One of Occupy Wall Street's biggest achievements has been proving how brutal and tyrannical the government of the United States has turned against its own people. Local governments like New York City's rule by the tyranny of ordinances and permits; effectively turning every potential exercise of the First Amendment into a nuisance that deserves immediate suppression. In fact, the tearing down of "occupies" all across the nation proves vividly that as individuals we've lost our freedom to assembly and freedom speech while the 1%ers have amassed, through Citizen's United, an unprecedented amount of power without accountability thanks to the "money as free speech" and "corporate personhood" rulings.

Thus this permit.

I saw on my Twitter timeline a tweet by @ChazFrench that showed a Bill Of Rights permit created by M. Peake.

My effusive comment created a deluge of RTs. Then @AngelSavant noticed the "permit" was not released under Creative Commons. Helas, given the original had a typo, and given the fact in my tweet I suggested people make copies of this constitutionally issued permit, I created a few duotone versions that should work better for photocopies. You can download them over at Flickr.

Also, besides the coloring of the image, I've made an editorial tweak to M Peake's permit. The original permit reads: WE ARE NOT CAMPING. We're assembling peaceably to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. THIS IS OUR PERMIT." It is a more modern and colloquial reading of the freedom of assembly part of the First Amendment. My version follows the actual sentence structure of the amendment : WE ARE NOT CAMPING. We peaceably assemble to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. THIS IS OUR PERMIT." I feel this works better than the more modern reading.

Nowhere in the Bill of Rights does it say our freedoms of speech or assembly have curfews, can only happen when walking or moving, or have to please the governments we're redressing of grievances. The Bill of Rights isn't a permit insofar as it is the document that gives We The People the right to take to the streets and address our government in whatsoever fashion best suits us.

The constitution is our right to occupation by dissent, by grievance and by tenting in a plaza until those grievances are redressed.

My versions are licensed under Creative Commons, so copy & disseminate away. If you post on your blog, please give us some link love and attribution.