The Occupy Jacksonville movement, in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protests, has drafted a declaration containing its stated objectives.
According to a press release, the group had looked at adopting declarations from other occupy movements, but ultimately decided to draft its own. The document was revised both online and through a series of public meetings. The approved version reads as follows:
We, the people of Jacksonville, stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and its global counterparts. We believe that our government no longer represents the will of the people. Because of this, we have assembled to voice our grievances.
We stand together to take back control of our government from those who use their wealth to obstruct the democratic process.
We believe that the growing disparity between the poor and the rich must be dealt with immediately.
We believe those responsible for economic injustices should be held accountable.
We come together to revive the expectation that our government exists to serve the people. We aim to educate, unite and empower the people. Through democracy, we believe a true consensus can be reachedโ one that endeavors to rectify the wrongs within our country, regain our rights as human beings, and promote prosperity and peace over our nation and around the world. We are the 99%.
One of the many complaints heard from Occupy critics has been that the protesters have a disjointed message or, in some cases, no real message at all. Occupy Jacksonville aims to combat those claims with its new release.
Occupy Jacksonvilleย has been holding general assembly meetings downtown for more than two months, and has been officially occupying an area just outside of City Hall since Nov. 6.
