by #OccupyBelfast Thu Oct 27, 2011 13:25

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#OccupyBelfast: beginning the discussion

#OccupyBelfast: What bout ye?

#OccupyBelfast: It rains cats and dogs up north too

#OccupyBelfast: Time of change...

#OccupyBelfast: Anti-capitalist protestors in Belfast

by #OccupyBelfast Fri Oct 28, 2011 10:04

*** 2 articles from Slugger O'Toole, includes a 6 min audio interview:

Talking to Occupy Belfast camp in Writer’s Square (Mon 24 October)
http://sluggerotoole.com/2011/10/24/occupy-belfast-camp...uare/

"Alan In Belfast" spoke to Gerry Carroll at lunchtime today, sheltering under a pagoda set up beside the impromptu Occupy Belfast camp in Writer’s Square opposite St Anne’s Cathedral.

About ten tents are pitched in the square. The protesters have a nightly meeting at 6pm to decide on the next course of action, and have no plans to pack up their camp. 

*** Earlier article: Occupy Belfast – rebels without a cause? (Wed 5 October)
http://sluggerotoole.com/2011/10/05/occupy-belfast-rebe...ause/

*** Billy Bragg joins Occupy Belfast protesters at Cathedral ahead of gig

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/n....html

Folk punk and left-wing political activist Billy Bragg has paid a visit to a protest group in Belfast city centre.

The silver-haired singer-songwriter joined the Occupy Belfast protesters at Writer's Square, opposite St Anne's Cathedral, ahead of his Belfast gig.

**** Other reports:

- http://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/occupy-belfast.28...3081/

- Occupy Belfast protester outside Invest Northern Ireland

http://www.demotix.com/news/888939/occupy-belfast-prote...eland

**** Tonight in Belfast: Centenary of James Connolly’s Belfast Arrival to be marked in City Hall
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100726

Jack O’Connor, Jackie McDonald, Carál Ní Chuilín, and John Gray will speak at a unique event hosted in Belfast City Hall on Friday 28th October to mark the 100th anniversary of the arrival of James Connolly in Belfast to organise dockers and mill workers. The evening will begin at 6.30pm with Belfast Mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile unveiling a portrait of Connolly painted by Belfast Artist Frank Quigley. The guest panel will follow with their discussion at 7pm.

The historic trade unionist came to Belfast in 1911 following James Larkin’s departure to Dublin. This special event will hear from cross community leaders who are members of the trade union SIPTU articulate the view that now more than ever working people need to be united.

Connolly was passionate about uniting working people, and breaking down sectarian barriers, his time in Belfast was characterised by his drive to unite communities.

*** Related to that, again from Slugger O'Toole: Republicans and loyalists unite to mark centenary of James Connolly arriving in Belfast
http://sluggerotoole.com/2011/10/23/republicans-and-loy...fast/

#OccupyBelfast: Carnival of Resistence

Centenary of James Connolly’s Belfast Arrival to be marked in City Hall tonight

#OccupyBelfast: turf burns in bin to keep people warm

#OccupyBelfast: Anonymous on the streets

#OccupyBelfast: End the greed. Invest in the 99%

by Billy Bragg fan Fri Oct 28, 2011 14:34

Billy Bragg:

Despite getting off to a rather fractious start - an onstage row with the organisers over the displaying of a poster for a coming Occupy Belfast event - last nights gig at the Empire was a lot of fun. Sponsored by Amnesty International and billed as a gig about freedom songs, I performed a few tunes that I haven't played for ages, including 'My Youngest Son Came Home Today', which, given the context was very well received. Always get great audience response in Belfast.

Words from his facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Billy-Bragg/44905697470 with link to:

POTD – Billy Bragg and Occupy Belfast (http://sluggerotoole.com/profile/moochin/Fri 28 October 2011)
http://sluggerotoole.com/2011/10/28/potd-billy-bragg-an...fast/

Walking past the camp yesterday i heard what sounded like a familiar voice. When i looked to check it was indeed Billy Bragg who was in town to play a gig at the Empire last night. He had called down to offer support to the camping protestors. Safe to say that any donations of food and provisions would be very welcome.

Related Irish Times article, Billys time in Ireland: 'I'm still Billy Bragg from Barking'
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/theticket/2011/1021....html

Ireland Tour 2011 Billy Bragg http://www.billybragg.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=5752

Billy Bragg gig in Belfast: an onstage row with the organisers over the displaying of a poster for a coming Occupy Belfast event

Billy Bragg: Always get great audience response in Belfast.

Billy Bragg with #OccupyBelfast, complete with hurl

Caption: Video Id: yLQgkF_FsO4 Type: Youtube Video
Between The Wars - Billy Bragg

by #OccupyBelfast fan Sat Oct 29, 2011 09:59

Occupy everywhere roundup featuring #OccupyBelfast

http://www.deathculture.co.uk/freedom/story/occupy-ever...lfast

A special report from Belfast by our man on the ground - Rosko 'Danger' Frapson, who takes the lad for a guided tour of #OccupyBelfast.

"The campers have received plenty of support already as residents from the local apartment complexes have bought supplies, local restaurants delivering food and a bar that allows free use of the bathroom.

The 'group' is now holding general assemblies between 6PM and 7PM daily, to discuss plans of action and how to promote the cause. The only assembly that I have atended so far was on Monday October 24th; it was pissing down with rain so we were all huddled under gazebos around a smokey dustbin fire (very harsh on the old eyes and lungs). There are plans to organise having people hand out flyers and stand at busy areas of the city holding small 'protests' and that sort of thing. We're attempting to get more support and attention basically.

A lot of people have been complaining about the movement being 'hijacked' by a political group: http://www.swp.org.uk/. I've not seen too much of those guys except for at the actual protests. I personally don't think they have 'hijacked' anything, but they were dominant at the October 15th protest which was a massive flop anyway so that wasn't surprising. The actual occupy movement itself appears to be pretty much grass-roots. The camp site is free from any kind of SWP presence. I think that lazy people are just using the SWP as an excuse for why they can't join in.

Something quite odd that I have noticed is that there are quite a few foreigners involved in Occupy Belfast. While the great majority of people are from Northern Ireland and Belfast, I've met people from Dublin, Canada, the USA and Spain. I'm not complaining about that, just thought it was a bit odd... Solidarity travels, eh?

The protest on Friday 21st had 50 or so people in attendance, which was awesome compared to the previous effort.  10 - 15 people opted to camp out on the first night. I called down again on Saturday night and only saw maybe 7 or 8 people (although others could have been in their tents) and earlier in the week there were about 15 - 20 people. There are 12 tents in total but always a lot of activity and people at the assembly today claimed there could be somewhere between 40 and 60 people involved with the movement, from campers to regular visitors and supporters.  It's definitely growing over here."

First vid in from #occupybelfast http://vimeo.com/31266409
via WIMPS.tv http://wimps.tv/stories/video-occupy-belfast/

On Friday 28th of October, we took our cameras to speak to those camped out at Writer's Square in Belfast.

The people who have been camping out day and night are part of the Occupy movement that is taking place in many cities across the world.

We wanted to find out specifically why they're camped there and what it is they hope to achieve.

Occupy Belfast tent city is growing; from 4 to 8 to 13 including a fancy big one

Occupy Belfast keepin it lit

Inside of that fancy big one, sofa, table, monopoly, bikkies, leaflets...

Writers corner remembers the struggles of earlier Belfast people who went and fought for freedom in Spain

Occupy Belfast, growing from strength to strength

Caption: Video Id: 31266409 Type: Vimeo
Occupy Belfast - first vid

by #OccupyBelfast fan Tue Nov 01, 2011 22:43

Caption: Video Id: 31370253 Type: Vimeo
Occupy Belfast vid 2