While a boiling pot of water gently roared, Bethany Clement of Dallas sorted through the plethora of coffee supplies, fruits and packaged snacks of Occupy Norman’s headquarters at Andrews Park.
Having run the on-site kitchen at Occupy Dallas, Clement said she feels at home working in the makeshift pantry.
“Don’t mind me; I just need to organize everything here," she said.
Occupy Norman began its two-week garrison of the park Saturday night. While the group does not have a permit, political science and geographic information science senior Grant De Lozier said Occupy Norman has spoken with the mayor and the Norman Police Department regarding its inhabitancy.
“We consider it our First Amendment right to gather here,” De Lozier said. “Luckily, the mayor and the police have been very friendly, and we have formed a working relationship.”
The community also has helped the occupants by donating food and gathering trash from the facilities, De Lozier said.
The headquarters is organized around two castle-like structures with duct-taped plastic sheets for windows and navy tarps for doors. One of the fortifications, called the media room by De Lozier, is complete with a wireless router, a flat screen TV and a control panel of laptops.
“We’re living pretty well compared to most Occupy groups,” De Lozier said.
The group spends most of its time working through smaller group meetings such as transportation and public relations, De Lozier said. Every day at 7 p.m., the occupants will hold an open-to-the-public General Assembly that follows certain protocol to arrive at a consensus.
Saturday night, the General Assembly decided to lead a Monday morning march to Dale Hall, De Lozier said.
Clement, who can usually be found in the food pantry across from the media room, said she came up to Norman after being evicted from Occupy Dallas about two weeks ago.
“I was actually arrested when they drove us out,” Clement said. “They held 17 of us for 18 hours but didn’t book us.”
Occupy Dallas included about 160 occupants and lasted for 41 days before it was ended, Clement said.
Since she had never participated in a protest before Occupy Dallas, Clement said she wasn’t sure why she was drawn to the movement at first.
“I heard about what was going on in Wall Street and decided to go out and connect with the people,” Clement said. “It’s a progression, and it’s all about everyone building a community and rising up.”
De Lozier said his interest in grassroots democracy led him to participate in Occupy Norman.
“The most important movements have happened through grassroots efforts,” De Lozier said. “As the 99 percent, we have to pick up the pieces when the economy fails.”
Another previous Occupy Dallas member, who goes by Liza, said the group’s small collection of tents has been holding its own against Oklahoma’s bitter North wind.
“[Saturday night], we had a problem with one tent blowing around, but the combination of rain and wind is horrible,” Liza said, crunching on a mouthful of granola.
Despite the rather inclement weather, Liza said Occupy Norman is starting from a good position.
“They have been taking to accent what other Occupy groups have done, and as long as they use these two weeks to their advantage, they will continue to work together amazingly.”
GO AND DO
General Assembly
WHEN: 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Begins at Andrews Park, ends at Dale Hall
INFO: Occupy Norman plans to pass out pamphlets, present statistics and outreach toward students.
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KellyH 5 months, 3 weeks ago
I cannot believe these people are camped out in our park here in Norman. Do they realize that the rest of the citizens have to obey the Park hours and leave the park by dark? What about the ordinance banning smoking in the city parks - are they smoking while they are on the city property? Where are they going to the bathroom? How are they running all of the electronic equipment they spoke about in the "media room"? Whose electricity are they using? This is ridiculous!!
sooner12345 5 months, 3 weeks ago
And I am sure that is similar to what people in Egypt were saying when protestors disrupted traffic in the center of Cairo. The whole point of a protest is to disobey authority to draw attention to societal concerns.
mythman 5 months, 3 weeks ago
KellyH, they actually got permission.
From Norman Transcript "Occupy Norman sets up camp" December 7, 2011:
Police spokes person Capt. Tom Easley said the group is camping legally and agrees to comply by Norman city ordinances.
“Occupy Norman leaders approached some of the city leadership last Friday and requested a waiver of the overnight trespass ordinance which was granted,” Easley said. “The city is recognizing their right to protest.”
not_that_guy_again 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Exactly what I'd expect from a political "science" major. No wonder he's worried about unemployment.
Nicky 5 months, 2 weeks ago
kelly H. what little argument you have makes no sense what so ever. Do you realize that the city makes exemptions for events? "What about the ordinance banning smoking in the city parks - are they smoking while they are on the city property?" What about the law preventing murder-are they murdering people out there?