99% ?

“Occupy Wall Street!”

          Since mid September, protestors have been continuing their Occupy Wall Street protests in the Financial District of New York City, colloquially known as (but not limited to the actual location) Wall Street. Jobs for the younger generation, high unemployment, and the large number of young protesters have led me to cover this protest. Because I live near New York City, I wanted to see a piece of a larger worldwide protest against fiscal austerity and corporate irresponsibility.

        The protests are aimed against the banks and major financial institutions (many of them concentrated near Wall Street of Manhattan), hence the name of the protest: ‘Occupy Wall Street.’ The protesters call themselves the 99%, because in their opinion they represent the majority of Americans throughout the United States. They protest against the government and the wealthy of the United States, or the 1%. From Occupy Yoido in Seoul to the Indignados in Madrid, many protest against the so-called 1%.

         As I neared the park, the beating of drums and the shouting of slogans began to overwhelm the usual cacophony of street traffic. Over 300 people were inside the park or near the streets surrounding the park, holding banners or placards with protest slogans. The wall of police officers, protestors, slogans, news vans, Guy Fawkes masks, police batons and blockades blotted out what used to be recreational space for New York residents.

The Demographics

       
          Despite blockades and police patrols, I was able to interview 30 protesters, each of them having their own reasons for camping in the park and protesting. My questions included their motives for protesting, their goals, their current state of employment, their age, and reasons for protesting at this specific spot instead of other locations (like Wall Street). In exchange for their information and opinions, I have promised the individuals to keep their personal information confidential. Throughout my reports, all of the police officers I have tried to interview declined comment.

         According to my interviews, I found that 17 people were from the Millennial Generation (born after 1982) and 10 people from Generation X (late 1960s~ 1982). Only 3 people were born before the late 1960s, which indicated that this protest was mainly a movement by America’s youth. This seemed to me that this protest was mainly focused on issues relating to the employment and social welfare of youths, as well as their dissatisfaction with the bailout package given to major commercial banks.

            However, unlike the protesters’ age, the employment situations of the protesters were varied. Out of the 30 people questioned, 5 people had full time jobs in both private and public sectors, 4 people were part-time workers, 7 people were students, and 14 were unemployed. Out of the 14 people who were unemployed, 10 of them have a bachelor’s degree while the other 4 declined to comment about their education. 

…or Occupy Zucotti Park?

I asked the protestors about their reasons for camping out at Zucotti Park, a public space for residents of Manhattan. Many of the citizens I have interviewed (albeit the 30 protestors) complained about the noise made at night as well as sanitation problems created by the protestors. Many citizens were wondering why they weren’t protesting on Wall Street, which contains the NYSE as well as major financial buildings.

           
          Wall Street itself was deprived of any protesters. When I drew near the NYSE, I was confronted by the police and was refused access into the street. The entire area was sealed off by blockades and mounted policemen, and only NYSE employees and corporate bigwigs were allowed into Wall Street. Many New Yorkers, who usually crossed Wall Street as shortcuts, complained about the cut in traffic. Despite the blockade being a precaution against the protesters, the majority of New Yorkers blamed the police. "The protesters are protesting peacefully, and if the police is going to punish them, don't make us pissed off," said a disgruntled office worker who frequently used the street.

When I asked this particular question to the 30 protestors, 7 people joked that this park was the only viable campsite near Wall Street. 2 people stated that the occupation of public space was symbolic for the protest movement. However, 21 people stated that they did not know why they were camping out in Zucotti Park. “I’ve asked the same question myself,” said one of the protestors, “but I wasn’t able to get a satisfying answer from other people – they don’t know why themselves.”

We are the 99%?

I continued to ask the 30 protesters questions, this time about their motives and their goals. For the majority of protestors (22 people), their motives were similar: protesting against the bailout of major banks while they have to suffer for it. One of the protestors, a social worker, stated that funding for her department was slashed because of austerity measures taken by the U.S government. “We, as well as the downtrodden, should not suffer for those who drink champagne every other party,” was her statement. Many other government workers, whose salaries were cut as well as their department’s budget, nodded in assent.

The other 8 people had different motives, particularly those who were not involved in the public sector. Some complained about the unemployment rate, as well as President Obama’s policies on economic issues. Some wanted justice against Jerry Sandusky, the football coach of Penn State University who was accused of sexual abuse against children. One particular protestor was a self-declared anarchist, and was protesting against order and authority itself.

As for the goals of the protestors, there was a painful gap in unity. There were so many different suggestions that I wasn’t able to tie their suggestions to a particular group. One of the protestors wanted the consolidation of an efficient universal health care system. Another wanted to increase taxes for wealthy citizens, or the ‘1%.’ Goals for the protest movement included government reforms, enact the Dream Act (a bill that will allow the children of illegal immigrants to study in the US), create a socialist society in the United States, improve wages for public sector workers, destruction of Israel, and countless other opinions.

Boiling Point

(photo from http://articles.cnn.com/2011-11-17/us/us_new-york-occupy_1_police-clash-riot-police-occupy-protesters?_s=PM:US)

 As police began to clash with the protestors, I was able to finish my interviews and photograph the protestors. As I began to leave Zucotti Park, I witnessed many activists getting arrested for their actions. Some of the protestors aggravated the police officers, while others were arrested for ambiguous reasons. To avoid from being absorbed the crowd of police and activists, I distanced myself on the opposite street of Zucotti Park.

             Before the police rushed in to disperse the protesters, I saw and heard many diverse and conflicting ideals. However, when the police charged, the protesters banded together. Despite actions by the police, the protestors didn’t stop their protests. Even from 2 blocks away from the park, I could still hear drums beat and activists chant. The protesters had different opinions and differing goals in some aspects, but for them. Some of them didn't know why they were in Zucotti park, but for the protesters that didn't matter. The desire to create a better future for the United States and themselves linked them together, no matter the amount of police suppression or internal conflict.