Rained Out, But Not Run Out
Posted by Ben Jury on Nov 21, 2011 - 4:57:32 PM
VAN NUYS/STUDIO CITY–Occupy San Fernando Valley (SFV) protesters braved the rain at Studio City’s Farmer’s Market on November 20 to promote their cause and hand out fliers and other educational material to the public.
That night, a planned rehearsal for a "flash mob," a sudden performance of a group of people in a public place, and a general assembly meeting were called off due to rain, but some supports still came out to protest the movement. Aehlex Nichele, one of the co-organizers of the Occupy SFV movement, was among the few that came out despite the rain. “I’m a die-hard,” she admitted.
“I found out about it through a friend in Occupy SFV,” said Ulises Hernandez, a fellow protester who walked from his house with his family. “We just wanted to check out what was going on tonight,” he added.
Occupy SFV, as well as the Occupy movement in a broader sense, is specifically protesting the corporate greed and corruption, as well as social and economic injustice. Occupy SFV began as an offshoot to Occupy Los Angeles, as a way to give those from the Valley an opportunity to protest without having to commute to Downtown L.A. “Going down everyday to help was costly; I was using a lot of gas,” said Amber Barrero, one of the co-founders for this branch of Occupy SFV. “I wanted to give people living in the Valley the opportunity to protest and get involved,” she added.
Protesting rain or shine. Photo courtesy of Occupy San Fernando Valley.
The group gained footing in Van Nuys around October 21, when the group began regularly meeting and holding protests. They started a small encampment but eventually took it down after they were told by police they could not stay inside their tents. “It’s a wasted effort,” Barrero and Nichele told Canyon News. Encampments take away from the message of the group, and Occupy SFV plans to shy away from setting up campsites.
An open dialogue is key to their approach, the group told Canyon News. Occupy SFV also focus on obeying the law; they have drawn up rules of conduct that every member must adhere to. Violators are asked to leave the protest.
Among the group’s planned events are Black Friday Potluck, a flash mob planned on a secret date at Universal City Walk, weekly protests at both the Studio City and Van Nuys Farmer’s Markets, and general assemblies daily. These assemblies, as well as a variety of other events, will be held at the Van Nuys Civic Center on the corner of Van Nuys Boulevard and Erwin Street, the movement’s home base. Everyone interested is encouraged to join the movement. More information can be found at facebook.com/OccupySanFernandoValley or through visiting a meeting generally held around 6:30 p.m.
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