The issues originated centuries ago from the "founding" of this nation, and were sustained via the peculiar institution of slavery (centuries of free labor), Jim Crow, gender inequality, union busting, decreasing quality in unequal education, religious hypocrisy, unjust wars and so on. The indigenous people of this country unsuccessfully sought to protect their own land from the encroaching attacks on their person and property by very deceptive and murderous "founders" who could not be trusted even in treaties they signed. As many of you know (see the African Burial Ground http://www.africanburialground.gov/ABG_Main.htm online or in person), African people built the "wall" circa 1653 to protect the Dutch from the indigenous tribes, and it stretched from the Hudson to the East River in what was then known as New Amsterdam. Africans were bought and sold on "Wall Street"; human beings were the original commodity traded there. Corporations, institutions of higher learning and other entities at home and abroad profited greatly from said trade, all on the backs of many of our forefathers and foremothers. As such, it has been American policy to choose profit over people for most of America's existence. This is the foundation of American capitalism. Wall Street protests through history all point to the reality that there always have been two Americas; one where unchallenged profit for a few by any means necessary seems sacrosanct, and the other America where the people choose to demand truth and be heard. For an in-depth look at Wall Street protests in history, click this interactive link: http://www.history.com/news/2011/10/11/wall-street-300-years-of-protests/.
Throughout our nation's history, Black people sought to occupy freedom, humanity and the Constitution in a nation whose Supreme Court once declared in 1857, but meant to last through perpetuity, that a Black man has no rights that white people should respect. See Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 US 393. The Japanese, Latinos, Chinese, Koreans, Haitians, Irish, Muslims, women, poor people, the GLBT nation and others also fought/fight to occupy peace, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and the ever elusive equality often promised here in the U.S.
These precedents of discrimination and corruption, the greedy using control to rip off and propagandize the American public, have led to record unemployment and severe apathy. And 49.1+ million Americans are now living in Poverty, taking into account wages and expenses. See Census Bureau Study (Nov.2011). The Black unemployment rate, almost 17% if not higher in certain areas (25% in Detroit last year), is at its highest since 1984. (http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/02/news/economy/black_unemployment_rate/index.htm). The richest 1% of the world owns 40% of the planet's wealth. See World Institute for Development Economics Research of the United Nations. OWS is said to have been inspired by the recent spark of unrest in the Middle East, where the people courageously demanded accountability and representation.
For example, Howard Zinn will always remain valuable to me for disclosing other facts on various historical labor uprisings, revolutions of women, indigenous American struggles and the nature of their relationship with the U.S., Africans in America fighting centuries of mental, spiritual, physical abuse and more in his most compelling and critical book, "A People's History of the United States." It is refreshing knowing that Zinn still sells more copies each year than the prior year! And it is no surprise it's one of the first books I saw at the original OWS library shown below. This book symbolizes how under-educated many Americans have been or remain regarding the history, and thus the presence, of the U.S. Much of the truth he shares was conveniently omitted from our history books, but liberated me as all truth should, and plays a role in how I view American politics today. "No wonder we seem so out of touch, no wonder history repeats itself," I'd say to myself. Instinctively, I grew curious about what people abroad learned about the States, like an embarrassed kid who fell flat on his face in the snow, only to be concerned about whether anyone saw him do it.
For example, one bloke from England, Carl, went out of his way to call a friend while meeting and conversing with me in Thailand, saying "I am here talking to the keenest guy I have ever met from the States! He actually knows what's going on in the world!" Of course I wanted to smack him upside his head at what I temporarily considered a backhanded compliment. But this was his perception as an Englishman based on Americans he had met, and the half true joke that most Americans,even potential presidential candidates, are clueless about countries abroad unless we are at war with them tempered my response. And I sensed he was genuine; his mother cosigned on this love fest, sharing with me her story. I gave him a pass and asked about hooligans after I dismissed his opinion that "American hip hop was to blame for the London Riots". It is because of this perception of Americans that I remain proud this global movement to "occupy" began here and the rest chose to spontaneously be with U.S., not against us in peace, and not war.
With this as a backdrop I chose to support the leaderless OWS movement, which to me has had a much more significant impact on the democratic process than voting itself, because the entire movement is driven by a peoples' conscience, and we have never as a nation collectively voted our conscience. Moreover, black people (nationwide by 1964) and white women (nationwide by 1920) were basically just given the vote yesterday. Native Americans could not vote in every state until 1956, when Utah finally sealed the deal. There has been corruption at the polling place, a stolen election in 2000 sanctioned by the Supreme Court, coupled with low voter turnout. We are a nation in slow progress, historically coexisting in somewhat uncivilized, anxiety producing environments.
I first visited Zuccotti Park in late September 2011, not really having a clue what to expect but interested more in acknowledging the effort and seeing the situation with my own eyes. Being a horrible spectator, I refused to simply sit in a high chair and read about or judge potentially angry and frustrated Americans directly calling out Wall Street and corrupt politicians. I met Libertarians, Tea Partiers, Democrats, Republicans, the entire political, racial, religious and class spectrum. Most were anti-Obama, while reserving the right to vote for him "if [fill in any repugnant Republican] were the only alternative." One gentleman approached me while there, and after we chatted a bit about OWS he said, "You know, this is a very powerful place. Had I seen you on the train I probably would never have spoken to you." I jokingly replied, "Why is that? Would you have been afraid that I would cut you?"
But he was spot on. Zuccotti Park became a focal point of empowerment through acknowledgment, where all are encouraged to speak their truth, respect all others, support the purpose of the movement, and respect the grounds. OWS demands we ask of ourselves and each other, "What kind of world do we want to live in?"
People from all walks of life and different states, including indigenous Americans were there representing and exchanging ideas, educating. I met a 16yr old black female who had hitchhiked from college in North Carolina to join OWS. Several artists, yoga instructors and community leaders would show up, lead a yoga/meditation session, or check the mic and offer their moral support to the people during a regular group meeting called "General Assembly". I have played chess there and even snatched up a spare drum, joining an impromptu jam session with a diverse group of occupiers playing instruments and dancing, while those without instruments were chanting in call and response style, "Show Me What Democracy Looks Like! This is what Democracy Looks Like!"
I observed the library grow tenfold, as did the kitchen (a farmer drove up from North Carolina to provide fresh produce). Stop by and you will find eco-friendly systems like energy producing bicycles, composting, and a greywater treatment area. There is an area where medical services are provided, a place to charge cell phone batteries, a legal committee where I signed up to help, a recycling and sanitation section. It is a kind of "tent city" with pockets where people would be debating, conversing, commiserating, and learning from each other.
Drunk investment bankers were verbally lashing the two young women above while I took this shot, saying "All of you fucking hippies need to take a bath and get a fucking job! Me and my boys will be back to water hose all of you!" Of course, random drunk passers-by who hate themselves and their jobs spewing nonsense would prove to be the least of the Occupiers' concerns. The media, however, mischaracterized OWS, calling them hippies, jobless white middle class kids demanding an entitlement. The media failed to even cover this movement for a couple weeks until after over 700 protesters were arrested on Brooklyn Bridge on October 1; video of women being maced and protesters being attacked by police also surfaced. Of course viral video of Sgt Shamar Thomas shouting down thirty armed officers in NYC for brutalizing unarmed citizens will forever be etched in my memory. Support from war vets has proven crucial, having already been injured on the frontlines. NYPD has no choice but to respect those stripes.
To be fair, not every percent in the 99% is informed, or understands history and the role of government. A few may feel that their Comcast bill, the #4 extra value meal at McDs, or movie tickets are too damn high and simply want their voices heard. Some may be pissed that BET destroys images of Black people. And at times, when attempting to engage and learn some of their positions, they inevitably stumble, hedge, or talk from an emotional standpoint as opposed to factually buttressing their points. Some even walk away frustrated at too many direct questions, or are uncomfortable admitting lack of knowledge. For many in the States who have joined the movement, being factual about their positions remains unchartered territory, and their delusions often rise to the surface. Other criticisms have been that OWS lacks specific demands and is leaderless. It is relatively apolitical and attacks the most damaging issues confronting our attempts at a democracy, like police brutality.
Is this only a "white middle class group" simply exercising their right to free speech? The young man holding the sign in the picture above, a local artist among the original five who began this effort at Zuccotti Park, is still there today, three arrests later, three court dates pending. It has become increasingly more diverse. I have personally been involved in many discussions and have seen heated ones there on racism, how even among liberal whites there needs to be more accountability and change. Many noted individuals (artists, political activists, etc) came down to speak, run tv programs and interviews live, and/or engage with the people in a Unity. There have been anti "Stop and Frisk" marches in Harlem and Brooklyn. Some felt the OWS cause was overly broad, and instead of distancing themselves altogether, began the "Occupy the Hood" movement, which sheds light on the impact Black Americans can make with buying power, collectively spending over $1.1 trillion dollars yearly consuming goods in this country. Let's Occupy our wallets for a change.
OWS has become much bigger than just Zuccotti Park, however; an awakening has potential to impact all areas of people activity (economics,education,entertainment,labor,law,politics,religion,sex,war) throughout the world. Other movements have sprouted to more narrowly define specific interests (I am sure each has its own facebook page to 'like'), like Occupy Mainstream Media, Occupy Your Mind, Occupy Hip Hop, Occupy Your Health, Occupy the Marines, Occupy the FED, Occupy the DOE (Dept of Ed), and the list continues to grow. I interpret OWS as a global social movement seeking political footing (presidential election in a year) and demanding accountability of politicians and bankers, some who have made off with more than Madoff. Consider OWS a social evolution; a broad-based attempt to change how we communicate with each other, how we acknowledge each other and embrace our differences; and hopefully the death knell of apathy will ring loudly now and far into the future.
Of course there are various interests and concerns that OWS seeks to redress (please don't mistake this as my presentation of their demands). Aside from direct conversation, I have taken photos and a good number of video while among the people near Wall Street and here are just a few of the slogans, messages on signs and points of interest the 99% the world over share (not to be confused with OWS demands):
* In 2010 JP Morgan Chase made $17.4 billion and paid 0% taxes
* The American Dream - You'd have to be asleep to believe it. WAKE UP!
* Populism not Corporate Fascism
* 2nd Time I've fought for my Country - 1st Time I've known my Enemy
* We See Something, So we are saying Something...Just like you asked
* NYPD Stop Your Terrorism
* You are NOT Powerless! Protest Bank of America's $5 debit card fee - Close Your Account today
* Wall Street needs an Enema - Full of Crap
* PEOPLE OVER PROFIT
* I could lose my job having a voice
* First they Ignore you, then they Laugh at you, then they Fight you and then YOU WIN!
* Prison Industrial Complex = Exploitation
* JUSTICE IS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE IN PUBLIC
* Party's Over you Lying Sach's of Shit
* Make less than $1,137,684/year? Congrats! You're one of the 99%
My advice to the occupiers around the world is to maintain your character as this is the only way credibility and purpose (as individuals and a collective) will remain impregnable. Stay in shape! Stay away from drugs, continue focusing on what we can do with our buying power nationwide. Continue to livestream Zuccoti Park online yourselves, knowing the media too is compromised and has already attempted to damage the collective reputation of the 99% (http://occupywallst.org/). Continue demanding accountability from greedy bankers and politicians. Stop voting for politicians who do not 100% represent the 99%! Continue being creative, eventually occupying places like McDonalds, Taco Bell, and elected representatives' offices as was done recently outside Sen. McConnell's office in DC. Use the court system to fight charges stemming from abuse or wrongful arrests. Continue OWS for Scott Olsen (war vet shot by rabid police in Oakland during a peaceful protest) and others, be they military vets or not, who have been victimized by excessive police force. In short, OCCUPY EVERYTHING and INCLUDE EVERYONE!
I have been moved by this occupation and those involved because the people are finally taking ownership over their individual and collective power, along with ownership over their government. It has sparked an international conversation. This may be the biggest global people movement in history. Maybe we are also reacting to our transforming universe, the dawning of the Age of Aquarius; some even have predicted a grand shift in consciousness, among other things, in 2012 and this year of global revolution might be a reflection of the birth of that if true. Also, the symbolism of the location of OWS Zuccotti Park, equidistant from "Ground Zero" and Wall Street proper, is significant in that the rebuilding, uplifting, and restorative nature and force of the people's energy and purpose directed at Wall Street serves as metaphor for the contemporaneous erection of 1 World Trade Center. Hopefully by the time WTC is rebuilt (Freedom Tower possibly completed by 2019), there will be no need for any occupations anywhere. And as the police nationwide begin to clamp down and evict occupiers, new strategies to show solidarity and "occupy" will be necessary. "Occupy Wall Street" can transform more into a slogan or call to action like "Fight the Power".
In the meantime, my hope is that out of this movement of people power all across the country, we may see a potential independent candidate who speaks to the interests of the 99% run for President in 2012 and directly impact what I feel will arguably be one of the most significant presidential campaigns in US history. This movement will affect local politics as well. I encourage you to think of ways that you too can be the change that you want to see. After all, like former US Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said, "The most important political office is that of private citizen." So use your power wisely!
I leave on a quote from a Slovenian philosopher who visited and spoke at the Occupy Wall Street site in downtown NYC:
"They tell you we are dreamers. The true dreamers are those who think things can go on indefinitely the way they are. We are not dreamers. We are awakening from a dream turning into a nightmare. We aren't destroying anything, but only witnessing how the system is destroying itself."
