[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 21310-21311]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     THE DECLARATION OF OCCUPY D.C.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2011

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following:

                     The Declaration of Occupy D.C.


          Consented to by General Assembly November 30th, 2011

       We have been captives of corrupt economic and political 
     systems for far too long. The concentration of wealth and the 
     purchase of political power stifle the voices of the 
     increasingly disenfranchised 99 percent. Corporate dominance 
     subverts democracy, intentionally sows division, destroys the 
     environment, obstructs the just and equitable pursuit of 
     happiness, and violates the rights and dignity of all life.
       Occupy D.C. is an open community of diverse individuals, 
     facing different forms of oppression and impacted by economic 
     exploitation to differing degrees, but united by a shared 
     vision of equality for the common good. The harsh economic 
     conditions that have plagued the poor, working class, and 
     communities of color for generations have begun to affect the 
     previously financially secure. This acute awareness of our 
     common fate has united us in our struggle for a better 
     future. We recognize that inequality and injustice 
     systemically affect every aspect of our society: our 
     communities, homes, and hearts. To build the world we 
     envision, we commit ourselves to overcoming our personal 
     biases so we can successfully challenge systems of oppression 
     in solidarity.
       We are peaceably assembled at McPherson Square, practicing 
     direct democracy on the doorstep of K Street, the epicenter 
     of destructive corporate and governmental relationships. 
     Recognizing that the term ``occupy'' is associated with 
     exploitation, violence, and imperialism, we are reclaiming it 
     to mean the peaceful liberation of public space. In this 
     disenfranchised city, we are insisting that our economic and 
     political systems serve the people's interests. Now is the 
     time to advance and complete the struggles of the many who 
     came before us.
       We are assembled because . . .
       It is absurd that the 1 percent has taken 40 percent of the 
     nation's wealth through exploiting labor, outsourcing jobs, 
     and manipulating the tax code to their benefit through 
     special capital tax rates and loopholes. The system is rigged 
     in their favor, yet they cry foul when anyone even dares to 
     question their relentless class warfare.
       Candidates in our electoral system require huge sums of 
     money to be competitive. These contributions from multi-
     national corporations and wealthy individuals destroy 
     responsive representative governance. A system of backroom 
     deals, kickbacks, bribes, and dirty politics overrides the 
     will of the people. The rotation of decision makers between 
     the public and private sectors cultivates a network of public 
     officials, lobbyists, and executives whose aligned interests 
     do not serve the American people.
       The entrenched two-party system overlooks public interests 
     by pursuing narrow political goals. This climate encourages 
     candidates to polarize voters for individual power and 
     personal gain. Citizens' meaningful input has been 
     compromised by gerrymandering, voter disenfranchisement, and 
     unresponsive politicians. Residents of Washington, D.C., 
     continue to lack autonomy and legislative representation.
       The 1 percent benefits from economic, political, and legal 
     structures that oppress communities long targeted by 
     displacement, denial of sovereignty, slavery, and other 
     injustices. These persecuted but resilient communities 
     continue to suffer through generations of disproportionately 
     higher rates of unemployment, poverty, criminalization, and 
     homelessness. Facets of the 1 percent campaign to blame these 
     groups for these problems while obstructing healing and 
     restoration.
       Those with power have divided us from working in solidarity 
     by perpetuating historical prejudices and discrimination 
     based on perceived race, religion, immigrant or indigenous 
     status, income, age, gender, gender identity, sexual 
     orientation, and disability, among other things. These 
     divisions have inhibited our ability to work in solidarity, 
     though today we recognize the power of uniting as the 99 
     percent.
       Financial institutions gambled with our savings, homes, and 
     economy. They collapsed the financial system and needed the 
     public to bail them out of their failures yet deny any 
     responsibility and continue to fight oversight. Corporations 
     loot from those whose labor creates society's prosperity, 
     while the government allows them to privatize profits and 
     socialize risk.
       Corporate interests threaten life on Earth by extracting 
     and burning fossil fuels and resisting the necessary 
     transition to renewable energy. Their drilling, mining, 
     clear-cutting, overfishing, and factory farming destroys the 
     land, jeopardizes our food and water, and poisons the soil 
     with near impunity. They privilege polluters over people by 
     subsidizing fossil fuels, blocking investments in clean 
     energy and efficient transportation, and hiding environmental 
     destruction from public oversight.
       Private corporations, with the government's support, use 
     common resources and infrastructure for short-term personal 
     profit, while stifling efforts to invest in public goods.
       The U.S. government engages in drawn-out, costly conflicts 
     abroad. Numerous acts of conquest have been, and continue to 
     be, pursued to control resources, overthrow foreign 
     governments, and install subservient regimes. These wars 
     destroy the lives of innocent civilians and American 
     soldiers, many

[[Page 21311]]

     of whom suffer adverse effects throughout life. These 
     operations are a blank check to divert money from domestic 
     priorities.
       Government authorities cultivate a culture of fear to 
     invade our privacy, limit assembly, restrict speech, and deny 
     due process. They have failed in their duty to protect our 
     rights. Exacerbated by profiteering interests, the criminal 
     justice system has unfairly targeted underprivileged 
     communities and outspoken groups for prosecution rather than 
     protection.
       Corporatized culture warps our perception of reality. It 
     cheapens and mocks the beauty of human thought and experience 
     while promoting excessive materialism as the path to 
     happiness. The corporate news media furthers the interests of 
     the very wealthy, distorts and disregards the truth, and 
     confines our imagination of what is possible for ourselves 
     and society.
       Leaders are trading our access to basic needs in exchange 
     for handouts to the ultra-wealthy. Our rights to healthcare, 
     education, food, water, and housing are sacrificed to profit-
     driven market forces. They are attacking unemployment 
     insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, creating 
     an uncertain future for us all.*
       A better world is possible.
       To all people,
       We, the Washington D.C. General Assembly occupying K Street 
     in McPherson Square, urge you to assert your power.
       Exercise your right to peaceably assemble and reclaim the 
     commons. Re-conceive ways to build a democratic, just, and 
     sustainable world.
       To all who value democracy, we encourage you to collaborate 
     and share available resources.
       Join your voice with ours and let it amplify until the 
     heart of the movement booms with our chorus of solidarity.
       *These grievances are not all inclusive.

                          ____________________