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Dear William,
It got pretty chilly this weekend. Next week will surely be cooler.
The protest – which has focused the eyes of the world on corporate greed and economic inequality – is free speech in action. But without shelter, the protesters occupying Wall Street down at Zuccotti Park could be frozen out and forced to an early end.
Occupy protests from Boston to Philadelphia to Seattle have been allowed to put up tents to provide shelter and warmth. But down at Wall Street, tents are against the rules. Even the protest's medical tent was nearly removed before the activists' impassioned defense saved it.
Tell Mayor Bloomberg: Let the protesters stay -- let them set up tents.
After you sign, please forward this email or share on Facebook to spread the message far and wide. The world is watching.
The protest movement that has sprung up over the past month is giving voice to millions of Americans who feel left out or left behind. It's focusing the political debate across the nation on the corporate greed and economic inequality we so desperately need to address.
The coming winter isn't the only threat the protest is facing. New York's real estate and developer lobbyists are pushing hard for new rules that would allow them to shut down Zuccotti Park every night and impose a curfew.
Mayor Bloomberg doesn't have to love the Occupy Wall Street movement's message. But he has a duty to protect and uphold the First Amendment rights of the protesters to peacefully assemble and make their voices heard.
The heart and soul of the First Amendment is protecting protest movements like Occupy Wall Street – not assuring unlimited corporate spending on elections.
It was only two weeks ago when cleaning crews threatened to remove the protesters from the park. We stood together, made phone calls, picked up brooms and mops, and turned out by the thousands before dawn on a Friday morning.
And we won. We can do it again, if we stand together. If you can't come down to the park to help pitch a tent, pitch in by signing our emergency petition to Mayor Bloomberg.
Tell Mayor Bloomberg to protect free speech and allow the protesters at Zuccotti park to build tents:
http://action.workingfamiliesparty.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4853
Thanks for spreading the word,
Bill Lipton
Deputy Director, WFP
PS. For information on how to donate donate winter coats, sleeping bags, or other supplies, reply to this email.
Become a WFP Sustainer! Other political groups have corporate donors. We have you. Just $5 a month supports our fight for a better New York.
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