Cate Woodruff reports: "Yesterday, I spent part of the afternoon in Liberty Park at the 'Occupy Wall Street' protest. What I did not find was an indignant, screaming, angry or self-absorbed mob. However, what I did find was a group of extraordinarily caring, very peaceful, deeply concerned and educated people who have come together with the determination to help Americans take a realistic look at the destructive direction of this failing financial system."
Occupy Wall Street demonstrators hold signs and a flag in front of Liberty Plaza, NYC, where hundreds are staying throughout the day and night in protest of Wall Street's corruption, 09/19/11. (photo: Cate Woodruff/Reader Supported News)
Cate Woodruff Reporting From Wall Street Occupation
20 September 11
Reader Supported News | Report
esterday, I spent part of the afternoon in Liberty Park at the "Occupy Wall Street" protest.
What I did not find was an indignant, screaming, angry or self-absorbed mob. However, what I did find was a group of extraordinarily caring, very peaceful, deeply concerned and educated people who have come together with the determination to help Americans take a realistic look at the destructive direction of this failing financial system.
Most important, they want Americans to demand change. And the positive energy was palpable.
Passersby often stopped on the Broadway sidewalk at Liberty Street to engage in lively political discussion with a group of sign-holding protesters.
Their make-shift camp is located behind a wall of protest signs - in what was once Zuccotti Park, but has since been re-named Liberty Plaza.
Hundreds of people, sometimes surging into the thousands, are here to stay until demands are met ... armed only with sleeping bags and cardboard. Some were texting, receiving words of support from protesters in Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Paris and Rome.
The police, very watchful and ever-present, have restricted the demonstrators from covering their faces or from using tarps or tents to cover themselves.
They have, somewhat casually, surrounded the park and direct traffic away from side streets.
Protesters say they will not leave until "corporations and banks are held accountable for crimes," and until "Wall Street is regulated to put people before profits" and "the rich are taxed."
Some talk of other important issues being "misdirected" by Wall Street and politicians and want to see that "the war in Afghanistan and Iraq is ended," and that "education and healthcare is made affordable and available to all." For many, protecting the earth and climate crisis are also top priorities.
In effect, they seek a healthy balance in our lives, in the way we manage our country, and to take responsibility for the ways we affect the rest of the world. To think about what we can do for each other, rather than what we can take for ourselves.
I urge you all to go downtown and have a look for yourselves. I was inspired and very moved by the backbone and integrity I witnessed, and for the first time in a long time "My Fellow Americans" seemed to have real meaning.
This could be big. This movement could change the world. What you do can change the world.
|
THE NEW STREAMLINED RSN LOGIN PROCESS: Register once, then login and you are ready to comment. All you need is a Username and a Password of your choosing and you are free to comment whenever you like! Welcome to the Reader Supported News community. |
 18 May 2013
|
 16 May 2013
|
 16 May 2013
|
 17 May 2013
|
 16 May 2013
|
 19 May 2013
|
 18 May 2013
|
|
17 May 2013
|
 18 May 2013
|
Comments
We are concerned about a recent drift towards vitriol in the RSN Reader comments section. There is a fine line between moderation and censorship. No one likes a harsh or confrontational forum atmosphere. At the same time everyone wants to be able to express themselves freely. We'll start by encouraging good judgment. If that doesn't work we'll have to ramp up the moderation.
General guidelines: Avoid personal attacks on other forum members; Avoid remarks that are ethnically derogatory; Do not advocate violence, or any illegal activity.
Remember that making the world better begins with responsible action.
- The RSN Team
But, I really wish that the protestors' demands were more concrete, more specific.
I think more people would be willing to join if the demands were clearer and there's also the issue of time.
Quoting from this article:
"Protesters say they will not leave until 'corporations and banks are held accountable for crimes,' and until 'Wall Street is regulated to put people before profits' and 'the rich are taxed.'"
Are those the demands? When are they going to leave?
This seems hopelessly vague. Please, someone, tell me that I've missed some very clearly delineated list of demands somewhere, because for all the nobility of these protests, I feel like they could accomplish more if better organized.
MSNBC 1-212-664-3720
WCBS 1-800-CH-2-NEWS
WABC 1-212-456-3146 OR 3173
CNN 1-404-827-1500
NEWS12 1-800-316-TIPS
RSS feed for comments to this post