OCCUPY TAMPA--PRESS RELEASE 10/5/11

SEE: http://occupytampa.blogspot.com

CONTACT:  Organizing Team
Email: blake@occupytampa.org

CONTACT: Media Team
Email: chris@occupytampa.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA BAY GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO RECONVENE THURSDAY

Tampa, FL (October 6, 2011) – The Tampa Bay General Assembly (TBGA) reconvenes on Thursday with a day-long event at Lykes Gaslight Park. Organizers are expecting over a thousand in attendance. The TBGA’s “Stop the Machine!” assembly will coincide with the October2011 movement beginning in Washington D.C. on the same day.

October marks the 10-year anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan and organizers have been preparing to occupy Freedom Plaza in the nation’s capital to hold a People’s Assembly similar to the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Assemblers in Tampa will spend the morning hours meeting in workgroups that were established at the first General Assembly on Oct. 1st.  These include Legal, Media, Social Outreach, Logistics/Tactical, Arts & Culture.  More workgroups will likely arise in response to needs of the whole. Also at the last gathering, the TBGA voted that all will bring food to feed the homeless who normally occupy the park during the day.

The official General Assembly will gather at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. There, workgroups will report to the entire body. Those in attendance will discuss proposals and decide plans through consensus. Protesters will march in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street at 3:00 p.m. and will march again at 5:15 p.m. to the Federal Courthouse, joining St. Pete for Peace in solidarity with the actions in D.C.

The Uhuru Movement will be among the organizations joining the second Tampa Bay General Assembly in what will be one of the largest peaceful gatherings of protesters in the Bay Area in a decade. The TBGA welcomes voices from all backgrounds and will continue to advocate nonviolence. The group stresses its nonpolitical affiliation and seeks to create a space where all can assemble and have a legitimate public forum so diverse viewpoints can have equal representation.

Organizers do not expect any kind of disobedience and are planning Peace Workshops to inform attendees how to confront potential escalations. They understand that a police presence will likely accompany such a large body of gatherers, but the TBGA has voted by consensus to remain peaceful throughout its existence.

All are welcome. None will be turned away. Nonviolence is paramount.

###