Religious political party looking to partner with Occupy GR

Unlike the large demonstrations all over the country following the Occupy movement that started in New York City this fall, Occupy Grand Rapids has been fairly quiet. After their initial General Assembly in early October, the group took up their occupation in Ah-Nab-Awen Park, only to have it shut down by the police less than two days later, due to ordinances regarding use of city parks after sunset.

Since then the group has mostly had their camp at Fountain Street Church, while more public actions and General Assemblies are held at Monument Park at the corner of Fulton and Division. A trip down to Fountain Street Church Thursday revealed two people at the camp, Brooke VanDyke and Danny (who refused to give his last name). While not having the numbers that other cities have had, the group in Grand Rapids has still taken part in a fair amount of actions. Most recently, on Wednesday some members took part in a demonstration against former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was in Grand Rapids on behalf of the Kent County GOP. VanDyke said that while the demonstration was small the action was still meaningful.

"We didn't have a big turnout but it's always fun."

Outside of Fountain Street Church- the camp is more in the lobby area- there was a woman named Nori Kalom who wanted to speak with people from the Occupy GR movement as well. Kalom works with a group called the Black/White Christian Political Party. The Black/White party does work on behalf of hunger issues in Africa, and is also trying to get a man named James Germalic, "Champion of Christians," on the ballot for President.

Kalom sees a lot of similarites between the Black/White party and the Occupy movement. "We're for the poor people. We're for the people who don't have a voice." 

Kalom said that while she sees the people in Occupy as lacking morals, they would agree on social issues. 

Kalom did not believe that separation of Church and State, as laid out by the Constitution, would be a problem.

"The US Constitution says there is no established religion, but it does not prohibit religion influencing government." 

Some of the ways that Kalom's group wants to influence government include overturning Roe v Wade and making sure gay marriage is illegal.

"When you legalize same-sex marriage or abortion, you're saying it's okay," Kalom said.

Kalom also had some literature--somthing of a manifesto--about the Black/White Party's plans once in political power. It begins with Germalic urging Hispanics in Chicago to march to LaSalle street (LaSalle Street being the center of grain trading, according to the manifesto) and "[telling] Pharoah (LaSalle Street traders) to open up your grain bins for the starving in Somalia and Kenya." There are also several apparent biblical quotes throughout, however they mention things such as abortion, contraceptives and Communism.

While Kalom said she had spoken with other Occupy groups throughout the country, and that they had been respectful of her point of view, there is no obvious indication of a formal Occupy-Black/White Party combination. At time of meeting, Kalom had not spoken with anyone in the OccupyGR movement.