You guys gave over $40,000 for pizzas to feed Occupiers. We sent our Occu-pies to over 50 cities. It was very successful and it was all you! Our readers gave in amounts as small as $3 and it added up to a lot!
What's the difference between Occupy and the tea party? Have you ever heard of a fund raiser for the tea party? No. Because they're funded.
Occupy the Rose parade has coordinated with Pasadena police. They have a First Amendment right to march in the parade. They are float number 44 (as in Obama the 44th president). The Rose Parade is viewed by 50 million Americans and 200 million people world wide. The organizers are expecting anywhere from 1,000 to 4,000 protesters to participate. Not only are there plenty of eyeballs to reach, five floats in the parade are sponsored by (wait for it) banks. Read all about their plans here.
The one rub? They need more money for signs and t-shirts.
Organizer Pete Thottem said he raised around $500 for banners. He put in another $2000 of his own money. "I'm here to fight the good fight and now I'm out of money," he said in a phone interview yesterday.
They need around $3000 more to buy all the supplies necessary. The parade is in a week and a half. Whatever you have to give will help. Even the smallest donation makes a difference and makes that difference in front of millions and millions of viewers. Thank you guys!
We, as always, will let you know just how much we raise and how the funds are spent. We've been talking to activists about what they will need in the coming year. It may not be pizza, but we'll let you know. We're also open to any ideas.
We'll be starting an Occupy America email list very soon.
