OWS day after Raid, Amazing Grace and Alixanne

November 16, 2011, the evening after the police raid I went to OWS after my subway gig. It was cold and rainy but spirits were strong. The park was barricaded and had only one entrance heavily guarded. They weren't allowing anyone in with items thought to be used for camping etc. Since I had my subway gig stuff, they wouldn't let me in. I went home to drop off my stuff and returned to join the supporters. I got up and sang Amazing Grace. It was truly an uplifting experience. Thanks to Alixanne Goodman who gladly took my camera to film me.

I later heard from her that she witnessed some pretty tough police action. "I have bruises and cuts from the riot cops when I had indeed put my hands up, did exactly what they told me to do, and moved back.....A man next to us was writing down badge numbers of cops who were being too physical with the protesters and he got dragged off the sidewalk and arrested. Well his cardboard he was writing badge numbers on fell to the ground and my fiance went to pick it up... well the cops saw and dragged him off the sidewalk and arrested him... It's a scary world we live in when you're getting picked off the sidewalk for nothing... "

What Inspires Alixanne? The people of OWS. What Inspires me? Alixanne and her fiance ready to stand up and peacefully protest even in the midst of riot police and threat of arrest.

Why I Busk? Amazing Grace

I met Cathy at the Staten Island Ferry terminal, she shared with me her recent loss of her father and how my music was healing to her. Inspired by her daughter Ashianna to come over and chat I also learned Cathy could sing. This clip is a wonderful inside look at how I engage and am engaged by the amazing commuters that feel so comfortable to chat and allow me to record.

Talk about grace, Cathy at the end gets the audience to applaud. So this is a perfect example and peek into my world of performing in public spaces. Thanks to another commuter and singer Justin who gladly took my camera to capture Cathy and I singing Amazing Grace together.

What Inspires Cathy? "music...and listening to your smooth sound put a peace in me...."

Public spaces are being put in the spotlight with Occupy Wall Street in Zuccotti Park inhabited by the People, juxtaposed by Citigroup representing a corporation buying the rights to Bryant Park to install a skating rink.

Maybe instead of a casual place to sit on a bench and read or walk across a park, for a time, a public park is a place for public protest against injustices, or one that becomes a skating rink surrounded by shopping kiosks. My view is we need to understand the rights of all aspects of our community by the people and for the people, live within our beliefs of Democracy and Freedoms, and use ethics and reason to guide our laws. I am hopeful. I sing it and see it every time that I sing in public spaces.

What Inspires Melanie Butler day 49 OWS

I met Melanie in Zuccotti Park day 49 of the Occupy Wall Street movement. She spoke to a group gathered with the amazing Eve Ensler to hear women's stories of why they had come to Occupy Wall Street. Melanie shared her excitement about the new women's safe space tent she had gone to check out and donate supplies to. It was the first day of the tent, a welcomed protected space as it was a cold and windy night.

What inspires Melanie Butler? Her female mentors @CodePink.org a women's peace organization and the activist community in NYC.

To watch and hear her speak these words "I'm just so full of hope." Well all I can say is Inspirational!

What's Your Inspiration?

Occupy Wall Street Day 25

NYCSubwayGirl visits Zuccotti Park encampment of Occupy Wall Street protesters. Joined by musician activist Joy Askew. 

My take away: Hope, inspiring to take action and making a difference...

If you'd like more insight from within Zuccotti Park, here's some interesting posts by Eve Ensler and Amy Goodman's Democracy Now whom I believe are the true pioneers of our time.

Also one of my fav sites is Place Matters.  They have made Zuccotti Park the place of the month.

Update on 2011-10-24 16:05 by NYC Subway Girl

Breaking News: Friday 7am. Cleanup of Zuccotti Park by occupiers yesterday. This morning the Mayor and Brookfield Properties (owners of the park) have backed off and Occupy Wall Street continues.  If those against the movement could shift their energies to cleaning up the financial mess, that would be real progress.   

EMERGENCY #OWS EVICTION DEFENSE:

Prevent the forcible closure of Occupy Wall Street

Tell Bloomberg: Don't Foreclose the Occupation.

NEED MASS TURN-OUT, SHOW UP NO LATER THAN 6 A.M.

This is an emergency situation. Please take a minute to read this, and please take action and spread the word far and wide.

Occupy Wall Street is gaining momentum, with occupation actions now happening in cities across the world.

But last night Mayor Bloomberg and the NYPD notified Occupy Wall Street participants about plans to “clean the park”—the site of the Wall Street protests—tomorrow starting at 7am. "Cleaning" was used as a pretext to shut down “Bloombergville” a few months back, and to shut down peaceful occupations elsewhere.

Bloomberg says that the park will be open for public usage following the cleaning, but with a notable caveat: Occupy Wall Street participants must follow the “rules”.

NYPD Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has said that they will move in to clear us and we will not be allowed to take sleeping bags, tarps, personal items or gear back into the park.

This is it—this is their attempt to shut down #OWS for good.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION  read more