VIDEO about Direct Action posted on October 22, 2011 by stimulator
Occupy Vancouver escalates with Run on the Banks
Today at Occupy Vancouver the people moved from the eternal process of the general assembly to the exciting world of direct action. The Run on the banks action marks an escalation on an occupation that's been busy building infrastructure. This was not an official occupy Vancouver action but an offshoot as stated on occupy Vancouver's twitter account. Now that it's become clear that the rain will not scare away the die hards, autonomous groups can disperse their actions outside the camp and disrupt the corporate death machine.
About a thousand trouble makers made their way through the streets of Downtown Vancouver with the intention to occupy corporate banks and encourage folks to close their accounts.
And that they did. This Royal Bank of Canada was the first victim, with about 50 people jamming the lobby while some withdraw their cash.
At the Bank of Montreal people shut down their account and moved to other options.
But the cherry on top was the Occupation of TD AKA Toronto Dominion bank right next to the Vancouver Art Gallery camp. A home stereo was cranked to the max and the people rocked out on top of teller desks and furniture.
An idea was floated around to continue occupying through the night, but the group could no reach consensus, and the process ultimately disrupted the party.
The police quietly moved in and occupied the spots where tellers once stood to protect their corporate masters. Finally the group decided to move out en-masse and avoid arrest.
This action is an much needed escalation for this movement and many of those who took part seem to be psyched about the possibly of what comes next…..
Halloween anyone?
The site for the Vancouver local of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.
Comments
This is so
This is so #$@@&%$@!$^*%^$%$#$#%%$#%^&$$%^$&#@!@#^$#$%$*%^ unbelieveably sweet! This is one of the most inspiring actions I have seen come out of the entire occupy movement! Keep it up! Escalate escalate escalate.........................
OCCUPY THE BANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How does a dozen people
How does a dozen people closing accounts disrupt a bank, that's daily business.
Brb not actually aware of how banking works.
Brb taking out 1000 doesn't mean shit
It also facilitates a positive that the bank is 'out of money' wheb reallythey are only bonded for small amounts of cash to prevent theft of your money, as evidenced in that Canada has almost no armed bank roberries.
Besides CEO isn't watching the bank live feed, all you did was piss off low payed employees that are in fact paid below bc median wage of approx 40k per annum.
#protestpolicyinstead
Agreed. While I agree that
Agreed. While I agree that closing your accounts are a great idea; better yet, also close your credit card accounts and mortgages, or whatever else you have. Debts are the biggest mover of this system. Stop using money. Barter. DIY. Squat. Do what you have to.
Gov't NOT banks make the laws...
#protestpolicyinstead -- EXACTLY!
At least ONE person understands! LOL!
#occupyabrain
Banks as an entity are not
Banks as an entity are not inherintly evil, nor is mass squatting likely to garner good communication between groups. Besides the difference between banks and credit unions are so minute, and mostly managerial. Mortgages and credit cards are fine, and often very profitable and smart investments. A calmer and saner solutiOn would be financial education in school, transparency and legislated stricter legislation on credit approval criteria, and a lower ration of accepted liquidity:risk in fractional reserve banking. Remember if you tear down big banks regardless of ethics or principal, you are also causing pensions to cave, hard working families mortgages to be called in, etc.
Research what happened to tax dollars to banks after the great depression, and then after a run'esque' crises in 2008. Ultimately those in the 1-100k range suffer.
It takes three to make a faulty debt, a lender with shotty criteria, gov't to say everyone should own a home, and a borrower thinking an 800k variable mtg at 5% down on. 40k salary is acceptable or rational.
There's also the ethical dilemma of saying a person has no right to remove protestors but having some claim tey have a right to occupy private property as those wanting to camp at TD. But that's a whole nother pickle.
Be careful friends, it is important to be educated anout every facet and view point in this battle. Screamig IMF is a death machine labels you a granola eating hippy, arguing that Okun's ideas on efficiency as best incentive to growth is flawed, and economic equity has caused steadier growth is respectable, and as monetarist agencies are starting to see, is true.