This music video was created as part of the Doo-Occupy to Bail Out America project, a collaboration instigated by the Backbone Campaign (http://BackboneCampaign.org), Ariel and Crystal Zevon to spread best practices in artful activism and community organizing for eviction protection, student debt relief and other economic democracy causes.
B
ackbone
Campaign is part of a fantastic collaboration called OccupyGraduation.net in
collaboration with OccupyStudentDebt.com, Ben Cohen (of ice cream fame),
Occupy Colleges and many more. Graduates across the country will wear
cartoonish balls-n-chains as they accept their diplomas and graduate
from student to debtor. This creative protest is a fun way to demonstrate how our society's failure to prioritize education instead of war, Sallie Mae and Wall Street profiteers over the aspirations of our people, tax cuts for the rich instead of robust free higher education is burdening our society. Our failure to provide for the basic human right of education is an embarrassment - and an economic drain.
Visit OccupyGraduation.net and if you are walking across the stage or wearing a mortar board hat this graduation season, then join the fun!
ALSO - Check out our Student Debt Jubilee - Why Higher Education Ought to be Free
Podcast and Organizer Resource page.
VIDEO CREDITS:
Ben Cohen - Producer
Ariel Zevon - Lead Vocal, Writer, and Co-Producer
Crystal Zevon - Co-Producer
Adam Woogmaster - Vocals and music coordination
Bennett Shapiro, Mad Tech Sound - Sound Engineer
Bill Kinzie - Director and Editor
Brandon - Camera Man and Editor
Ball & Chain Doo-OccupyLearn more about how to get involved in the Occupy Graduation project Backbone Campaign & Doo-Occupy are helping organize HERE. |
Ode to Occupy |
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Resources, podcasts, action pictures and training: Bail Out America - Occupy Our Homes Podcast /Resource Page Student Debt Jubilee - Why Education Ought to be FREE Podcast/Resource page
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Recent Events:
The Doo-Occupy to Bail Out America trainings and actions will take place in Washington, DC
Friday night March 30 - Tuesday, April 3. (See full schedule below!)
Join us - Be part of it - it is going to be EPIC!
REGISTER to attend all or part HERE
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The American Spring is nearly upon us. The Doo-Occupy to Bail Out America project, is a collaboration instigated by the Backbone Campaign to bring best practices in community organizing for eviction protection, student debt relief and other economic democracy causes - and combine them with the strategic thinking and hottest tactical tools used by Backbone Campaign and others.
Our hope is to provide focus and capacity to the emerging populist uprising. We wish to help amplify its power through inspiring movement building campaigns that are rooted in communities and deliver victories that make a material difference in people's lives.
Through this we will grow our movement from the power we have to the power we need to transform society and establish a new social contract based not on citizenship or property, but on universal human rights.
Doo-Occupy! Bail Out America is an intensive "Learning by Doing" action training that will deliver tools to take home, including stories and lesson from a couple of the hottest actions you'll ever experience. Thanks to all our allies for joining the fun.
Please fill out the registration form below and contact us if you have any questions. .
In collaboration,
Team Backbone!
PS - Please Donate Now! We need your help to pay our bills on this recent video, so that we can crank out more. Note Doo-Occupy with the donation to let us know you support this effort. The DC training and actions are not going to be cheap, but they are going to ROCK!
REGISTER to attend all or part HERE
Trainings by Backbone Campaign and Allies
- Grand strategy & creative tactics for building movement power
- Flash mob design and performance
- Giant banner building
- Projection as protest
- Nonviolent direct action training
- Imagery design and construction
- Eviction protection organizing strategies
- Campus organizing for student debt relief
- Swing Dancing!
Actions will target:
Housing-crisis related target for principal reduction with Doo Occupy our Homes theme and Student Debt related target for Student Debt jubilee
Resources to prep you for the trainings and actions:
Bail Out America Podcast /Resource Page
Student Debt Jubilee Podcast/Resource page
FREE Lodging for registered Doo-Occupiers
Doo-Occupy to Bail Out America Workshop & Action Preparation Schedule for March 30-April 3:
Summary:
- Friday Night, March 30, 9:30pm Late Night Strategy Teach-in at St. Stephen's Church in Collaboration with
Occupy the DOE. (Occupy DOE schedule here)
- WORKSHOPS - Saturday, March 31, 10am-6pm/7-10pm
- WORKSHOPS - Sunday, April 1, 10am-6pm
- ACTION - Monday, April 2, 11am-1pm
- ACTION - Tuesday, April 3, 11am-1pm
- FREE Hospitality: March 30 - April 3 (Doo-Occupiers who register for the trainings and/or actions have the option of staying overnight for FREE with us in an indoor camping environment at St. Stephen's Church.)
Full Schedule:
Doo-Occupy to Bail Out America Workshop Schedule DAY 1
Saturday, March 31, 10am-6pm (for 7-10pm see below)
Location: Plymouth Congregational Church
Map & Nearest Metro Station: Fort Totten - Red, Green & Yellow lines
Minimum Suggested Donation $10 (No one turned away for lack of funds)
Pre-Registration Requested at http://Doo-Occupy.org
10:00am Welcome & Orientation
10:45: Grand Strategy & Creative Tactics with Bill Moyer, Backbone Campaign
12:00: Intro to Giant Banner Building with Jared Middle Calf, Backbone Campaign
1:00: Break for lunch - Bring lunch or get food nearby.
2:00-2:45: Art for Action Introduction with Festival Artist Ken Srdjak & Bill Moyer
Breakout 1: Art for Action Build with Ken Srdjak & Jared Middle Calf
Breakout 2: NVDA Mobile Street Tactics Training with Robby Diesu (UfPJ, Occupy DC,
4:30-5 Clean up and pack up
5:00: Dinner (on your own) & Transition to St. Stephen's Church for:
6:00: Flash Mobs Design & Rehearsal - by Team Backbone then...
Doo-Occupy Sock Hop Benefit with Swing Dance Lessons & Doo-Wop Karaoke
Saturday Evening, March 31, 7-10pm
Proceeds Benefit Washington DC Peace House & Backbone Campaign
Location: St. Stephen's Church 7-10pm
Map & Nearest Metro Station: Columbia Heights - on Green & Yellow lines
Minimum Suggested Donation $10 (No additional fee for registered workshop participants)
7:00-8:30pm Welcome, Action Video Showcase, Swing Dance Lesson/Flash Mob Rehearsal
8:30-10:00 Guest Speakers, Karaoke Party, Inspiration and Lots of FUN!
Doo-Occupy to Bail Out America Workshop Schedule DAY 2
Sunday, April 1, 10am-6pm (for 7-10pm see below)
Location: George Washington University, Gelman Library
Map & Nearest Metro Station: Foggy Bottom, on Blue & Orange lines
Minimum Suggested Donation $10 (No one turned away for lack of funds)
Pre-Registration Requested at http://Doo-Occupy.org
10:00 Welcome & Orientation
10:30: Eviction Protection Organizer Training by City Life/Vida Urbana & Right to the City
1:00: Break for lunch - Bring lunch or get food nearby.
2:00: Eviction Protection Organizer Training by City Life/Vida Urbana & Right to the City continued
3:00: Student Debt Jubilee Panel: with Robert Applebaum of Forgivestudentloandebt.com, and RaeAnn Roca of Loan Reform Now , facilitated by Diane Wittner, producer of Backbone Campaign's Student Debt Jubilee & Why Higher Education Ought to be Free Podcast & Resource page.
4:30: Balloon Banner Lift & Projections Demonstration by Team Backbone
5:00: Action Planning and Roles Overview (Monday 4/2 & Tuesday 4/3 actions) with Robby Diesu, Ken Srdjak and by Team Backbone
6:00: Dinner & Evening break.
9:00pm - Access to St. Stephen's Church for sleeping and further action preparation and informal rehearsal.
Doo-Occupy to Bail Out America ACTION DAY 1
For Eviction Protection & Principal Reduction
Monday, April 2,
10am Meet-up Location: Seaton Section Park, Washington, DC
(Corner of Maryland Ave. & Independence Avenue)
Nearest Metro stop: L’Enfant Plaza Metro
11am-1 pm Action
Doo-Occupy to Bail Out America ACTION DAY 2
For Student Debt Jubilee
Tuesday, April 3
10am Meet-up Location: Freedom Plaza (Pennsylvania Ave. and 14th St. NW)
11am-1 pm Action
REGISTER to attend all or part HERE
The Doo-Occupy to Bail Out America trainings and actions will take place in Washington, DC
Friday night March 30 - Tuesday, April 3. (See full schedule below!)
Join us - Be part of it - it is going to be EPIC!
REGISTER to attend all or part HERE