Drummers At Occupy Wall Street Demand $8,000 At General Assembly

Can a community council set rules (in regard to limiting noise) that supersede those set by the city? If so can my community council stop all the motorcycles that blast their engines so loud that windows rattle and whole blocks of car alarms go off? That's kind of disruptive too.

Drummers are being oppressed .... save the drummers ... err , whales .....

it seems with all the political clout, public reception, and social networks the protestors have they could just put out a massive region wide call for drum donations so replace that -ish...then we can see what a real non-capitalist movement of people who not just attempt consensus in allocating moneys for materials (i.e. sanctioned consumption, egalitarian, democratic or otherwise) but instead use their massive techno-matrix of connections, loudspeakers, and direct democratic process for sharing, enhancing and revitalizing the flow of resources from the bottom to the bottom. The cooperate backdrop of the market is being attacked and may subsequently warrant a critique/attack of consumerism also, or is that not why people are saying this is ironic or hypocritical?  so lets see a pull for supporters to get these drummers drumming. annoying or not they are invested in creating a rhythm for this movement, one whose momentum may see an actual change in the structure, a revolution of the economy, rather than cute little shift in power a quick minute. the revolution must be constant, less the tyranny of the oppressed become the new off beat fascism of the rest. all power the the people. the more involved every american gets the more likely we can take our democracy back and get rid of the puppets, the ponsy schemers, and the power poopers

it seems with all the political clout, public reception, and social networks the protestors have they could just put out a massive region wide call for drum donations so replace that -ish...then we can see what a real non-capitalist movement of people who not just attempt consensus in allocating moneys for materials (i.e. sanctioned consumption, egalitarian, democratic or otherwise) but instead use their massive techno-matrix of connections, loudspeakers, and direct democratic process for sharing, enhancing and revitalizing the flow of resources from the bottom to the bottom. The cooperate backdrop of the market is being attacked and may subsequently warrant a critique/attack of consumerism also, or is that not why people are saying this is ironic or hypocritical?  so lets see a pull for supporters to get these drummers drumming. annoying or not they are invested in creating a rhythm for this movement, one whose momentum may see an actual change in the structure, a revolution of the economy, rather than cute little shift in power a quick minute. the revolution must be constant, less the tyranny of the oppressed become the new off beat fascism of the rest. all power the the people. the more involved every american gets the more likely we can take our democracy back and get rid of the puppets, the ponsy schemers, and the power poopers

If unbridled drumming becomes the "reason" OWS gives the cops and city to clear out Zuccotti park, it will be self-centered, myopic drummers' fault--and they will have killed the movement.

I love this movement but honestly this really sounds dumb. Get over yourselves.

arrest these lowlifes

Someone please let me know when this is over? I'm tired of having to feign interest.

Dateline: New York -- "In the microcosm of OWS, where a world order is looking to be refreshed, Ted Stevens emerges as a band of drummers, looking to build a bridge to nowhere, erm, replace drums that were damaged over years of trips on the Green Tortoise, citing a couple of scratches that were added during the park cleanup as reason for brand new articles."

Drums? Seriously? I was pro OWS for the first couple weeks, but now? Nope.

I want this to continue for weeks and weeks. We're not even two months into it, and civil war is breaking out over drum circles.

Who knows what kind of entertainment a little cold weather will bring.

LOL!

Dude, why are we wasting this money on drums? If we're seeking real change we should be using this money to pay Blonde Redhead to play a concert, ya know? A concert to end corporate greed!

My clandestine org, the Marxist-Leninist-Trotskyist-Woody Allenist Revolutionary Tendency discussed this request for $8000.00 (for fucking drums) and concluded that commercial-sized soy sauce pails would a better investment, and only cost a small fraction of the money requested.

Yeah, as a big OWS supporter, I don't think spending $8,000 on toys for a bunch of recreational drummers is going to help bring in donations.

Occupy Wall Street - When the 99% Become the 1%:

After a month in the trenches, these kids who started out as wide-eyed idealists down with “the cause” are starting to get gobsmacked with lessons that they would most likely never have learned in classrooms filled with theoretical situations and simple, elegant solutions.
In the classroom of “Real Life”, these kids are rapidly finding out that Marxism, Socialism, Communism, and/or Anarchy aren’t all that they are cracked up to be. We can only hope that they will take away some valuable lessons from this experience.

http://wp.me/p1ipEz-F6

I can't wait till Hollywood makes a movie dramatizing Occupy Wall Street. I hope they call it Kindergarten Coup.

Featuring Arnold Schwarzeneggar as Tony Bologna?

u know what the movement would be without the drums!? NOTHING. that's what. we want our $8,000. period.

i work next to the park 115 broadway and the drums are giving me a throbbing headache. these clowns are friggin getting on my nerves now.

This should be the new anthem/chant for those "drummers"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

To all those who weren't there last night at the GA: Yes, the drummers asked for money, as is their right to do so by the rules of OWS. There followed a lengthy, civil discussion about the issue. Ultimately, the issue was tabled until tonight's GA. There's no "infighting." They present their proposal, and in the direct democracy we are practicing, people express their questions and concerns, and then the group as a whole votes. All voices are heard and nothing is passed without consensus.

I realize to some of you this may sound hippie and Utopian, but this process is the heart of OWS. So we'll see what happens to the drummers' proposal, but it will be up to anyone who wants to go to Zuccotti at 7 pm and vote.

"...nothing is passed without consensus."

There is no "I" in Occupy Wall Street.

Except that the working groups have already decided to bypass the "Direct Democracy" model and are making unilateral decisions without consulting the GA.

But yeah, other than that, everything's just peachy keen....

In response to dissatisfaction with the consensus General Assembly, many facilitators have adopted a new “spokescouncil” model, which allows each working group to act independently without securing the will of the collective. “This streamlines it,” argued Zonkers. “The GA is unwieldy, cumbersome, and redundant."

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2...

Never forget, dear - "some animals are more equal than others....."

It's stunning how many people have either not read Animal Farm or have drugged it out of their recollection.

disparate collection of malcontents

8K demand for new drums? This is the official begining of the end.

seems hypocritical no?

Pretty sure no one really likes the drumming much, except the drummers.  It's one of the few things that people can complain about that really has undeniable merit.  My wife works 30 stories above the park and says that 60 days of the drumming is starting to drive her crazy.

I've been down to the park three times so far, and I find a place as far away from it as possible.

Still, it does make the protests hard to ignore.

Haven't they already raised over $300,000? Not saying the drums have to amount to $8000 but if they've been vandalized and/or stolen I think you can cut 'em a check for something.

Sure, $300,000 sounds l like a lot at first, but you need to remember how expensive it is to serve gourmet food to hundreds of protesters 3x each day. Crab cakes are not cheap. $1k per day of hummus adds up.

hahahahhahhahahahhahahahahahahahaha. This is rich, redistribute your own wealth!!!

yeah, i'm pro OWS but this made me laugh.  looks like 1% of OWS is controlling all the wealth!!  WTF?!

"looks like 1% of OWS is controlling all the wealth!!"

How do you figure?

i don't, just kidding really (screw the drummers)  how many are in the general assembly vs total number of protestors?

It totally depends on the night. Anyone just passing by can be part of it— it's not like you sign up or anything. It's totally open. I'd say on any given night it ranges from 40 people to 200. As far as how many protesters? Well let's see, there are occupations in 951 cities in 82 countries, so you do the math. :)

http://www.theoccupiedwallstre...

To put this comment in perspective, keep in mind the huge number of disinterested folks in roughly 195 countries in the world.

It's hard to get spending legislation through, especially for the arts. Just ask Congress.

"Russell Simmons was down at Zuccotti park handing out their slave wage this afternoon"

fify

Having been subjected to those obnoxious drummers at Union Square for years now while waiting for a train I'm decidedly anti-bangy things in public.

There's a pots and spoons guy near Times Square. We can hear him loud and clear in our offices nearby, 25+ floors up. I want to strangle him by hour one.

I prefer the old man with the transistor radio around his neck who is technically drumming but doesn't seem to be keeping a beat with anything.

Clearly, if you oppose drum circles then you are a racist.

But some of my best friends are drums...

I WANT A FREE DRUM TOO! WHAT ABOUT ME?

You can't, like, own a drum, man.

"One OWS Drummer Yells." --end of report. 

hateful commenters repeat tired OWS talking points. page view win!

Did you miss the part about Ashley Love and her speech at the Community Board meeting where she A) told people they don't live there, B) made this a racial issue with its roots in slavery, and then C) used the word "scapegoating"?

i am SHOCKED after a month of your repetitive hateful spew to learn that you disagree with the opinion of an OWS protester. 

*plays with ball of yarn*

I can't resist...

http://preview.tinyurl.com/3cz...

YESS!!

The irony is too rich.

How many anti-Randians are there at OWS?

Drums?  Pffffft.  I'm heading over with my $5 VUVUZELAAAAAAAAAA!

Cue the bagpipes.

This seems to me to be a pivotal moment for OWS.  It can either stay a movement seeking real change...or turn into a silly hippie drum circle. 

Those who want to make reasonable, realistic changes to our system inevitably will have to fight back against those who want to blow it all up, go commu-vegan, and basically make America into, like, a totally peaced-out version of Burning Man, dude. 

If they don't fight back against this sort of "more radical than thou" nonsense, their movement will be too-easily (and too-appropriately) dismissed.

and the childish infighting begins.

countdown to implosion in 5, 4, 3....

"countdown to implosion in 5, 4, 3...."

People have been starting this countdown since the very begining of OWS. Maybe your wishful thinking will come true this time but I'm not going to bet on it.

Drums are not significant to a protest. $8000 would be better spent on literature to educate people about the movement/protest.

I imagine the drums annoy the protesters as much as the area residents.

How much would it cost to set up a reeducation camp?

ohhhhh, the irony!

Ah, it's the Nine Drum Circles of Hell. Can the Four Grad Students of the Apocalypse be far behind?

Jesus, I'm pro OWS but if you kids can't keep your shit together and have rogue drummers unwilling to live by the decision of the GA, you guys have some serious troubles ahead of you.

How "united" is everyone, really?

 If fights are already taken place over drums, I can only imagine what will happen when it come time to prioritize all the different demands.

Maybe its time to get -un-peaceful and crack some drummer skulls.

Just like any socialist movement, OWS is quickly descending into a dictatorship, for the greater good, of course.

Oh?  You found a dictator?

I agree with you pendejito

Well your last sentence anyway

"Maybe its time to get -un-peaceful and crack some drummer skulls."
I can't think of a worse way to kill off the movement than through endogenous means.

Buy a bucket for $5 and stfu

Are you kidding!?

This is all very misguided. I am Elijah Moses, and I assure you that there are people who are speaking as members of the drumming group, such as Ashley Love. There are problems with people still being blinded by the foolish egos they create from this movement. We can dream big here cause we can be free here, to some extent as well too. So what I have been proposing is unclear. There are many challenges that come with rising with wisdom in this movement. So before anymore of you read this please understand that we are trying to weed out the false communications. We are people who understand why we can and cant do somethings. It has been made aware that the Community Board only wants two hours. So I believe this happened because of poor establishment. We have allow those who wish to destroy this movement in to our atmosphere. So be conscious my people who want to taste the sweet nectar of freedom. The love that is everlasting lives there. We live in hell... Hell has duality. So you may feel like this is heaven now, yet to all of you who are entertained by these games and movies. Did you ever think about when the story actually relates to you and this life, the person who wrote this... what was he telling us? We have so many messages sent to us. Yet the only way anything will be done is if you do it. Wasting time wishing that you can be powerful and free does not come from money. It comes from your inner being, your soul. You all have a potential to do things beyond these games and movies can dream. We are here to create the body of those who want to be free. Pulse is the drummers brigade. We are not here to play tit for tat. We are here to burn fire into all of your hearts with the strength of our spirit. When you need us on the march we will train to move harder and bigger than before. We will not stand for the poison in our food, in our air, and in our water. We refuse for this destruction of the earth to take place. We will be assembling drummers, hopefully from all over the world, to come and play with us and train others who wish to fight with the pulse of our drums. The drummer is the call to arms. We are calling you to be ready for the day we are free... then how can we be free without you all there? So master the will to find yourself and come to the understanding that it is all your choice. We cannot be great without the mass of us who have the skill and power to guide those who don't have strength and show them how to make this strength. Let this man behind the computer that you are stronger than him with his tools of discord. This has become a mental war on a higher level. Stop holding yourself victim to this system.

While that's a powerful sentiment and not without merit, we live in an age where keyboards are the drums most of us bang on.  Both techniques come from energy of thought manifested into action, both are equally relevant.  Where drums are tactical and good for the here and now, keyboards are strategic, opening up the possibilities for all to participate in.  In the case of OWS, neither is possible without the other.

Arguably, a mistake you may have made in respect to the mechanics of drumming in Gotham is we literally have many drummers who are quite capable on the bottoms of five-gallon plastic tubs.  $8000 would buy enough tubs for everyone to have one, and spending that kind of money so a select few can enjoy their fetish for handcrafted wood instruments is counter to who we thought we were hosting in our city.

Lastly, do not underestimate the cost of your drumming with the patience of people, most of whom support your presence.  I personally live about six blocks from Zucotti, and I can't imagine what it's like for people who live next door.  It's hard enough living here, and we do so with a finely tuned balance to the positives of staying.  Little things like helicopters, crowded sidewalks, noise from trash trucks and construction are all enough to perturb that balance.  And while drumming is the positive sound of protest, we residents of Gotham have empathy for one another and must accept the needs of our neighbor as much as our own or the city would just not work at all.

We all learn in hindsight, and I do not wish to judge, only open your mind to other realities that you may not have considered.

Cheers

Possibly.  Craig Kanalley from Huff Post has tweeted a bunch of stuff about what sounds like a loud, contentious General Assembly discussing a  lost or damaged $5,000 drum. 

 Mr Kanalley has also tweeted that "OccupyWallStNYC just ended".  I don't think it has.

Maybe the O'Keefe/Brietbart Institute of Higher Journalism slipped some agent provocateurs with drums in?  It's a thought.  More likely Mr Kanalley is making a big deal over some shouting.