Professor Mark Naison: What Occupy Wall Street Has Accomplished in Two Short Months

Mark Naison of Fordham University recently forwarded the following about the accomplishments of the Occupy Wall Street movement to date. With all the misinformation and propaganda against the movement I consider it a must read.

Gregory

*******

What Occupy Wall Street Has Accomplished in Two Short Months

Mark Naison
Fordham University

Many people in the media, as well as many citizens, complain that Occupy Wall Street has no leaders and no goals. While Occupy Wall Street and its spinoffs around the nation have certainly not developed “leaders” who articulate its goals to the media or negotiate with public officials, it has already registered a formidable list of accomplishments for a movement this young

Here is my list of some of the important things this movement has done, with more to come as it grows and matures

1 Put the question of economic inequality in the center of national discourse for the first time since the 1960’s, even though such inequality has been growing dramatically for the last 20 years. The vocabulary the movement has developed to describe this inequality “ the 1 % and the 99%” have become a permanent part of our political discourse and has focused great attention on how the mal distribution of wealth has undermined democracy and eroded the living standards of the great majority of Americans

2 Called attention to the stifling impact of student loan debt on young college, professional and trade school graduates who face the double whammy of a stagnant job market and crippling debt. The attention given this issue inspired President Obama to marginally ease the loan burden of current recipients. In the future, it might well prompt a radical reconfiguration of the debt or a major program of loan forgiveness

3. Created political pressures that prompted the postponement of a decision by President Obama to begin construction of the controversial Keystone XL natural gas pipeline

4 Inspired a wide variety of actions to prevent foreclosures and evictions and to bring relief to beleaguered home owners and tenants


5. Put the undemocratic character of many education reform policies, particularly school closings, under much greater scrutiny, creating pressures on policy makers that will make these closings much more difficult to implement them without more consultation and input from parents, students, teachers and community members

6. Given the labor movement a new vocabulary to challenge attacks on collective bargaining and union recognition, providing added ammunition to the successful campaign to defeat an anti-collective bargaining bill in the state of Ohio.

7 Focused attention on the issue of police brutality and the militarization of urban police forces in ways that reinforces longstanding complaints of police misconduct and abuse in Black and Latino communities

This would be an impressive list of accomplishment for a movement that has lasted two years. But Occupy Wall Street has only been with us for two months!

November 16, 2011

Mark D Naison
Professor of African American Studies and History
Principal Investigator
Bronx African American History Project
640 Dealy Hall
Fordham University
Bronx, NY 10458

Bronx Occupy Wall Street Supporters Joining Protestors on October 15th

Fortunately there was not a showdown in Zuccotti Park this morning during the attempted "foreclosure of Zuccotti Park" from the Occupy Wall Street protestors. Besides the hundreds of thousands of individuals who signed the petition circulated yesterday to protest the proposed eviction disguised as a "cleaning", hundreds if not thousands of additional supporters showed up at 6am this morning to show solidarity with the movement.

It made me proud to be an American witnessing the news clips during the last 24 hours which showed brave men and women, from all walks of life, cleaning the park and waiting for their opportunity to be arrested in support of Democracy. I feel guilty that I was not there in solidarity with the protestors. It's a shame that much of the spin from the major media owned by the 1% or their puppets, does everything they can to undermine these American HEROES protecting our Democracy.

If the owners of the Zuccotti Park, Brookfield Properties, are so concerned about hygiene, why not place portable bathrooms at the park in support of the protestors and free speech in America? Some interesting allegations/finds were made/exposed in today’s Daily News article entitled “Owners of Zuccotti a lotti 9/11 money” written by Greg B. Smith. Firstly, Brookfield’s subsidiaries received “at least three six figure grants meant for small businesses hurt by 9/11, even though it’s an $8 billion company with 2,500 employees records show”. Secondly, the article alleges “Brookfield’s parent company owns and manages seven major office buildings around lower Manhattan with 12.8 Million square feet of office space, including the World Trade Center, which was heavily damaged in the attacks”. Not only is the large conglomerate collecting funds meant for small businesses, but I would assume the recent crushing Port Authority hikes, which a large portion is allocated to the reconstruction of the World Trade Center, will end up in their pocket as well. As the allegations are investigated it’s no wonder why the park owners, who I also assume maintain the park for major tax concessions or other perks such as increased FAR or building variances on other developments would deny the thousands of protestors potable bathroom stalls and then complain about park hygiene. I am a strong proponent of personal property. America is built on the principle but someone needs to secure the agreement between the park and government entity that defined the deal that converted the park to a 24 hour public access park. I am sure the “99%” paid handsomely for Zuccotti Park. Just like

Please review the e-mail circulating related to tomorrow’s gatherings and demonstrations. I also attached a photo taken at the demonstration showing the growing disparity in wealth in America. The only class warfare going in is an assault by some in America stop 1% against Americas poor and middle class.

Gregory
********

The 99%...

On October 15th, HISTORY is being made. For the first time ever, a Global Demonstration will occur in hundreds of cities around the world. Millions of people will peacefully protest in solidarity, representing 99% of humanity. There are numerous causes being fought for, all spearheaded by a single principle...THE PEOPLE's VOICE MUST BE HEARD.

October 15, 11am, we will be gathering at Fordham Plaza in the Bronx. From... there we will head to the train and go down to Occupy Wall Street as one unit.

It is time Bronxites gathered together, and in the spirit of our reputation as being tough no nonsense citizens, we will show our resolve and peacefully protest, walking in solidarity with our neighbors.

The Bronx contains one of the five poorest Congressional Districts in the entire COUNTRY. Yet we house a sport franchise that has the highest payroll in professional sports...That is but one example of the duality our borough endures.

Please spread the word, as this will be the beginning of us manifesting our own local occupation and further events.