Logo from ChicagoSpring.org
A city-wide day of Occupy education, creation, inspiration and mobilization will be hitting a neighborhood near you on Saturday morning before participants come together downtown in the afternoon. April 7 represents the culmination of months of planning by Chicago’s occupiers, and yet it’s only the beginning of the Chicago Spring, and paves the way for more actions in May.
With teach-ins and speak-outs including members of Occupations from across the city, the Chicago Reader‘s Mick Dumke and Rev. Jesse Jackson, the event aims to break down the “economic, social, racial, and geographic barriers that the 1% have used to divide us.” And by doing this, Occupy Chicago and their affiliates hope to “reshape our perception of democracy, unite for stronger action across every community, around every issue, and transform Chicago for the 99%.”
Morning actions will start across the city from 8:30 am, after which all groups will meet at Jackson and LaSalle and march to Butler Field at 1:30 pm. Events at four different stages will continue until 5:30 pm. when there will be a Freedom Feast at the Horse (yeah, that horse) on Congress and Michigan.
Check out the list of events below, and follow @OccupiedChiTrib on Twitter for updates from our contributors and retweets from other observers and activists during the day on Saturday:
MORNING:
8:30am, Southside Hub of Production, 5638 S. Woodlawn Ave
Occupy the SouthSide launches Stop the American Genocide (StAG) Human Rights Campaign on April 7th, the 18th anniversary of the start of the Rwandan Genocide, with a presentation and discussion about the impacts of genocide both globally and locally. Breakfast will be served.9:00am-11:00am, Logan Square Park, 3200 W. Logan Blvd
Occupy the Northwest Side Give/Receive Circle & austerity action to auction off the historic symbols of Logan Square and the Chicago northwest side, including the Boulevards and the Eagle monument on the square.9:00am-12:30pm, 637 S. Dearborn
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Workshop on the theory and practice of nonviolence, and dedication a mural created by students from the Rudy Lozano Leadership Academy.9:30am-11am, Third Unitarian Church, 301 N. Mayfield, Chicago
Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Task Force on Economic Justice and Homelessness hosts a Corporate Personhood workshop.10am, 930 E 50th St.
Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. hosts a panel discussion on the Occupy Movement as part of the Rainbow/Push’s weekly Saturday Morning Forum.10am-1pm, Wicker Park
Form an impromptu creative space with art to make and share, and a morning of community, radical self-expression, and gifting.10:30am, Gallery B1E, 6902 N. Glenwood Ave
Occupy Rogers Park honors free-speech street artist Chris Drew with music from Mercedes Inez Martinez, live art, soap boxing and a presentation of a gift from Occupy Rogers Park to the artist.10:30am, Benton House Garden, 3052 S. Gratten
The Bridgeport Alliance hosts a brunch for all community members and a meeting to discuss issues affecting Bridgeport and visions we have for our community.11am, Benito Juarez Park, 2150 S. Laflin Ave
Occupy el Barrio will be hosting Carnaval to celebrate our heritage and cultural impact in Chicago, including a parade of el barrio. All are welcome!11am, 107 N Laramie Ave
South Austin Coalition action to protect families from unjust foreclosure at the hands of BMO Harris Bank!11am-12:30pm, Columbia College, 623 S. Wabash, Hokin Gallery
Dr. Ames Hawkins presents Art Activism Lessons from the Recent Past, focused on the ways that art can be used to give voice to the 99%. This teach-in will occur inside a collaborative, interactive exhibition called CRAFTING HOPE: An Arts Activism Project.11:30am, 58th and University Ave
A combined rally for Hyde Park to take back our economy. After three earlier morning actions, groups and individuals from all over Hyde Park will rally in a demonstration against Friedman’s destructive legacy of privatization, deregulation and cutting of social services. Students and faculty from the U of C as well as STOP, FLY, CPEG, seniors from Montgomery Place, and a group from 1st Unitarian Church will all gather and rally at the future site of the Becker Friedman Institute for Economic Research.
Convergence
1PM, Gather at Jackson & LaSalle, march to Butler Field in Grant Park, Monroe & Columbus.
Upon arrival at Butler Field we will be hosting a series of teach-ins, workshops, music and theater. There will also be community art projects, yoga, meditation, dance and information on how to get involved in Occupy Chicago as well as Chicago’s large diverse activist networks!
Butler Field
1pm, Butler Field, Grant Park near Lake Shore Drive, South of Monroe
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) will gather for a Meeting for Worship prior to the arrival of marchers from Jackson and LaSalle. The march itself will break the silence, and Quakers will have rotating periods of worship and discussion throughout the afternoon.2:30pm & 4:30pm Sun Salutations in the Park
Join with yoga practitioners from across Chicago’s yoga studios to celebrate and practice in Grant Park.Freedom Festival (see map)
Chicago Spring Stage
2pm “Education, Healthcare and Housing Are Human Rights!”
Featuring: Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. (Rainbow/Push Coalition), National Nurses United (NNU), and Willie JR Fleming Loren Taylor and ToussAint Losier (The Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign)3pm “Everything You Wanted To Know About NATO But Were Afraid To Ask”
Featuring: Eric Slater (CANG8), John Beacham (Answer Chicago), Iraq Veterans Against The War (IVAW)The 99% Stage
2pm “Why This Isn’t Scary: Anarchy, Communism, Socialism and The Black Bloc”
3pm “Mayor 1%’s Budget of Austerity”
Featuring: Mick Dumke (The Chicago Reader), Nadana Carter (STOP), Librarian Activists (AFSCME Local 31)4pm: “This Is What a Police State Looks Like!”
Featuring: Mick Dumke (The Chicago Reader), Blaine Mineman (Amnesty International), Free Howard Morgan Campaign (Free Howard Morgan)Solidarity Stage
“Political Economy Workshop: The Crisis of US Capitalism.” by CPEG (Chicago Political Economy Group)
“Non-Violent Direct Action: Peace Maneuvers” by Ken Butigan
“Mayday and General Strikes” by the Occupy Chicago Labor Committee
“Urban Agriculture”
Freedom Stage
FM Supreme
Linda Boyle
Occupy Improv!
Freedom Feast and General Assembly
5:30 PM – Michigan & Congress
Join us for a Freedom Feast before our 7pm General Assembly.
During dinner, we will hear announcements of new Spring Campaigns and upcoming actions by: IVAW and NNU, STOP and Occupy the SouthSide
Chicago Spring design by Evelyn DeHais
