Dick Head 2nite, Occupy Cleveland 2day & 2morrow

There will be a memorial to Robert “Dick Head” Ritchie tonight at 7:30pm in Lincoln Park, Tremont (aka the closest West Side neighborhood to downtown Cleveland, Ohio).

This afternoon we’ll be down on Public Square supporting the upcoming possible troubles for the Occupy Cleveland occupiers. Their protest permit allowing camping on Public Square runs out at 6am tomorrow morning.

But trouble could start tonight at 10pm because that’s when Cleveland’s downtown 10pm curfew goes into effect. The curfew seems illegal to me; just how does a politician decide that the citizens they represent are not allowed to be in their own public park after certain times?

Anyway. It is my understanding Cleveland has decided NOT to renew the protesters’ camping permit. From what I heard at last night’s meeting, it appears Huntington Bank, which is paying for the Public Square Christmas light displays, doesn’t want the dirty protesters to mess up their pretty light display and maybe scare away the visiting suburbanites and out-of-town tourists. Seems to me for the sake of not displeasing a Corporation, city council will deny its citizens their legal right to protest.

Some of the protesters may not be leaving. Don’t ask me which ones because I don’t know. That is between them and their conscience. If I were not achy and creaky in my bones and married with cat, I would be down there myself being civilly disobedient.

So folk, we REALLY need your support today. Starting at 1pm there’ll be a music and speechifying party celebration down in Public Square. Everyone who shows up will be one more person City Council, the Mayor and Huntington Bank will have to factor into their decisions.

If you wish to be most effective as a civilian people shield, show up at 10pm tonight when the curfew runs out and/or 6am tomorrow morning when the protest camp permit expires.

The city is threatening to confiscate their tents and possessions tomorrow morning unless we the people speak out now and loudly. You can also call your city council person and Mayor Jackson as well to let them know you want our government to reflect the will of the people and their Constitutional right to protest the actions of their government.

There is a bit of good news. The Old Stone Church, the oldest building on Public Square, has a long history of siding against social injustice and has offered to let the protesters occupy their church if the cops kick them out of Public Square.

Have no idea what’s going to happen. We’ll find out when we take tomorrow morning’s food down to them and see if they’re still there. Can’t be with them tonight because I’ve got to give Robert’s eulogy in the park.