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Above is the livestream for Occupy Pittsburgh’s upcoming “Occupy the Courts” action at 4 pm EST. I will be there livestreaming and will go until my battery dies. [See bottom of post for description of planned action.]

Occupy SCOTUS has been unfolding right now at 3:40 pm EST. OccupyFreedomLa is streaming from Supreme Court steps and on Global Revolution (see above). Also, follow @pixplz who is streaming #J20 action with “Occupy Wall Street West” all day in Oakland.

3:22 PM Occupy Boise press on with fight against Idaho bill that would make their encampment illegal

3:08 PM This is worth tuning into right now. From Bella Eiko, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) are doing an “Operation: First Casualty” action. The veterans are doing a “flash mob” action to show what it is like for people to be picked up for being “insurgents.” They are showing what can happen in a society where NDAA is law. Lots of screaming, very intense.

And, Oakland police are escorting.

3:00 PM Not sure of the number of arrests but anyone tuning in to the action at the Supreme Court recently would have seen, in the last ten minutes, police bringing one occupier to the ground on the steps. He hit his head on the steps and then @OccupyFreedomLA tried to get close to get a shot. Police gathered around obstructing the view. People started shouting. Then, “undercover” cops started to cross the police line. Occupiers were shouting about them. Police kept moving down the steps to push occupiers off the steps.

2:45 PM Arrests are happening. Follow @SabzBrach for photos and updates on who has been arrested. Officers are on the steps right now surrounding a few who locked arms and sat down on the steps. A half hour ago the police formed a line and were not letting protesters through. Somehow occupiers made a dash up the steps and it seems like chaos ensued. Cops started to make many arrests and the steps were cleared. A few stood their ground and remained on the steps.

2:07 PM Complete guide to today’s Occupy Wall Street West #J20 action.

2:05 PM Not only did occupiers in San Francisco lock their arms at a BofA branch but also they did it in front of a Wells Fargo branch. The word is they are just being arrested now but have been in front of the doors for at least a half hour. @manjulamartin snaps this photo.


[via @manjulamartin]

1:57 PM @ona_boat posts this photo of the Occupy Oakland bus at the OWS West action

1:52 PM To promote discussion on the Occupy movement, here’s a socialist critique of Occupy that examines the strategy and tactics of the movement:

…In a sense, Occupy has diagnosed the ailments of the American political system, but hasn’t yet prescribed any cures. Having raised the level of political awareness, the movement must now fashion class consciousness into political action…

And:

…THE OCCUPY Movement should be least concerned with what the 1 percent thinks of us, and only concerned with what the 99 percent thinks about us. And to this end, we do need demands, not to explain ourselves to the 1 percent, but rather to anchor Occupy in the daily lives of the people whom we aspire to involve in our movement…

1:45 PM @Sara_Jeans snaps this photo that shows occupiers made it to the second step leading up to the Supreme Court building but cops won’t let them go up any closer. The police have formed a line. Some people are closer to the building but they aren’t participating in the demonstration. So what they are doing is allowed, cops claim.

1:07 PM At the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, occupiers are holding their protest:


[via @vsinjustice

Barricades on the Supreme Court steps have been knocked down


[via @vsinjustice]

12:55 PM Journalist Susie Cagle is covering #J20 action in San Francisco. They locked arms in a Bank of America branch.


[via @Susie_C]

Occupy SF blockaded the entrance as police tried to move in. They also had a “black blob” that Cagle reports got some chuckles from police.


[via @Susie_C]

Action is still unfolding with a street nearby, Montgomery St, being blocked and unblocked and blocked and unblocked it seems by protesters. Police in riot gear are standing by but there are no big reports of any crackdown on the protest yet.

12:50 PM Occupy the Courts action in Portland (stream)

10:45 AM Occupy City Hall: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel passed ordinances on Wednesday that significantly inhibit and undermine First Amendment rights. Here’s video of protests that occurred on the day the city council voted to pass the ordinances.

10:40 AM Occupy SF to hold “squid fry” at banks

10:30 AM My coverage of Occupy Flint makes the Flint Journal. Writer Kristin Longley concludes from my report that Occupy Flint has “staying power.” That’s true, but don’t take my word for it. Longley should go visit the encampment herself if she happens to be a real live journalist who lives in Flint, Michigan and she should decide if the occupiers have the “staying power” she thinks I witnessed during my visit.

Photo from Move to Amend

Original Post

An organization known as Move to Amend, inspired by Occupy Wall Street and Dr. Cornel West, has called for actions at federal courthouses all over the United States to mark the second anniversary of the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court, which essentially struck down limits to money in elections.

Move to Amend’s page with the call to action for today indicates there has been much preparation for the day’s events. The page has “action materials,” print-offs for “spreading the word,” and even an application one can use to obtain a permit for an action on the steps of courthouses in the country.

Though planned well in advance and though there have been multiple conference calls in the run-up to the day of action, numerous Occupy groups in the country have decided to plan actions today. For example, Occupy Pittsburgh, which I will be covering today, has planned a 4 pm rally at Market Square. They will be marching to corporate headquarters like EQT Energy and then will rally at the Federal Courthouse. The focus of the demonstration will be “environmental crimes committed by corporations who engage in extensive fracking” and “cause water and air pollution in several states.

It seems most Occupy groups will be able to hold actions but Occupy Wall Street has been making headlines because the General Services Administration (GSA) denied their permit to assemble at a Manhattan federal courthouse and a judge has upheld GSA’s permit denial. Thus, the demonstration for “Occupy the Courts” will be happening in Zuccotti Park.

To see if an “Occupy the Courts” action is happening where you live or, perhaps, “occupy,” view this list and map.

This is the video “call to action” the organization posted.

Firedoglake’s premier live blog continues. I am in Pittsburgh on my Great Lakes Occupy tour. Updates will appear at the top. Email news tips, updates and any questions you might have to kevin.gosztola@firedoglake.com. I will likely be livestreaming the Occupy the Courts action in Pittsburgh. The player for viewing the action will appear in this post later in the afternoon.