Report from an occupier who attended one of the "99% Spring" trainings

[Leopolds Ghost]

3. Fire Walk, Hi!! So what is this 99% Spring then?

Seems like we can't let spinoff groups not affiliated with a general assembly appropriate all the best slogans, can we? 99% Spring... 99% Declaration...? Perhaps Occupy's should organize trainings of their own under the same name, offer to let the groups in question support said trainings, and if not, gain back the thunder by doing the same sort of trainings. No harm, no foul right?

But really, are these trainings not a good thing as long as they are teaching people the values of Occupy General Assembly tactics and not subverting the concept?

I first learned all this stuff at a training that was hosted by a former high school classmate of mine turned activist... at a globalization march... that's what got me involved. (I was always quasi-radical anti-authoritarian in my personal beliefs, but I always assumed nobody agreed with me which is why I consider myself a radical moderate. Because as long as an idea is considered radical that means not enough folks are embracing it.)

I know I myself would like to attend such a training, even if it's not affiliated with Occupy. I've seen GA-approved committees full of organization-leftists that were only marginally committed to Occupy. We won't win if Occupy becomes seen as the domain of the insular traditional left, instead of a widespread radical populist movement.