Occupy Wall Street enters its second week amid talk of mainstream media blackout. Celebrities and American heroes have been showing up in New York, lending their support and hoping that their presence will galvanise the big name news outlets into reporting on the protest. The latest rumour is that Eminem has indicated he is on his way.
The Academy award winning rapper won't be alone. An estimated 1,000 - 2,000 people are anticipated to join the march, at noon on September 24th 2011, including people from Liverpool, in Great Britain. Their ship is due to dock in New York City ahead of the largest gathering yet.
Lupe Fiasco and Immortal Technique Join the March in NYC
Chart-topping rappers Lupe Fiasco and Immortal Technique have both shown their support for Occupy Wall Street this week. As well as marching with protesters through the streets, both men mingled with the crowds gathered in Zuccotti Park (renamed Liberty Plaza by those occupying it). They signed autographs and each stood up to speak to those assembled.
Immortal Technique spoke out against the US government borrowing money, when 'the majority of the population are getting nothing from those loans'. He claimed that the revenue was being invested in 'foreign firms', where the labour was cheaper. He also talked about the potential for democratically elected officials to become corrupted by wealthy lobbyists. "Once they get involved in politics, they come to rely on political contributions... you know that not everyone is going to vote, so you concentrate on fulfilling the needs of special interests." These would constitute guaranteed voters in favour of the politician's party.
Amongst the other celebrities in Liberty Plaza was Roseanne Barr, who used the occasion to confirm that she was entering the next presidential election. The Occupy Wall Street media team were quick to point out that they have also received a lot of support from lesser known artists, mainly from New York City.
The Yes Men Hold a Training Session for Activists in Liberty Plaza
Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno from The Yes Men have become involved in the demonstrations. Described as 'culture jamming, anti-corporate activists', the pair were the stars of their eponymous 2003 documentary film, The Yes Men. Mr Bonanno staged an 'umbrella flash mob', whereby demonstrators suddenly erected umbrellas, spelling out 'Occupy Wall Street' from the viewpoint of passing traffic.
On September 22nd 2011, they brought a special guest speaker into Liberty Plaza. Otpor! (Resistance!) helped to foster public opinion against Slobodan Miloševic in their native Serbia, then used their activist expertise to help in other actions across the world. Ivan Marovic from Otpor! was brought to Liberty Plaza by the Yes Men, where he headed a training session.
Occupy Wall Street supporter Jamie King said, "The Yes Men are the first guys to really get the job done and word out about reform. I applaud them on so many levels."
Anonymous September 11th Hero Amongst Protesters in Occupy Wall Street
One of the marchers was a construction worker in New York City, on September 11th 2001. As the World Trade Center fell, he took his trucks, tools, tanks and other equipment to the site of the Twin Towers. Working as a volunteer, alongside the emergency services, he used his specialist knowledge to help in the hunt for survivors. He was at the scene nearly as long as the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). As a patriot doing what needed to be done, he never asked for payment. But the cost to himself was higher than he expected.
The anonymous 9/11 first responder was filmed speaking at OccupyWallStreet. Wearing a mask and sunglasses to conceal his identity, he explained that his work in the wreckage of the World Trade Center severely affected his health. He had developed an auto-immune disease called Sarcoidosis. It is an inflammatory condition, which can led to organ failure. An usually high number of cases have been recorded amongst officers working at Ground Zero, in the aftermath of 9/11. But unlike members of the emergency services, he was not eligible for compensation nor benefits. He was just a construction worker.
He had joined the Occupy Wall Street protest as a reaction to his personal circumstances. Unable to work, due to his condition, he has unsuccessfully attempted to claim disability benefit. He is barely able to afford his rent; and he relies upon the kindness of family and friends to purchase the vast array of medication that he needs to control his Sarcoidosis. "Everybody here, including me, has their own individual story; but what it boils down to is money and somebody else having control of our lives."
He declared his support for the protest, adding, "Do it respectfully, obey the laws, but you do have a right to say your piece."
Sources:
- Global Revolution Livestream. (September 24th 2011, conference at the media station allowed press questions from the chat channel.)
- IMDb, The Yes Men. (2003.)
- New York Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, World Trade Center PBA Registry.
- Occupy Wall Street.
- PubMed Health, Sarcoidosis.
- Yes Lab, Occupy Wall Street. (Website of The Yes Men, September 21st 2011.)
- The Yes Men, Mike organises 'Umbrella Flash Mob' for Occupy Wall Street. (Photography by Joshua Wilcox, September 23rd 2011.)
- YouTube: 9/11 First Responder Occupying Wall Street . (Uploaded by OccupyWallSt on September 23rd 2011.)
- YouTube: Immortal Technique. (Uploaded by Petegriffen, on September 18th 2011.)
- YouTube: Lupe Fiasco on Building 7, 911 truth and New World Order. (Interview by Luke Rudkowski at Occupy Wall Street, uploaded on September 19th 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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