Many people still do not know what the Occupy Movement stands for, or have been misdirected by mainstream media into thinking the Occupy Movement is a bunch of whining kids or aging hippies. It’s anything but that. The Occupy Movement is grad students, doctors, teachers, business owners, nurses, professors, freelance workers, high school students, stay-at-home mothers, military people, and even police officers. They do have goals.
The Occupy Movement began in New York with the Occupy Wall Street movement on September 17, 2011. Since then, Occupy movements have sprung up all over the world – in more than 82 countries, in fact. This is a direct testament to the seriousness of the global socio-economic-political climate, and underlines the extent to which people believe change must occur.
Some of the Occupy groups are still literally occupying the campuses or parks on which they started. Some groups have been evicted and, with cold weather setting in, or no place to turn to, have moved their headquarters to the Internet. These “virtual” movements will take up their physical Occupy locations again in the spring.
So – what is the Occupy Movement all about? Well, there are a few major points. To put it simply, they want to change the world. They (and their supporters) want to end the corrupting influence money and corporations have on governments and politics. They want bank reform. They are against economic and social inequality. They want better and more jobs.The “We are the 99%” slogan refers to the fact that there is a widening gap between the wealthiest of people in the world compared to everyone else, and many of those 1%ers have taken advantage of, mistreated, or otherwise gotten their wealth at the expense of the 99%.
If you are curious about the movement, want to learn more, or show your support, go to your local Occupy Movement location, or join one of the many Facebook groups. Ask questions, and you will see they are not just a bunch of people with no clear objectives. They are very clear on their goals.
And remember that, since it is most likely you are a member of the 99%, they represent you, too. Even if you don’t understand what it is they are doing to improve the world.