>> facilitator: Mic check, mic check 
[the crowd repeats all words]
Thank you Angela.
We now have time for questions,
Fraley will take stack.
Please make sure she gets your eye contact,
come and tap her from behind.
>> facilitator: Also, we want to invite
All of you in the back
To sit down and stay awhile
>> stack taker: Who would like to be on stack
for questions for Angela?
>> Hi, Ms Davis, Professor Davis
Thank you for all your work. 
My friend Angela and I 
just came from Zuccotti Park 
and we're struggling and working to
plan a day of action
that amplifies all of what you just said 
and fuses together the oppressions
that affect women,
that affect trans people, 
that affect people of every color, 
and every nation of origin,
and every difference that exists in this world.
But disproportionately 
it affects them more 
than the people who are seen on tv screens and in the newspapers 
about this movement.  
How do you suggest
that we effectively fuse these concerns 
without further marginalizing some, 
or muting their voices, 
but bring attention to this connected
but very different set of issues
and make real cultural change?
Thank you.
[some laughter]
>> That is a complicated question. 
That is the question
you are working out through your practice. 
That is what I meant when I said 
that we have to learn how
to be together in a complex unity. 
In a unity that does not erase our differences. 
In a unity that allows those voices,
that have been historically marginalized,
to speak out on behalf of the entire community. 
I am sure that as the days, and months go by, 
you will all learn more 
about this process than we know now. 
It is important that this movement 
expresses the will of the majority from the outset. 
But that majority must be respected 
in terms of all of the differences within.
>> Next on stack is Linda.
>> Hi, I'm Linda. 
I like to thank you for being here. 
But is there anything that you think 
we can do at Occupy Wall Street
to support the work that you do 
to end the industrialized prison complex? 
[audio unintelligible] any ideas you..
>> There is a lot that you can do
to end the prison industrial complex. 
Education will help to end the prison industrial complex. 
Housing, jobs, health care,
especially mental health care; 
all of these things will help to make the prison
 obsolete.
>> Next on stack is Ethan.
>> I'm right here. 
Hi, my question is
also about the prison industrial complex. 
As an activist you courageous 
served time - for a long time - 
in your struggle. 
How should we
approach using the prison system 
as a tactic when participating in direct action.
Recognizing that for many in the movement 
the ability to be arrested
is a great privilege
and can cause weird dynamics 
because for so many, 
they're enslaved by that system. 
So how do you propose, 
or how do you suggest
that activists carefully deal with that dynamic 
when using civil disobedience as a tactic?
>> Another complex question. 
First of all, 
I think it is important 
to take prison abolition seriously.
We can begin to add prison abolition
to all of our radical political agendas. 
As far as civil obedience, 
civil disobedience – not civil obedience –
is concerned, 
it must be taken seriously as well. 
It should not happen
simply because it seems to matter. 
It should happen in order to further a particular goal. 
And I understand
 that there is a new app, 
I got arrested, Am I right? 
>> [somebody in the crowd yells] You are right!
>> It is important to have context 
in the larger community;
lawyers, community activists, 
other people who will respond 
when civil disobedience happens. 
It should be organized,
and it should happen for a reason.
In the meantime, 
we call for prison abolition,
say "Free Mumia", 
we say "Abolish the death penalty",
 Honor Troy Davis. 
>> The next two people on stack 
are either our facilitators, 
or Shawn who's been very active. 
I like to open up stack first to new voices
Is there anybody out there would like to get on stack? 
You're on.
>> Mic check.
hi, I'm Janelle
and my question is to Ms Davis, 
How do you propose to shake the apathy 
of young people of color around the nation
so that they get involved, 
and how to shake the apathy
of the celebrities of this nation, 
especially those who come from 
poorer, and underserved communities 
that still need their help. 
People like Kanye West, and Jay-Z 
who prefer to rap about riches and wealth 
those who serve them are still in poverty. 
And how do we make this movement
inclusive so everyone 
feels that they can provide
for everyone, and that everyone's included, 
and that everyone's going to be served 
when we fix this system?
 >> Your question is both about inclusiveness, 
and about asserting pressure
on those who don't necessary want to be included. 
[some laughter]
The more we build the movement, 
the more those who are staying away
will feel compelled to join us. 
The real question I believe
is to insist on inclusiveness, 
not only formally, 
but by demonstrating 
that we can all 
be fluent in each other's stories.
To use a quote from Jacqui Alexander, 
We have to become fluent in each other's stories
>> Next on stack, right here.
>> Hi my name is Ester, 
my question is similar. 
I was wondering if you had any words 
for people of color
who may not be here 
because they feel somehow disempowered 
because they normally have not had the privilege, 
or feel comfortable taking up space, 
and also how do leaderless movements 
affect traditionally marginalized people?
>> That is the question. 
I am not sure I have the answer, 
but I can say that it is important 
important to insist on the involvement 
of people of color, of women, 
of people with marginalized sexualities, 
of immigrants, 
and especially undocumented immigrants. 
Everyone has to be willing
to listen to their voices. 
Those who have traditionally 
exercised privilege 
have to become conscious 
of the way that privilege 
can continue to be marginalizing. 
So this is work we must all do.
 Thank you.
>> Next on stack, right here.
>> So in a couple of months 
I think the population's attention
will start to turn to the electoral process. 
And the Democrats like to front
like they are against the big banks and Wall Street. 
I would like to hear your thoughts
on how you can get involved politically,
whether through third parties, 
or any other way you think you can intervene.
>> This is one way. 
The two-party system
has never worked 
it does not work now, 
and we clearly need alternatives.
Personally, I believe
we need a powerful,
radical, third party. 
In the meantime 
this movement 
- which is not a party - 
can accomplish much 
that political parties are unable to accomplish. 
And so it would seem to me 
that the best way to exert pressure 
on the corrupt two-party system 
is to continue to build this movement. 
And to demonstrate 
that it reaches not only across the country, 
but across the ocean. 
And connects with people 
who are struggling in the Middle East, 
and connects with people 
who are struggling in Africa, 
and in Europe, and in Australia, 
and in Latin America. 
That I think is the best way
to put pressure on the political system right now.
>> Next on stack, Michael Adams
>> Ms Davis,
 I have always been against capitalism. 
>> [somebody in crowd yells] I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AGAINST CAPITALISM!
[some laughter]
>> I think capitalism is selfish and greedy. 
I think we should print new money,
and use the barter system like our ancestors did
millions of years ago. 
And I want to know what your opinion on that, and again
I also ... I was a corporate slave, 
I worked for a big corporation, 
and I don't anymore. 
I want to hear your answer [audio unintelligible] capitalism [audio unintelligible].
>> I agree with you that capitalism sucks, 
and for the majority of my life 
- the overwhelming majority -  
since I was a student in high school 
right here in Greenwich Village, 
I have said, along with thousands, and millions of others
Down with capitalism. 
But we need a more complex alternative. 
>> What about barterism?
>> I think we need ...
I agree that eventually 
we should be able to exist without money, 
and we should imagine a time
when money becomes obsolete, 
in the meantime, 
there is a whole range of issues 
that can define our radical struggle.
But I agree, down with capitalism.
>> Next on stack.
>> Hi everyone, my name is Keshi
Hi Professor Davis, 
thank you for speaking with us today, 
and providing me the opportunity
to ask you a question. 
What is your opinion
 of the language of Occupy Wall Street, 
what implications does the word "occupy"
have on this greater global movement 
considering the history of colonial rule. 
What role does language have 
in making this movement sustainable,
political, and inclusive?
Thank you.
>> A great question. 
We challenge language, 
we transform language,
we remain aware 
of all of the resonances 
of the language we use. 
We know that that movement in Puerto Rico 
is raising the slogan, "Unoccupy".
We must be aware 
when we say "Occupy Wall Street"
that this country was founded on
the genocidal occupation
of indigenous land. 
We must be aware 
when we say "Occupy Wall Street", 
or "Occupy Washington Square" 
that occupations
in other countries are violent and brutal.
Palestine remains occupied territory
and we have to learn how to say, "No"
to military occupation. 
At the same time, 
we transform the meaning of occupation. 
We turn occupation
into something that is beautiful, 
something that brings community together, 
something that calls for love 
and happiness, and hope.
>> What about the right of women to vote in other countries. 
How do we feel about that? 
>> All women should have the right to vote.
That should be understood. 
Although you are right
that in many countries,
including here in the US, 
women do not have access to vote. 
>> What about the Middle East, 
all the Muslim countries of the Middle East?
>> As I said, 
it should be understood, 
that women should have the right to vote everywhere. 
And we should all support that right
everywhere.
But there are many other issues as well. 
Oftentimes the assumption is 
that democracy means 
the right to vote. 
But it should mean much more.  
And I think this movement 
is developing new, 
more creative 
strategies for democracy.
>> Next on stack, women in the white scarf.
>> Hi, it's an honor as well. 
I don't want to beat a dead horse, 
but I want to be real. 
How do we
navigate, or reconcile
what we call "complex unity" 
but the reality
 that equality, or progress, or (etc.) 
necessitates a redistribution of
fill-in-the-blank, 
voluntary or otherwise
from those that have more
to "fill-in-the-blank".
>> Thank you for the question. 
That it seems to me 
is what this movement is all about. 
How to transform
formal equality into substantive equality, 
into real equality 
and so we stand behind 
calls for housing,
free education, 
the de-commoditization of education 
and health care, 
but we also call 
for the use of the imagination, 
demands for jobs, 
demands for justice. 
Equality,
freedom; 
that it seems to me
is what this movement is about;
freedom, and the redefinition of freedom.
>> Next on stack, right here.
>> Hello,
revolutions and uprisings 
have come and pass
to arrive full circle with another revolution. 
It seems to me
that we're on the cusp 
of something really great. 
So my question
is what we can do
to make this not just "another revolution", 
but something that will sustain us, and humankind.
>> Good question. 
But I think it would be great, 
this could be "another revolution", 
[crowd cheers]
but I understand your question. 
Drawing from the past, 
inhabiting the present, 
imagining the future 
will allow this movement
to move us forward. 
We never know
what the future is going to bring. 
We can never fully know 
the possible consequences of our activism. 
The scholar activist Stuart Hall 
has said that "there are no guarantees". 
There are no guarantees 
but we have to act as if
act as if it were possible
to build a future
which reflects our dreams, 
our aspirations, our imaginations.
>> Next on stack, right here.
>> Given the attention to the electoral process, 
I understood that we should vote for a third party. 
But would there be more power
in choosing to not vote at all?
>> I'm glad you asked me to clarify. 
Because when I said 
that we need a third party,
a radical party,
I was projecting for the future. 
And while I think independent
political parties 
play an important role today, 
I also have to say
that we cannot allow a republican 
to take office. 
Don't we remember
what it was like 
when Bush was president? 
That was only a few years ago. 
And as much as we can say 
that Obama has disappointed us,
it is a qualitatively different situation. 
And so I think
the best way to put pressure 
on the Obama administration
is to continue to build this movement. 
This movement reflects the forces 
that made it possible 
for Obama to be elected in the first place
Let us not forget that, 
and let us continue to build this movement 
so that it embraces
trade unions, 
so that embraces
people who are in churches, 
and poor students,
and movements, 
and everyone. 
If we say the 99 percent, 
we have to commit ourselves 
to organizing the 99 percent.
>> Thank you Ms Davis.
for all you have done for us and
continue to do for us. 
I think you are a shining example 
of serious study and reflection 
that we should all take up. 
I have recently started reading 
the Communist Manifesto 
as part of my own study.  
I know that at one time 
you identified as 
a member of the communist party,
and I'm sure you are familiar with
this particular set of ideas.
[crowd laughs]
I am intrigued
with the idea of the "dangerous class". 
The social scum, that passively rotting mass, 
that may occasionally be swept into 
the movement by a proletarian revolution
its conditions of life, 
however, prepare it far more
for the part of a bribed tool
of reactionary intrigue. 
Can you give us three potential ideas 
for how the Occupy Wall Street movement
can investigate our own potential 
to be part of the "dangerous class"?
>> Three..
[crowd laughs]
Number one, the slogan
I am Troy Davis.
Troy Davis 
as he faced death at the hands of the state 
offered us the possibility
of continuing the movement against capital punishment 
in his memory.
So that is one way. 
I have been active in
the prison abolition movement 
for many years. 
This year is 
the 40th anniversary 
of the Attica uprising
It is perhaps serendipitous 
that this movement 
takes shape 40 years after Attica. 
Become a part of the dangerous class 
by studying the way in which 
prisoners in Attica 
forty years ago Black prisoners, 
Latino prisoners,
White prisoners, 
Native American prisoners 
came together in community,
in democratic community,
to call for radical change; 
that is the second way. 
I can give you many many more ways, 
but you only asked for three. 
Identify with 
undocumented immigrants; that is another way.
Identify with 
trans people 
who are arrested
at a greater rate 
than any other group of people in this country.
That is my fourth way. 
I can give you many many more ways, 
but think I will stop here. 
I think you get my drift.
[crowd cheers]
>> Finally on stack, Christina.
>> Once again, thank you for coming down. 
This is a huge pleasure. 
and I brought my daughter so she can witness this. 
My question
is what do you suggest we have
as a welcome mat 
to our CONSERVATIVE brothers and sisters 
to let them know that we are all in this together.
[crowd laughs]
>> [somebody in the crowd] Some get it, some of them get it.
>> There is conservative, 
and there is CONSERVATIVE.
My strategy has always been 
to bring those who are most receptive 
into the movement.
And the larger we get, 
the more those who are conservative, 
who feel left out, 
and they will join us, 
it's as simple as that. 
Thank you.
[crowd cheers]
