For anyone paying attention to the national Occupy movement, you knew protesters were playing an age old game of chicken with local and government authorities. Who would be the first to give in was a question posed in any observer’s mind. Well, with recent events over the past week, the answer is here: the authorities. Occupy Wall Street has seen a surge in media coverage since local NYPD displaced the long time inhabitants of downtown New York City’s Zuccotti Park and footage of UC Davis students getting pepper sprayed by university officials went viral on the web. As authorities and local officials crack down on occupy movements across the nation, and eviction deadlines loom for many protesters, the response seems to be “we are here and we are not moving.”
Hot spots like Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, L.A., Washington DC. Philadelphia, and others face shrinking tolerance of local officials, but many are refusing to back down. This weekend L.A. protesters defied a deadline put in place by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for their removal from City Hall and the surrounding park. As conflict becomes a growing issue, many supporters believe it will be a positive step forward for the movement. Group organizers and leaders are finally having to make some major decisions as the movement moves into a new self determining phase. Some feel it will help focus the movement and create solidarity in place of its often criticized divided membership. Conflict represents the first true test for Occupy. How resilient will it be? Has Occupy only been a show or does it truly personify the feelings of most Americans?
Debate is widespread on what direction Occupy should or will move, but if one thing is clear for now, there remains strong support for a movement focused on challenging the status quo and economic disparity in America. Videos of the UC Davis police officer pepper spraying famous works of art, to music videos from performing music stars like Lupe Fiasco and Miley Cyrus, to an interview with a protest injured Iraq veteran, continue to draw more followers.
Gene Sharp, an extensive writer on nonviolent movement and struggle and political science professor, would call this “political jiu-jitsu.” A type of non-resistance that forces the government or government agencies to react harshly, weakening their own agenda of suppression. With Occupy, it is currently practicing a form of political jiu-jitsu. Occupy has forced a retaliation that did exactly what most wanted, violence and brutality that dramatizes the situation and mobilizes a larger population. It might not grow protest numbers, but it will grow the number of sympathizers. Those who were on the fence or not yet persuaded, are now provided a reason to join in support. So the Occupy movement faces its greatest test and defining moment in these next few weeks as it responds to the demands and action of state and city officials.
Only the future can answer the question: will the movement mobilize a larger citizenry? If any critique has the power to dismantle the spirit of Occupy, it is that it does not truly represent the 99 percent of America. Though being able to represent 99 percent of a country as diverse as the United States seems impossible, there is hope in the effort. Because Occupy symbolizes an idea that is very powerful. It has close parallels to that of the Solidarity Movement that took place in Eastern Europe during the 80s and 90s that brought down the Soviet Union. That hope, that idea, is to recognize a new way of thinking. To bring change through local action not national thought. Occupy does not need to be political because if one thing can be agreed upon in America, it is that nothing can be agreed upon in Congress. What Occupy represents is a change in our idea of America, a revision of democracy, a re-evaluation of capitalism. Occupy does not need to make a list of legislature or 10 step action program for the government. Occupy needs to change minds not laws. If we change enough minds, the laws will follow. That is what lies ahead for Occupy Wall Street. Will Occupy mobilize a nation ambivalent and apathetic even to its own destruction? Because if it does, exciting times are ahead of us.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Rise of the People: Occupy Wall Street
What started only two months ago, the Occupy Wall Street protest has quickly found roots all over the country and all over the world. Launched in New York City on September 17, 2011 following a media campaign by the Canadian, anti-capitalist organization Adbusters, the movement continues to grow every day. No one knows how long people will keep sleeping in mummy bags and tents in lower Manhatten or the Oakland bay, but for now, Occupy Wall Street is here to stay.
Occupy Wall Street represents a change in American culture, it is a loud statement that people are tired of the corporate, elite class bias that has come to dominant today’s economic situation. Protesters, government officials and the general public- whether affected or not- continue to wait and see how long this is going to go.
Some hope that with the coming of winter, people will pack up and go, and the cries of the 99 percent will be muted by the fall of fresh snow. Some want the group to come out with a clear, concise list of demands while others rebuke this as disloyal to the essence of the protest. In any movement of this magnitude, there will be divisions and disagreements, but what will be most interesting to see as time goes on, are two things.
First, whether its in the from of a list of demands, or a draft of a constitution, the movement must clarify their purpose and present distinct goals in order to unify the millions of supporters in a common goal.
Secondly, the most important question to ask right now is, will the movement stay predominantly nonviolent? There has already been numerous accounts of vandalism, destruction of public property and the unneeded disturbance of the innocent population. As the protest heightens in intensity, will the people maintain a careful awareness of who they are fighting? Because a movement as large and scrutinized as Occupy Wall Street, will be judged on their weakest elements.
The 99 percent are not fighting the local business man going to work at Standard & Poor’s in order to provide food for his family. They are not fighting the women who owns her own cupcake shop on Liberty st. or the guy who parks his Beamer where you were going to park your bicycle.
That’s not what Occupy Wall Street is about. What Occupy is about is protesting the failed policies of the government, and working to hold accountable the greedy CEO’s and Wall Street gurus who are responsible for the destruction of the middle and low income populations. It is the recognition that we have been silent far too long. Our generation mirrors the same characteristics that saw the changes brought on by the Civil Rights movement and protests of Vietnam.
The world has moved into an era that is seeing a global shift towards embracing democracy, an unparalleled connection of communication from globalization, and an unprecedented amount wealth. But as the gap between the rich and the poor widens, as the numbers of impoverished and disenfranchised minorities grow, movements like Occupy Wall Street will begin to sprout worldwide. In the first decade of the twenty first century, we have witnessed two global recessions, the longest war in American history, the Arab spring, and now this sweeping movement of the 99 percent.
Occupy Wall Street epitomizes the growing disillusionment of the American population, and though we have yet to see if anything substantial will come from it, we are beginning to see the first glimmers of a future shaped by a majority in action. The future is unpredictable, but the power of the people is not.
Daniel Martin
Writing For Media
608 Words
7 November 2011
Occupy Wall Street represents a change in American culture, it is a loud statement that people are tired of the corporate, elite class bias that has come to dominant today’s economic situation. Protesters, government officials and the general public- whether affected or not- continue to wait and see how long this is going to go.
Some hope that with the coming of winter, people will pack up and go, and the cries of the 99 percent will be muted by the fall of fresh snow. Some want the group to come out with a clear, concise list of demands while others rebuke this as disloyal to the essence of the protest. In any movement of this magnitude, there will be divisions and disagreements, but what will be most interesting to see as time goes on, are two things.
First, whether its in the from of a list of demands, or a draft of a constitution, the movement must clarify their purpose and present distinct goals in order to unify the millions of supporters in a common goal.
Secondly, the most important question to ask right now is, will the movement stay predominantly nonviolent? There has already been numerous accounts of vandalism, destruction of public property and the unneeded disturbance of the innocent population. As the protest heightens in intensity, will the people maintain a careful awareness of who they are fighting? Because a movement as large and scrutinized as Occupy Wall Street, will be judged on their weakest elements.
The 99 percent are not fighting the local business man going to work at Standard & Poor’s in order to provide food for his family. They are not fighting the women who owns her own cupcake shop on Liberty st. or the guy who parks his Beamer where you were going to park your bicycle.
That’s not what Occupy Wall Street is about. What Occupy is about is protesting the failed policies of the government, and working to hold accountable the greedy CEO’s and Wall Street gurus who are responsible for the destruction of the middle and low income populations. It is the recognition that we have been silent far too long. Our generation mirrors the same characteristics that saw the changes brought on by the Civil Rights movement and protests of Vietnam.
The world has moved into an era that is seeing a global shift towards embracing democracy, an unparalleled connection of communication from globalization, and an unprecedented amount wealth. But as the gap between the rich and the poor widens, as the numbers of impoverished and disenfranchised minorities grow, movements like Occupy Wall Street will begin to sprout worldwide. In the first decade of the twenty first century, we have witnessed two global recessions, the longest war in American history, the Arab spring, and now this sweeping movement of the 99 percent.
Occupy Wall Street epitomizes the growing disillusionment of the American population, and though we have yet to see if anything substantial will come from it, we are beginning to see the first glimmers of a future shaped by a majority in action. The future is unpredictable, but the power of the people is not.
Daniel Martin
Writing For Media
608 Words
7 November 2011
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