NPA Press Release: Response to the eviction of OWS

**For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Monica Trevino at 312-243-3035 or monica@npa-us.org
Twitter: @streetactionNPA

National People’s Action and New Bottom Line Stand in Solidarity with Occupy Wall Street

Call on 99% to build movement on November 17

At 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning, Mayor Mike Bloomberg and the New York Police Department raided Zucotti Park, forcing out the hundreds protesters who for nearly two months had demonstrated their opposition to the one percent while fighting for the ideals of a government and an economy that serve the 99 percent.

“The big banks and the one percent have turned our economy and democracy upside down. The one percent has rigged the system to amass power and wealth for a few, while millions of people have been bankrupted and communities across the country have been devastated,” says George Goehl, executive director of National People’s Action. “The New Bottom Line is in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street in fighting to restore our democracy and to establish a new bottom line – an economy that works for all.”

"Actions speak louder than words, and Bloomberg's actions contradict his rhetoric about protecting free speech in New York," said Jaron Benjamin, a community organizer with VOCAL-NY who responded to an early morning alert from Occupy Wall Street to physically defend the park. "It was a cowardly act, plain and simple, and it was done to protect his buddies on Wall Street from being held accountable for their crimes."

As Occupy Wall Street wrote this a.m. in the wake of the raid, “This moment is nothing short of America rediscovering the strength we hold when we come together as citizens to take action to address crises that impact us all.”

New York and similar raids in Oakland, CA and other cities are evidence of government officials siding with corporations in their attempt to shut down the 99%. We echo Occupy Wall Street in saying, “You can't evict an idea whose time has come.”

NPA supports and calls for people to join the fight on November 17 (www.november17.org) in cities across the country to hold the one percent and the big banks accountable. This is our moment. The 99% won’t be stopped.

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National People's Action (NPA) is a network of grassroots organizations with a fierce reputation for direct action from across the country that work to advance a national economic and racial justice agenda. NPA has over 200 organizers working to unite everyday people in cities, towns, and rural communities throughout the United States through direct-action, house meetings and community organizing.