The Mario Savio Memorial Lecture and Young Activist Award Board of Directors and Robert Reich, the scheduled lecture speaker, have been asked by the Occupy Cal General Assembly to transfer the event to the Mario Savio Steps in Sproul Plaza at 8 p.m. Tuesday evening, instead of holding it inside Pauley Ballroom. This is in protest against the use of excessive police force against non-violent...
[read more] The Mario Savio Memorial Lecture and Young Activist Award Board of Directors and Robert Reich, the scheduled lecture speaker, have been asked by the Occupy Cal General Assembly to transfer the event to the Mario Savio Steps in Sproul Plaza at 8 p.m. Tuesday evening, instead of holding it inside Pauley Ballroom. This is in protest against the use of excessive police force against non-violent demonstrators who were peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech in a symbolic encampment.
Although we recognize that this change of venue may pose a physical hardship for some of the attendees, it was unanimously agreed that we would be violating our mission statement (see below) to reject the request. Depending on the exact circumstances at the time, a somewhat shortened presentation of the Young Activist Award will be held, and the award winners will speak.
The following efforts are being made to ensure people's comfort and safety as far as possible.
1 - The students are planning to erect a few tents on the grass near Sproul Hall significantly before the event is scheduled to start. Based on past experience, a confrontation is unlikely to occur during the period of the lecture, especially with a large number of people in the plaza. There would be adequate advance notice given to disperse before the authorities moved in.
2 - Professor Reich is likely to start speaking at 8:40, not earlier. This will be preceded by the Young Activist Award speakers.
3 - the students intend to set up an area with a VERY limited number of chairs for those in need, If you can bring your own chair, or, most desirable, a cushion or low beach chair, please do. All of the rest of the audience will also be asked to sit on the ground so as not to block the view.
4- Dress warmly. Rain is not expected. The temperature is likely to be in the low 50s.
5 - There will be amplification.
Please do not attend if you feel the circumstances would be too difficult for you. We also want those of you, especially those not on campus, to be aware that if the tents are taken down earlier, the atmosphere could remain too charged and too chaotic for the lecture to be held.
If you contributed to the Lecture fund in order to secure seats in the reserved section, you may choose between having your donation refunded or letting us keep it and receiving a CD of the lecture, if one can be made.
We apologize for your inconvenience and disappointment, but, as Mario Savio said: There comes a time...
Thank you for your interest and your support.
Lynne Hollander Savio and the Board of the MSML&YAA
p.o. Box 152, Guerneville, CA 95446
Mission Statement: To honor the memory of Mario Savio and the spirit of moral courage and vision which he and countless other activists of his generation exemplified;
To promote the values that Mario Savio struggled to advance throughout his life: human rights, social justice, and freedom of expression;
To provide a forum where young people can connect with older activists to understand their common ideals and find inspiration and nourishment for activism today;
To recognize and encourage young activists engaged in the struggle to build a more humane and just society.
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