Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 19, 2011, 2:11 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Two weeks ago we conducted an anonymous poll on this website to learn more about our visitors. We asked Héctor R. Cordero-Guzmán Ph.D, sociologist of the City University of New York to look at the data, which he analyzed to create an original academic paper titled "Mainstream Support for a Mainstream Movement".
His analysis shows that the Occupy Wall Street movement is heavily supported by a diverse group of individuals and that "the 99% movement comes from and looks like the 99%." Among the most telling of his findings is that 70.3% of respondents identified as politically independent.
Dr. Cordero-Guzmán's findings strongly reinforce what we've known all along: Occupy Wall Street is a post-political movement representing something far greater than failed party politics. We are a movement of people empowerment, a collective realization that we ourselves have the power to create change from the bottom-up, because we don't need Wall Street and we don't need politicians.
Since our humble beginning a few short weeks ago, we've helped inspire people around the world to organize democratic assemblies in their own communities to take back public spaces, meet basic needs, make their own demands, and begin building a better world today.
Below is Dr. Cordero-Guzmán's executive summary of his findings along with a link to his full academic paper.
The Occupy Wall Street movement has galvanized the attention of the world by organizing the largest demonstrations in this country as a response to the Great Recession caused by our financial and political leaders. Data from a survey of 1,619 respondents from a survey placed on occupywallst.org suggests that there is a huge undercurrent of mainstream dissatisfaction with traditional political party affiliations as well a huge amount of support for radical change in the United States of America.
92.5% of respondents either somewhat or strongly supported the protests with most respondents indicating strong support.
1/4th of the sample (or 24.2%) participated in the Occupy Wall Street protests as of October 5, 2011.
91.8% of the sample thinks that the Occupy Wall Street Protests will continue to grow.
In terms of demographic characteristics of the sample, we found that,
64.2% of respondents were younger than 34 years of age.
While the sample is relatively young, one in three respondents is older than 35 and one in five respondents is 45 and older.
7.9% of respondents have a high school degree or less.
92.1% of the sample has some college, a college degree, or a graduate degree.
27.4% have some college (but no degree), 35% have a college degree, 8.2% have some graduate school (but no degree), and close to 21.5% have a graduate school degree.
This is a highly educated sample.
26.7% of respondents were enrolled in school and 73.3% were not enrolled in school.
50.4% were employed full-time and an additional 20.4% were employed part-time.
13.1% of the sample are unemployed.
2.6% of respondents were retired, 1.3% disabled, 2.6% homemakers and 9.7% are full-time students.
47.5% of the sample earns less than $24,999 dollars a year and another quarter (24%) earn between $25,000 and $49,999 per year.
71.5% of the sample earns less than $50,000 per year.
15.4% of the sample earned between $50,000 and $74,999.
The remainder 13% of the sample earn over $75,000 with close to 2% earning over $150,000 per year.
27.3% of respondents considered themselves Democrats, another 2.4% said they were Republican.
Interestingly, a very large proportion of the sample, close to 70.3%, considered themselves Independents.
66.4% in the sample agree somewhat or strongly that they regularly use Facebook.
28.9% in the sample agree somewhat or strongly that they regularly use Twitter.
73.9% in the sample agree somewhat or strongly that they regularly use YouTube.
Our data suggest that the 99% movement comes from and looks like the 99%.
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 17, 2011, 8:20 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Occupations Spread to Over 100 US Cities
Movement For Economic Justice Gains Global Momentum
Liberty Square, New York, NY — One month ago today about 2,000 people rallied in Lower Manhattan and marched up Broadway. Stopping at Zuccotti Park an estimated 150 stayed the night and began an encampment. Renaming the space “Liberty Square,” we kicked off a protest against bank bailouts, corporate greed, and the unchecked power of Wall Street in Washington. In the last month, the message of “We are the 99%” has won the hearts and minds of over half of Americans (according to a recent Time survey) and is gaining ground globally, with 1500 protests in 82 countries this past Saturday (October 15).
“I am here to celebrate the 30th day of this protest against corporate power,” said Karanja Gacuca from Liberty Square, a former Wall Street analyst who now organizes with Occupy Wall Street. “Concerned about the egregious Wall Street bonuses — particularly after the industry accepted a tax-payer bailout and the middle class continues to be squeezed — I believe it's time for a fairer system that provides health care, education, and opportunity for all, and rejects corporate influence over government.”
Inspired by the uprisings across the Arab world, and fueled by the feelings of anger and helplessness of everyday Americans, in the past month Occupy Wall Street has:
Gone Global: On October 15th, protests were held from North and South America to Asia, Africa and Europe, with over 1,500 events in 82 countries, as part of a global day of action.
Flourished with Diversity: Occupiers of different ages, races, walks of life, and political beliefs have joined the movement. The mix grew quickly to include students, elderly people, families with children, construction workers on their lunch breaks, unemployed Wall Street executives, Iraq & Afghanistan veterans, moms, and many others.
Gained Support in the Heartland: Occupy actions are happening all across middle America, from Kethcum, ID to Kalamazoo, MI, from Orlando to Anchorage. Every day financial contributions arrive along with clothes, food, and notes of support from all across the country. A couple from West Virginia who have been sending supplies to Liberty Square occupiers writes: “We are so grateful for all of you involved in this defense of America. We firmly believe this is ‘it.’ If we can't grab this democracy this time, we'll sink and it will be a long time before we will have this opportunity again. Thank you for taking time from your busy life to be there.”
Changed the Conversation: The people-powered force of shared anger at a broken system that profits the top 1% at the expense of the rest of us has shifted our national dialogue. The Occupy Wall Street protest has become a cultural phenomenon, mentioned everywhere from jokes on Saturday Night Live to the solemn dedication the national memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by President Obama Sunday. We, the occupiers, have shown our country how to come together and respect differences while working together to build a movement for change.
What a month, and we are only getting started!
Occupy Wall Street is a people-powered movement that began on September 17, 2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District, and has spread to over 100 cities in the United States and actions in over 1,500 cities globally. #OWS is fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations. The movement is inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, and aims to expose how the richest 1% of people are writing the rules of an unfair global economy that is foreclosing on our future.
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 16, 2011, 1:08 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Tens of Thousands in Streets of Times Square, NY
Tens of Thousands Flood the Streets of Global Financial Centers, Capitol
Cities and Small Towns to "Occupy Together" Against Wall Street
Mid-Town Manhattan Jammed as Marches Converge in Times Square
New York, NY -- After triumphing in a standoff with the city over the
continued protest of Wall Street at Liberty Square in Manhattan's
financial district, the Occupy Wall Street movement has spread world
wide today with demonstrations in over 1,500 cities globally and over
100 US cities from coast to coast. In New York, thousands marched in
various protests by trade unions, students, environmentalists, and
community groups. As occupiers flocked to Washington Square Park, two
dozen participants were arrested at a nearby Citibank while attempting
to withdraw their accounts from the global banking giant.
"I am occupying Wall Street because it is my future, my generations'
future, that is at stake," said Linnea Palmer Paton, 23, a student at
New York University. "Inspired by the peaceful occupation of Tahrir
Square in Cairo, tonight we are are coming together in Times Square to
show the world that the power of the people is an unstoppable force of
global change. Today, we are fighting back against the dictators of
our country - the Wall Street banks - and we are winning."
New Yorkers congregated in assemblies organized by borough, and then
flooded the subway system en mass to join the movement in Manhattan.
A group calling itself Todo Boricua Para Wall Street marched as a
Puerto Rican contingent of several hundred playing traditional music
and waving the Lares flag, a symbol of resistance to colonial Spain.
"Puerto Ricans are the 99% and we will continue to join our brothers
and sisters in occupying Wall Street," said David Galarza Santa, a
trade unionist from Sunset Park, Brooklyn. "We are here to stand with
all Latinos, who are being scapegoated by the 1%, while it is the
bankers who have caused this crisis and the banks who are breaking the
law."
While the spotlight is on New York, "occupy" actions are also
happening all across the Midwestern and the Southern United States,
from Ashland, Kentucky to Dallas, Texas to Ketchum, Idaho. Four
hundred Iowans marched in Des Moines, Iowa Saturday as part of the day
of action:
"People are suffering here in Iowa. Family farmers are struggling,
students face mounting debt and fewer good jobs, and household incomes
are plummeting," said Judy Lonning a 69-year-old retired public school
teacher. "We're not willing to keep suffering for Wall Street's sins.
People here are waking up and realizing that we can't just go to the
ballot box. We're building a movement to make our leaders listen."
Protests filled streets of financial districts from Berlin, to Athens,
Auckland to Mumbai, Tokyo to Seoul. In the UK over 3,000 people
attempted to occupy the London Stock Exchange. "The financial system
benefits a handful of banks at the expense of everyday people," said
Spyro Van Leemnen, a 27-year old public relations agent in London and
a core member of the demonstrators. "The same people who are
responsible for the recession are getting away with massive bonuses.
This is fundamentally unfair and undemocratic."
In South Africa, about 80 people gathered at the Johannesburg
Securities Exchange, Talk Radio 702 reported. Protests continued
despite police efforts to declare the gathering illegal. In Taiwan,
organizers drew several hundred demonstrators, who mostly sat quietly
outside the Taipei World Financial Center, known as Taipei 101.
600 people have begun an occupation of Confederation Park in Ottawa, Canada today to join the global day of action. "I am here today to stand with Indigenous Peoples around the world who are resisting this corrupt global banking system that puts profits before human rights," said Ben Powless, Mohawk citizen and indigenous youth leader. "Native Peoples are the 99%, and we've been resisting the 1% since 1492. We're marching today for self- determination and dignity against a system that has robbed our lands, poisoned our waters, and oppressed our people for generations. Today we join with those in New York and around the world to say, No More!"
In Australia, about 800 people gathered in Sydney's central business
district, carrying cardboard banners and chanting "Human need, not
corporate greed." Protesters will camp indefinitely "to organize,
discuss and build a movement for a different world, not run by the
super-rich 1%," according to a statement on the Occupy Sydney
website.
The movement's success is due in part to the use of online
technologies and international social networking. The rapid spread of
the protests is a grassroots response to the overwhelming inequalities
perpetuated by the global financial system and transnational banks.
More actions are expected in the coming weeks, and the Occupation of
Liberty Square in Manhattan will continue indefinitely.
Occupy Wall Street is a people powered movement that began on
September 17, 2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial
District, and has spread to over 100 cities in the United States and
actions in over 1,500 cities globally. #OWS is fighting back against
the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over
the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an
economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in
generations.The movement is inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt,
Tunisia, Spain, Greece, Italy and the UK, and aims to expose how the
richest 1% of people who are writing the rules of the global economy
are imposing an agenda of neoliberalism and economic inequality that
is foreclosing our future.
4:18 p.m. March from Washington Square Park is at 20th St and 6th Ave.
3:40 p.m. March from Washington Square Park is at 11th St and 6th Ave. At least five thousand strong.
3:36 p.m. It appears that Twitter is censoring our updates.
3:26 p.m. General Assembly of Washington Square Park marches on Times Square. 8th st and 6th ave.
3:19 p.m. Zombie group arriving in Washington Square Park. Hundreds march from Liberty Square to Citibank at 555 La Guardia Place in solidarity with arrested occupiers.
2:43 p.m. Around four thousand in Washington Square Park. Around three thousand in Liberty Square.
2:28 p.m. Police at 555 La Guardia Place are arresting occupiers in Citibank who are attempting to close their accounts.
2:23 p.m. At least 22 arrested in Citibank.
2:19 p.m. Citibank action 555 La Guardia Place. Occupiers are inside and currently being arrested.
1:57 p.m. March from Liberty Square reaches Washington Square Park. Thousands in the General Assembly meet them chanting, "Wall Street, no thanks - we don't need your greedy banks."
1:49 p.m. March from Liberty Square passes Waverly Place, nears Washington Square Park.
1:29 p.m.. Two thousand are gathered for General Assembly in Washington Square Park. Thousands more are marching to meet them.
1:23 p.m. At least twenty NYPD vehicles heading to Washington Square Park.
1:16 p.m. March from Liberty Square to Washington Square Park passes 6th and Broome.
1:05 p.m. Poetry cipher broke out during the Bronx General Assembly on the 4 train.
12:54 p.m. Bronx Police hold entrance to subway open for Bronx General Assembly - march heads downtown for free, filling two entire cars.
12:35 p.m. March from Liberty Square to Washington Square Park passes Church and Chambers - numbers more than a thousand.
Schedule
11AM - MARCH ON THE BANKS
From Liberty Square to Chase
We will then march to student meet up at Wash. Sq. Park Facebook moveyourmoneyproject.org
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 15, 2011, 11:43 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Life sure is tough for those at the top and it must get awfully lonely. Working day and night to ravage the global economy through neoliberal policy is a thankless job. The following website lists the names of many powerful financial executives and it's time we all sent them a warm thank you for the hard work they've been doing ;)
