Unanswered Questions

Here are a bunch of questions that I've sent to my contact, a local activist code-named Susan Hutchings. She has been heavily involved with Occupy Burlington as well as numerous other actions and occupations along the east coast.

So, we both know that you're intricately plugged in to both social media as well as the Occupy Movement...

Can you describe (in detail) the various organizing techiques that you utilize and how has the new technology of social media has (or hasn't) transformed or shaped these techniques?

I would put my organizational techniques into two different categories: internal communication and information sharing and movement building. Internal communication requires both in person communication and strong bonds as well as twitter, facebook, email and instant messaging to communicate and organize on the ground as well plan larger events. To recruit new activists and build a movement, in person meetings are preferable to give a face to a movement. Old school flyering is also critical to get people to events. Social media has the advantage of getting information out quickly to people who are already involved but nothing replaces in person communication.

What would you say are the great limits of social media as organizing tools? What new lessons have you learned through your interaction with the new medium?

The limits of social media are obvious: not all people know how to use the media effectively and find it challenging. It is also difficult to reach the least privileged in society. Social media also does not ensure people will get out to the streets. As we have seen, signing a petition is not nearly as effective at promoting social change as civil disobedience. Civil disobedience and direct action promote living revolutionaries and solidarity. Community can not be formed in cyber space. OWS has been so effective because people have come together in mini encampments societies to challenge the notion that money and power are worth striving for.

Do you have a medium of choice? Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, etc? Has this particular platform changed your relationship with movement building strategies or activities?

My favorite media is absolutely Twitter. Before #ows, I though Twitter was useless gossip. We have radicalized this space and are constantly trending. OWS currently has over 100,000 followers. This is a huge audience of receptive activists. Twitter allows for concise information and can connect you to other activists in a few clicks. Twitter has the potential to give you livestream, articles and connect to the activists on the ground instead of mainstream media. Livestream is also one of my favorite media because it allows people across the world to be watching. For the first time, we are telling the truth that the world is watching. We can show the police brutality we are facing, and correct the MSM lies, which plague all social movements. You cannot argue with a livestream because you are watching unfiltered truth. These two media have the potential to reverse the big brother effect.

As Occupy gathers more strength, we're seeing more and more technological platforms straight from the movement itself. Can you describe Interoccupy, Occupii, and Occupy Research?

As the movement begins to grow, we are actually creating our own Internet space. Some of the big sites include occupytogether.org, nycga.net, interoccupy.org, occupy research and occupii.org. Occupytogether.org has been the most effective at disseminating information and documents where the encampments and movements are, how to get involved and materials from the movement. Nycga.net is NYC website and runs in a horizontal fashion to create proposals and events. My favorite working group is interoccupy; which came into being after encampments began to pop up, and the purpose was to connect occupations together and create massive action. Occupy Research is research that is being driven by the activists on the ground. Occupii.org was created as a safer platform for activists to communicate than Facebook.

The authorites and the 1% have taken heed of the movement's embrace of social media and as a result have proposed various bills about making Tweating about protests and recording arrests illegal (with penalties as high as 15 years in prison). What affect do you see these proposals having on social organizing? Do you anticipate changing your particular activies to preserve your confidentiality or reducing your chance of being arrested? Why?

The repression of this movement has been absolutely ridiculous. In Oregon, they attempted to pass an anti-Tweeting bill, which would make even organizing for illegal activities subject to obscene litigation. Civil disobedience is a time honored tradition in movements and many of the laws that occupy have broken were minor infractions and were met by brutal repression. Another law that has serious ramifications for Occupy movement regards filming in Chicago. In May, many occupiers plan to head to Chicago to protest G8 and NATO. Filming police brutality could carry up to 15 years in jail. Our cameras have been the most important tools for keeping people safe and prosecuting violence. Having laws in place like this do not change my personal actions, but make my actions more covert sometimes. I will have a camera in G8, but if I am at the front lines it will potentially be in my pocket. Our movement is dedicated to transparency and free information sharing and these laws are making our rights increasingly difficult. For some actions, I do intend to go more covert before an action to prevent being arrested. For small direct actions it is important to balance transparency and the ability to actually act. But all actions that are taken should be shown to the world through media and activists held accountable for their actions.

And lastly, you use a pseudonym to protect your identity. Can you explain why and speak about how you implement this name (in addition to other techniques)?

I have used a synonym interchangeable. I only use my pen name Susan Hutchings when speaking to the media because they have butchered my words so completely that I do not wish to be slandered anymore. When speaking with other activists or new members I use my real name. I am also moving away from using a pen name as I become more comfortable in the movement and vulnerability. Another reason I have used a pen name is to prevent getting arrested. Another issue that many have brought up is the use of a facemask. Personally, I do generally wear a facemask. First off, I wear a handkerchief because it can protect you against pepper spray to the eyes. Hankerchiefs also allow you to infiltrate buildings for direct action without being prosecuted many years later. I only wear facemasks during direct action because I tend to be at the front lines. Lastly, as a young woman, I have had men comment on videos of me in sexist tones with intention to rape me. I sometimes wear a facemask because I lack the privilege to protect myself, but as I said I am moving away using pen names and facemasks as I continue to embrace the ideal of transparency and non-violence. Transparency builds trust and community amoung activists.