Occupy Camp Asheville 12-24-11

 The building to the left is City Hall.  The area where the picture was taken is City-County Plaza, a city owned park (they renamed it last year, but I don't like the new name).

 Two of the occupiers were cleaning up from a late lunch.  As I was talking to them, more food was dropped off- cooked chicken and cookies and bottles of water.  They guys said they needed to eat more vegetables, so I decided to go to the store, buy some veggies and cook them for Occupy Asheville camp.

Some more tents, with a view of Beaucatcher Mountain in the background.  The strip of land that the tents are on is not considered part of the city park system (where camping is not allowed) but is considered part of City Hall.  There will be a decision early next year as to whether camping will continue to be allowed in this area.  Just past the orange cone above is private property, where there was camping a few years back to save the Magnolia Tree from being torn down for condos.  The owner of that property allowed camping back then (I think it was part of his tactics to pressure the city) but has not allowed Occupy to camp there.

A big problem that the campers face is bathroom access at night and on weekends.  During the workday, they can use the bathrooms in City Hall.  This is also a problem during General Assembly meetings, which are held after work hours.  You have to walk pretty far to use a restroom.  The Occupiers would be happy to have a port-a-john (which is what is done for events in City-County Plaza), but they have to get a permit, and they don't want to be "permitted" and it is very expensive anyway. 

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"This poem is dedicated to the Occupy movement whose courage is changing the world. Stay Strong. We are winning,"


The beginning spills through city veins
Into the arteries
And under powers poison clouds
We move like the shadows
Through the alley ways
Through nightmares bought and sold as dreams
Through barren factories
Through boarded schools
Through rotting fields
Through the burning doors of the past
Through imaginations exploding
To break the curfews in our minds

Our actions awaken dreams of actions multiplied
A restless fury
Once buried like burning embers
Left alone to smolder
But together stacked under the walls of a dying order
All sparks are counted
Calloused hands raised in silence
Over the bonfire of hope unincorporated
It's flame restores tomorrows meaning
Across the graveyards of hollow promises
As gold dipped vultures pick at what is left of our denial

And the youngest among us
Stare at us stoned like eyes determined
And say
Death for us may come early
Cause dignity has no price
At the corner of now and nowhere
Anywhere
Everywhere
Tomorrow is calling
Tomorrow is calling
Do not be afraid

-- Zack de la Rocha