Declaration of Occupation

DECLARATION OF OCCUPATION BY THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY GENERAL ASSEMBLY

As we, the students of Texas State University, gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. We assemble so that all people who feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your allies.

As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality: that the future of the human race requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power.

We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments and corrupt our systems of education. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known:

They have held students hostage with tens of thousands of dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right.

They have turned education into a business while reducing our national marketability to attract companies, which could offer us jobs.

They have increased our tuition rates by an average of 63% across the state, increasing our dependence on loans.

They have proposed to reduced grants for higher education by over 40% and have begun this implementation causing economic uncertainty for the university and students alike.

They have shipped jobs overseas while laying off our parents, who have sacrificed decades to their companies.

They have hijacked our political system and influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility.

They determine economic policy, despite the catastrophic failures their policies have produced and continue to produce.

They have donated large sums of money to politicians, who are responsible for regulating them.

They purposefully keep people misinformed and fearful through their control of the media. Which serves to do nothing but make us a lost generation incapable of critical thinking. But we shall not be lost!

We shall work with each other and our communities to find solutions and achieve results!

To the people of the world,

We, the students of Texas State University occupying this space, urge you to assert your power.

Exercise your right to peaceably assemble; occupy public space; create a process to address the problems we face, and generate solutions accessible to everyone.

To all colleges and universities that take action and form groups in the spirit of direct democracy, we offer support, documentation, and all of the resources at our disposal.

Join us and make your voices heard!