Members of Occupy Flint reject ABC 12 news report as false, one-sided

December 12, 2011 By Christine 13 Comments

ABC 12 issued a report on Occupy Flint yesterday in which Adam Gerics discusses the Flint encampment:

But that’s not the only challenge facing occupiers. Gerics says he left the encampment a few days ago. “It’s changed because it’s become, parties until 5, 6 o’clock in the morning, there’s some illicit chemicals going on too.”

…

Gerics feels the group has strayed from it’s original purpose of bringing attention to social and economic inequalities. Sage has a much different take.

“There’s divisions that take place, and some of it’s ideological, some it’s ego, some it’s greed. You know in our case it’s just a bunch of dirty hippies that we’ve been consistently trying to defend against that image,” said Gerics.

Occupy Flint members have taken to social media to respond:

From the ABC12 interactive page:

Adam Gerics was asked to leave the occupy camp for a few days to clear his head after a series of altercations. He refused, threatened the camp with powers he did not have and displayed the ability for physical violence. He is not a part of Occupy Flint and no longer speaks for said group. It is sad that he decided to use the news as a tool for vengeance and slander the occupation like this. (Amanda Kat Shaw)

Adam Gerics is the cause of most, if not all of the problems at Occupy Flint. He is not a founding member. He couldn’t even answer when asked why he was there. According to him he was getting paid to be there as a property manager, which later we found out was not true at all. He was finally asked to leave after becoming physically violent towards other occupiers. The movement is now stronger and more unified without his presence. (Joe Saiko)

From the Facebook Occupy Flint group:

The ABC 12 news broadcast this morning was very incorrect and edited and we have been attempting to contact them for correction. THERE IS NO ILLEGAL OR UNLAWFUL ACTIVITY GOING ON AT OCCUPY FLINT CAMP. As a point of information, Adam Gerics is not a representitive of Occupy Flint as of last week when he was asked to leave based on multiple complaints and concers about him specifically. He still holds the title to a mans RV hostage as well as taking malicious action to counter the Occupy Flint Movement and individuals in the movement. His intentions are against those of the movement and based on ego, power and lies which were all demonstrated in the past months at Occupy Flint Camp. Please know that the intentions and actions of Occupy Flint are to build a stronger base of awareness and education about the many social and financial issues in our world, country and city while making direct actions to bring participation to General Assembly where direct democratic decision making is held within the community. Their Is No Illegal or Unlawful activity Going On at Occupy Flint. (Jerin Sage)

http://www.abc12.com/story/16301974/occupy-flint-could-be-asked-to-take-down-shelter This is what happens when someone gets drunk with power then leaves the mass consciousness of a true unified respectful “think for yourself” kinda movement then goes to the media with a good story that can feed off of the same drama he does. To make this clear if anyone see’s the person in this video known as Adam Gerrix (not sure as to whether i spelled his last name correctly) speak out at any point starting from about a week ago know that he DOES NOT represent the Occupy movement in any shape or form and that the reason he went to the news is because he is very angry that he was asked to leave the camp (temporarily at first then if his problems persisted it would be for longer) due to many issues that were malevolent in intent. … (Joe Kotts)

we are going to put out a formal press release tonight declaring Gerics a disgruntled former occupier, expelled for violence and theft, so that all media sources will be aware of his intent to twist the truth. They should receive this by Tues. morning. (David Allard)

Members of Occupy Flint have been trying to contact ABC12 to correct the story. So far they have not been successful.

Occupy Flint on the web — http://www.occupyflint.org/

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NattyGirl

One only has to walk past the OccupyFlint encampment to get a contact high. I live nearby and there is loud music and noise nearly nightly until very early in the morning. I can’t disagree when somebody says the camp appears to be one big party that seems to have very little to do with a protest movement.

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Marcia TruthSeeker

I am a 49 year old female that spends every weekend at Occupy Flint. The people at this camp work throughout the night on winterization and other things. They work in shifts due to the fact of having to have people up and about to perform security duties 24 hours a day. I don’t know who you are NattyGirl, but I can only assume that you do not want that camp there, and I know for a fact that you are making up whatever you can to make this camp look bad. You are lying when you say you can get a ‘contact high’ as you walk by the encampment, and any music that is played at night, stops at 10:00 p.m. per Flint City ordinances (aside from one or two late night protests) So unless you go to bed at 6:00 p.m. and feel 10:00 p.m. is considered ‘early in the morning’ ….you are just trying to make this encampment look bad. Why don’t you get a life, and/or better yet…..let’s see what you are doing to make positive change for this community. Occupy Flint has collected about 1000 lbs. of food for The Foodbank of Eastern Michigan, they have collected coats for Coats for Kids, they are currently collecting signatures for the EM snafu, and MANY, MANY other things (to many to list here)…..obviously you haven’t stopped in to see what is ACTUALLY going on, so until you do, you need to stop spreading vicious rumors…..They are all working very hard for positive change in this community. (I work 50 hours a week at my job, then I spend my weekends at the camp) Most of them have regular jobs, and the rest wish they could find jobs….all I can say is….stop sitting around on your butt complaining, and get out there and do something to be a part of this community to help!!!!!

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NattyGirl

Considering that I live in a loft in downtown Flint and walk past the camp at least four times every day while you only hang out there on weekends, it appears I have a better picture of what goes on there than you do. You really know what every single person is doing at that camp every minute? You are honestly going to tell me that the people I see hudled there smoking pot EVERY DAY and what I smell EVERY DAY is in my imagination and in the imagination of my neighbors? And what does all that “charity” work have to do with changing congress and closing corporate loopholes? This IS my community, Marcia. 24 hours a day. and frankly, the people of Flint are sick of looking at what amounts to a homeless tent city in the center of our town. I take it you don’t actually live in Flint or you’d think twice about the image you are portraying.

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AntiCamper

Good thing “pot” is actually medicine and is in everyway being used (generally off-site)for MEDICINAL use of MEDICAL MARIHUANA which is under Michigan State Law an accepted practice under The Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. Seems like, and Im anticamper that everyone needs to look at the bigger picture and realize these young(and older) people are here for a purpose on a global level and to deny that changes need to be made and standing up in solidarity is the first step. Who cares if they drink a little, socialize or have medical issues that are recommended the use of any substance as long as the messages and education of the movement are held at the core infrastructure and pushed, with proper resources, to the un awakened population. I also live next to camp and feel like its a positive presence that has detoured homeless people and potential dangers on the previously uninhabited North Side of the River. To add, the buses that drive by are louder than the regular activity of Occupy Flint. The Gunshots are more disturbing to the peace than Occupy Flint. The Bass in your trunk is more earthshaking and annoying than Occupy Flint. If were going to bitch lets get real and maybe focus on the real community issues besides our precious little downtown loft scene. This city is MUCH bigger and MUCH more in need of attention. Please do not waste your time with Occupy Flint.

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nattygirl

AntiCamper, so you’re saying that because you don’t believe it should be illegal, then using it isn’t against the law? That because some terminally ill have the legal use of it, then everybody should? That because the occasional bus going by is loud, then you should be able to blast music or yell at all hours?
Thank you. Now I that you’ve illustrated your solid and well thought out reasoning skills, I can disregard all of your suppposed arguements.
I’ll be back later after I finish laughing at you thinking camping out on weekends on private property is in any way effecting anything on a… what was it? Oh yes, a “global level”.

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- Brian Germain
  
  That is not what anticamper said at all Natty you need to read what he wrote.
  
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Marcia TruthSeeker

Ahh…..I do get it nattygirl, you can’t stand that this encampment is within your eyesight…..They will be holding a direct action in front of Debbie Stabenow’s office from 2-5 tomorrow (12/14) at the North Bank Center, standing up against the NDAA S1867….If you aren’t sure what this is about….look it up, you will find lots of info on it. The issues in this city, state, and country didn’t happen overnight, yet people seem to think that this movement should be making massive strides of change within just a couple of months or it is a worthless group, creating an eyesore. I can pretty much bet that you aren’t doing a thing to help make change, you go about your daily routine of your mundane life….and feel everyone else should be doing the same!!! I will just say to you, that things do take time, and no matter if they are being worked at the local level or the national level….just know that they are in the works, and eventually you WILL see change associated to Occupy Flint.

You are correct that I’m not there 24/7 and couldn’t possibly know what is going on there every minute. But I will ask you this…..why would you worry so much about Occupy Flint when there are things like prostitution and murders (don’t forget…..#1 in the country) throughout the city? Seriously, is someone paying you to worry about this?? I was born and raised in Flint, and I love Flint, and I will do whatever I need to do to help the people of this city, if it takes every ounce of energy I have…..at least I am trying to something, and that’s a lot more than doing nothing!!! How ’bout you??? What are you doing to help??? I would love to hear what you are working on to help others!! I hope you can overcome your anxiety about Occupy Flint, as we are not there to harm anyone….just trying to make a difference (no matter how small) https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/373907_2626791160952_1590497652_2396419_1142522643_n.jpg:)

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Brian Germain

You know honestly I don’t care if people are sick of looking at it anywhere thart is PART of the reason they are there in thr first place TO CREATE AWARENESS. You honestly think that these guys are the Homeless problem in Flint? Really? because Flint has a big enough homeless problem on its own. Beyond the fact that worrying about whether someone is smoking weed you should be more worried about what is going to happen when big banks and big businesses overturn the economy altogether and not just a friend of a friend or a distant relative has trouble finding a job but everyone does. Our dollar isn’t basedon the gold standard and hasn’t been for quite some time, We are riding a dying mule as a fuel source and our financial institutions are selling our debt to foreign countries for top dollar and geting rich off the American people while paying no taxes to boot. Some people need to wake up and smell the homeless, the greed, the pot or what the frick ever.

I am sick of people whining about eyesores. I don’t like to look at ugly people sometimes but they exist deal with it like a grown up. So much for the country of “tolerance” where they tolerate everything except what they don’t “feel like” tolerating.

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Don

Why would Adam lie?

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- alicia strong
  
  Occupiers!!! Thank you for what you are doing in the community. And for those of you that don’t like a tent city downtown….. TAKE A LOOK AROUND FLINT- the whole city looks like a third world nation. Stop whining and moaning and get off your ass and do something about it! With the effort you’ve spent sounding off on the internet you could have actually done something positive. And for those of you who want to question the legitimacy of the occupy movement- please tell me what you have done to make a difference for Flint????
  
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Justin

I myself have never seen the use of any illegal substances on the occupy flint camp. The people at occupy flint are made up of many flint citizens and some from surrounding cities, they all share a common goal which is to get our country back from corporations , and to tax the top 1% Americans a fair rate compared to the rest of the people.

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Marcia TruthSeeker

Why would Adam Lie??? Obviously you don’t know him very well…..1)He isn’t satisfied unless he is in control. 2)He was told he had to leave for a couple weeks, due to the many, many complaints of attack, thievery, and lies. 3) When these acts continued…he was banned. 4)He is now twisting the truth and lying in retaliation of losing the control he had of the camp.

If anyone wants to continue to believe this person….go right ahead….it will not stop *Occupy Flint*

It will not break the spirit of *Occupy Flint*

He is but ‘one’ person….who no longer represents *Occupy Flint*

I implore to each and every person who may want to ‘believe’ every word he says….to stop by for a visit, and use your own judgement to decide….then again, I don’t personally care what any of you believe.

And Don….have you spent any time at *Occupy Flint* yet? We have been there since Oct. 14th, so if not, obviously you have already made a decision to stay away…..so why in the world would any of this matter anyway???

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yalonda dye

There are bad apples in every bushel.
There is no way that the camp got built without co-operation and someone taking the lead. I am very impressed with the folks here and just for the record I am 60 years old, not a hippie. And by the way here is the definition of a hippie one I would be proud to be accused of!

hip·pie [hip-ee] noun
a person, especially of the late 1960s, who rejected established institutions and values and sought spontaneity, direct personal relations expressing love, and expanded consciousness, often expressed externally in the wearing of casual, folksy clothing and of beads, headbands, used garments, etc.

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