Occupy Las Vegas - Misplaced Pages

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Occupy Las Vegas
Part of the Occupy movement
File:Occupy Las Vegas logo Nov 10, 2011.jpg OccupyLasVegas
Date	6 October 2011 – present (13 years, 82 days)
Location	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States 36°06′18″N 115°09′01″W / 36.104882°N 115.150334°W / 36.104882; -115.150334
Caused by	Economic inequality, corporate influence over government, inter alia.
Goals	Campaign finance reform in the United States, removal of Corporate personhood, and true Equity economics.
Methods	Demonstration, occupation, protest, street protesters
Status	Ongoing
Casualties and losses
Arrests:

Occupy Las Vegas (abbreviated OLV) is an occupation and peaceful protest that began on October 6, 2011. It is affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement that began in New York City, and also with the "Occupy" movement in the United States and around the world. A series of meetings that were titled "The General Assembly" or "GA" were held to plan the beginning of the event on October 6, 2011, and were held to create a consensus on policies and planning for the occupation.

Background and history

Main article: Occupy movement

The original intent of Occupy Las Vegas, as with many of the other "Occupy" movements, was to denounce the role that large corporations had in promulgating the financial crisis. The protesters in Las Vegas, as in other movements throughout the world, have described themselves as the "99 percent." This statement comes from the fact that 1% of the population owns 44% of the wealth in the united states.

One of the features the Occupy Las Vegas Event had at the beginning was that the occupation began progressing with little interference from the police and the city government. The organizers and occupiers had been mainly cooperative with the police, and some of the protesters had expressed appreciation for the role that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has played during the occupation.

Events Related to the Schism in Occupy Las Vegas

A decision was made to Occupy what is now known as Area 99. That decision was not made democratically by the General Assembly of Occupy Las Vegas (hereafter the GA).

A decision was made to sign a lease to rent Area 99. That decision was not made democratically by the GA.

A decision was made to form a non-profit corporation. That corporation, called Opportunities Las Vegas, was, among other things, to become the conduit through which money flows to Occupy Las Vegas. That decision was not made democratically by the GA.

A Board of Directors for the Opportunities Las Vegas was put in place. The decisions to select a board and the decision to install the specific members of that board were not made democratically by the GA.

Decisions were made to exclude certain people and certain opinions from Area 99. Those decisions were made by signatories to the lease for Area 99 and by members of the Board of Directors of Opportunities Las Vegas in direct violation of policies and procedures put in place democratically by the GA.

As a result of these and other similar events, many members of Occupy Las Vegas arrived at the view that Occupy Las Vegas, as managed by Opportunities Las Vegas, has prioritized efficiency and expediency above transparency and collectivity. For this reason, these former members of Occupy Las Vegas have formed an independent Occupy affinity group. This group is committed, in an uncompromising way, to the freedom of thought and expression and to the means and mechanisms of democracy. This group may be contacted through its webpage: http:occupylv.org

Chronology of events

Week 1 (October 6–12)

On October 6, 2011, Occupy Las Vegas sponsored and led a march on the Las Vegas Strip. It was estimated that 1000 people participated in this march.

Week 2 (October 13–19)

On October 15, 2011, a march was held in the Fremont Street Experience. Over 1000 people participated in the march.

Week 3 (October 20–26)

On October 21, 2011, the group began occupying a 2.5 acre site near UNLV, formerly used as an overflow parking lot by the nearby airport. The site has been informally dubbed "Area 99," a reference both to the "We are the 99%" slogan of the overall movement, and the infamous Area 51 located in Nevada. It also has an alternate name of "Camp Peace."

Week 4 (October 27–November 3)

On October 30, 2011, a zombie march was held on the Las Vegas Strip.

Week 5 (November 4-November 10)

See section above on Schism

Week 6 (November 11-November 17)

Members of both factions of OLV came together to assist a small business on the verge of being foreclosed upon, on November 13-14, 2011. In conjunction with a call by Occupy Wall Street for a protest on November 17, members of the Occupy Las Vegas factions organized a protest at the Lloyd George Federal Building. Protesters occupied the northbound lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard, resulting in 21 arrests. The arrests are a first among Occupy Las Vegas demonstrations.