Health & Fitness
Forum Report: "The Occupy Movement: Where did it come from? Where is it going?"
Helen Gerhardt made a presentation on the Occupy Movement at the Peace Forum on February 19th. She is an active member of OccupyPittsburgh.
In the U.S., economic disparity is rising, and keeping this fact in mind, Ms.
Gerhardt asked: What does the Occupy Wall Street Movement wish to accomplish? She responded to her own question in this manner: The Occupy Movement's goal is to bring the thoughts and conversations to the public forum and to make the electorate aware of the critical inequities which could severely and permanently damage our democratic institutions. The electorate,
she continued, must be stimulated to "be the change."
She explicitly noted that no one is an official spokesperson for the movement, and it appears that on the surface it lacks organization and structure. But according to Ms. Gerhardt, this is not the case. Unlike the so called "tea
party" groups which were set up from the top and funded by conservative
think tanks, front groups, (especially from the Koch Industries), the Occupy
groups came together building "grass roots" coalitions simultaneously, responding to the financial crisis which brought us to the precipice of a major depression and free fall.
The movement gathers many experiences in coming together. The movement thrives on sharing stories and varied grievances. The movement is
comprised of all age groups. It is a broad spectrum of the unemployed as well as workers. Young college students who are in debt due to manipulative loans are activated in the movement. Ms. Gerhardt, a veteran of the Iraq War, told
of her military experiences and how she had to undergo the process of
dehumanization. Many soldiers and veterans of the war have experienced many deployments, suffering, wounded and wrecked, and homeless. All of these
groups are a main of the Occupy Movement.
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The movement is a "happening." It happened due to outlandish economic corruption. It happened because of the advantages of the 1%. It happened because the corporate model is failing the 99%. It happened because of the chronic social, economic and political injustices in our current unbridled
capitalistic system.
The Occupy Movement is now processing a change of method and strategy, and Ms Gerhardt made it clear: "They are not finished!"
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Contact Occupy:
