What's Up With Occupy Wall Street

Occupy Wall Street is a social movement that started in New York City in the summer of 2011. Although the movement has no centralized message, the common theme of frustration at the economic gap between rich and poor and the lack of social services for many citizens is apparent.  According to the Declaration of the Occupation of New York City the New York City General Assembly (NYCGA), the protesters are gathered together by “a feeling of mass injustice… at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments.” In its Principles of Solidarity, the General Assembly (GA) declares that Occupy Wall Street (OWS) strives for a new socio-political and economic alternative that offers greater possibility of equality.

New York City and OWS are not particulars to these types of movements. Not only has the movement rapidly spread throughout the United States but similar uprisings have taken place around the world. With related demands the Middle East, Spain, Egypt among other countries were the scenario to mass mobilizations like OWS.  However, it is important to remark that even the aforementioned countries were not the first countries experiencing unrest against social inequality and the economic system. Since the late 20th century Latin America has been the stage of movements, that similarly to OWS or any other uprising in Europe or the Middle East, against corruption and social inequality.

These uprisings are the product of an anti-neoliberalism sentiment by the subaltern and exploited classes. In countries as Bolivia, Mexico, Peru and Colombia, such grassroots movements and organizations with no political preferences fought against the privatization of natural resources and public services (Ballve, 2006). Examples of these movements are the Gas/ Oil and Water War in Bolivia, the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) in Mexico and Colombia’s indigenous-popular Minga. All of these movements were/are the representation of marginalized and mistreated groups by the “corrupt and authoritarian regimes closely identified with the IMF and the WB (Ballve, 2006).” Their agenda is characterized for offering a “politics of hope (Ballve, 2006)” which promises to open room for conversation between the government and the masses. One can conclude that the demands and characteristics of these movements do not fall too far from OWS’ demands. There are many speculations about where the movement is going, but it is equally important to analyze where it came from and who the participants are. I, along with two other fellow students, interviewed protesters and campers at OWS sites in New York City. We analyzed the interviews and tried to draw conclusions about the backgrounds of the people involved. The results we found were interesting, although somewhat inconclusive; due to the questions we asked and ways we conducted the research.

We did observe that almost all participants we interviewed had some level of college education and many had degrees. Almost all interviewees mentioned being part of OWS for broad humanitarian reasons, such as helping people they do not know, rather than personal motives. Many were attracted to the movement because of its peaceful/ nonviolent approach and horizontal leadership structure. A common statement about the goals and observed outcomes of the protests is the creation of a new platform for dialogue and a new conversation between politicians and citizens. The energy created by the mass protests of OWS has reenergized the population and has created a new generation of vocal, fearless American activists. The momentum is only building and Occupy Wall St. has just begun.  

By Chimay