On February 3, 2012 Occupy Austin was evicted from their City Hall encampment which they held for nearly 5 months. On the one year anniversary we gathered again to honor that day and our first home. I wrote about it for Firedoglake:
Austin’s occupation gathered again at their first home to honor the day and all that had taken place there since the movement began. Publicly, the group announced a simple potluck. Occupiers put up a food table that was soon overflowing with everything from both vegetarian and carnivore-friendly chili to the infamous piggie pie, a surprisingly edible concoction of graham cracker crumbs, donuts, soy “bacon,” and coffee chocolate syrup.On Sunday, a security guard emerged with a photocopy of the memo banning permanent structures from the site.
“Do you have a permit or something that allows you to be here today?” she asked me.
“Yes,” I said, “it’s called the First Amendment.”
The action inspired other Occupy groups to reconsider the use of tents in public spaces including the upcoming April 1, 2013 Tent City United Day of Action.
Photo by Kit O’Connell, all rights reserved.
