We’re taking a break from The Coveted’s regular topics today. I don’t normally like to consider myself a political person. Sure, I have my opinions, but more often than not I tend to keep them to myself.
The Occupy Wall Street movement is voicing the growing frustration over Wall Street’s practices. That Wall Street is responsible for selling people faulty financial products what caused the global financial crisis, that tax dollars bailed them out, and they did not get penalized while 99% of country suffers from the recession.
After watching the news, and twitter feeds about Occupy Wall Street, and seeing three separate marches through my neighborhood of thousands of people rallying for change, I had to see for myself what it was about. Yesterday I went down there to see and form my own opinion from experience. There was a good spirit there, I saw people of all ages, babies, young people, middle aged, elderly. People of all races, religions. Employed, unemployed, underemployed. It was really a mixed bag. Most of the people I saw were like me, curious, walking around the settlement reading all the signs, talking with the protestors, trying to take it all in and figure out what it meant to them. I sensed hope and excitement along with the frustration. Even NYPD were kind of smiling and talking with the protestors as they kept everything in order around the perimeters.
I’m not a “hippy.” I might have socialist leanings (if that’s the word they use for someone who believes all should have quality education and healthcare). I am certainly an entrepreneur, a business owner and most of all an American. I believe Occupy Wall Street is an important movement, and a huge opportunity to make a difference.
Geraldo Rivera attempted to report live on the scene, but got booted out by “Fox News Lies” chants.
Jimmy McMillan of the Rent is Too Damn High Party
What’s a protest without some antagonizers?This pup really looks like Falkor the Luckdragon from the Neverending Story
Click on the images below for full size
{ 29 comments }
These are great photos. I’ve been following the Occupy movement a bit, though the dynamic is a bit different coming from the suburban Midwest.
I bet, but you do work in the university, so there must be a lot of talk there, no?
It’s all kind of crazy, and to be honest, I don’t think I would have taken it so seriously unless I saw with my own eyes how passionate people are about this, and how it’s not going away.
I think the Occupy movement is totally silly, but I love your blog. I check it daily and am a fan.
your photos are so good …
I think it’s beyond political and reflects the anger and hurt of so many
the sad mockery of decency at BAC with a 5.00 usage fee to be waived if you’re rich and two fired executives exiting with several million dollar severance packages
thank you for your coverage … as a style/beauty/fashion/art/quirky blogger I don’t do the political but this is very moving to see so many caring about this and speaking out
such a divisive moment
have you ever seen louis ck’s video on being broke?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0rSXjVuJVg
what BofA did with the bank fees is crazy. it also reminded me of the year California (where BofA is based) voted to ban ATM fees, and they overruled it somehow. it’s like voting doesn’t apply to them!
I can’t thank you enough for your post. I don’t know about Fox news because I haven’t watched it but I question how much of any news broadcast is true and not opinion. After all, many of the one per cent of people making those large salaries are working for the news media. Specifically the television news media. There are so many splinter groups out there now that I fear the messages are too watered down and to garbled to be understandable. I admit to being fairly liberal. I thought Buffett had a great idea in making the people with the most money pay more tax. I wouldn’t want to have to figure out a way to increase income and jobs in this country. I actually think that there is probably a combination of things that need to be done. And I don’t like the political parties and their unwillingness to cooperate. Thank you for allowing me to bitch.
Well yeah, Warren Buffet is absolutely right in how the rich have been coddled. I read Mitt Romney pays about 15% tax while middle class pays 35%. It’s crazy, and if we had things like I dunno, health care and quality education (including free college) maybe, just maybe I’d think that was ok maybe the system works, but the basic human needs of Americans aren’t being met, and that’s a problem.
I must admit that I don’t really know much about this, living in England and all. But it sounds like a worthwhile protest and one that those involved should be proud of - for perfect protest behaviour as well as the cause.
Oh and that dog totally looks like Falkor!
blahblahbecky.co.uk´s last [type] ..Smythson: The Jonathan Saunders Collection
Thanks so much for your support!
Such amazing photos… and admittedly, I love this movement. I’m so cynical that I can’t imagine it will do anything but I’m SO HOPING it will
…love Maegan´s last [type] ..Ghosts Appear & Fade Away
Thanks so much my dear! Yeah, I am a bit cynical as well… which is why when they first started I didn’t pay much attention, but it seems to be gaining momentum, and I’m doing to do what I can to help that. Anyway, here’s to hope!
great photos! i really appreciate this post. i definitely think a revolt has to happen in order for the little guys to be heard. don’t you think this event is what the tea baggers thought they were creating? oh, except that the koch brothers funded theirs. oops.
Just went to visit my friend at Cambridge and the #OccupyBoston movement is still going strong.
Joy´s last [type] ..Downton Abbey x Valentino S/S 2012
I live in New Zealand and heard about this on the news. Its nice to actually hear more about it coming from an
American.
The fact of this financial strive though is not just in America. What happens there filters through the rest of the world too.
I reckon there is going to be a bigger collapse soon if your Government wont hear the protesters and change the way things are being run. I know Obama is trying all he can and he was given less than nothing to work with when he came into the situation he is in.
I am basing my facts on the narrow minded media that I see, but I fear for all of our situations as ours is similar to yours, just not as bad.
I hope something gets done about it!
I’m not an extremely political person either, but I went to check the Occupy LA protest a couple of weekends ago. Really interesting.
thank you for this post. I’m hoping for real change.
Cam - Bibs & Baubles´s last [type] ..Just a Thought
I thought Buffett had a great idea in making the people with the most money pay more tax. I wouldn’t want to have to figure out a way to increase income and jobs in this country.
karen´s last [type] ..A Little Advance Tax Planning Can Keep Most Arizonans Out of Hot Water with the IRS
WE ARE 99% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
judith´s last [type] ..shoulder length hair styles
WE ARE 99%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
judith´s last [type] ..shoulder length hair styles
The people who think the Occupy Wall Street movement is silly, overblown or pointless have not taken the time to read about the issues at hand and brush it off because they don’t understand….which is really the basis of so many of the larger problems we’re facing, apathy on the part of the masses. Being in Canada we’re incredibly lucky to have free healthcare, which seems like one of the major issues for many of the protesters in the US. Losing your job/not being able to find one is hard/scary enough, but throw a family illness on top of that and you have the potential to spiral into a deep hole of debt with no way of climbing out. From someone living in a country with a great (but not perfect) healthcare system….I hope you guys are on the way to getting something similar of your own! Paid for through corporate tax increases!
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Jennine! I couldn’t agree with you more… I am from Barcelona (Spain), but I am neither deaf nor blind to the world, and things here are not that different. I see people lose their jobs everyday, people being refused by banks to get loans they need in order to start a business, send their kids to college or even pay the rent! And in the other hand, soccer players whose multi-billionare fortunes are kept abroad so that they don’t have to pay taxes, and banks are still making unbelievable profits from the money us citizens had to pay them in order to save them from bankruptcy! It just doesn’t make any sense! I just turned 18, which means I am finally able to vote here in Spain, but to be honest, I don’t think my vote will make that much of a difference when the ones who hold the power to really change things actually belong to that 1%… Anyway! Thanks for spreading the word and for sharing these beautiful photos. We hear you!
Laura Hueto Puig´s last [type] ..Looking Back
Many mock the protesters because their cause doesn’t have one clear focus. But that’s just the problem - SO MUCH has gone wrong that it’s like ‘where do you even begin’?!?!? I admire everyone who’s joined this movement. They truly do represent 99% of Americans right now - even those who oppose them out of ignorance.
SarahJayne @ Goldmine Trash´s last [type] ..GMT <3′S SOTBM
I have been following your blog for about a year now, and this is the single best post I have ever read here. Thank you for taking time away from fashion ( I love it, too, but let’s be honest here, it is not the most important thing on the planet) to address issues which are real and meaningful for us all. I honestly can’t commend you enough for having the intellectual curiousity to take a first-hand look at what’s happening on Wall Street and report back to the rest of us. Well done!
Jennine, thank you so much for this post. I’m in CA and wish I was closer to what is happening on Wall Street, as it’s always great to see more perspective from on the ground. And that you can blog about fashion but still care about the rest of the world. Given some of the ridiculous stuff that has been going on recently in the government and economy, I’m more outraged by the fact that all Americans have not been protesting in the streets already.
Excellent post, great photos; they definitely capture the diversity and the spirit of the protesters. A number of us have been following what’s happening on Wall Street here at the University I work at in London, Ontario, Canada, and definitely support the 99%. It reminds us how lucky we are to live in a country where we don’t have to worry about being bankrupted by a hospital stay.
Shelley´s last [type] ..You Spin Me Right Round Baby…
I support the protesters , the 99% , i hope they succeed .
yaniv´s last [type] ..Setting a Large Camping Tent
I’m so glad you posted this. While there is an Occupy movement in my city, it is much smaller than the one New York. Like you, I’ve been curious to find out what it is all really about. This post was extremely enlightening. I’m happy to report that we feel the same way about this movement, as well as access quality healthcare and education. Thank you for sharing!
Katy´s last [type] ..Paper or Plastic?
http://themellowjihadi.com/2011/10/15/symbols/
Bravo to you for being the first Fashion Blog I’ve seen to cover the Occupy movement! I think it is extremely brave and exceptionally insightful of you to take a moment away from the fashion talk to talk about what it going on around you. I’ve found the lack of coverage on fashion and lifestyle blogs to be a little creepy to be honest. Primarily because I think there are so many similarities between the essential philosophy behind blogging (providing alternative perspectives on a topic aside from that in the mainstream) and the Occupy movement. Bloggers are about a self motivation to improve upon something that is important to them. Same goes for the Occupy movement. The independent and personal aspects of blogging are inherently the same as those that have sparked the Occupy movement as well. I’m proud of you for breaking the radio silence on fashion blogs. Lets hope a few others follow suit. Its nice to hear your perspective on the movement regardless of whether you believe in it or not. Good to know you aren’t living with your head in the sand.