The Occupy Movement Across The Country

Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is an ongoing series of demonstrations in New York City based in Zuccotti Park in the Wall Streetfinancial district. The protests were initiated by the Canadian activist group Adbusters.They are mainly protesting social andeconomic inequality, corporate greed, corporate power and influence over government (particularly from the financial servicessector), and of lobbyists.The participants' slogan "We are the 99%"refers to income inequality in the United States between the top 1%, who control about 40% of the wealth, and the rest of the population.

 

The movement has been criticized as having no formal demands or goals. Princeton professor Cornel West has called it a democratic awakening, suggesting that it would be difficult to reduce to a few demands.Washington Post opinion writer Katrina vanden Heuvel has said that at this time, the primary goal of the movement is to grow in size.A member of the New York City General Assembly said OWS will not issue demands, because "demands are for terrorists and that is not who we are."

 

By October 9, similar demonstrations were either ongoing or had been held in 70 major cities and over 600 communities in the U.S.Internationally, other "Occupy" protests have modeled themselves after Occupy Wall Street, in over 900 cities worldwide.

 

THIS IS About US! Are you a part of the 99%? Tune in! GIVE Your input!