Dear Mayor Reed,
Luckie Daniels here of Atlanta. I’m a native Georgian. I consider myself a progressive thinker, and in years past I’ve been a community supporter of yours.
I’m also a [by day] occupier of Woodruff Park and 24/7 supporter of occupy movements around the world. For the record – sentiments expressed here are mine alone.
Please know there’s nothing about my involvement with Occupy Atlanta and my right to civil protest that I take lightly.
My 4th Grandfather, James Wingfield, an emancipated slave was lynched in 1885 Wilkes County for openly speaking his mind in the presence of a group of white men. My maternal Grandparents, Bill and Fannie Barwick, marched on Washington and believed in The Dream with Dr. King.
My Sister Gina still remembers how my Grandfather wept openly when Dr. King and Robert Kennedy were assassinated in 1968. Van Jones of Rebuild the Dream, refers to 1968 as the “year they tried to assassinate hope” in America.
Our Civil Rights legacy was/is a source of great pride in my family. I will never take for granted the sacrifices made to ensure my right to assemble peacefully, and the true gift we have in freedom of speech.
So I occupy as often as I can.
I was there yesterday, standing outside the Atlanta Police Mobile Unit, while you met with Tim Franzen (Occupy Atlanta) and Joe Beasley (RainbowPUSH Coalition). I was there when they exited and addressed media questions. I believe the disappointment registered across the face of both men, was genuine. I heard concern and fear for supporter safety in their voices.
I wasn’t inside the APD Mobile Unit, but I believe the recounting of their dialogue with you to be factual, however whether there was an implied threat to arrest Occupy Atlanta supporters after nightfall is insignificant to the broader issue at hand.
At the end of the day, be it a misunderstanding OR change to a decision made in anger – I was relieved supporters remained in peaceful occupation of Woodruff Park last night.
My concern is how we [citizens in support of Occupy Atlanta and Atlanta City Government] will utilize the remaining 15 days (given the November 7th occupation extension stands) to explore a resolution to our differences?
How will we work together to unify this city that stands so completely divided?
Atlanta’s citizens are hurting Mayor Reed, and it has little to do with the reported $30K spent on Occupy Atlanta security and porta potties:
- Atlanta’s the poorest city in the U.S. for children. More children live in poverty here, than in any other city
- 48% of all the children in Atlanta in poverty live in families with annual incomes of less than $15,000 a year
- We’re in our 3rd year of double-digit joblessness
- Georgia is the 4th in the Nation in home foreclosures. Count my “dream home” among the 699 Gwinnett County bank owned properties listed in September!
There’s valid reasons why your constituents are willing to stand despite rain, cold weather and imminent arrest and NONE of these reasons will disappear via a City of Atlanta vs. Occupy Atlanta “showdown”.
We are not your enemies Mayor Reed. We are supporters who have watched the lives we’ve worked so hard for disappear week by week.
I supported your 2009 Mayoral Campaign, and I believed when you said you’d be “more collaborative” than the previous administration. You promised a “radical change in the culture of customer service in the city government” and declared you wanted to be judged by your “performance“. You said the citizens of Atlanta deserved as much.
You were correct – WE DO!
We’re in the midst of what will be defined as a historic moment in time – a 21st century Civil Rights Movement powered by technology that spanned the globe.
Honor your promises Mayor Reed! You’re a negotiator, leader and Atlanta native. You have the ability to aid us in getting over this hurdle.
Stand WITH us and show the world Atlanta is the EXCEPTION and not the rule on how to engage civil discourse to find a peaceful resolution.
Be the Atlanta Mayor who’s willing to listen and explore ways to relieve – not deepen – our pain.
Be the Mayor you promised in 2009, you would be.
Yours truly,
Luckie Daniels, I am the 99%
“Demonstrations are not designed to make people like the people who are demonstrating. Demonstrations are designed to be inconvenient; they’re designed to be in the way so we can stop ignoring something we’ve grown too comfortable with.” ~ Rachel Maddow
