“Rudy” – Locker Room Speech

It’s 3rd and long with 1:55 left on the clock and no time outs. They want to run out the clock.

The House Federalism Committee still hasn’t given House bills HJR-94 and HCR-21 against Citizens United v. FEC a hearing. We MUST get a hearing scheduled THIS WEEK, which means they must hear from you by TOMORROW (Friday 4/26).

Committee Chairman Brandon Creighton’s office is telling us they aren’t getting many calls on HJR-94 and HCR-21. Take 15 seconds and show them we are TOO STRONG!

Call Chairman Creighton (pronounced “cray-ton”) at 512-463-0726. Tell the nice staffer that answers, “I want Rep. Creighton to pass HJR-94 and HCR-21* through the Federalism Committee so my representative can have a floor vote on it in the House.”

CRITICAL! After you call, email Todd Jagger at Wolf-PAC (todd@wolf-pac.com) to let him know you’ve called Creighton’s office. (Remember, Creighton’s staff says they aren’t getting too many calls)

The Texas House is OUR house. Are we gonna let them push us around? Hell no!

This is it. It’s up to you.
Just one thing.
Will you do it?

Let’s Make History!

* – HJR-94 is the Wolf-PAC resolution that bypasses our broken and bought Congress to call an Article V Convention to propose an amendment to fix money in politics; HCR-21 is the Move To Amend resolution which asks Congress to propose an amendment. We support our brothers (and sisters) in arms at Wolf-PAC Texas and Move To Amend and they support us.

by Ronnie Garza

By this point many people are aware that Occupy Austin had undercover officers embedded. From records obtained in court we know that a total of 6 officers were involved with Occupy Austin but only 3 were involved with the Port of Houston Solidarity Action on December 12th 2011.  Occupy Austin had to be tipped off and find the identity of the first Detective, Shannon Dowell.  The other two detectives were named in court as Deek Moore and Rick Reza.  The name of a fourth undercover officer was obtained by Occupy Austin from an Open Records Request with the city.  Back in December of 2011 we submitted a request for information.  When we finally got the information, not much seemed relevant but after finding out about the undercover officers and re-examining the Open Records Request it is clear that we found the identity of a final undercover detective: Shane Woodward.  The following is a profile of the 3 officers, we are asking for any help in developing the profile of the 4th officer, Shane Woodward.  The Officers will be ordered by apparent ranking within the operation, Deek Moore being the lead undercover followed by Shannon Dowell and Rick Reza.

Detective Kelly Deek Moore, APD, Human Trafficking/Vice

Kelly Deek Moore, or “Dirk” as he went by at Occupy Austin was the point man between APD brass and the other undercover detectives.  Notably, Deek is a musician AND activist AND detective.  Detective Deek Moore joined APD’s Human Trafficking/Vice Unit in June 2010. He began his law enforcement career with the Amarillo Police Department in 1995. Detective Moore came to the Austin Police Department through a modified academy in 1999, and has been assigned to various patrol areas, including bike patrol in the downtown entertainment district and West Campus area of UT. Moore has worked a variety of undercover assignments, including 5 years with Southwest Street Response – a unit that addressed street-level narcotics, prostitution, serial crimes and warrant service. In 2008 he promoted to the rank of detective, and was assigned to SW Investigations. Detective Moore served as a South Bureau night shift detective for a year before coming to the Human Trafficking Task Force. He has taken an active role in the grassroots volunteer group Allies Against Slavery, which supplements the efforts of the Central Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking (CTCAHT).

Salary:  $83,381

Best Quotes: (from the APD Packet)

“Leading the action” (pg. 48)

Dowell 12/3/11 10:10pm

Hey Tricky Ricky, we prob meeting with Fusion and our chain tomorrow afternoon to discuss tonight’s meeting. Just FYI

Rick 12/04/11 11:24pm

What time and where. What happened

Moore 12/04/11

Won’t know till tomorrow. Probably 1pm or later at the Fusion center, Shannon and I are leading the action against Wal-Mart distribution center in New Braunfels. Just kidding about that last part. Sort of…

“It was Classic!” (pg. 81)

Schmidt 12/7/11 2:19PM

Anything from last night?

Moore 12/7/11 2:32PM

Nothing notable, Except one girl telling a small group, ‘you know we can’t surprise the cops. They’re probably tapping our phones and sending people to our GA’s’ It was classic!

“Twitter dee or twitter dum” (pg. 541)

Rick 12/08/11 12:32am

You guys ever leave

Moore 12/08/11

Yeah…I took twitter dee, or twitter dum home. My good samaritain deed for the week.

Links:

http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/government-employee-salaries/austin/k-deek-moore/959132/

http://www.newcityaustin.org/local-renewal/free-austin-human-trafficking-awareness-campaign/

http://freedomlegacyin.org/aboutus/schedule-and-speakers

http://www.myspace.com/deekmoore
http://www.lonestarmusic.com/DeekMoore

Detective Shannon Dowell, APD, Narcotics

Not as much is known about Shannon other than he was our first lead on this case.  His first name was given to us in a tip-off email we got from a concerned citizen.  We know that Dowell had infiltrated the group as early as Oct. 3rd along with Det. Moore.  We also know that he had an epic beard and was something of an instigator.  Dowell was known to come up to folks and ask when we were going to “make something happen”, and start “acting” rather than “debating” all the time.  In the end, Dowell still has some of the most interesting things to reveal about this operation, which are still being debated and obscured today by the APD.  Dowell said his chain of command went to the Cheif and he was working under an “intelligence unit” (ARIC), but the details of command and control of this operation are still unknown, even by the APD.

Salary: $95,464

Best Quotes: (from the APD Packet)

“Distract the responding police” (pg. 48)

Dowell
Deek is chaining himself to an 19 wheeled !!!
Rick, ur job is to bring a bunch of strippers to distract the responding police!

 Links:

http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/government-employee-salaries/austin/shannon-g-dowell/958716/

Detective Rick Reza, APD, Narcotics

Even less is known about our pipe wielding friend here, Det. Reza.  We know that he was not with the camp as early as Moore and Dowell but they had been to numerous actions before the 12th.  One of the most outstanding things Reza did, besides pose for this epic photo, was to bring a bag of bricks to a march.  Yes, Rick Bag-O-Bricks brought a full bag of bricks to a march and let organizers know that he had them ready in case they wanted to “kick it up a notch.”

Salary: $76,496

Best Quotes: (from the APD Packet)

“They make you guys the leaders!/Put that on my stats” (pg. 107)

Rick 12/12/11 7:30pm

Natalie atwater, Emily?, Duffy got arrested on felony charges in Houston. They all had PVC pipes on them.

Gonzalez 12/12/11 8:49p

Great news!! The PVC worked! Free the 99%! thanks.

Rick

No problem. That’s 8 ppl we won’t see for a while. Ha ha

Gonzalez

Sounds good…they make you guys the leaders!!

Rick 12/12/11 9:09p

Sounds like a plan. So do we get credit for 3 felony arrests and 5 md? Put that on my stats

Gonzalez 12/12/11 10:47p

Yes u do!

Links: 

http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/government-employee-salaries/austin/ricardo-j-reza/960192/

Detective Shane Woodward, APD, Narcotics

Help us get a picture of Shane Woodward!  An email we obtained from an Open Records Request is sent from Det. Shane Woodward reporting back the announcements of a General Assembly on Oct. 3rd 2011.  This meeting was held BEFORE there was an Occupy Austin camp with two attorneys present.  We have the minutes of that meeting here.  Woodward mentions both Det. Moore and Dowell in his reportback which makes it clear that he was working in an undercover capacity as Det. Dowell had a full beard and would have stood out as a police officer had he been in uniform.  We obtained info from the Open Records Request back in early 2012 but it was not until we had more information from court which made it clear that Woodward was one of the 6 UC’s named in the APD Packet.  We have not uploaded the entire contents of the Open Records Request yet, just the email from Woodward, but there may be more clues in there as to what happened and who was involved.   If anyone has any additional information about Woodward, especially an image, please send us info through social media or send email to interocc@occupyausin.org

Detailed Outline:  Outline

 ARIC Homepage:  http://bit.ly/YNJcIi

ARIC Privacy Policy:   http://bit.ly/13FRTvR

Pertaining to the Austin Regional Intelligence (Fusion) Center, APD and Occupy Austin

We know from documents obtained through court that a total of 6 under cover officers were involved with infiltration activity in Occupy Austin. We have evidence that 3 detectives were undercover and the chief knew about it as early as Oct 3rd 2011, which was 3 days prior to the camp starting. We also know that 3 detectives were involved with the entrapment of 7 occupiers from around Texas in an action in Houston back in December of 2011. 3 undercover detectives provided schematics for, purchased and assembled pvc lock boxes for arrests in Houston. The lock boxes were then called criminal instruments and a Grand Jury in Houston re-indicted the 7 on felony charges after a judge had ruled no probable cause on the charges to begin with. I am one of the 7.

Two weeks prior to a trial by jury, Greg Gladden, my attorney with the NLG had the 1st under cover in court. An anonymous tip-off in Feb. of 2012 helped me find the identity of Shannon Dowell. But that was a long process of searching through public documents and it wasn’t until august of 2012 that we had his identity. We now know that the 3 involved with constructing the devices were Det Shannon Dowell, Det Deek Moore and Det Rick Reza.

We know from transcripts obtained in pre-trial settings that Det Dowell stated that he worked in an intelligence unit under LT Mark Spangler, who is the director of the ARIC fusion center here in Austin. He also included his chain of command, which went as high as the chief of Police.

We obtained the names of the 3 under cover officers involved as well as internal email, text messages and photos of the operation. In total we have about 300 pages in two documents. 1 document is from the APD, which includes fusion center SAR reports and 1 document, mostly redacted is from DPS and the Texas fusion center. All of this information is available from the front page of our website, occupyaustin.org

We contend that the APD is not being transparent, and in fact they seem to be obfuscating the facts of this case. Are they outright lying? We might be able to find out if we get a little more information. APD has had 2 press conferences since the undercover officers were dragged, kicking and screaming, into court. It is important to note that they did not volunteer the information of their involvement, they had to be found out.

Essentially, they are saying 2 things which are extremely questionable. First, they sent in under covers for public safety because they were getting “tip-offs” of some kind of safety concern. Second, they are saying that the “5th floor”, assistant chiefs and chiefs, didn’t know about the whole pvc pipe debacle, so it was just rouge activity in another jurisdiction, no big deal.

On their first point, they sent them in as early as Oct. 3rd based on email and its likely they were at our Sept. 29th meeting from txt messages. What kind of “tip-off” do they need to send in detectives to a meeting of activists? We know that they attended a meeting on Oct. 3rd where attorneys Stephanie Collins and Frances Montenegro attended. Our goals were crystal clear from the beginning, we were peaceful activists united on core values of non-violence. Why the need for the fusion center? Why the need for surveillance?

One point 2, the APD Disclosure Packet contains an email (pg. 38) that shows that Asst. Chief and counter terrorism expert, Brian Manley was notified of under cover detectives infiltrating a meeting where civil disobedience in another jurisdiction is being discussed. So I guess we are to believe that the 5th floor is notified but they just don’t care. The fusion center is involved, 5 Commanders and the Asst Chief are notified but the 5th floor couldn’t care less and so that in addition to almost no communication being released about the pipes from the disclosure packet has us wondering what exactly happened. And how do we make sense of what the APD is saying.

Pertaining to ARIC Privacy Policy Violations

The document has 13 Sections, in terms of violations I’m pointing to Section V, subsection D and Section V, subsection K, part 1. Section 5 talks about the information collection limitations of ARIC.

V. COLLECTION LIMITATION

D. Within the Criminal Intelligence System, ARIC shall collect and retain information only where there is reasonable suspicion that a specific individual or organization has committed a criminal offense or is involved in or is planning criminal (including terrorism) conduct or activity that presents a threat to any individual, the community, or the nation and the information is relevant to the criminal (including terrorist) conduct or activity

Related to this section. When and how was the determination to use under covers and surveillance established?

We have evidence that Det Moore and Dowell were undercover and the chief knew about it as early as Oct 3rd, which was 3 days before the camp started. Are they saying that our early meetings at Ruta Maya, Plaza Saltillo and Zilker Park warranted the use of 3 organized crime detectives? Did they not understand that we were a peaceful movement?

Then there is Section V, subsection K, part 1

K. Related to SAR reports

(1) Prior to sharing the information, ensure that attempts to validate or refute the information have taken place, the information has been assessed and labeled for sensitivity and confidence, and the ARIC reporting format and data collection codes for SAR information have been used.

Related to this section. Why did they publish factually incorrect SAR reports when they were so close to the source of information and had so many gadgets to get the info?

They are so close to the source of information, yet they are opening SAR’s saying we are shutting down the port of Houston, that misconception is based on 1 early flier and blog post, anyone helping to plan the action, which the 3 of them were, would know that we realized very early on that the port of Houston is massive, it would be a huge undertaking to do such and we all planned a symbolic action blocking a roadway to the main entrance. This this means that we are to accept that they have 3 embedded under covers closely working with the group but who fail to grasp the very basic logistical features of the action. We weren’t blocking a port, we were sitting down in a road.

Detailed Outline:  Outline

We received 2 packets in response to subpoenas for the Gulfport 7 case.  The APD packet is 277 pages and the DPS packet, received several months after the APD packet, is 14 pages long.  Most of the DPS packet is completely redacted.

I have created a detailed outline of the contents of the APD packet which can be found here.  The purpose of this outline is to give the reader greater insight into the story that the email and text messages tell but it is also a work in progress.  The outline is open for comments and I recommend anyone who notices typos, errors or who has more to add to write a comment on the document.

As a general overview the APD Disclosure Packet is 277 pages long. Within are events that look to begin as early as September 29th 2011 and extend to February 15th 2012. There are 43 Police Officers of various rank and department exchanging email.

1 Assistant Chief of Police, 1 Director of DPS, 1 Captain of DPS, 5 Commanders, 6 Lieutenants, 9 Sergeants, 5 Detectives, and 3 Senior Police Officers amongst other ranks can be found in the emails.

Departments and agencies include: the Austin Police Department, the Austin Regional Intelligence Center, the Organized Crime Division, the Human Trafficking Unit, the Strategic Intelligence Unit, the Narcotics Unit, the Department of Public Safety, the Texas Fusion Center, the Houston Police Department, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the US Coast Guard, The Port Authority, the Houston Fire Department, Customs and Border Patrol, the Houston Mayor’s Office of Public Safety & Homeland Security and the Department of Homeland Security.

The average salary for the officers in this packet is just over 100 thousand dollars, $100,689. This quote from Thomas Jefferson is repeated throughout: “The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” This comes from the “signature” which is at the end of each email from LT Gerardo Gonzalez to the undercover officers.

Several Undercover Officers with DPS are mentioned but not named and 6 Undercover Officers from APD are mentioned, 3 who’s identities are revealed as Detectives Shannon Dowell, Ricardo Reza and Deek Moore.

APD top ‘brass” knowledgeable of the Undercover Officers infiltrating Occupy Austin and the Port Solidarity Action are as follows.

Top ranking are Assistant Chief of Police Brian Manley, followed by 5 Commanders, Donald Baker, Chris McIlvain, Troy Gay, Jason Dusterhoft, and Stephen Deaton. Following behind them are a fleet of Lieutenants, and Sergeants, principle amongst them being Lieutenant Mark Spangler who runs most of the day to day operations at the Austin Regional Intelligence Center (ARIC) and apparently the day to day operations when it came to Occupy Austin.

Working closely with Spangler were Lieutenant Gerardo Gonzalez from the Organized Crime and Human Trafficking divisions, and Sergeants, Tom Sweeney, James Boujemaa and Keith Suitt from APD. Rounding out this level of command are Captain Jaeson Jones and Lie tenant Jairo Saenz from DPS and The Texas Fusion Center (TxDPS).

Beneath them were the 3 primary undercover officers and a few supporting Detectives and Senior Police Officers who play an important data gathering and coordination role. The most active lower officer is a man named Calvin DeGraffenreid who’s job, it seems to be, is to monitor the online communications of Occupiers and report back to fusion with intel. We see 2 fusion Situational Awareness Report (SAR) Updates penned by DeGraffenreid and a slew of emails.

The core group of officers, about 15, utilize the facilities of Austin Regional Intelligence Center to hold meetings, gather data and coordinate. We see 2 planning meetings held at the “ARIC” leading up to the Port Action. Which brings us to our next section, coordination.

In regards to coordination between Austin and Houston, what we know is that Austin contacts Houston exactly 4 times in this packet. The emails come from LT Mark Spangler with APD and the Austin Regional Intelligence Center to the LT of Police in Houston, Robert Montalvo. But, something to note, Spangler only speaks with Montalvo once, briefly, in the first email on Dec 9th. The other 3 emails are only forwarded information. In that first email, Spangler says that APD has been watching Occupy Austin and knew the group planned to come to the Port and bring lock-boxes. Then he says he will forward him more info once he gets back to the office.

About 10 minutes later Spangler sends over 2 more emails. One forwards a calendar of events from Occupy Austin in December but the Port is not mentioned at all. Not once. An “Occupy your Instrument” Jam Session is listed as are some working group meetings but NO Port. The third email forwards intel that Dallas is also coming to the Port, this email contains 1 flier and 10 missing attachments. So by the end of the third email, with exception to the lock-boxes, Spangler has let Montalvo know exactly what every occupier in Houston, Dallas and Austin already knew. Following the third email is a yawning chasm of silence.

According to the packet we received, they don’t speak to each other for another 42hrs. Maybe they were mad at each other, I don’t know. If you ask an Occupier it was the day of our International Human Rights Day March and Rally, but for APD and HPD, nothing. There is nothing in this packet from Dec. 10th between Austin and Houston. No emails, No texts, nothing. Which just seems odd because over the course of 7 days, Dec. 3rd to Dec. 9th, APD finds out about the Port Action, infiltrates a planning meeting, meets at the Fusion Center, comes up with the schematics for designing the lock-boxes, buys the material to make the lock-boxes, infiltrates another planning meeting, meets at the Fusion Center again, and then actually makes the lock-boxes. Then finally, on the night of Dec. 9th contacts Houston about a potential crime involving 3 cities, a major port, Sleeping Dragons… And then it looks like they just meditate on. Maybe they were thinking about how much money they were making, maybe they were thinking about International Human Rights Day, I don’t know. All I know is the next time we see Austin contact Houston, 42hrs later, it’s Dec. 11th at 2:30PM.

This forwarded email is the only other moment of coordination we have between Austin and Houston before the Action on the Dec. 12th. Again the message is not from Spangler but he forwards some intel to Montalvo. It says that the lock-boxes were “dropped off” and.. “Again, officers should be equipped with 1/4 wrench and some pliers for easy removal of the devices.” And again I wonder when they said it the first time? Either way, this is the only time and this 1 sentence is the only sentence out of this entire 277 page packet that informs officers in Houston about how to safely address the challenges APD has created by making the lock-boxes. Got Safety?

We also have 1 email back from Houston, the day after the action at the Port. On Dec. 13th Montalvo sends Spangler an arrest list. They essentially threw the world at us for this action at the Port, yet we are handed a demure 4 emails amounting to 1 sentence of preparation. The organizer in me just doesn’t buy it, but of course I don’t work for ARIC… Got Fusion?

All the while, in the background, 1 Assistant Chief of Police, 1 Captain of DPS, 5 Commanders, 6 Lieutenants, 9 Sergeants, 5 Detectives, and 3 Senior Police Officers and likely many more are all aware of undercover officers inside of Occupy Austin. From what I’ve learned APD and HPD have either a very unique way of coordinating or they have a very unique way of responding to a courts’ request for information.

Which brings us to the press conferences. APD produced 2 press conferences in relation to the discoveries of the undercover officers, 1 on August 31st and one on Sept 5th. To quote Assistant Chief Sean Mannix:

“I can confirm Austin Police Department had plain-clothed police officers as well as uniformed officers assigned to work the Occupy Austin events of last year and early this year. It was determined plain clothes officers blending with the surroundings was necessary for the safety of the participants and the community as a whole. The primary mission of these officers was to protect the free speech activities of those engaged in lawful protest as well as initiating police response and action with regards to criminal activity.”

Moving to the 5th, Assistant Chief David Carter took a shot at explaining things as well. This time with a little less certainty than Mannix.

“What we believe at this time is that the officers truly acted in good faith and (in) what they believe was their public duty. However, it is not clear what the plan was and if appropriate controls were followed. I’m not saying there wasn’t a plan, I’m saying we didn’t know about it at this level. Normally, such actions are vetted by supervisors to ensure any undercover assignments, number one, pass legal muster and number two, address safety concerns.”

It was also stated at this conference that APD would be conducting an internal revue, the results of which will be available after the trial. So really, they seem to be saying they just don’t know what happened or at least not “at their level.” Yet, Assistant Chief Manley knew the undercovers were infiltrating a planning meeting, and knew it was because they were going to be in another police departments jurisdiction, he’s at their level. Additionally, 3 Commanders were asked permission to provide schematics. That’s pretty close to their level. So why don’t they know what happened? Do the police routinely just not talk to each other? Is APD kinda like elementary school where the Chiefs get mad and swear to never speak with each other? Does ARIC actually stand for Austin’s Really Incompetent Cops? I don’t think so, but I also don’t appreciate being micturated upon and being told its raining. The story doesn’t add up, it’s obvious to see but that’s what they are selling. We should expect more.

Lastly, if you can please write to Eric. We are going to set up a donation system for his commissary, but if you can write to him please do. He put his neck out thinking, like the rest of us, that the charges were not going to be as severe. He took a risk knowing his difficult past to show solidarity with Occupy and he has paid far too much for that.  Here is his address:

Eric Marquez 
#1827217
John Middleton Unit
13055 F.M. 3522
Abilene, TX 79601

#1827217 needs to be written on the outside of the envelope as well.

Here are some important interviews, articles and videos for context:

Articles:

http://bit.ly/W7gX8p
http://bit.ly/RZAWI7
http://bit.ly/QVujFP
http://bit.ly/Tkl6Ws
http://bit.ly/Scp1al
http://bit.ly/UuDnDx
http://bit.ly/S5dWlK

 Video Playlist & Radio Interviews:

http://youtu.be/IJJBOIwg-Go
http://bit.ly/U6d1Dd
http://bit.ly/QGwYku

*  Detailed Outline  (Open Comments)

*  Photo Gallery

*  Overview

Read         Download

Read         Download

Tent City United April 1st 2013

Why Tent City United?

The purpose of this action is not necessarily to create a new encampment, though of course that is wonderful if it happens. It’s to raise awareness about a number of issues — the plight of people without homes and the poor, whose very existence is illegal in some cities like Austin, the attacks on free speech and the loss of public spaces, etc. It also is a deliberate attempt to capitalize on the continued power of the tent as a symbol of free speech — our tents up action Feb 3 created a powerful response from both people in real life and on social media, and spawned at least one solidarity action I can’t speak about yet here online.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/481236308602494/

Twitter: @TentCityUnited

What Could You Do April 1

Actions can take place anywhere and by groups of any size. You could:

• Pitch 1 or many tents in a park or other public space. Or many small tents in many different public spaces.
• Pitch tents in a bank or other private space as an act of nonviolent civil disobedience.
• Wear Tent Monster costumes.
• Spread paper Tiny Tents in strategic places.
• March with tents.
• Pitch a tent in your front yard decorated with a sign and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same.
• Etc.

Form an affinity group with your friends and make your plans securely. Pass along to us what’s safe to share online.

Document Your Actions! and share them with info@occupyaustin.org or on Twitter with the #TentCity hashtag, on Facebook, etc.

A History of Encampments & Tent City in Austin

Occupy Austin occupied the steps of Austin City Hall from October 6 2011 until Feb 3, 2012. In 2012, our Tent City Working Group made several encampments. Some were shut down immediately by police. Others lasted for days or even months, some as guerilla camps and others with permission of land owners. These camps allowed many people a place to sleep until they successfully moved on to more stable situations, and helped raise awareness of the need for more shelters in Austin, contributing to the successful opening of a small women’s shelter. On Feb 3, 2013 we set up tents again at City Hall for a day as a pop up occupation with no arrests or interference by cops, only minimal harassment by security. This event was part of the inspiration for Tent City United (this day of action).

Endorsed by the Occupy Austin General Assembly Feb 11, 2013

I will bring this as a proposal at General Assembly today, February 11 2013 – Kit O’Connell

I ask Occupy Austin to consent to join the new Tent City United Day of Action.

While thousands are forced to live on our streets, thousands of homes are empty. Billions of dollars are diverted to war and maintaining the banks’ bottom line, while the prison industrial complex creates slave labor from our poor and the homeless, sometimes for basic human acts like sitting, lying down, or sleeping. Our public spaces are restricted, curfewed, and converted into advertising.

Occupy Austin calls on activists in Austin, and world wide, to create tent cities in public and private spaces on April 1, 2013. Tent City United will be a day of action in support of free speech, public ownership of public spaces, and the right of all humanity to have a safe place to live.

This will be a nonviolent action and we encourage all encampments to adopt an appropriate code of conduct and safer spaces agreement where possible.

In Austin, this action will be a joint effort by the Tent City working group and Occupy Austin Tactics and Strategy (OATS).

Here is the original resolution forming the Land Development Code advisory group, which agenda item #29 will amend, if passed: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=181433

Email all Council members here at once: http://www.austintexas.gov/mail/all-council-members

Contact information for Mayor, Council and Staff:

Lee Leffingwell, Mayor – COSPONSOR
lee.leffingwell@austintexas.gov
Amy Everhart (Policy Director) amy.everhart@austintexas.gov
974-2250

Sheryl Cole, Mayor Pro Tem, Place 6 – COSPONSOR
sheryl.cole@austintexas.gov
Michael McGill (Policy Director) michael.mcgill@austintexas.gov
974-2266

Bill Spelman, Place 5 – SPONSOR
bill.spelman@austintexas.gov
Heidi Gerbracht (Policy Director) heidi.gerbracht@austintexas.gov
974-2256

Laura Morrison, Place 4
laura.morrison@austintexas.gov
Leslie Hethcox (Constituent Liaison) leslie.hethcox@austintexas.gov
974-2258

Kathie Tovo, Place 3
kathie.tovo@austintexas.gov
Shannon Halley (Policy Aide) shannon.halley@austintexas.gov
974-2236

Mike Martinez, Place 2
mike.martinez@austintexas.gov
Robert Garza (Chief of Staff)
bobby.garza@austintexas.gov
974-2264

Chris Riley, Place 1
chris.riley@austintexas.gov
Matt Parkerson (Executive Assistant) matt.parkerson@austintexas.gov
974-6023

VIDEO LINK: Texans United to Amend Rally at the Capitol

WHAT

WHO: Texans United to Amend is a network of independent groups throughout Texas dedicated to passing local resolutions at the city, county and state level calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to combat the unlimited flow of money into our elections. Scheduled speakers include John Kenneth Courage, Common Cause Texas; Tom “Smitty” Smith, Public Citizen Texas; Anthony Bill, Texas Rootstrikers; Todd Jagger, Wolf-PAC Texas; Nelson Linder, Austin NAACP; Matt Glazer, Progress Texas; Ken Zarifis, Education Austin; Rick Levy, Texas AFL-CIO; and Conor Kenny, Chief of Staff for Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth); along with activists from Houston Area Against Corporate Personhood, Occupy Dallas, Occupy Austin, Occupy AISD, Workers Defense Project, Greenpeace USA, as well as workers, business owners and teachers.  Performances by Earth Culture Dancer Daniel Llanes and the “Stand On Up For Freedom” puppets, attorney Lou McCreary as “Ben Franklin”, singer-songwriter Dana McBride, and spoken word poets Joe Brundidge and Thom Worldpoet are scheduled. Art postcards depicting corporations will be on display. Nonprofit and activist organizations will be on hand to provide information and resources to help attendees get connected and build collective power to effect real change on this issue.

WHEN: Saturday, January 19, 2013, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. CST

WHERE: South Steps of the Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress Ave, Austin, Texas 78701

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Over 300 municipalities and eleven states have called for a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v Federal Election Commission. A network of independent, grassroots groups has been working to add Texas to that list.

On Saturday, January 19, 2013, two days before the three-year-anniversary of the Citizens United decision, Texans United to Amend will hold a rally on the South Steps of the Texas State Capitol in support of two concurrent resolutions prefiled before the 83^rd Session of the Texas Legislature: SCR 2, by Senator Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, and HCR 21, by Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston.  SCR 2 and HCR 21 urge Congress to overturn Citizens United by constitutional amendment, to establish that the spending of money to influence elections shall not be construed as speech under the First Amendment, and to make it clear that only natural persons are protected by constitutional rights.

The Texas effort is part of a national campaign to garner support for a constitutional amendment to reverse U. S. Supreme Court decisions that have equated money with speech, and given Big Money free reign to influence not only elections but legislation on issues of concern to all Texans – agriculture, civil rights, criminal justice, the economy, education, the environment, healthcare, housing, immigration, infrastructure, and taxes. Money in politics is connected to every major problem our state faces and influences the decisions senators and representatives make, often at the expense of ordinary citizens, families, and small business entrepreneurs. Passing SCR 2 and HCR 21 sends a message from the Texas State Capitol to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. that Texans want change.

Texans are encouraged to contact their state representatives and senators and urge them to cosponsor SCR 2 and HCR 21.   The website “Who Represents Me?” at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/ can help connect citizens with their elected officials.  Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/312092002230401/ on Facebook for updates and information on the January 19 rally.