"Don't be afraid to say revolution." Dr Cornel West told the protesters in Liberty Plaza, New York City, on September 27th 2011.
It was not prophecy, it was observation. News had spread of another 52 American cities starting their own Occupy demonstration. Occupy Chicago, Occupy Boston and Occupy San Francisco were already a few days old, but now the movement was mushrooming around the United States and beyond. By September 28th 2011, all six of Australia's territories had their own Occupations being organised in major cities. Britain, Canada, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands all had at least one.
What is the Occupy Protest Movement?
Activists Adbusters gave the rallying call, which was quickly echoed by US Day of Rage. September 17th 2011 was to be a coming together of people disaffected by their country's economic policies and the damaging excesses of their banking systems. It pulled together many diverse groups and lone individuals, each with specific complaints or focused issues. Amongst the better known collectives on board are hacktivists Anonymous, who dubbed their participation Operation Occupy Wall Street.
Occupy Wall Street has been the most successful of the campaigns, though it was also the main focus of the movement's launch. Demonstrators arrived, on September 17th 2011, intent upon camping out on New York's Wall Street. This is the central area for America's bankers, as well as the New York Stock Exchange. Police barricaded the street, but the protesters were undeterred. They gained permission from the private owners of Zuccotti Park to erect their tents there instead.
Two weeks later, the Occupy Wall Street protesters are still there. The park has been renamed Liberty Plaza for the duration. Their tents, tarpaulin and umbrellas have been taken from them by the NYPD, but demonstrators are determined to stay.
Their decisions are made by General Assembly, where anyone who wishes to speak is allowed to stand up and address the crowd. Originally there was a bullhorn to ensure that everyone could hear. When all amplification devices were deemed illegal, the gathering found a unique way of getting their message across - the 'human microphone'. Those closest to the speaker repeat his or her words in unison, thus those at the back can hear. The deaf are also included, with volunteer ASL signers translating the speeches.
Dr Cornel West Talks about American Revolution at the Occupy Wall Street General Assembly
Dr Cornel West is a prominent American intellectual, author, radio broadcaster, public speaker and university lecturer. He has taught classes at Yale, Harvard and Union Theological Seminary, as well as the University of Paris, in France. He took his first degree at Harvard University, before moving onto Princeton to complete both his MA and PhD in Philosophy.
In the public sphere, he is best known for writing or editing several books, including Race Matters and Democracy Matters. He interrupted a public speaking tour of the USA, promoting his latest book Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud, in order to visit Liberty Plaza.
Dr West was upbeat, as he used the 'human microphone' to address crowds in New York City's Liberty Plaza. "I am so blessed to be here. You got me spiritually break-dancing on the way here. Because when you bring folk together of all colours, all cultures, of all genders, all sexual orientations, the elite will tremble in their boots."
"And we will send a message that this is the US Fall responding to the Arab Spring and it's going to hit Chicago; Los Angeles; Phoenix, Arizona; A Town itself, moving onto Detroit; it will hit Appalachia, it will hit the reservations with our red brothers and sisters, and Martin Luther King will smile from the grave and say, 'We're moving step by step to what he called the revolution.'"
"I want to thank you. It is a blessing to be a small part of this magnificent gathering. This is the General Assembly consecrated by your witness and your body and your mind."
The protesters listening to him ended their echoing of his words to cheer. Dr West beamed at them and initiated a chant, "We, the people, have found our voice! We, the people, have found our voice! We, the people, have found our voice!" The applause rang out, with more cheering punctuated by a voice calling out from the crowd, "Thank you, Brother West."
Sources:
- Cornel West.
- Occupy Together - A hub for every branch of the Occupy Movement.
- Occupy Wall Street.
- Vimeo: Dr. Cornel West Ignites OWS NYC. (Uploaded by JRL on September 28th 2011.)
- YouTube: Dr. Cornell West - We the People Have Found Our Voice. (Uploaded by Korgasmx on September 27th 2011.)
Jo Harrington - Jo has a BA (Hons) in History and Philosophy and a MA in History. She has a book published on the history of Wicca.
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