The nycmarch2dc/occupy the highway/walking occupation has reached its goal. We successfully marched the 240+ miles from Occupy Wall Street to Occupy K Street (and the capital); outreached to rural communities by engaging in conversations and holding five public GA’s; empowered each other by holding three facilitation trainings (with rotating instructors); and worked toward solidifying our own process by having countless internal/marcher GA’s in public and private spaces. Lastly, we marched 31.5 miles on Monday in order to get into DC earlier since the super committee moved their deadline up (and as we’ve all heard came to no decision at all). Tuesday night we held a Super GA outside the Capitol building. There were only 20 people in attendance, but I can imagine in a year from now that number could be in the millions. Additionally, the ball is rolling and I have heard plans for more marches and bicycle and bus tours from occupations nationwide.
We Made It! From #OWS to #ODC! #acampadabcn #15M #occupyLSX #marchtoathens
March Days 4-9: Trenton, NJ to Havre de Grace, MD #acampadabcn #ows #15M #occupyLSX
(Note: This posting was composed by multiple marchers and so contains distinctly different writing styles.)
March Day 4 – Trenton, NJ to Bristol, PA:
Sunrise glistens from frosty grass and tents as Occupy Trenton warms to life. Campers sit around a fire sipping coffee as a laptop computer streams the scene live from atop a makeshift table of bricks and plywood. Some marchers had spent the night two blocks away inside an old brick industrial building converted into a community center, complete with showers, operated by the Eastern Service Workers Association. Marchers move between the Occupy camp and that building all morning, our only bathroom location.
Considering yesterday’s 27 miles, there is no rush to hit the road until after noon. Each marcher spends the long bright morning in their own unique ways. Signs are attached to the People’s Taxi wagon. A GPS tracker and LiveStream capability is added to the march’s website.
A pre-march General Assembly is held at noon, taking two hours and eventually leading to shouted profanity. This inability to hold a proper GA is a reflection of our individual exhaustion. Even after a full night of sleep and ample food, recovering from a 27-mile walk takes time that we don’t have. People in every city along the route are making plans for certain days. We don’t want to let them down or play into popular media stereotypes.
March Days 2 and 3: New Brunswick to Trenton, New Jersey #ows #acampadabcn
The unseasonable warmth fades as ominous gray puffs expand above, threatening rain but never delivering. Marchers become increasingly stressed as the journey continues into darkness for the second day. A few verbally lash out about the walking pace.
Rear of the march: “MIKE CHECK! WAIT! SLOW DOWN!”
Front of the march: “WE CAN’T KEEP STOPPING! COME ON!”
The commands reverse direction, front yelling at rear, then rear at front again.
There is no slowing the fast down nor speeding the slow up, with the march continuing to gradually separate after each break stop. It simply hurts to halt because walking at one’s own pace best numbs the foot pains that everyone is experiencing. A number of impromptu assemblies are held concerning this issue but the consensus decision to hold a tight march proves impossible to achieve. Solidarity remains, though, with the front always stopping to wait before the rear is out of sight. Some marchers continue to be disturbed by this separation while others either consider it a non-issue or refrain from comment. As for the public’s perception, they continue to cheer or jeer as usual, with nobody ever questioning the gaps between marchers. And so a status quo is understood: if we can still see each other then we remain in solidarity, otherwise regroup.
Quick Sun night update/Occupy Trenton greeting #OWS #acampadabcn #15M
It’s Sun night, we arrived at Occupy Philly tonight to an awesome greeting. I sat down planning on getting to work but it’s def not happening – too tired. I did just want to put something up here so that anyone that only checks this site knows we’re alive. We have tomorrow off from walking (WOW) and most of my day with be spent updating the site/tending to a backlog of internet-related tasks we haven’t been able to do while marching.
Here is our epic greet from Trenton for those who haven’t seen it:
Source:http://nycmarch2dc.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/quick-sun-night-updateoccupy-trenton-greeting/
March Day 2 – Elizabeth to New Brunswick, NJ [NYCmarch2DC] #acampadabcn #15M
At 4:30AM we deliver two green ceramic cups of hot coffee to the two police officers staking out our host’s home in an Elizabeth city squad car. The driver appears asleep until the passenger nudges him. The window rolls down to reveal an expression of blank surprise, eyes coming into focus on the steaming green cups. With a sudden waking moment of comprehension the driver accepts the coffee, spoons and sugar packets. He mutters a perplexed “thank you”. Our host Ken replies, “You’re welcome. Just set the cups on the porch later if you would. Good night.” We stroll back to the house in silence.
The kitchen is alive with aromas as the marchers shuffle past one another in our personal morning routines. Ken rests himself in the outdoor jacuzzi with a Coors light in hand. Our estimated morning prep time of one hour proves far off, actually turning out to be over two hours. We’re all finally packed up in the front yard together at 10:30AM.
March Day 1 – Liberty Plaza to Elizabeth, NJ [NYCmarch2DC] #OWS #acampadabcn #15M
Approximately 20 people had committed to this march as of Tuesday evening. Even as of late this morning(Wednesday), hours before the march is set to start, many marchers have no knowledge of the media frenzy springing up all over the world. Crawling out of our dew-covered tents, exhausted from another night of Manhattan noise, excitement still shines brightly through tired voices. To quote one marcher, “This is going to be the most awesome thing I’ve ever done even if just 3 of us go.”
By 10AM, already being hunted down by international reporters throughout the Liberty Plaza encampment, we all stand in awe behind the great global power of this movement. By noon there are 25 confirmed marchers assembled underneath the bright red steel beam structure at the southeast corner of the park. A reporter mob of twice that number battles one another for the best shots in the very confined spaces of a stairwell. None of us has ever experienced anything like this, now feeling as if we have just stepped onto the red carpet to receive an Oscar. Some marchers seem to be left speechless, surely to the great dismay of this media army who outnumbers us 2-to-1.
