Saturday, October 1, 2011

Occupy Wall Street...sort of

Never to be outdone by California, we in NYC have had our own protesters. The "spontaneous" protest called "Occupy Wall Street" has been going on for a little over two weeks now. First of all, this group of activists aren't actually occupying Wall Street, but are decamping at Zuccotti Park three blocks north and as it just so happens, is across the street from the building where I work.

What exactly these Grandchildren of the '60's are protesting is not clear. Signs run the gamut of "F**k Wall Street" to "Four Day Work Week". They know that something is wrong, but they are not exactly clear on what. For the past two weeks, they have beaten drums, shouted indecipherable chants, and refused to go away.  To their great credit, they have managed to organized themselves like any good commune with a food distribution area, recycling area, first aid area, and a public P.R. Liaison area equipped with a gasoline-powered generator to keep protesters' laptops and smartphones powered up to post on Facebook and tweet each moment.   And it has been reported that people from all over the country are calling local area fast food joints to have pizzas delivered to the protesters as a show of support.

Visits from seasoned liberal protest icons such as Michael Moore and Susan Sarandon have shown up with their P.R. machines in tow as well. Ms. Sarandon showed up in her chauffeured-driven limousine to "educate herself" on her way to the airport to fly to Europe on her private jet for a vacation.  Here is what she had to say:



Though she didn't "personally lose any money", she is advocating what I interpret as a more physically forceful brand of protest because we shouldn't let "our Arab brothers and sisters" better us. Fortunately is was reported that many of these kids didn't have a clue as to who she was, but she did give them some sage advice - focus the protest on one topic, and register to vote. Actually she has a point - this protest lacks any real focus which is why they probably can't focus on any solutions either. They know something is wrong because someone is making lots of money and it's not them. But, as one protester responded when asked what his solution to "greed on Wall Street" might be by saying "I don't know? I'm only 23 years old, why are you asking ME that? What a stupid question." Let's hope he is not currently registered to vote.

As of now, this intrepid group of faux hippies plan to stay indefinitely. Probably until they actually understand why they are there, get bored, someone offers them jobs, or the snow starts to fall. To their great credit, they have been mostly respectful and peaceful. Only one reported incident of police brutality occurred during an unplanned march from the Wall Street area to Union Square at 14th Street. Several of the protesters did not take kindly at being forced to follow certain rules for which the cops responded with pepper spray. Sadly, in retaliation, the P.R. committee posted on Facebook the name and address of the cop who allegedly did the spraying putting his family at risk for a violent backlash. This caused them to lose the support of all the cops in the process. But a more disturbing devolpment threatens the peaceful and naive nature of this protest. Local and national union organizers have decided to join in to lend muscle and considerable financial support to this vague cause. Already the Transit Workers Union members have shown up with the SEIU and AFL-CIO to follow next week. Expect the numbers to grow and the violence to increase as a result.


Addendum: Yesterday the P.R. committee posted on Facebook that Radiohead had agreed to give a free concert at 4pm downtown to show their support.  The leaderless group that had swelled to a reported 2000 people on the promise of a free concert wandered around for an hour searching for the music.  Sadly it turned out to either be a miscommunication or just a plain  hoax.  Radiohead's management issued an official press release  insisting that they did not have any intention of showing up for a free concert.

23 comments:

CrisD said...

You have to wonder what SO attracts Sarandon to groups of dimwits who sleep on the street and make up stupid signs to carry around.

DUQ said...

I'll bet every one of these protestors is living on government benefits.

BevfromNYC said...

CrisD: Sarandon has a movie coming out...

BevfromNYC said...

DUQ: Actually some of them are living off of the Mommy and Daddy's hard earned money. I like this tape from O'Reilly producer that was on Breitbart.tv:

http://www.breitbart.tv/fox-news-jesse-watters-uncovers-the-brains-behind-the-wall-st-protests/

CrisD said...

Bev-you know, she's single too..so..ugggghhh!

AndrewPrice said...

My god they're idiots! They truly are zombies just spitting out bumpersticker bullship without any idea what they're really saying. And of course George Soros is funding it. When he dies, I'm seriously going to desecrate his corpse. You hear me George you f@#k!!!

AndrewPrice said...

Here's some link magic.... LINK

BevfromNYC said...

Andrew, I find them kind of endearingly innocent and naive. And since I am prone to taking to the streets myself, I defend their right to do so. But, the park they have taken over is privately owned by a very wealthy private real estate company. The phones, computers, generators, food transportation, et al. is made possible by those evil Wall Street companies and by that Capitalist system for which they protest and for which up until now, no one has pointed to them.

The park owners are being kind in allowing them to camp out only because they are keeping it clean and organized for now. But their patience may wear thin once the unions show up in earnest and start causing real trouble. I have a sense (though, I could be wrong) that the owners of our building and the park are paying for the police protection and extra security in our building.

BevfromNYC said...

Btw...I have link-envy...;-P

BevfromNYC said...

CrisD: I think Ms. Sarandon traded Tim in for a newer, younger model.

Unknown said...

I saw multiple interviews with the neo-hippies. None of them could actually articulate why they were there or what it was they were protesting. "Capitalism" and "Wall Street" are words, not explanations. My favorite quote: "We want to go back to the Founders. We've gone from democracy to capitalism." Huh?

T-Rav said...

So, these jokers think reducing the work week to FOUR days is going to not make our economic productivity go downhill and not make our recession worse? Oh Bwahahaaa!!! How could I be so dumb! They don't care about that at all, do they? All they care about is their government-sponsored leisure.

T-Rav said...

Also, it appears the "people's revolution" is catching on. A couple dozen people were arrested in Boston after protesting outside a bank; the Herald says there may have all of 3,000 protestors. Woo hoo. One of the police spokesmen had a great line for the press: "They wanted to be arrested, and we obliged." Bravo, sir.

BevfromNYC said...

I have been tempted to go over and make my own sign at the do-it-yourself sign making area, but I thought they might not appreciate my kind of ironic humor...

"If you eat, drink, wear clothes/shoes, use a cellphone or computer, or paint your signs, you too benefit from evil Capitalists on Wall Street!"

BevfromNYC said...

T-Rav - the four-day work week is actually something I can get fully behind! As long as it eventually will lead to a one-day work week eventually. I could really use more time to sit at home and do nothing while getting paid handsomely in overtime after 8 hours (one hour for lunch included)!

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, Make a sign that says:

Don't support capitalism! Stop buying goods made by capitalists!


That should fry a few noodles.

BevfromNYC said...

Andrew - If you dare me to do it, I will...I even have my own sign making materials at home! Don't tell Obama. He may drop a bomb on me.

T-Rav said...

Bev, display those signs at your peril. One thing I've picked up on from leftists: their utter lack of humor where any of their assumptions about the world are concerned.

BevfromNYC said...

Hey maybe I can sell them cupcakes. You know, $15 for Wall Streeters, free for protesters. That would be fair, right?

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, I would dare you, but I don't want to get you killed. Wading through that much second hand pot could kill you!

BevfromNYC said...

I think it's about to get alot more dicey tomorrow anyway. Our building's owners, the ones who own the private park, are in talks with the police to have the protesters removed forcibly if they won't leave on their own.

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, In that event, I advise you to not carry the sign.

And if you choose to sell cupcakes, make sure you give the cops a discount. They like cupcakes. :)

Writer X said...

This is so laughable. I've seen protests at high schools for "Pizza Fridays" that make more sense. And Sarandon showing up in her limousine?! Where is SNL when you need them.

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