Dubs Up! Hip Hop Occupies Call-to-Action for West Coast Port Shutdown

Hip Hop Occupies to Decolonize issues solidarity statement & artist all-call for participation in 12/12 rallies

Seattle, WA–Hip Hop Occupies is calling upon youth and artists in Seattle and beyond to come out in full force December 12^th in support and solidarity for the West Coast Port Shutdown. HHO endorses this day of direct action as not only an opportunity to make a political statement against budget cuts and on-going police brutality, but also to create a strategic profit loss within the toxic capitalist economic system. From Seattle to San Diego, oppressed peoples of all backgrounds are mobilizing to shut down the power of the 1% in this coordinated national effort. We choose to occupy capital, not capitol buildings, because we are no longer waiting to have our voices validated at the whim of elected officials.

It is the fact that the Port Shutdown is pushing the “Occupy Movement” in a more active, coordinated direction that Hip Hop Occupies stands in solidarity. It has historically been a West Coast tradition to push the envelope of culture and struggle in this way. From the Black Panthers to Freestyle Fellowship, from NWA to the 1919 Seattle General Strike, the West Coast stays innovating. Following in the footsteps of these West Coast innovators in both Hip Hop and Revolutionary struggle, Hip Hop Occupies to Decolonize Seattle is helping to coordinate rallies at 1pm, 3pm, and 6pm on Monday, December 12^th. We are asking all our allies in the artist community to come MC, paint, dance, and create in the name of freedom and self-determination.

Event Date: Monday, December 12^th, 2011

Event Locations: Westlake Park, 4^th & Pine in Downtown Seattle, Port of Seattle

Event Schedule:

12:00pm: Hip Hop Occupies Artist Check-In at Westlake

1:00pm: Rally and Performances at Westlake Center

3:00pm: Rally & Performances at Port of Seattle

6:00pm: Rally & Performance at Spokane Street Fishing Area

To participate, perform, speak and/or share at any of the D12 rallies in Seattle, call (425) 223-7787, email HipHopOccupies@gmail, and then show up at Westlake Park on 4^th & Pine at 12pm on 12/12 for the artist check-in.

Video of Support featuring Boots Riley of the Coup:

For more info on the West Coast Port Shutdown visit:

www.westcoastportshutdown.org

POC Caucus of Decolonize Occupy Seattle's Letter to the Community on D12:

http://occupyseattle.org/blog/2011-12-05/letter-poc-caucus-friends-family-and-community-dec-12-port-shut-down

More on Why Hip Hop Occupies to Decolonize Supports:

Hip Hop Occupies openly supports, endorses, and stands in solidarity with the December 12th West Coast Port Shutdowns. From Seattle to San Diego, oppressed peoples of all backgrounds are taking steps to take control of their lives by shutting down the power of the 1% stopping the flow of capital. We at HHO have been active in much of the on-the-ground organizing in an attempt to walk the walk and not just rhyme a lot…about freedom. Following in the footsteps of west coast innovators in both hip hop and revolutionary struggle, HHO and those organizing/participating in the shutdowns are attempting to raise the bar and advance the struggle. Hip Hop and the Occupation Movement began on the East but were revolutionized by the West. The East keeps creatin’ it but the West stays innovatin’ it.

It is the fact that the port shutdown is moving the movement into a new more dynamic direction that we at HHO support. No matter the outcome the networks and unity creating amongst workers, students, people of color, queer folks, and the unemployed will set the foundation for major moves toward freedom. We are no longer asking a minority to live when they continue to show us their disdain for our lives as they cut budgets killing thousands, allow the destruction of unions by corporations, and leave millions unemployed.

It is a west coast tradition to push the envelope in culture and struggle in this way. From the Black Panthers to Freestyle Fellowship, from NWA to the 1919 Seattle General Strike, the West coast rocks steady. We say this in jest to our allies nationwide who claim Hip Hop; where you at with your organizing and analysis? Albums sales aren’t the marker, and YouTube hits lose meaning. The question is how many people can you get to a rally then to a meeting? Are you willing to flier and develop organizations in you city connecting groups and people with all types of ideals, methods, and personalities?

We hope the West coast Port Shutdowns will prove to be a major turning point in terms of the aims and goals of the movement at large. We choose to occupy capital not capitol buildings because we are tired of waiting to have our lives validated and maintained at the whim of people who have ignored our needs for years. We are the leaders we are looking for. We have to take our lives into our own hands and make the world we want to see even if that means breaking with old organizational and methods of resistance trying the unknown. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.