions, and important information, sign up for the ComHub SMS blasts by texting @owscom to 23559.

BREAKING NEWS — Senators call on Supreme Court to Overturn Citizens United

Spread the Word Dear Curtis, Just now, Senators McCain and Whitehouse sent a letter to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking them to reconsider the Citizens United case. This is a huge opportunity to reverse the ruling and retake our democracy. We can help if we act fast. Take a minute, right now, and add your name to the senators’ letter. Demand that the highest court stop billionaires from buying our politicians and laws. Then forward this email to three friends who are disgusted by politicians auctioning themselves off to the highest bidder. Stand with the senators, and tell the Supreme Court that we’re not going to take it anymore. It’s time to rev the engines back up. Join Senators McCain and Whitehouse. It’s a rare moment when something good happens in Washington. Seize the moment. Join this bipartisan, right-left revolt. Get money out. Thanks, Josh Silver P.S. The letter is about a case in Montana. Learn about the details here.

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VFP E-Mail Blast: VFP Protests Against NATO and Drones in Chicago & More

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Friday, May 18, 2012 VFP Protests Against NATO and Drones in Chicago Yesterday started with Leah Bolger, Ann Wright and Erik Lobo attending the IVAW press conference at the Vietnam Memorial. By noon VFP members and other activist groups were meeting at Chicago Obama Headquarters and Consulates to present letters expressing our outrage about NATO operations. Demands are also being made to put an end to military operations, particularly drone operations, to four NATO countries: the United States, Canada, Germany and the UK. Several VFP members were present: Steve Bray, Gerry Condon, Helen Jaccard, John Spitzberg, Ken Ashe, and Will Covert. <More on Chicago> Back to Top

Petition Response: Helping Homeowners Stay in Their Homes

Helping Homeowners Stay in Their Homes By Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council Thank you for taking time to weigh in through the “We the People” petition process. The issue that you have highlighted — how to help the struggling homeowners and a struggling housing market turn the corner to recovery — is enormously important to the Administration, and your thoughtful position is greatly appreciated. As you well know, millions of families owe more money on their home than it is worth, which puts considerable economic strain on many households. This is not only a problem for these families, but also for their communities and for the housing market as a whole. So we have taken steps to ensure that principal reduction is a tool that is available to borrowers struggling with negative equity — and that that tool is being used appropriately when it makes sense for borrowers, investors, and the taxpayer. We have tripled incentives for lenders to provide principal reduction through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), a program designed to help homeowners in distress modify their mortgages to more sustainable terms. While not appropriate in all circumstances, principal reduction modifications are an important tool in the overall effort to help homeowners achieve affordable and sustainable mortgages. By increasing these incentives, we are seeing a substantial increase in the number of program participants receiving principal reduction, with roughly two thirds of deeply underwater program participants now getting some principal reduction. We have also reached an historic settlement with the nation’s largest lenders, and as part of this agreement, the lenders have committed to do no less than $10 billion of principal reduction on the loans they service. We have proposed legislation by which the Government-Sponsored Enterprise’s (GSEs) and Federal Housing Administration would cover closing costs for borrowers who choose to use the proceeds from refinancing to pay down principal and rebuild equity in their homes. For the majority of underwater borrowers, this step alone will bring them back above water in less than five years. In addition to these important measures, we have asked the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to provide principal reduction through HAMP where it is in taxpayers’ interest. Today, HAMP borrowers who have loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac do not benefit from principal reduction loan modifications. To encourage the GSEs to offer this assistance to its underwater borrowers, the Treasury Department has notified the GSE’s regulator, FHFA, that it will pay principal reduction incentives to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac if they allow servicers to forgive principal in conjunction with a HAMP modification. As is clear by the uptick in principal reduction modifications happening in HAMP currently, we believe strongly that expanding this program to GSE loans is in the interest of borrowers and the American taxpayer. President Obama and his Administration have worked tirelessly to help responsible homeowners to stay in their homes. In addition to principal reduction efforts, several others are worth highlighting: We have overhauled the way in which lenders service loans for struggling homeowners, leading to millions of homeowners getting their mortgages modified, either through government or private sector modifications. We have opened the refinancing market up for those who would otherwise be stuck in high interest rate loans because they don’t have enough equity in their homes to get a new loan. This has helped an additional one million families lower their monthly payments, saving each family thousands of dollars a year. We have provided a year of forbearance to unemployed homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages while they look for work. While each of these steps has had a positive impact, more must be done. Too many families are still struggling and the recovery is still too fragile to turn our backs on the problem. That’s why President Obama is pushing for legislation that would make it possible for millions of responsible owners to easily refinance their loans to the current, historically low interest rates. You can learn more about this proposal here: http://whitehouse.gov/whyrefi The bottom line is that we agree that more needs to be done to help families and the market recover and that principal reduction should be part of that solution. The President has said that for the housing market, “we need to do everything in our power to repair the damage and make responsible families whole again.” And this is an important tool in that effort. We appreciate your engagement on this issue and ask that you continue to provide us your thoughts as we work together to help to turn the housing market around. Tell us what you think about this petition response and We the People. Stay Connected Stay connected to the White House by signing up for periodic email updates from President Obama and other senior administration officials. cbard1 Manage Subscriptions for cbard1@verizon.net Sign Up for Updates from the White House Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy Please do not reply to this email. Contact the White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

OWS Updates for the Week of May 16

Your inbox: occupied. News and calls to action from #occupywallstreet in NYC. View online.

Join us in returning to Wall Street and Liberty Plaza every Wednesday for the ringing of the People’s Gong and a common space for meetings and discussions. Whether you occupy a labor law workshop, an algebra course, a feminist general assembly, or something else entirely, the People’s Gong is a perfect way to connect with other change-makers in the Occupy movement. Occupy these Upcoming Events Every Wednesday, 4pm The People’s Gong This Wednesday, and every Wednesday thereafter, we call on all people to join Occupy Wall Street in ringing the People’s Gong. We first meet at the steps of Federal Hall, mic check, and afterwards we return to Liberty Plaza to debrief and to have a Direct Action Working Group meeting. We invite all working groups to re-occupy Liberty Park with us and hold their meetings on Wednesday evenings. Thursday, May 17th, 6pm Occupy the NRC hearing on Indian Point DoubleTree Hotel, 455 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is hosting a public meeting about the safety of Indian Point on May 17, and OWS Environmental Solidarity and a broad coalition need your help to send it a loud message: Don’t Let it Happen Here! Shut Down Indian Point Now! RSVP for a seat on a bus from Manhattan. Buses leave at 3:45pm sharp from Grand Central. Thursday, May 17th, 6:30pm Feminist General Assembly Washington Square Park The Feminist General Assembly (Fem GA) will be a space for building strong networks and promoting collaboration amongst feminist groups across NYC and nearby areas. The intent is to hold a Fem GA periodically to foster ongoing cooperation. Sunday, May 20, 8am #Occupy Wall Street AIDS Walk Team Central Park, 59th & 5th Avenue entrance Our message for the day is that we are the 99%, that we raise the issue of HIV/AIDS awareness and more importantly that we care about our brothers and sisters who are infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. We invite your participation by pre-registering for the #OWS Team (#9339) at aidswalknewyork2012.kintera.org/ows or calling (212) 807.9255 to request to be placed on the Occupy Wall Street Team (#9339). Wednesday May 23, 6pm Winning at Work: Labor Law for the 99% Communication Workers of America, 6 Harrison Street “If it’s effective, it’s illegal”. This is common wisdom for anyone trying to organize in workplaces today. The OWS Labor Alliance presents a workshop with Daniel Gross and Sonia Lin about how to challenge the hurdles facing workplace organizing. Wednesday May 23, 630pm Community Cluster Meeting 33 West 14th Street Many of us have been working in clusters. There’s the eco-cluster, outreach cluster, action cluster, and many more. In the lead-up to May Day we used clusters, which helped us organize a massive day of action. Come to the OWS Community Cluster if you are already in one, want to join one, or are curious about where we’re at. Saturday May 26, 12pm Summer Disobedience School Bryant Park, 42nd Street and 6th Avenue The OWS Direct Action Group is launching Summer Disobedience School. We’ve completed Spring Training – and we’re moving and communicating in the streets like never before. Join us! Saturday May 26, 1pm Critical Walking Tours The Gandhi statue in the southwest corner of Union Square Engage the city, your body, and others, by putting yourself in motion on a set of 6 summer discussion-walks to engage the political, ecological, and your embodied urban environment – New York City. Each walk will start at different point in the city with a short inspirational text and space from which to launch our journey and discussion. This week’s featured Occu-Projects Occupy NYC Project List, Issue 3 The Occupy NYC Project List, formerly the OWS Project List, is a monthly printed free publication informing thousands of NY area people with up to date details on the courageous political projects currently under development by Occupy groups across the NYC metro area. The Occupy NYC Project List provides direct contact information so that readers can get involved in shaping action to defend our communities. Check out Issue #2 and submit your project for Issue #3! Learn More Saturday, May 19, 2pm Weekly Occupy Wall Street Orientations The Gandhi statue in the southwest corner of Union Square Learn more about how to get involved with Occupy. Can’t make it? Email Tascha and the rest of the crew at orientation for more information. Daily #OccupyUnionSq Info Table, 9am – 9pm @OWSUnionSquare Every day Occupy Union Square has an Info Table open and staffed, acting as a hub to promote the constant flurry of events and meetings occurring in the park and across OWS. We need good outreach people to take shifts at the table! Click here to sign up. And click here to find out how you can help out with other immediate needs of the Union Square occupiers to keep it running and growing! For Text Message alerts on your cellphone about daily events, actions, and important information, sign up for the ComHub SMS blasts by texting @owscom to 23559.

Glass-Steagall

VFP E-Mail Blast: Roll Call for Chicago! & More

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Friday, May 11, 2012 Roll Call for Chicago! Lobo and/or <a href="mailto:nateg know if you intend to come to the NATO protests in Chicago. They are trying to get a head count. Thanks. Here's some information you may find helpful: Veterans Peace Team in person meeting in Chicago to adopt bylaws, volunteer for committees, select committee chairs, and elect "officers" (treasurer, coordinator). (More) Join UNAC’s Peace Train to Chicago! Back to Top

Occupied – OWS Updates for the Week of May 9, 2012

Your inbox: occupied. News and calls to action from #occupywallstreet in NYC. View online.

Your inbox: OCCUPIED. News and calls to action from #OccupyWallStreet in NYC for the week of May 9, 2012 May Day has come and gone, and the movement is moving rapidly ahead. On May 12 rise up with the 99% across the world to rally against corruption, human-rights violations, censorship, police brutality and corporate greed. #M12 — everywhere. Join us http://www.may12.net/. Occupy these Upcoming Events Every Wednesday, 4pm The People’s Gong This Wednesday, and every Wednesday thereafter, we call on all people to join Occupy Wall Street in ringing the People’s Gong. We first meet at the steps of Federal Hall, mic check, and afterwards we return to Liberty Park to debrief and to have a Direct Action Working Group meeting. We invite all working groups to re-occupy Liberty Park with us and hold their meetings on Wednesday evenings. Daily #OccupyUnionSq Info Table, 9am – 9pm @OWSUnionSquare Every day Occupy Union Square has an info table open and staffed, acting as a hub to promote the constant flurry of events and meetings occurring in the park and across OWS. Click here to find out how you can help out with immediate needs of the Union Square occupiers to keep it running and growing. Help is particularly requested for providing content on the new website: occupyunionsquare.wordpress.com. Thursday, May 10th – Tuesday, May 15th ‘Another City is Possible, Another World is Possible’ Week of Action On the week of May 10th – 15th New Yorkers are coming together to say ‘No’ to Bloomberg’s proposed 2013 austerity budget. Each day will focus on a different issue, and there will be a convergence every evening. The Week of Action will culminate in a mass convergence in Times Square on May 15th at 6pm. Reclaim your city and join the global movement! Thursday, May 10: Opening Assembly. 6pm: Union Square Friday, May 11: Homes, Jobs, and Social Services. 2pm: Convergence at Liberty Plaza Saturday, May 12: Food, Environment, and Health & Solidarity with Global Call to Action Day Sunday, May 13: War, Police Brutality, and Immigration & Mother’s Day. 5pm: Mothers’ speak-out Assembly, Judson Memorial Church, Washington Square South Monday, May 14: Education & Student Debt. 5pm: Family friendly convergence and kids’ plus brigade against childcare cuts. Grand Army Plaza Manhattan, 59th Street & Fifth Avenue Tuesday, May 15: Mass Convergence & Solidarity with Global Call Day. 6pm: Times Square For the schedule of events and actions for each day, please check out: http://anothernyc.org/ Tuesday, May 8th – Saturday, May 12th Occupied Real Estate: Installation & Workshops @ Exit Art Exit Art, 475 10th Avenue Join other Occupied Real Estate agents in the production of props and tools for the Occupy movement. Materials will be used to support Occupy Wall Street’s upcoming May 10-15 Week of Action, as well as for sidewalk sleeping occupations in front of Wall Street and banks across the city. Thursday, May 10, 2:30pm No Cops! No Hikes! CUNY Convergence Against Police Repression Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue Students United for a Free CUNY refuses to allow the violent acts perpetrated on students engaging in peaceful protest to become the future of CUNY. Over the next five years, students face a $1,500 tuition increase, and continuous cuts to student services and a continuation of increased securitization on CUNY Campuses– from the NYPD systematic spying on Muslim Student Associations, to Stop and Frisk racial profiling policies on and off our campuses, to attacks by security guards on peaceful students. Join us. Thursday, May 10, 8pm Occupy University Horizontal Pedagogy Workshop Union Square Want to discuss new, less hierarchical ways of teaching and learning? Come to our weekly workshop, and receive a great intro to what the Occupy University is all about. Learn more about our other courses at: http://university.nycga.net/our-courses/ Saturday, May 12, noon Occupy Communicators Work Session Please RSVP for location As we continue the Spring momentum we are looking at how we can make our communications more effective, efficient, sticky, viral, inspiring, democratic, horizontal and fabulous. Such questions can only be answered with members of OWS’ diverse community of communicators and actionistas. Join us and learn what our varying communications tools are for, the different audiences we aspire to serve, and what considerations OWS should emphasize. Questions? Email tech. Saturday, May 12, 2pm Weekly Occupy Wall Street Orientations The Gandhi statue in the southwest corner of Union Square Learn more about how to get involved with Occupy. Can’t make it? Email Tascha and the rest of the crew at orientation for more information. Sunday, May 13, 12pm Occupy Theory Assembly Washington Square Park at the fountain. Join the team from Tidal for an assembly to discuss theory and strategy of Occupy. Tuesday, May 15, 6:30pm Occupied Algebra Union Square (Rain Location: Trump Atrium) This weekly course explores the possibility of transforming a fear of mathematics into mathematical creativity through carefully chosen topics to overcome our mis-education. Thursday, May 17th, 6:30pm Feminist General Assembly Washington Square Park The Feminist General Assembly (Fem GA) will be a space for building strong networks and promoting collaboration amongst feminist groups across NYC and nearby areas. The intent is to hold a Fem GA periodically to foster ongoing cooperation. Saturday May 26, 12pm Summer Disobedience School Bryant Park, 42nd Street and 6th Avenue The OWS Direct Action Group is launching Summer Disobedience School. We’ve completed Spring Training – and we’re moving and communicating in the streets like never before. Join us! This week’s featured Occu-Projects Occupy Farms Newsletter The Occupy Movement has raised awareness of the ever-growing inequality in our current political and economic system. Sign up for the brand new Occupy Farms newsletter to stay up to date on the goings on both in the city and on farms. Join us, and help feed the change we want to see in the world. Learn More The Occupy Wall Street Project List a monthly periodical that informs people about OWS projects and how to get involved. For Text Message alerts on your cellphone about daily events, actions, and important information, sign up for the ComHub SMS blasts by texting @owscom to 23559.

Your inbox: occupied – May Day in the media

Your inbox: occupied. News and calls to action from #occupywallstreet in NYC. View online.

Occupy is back! Get involved in the American Spring! Join us at the next OWS Orientation every Saturday at 2pm at the Gandhi statue in the southwest corner of Union Square. Can’t make it? Email Tascha and the rest of the crew at orientation and we’ll do our best to get you sorted out! Thanks for helping us create a beautiful May Day! The world watched as thousands of us gathered in the morning for a pop-up occupation, pickets and marches around New York City, and tens of thousands rallied at Union Square and then marched to Wall Street. A sampling of media coverage is below. If you want to see some great photos, hear the voices of protesters, or watch Reuters call the day a “dud” and then turn around and retract it an hour later, read more! ‘Festive, Righteous Anger’: Occupy Makes May-Day Comeback With Massive Demonstrations – AlterNet Midtown is a great place for chanting; your voice echoes off the tall buildings and you can hear it blocks away. Even better for marching bands, bells and whistles. There may not actually be 99 pickets, but midtown Manhattan is clogged with them in the morning, and they’re inside the heads of the people on the street–I walk past a couple discussing our “cruel,” unequal society as I hurry from picket to picket. “No Work, No Shopping, Occupy Everywhere”: May Day special on OWS, immigration, labor protests & As Students Revolt over Cutbacks and Debt, NYC Occupy Stages May Day “Free University” for the 99% – Democracy Now! In New York City’s Madison Square Park, hundreds of people attended a “Free University” hosted by Occupy Wall Street, where professors gave free classes to May Day protesters. Tom Morello Leads Occupy ‘Guitarmy’ Through New York for May Day – Rolling Stone “I traveled 3,000 miles to march with you today,” Morello told a diverse crowd of Occupiers during a ceremonial “mic check” in Bryant Park. “It is an honor to march these streets with you, to sing these songs with you, letting the powers that be know that we will be heard.” The Occupy Guitarmy with Tom Morello – YouTube Live blog and slideshow – New York Times At a rally in Union Square, where protesters were gathering around 3:15, the themes were the ones that Occupy Wall Street has sounded from the outset of the movement last fall — opposition to big banks and the government that bailed them out after they helped cause the recession. May Day 2012 Labor Speaks Out – YouTube Tens of Thousands March in Oakland, New York for May Day and live blog – The Nation Perhaps it would have been easy to adopt a pessimistic perception of the day standing in the rain at 4 am by the Brooklyn Bridge, waiting for a mass show of civil disobedience that never came… But it was in the evening, long after the rain passed and Reuters’s Conway Gittens hurried home to file, that the coalition representing the 99 percent really got to flex its muscle and show its potent strength. Across New York City, People Honor May Day – Truthout Walter Hillegas marches with a scale-model of the former World Trade Center. I was there for the first five days after the tower came down,” he tells me, “doing debris-recovery and victim-removal. I got sick and lost my job.” … “These guys taught me how to stand up,” he says of the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protesters in whose midst he marches. Occupy protests around the world – full list visualized and live blog – The Guardian 9.18pm: Protesters are proposing to occupy the location at 55 Water Street, I’ve just been told. 10.45pm: Driven out of the Veterans Vietnam Memorial at 55 Water Street, protesters appear to have gathered at Zuccotti Park – site of the encampment until November last year. May Day 2012 – The New Inquiry I’m standing in line at Duane Reade on the same street where thousands of people had gathered for a general assembly a couple hours earlier… He hands me my change and tells me to stay safe out there, a standard piece of advice that I’m not sure how to follow, since it’s the danger that makes it “out there.” I nod my thanks before quickly reconsidering the strange circumstances that lead a young black man in lower Manhattan to tell me to stay safe from the cops. I look back at him and say, “You too, man. You too.” Workers express anger, gloom, elation on May Day – Associated Press On the front lines of the world’s May Day protests this year, along with the traditional chants, banners and marches, a gamut of emotions flowed through the crowds: Anger. Fear. Elation. Despair. With Europe’s unemployed denouncing austerity measures, Asia’s laborers demanding higher salaries and U.S. protesters condemning Wall Street, Tuesday’s demonstrations by hundreds of thousands were less a celebration of workers’ rights than a furious venting over spending cuts, tax hikes and soaring unemployment. US Workers, Students Reclaim May Day – Indypendent According to the Department of Economics at the University of Berkeley, California, New York State rebates 15 billion dollars annually in stock transfer taxes to Wall Street. This potential revenue to the state is lost in the hands of the richest one percent of New York’s population, whose income share is currently 44 percent of total New York State income. Occupy Wall Street resurgence a dud – Reuters … and their retraction, “Occupy Wall Street resurgence far from being a dud” Protest Hits City Targets & May Day protest in NYC brings confrontations – Wall Street Journal The streets of New York were awash in Occupy Wall Street protesters and their supporters marking the spring revival of the movement that spread around the world. Hundreds marked May Day on Tuesday with protests, marches and rallies. Stinging Gas Sends May Day Protesters in Oakland Fleeing – NPR In New York, hundreds of Occupy Wall Street protesters and their supporters spilled out onto Fifth Avenue in a confrontation with police amid citywide protests, while thousands later gathered peacefully in Union Square. Occupy Protesters Spread Labor Demonstrations From Midtown To Downtown (video + article) – NY1 While at least 45 arrests were made throughout Tuesday, overall Occupy Wall Street protesters and union advocates had a peaceful day of May Day demonstrations that stretched from Bryant Park in Midtown to Battery City Park in Lower Manhattan. NYPD arrests 86 in Occupy Wall Street protests and slideshow – New York Daily News Police arrested 86 Occupy Wall Street May Day protesters for charges ranging from disorderly conduct to assaulting cops, the NYPD said Wednesday. Occupy’s May Day in the Streets - Voice of America The Occupy Wall Street movement took to the streets of several U.S. cities Tuesday to mark the May First International Workers Holiday. OWS Takes Over New York for May Day and Live blog – Village Voice Whether or not you believe Occupy Wall Street’s May Day protests were a make-or-break moment for the movement, one thing is unquestionable: they made a lot of noise. In the streets for May Day – Socialist Worker The 30,000 union members, unorganized workers, immigrants, Occupy activists, socialists, anarchists, radicals, students and youth who gathered in Union Square to listen to speeches and march on Wall Street showed the potential to build a real movement of, for and by the 99 percent. Did May Day save Occupy Wall Street? – Daily Beast Protesters said that they hoped May Day would be a moment of resurgence for Occupy Wall Street, which has mostly flown below the radar after its eviction from Zuccotti Park last November.