Greetings to the Police Officers of Chicago, approved by GA 09/28/2011
For those who do not know, Occupy Chicago is a non-violent, democratic movement actively seeking to end the abuse of corporate democracy in America, responsible for creating our current conditions of economic disparity and political inequality. Since September 23, we have staged a constant demonstration in front of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank on Jackson and LaSalle to inspire the changes we seek and return power, prosperity and freedom from the hands of the few to the hands of all. We represent the interests of the 99% of the population who work every day to achieve financial security and stability in order to provide for ourselves and our families. We write to you because we firmly believe members of the police service to be a large and important part of the working class and unrepresented 99%. Our goal in writing this letter is to indicate our respect and support for the Chicago Police Department and all its members, with the hopes of creating an open flow of communication between Occupy Chicago and CPD so that we can work together to maintain an environment of safety and cooperation as we continue our demonstration in front of the Federal Reserve, and Chicago as a whole, indefinitely until our goals have been achieved.
Occupy Chicago is firmly a movement of non-violence and we do not in any way seek to incite conflict or hostility with members of the CPD or anyone else through antagonism or aggression. We continually reaffirm this message to all our participants, both new and old in order to maintain peace. Undoubtedly, there will be those who are committed to inciting violence and conflict, especially with police officers; as a movement, we cannot stress enough that these individuals do not represent our movement, and its values and principles. Thus far, we have enjoyed wonderful relations with CPD, and in light of the violence seen recently at the Occupy Wall St. protest in New York, we are extremely grateful for this and for the willingness of officers to communicate and work with us. We look forward to developing this relationship, and hope that the cooperation between Occupy Chicago and CPD can serve as an example for those in New York, and anywhere else in the world, to show that both police and protestors are valuable aspects of democracy, representing the same ideals of prosperity and equality and can cooperate and communicate respectfully with each other.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all you do; the sacrifices you make and risk you face each and every day to keep Chicago a safe community. We hope we can continue to communicate and work together to help protect and serve each other so we can all go home safely each night to our friends and family.
Thank you for your time and consideration. If you would like more information please visit our website, www.occupychi.org, or stop by Jackson and LaSalle in person to talk with us in person about our goals and message. A special thanks to all those officers who’ve already been extremely helpful and accommodation to us in the difficult beginning states of our demonstration. Your support is immeasurable and inspiring.
Peace, Love, Empathy