Several activists gathered from 11a-1:30p today in front of the Main St. Bank of America to encourage people to close out their BoA accounts and open accounts at more local banks or credit unions. Hundreds of fliers were distributed, signs held, and songs sung. As Tully reports from his blog – it was more than just a protest – it was an effective day of outreach. He confirmed both by talking to people and calling local credit unions at the end of the day:
One customer, a young man who appeared to be in his late twenties, excitedly responded to us, “I just did it! I just opened up an account at the credit union, and I closed my Bank of America account!”
Indeed, he wasn’t alone: a phone interview with the Cheshire County Federal Credit Union by your blogger confirmed that several people came in today to open new accounts, and self-identified as those leaving the Bank of America.
Also, Keene’s first overnight occupier, Craig Dallas Rice created and performed “The Occupy Song”, which resulted in a singing session out in front of the Bank of America:
What will happen next? Stay tuned here to find out, or better yet, drop into the Occupy Keene facebook page and discussion group.
Thanks to new census data and a recent amendment to the New Hampshire Constitution, voting districts are being redrawn all over New Hampshire. Keene, in particular, will experience major changes.
But, with only eight months left until state candidates begin filing to run for office, many details are still undecided.
In the last election, Keene residents voted for 7 state representatives, all running at large (that is, they represent the entire city). The new Constitutional amendment, passed in 2006, requires that, if a town or city ward has enough people to support its own state representative, it must have its own state representative. All 5 wards in Keene qualify. Thus, there will be at least 5 state representatives in Keene representing individual wards.
UPDATE from the Manch mass arrests: “Criminal Trespass” is the charge of the night, and as has happened in Keene, activists arrested in Manchester are being told to not return to Veterans’ or Victory parks via a no trespassing threat. The kidnapping victims are refusing to take the gang’s “plea deal” and are going to trial.
Videos of their release, as it happened, courtesy CopBlock.org:
Tonight at Occupy Manchester, fourteen “summonses” were handed out and five arrested. Here’s the final arrest of five, a peaceful young lady named Sabbrielle, courtesy CopBlock.org. It starts at 8 mins in:
