Occupiers
are clearing tools out of the logistics and media hubs, unplugging
chords and carting off their operations. The canopy of blue and green
tarps atop Dewey Square is being dismantled, revealing bright tents
that haven't seen sunlight in months. A bucket of butternut squash
gets loaded into a van. So do the canned goods, which are headed to
the Pine Street Inn. There are books from the fabulous Occupy Boston
library boxed up everywhere, some free for the taking.
OCCUPYBOSTON LIVE BLOG: live video, tweets, and photos from Dewey Square as City's midnight deadline looms
The
Green Day working group has yet to blast “Time Of Your Life” over
the speakers, but it's a last-day-of-high-school kind of feeling down
here today. People are mostly calm – with one notable exception in
perpetual nuisance Phil, who wears a kilt and gave an extended middle
finger to facilitators during the afternoon assembly. But there's a
looming optimistic sadness for sure.
Not
much was accomplished at today's emergency powwow, which followed the
morning announcement that Occupiers have until midnight to vacate
Dewey (which followed yesterday's Suffolk Superior Court decision).
Some vague announcements gave way to a vague arrangement for working
groups to continue making plans on their own, with facilitators
encouraging one and all to engage in creative autonomous actions.
As is
not unusual, de facto spokespeople Alex Ingram and camp librarian
slash rally booster John Ford blessed the press and crowd with some
send-off bangers. Ingram dropped “Breakfast Club” knowledge,
telling everyone that he'll remember them regardless of whether they
wake up together in the Square tomorrow. Ford then addressed, in a
single sentence, what was on everybody's mind, asking people to think
about “how much of a power play” it would be for the whole
occupation to pack up and vacate on their own terms.
It
seems like a logistical impossibility to clear Dewey clean at this
stage in the game. But they seem to be moving right along. Because while Occupy Boston's
horizontal democracy does not convene until 7pm tonight – and hence
there will be no consensus decision on evacuation plan tactics until
after that time – right now exodus seems like the plan. Tents are
being dismantled, labeled, and stored for another day – whenever,
wherever that may be. After nearly three months, it's beyond strange
to watch.
In
less than two hours, trucks are coming to cart away the media,
spirituality, food, medic, library, and women's tents. In the rush I
was warmed to hear that some Occupiers are busy helping homeless
people make arrangements for not just tonight but for the coming
weeks. Still there's a ton of work to be done. The food crew alone
has been hauling crates and boxes for hours now and is just now finishing up. Contrary to popular right-wing belief, a lot of
Occupiers have day jobs, and they're not yet available to help the
effort.
One
Occupation supporter who I spoke with said this whole thing reminds
him of a governor's last day in office, when he or she triumphantly
walks down the Statehouse steps and enters the crowd, never to be
seen again until returning as a lobbyist or presidential candidate.
I'm not sure that's the right analogy, but I get what he's saying. As
the longest-running Occupy camp in the country, Occupy Boston has a
lot of eyes on it. To disappear before midnight, only to return in
another place at another time, would be a statement for the ages. If
they can pull it off.
BREAKING NEWS: thephoenix.com/occupyboston
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