Occupy the Sun Belt
Affable Occupy Houston invites other protests to enjoy the mild winter in HarrisCounty
Regrouping after Monday night's shooting, Occupy Houston is focusing on a new public outreach program — an open welcome to occupiers in colder climates to visit Harris County this winter.
Taking full advantage of the public commentary portion of yesterday's Harris County Commissioners Court meeting, Occupy Houston's Joe Roche asked elected officials to "roll out the red carpet and say howdy" to other occupy groups, requesting commissions to view outside protestors not as municipal trouble-makers, but as potential tourists.
"People often ask what our demands are — here's one of them," Roche told the commissioners, inviting the group to take "diplomatic action" and embrace visiting occupiers as a means to bolster the local economy.
Occupy Houston's Joe Roche asked elected officials to "roll out the red carpet and say howdy" to other occupy groups residing in less forgiving climates.
"This not only will allow a platform for a historic movement, but also allow our leaders to showcase what great things Harris County has to offer," he said. "It’s going to increase traffic at our airports, restaurants, stores, sports facilities and definitely it will exponentially add to our eclectic arts scene."
Occupy Houston is simply playing to its strengths. The mild Gulf Coast weather means outdoor comfort, even in spite of the city's ban on tents and tarps.
"Opportunity doesn’t come knocking too often, and when it does we need to answer," Roche said in closing. "Let’s bring out the convention and visitors authority... maybe put forth some money for us and other occupy movements.”
The cold weather has sparked a variety of new ideas for the 99 percent, including this week's Occupy Black Friday and an upcoming benefit album slated for a winter release.