occupyliverpool5212

Occupy Liverpool General Assembly Minutes
Sunday 5th February 2012
Location: Old Rapid Paint Shop, Renshaw Street, Liverpool
Start time: 3.30pm
Finish Time: 5 – 5.30pm
Facilitator: E & J
Minutes: Lp

Building

M – Major priority to scrape windows
S – cameras outside/ open up as soon as possible

Proposal to open the building on Monday consented with conditions

P – next court date is Tuesday, anything out of the building needs to be gone by Tues
E – Request that people help remove remaining stuff
Mk – basement needs cleaning
S – put mask on to protect I

Proposal to paint windows consented

M – owners claiming criminal damage to padlock. Padlock is not damaged. Being used elsewhere. {35 people witness to this)

Conduct

J – people took keys with them when people were still in the building
E – Someone has to lock you out
Mk – NO alcohol & drugs

Mk’s policy is agreed upon –

Proposal for No Alcohol & Drugs policy consented

S – get arrested for being political not other offences
AB – two hostel workers jailed for allowing drug use whilst on duty

S – problems with Facebook. One person is being unconstructive on facebook
J – F H
PP – worried about his behaviour
AB – find him repressive
I - he was quite rude: told people to be quiet during GA
Not the same person
Some confusion over who F H is
PP – says he is a supporter
Mk – Will ask F what his issues are and what is his beef when he comes down
PP – He asked about getting involved and was facilitated in setting up Occupy Liverpool Radio Station
M – thought the radio station was a good idea but it got thrown back in my face
J – general behaviour, trolling is unacceptable
S – F H is trolling

Calls for F H to be banned.
No decision consented.


Topic change

I – comments have been deleted on facebook
PP – just because you cannot see your post, doesn’t mean admin has deleted it. They can say what they like about Occupy, but constant negative comments will not get through.

Proposal to start a discussion page & keep present page for info only consented. This proposal involves disabling comments. (This will be done over a period of months, so people get used to/know to use the discussion page once comments are disabled.)

M – basically a page that you put commentary on
PP – people like facebook, they don’t want to go to a blog
J – one for info one for comments
M – a decision was made at previous GA re. A blog
S – on blogger you can have posts, pages, wish lists, etc.
PP – the amount of energy & time going into facebook is too much
Mk – See in that people like facebook we should split it
J – Proposal to split facebook into info & discussion consented

Behaviour of Person G

J – his behaviour is damaging the movement
Jo – it was out of order the way he was threatening people
J – making rude gestures
Ab – rather than ban someone he needs to be given a time-out
J – no one can cope with his behaviour
S – the thing is with G, he didn’t hit anyone – his behaviour is being reinforced by people letting him. He’s clued up about the movement. All he gets is shit and he keeps coming back.
Mk – describing the situation with those involved. He’s taking the piss. He’s funny but when he is shouting abusive words at people he is dragging the movement down.
St – insinuations of theft
J – he’s a suspect
I – If people are disrupting the movement then its not going to be helpful
C – none of us have evidence it's him
J – Don’t leave your stuff lying around. Bring [his behaviour] up when he’s doing it
PL – we should put up posters about conduct
Mk – kept telling G, but didn’t stop him
E – why is different w/ G
S - is this about G?
J – G & Behaviour
PP – if you’re going to have codes of conduct then they must apply to everyone
S – There seems to be more barriers being built up. Go away for two week, calm down and come back
Mk – there’s already two people refusing to stay because of G’s behaviour. He’s not changing behaviour
AB – people have allowed him to behave that way
S – this is all he’s got. When he realises that he will change his behaviour

Proposal to ask people to leave for two weeks for bad behaviour consented
Based on this proposal G is not allowed on site for two weeks.

Finances

J – we have no money
AB – benefit gig coming up 25th Feb.
J – B has been busking
S – Supposed to be busking for Occupy Liverpool
J – just been handed £1.35 lol
PP – Whip round at end of GA
J – Credit union will be activated in next few days
Mr – paypal button ready to go, just need union account details
Lp – Ask who’s been picking up money from NFN
J – ask can we see the record
PP – need to have I.D. when picking up money
Mk – don’t give donations out to anyone except
J – treasurers. Water cooler jug for donations to be brought up from basement
Je – NFN bought us loads of food

Solidarity with NFN!

Activities & protests

J – thankyou cards left outside Loyds TSB re banker’s bonuses
My – There were some people who didn’t turn up who would of liked to
Pl – have a big opening
Lp – Tues Court Case

Proposal to join demo on Tuesday 7th Feb consented.

S – actively get people involved to see the impact their making and support cases
J – turn ideas box in to support box
S – if you are getting an eviction notice get judge to say something supportive for Occupy. Show how quickly you can activate these spaces
J – we still need loads of support
S – you’ve been behind closed doors
PL – there starting to lock buildings up to stop squatting
Mk – can we return to building
S – yes, you can return
PP – Because you’re gonna get booted out you need to get the building open
My – we should defend this case
J – problem on third floor
S – get some Art in here. Open it up this week. They can have it back in September.
Mk – paints

Proposal to open up building with conditions on Monday consented

Mk – request for more people to stay
A – need to engage people outside of building
J – logistics of interacting with public

Mr – Should we do National GA?
Sa – imminence of GA will be motivation

Talking about logistics


E – the National GA occupiers will not be expecting luxury
M – have we sorted out activities for GA?
J – it’s up to everyone, collective action, solidarity, to get the building ready
Mr – move everything from S building
Sa – we can learn from Occupy London but don’t have to wait for them
J - 2nd 1st floor ok 3rd floor off limits
S – there are also other venues
Mk – we are a young group, we have a lot to learn. Mr – I was the youngest at Sheffield
Mk - People should embrace the fact that we are so young

Lp – Occupy Oil

Proposal consented for National UK GA to be held in Liverpool

Proposal for Occupy Oil consented
Wed 8th Feb 12noon
Meet at OLD Rapid Paint Shop (ORPS)
All welcome

Proposal for SoS twitter account consented.  This will alert people to evictions.

Police Brutality Protest

S – a show of hands for attendance
S – wants to discuss opening up to the public, inclusivity

More calls for building to be opened. Agreement to calls

PP – problems with getting people to participate beyond social media
Sa – This GA has been really positive
My – safety has been a problem with opening spaces. Open letter to police explaining about OL’s intentions
E – what’s the deal with the police coming in if we are open to public?
Mk – police should not be allowed in. Watch out for plain-clothes PO’s
S – Once police are in they will take advantage of that access. Keep them outside on the pavement where there is cctv.

Agreement that Police are to be refused access.

Mk – people who are staying at ORPS clean the basement
MY – van not available today

Adjournment

My – send a letter
Mk – should go
E – should go
S- notes to be taken in both court cases

Lp – any more areas of discussion

None

End minutes
Next Occupy Liverpool General Assembly is Tues 7th February 2012 at the Old Rapid Paint Shop, Renshaw St, Liverpool.
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/OccupyLiverpool