We the people and community of Oklahoma City, the online community, some current and former participants in Occupy OKC, and the Occupation Movement in general, demand a public apology from Occupy OKC, to those it has wronged among those who stay and among those who have left, to the community is has occupied, and to the Occupation movement overall.

The overall aims of the Occupation movement are sound, but unfortunately “Occupy OKC” has done the movement a disservice by not reflecting those aims in a healthy manner. It has occupied the name and concept of Occupation without reproducing a genuinely democratic community that reflects the national and statewide Occupy movement prevalent and obvious in Oklahoma’s other communities, and thus has introduced a rift within a movement that many of us have come to value. It has occupied Oklahoma City but failed to respect the safety and peace of the already existing community of Oklahoma City. It has occupied the park and the general assembly, in which all citizens were always free to engage before Occupy OKC was formed, but has created an unhealthy and unstable environment that has fostered a continual rollercoaster cycle of alternating enthusiasm and distress among its own participants. Occupy OKC has not kept faith with its constituents, and therefore we petition for redress of grievance as a portion of and on behalf of the aggrieved parties.

It is with disappointment and sadness that we yet recognize the innumerable contributions of wonderful people, such as those who served tirelessly in the kitchen and selflessly cleaned up the park when campers would not. We recognize the good will of those who tried to introduce civility and order at general assembly, and who served in that manner, by introducing a good neighbor policy and a process of meeting, respectively. However this order was routinely allowed to be trampled, and civility was routinely cast aside, so that meetings more than once had to be adjourned in disorder, with little productive accomplished or agreed upon. That this occurred when there were guest speakers and guests from other community occupations invited to the assembly is shameful and embarrassing. That popular motions reflecting the widely held concerns of people who said they would leave the movement if concerns were not addressed have been met with rage and even threatening behavior, instead of simply being amended or voted down, is egregious. That people have felt intimidated against raising concerns about the wellbeing of the community in free and open safety is unacceptable.

Democracy is a movement of imperfect people toward a community of imperfect qualities, with the insistence that in community there is the wisdom of democratic process. Democracy is not an ideology of purity, and perfection, to which one either adheres or pretends exists or is disloyal. Too often imperfect contributions have been mocked or met with rudeness and uncivil conduct, not befitting a democratic endeavor. For instance, Occupy OKC has allowed a culture to develop among the youth that openly dismisses the contributions of the elderly and the adult, and has not effectively demonstrated how a democracy improves us by teaching the young how to respect the contributions of the old.

That Occupy OKC has failed, continually, to enforce its own resolutions for safety, solidarity, and wellbeing in the community, such as the resolution to not do drugs in the encampment, the resolution to not put the occupation at risk by unilaterally subjecting the community to illegal situations, and the resolution to adopt provisions of the Good Neighbor policy in effect on Wall Street, which specifically forbids verbal abuse, physical threats, and drug use in the encampment, indicates an unwillingness to effect but superficial claims to welcome and hospitality for all.

Most distressing is that Occupy OKC has exhibited a pattern of unhealthy revolutionary fervor and passion beginning with the creation of a cyclical atmosphere of chaos in the assemblies, the introduction of a mythos of conspiracy and paranoia (such as the continual express fears of infiltrators), a policy of secrecy (such as resolutions attempting to bind participants to not speaking with the press, which are documented in the minutes of general assembly), countenancing intimidation (which has been discussed in numerous e-mails which are documented and archived), the denunciation of traitors, enemies, and alleged spies (such as those who have raised concerns on behalf of the intimidated, or who have left in disgust) - thus effectively quelling dissent rather than allowing it to be part of the democratic process, and the alteration of history (such as the absence of key items from the minutes of general assembly that were witnessed and formally discussed by the assembly). Add to this questionable and unaccountable handling of funds and other problems.

In order to achieve the reconciliation of Occupy OKC to the people it has wronged (both within and without - whether serving actively still or those who have blocked, left, and are no longer willing to associate with it), to the community of Oklahoma City of which it must successfully be a part instead of merely stand apart, and to the occupation movement as a whole, Occupy OKC *must* admit and acknowledge these wrongs, openly and transparently in general assembly, and formally record them in the minutes to be posted publicly. It *must* apologize in the same manner, and agree upon specific ways to reconcile each of these aggrieved parties - those who remain, those who left, the community of Oklahoma City, and the Occupation movement in general. Only in redress of this grievance can Occupy OKC be restored to the possibility of acceptance as a legitimate occupation, a real expression of the Occupy movement, an inviting participant in the community of Oklahoma City, as well as a more than superficially welcoming community for people to serve each other. Passion is not enough - it must be passion with honor, honesty, order, and civility. Purity is not a reasonable demand, because then an ideology of democracy reigns over the people, instead of putting the people first. It is the democratic process and community that must be preserved, to have a sound democratic movement.

If you cannot do this - if you cannot admit this serious failure, significant fault, and genuine wrong in the aforementioned areas, and therefore cannot apologize, then you are unable to merit the trust, the gifts, and the cooperation of the people, and we ask that the other Occupation communities then have nothing further to do with you, that the community of Oklahoma City withdraw its special indulgence, and the individuals who serve to embrace the many healthy alternatives that exist for democratic service and action, from labor unions to local chapters of organizations that have existed long before and tirelessly served the slower but more sound growth of democracy in our community and the world. We ask that each of these aggrieved parties join in holding you accountable.

If Occupy OKC cannot do the minimum necessary for restoring good faith with the affected parties and communities, we recommend any participants seek a healthy and safe environment that is civil and orderly in its assemblies and internal culture, without introducing clearly harmful practices. Democracy did not begin with Occupy OKC, but there is a long history of democratic principles and action in Oklahoma, and legitimate occupations in surrounding communities everywhere, even 30-minutes away, as well as numerous alternate democratic activities in the OKC community already. Occupy everything, if need be. But in a way that is constructive and does not pretend to be infallible when clearly it has deep and abiding problems.

We do not offer this petition secretly or privately, because these matters have already been raised repeatedly in free and open assembly, and have not been successfully addressed except in apparently superficial ways, and because transparency is a means of correcting at least one of the problems. Thanks to all who contribute their signature to this effort at truth and reconciliation between us all.