How does Occupy Oakland work? And could it be a model for the Occupy Together movement as a whole?
Since the camp at Frank Ogawa/Oscar Grant Plaza first coalesced on October 10, it has grown rapidly to fill the plaza; and just as quickly, demonstrators have worked to create an infrastructure that turns this protest into a commune that welcomes a broad range of residents with a functional kitchen, library, media center, childrens space and their own camp security. From the General Assembly to the food lines to the self-policing, I will be producing a five-part series of graphic reportage to show how this movement is working for the diverse population of Oakland.
Occupy Oakland has not been without its incidents and backlash over cleanliness, substance use and mainstream media access. But as authorities are cracking down on occupation demonstrators across the country, and just across the Bay in San Francisco, Oakland presents another option for movement organizers as well as local officials -- even as Oakland is threatened with eviction, too.
I have been drawing and speaking with people at the occupied camps since day one. (You can see a sample of one of my quick sketches as the photo here.) I will be turning those raw drawings and interviews into a graphic series that aims not to delineate demands or boil down this national movement, but to provide an immersive document of a unique and exciting point in time.
Video coming soon!!!
