Editor’s Note: We received this statement from some friends and comrades in Detroit who are bringing a critical and crucial analysis to the Occupy Detroit organizing efforts. Their perspective is inspiring to us in New York City, and we hope it will be helpful to those who are making important interventions in this movement across the country.
To the first General Assembly of Occupy Detroit,
We are inspired by the actions of Occupy Wall Street and the opportunity it has given so many people to stand up and get involved in shaping the fate of this country.
We are inspired by the protocol of consensus decision-making and inclusivity being used on Wall Street, where anyone who shows up is asked: “what can you contribute to this movement?” In return, participants are supported to bring their best selves to the work of creating a new world. We propose that Detroit embrace that same protocol.
In the spirit of bringing our best selves to this process, we offer this background knowledge, which anyone attempting to organize in Detroit must first understand before taking any action that aims to speak for Detroit. We all have a lot to learn from each other. Nothing said here should be taken as a claim to “know more” or “better” than anyone else. As just mentioned it’s about all of us bringing our best selves to this historic uprising, and doing it creatively, nonviolently and together.
In Front and Center 