Occupy Houston

It wasn't long before Occupy Houston moved for the first time. During the first week of the occupation Occupy Houston respectfully volunteered to evacuate the park for the Bayou City Art Festival earning Occupy Houston the nickname of "The Nicest Protesters in the World",{{cite web

| url=http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/10-07-11-the-nicest-protestors-in-the-world-occupy-houston-relocates-the-occupation-so-the-bayou-city-art-fest-can-go-on/

| date=2011-10-07

| last=Rudick

| first=Tyler

| access-date=2011-10-07

| title=The Nicest Protesters in the World

| publisher=Culture Map

| archive-date=2011-10-15

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015014330/http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/10-07-11-the-nicest-protestors-in-the-world-occupy-houston-relocates-the-occupation-so-the-bayou-city-art-fest-can-go-on/

| url-status=dead

}} and "Affable Protesters"{{cite web

|url=http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/10-07-11-16-28-occupy-houston-so-far/

|title=Illustrating Occupy Houston: Our affable protesters move for the weekend

|date=2011-10-09

|publisher=Culture Map

|work=Houston

|access-date=2011-10-17

|last=Rudick

|first=Tyler

|archive-date=2011-11-24

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124162630/http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/10-07-11-16-28-occupy-houston-so-far/

|url-status=dead

}} by Culture Map. A few of the artists participating in the Art Festival sympathized with Occupy Houston. The location Occupy Houston moved to was Eleanor Tinsley Park where the demonstrators roughed out torrential downpours before finally erecting tents.{{cite web

|url=http://www.click2houston.com/news/29404429/detail.html

|title=Heavy rain pounds Houston area, doesn't dampen Sunday events

|date=2011-10-09

|access-date=2011-10-17

|publisher=ABC 13 KTRK

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008174827/http://www.click2houston.com/news/29404429/detail.html

|archive-date=2011-10-08

|url-status=dead

}} Shortly after the rain ended, HPD ordered Occupy Houston to dismantle the tents and Occupy Houston after holding an emergency GA, for an extended period of time, eventually complied.{{cite web

|url=http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2011/10/protesters-dismantle-tents-at-tinsley-park/

|title=Protesters dismantle tents at Tinsley Park

|last=Acevedo

|first=Jesus

|date=2011-10-10

|access-date=2011-10-17

|archive-date=2011-10-12

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012104845/http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2011/10/protesters-dismantle-tents-at-tinsley-park/

|url-status=dead

}} Though not requested by HPD, the free standing, temporary, open air pavilions were dismantled as well.

Prior to moving to Eleanor Tinsley, Occupy Houston vowed to return to City Hall{{cite web

|url=http://www.39online.com/newsfix/kiah-newsfix-sleep-over-story,0,5150124.story

|title=Occupy Houston Protesters Sleep In Park

|publisher=KIAH-TV Channel 39

|work=39 Online: NewsFix

|date=2011-10-07

|access-date=2011-10-17

}} and they did.{{cite web

|url=http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/10-11-11-hear-why-bun-b-is-down-with-occupy-houston-an-exclusive-interview-with-the-hip-hop-legend/

|title=Hear why Bun B is down with Occupy Houston: An exclusive interview with the hip-hop legend

|work=Houston

|publisher=Culture Map

|date=2011-10-11

|access-date=2011-10-17

|last=Rudick

|first=Tyler

|archive-date=2011-10-13

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013074801/http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/10-11-11-hear-why-bun-b-is-down-with-occupy-houston-an-exclusive-interview-with-the-hip-hop-legend/

|url-status=dead

}} Yet after spending a few days at City Hall the encampment was moved one last time to Tranquility Park—this time the pressing issue forcing the move was the Energy Day festival in Houston which has Hermann Square rented.{{cite web

|title=Occupy Houston, diminished in size, moves to Tranquility Park

|publisher=Houston Chronicle

|last=Christian

|first=Carol

|date=2010-10-14

|access-date=2010-10-17

|url=http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Occupy-Houston-diminished-in-size-moves-to-2218659.php

}} Though Occupy Houston opted to acquiesce to the demands of the City by evacuating Hermann Square, it did not support the Energy Festival. Instead, Occupy Houston protested the festival on the grounds of its sponsorship by TransCanada, the company behind the Keystone XL Pipeline, and Valero which demanded a further $62.8 million tax refund.{{cite web

|url=http://houston.indymedia.org/print.php?id=73422

|title=Occupy Houston/Energy Day - Silent Protest Signs, Flyers Say It All

|publisher=Houston Independent Media Center

|date=2011-10-16

|access-date=2011-10-17

}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The night of the move (as with the initial move) a few remained, perhaps one or two, well into the morning in general protest. Their grievances included the renting of public space to private entities, as well as specifically the KBR display that was erected that night.

Involved people held a Corporate House of Horrors during Halloween.{{cite web

|url=http://www.39online.com/newsfix/kiah-newsfix-occupy-halloween-story,0,3652183.story

|title=Occupy Houston House of Horrors event

|publisher=KIAH-TV Channel 39

|work=39online.com

|access-date=2011-10-31

|date=2011-10-31

}}

Another notable event that Occupy Houston organized was a Bank Transfer Day divestment march on November 4, 2011.{{cite web

| url=http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/First-time-protesters-join-Occupy-Houston-march-2252259.php#photo-1727435

| title=First-time protesters join Occupy Houston march on downtown banks

| last=Hassan

| first=Anita

| work=Houston Chronicle

| date=2011-11-04

| access-date=2012-12-16

}} Bank Transfer Day was a national campaign to divest from banks and to bring the financial business to credit unions which are seen as being more community-friendly. Members of Occupy Houston marched on four different banks including Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Amegy to divest and close their accounts.{{cite web

| url=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/12/1035955/-Occupy-Houston-Divestment-March

| title=Occupy Houston Divestment March

| publisher=Daily KOS

| last=Willies

| first=Egberto

| date=2011-11-12

| access-date=2012-12-16

}} In Texas, 47,000 credit union accounts were opened in the month of November—many of those new accounts have been attributed to the Occupy protests in Texas.{{cite web

| url=http://www.americanindependent.com/203471/more-than-47000-texans-join-credit-unions-for-bank-transfer-day

| title=More than 47,000 Texans join credit unions for Bank Transfer Day

| last=Tuma

| first=Mary

| access-date=2011-12-16

| date=2011-11-07

| publisher=The American Independent

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211085928/http://www.americanindependent.com/203471/more-than-47000-texans-join-credit-unions-for-bank-transfer-day

| archive-date=2011-12-11

| url-status=dead

}}

The encampment was evicted in February 2012.{{cite web

| url=http://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/02-14-12-occupy-houston-evicted-with-little-fuss-after-four-months-one-of-longest-running-occupations-in-anti-greed-movement/#slide=0

| publisher=culter map Houston

| title="The camping trip is over": Occupy Houston evicted with little fuss after four months, no arrests

| access-date=2019-09-06

}}

Redacted FBI files, obtained in December 2012 by the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, show that an unnamed group was planning sniper attacks against Occupy Houston. This was first planned against individual protestors in October 2011, and then "a plan to kill the leadership".[http://www.justiceonline.org/commentary/fbi-files-ows.html Partnership for Civil Justice Fund], pages 60 of documents

The Official Planning for Occupy Houston started a week before the first protest.{{cite web

|url=http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/09-30-11-wall-street-protests-headed-here-an-occupy-houston-movement-builds-in-the-most-low-key-way-possible/

|date=2011-09-30

|access-date=2011-10-17

|title=Wall Street protests headed here? An Occupy Houston movement builds — in a most low-key way

|last=Radley

|first=Whitney

|work=Houston

|publisher=Culture Map

|archive-date=2011-10-10

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010065252/http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/09-30-11-wall-street-protests-headed-here-an-occupy-houston-movement-builds-in-the-most-low-key-way-possible/

|url-status=dead

}}

There are numerous teams working within Occupy Houston:

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• A legal team consisting of 10 members of the National Lawyers Guild.{{cite web

|url=http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2011/10/occupy_wall_street_99_percent.php

|title=Occupy Wall Street: 99 Percent Protesters March to City Hall for Occupy Houston

|last=Shea

|first=Brittanie

|date=2011-10-06

|access-date=2011-10-17

|publisher=Houston Press

}}{{cite web

|title=Volunteer lawyers help 'Occupy' protesters through legal system

|publisher=McClatchy Newspapers

|work=Kansas City Star

|last=Pugh

|first=Tony

|date=2011-10-30

}}

• Warehouse (Catalog communal goods check-out and check-in)
• Logistics
• Web & Media
• Facilitation (Help moderate the General Assembly)
• Sustainability
• Medical
• Food

{{div col end}}

Occupy Houston has found amazing support from the residents in the city. It was reported that a 42-inch flat screen TV was donated,{{cite web

|url=http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2011/10/the-occupy-movement%E2%80%99s-300k-bankroll-luxe-requests/

|title=The Occupy movement's $300K bankroll, luxe requests

|work=Newswatch

|publisher=Houston Chronicle

|date=2011-10-17

|access-date=2011-10-17

|last=Shellnutt

|first=Kate

|archive-date=2012-12-03

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121203212652/http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2011/10/the-occupy-movement%E2%80%99s-300k-bankroll-luxe-requests/

|url-status=dead

}} and $1,800 collected.{{cite web

|url=http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/10-17-11-let-occupy-wall-street-brag-about-its-300000-raised-occupy-houston-is-good-with-its-1800-and-hot-chicks/

|title=Let Occupy Wall Street brag about $300,000 & "hot chicks"; Occupy Houston is good with its $1,800

|work=Houston

|publisher=Culture Map

|date=2011-10-17

|access-date=2011-10-17

|last=Radley

|first=Whitney

|archive-date=2011-10-20

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020050633/http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/10-17-11-let-occupy-wall-street-brag-about-its-300000-raised-occupy-houston-is-good-with-its-1800-and-hot-chicks/

|url-status=dead

}} In addition, numerous different bands and artists have played or showed support for Occupy Houston most notably including Bun B of UGK,{{cite web

|url=http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Bus-drivers-join-Occupy-Houston-protests-2212852.php

|title=Bun B joins Occupy Houston protests

|date=2011-10-12

|access-date=2011-10-17

|publisher=Houston Chronicle

|last=Stanton

|first=Robert

}}

and the Free Radicals.{{cite web

| url=http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/west_university/news/occupy-houston-protest-set-for-thursday/article_00e50325-4e90-56ba-93d1-a85e46db3b2f.html

| title='Occupy Houston' protest set for Thursday

| work=Your WestU News

| publisher=The West University Examiner

| date=2012-10-05

}} A few politicians and activists have visited the occupation as well such Dick Gregory{{cite web

| url=https://twitter.com/OccupyHouston/status/127071361221922816

| title=Come out to #CampTranquility and hear Dick Gregory speak about BP and the gulf oil spill NOW!

| date=2011-10-20

| access-date=2011-10-20

}} and Houston Councilwoman Jolanda Jones.{{cite web

| url=https://twitter.com/OccupyHouston/status/127095505955209216

| title=Houston city counsel woman Jo Jones is speaking to us and giving us great ideas and encouragement! So awesome!

| date=2011-10-20

| access-date=2011-10-20

}}{{cite web

| url=https://www.facebook.com/OccupyHouston/posts/275898205777807

| title=Occupy Houston Facebook Status Update

| date=2011-10-20

| access-date=2011-10-20

}} The Coffee Party also airs a show live from Occupy Houston once a week.{{cite web

| url=http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Radio-show-now-airing-from-Occupy-Houston-2231348.php

| title=Radio show now airing from Occupy Houston encampment

| last=Christian

| first=Carol

| work=Chron.com

| publisher=The Houston Chronicle

| date=2011-10-22

| access-date=2011-10-24

}}

{{quote|This is something that I think everybody at some point and time should be concerned about as a resident of Houston and as a citizen of the world|Bun B|Interview with the Houston Chronicle}}

Not all members of the city have been supportive of the protest though: Houston mayor Annise Parker denied a request to supply city electricity to the occupation or to provide a statement to refuse the enforcement of the civility statute that prohibits tents in city parks.{{cite web

| url=http://www.khou.com/news/local/Occupy-Houston-protestors-asks-city-for-tents-and-free-electricity-132597323.html

| title=Occupy Houston protestors asks city for tents and free electricity

| date=2011-10-26

| access-date=2011-10-26

| publisher=KHOU

| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127062300/http://www.khou.com/news/local/Occupy-Houston-protestors-asks-city-for-tents-and-free-electricity-132597323.html

| archive-date=2013-01-27

| url-status=dead

}}

Other Occupy communities have cited Occupy Houston as an example for the good organizational work. It was mentioned at Occupy San Diego that, "[Occupy Houston] just passed a proposal and action for a de-investment campaign. What are we doing with our GA? Let's get back on track, guys."{{cite web

|url=http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/article-9635-a-weekend-with-occup.html

|title=A weekend with Occupy San Diego

|publisher=San Diego City Beat

|last=Holslin

|first=Peter

|date=2011-10-12

|access-date=2011-10-17

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014204529/http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/article-9635-a-weekend-with-occup.html

|archive-date=2011-10-14

|url-status=dead

}}

With the number of protesters decreasing, Mayor Annise Parker requested that they move off the tax supported land and have some sort of "End Game."{{cite journal | title = Houston Mayor: 'Occupy' protestors need 'end game' | journal = KHOU 11 New | date = 2012-01-02 | first = Gabe | last = Gutierrez | url = http://www.khou.com/news/Houston-Mayor-Occupiers-need-end-game-136537628.html | access-date = 2012-01-03 | quote = Occupy numbers decreasing | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120114141723/http://www.khou.com/news/Houston-Mayor-Occupiers-need-end-game-136537628.html | archive-date = 2012-01-14 | url-status = dead }}

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Occupy articles

• List of global Occupy protest locations
• Occupy movement
• Timeline of Occupy Wall Street
• We are the 99%

{{col-2}}

Related articles

• Income inequality in the United States
• Lobbying{{spaced ndash}}the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the
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• Plutocracy
• Tea Party protests
• Wealth inequality in the United States

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Related portals:{{Portal bar|Society|Politics|Business and economics|Texas|United States}}

{{reflist|2}}

• {{Official website|1=http://occupyhouston.org}}
• [https://www.facebook.com/OccupyHouston Occupy Houston Facebook]
• [https://twitter.com/OccupyHouston Occupy Houston Twitter]
• [https://www.flickr.com/photos/artluver/6224001779/ Occupy Houston photos] (Flickr)
• [http://www.occupyhouston.org]

{{Occupy movement}}

Category:Occupy movement in Texas

Category:History of Houston

Category:2011 in Texas

Category:Organizations based in Houston

Category:Culture of Houston