Occupy Wall Street

Drum circle at Zuccotti Park

     Before the Occupy Wall Street protest began, few people were aware of a place named Zuccotti Park. Now (informally) renamed Liberty Square by the protesters, the park has been revamped into a grassroots encampment of democracy in action. Demonstrators and spectators alike have taken to downtown New York in droves to witness firsthand the Occupy Wall Street movement.

      Inspired by the revolutions in the Middle East, the protests began mid-September with a simple call from the activist group Adbusters: bring a tent and “occupy” New York's financial district. Since then, the movement has exploded into a national and worldwide phenomenon. Occupy encampments have sprung up in many major U.S. cities, all with the common goal of bringing attention to what they see (amongst other things) is an inequitable economic system. The demographic of the group is more varied than most people realize, ranging from union workers, students, white-collar professionals and much more.

Paul Bloom

     Now past the two month point of consistent direct action from activists in New York and elsewhere, the Occupy Wall Street movement has met continued resistance from the police. However, even against the mainstream media blackout and police repression, the protesters say they are committed to sustaining their peaceful demonstrations. It appears as though the protesters and their opposition have entered into a "war"of attrition, with more and more people actively joining the Occupy ranks. Although they face many challenges, such as the police and the slowly encroaching Northeast winter, the demonstrators are optimistic about their opportunity to influence change from the bottom up.