99% – PhilaNet.com

PHILADELPHIA, PA — It has been over a year since 12 members of the Occupy Philadelphia movement were arrested inside a Wells Fargo bank in center city Philadelphia. This week they were put on trial in front of jury facing charges of criminal trespass and conspiracy.

The defendants put on a strong defense based on the 1st Amendment’s right to free assembly, as well as, “justification” due to imminent danger being caused by Wells Fargo. During the trial, character witnesses pointed out the contributions the defendants have been making since their arrests including: forming Inter-occupy, Occupy Sandy and organizing a new community center.

On March 5, 2013 the jury returned the verdict — not guilty of conspiracy and defiant trespass.

VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE WELLS FARGO PROTEST

by Anonymous

PHILADELPHIA, PA — On September 17th, 2011, the first tents went up at Zuccotti Park in the financial district of New York City. What resulted was an international insurgency of activists committed enough to proclaiming the message of social and economic equality that they would: give up their lives to camp in a public park, educate the people about crimes being committed in their names from Oakland to Chicago to Kalamazoo, erect tent cities (reminiscent of the Hoovervilles of old) and serve as public reminders of Wall Street greed and corrupt government. The world had been occupied.

On October 6th of that same year, Philadelphia took up the call. In the past year, we have taken our message of economic justice, social equality, and a fair economy to the streets, to the the banks and to City Hall. From protests to sit-ins to National Gatherings, we shone a spotlight on the plight of everyday Philadelphians and beyond. We have experienced setbacks in the form of police aggression and political games, but rest assured that we have not been, nor will we be, silenced.

As year two begins, we call on our fellow Philadelphians to Fight the Power. Big bankers and political puppets still mold our city in their image even at the cost of our families and communities. We must not allow big money backed special interests to destroy our communities for their own profits. We must not let politicians sit idly by, pacified by their concern for campaign contributions and let it happen. It is time the people of Philadelphia rose up against corruption.

We invite you to join us on October 6th, 2012 at City Hall at noon. Together we will send a message all over the city of Philadelphia: that the people have come for their due, and we are not going anywhere until justice and equality run uninhibited through the streets.

Occupy Wall Street? Occupy Yourself
Occupy Philadelphia 2011
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