Occupy Phoenix
Oct. 15th, 2011 04:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dadadadioI've never been to a demonstration, protest, a march or rally of any kind ..... until today.
I took the light rail downtown for the Occupy Phoenix protest. I didn't know how many people to expect. There were zombies on the train and a few placards.
If there's one thing in the media that's pissing me off in regard to the Occupiers, it's the portrayal of them as dirty slacker hippies who don't want to work but are looking for a handout. I know that's not the case, people of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds are mad as hell. The younger people simply got the ball rolling.
The main rallying point was Cesar Chavez Plaza on the steps of the Phoenix City Hall. There were circles on the outer edges of the plaza where people took turns speaking to smaller groups. Onlookers created the human microphone affect echoing the word to those outside the circle.
These young rapper Latinos didn't need the human microphone. They set up a PA system for their social-political based rap music.
The evildoer headquarters is right accross the street from the plaza, the Wells Fargo and US Bank towers. On Friday there was a brief standoff
at the entrance of the Wells Fargo building but cooler heads prevailed.
This guy was stationed under the bank towers telling it like it is. His was one of my favorite signs, simple but true.
Police kept their presense on the streets adjacent the plaza but never ventured into the crowd. There was no reason to intervene. It was peaceful assembly.
The media portrayal is total bullshit. The average age of the Occupiers was easily 40 years old. 20 and 30 somethings were matched equally by 40's, 50's, and senior citizens.
I enjoyed the creativity in the protest signs. Even with the anger and frustation directed at our corrupt government and corporations the people still maintained their sense of humor. And there was genuine good will in the crowd.
Look at all the young slacker hippies in these last two pics. There was no one over 80 years old in the plaza .... kids these days. We have no respect for authority.
I don't know if these protests will make a difference. Only time will tell if the voices of the 99% will be heard and respected. I do know it felt good to be there, to see and hear for myself what this movement is about.
I took the light rail downtown for the Occupy Phoenix protest. I didn't know how many people to expect. There were zombies on the train and a few placards.
If there's one thing in the media that's pissing me off in regard to the Occupiers, it's the portrayal of them as dirty slacker hippies who don't want to work but are looking for a handout. I know that's not the case, people of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds are mad as hell. The younger people simply got the ball rolling.
The main rallying point was Cesar Chavez Plaza on the steps of the Phoenix City Hall. There were circles on the outer edges of the plaza where people took turns speaking to smaller groups. Onlookers created the human microphone affect echoing the word to those outside the circle.
These young rapper Latinos didn't need the human microphone. They set up a PA system for their social-political based rap music.
The evildoer headquarters is right accross the street from the plaza, the Wells Fargo and US Bank towers. On Friday there was a brief standoff
at the entrance of the Wells Fargo building but cooler heads prevailed.
This guy was stationed under the bank towers telling it like it is. His was one of my favorite signs, simple but true.
Police kept their presense on the streets adjacent the plaza but never ventured into the crowd. There was no reason to intervene. It was peaceful assembly.
The media portrayal is total bullshit. The average age of the Occupiers was easily 40 years old. 20 and 30 somethings were matched equally by 40's, 50's, and senior citizens.
I enjoyed the creativity in the protest signs. Even with the anger and frustation directed at our corrupt government and corporations the people still maintained their sense of humor. And there was genuine good will in the crowd.
Look at all the young slacker hippies in these last two pics. There was no one over 80 years old in the plaza .... kids these days. We have no respect for authority.
I don't know if these protests will make a difference. Only time will tell if the voices of the 99% will be heard and respected. I do know it felt good to be there, to see and hear for myself what this movement is about.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-16 02:28 am (UTC)I wanna see the pics...
no subject
Date: 2011-10-16 02:40 am (UTC)I'll look into it.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-16 03:18 am (UTC)Love the signs - especially I refuse to believe that corporations are people until Texas executes one...
10-4.
Occupy Little Rock is getting its permits now...
no subject
Date: 2011-10-16 03:35 am (UTC)I hope the L.R. occupiers have a good event. I noticed how slowly the red states have organized. This started a month ago in NYC. It took AZ 28 days to anti-up.
no subject
Date: 2011-10-16 03:51 am (UTC)I will say that those who started in NY and other cities and are camping/occupying are the young, mostly. The movement is driven by the young because they're the new leaders. No one is going to tell them how to do anything, they're smarter than anyone gave them credit for. However, we all our in it together, it's pure peace and lotta love, in that sense, it's hippie-ish. The mainstream media needs to label and box things. As I've said, I don't get my news there, it's not news.
I just wanted to speak to Sharpie's mention of permits. That's one of the issues. People do not need permits to assemble, march and occupy except when safety-like fire hazards are concerned. The movement is about self policing.These are our streets, etc.
Can't wait to see Little Rock occupied!