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 Protesters Invigorated by Show of Public SupportPosted on Oct 19, 2011
NEW YORK—Despite a continuing barrage of defamation attempts by the mainstream media and right-wing political advocacy groups, Wall Street’s occupiers seem to be enjoying a rising popularity with the public, especially fellow New Yorkers. Sixty-seven percent of almost 1,100 New Yorkers polled told Quinnipiac researchers that they “generally agree … with the protesters’ views,” while just 23 percent said otherwise, and 72 percent said they “understand the views of the … protesters very well.” The numbers bode well for those occupying Liberty Plaza (aka Zuccotti Park), who have survived through a month of winds, rain, falling temperatures and an aborted attempt at evacuation by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the NYPD and the park’s owners. The vote of public confidence seems to have emboldened protesters. While talking with an OWS representative Tuesday, I learned that the group was able to preserve a newly erected medical tent that police officers had ordered to be taken down after the Rev. Jesse Jackson and others surrounded it with locked arms Monday night. Keeping the tent is a clear violation of park rules, but as of Wednesday afternoon, it still stood. Police officers also seem to have relaxed in their roles as pedestrian traffic controllers. As early as the third week of the protest, officers were regularly ordering people to keep the sidewalks at the perimeter of the park clear. Now, when the crowds are not huge, protesters and tourists are permitted to gather there to talk and take pictures. Later during my conversation with the representative, cheers rang out throughout the park as a woman aboard the top level of a tourist bus heading south on Broadway Street held a sign that read “KEEP IT UP!” high above her head. Such shows of support from passers-by are not rare. Honks from truck drivers and motorists heading in both directions can be heard throughout the day, and in those moments, the park buzzes with excitement. —Alexander Reed Kelly Truthdig reporter Alexander Kelly has been reporting on Occupy Wall Street from Liberty Plaza. For more, visit truthdig.com/dig/occupy_wall_street Advertisement Previous item: Pro-Israel Group Tries to Smear the Protesters Next item: Wall Street Is Still Trying to Buy Obama’s Love New and Improved CommentsIf you have trouble leaving a comment, review this help page. Still having problems? Let us know. If you find yourself moderated, take a moment to review our comment policy. |
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By heterochromatic, October 21, 2011 at 7:06 am Link to this comment
Anarcissie, i share that hope and also hope some reality needs to be shown to the
Report thispeople who were calling the cops some unwarranted and unpleasant things.
By Anarcissie, October 21, 2011 at 6:53 am Link to this comment
Thanks. I hope a little dose of reality here and there will serve to reduce the effects, if any, of the defamation being heaped upon OWS by rightists.
Report thisBy heterochromatic, October 20, 2011 at 6:40 pm Link to this comment
Anarcissie, I admire this comment and I really love your report, on the other
Report thisthread, about the black woman and blue cops peacefully discussing education
policy in the midst of a pacific and benign protest.
That’s the reality of it.
By Anarcissie, October 20, 2011 at 6:30 pm Link to this comment
Possibly different people have different steps to take. OWS is a very mixed group who took common action to identify and illustrate a set of common problems, and to start a national conversation about dealing with them. In order to do this they had to go outside the mainstream media, the sitting and would-be politicians and bureaucrats of both major parties, and the ruling class. What happens next depends, I imagine, on that conversation.
Report thisBy heterochromatic, October 20, 2011 at 9:36 am Link to this comment
Anarcissie…...I kinda thought OWS was about not gaining power, but weakening
the hold on power exercised by the people with the big bucks….
the raising questions and consciousness part is good but isn’t it merely a means to
Report thisthe desired end?
By Anarcissie, October 20, 2011 at 8:44 am Link to this comment
OWS is not supposed to be about gaining power, but about raising questions and changing consciousness. In that regard it has already been a considerable success. Those whose response has been calumny, attempts at cooptation, or continued passivity are the ones who need a next step.
Report thisBy heterochromatic, October 20, 2011 at 8:16 am Link to this comment
——‘Sixty-seven percent of almost 1,100 New Yorkers polled told Quinnipiac
researchers that they “generally agree … with the protesters’ views,”——-
agreeing the general views of the protestors, didn’t equate to supporting the
actions….....
only 30% thought that what OWS is doing is going to be helpful and (IIRC) more
than 60% thought the actions to be without utility.
(9% thought the actions will prove harmful)
OWS needs a next step….. 30 is a long way from 99
Report thisBy Balraj Cheema, October 19, 2011 at 7:48 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
No wonder what MLK said some 42 years ago : silence is betrayal!
Report thisThat is what these young committed people are doing. The silence had been long and harmful enough to sleep over it any longer.
It is time for calling: Enough is enough of what these legalized robbers of public trust and public funds have been indulging in without fear of being caught; They have not been punished yet, and that is precisely what the protests are about. These CEO, managing directors, and their like deserve to be in jail, not having parties with the Congressmen, Senators, and other biggies.
By doublestandards/glasshouses, October 19, 2011 at 6:02 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
With public support like that a general strike may become possible. A month ago this movement itself was unthinkable, so anything is possible now. Spontaneous local strikes could turn into a national strike.
Report thisBy gerard, October 19, 2011 at 5:43 pm Link to this comment
Who’s surprised? The OWs are representingnot only themselves, but all the underpprivileged, the jobless, the disenfranchised, people who have been kicked out of their homes, people who scrimp and save to feed kids, people who have stood by and watched public education, medical care, manufacturing go overseas, public services of all kinds deteriorate over decades.
Report thisPromises have been made; nothing happens. Elections occur. Nothing happens. People recognize who’s on their side.
Best of all, the Occupation is doing a great job of citizen action and political education. It is helping to keep democracy alive. It is feeling its way into a plausible future. It is getting its act together and experiencing the benefits of nonviolence.
How could we be so lucky? We, who have failed them in not preventing murderous wars to prejudice their very future existence and the future of the planet; failed in not taking decisive action on fair distribution of wealth and resources; failed to prevent the deterioration of the social fabric—a precious organization of tolerance and sanity; failed to take decisive steps to prevent global warming and destruction of the planet itself; failed to face up to the sabotaging of trust and justice.
Failed to show them the wisdom required of true “elders.”