Occupy the Dream: Schools Not Jails!
A Five-Day Occupation of the proposed site of the juvenile detention center in East Baltimore: January 16 – 21, 2012
::::: GOALS :::::
Through this action, we hope to:
* Delay and ultimately stop the construction of the youth jail by
putting public pressure on the local and state government.
* Ask Baltimore city residents to take a side where our funds are
concerned: schools or jails?
* Increase the awareness of the socio-economic impact of the youth
jail on the black working class in Baltimore through media attention
and teach-ins at the site.
* Publicly question the social, political, and economic priorities
implicit in the construction of the youth jail and pose the
question: Is this really what Baltimore residents want?
* Influence and prioritize PUBLIC spending in Baltimore.
* Build and strengthen new and old ally relationships that can be
mobilized in more sustained ways in the future.
* Help shift the focus of Occupy Baltimore to local economic issues
and the good and welfare of our city.
::::: STRATEGIES :::::
To begin the hard road toward accomplishing these goals, we see this action as a first step in a much longer and larger process. For this particular action, we believe that the following strategic benefits make this a worthwhile project:
* Use our physical presence at the site to increase the public focus
on the issues at hand.
* Use the “Occupy” name and profile to amplify the message of others
that are engaged long term in the youth jail struggle.
* Create public space for the discussion of issues through daily
teach-ins, workshops, and political education sessions.
* Tell the story through strong visuals.
* Use possible arrests and trial to keep up public focus on the issue.
* Connect the Youth Jail issue to the Rec Centers, Schools, Mayor’s
Community Hearings on Budget Cuts, etc.
