Occupy Movement

The Basics:

On Sept. 17, 2011, a crowd of people pioneered the Occupy Wall St. movement as they began protesting the growing disparity between the rich and the poor. Protestors took up the phrase “We Are the 99%,” citing the one percent of Americans that own 40 percent of our nation’s wealth. The protestors are currently occupying Zuccotti Park on Wall Street — the park is a private park, so police cannot legally force them to move.

Beginning in October, hundreds of people in cities across the nation expressed solidarity with the movement, while internationally, people in nearly one thousand cities in Europe, Africa and Asia also held rallies. Hundreds of protesters in the United States have been arrested while taking action in the movement.

While some people have criticized the movement for not having clear demands, Occupy Wall St. does have a list of demands on its website and is working on their demands every day through general assemblies. One thing is clear: People are tired of greed.

People here in Ithaca are supporting the movement. The Occupy Ithaca group meets for general assemblies every Sunday at 2 P.M. and every Thursday at 6:30 P.M. at Dewitt Park downtown. Students at Ithaca College have also started to hold general assemblies on campus every Tuesday during the noon hour.

Buzzsaw’s Coverage:

+ Occupy Rochester: The Day After the Arrests, by Gena Mangiaratti
A man from the Occupy Rochester movement cited his main grievance as the fact that corporations are given the same rights as people, decrying policies that are created for the interests of corporations instead of the people voting.

+ Conversations in Zucotti Park, by Gena Mangiaratti
Hear from the Occupying protesters themselves in this collection of conversations from people throughout the country committed to echoing the plights of the 99 percent.

+ Occupy Ithaca College General Assembly Kicks Off, by Gena Mangiaratti
The Ithaca College General Assembly, a function of the Occupy Ithaca College movement, held their first meeting on Tuesday to discuss how students on campus could stand in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protesters in New York City.

+ The Occupy Movement Hits Binghamton, by Gena Mangiaratti
On Saturday, Oct. 15, the Global Day of action, about 300 people showed up to “Occupy Binghamton,” a protest that is part of a grassroots movement organized by a large group of people, including Binghamton University, Broome Community College, and the union AFO-CIO.

+ Why You Need to Be a Part of the Occupy Movement Now, by Alyssa Figueroa
Inaction is a form of action. You are either there with this movement or you are not there with this movement. The time is now to let yourself hope. We may well lose the battle, but if we win, you do not want to have to ask yourself, “Where was I when they needed me?”

+ Inside the Occupy Ithaca College Walkout and General Assembly of Ithaca, by Gena Mangiaratti
On Thursday, Oct. 13, Ithaca College joined an Occupy Wall Street movement with over 92 other colleges. Close to 200 students, as well as some faculty members, participated in a walkout and rally, one of the most well-attended student protests in the college’s history.

+ Local #Occupy Movement: Open Meeting in Dewitt Park, by Gena Mangiaratti
A group of Ithaca protesters in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement met in Dewitt Park on Sunday, Oct. 9, where they will continue to meet each week. The meetings are examples of democracy at work.

+ Ithaca Residents Join in Solidarity with ‘Occupy Wall Street’ Movement, by Gena Mangiaratti
On Wednesday, Oct. 5, Ithaca residents gathered for the Occupy Wall Street solidarity rally at the Bank of America Alley entrance to the Commons. The crowd, which was estimated at about 250 at one point, mainly consisted of members of the working class and were mostly middle-aged, although it ranged from college students to senior citizens.