I was looking for photos of dogs at the Occupy Wall Street protests and wasn't finding anything special, when I noticed that my sister, Kathleen, posted this photo of her daughter Lucy at the occupation watching a musician while a dog frolicked on a mattress nearby. I asked Kathleen for her take on what she saw last Sunday, October 2, 2011, the day more than 700 people were arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Here is Kathleen's account of her visit to Zuccotti Park:
This [photo] was taken Sunday afternoon around 2pm, so definitely after the Brooklyn Bridge arrests. The mood is pretty mellow, organized squalor is maybe the best way to describe it. Lots of young people who really want to be a part of something, a few crazies and some career activists. There doesn't seem to be much leadership to speak of, but everyone seems to be getting along and happy to be there. I had to walk by on Wednesday and Thursday during the day and there weren't nearly as many people. Not sure if that's because it was growing or because it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
There are plenty of police but not ominous at all. They've got a portable watchtower thingy and lots of uniformed and non-uniformed officers and some are taking videos. In general, though, the cops are pretty chill. It would be too bad if they made the cops the enemy really because they represent exactly the kind of middle class that is getting squeezed out. Marching with permits, instead of blocking traffic and it wouldn't have been an issue.
What's hard to see in pictures and movies is that this park (which happens to be private and owned by a big real estate group) is literally right next door to Ground Zero. There's always a pretty big cop presence and with the recent memorial opening it's been even greater. We also had that crazy protest last year about the Muslim community center.
The other thing is the tourists. Tons of tourists. And the protest is becoming another thing to see when coming downtown to see Ground Zero.
Lucy thinks it's awesome.
The official Occupy Wall Street website explains the movement like this:
Occupy Wall Street is leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We Are the 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. We are using the revolutionary Arab Spring tactic to achieve our ends and encourage the use of nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 5, 2011 promises to be the largest day of protest yet. Also, if you can't make it to the Manhattan rally, MoveOn.org is sponsoring a virtual occupation here.
Nevada County residents, there is information about our local movement at Occupy Wall Street Nevada County. They are planning a rally on Wednesday October 14, at the Brunswick Walgreen's at 4:30.
Heartwrenching testimonials about what it means to be part of the 99% in modern America are being collected at We Are the 99%.
If you would like to move your money from a Wall Street bank to a local bank with a rating of B or higher, visit MoveYourMoney.org.
