"We choose to occupy capital, not capitol buildings," says yesterday's communique from Hip Hop Occupies.

The group is calling on people to blockade all west coast ports on December 12—rather than pushing for change via the legislative process in, say, Olympia—"because we are no longer waiting to have our voices validated at the whim of elected officials."

Full rationale in the jump.

*For Immediate Release/Please Forward Widely*

*Dubs Up! Hip Hop Occupies Call-to-Action for West Coast Port Shutdown*

*Group issues solidarity statement & artist all-call for participation in
12/12 rallies*

*Seattle, WA*—Hip Hop Occupies is calling upon youth and artists in Seattle and beyond to come out in full force December 12th in support and solidarity for the West Coast Port Shutdown. HHO endorses this day of direct action as not only an opportunity to make a political statement against budget cuts and on-going police brutality, but also to create a strategic profit loss within the toxic capitalist economic system. From Seattle to San Diego, oppressed peoples of all backgrounds are mobilizing to shut down the power of the 1% in this coordinated national effort. We choose to occupy capital, not capitol buildings, because we are no longer waiting to have our voices validated at the whim of elected officials.

It is the fact that the Port Shutdown is pushing the “Occupy Movement” in a more active, coordinated direction that Hip Hop Occupies stands in solidarity. It has historically been a West Coast tradition to push the envelope of culture and struggle in this way. From the Black Panthers to Freestyle Fellowship, from NWA to the 1919 Seattle General Strike, the West Coast stays innovating. Following in the footsteps of these West Coast innovators in both Hip Hop and Revolutionary struggle, Hip Hop Occupies to Decolonize Seattle is helping to coordinate rallies at 1pm, 3pm, and 6pm on Monday, December 12th. We are asking all our allies in the artist community to come MC, paint, dance, and create in the name of freedom and self-determination.

*Event Date:* Monday, December 12th, 2011

*Event Locations:* Westlake Park, 4th & Pine in Downtown Seattle, Port of Seattle

*Event Schedule:*

*12:00pm: *Hip Hop Occupies Artist Check-In at Westlake

*1:00pm:* Rally and Performances at Westlake Center

*3:00pm*: Rally & Performances at Port of Seattle

*6:00pm: *Rally & Performances at Spokane Street Fishing Area