(Aviva Markowitz/Food Editor)
On Sept. 17, more than 20 University students joined “Occupy Wall Street,” a leaderless community currently camping out in the Wall Street area to protest inequalities in wealth distribution and corruption in corporate America.
“There was no specific goal when it started out,” said Coady Johnson ’15, who participated in the protest. “The general idea was that we would bring together a bunch of people from extremely different backgrounds who all shared a common concern about how corporations are involved in American society and government.”
The idea for this demonstration was first proposed on July 13 by the activist magazine “Adbusters.” They called for a leaderless demonstration in the Wall Street area and hoped to turn it into an “American Tahrir Square,” referring to the location where the 2011 Egyptian Revolution first started.
“It’s definitely inspired by the occupying of the square in Egypt, which continued until demands were met, [with] that demand being a little more specific than ours,” said Anwar Batte ’13. “Also it’s been inspired by the demonstrations in Spain and other Mediterranean countries, which started with a similar small group of people occupying space in order to get their demands out.”
Organizers hoped to see 20,000 people come together to join in the peaceful occupation of Wall Street. However, on the first day of the demonstration, the protester turnout was closer to 1,000.
“Perspective depends on frame of reference,” Batte said. “If your frame of reference is what ‘Adbusters’ had hoped would happen, then it’s a disappointment. But if your frame of reference is how few people tend to be involved in demonstrations in the U.S. in the first place and how infrequently protests in the United States last for more than one day, then I would call it a success. Some of us were disappointed because it wasn’t as large as we would have hoped for, but I would still consider it a large protest.”
On the first day, the demonstrators came together at Bowling Green Park in Lower Manhattan. After finding Wall Street completely blocked off by the New York Police Department, the demonstrators marched to nearby Zuccotti Park, where they have constructed a small community of tents.
Consistent with the movement’s democratic goals, decisions about the demonstration are agreed upon by a general assembly, which does not allow for any action to be taken until the protesters have reached a consensus.
“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” Johnson said. “We just became this self-contained, self-sustaining, self-governing community. We held general assemblies to make decisions on a consensus basis. Everyone was looking out for each other. We were all from different political and economic backgrounds, and yet here we were in this very lovely community.”
Evan Weber ’13 was similarly inspired.
“Everyone there had a part in the decision-making process,” Weber said. “I think a part of that was intentional, saying that this was a real democracy as a statement against the corporatocracy and the powerful few deciding everything for many.”
By the evening of Sept. 20, the number of demonstrators had shrunk to several hundred. However, many protesters, including University students, plan to return to Wall Street to participate again this weekend.
“I think weekend numbers will increase,” Batte said. “There will be Wesleyan students going. But the core group of a few hundred is still there. I don’t think it will fizzle out. They’re settled in, barring some sort of mass arrest.”
Meanwhile on campus, students who went to the demonstration on Sept. 17 have continued the protest on campus. Around 15 students are currently camped out in three tents on Foss Hill in what they are calling “Tent City.” The students residing in the Tent City hope to form a smaller campus version of the protest currently happening on Wall Street.
“We want to keep it up indefinitely,” Batte said. “It’s the same idea as the Occupy Wall Street Protest; we’ll keep going until we see some kind of result.”
The demands of the students, while not quite as radical as some of the New York City protesters, still include substantial changes to corporate involvement in government.
“Personally, I would like to see an end to corporate personhood,” Johnson said. “Frankly, I think it’s ridiculous that corporations have the same rights as people. I would also like to see a repeal of the Supreme Court decision that allows corporations to donate infinite funds to political campaigns, because for me this is a protest over the amount of influence corporations have over the U.S. government.”
While the demonstration is still underway, Weber said he remains cautiously optimistic about its outcome.
“I think there wasn’t really an explicit goal,” Weber said. “The feeling I took away from it was that it had a lot of potential. The people who were there were empowered to reach out to other people and convince them why it was an important thing to be a part of, and I think a lot of people felt that way.”
Aviva Markowitz contributed reporting to this article.
44 Comments
SlaughterSteelgrave
You all rock! I feel proud to be an American again. Thank you.
Tarus826
why isn’t this publsized in the daily media…..this action is long overdue and should snowball into a national movement
trollwatcher
There was an Official Blackout on this….
NoSanta
You bunch of hipster socialist assholes.
Christopher Fee
Very substantive post. Lots of thought went into that one, eh?
Hippie Cleaner
Bunch of dirty hippies with nothing better to do. They do a terrible job articulating what they want and since they are disorganized, they are going to be taken advantage of by a small but violent minority that want to turn this into a riot over the weekend.
Anonymous
No leaders, what do you expect
Christopher Fee
Absolutely, since the current leaders of this country are doing such a bang-up job.
Individual responsibility probably frightens you, yes?
Ron4252
They dont know the solution….yet. Expulsion is a particular solution. There are others.
Christopher Fee
They do a FINE job of articulating what they want, but sleepwalkers like you don’t take the time to listen.
Jack
These are a bunch of idiots that think our financial system is the root of all evil. If only people didn’t invest and seek profits everyone would be equal, there would be starvation, and everyone would be happy (sarcasm)…. what a load of BS. It is human nature to compete and grab your resources or else you will watch someone else enjoy your lunch. Why don’t they do something that could actually help people in poverty like volunteering for the peace corps or working and donating money to a low income family… no instead they camp outside Wall St. waiting for the system to be magically transformed into a utopia. Utopia does not exist, nor will it ever, for nature is chaos.
Awesomeradio
Look, Jack, I do donate and am Involved in a lot of charity and I’m sure that many people protesting are too, but why should the middle and lower class be donating our hard-earned, meager incomes? Look at all those fat cats, billions of dollars they have. They aren’t helping the lower class, homeless, etc. We are. The middle/lower class. Donating and volunteering is good, but they billionaires should donate every once in a while. I’m not saying Bill Gates, he donates, but i mean those shadowy bankers…
Jack
That’s cool that you donate and contribute to the social sector. The thing is that so do lots of upper class folks, who btw work very hard for their money as well. Nobody likes corruption except the corruptors, and it is obviously not a thing of the past, however this protest doesn’t really have a concentrated voice. Instead the people are just camping outside Wall Street which leads one to assume they simply don’t like the financial system.
It would be great for more billionaires and millionaires to donate money to society, but unfortunately what they do with their money is their decision. Personally I would not remove our current system, because I dream to make it big. Even though I am not in the billionaires position I dream myself to be so. Hence I support our current system.
crazybaldhead
no offense jack, but it millions of people drinking your brand of kool aid that keep this 1% in control. you’re free to follow your pursuits and good luck, but ridiculing the people pointing out the innate hypocrisy in the bail out of the wealthiest people in america is pretty adolescent behavior. many in america have lost their safety net (me included), and are angry that our tax dollars go towards propping up our “free market economy”
ObeliskNWP
Jack your blind. While you plan your great step into the billionaire club you forget the struggling people in poverty not only in the US but also around the world which will never get a fair opportunity to do the same, your plain lucky to even be able to strive for success, a lot of people unfourtunatley have smaller goals like trying to even find the next paycheck for food to feed their kids(also unfortunately born into a state of distress and not as lucky as say someone like you). Being selfish gets the world nowhere just a small select few who over look humanity for their own well being. And most selfish people like you sadly believe they will find happiness in these riches but most likely will never even come close to finding it because you donkeys over look love and place greed above all. Wheres your Patriotism? Isn’t america suppose to stand for freedom and equality? Why do you think the poor complain everyday? Just because they are lazy and don’t want to strive for luxury like you? No, we just want a fair chance like, and thats what were fighting for. And when this corrupt system finally gets too greedy, which isn’t too far away. It will be bourgeoisie like the aspiring you who will be reprimanded.
Shawn
wow, this post is either full of complete retards, or trolling financial execs
crazybaldhead
yeah Jack, you go! why don’t all those unemployed people just go get a job and donate their money to the poor. huh? ummm…I think the reason we have double digit unemployment is because the jobs disappeared Jack…and are still disappearing (BofA ring a bell?). Corporations sitting on capital, waiting/riding out the storm, laying people off to keep shareholders at bay. capital given to them by the fed, taken from us tax payers. how do we ride out the storm without capital Jack? is that enough of a nutshell for ya? ok, how about unbridled greed eventually breeds unrest. check history on that one and hold on to your 401k
Paulettesage
You talk like you are “self-made.” Well …. you aren’t. No one is. You walk the path you walk because of the millions of humans who came before you. Including the housekeeping staff at the hospital or wherever you were born. Or the people who laid the brick (!) on the road to the hospital where you were born. You are NOT special. None of the likes of “you” are special. You are NOT the center of the universe. Sorry for the news. You have what you have (I have what I have) because of the blood, sweat, tears – slaughter – of millions of people all over the world. But at least I “get it.” And am trying to live life accordingly. I am blessed not to have you in my life.
trollwatcher
Jack the troll?
Mnventerprises
there will always be poverty Jack, not because of the system but because they who are poor choose it. There is an ancient book that speaks all about it.
Cheers
Christopher Fee
People choose to be poor.
Now THERE’S a load of horse hockey . . .
Not Blind
JacK, your ignorance is revealed. Go and watch Matt Damon’s movie ‘Inside Job’. If you are not moved to protest at the greed, manipulation and lack of concern for the American society then your emotional immaturity is greater than your ignorance and YOU will be ignored.
Sold1000
@ SlaughterSteelgrave and Tarus826, thank you for being the voice of reason and intelligence among the obtuse.
Sold1000
Funny…the imperceptive gate keeper moves the sane comments to the bottom of the blog. No freedom of speech here. Have a safe weekend to everyone.
Jack
It’s actually based on amounts of likes… See this is one thing you have in common with the protesters. Rather than learn the tricks and try to win you just complain and blame the game and its players.
fundraiser
why are there TRICKS
F_keitel
About time! We are started to focus on the root of today’s problems .
Criddle2
It is sad to see that so many people have been brainwashed into thinking that our country can be fixed by the BS system we have in place. Any one with half a brain knows our system is corrupt, hell we can’t even get this protest to be covered by MSM!! This is not a gov for the people any more it is for the corporation. The point of the protest may not be concrete as of yet but I do not see that as a bad thing bc as we sit here typing not doing shit those people are out there working with one another from all sides of the political spectrum to figure out what we need and what is important to everyone, and THEN we will decide what our demands are. Too much time is spent on what politicians think is right, I mean right now most republicans don’t like the tea party but those are the only ones getting any attention. Ugh, I feel sorry for those who do not see the vision we have for our society. Volunteering is great but only helps immediate problems and are not long term solutions–which is what we pay the government to do but they don’t do anything but fight to keep their money and power which are backed by the corporations!!!
Criddle2
It is sad to see that so many people have been brainwashed into thinking that our country can be fixed by the BS system we have in place. Any one with half a brain knows our system is corrupt, hell we can’t even get this protest to be covered by MSM!! This is not a gov for the people any more it is for the corporation. The point of the protest may not be concrete as of yet but I do not see that as a bad thing bc as we sit here typing not doing shit those people are out there working with one another from all sides of the political spectrum to figure out what we need and what is important to everyone, and THEN we will decide what our demands are. Too much time is spent on what politicians think is right, I mean right now most republicans don’t like the tea party but those are the only ones getting any attention. Ugh, I feel sorry for those who do not see the vision we have for our society. Volunteering is great but only helps immediate problems and are not long term solutions–which is what we pay the government to do but they don’t do anything but fight to keep their money and power which are backed by the corporations!!!
Anonymous
As much as a certain segment of society chooses to combat what they perceive to be the gaming of society by entrenched power interests perhaps we ought to ask the uncomfortable question- does anyone then really care anymore? And if they did, how is it that the movement that started off with 5000 members last weekend has dwindled to less than 200 come this weekend? After all the concerns of the ‘occupy wall street’ group are legitimate ones with deep consequences.
http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2011/09/occupy-wall-st-rebel-with-a-cause-suddenly-youth-who-dont-care-about-celebrity-and-fame-but-will-this-consciousness-have-legs/
bozak
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=223548834366520&l=afb806b1c2
Johndoe
Why dont you all get an education,then a job and then a life.
Christopher Fee
Because the jobs were outsourced so .1% of the population can live off the fat of the land while the rest of us suffer and scream? Maybe?
Doves Peace
1- GO NOW, IMMEDIATELY. QUIT YOUR JOB, KISS YOUR GF GOODBYE AND START YOUR WAY.
CLICK HERE FOR RIDESHARE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carpool-to-Occupy-Wallstreet/222614057794752?sk=wall
2- SUPPORT THEM WITH MONEY AND/OR SUPPLIES – PEOPLE ARE BEING BRUTALIZED BY THE NYPD – THEIR FREEDOMS ARE BEING SQUASHED AND YET – THEY REMAIN PEACEFUL – SUPPORT THEM 100%
https://www.wepay.com/donate/99275
3- SUPPORT THE MEDIA TEAM, THEY HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND HAD TROUBLE WITH RECHARGING BATTERIES AND RAIN – HELP THEM OUT!!! 2 MEDIA TEAMS WERE TARGETED TODAY – PLEASE HELP THESE GUYS OUT – THEY ARE REAL LIFE HEROES!
http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=BHMV6P88TGGYE
4- PRINT FLIERS AND HAND THEM OUT – CHALK ON SIDEWALKS – STOP PASSERBYS AND INFORM THEM
http://nycga.cc/?page_id=226
5- OFFER WORDS OF SUPPORT AND/OR WATCH LIVE FEEDS RIGHT AT LIBERTY PARK – OVER 7000 VIEWERS RIGHT NOW!
http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution?utm_source=lsplayer&utm_medium=ui-play&utm_campaign=click-bait&utm_content=globalrevolution
6- SHARE THIS AD WITH OTHERS ON CRAIGSLIST, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, GOOGLE PLUS AND ALL NEWS SITES
HERE IS A LIST OF ALL NEWSPAPERS IN THE US – http://www.usnpl.com/
7 – SPONSOR SOMEONE ELSE TO GO TO NYC – OFFER $ TO THEM OR TAKE CARE OF THEIR PETS OR WATER THEIR PLANTS….
8 – DO NOT ARGUE WITH SHEEPLE, JUST SIMPLY IGNORE AND CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD. THIS IS ENERGY BETTER USED
IN POSITIVE WAYS THAN ARGUING WITH THOSE THAT ARE STILL SLEEPING IN LALA LAND.
THANKS – SEE YOU THERE!!!!!!!!
ADDITIONAL NOTE: POLICE BRUTALITY AND NON-CONSTITUTIONAL ARRESTS IS HAPPENING EVERY DAY. CLICK THESE LINKS TO WATCH THE VIDEOS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kevXKRROF6I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyvbI6Eq-qA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmmvZ7z-ZVo
STAND UP AMERICA! DO SOMETHING!
COMMON QUESTIONS:
1- HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE?
There are more and more people every day, many are local to NYC and go home to sleep.
2- WHERE DO THEY GO TO THE BATHROOM?
There is a 24 hour McDonalds next door to the park.
3- HOW DO THEY SHOWER?
There are mobile shower units that some have and others are using sink baths or baby wipes.
4- WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PROTEST?
The purpose of the protest is to have our voices heard, it can and will become anything you desire it to be. If you are against logging (for example) then your signs will be in regards to this and it will be accepted by everyone. This protest is for anyone and everyone – we are the 99%
SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN – SUPPORT – DONATE – JOIN
Scrunchmeep
It’s amazing that the really young kids are such a driving force. Very inspiring.
Compact
Wesleyan huh? How ironic. The school sends a bunch of protesters to protest the very system that pays the taxes that support their government subsidized education. And I bet the idiot school administrators are giving them class credits to go protest. Perfect! I hope the cops pepper spray and best the snot out of their hipster asses.
Christopher Fee
This will dovetail nicely with the Washington protests scheduled for early October.
Which, most likely, will also be blacked out by MSNBC and all the other “progressives”.
Anonymous
Where is a legit donation location, I nearly payed $100 to an organization that used one of the phrases we see on the protest banners but then had NOT as single othe rink besides the donation box…….
Big Mike
Capitalism has created the opportunity for ALL citizens to realize the American dream and have the potential to be successful and well off. Last time I checked it was corporations that provide jobs, corporations that allow an avenue for creative, innovative thinking that ends up giving all citizens access to products most of us take for granted. It’s easy to sit around and bash those that work hard and have generated wealth because of that hard work. It’s even more mind boggling that these college students trash the very folks that will provide them a job once they’re done with school….oh wait, this is Wesleyan….they’ll graduate and become college professors, peace corp freaks or go into politics.
Barry David Butler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2zIKhrhE_I
Check out my New Song and Video called “AMERICAN SPRING…LET’S TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY”…Thanks, Barry David Butler bdbutler@centurylink.net
Anonymous
I just rediscovered this and was going to say something self-deprecating, but then I saw all the comments, which are far more entertaining than anything I could add.
Evan Weber
these comments are awesome. must have been one of the first articles out there since we were one of the biggest school contingents. #memories