As legislators from around the world threaten to quash the overnight activities of Occupy Wall Street protestors, opinion on whether or not the movement is noble or negligent remains divided. In an attempt to change the hearts and minds of those either opposed or dismissive of the movement, I have assembled some frequently asked questions, with the hope that facts shall truly alter the people’s perspective of Occupy Wall Street.
How did Occupy Wall Street start?
Many believe that the Occupy Wall Street movement has no definitive origin, but that is not entirely true. Reporters have traced the Occupy Wall Street movement back to a July 13 blog post by the activist group known as Adbusters (which is based in Vancouver). The blog post, titled OCCUPYWALLSTREET: A Shift in Revolutionary Tactics, asked everyday Americans to “flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, and peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street.” The message of this blog post, which was created in response to America’s growing disparity of wealth, and the absence of legal repercussions for the bankers behind the recent global financial crisis, slowly spread throughout the U.S. By September 17, protestors had gathered in Zuccotti Park (located in lower Manhattan’s financial district) and kicked-off the OWS movement, which has now spread throughout the globe.
What are the goals of the Occupy Wall Street protestors?
The goals of the Occupy Wall Street protestors are as numerous as Justin Bieber’s rabid tween fan-base. For this reason, many politicians, as well as pundits and 1% plutocrats, have criticized the movement as being unfocused, uncontrollable, and aimless. Although this claim is slightly true, and although the Occupy Wall Street protestors often come from different groups, as well as different backgrounds (both economically and ideologically), there exists three clearly discernible points that almost all of the protesters of the movement seem to agree upon (these points were later confirmed by a study conducted by the London newspaper, The Guardian): One, let the money out of our (America’s) political system, particularly in regards to the Supreme Court’s recent Citizens United ruling (2010), which lets infinite amounts of cash enter America’s political campaign process. Two, reform America’s banking system to prevent fraud and manipulation. Three, draft laws against a little-known loophole that currently allows members of our Congress to pass legislation affecting Delaware-based corporations in which they themselves are investors. As you can see, despite a cacophony of complaints, most of the Occupy Wall Street protestors have some pretty distinct goals in mind.
What symbolism is involved within Occupy Wall Street?
Occupy Wall Street symbolism is built around the protestors’ motto “We are the 99%.” This motto refers to the idea that the Occupy Wall Street protestors are up against a 1% minority of rich and corrupt individuals, who have destroyed American capitalism through various means. Although this idea does contain some factual value (a 2007 study from the Congressional Budget Office confirmed that the top 1% of U.S. income earners had increased their income 275% since 1979), the motto is mostly a symbolic one, and suggests that a large number of people are paying for the mistakes of a few.
Who supports Occupy Wall Street?
Although public opinion of Occupy Wall Street has soured somewhat these past few weeks, support for the movement (both in America and around the globe) often fluctuates. Therefore, deciding whether or not the public supports the movement as a whole (or just in lower Manhattan) is a futile effort. However, famous and influential politicians have been confirmed as OWS supporters, as well as world-renowned artists, writers, actors, and performers. A list of such people includes President Barack Obama, presidential hopeful Ron Paul, documentarian Michael Moore, and British comedian Russell Brand.
Are the amendment rights of the Occupy Wall Street protestors being tampered with and trampled on?
First off, in the United States, the Constitution explicitly provides for the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances in the First Amendment. This means that, in the United States, the Occupy Wall Street protestors, although denied permits to protest (overnight) in certain areas (most importantly, Zuccotti Park), are nevertheless exercising their rights as citizens of the United States, and those rights should be respected. Unfortunately, the recent eviction of Occupy Wall Street protestors from such prominent cities as Boston and Philadelphia, in an attempt to destroy the symbolic longevity of the Occupy Wall Street protests, have only confirmed that certain legislators (I’m talking to you, Mayor Bloomberg) place private interest and a certain degree of public support before our country’s most sacred document.
Perhaps even more despicable than ignoring the First Amendment is the way certain legislators and law enforcement officials are handling Occupy Wall Street protestors. For example, after midnight on November 11, police delivered notices that Zuccotti Park protesters had to temporarily vacate the park to allow cleaning/sanitation crews access. According to the police notice, protesters would have been allowed back in after the cleaning, but without some living essentials such as tents, tarps, or sleeping bags. Police moved in around 1:00 AM on November 15 and arrested about 200 people, some of whom attempted to stop the entry of cleaning crews. Computers were smashed, tents were destroyed, and over 5,000 books from The Peoples’ Library (a library established by protestors in Zuccotti Park) were thrown into dump trucks. Did I forget to mention that the protestors, apart from having their personal belongings taken or trashed, were also beaten? As of now, no protestors are allowed to camp in Zuccotti Park.
Is the media distorting the facts of Occupy Wall Street?
That depends on which media source you trust (as a biased liberal, I advocate Cenk Uygur’s left-leaning, but fairly honest coverage). However, if one looks at the history of the Occupy Wall Street movement, one can clearly perceive an evolution from an Occupy Wall Street “media blackout,” to an Occupy Wall Street “media circus.” Despite being off to a slow start, the Occupy Wall Street movement is now one of the media’s most covered topics, generating heated debate from both left-wing and right-wing news sources. Right-winger Rush Limbaugh has described the protestors as “parasites,” and praised the dumping of McDonald’s application forms onto the heads of protestors in Occupy Chicago (the dumpers were members of the Chicago Board of Trade). On the left, Reverend Jesse Jackson has described the Occupy movement as an “extension” of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Civil Rights activism. Which side is the right one (or, ahem, the left one) is a choice you’ll have to make for yourself, just remember to check the facts (mine included). Good luck.
