ANS -- TEARS STREAM AS CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY AGREES ‘OCCUPY TENTS ARE A FORM OF SPEECH’

I had to pass this one on to you: it's a bit of real hope for the process.  This is about the Occupy Movement in Orange County, and how the city council spent a long time in sincere debate about it, and decided, unanimously, that it is a form of Free Speech!
It's a short article, but inspiring, especially the ending. 
The city they are talking about in the article is Irvine.
Find it here:  http://www.occupy-oc.org/tears-stream-as-city-council-unanimously-agrees-occupy-tents-are-a-form-of-speech/#.TqkFa2E9X0F.facebook   
--Kim

TEARS STREAM AS CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY AGREES 'OCCUPY TENTS ARE A FORM OF SPEECH'

Posted on 10/26/2011 by Synthian



Late last night after a 5 and-a-half hour marathon city council meeting,
in which 72 speakers took the floor to express the need for the Occupy OC
Tent Village to be accepted as a form of free speech, the city council
passed an emergency motion to add the needs of "The 99%" to their official
agenda. This was a feat which, according to one more conservative
Councilman, he had never seen in 7 years of service.

The council members each spoke in turn to the civility, articulateness and
peaceful process represented by the Irvine Occupation at contrast with the
several other Occupational Villages in California, which were, at that
very moment being tear-gassed. The general sentiment being: "This is quite
clearly the model. And the occupation most in tune with city needs."

One councilman stated clearly, "I disagree with most of what you're
saying. But you've clearly shown that this is an issue of free speech. So
if you need to sleep on our lawn… by all means… sleep on our lawn."

Shortly after, a motion was brought to the council to grant license to the
occupiers to occupy the public space overnight citing the unusual form of
the movement. (Another first in council history.)

It was then passed unanimously to the sound of thunderous applause.

Shortly thereafter, the City Council was invited to attend the General
Assembly of the People. (Which takes place each night in the Occupation
Village at 7:00 PM.)

On a personal note… I myself was stopped by the Mayor on my way up the
hall, when he said, "You know what concerns me?" "What's that", I asked.
Expecting him to cite a civil code. – "Do you have enough blankets, or
should I get you some?" He asked.

And that… my friends… is a reason for hope.

Video to be provided in short order.