Solidarity Forever: Occupy Boston
by lydiasee
Solidarity Forever, written by Ralph Chaplin, is perhaps the most famous IWW song. It’s sung to the tune of John Brown’s Body.
- When the union’s inspiration through the workers’ blood shall run
- There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun
- Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one
- But the union makes us strong
- Solidarity forever, Solidarity forever
- Solidarity forever, for the union makes us strong!
- It is we who plowed the prairies, built the cities where they trade
- Dug the mines and built the workshops, endless miles of railroad laid
- Now we stand outcast and starving ‘mid the wonders we have made
- But the union makes us strong
- They have taken untold millions that they never toiled to earn
- But without our brain and muscle, not a single wheel can turn
- We can break their haughty power, gain our freedom when we learn
- That the union makes us strong
When that video was shot a few hours ago, things were going well. The OccupyBoston organizers had seemingly covered all their bases, the police were polite and accommodating, Camp#1 was alive with energy and Camp#2 was on it’s way to being approved by the DRC& Parks for use for this purpose, to which the response was “respect the plant-life and you can stay.”
Flash forward a few hours later:
“An attempt by Occupy Boston protesters to expand their encampment has resulted in a massive police crackdown and hundreds of arrests.
Around 1:30 am, police moved in with 16 police vans and along with many more police cruisers and unmarked vehicles on Atlantic Avenue in downtown Boston. Officers dressed in black equipped with plastic handcuffs surrounded part of the camp, and protesters were given a five minute warning to leave or be arrested. Most protesters remained, linking arms with each other and peacefully resisting. Police moved in and, bizarrely, and eye witness reports have come in stating that police dealt violently with members of Veterans for Peace who had come to support Occupy Boston. Other reports are still coming in regarding police brutality, but remain unconfirmed.
- Currently, as hundreds of peaceful protesters are being arrested alongside American Veterans, “Solidarity Forever” is being sung.
- Police have removed all digital media from protesters before arrest, which is ILLEGAL (here’s an article explaining why).
- Media is limited and the only coverage we are receiving is through livestream, twitter, and facebook.
Boston.com’s first article
