TEARS STREAM AS CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY AGREES ‘OCCUPY TENTS ARE A FORM OF SPEECH’

[Why Syzygy]

Source: Occupy OC

Late last night after a 5 and-a-half hour marathon city council meeting,
in which 72 speakers took the floor to express the need for the Occupy OC
Tent Village to be accepted as a form of free speech, the city council
passed an emergency motion to add the needs of “The 99%” to their official
agenda. This was a feat which, according to one more conservative
Councilman, he had never seen in 7 years of service.

The council members each spoke in turn to the civility, articulateness and
peaceful process represented by the Irvine Occupation at contrast with the
several other Occupational Villages in California, which were, at that
very moment being tear-gassed. The general sentiment being: “This is quite
clearly the model. And the occupation most in tune with city needs.”

One councilman stated clearly, “I disagree with most of what you’re
saying. But you’ve clearly shown that this is an issue of free speech. So
if you need to sleep on our lawn… by all means… sleep on our lawn.”

Shortly after, a motion was brought to the council to grant license to the
occupiers to occupy the public space overnight citing the unusual form of
the movement. (Another first in council history.)

(...)

Read more: http://www.occupy-oc.org/tears-stream-as-city-council-unanimously-agrees-occupy-tents-are-a-form-of-speech/

---

Chilly bumps! This is Fabulous!

[peacetalksforall]

1. I'm thrilled for you, but which are you referring to - Irvine only or Orange Co? It is unclearl

[Why Syzygy]

9. It is unclear...

At LEAST Irvine. Not sure.... sorry

[peacetalksforall]

10. Thanks.

[No Elephants]

21. Can the Irvine City Council speak for all of Orange County?

The group is called Occupy Orange County, but the ruling came from the Irvine City Council.

[Atypical Liberal]

2. This is the way to do it.

[peace frog]

3. Wonderful news!

Thanks for sharing.

[dkf]

4. Does that work for the homeless too?

[AlecBGreen]

5. more of this please

One councilman stated clearly, “I disagree with most of what you’re
saying. But you’ve clearly shown that this is an issue of free speech. So
if you need to sleep on our lawn… by all means… sleep on our lawn.”

[justiceischeap]

11. It's their lawn too, Mr. Councilman. nt

[backtoblue]

13. + 1

[SwampG8r]

18. he said "our" lawn

that our includes all

[Pacifist Patriot]

14. Wow, it takes guts to publicly disagree that cheating is wrong.

:-)

[seacaves]

6. Whow. Wonderful. Thank you.

[The Doctor.]

26. Ah... if you're interested.

I noticed you've been using 'whow'. Just so you know, the generally accepted form is 'whoa'. Not that it's a big hugh deal, but it's hard to tell if you're meaning 'wow' or 'whoa'. ;)

[Plucketeer]

7. This really IS heartening!

Let's hope this thinking "goes viral" with other cities. :kick:

[Bluenorthwest]

8. I was there last week. This is great news.

I loved the people there on the lawn, and when we arrived a city employee went out of her way to give us directions to the lawn from the building, she heard us talking about the 99% and came back to show us a shortcut to the protest. They did the right thing, I will call today and praise them directly.

[barbtries]

12. in orange county no less.

very happy for this. more cities need to follow their lead.

[No Elephants]

23. I just googled. I think Democrats hold a majority of the seats on the Irvine City Council, which

surprises me as Irvine is the birthplace of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, among many other things. And in spitting distance of Anaheim, home of DisneyLand.

[Motown_Johnny]

15. Oh Hell Yes !!! Occupation IS a free speech issue. They got it right.

[lonestarnot]

16. Yes!

[snappyturtle]

17. Wow! K&R nt

[Why Syzygy]

19. kick

:kick:

[Fire Walk With Me]

20. K&R!

[AsahinaKimi]

22. K&R

Good on it!

[No Elephants]

24. I believe that Democrats hold a majority of the seats on the Irvine City Council

(she typed proudly).

[arbusto_baboso]

25. This happened behind the Orange Curtain?!?!?!?!?

Nice! Unexpected, but nice!

[Dont call me Shirley]

27. If money is free speech then tents are free speech!

Thank you OC City Council for recognizing this.

[BEZERKO]

28. It's usually the best practice to err on the side of free speech.

[kestrel91316]

29. The Orange Underground remains stalwart, lol. Freedom for the people

trapped behind the Orange Curtain looms.

[RoccoR5955]

30. Sorry, my bad

looking at too many topics at once.

[Uncle Joe]

31. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Why Syzygy.

[WillyT]

32. K & R !!!

:kick:

[blackspade]

33. Awesome!

[DeSwiss]

34. K&R n/t

[Divine Discontent]

35. someone needs to show the fascists in Oakland the error of their ways and say why aren't you

protecting freedom of speech?


Get it here now, or one of a million other designs! http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486

[Bluestar]

36. A little conclave of Liberals exist here in Irvine...

in the big red sea that is Orange County. Obama carried Irvine in 2008. Lots of liberal faculty members from UC-Irvine.

[demigoddess]

37. not just speech, political speech!!

political speech is inviolate, pure speech, not always.

[katty]

38. great K&R

[jwirr]

39. Turn about is fair play! We often email our anger - I think this is a

time we should email our thanks.

[99th_Monkey]

40. This is brilliant ... I'm loving it .. esp that it's Orange County of all places.

A REAL AMERICAN ----> One councilman stated clearly, “I disagree with most of what you’re
saying. But you’ve clearly shown that this is an issue of free speech. So
if you need to sleep on our lawn… by all means… sleep on our lawn.”

[louslobbs]

41. K&R n/t

Lou

[woo me with science]

42. How did I miss this? K&R

What a wonderful post.

[defendandprotect]

43. kr

[bloomington-lib]

44. if you need to sleep on our lawn… by all means… sleep on our lawn.

Glad to have his permission but it's the public sleeping on the publics lawn, not his lawn.

[Xicano]

45. Great news! But there's also a little bit of double talk there..

Great news about concluding its a form of free speech, therefore protected activity. But then on the other hand they issue out licenses. Rights don't need licenses, and licenses can be revoked.

[Why Syzygy]

46. I agree..

but, some of these people still need the 'security' of a connection to authority.

[woo me with science]

47. Kick nt

[sabrina 1]

48. Too late to rec, but thank you for posting this.

I can understand the tears as it was a wonderful example of Democracy which so rarely see anymore.


:applause: for them, especially those who did not allow their disagreement with the protesters to interfere with their judgement. That takes a lot of strength of character.