My name is Alan OldStudent, and I addressed the Occupy Tacoma protestors at Occupy Tacoma’s Occupation Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012, the last full day of the occupation. This is the last speech anyone gave at Occupation Park. By the next mid-morning, the authorities had fenced off the park and left an open gate so occupiers could continue to remove their belongings and clean it up.
That address commemorates the park and the intrepid Occupy Tacoma protestors who held it a 24-hour vigil, exercising their free speech rights for a total of 4 months and 11 days. During that time, there were several heavy rain storms, wind storms, and snow storms. The protestors stayed despite many difficulties, and their commitment to protest was remarkable and commendable. They showed great character. The Washington State authorities, the jurisdiction where Tacoma is located, eventually evicted the protestors. During their occupation, the protestors earned the support of many local business people, residents, including some city officials and police.
For those visitors outside of the United States who are perhaps not familiar with our geography, Tacoma is a port city in the northwestern part of the United States, about 170 miles or 280 km from the Canadian border.
This is the last speech anyone gave at Occupy Tacoma’s Occupation Park. It was actually delivered twice at the park. The first time, the videotape did not turn out well, and the second time it was much better. The Washington State Department of Transportation closed our Occupation Park the morning after, and there was no violence. The protestors left with great dignity, their heads held high.
Regards,
Alan OldStudent
The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living — Socrates
