#OCCUPYWALLSTREET
Alright you 90,000 redeemers, rebels and radicals out there,
A worldwide shift in revolutionary tactics is underway right now that bodes well for the future. The spirit of this fresh tactic, a fusion of Tahrir with the acampadas of Spain, is captured in this quote:
"The antiglobalization movement was the first step on the road. Back then our model was to attack the system like a pack of wolves. There was an alpha male, a wolf who led the pack, and those who followed behind. Now the model has evolved. Today we are one big swarm of people."— Raimundo Viejo, Pompeu Fabra University
Barcelona, Spain
The beauty of this new formula, and what makes this novel tactic exciting, is its pragmatic simplicity: we talk to each other in various physical gatherings and virtual people's assemblies … we zero in on what our one demand will be, a demand that awakens the imagination and, if achieved, would propel us toward the radical democracy of the future … and then we go out and seize a square of singular symbolic significance and put our asses on the line to make it happen.
The time has come to deploy this emerging stratagem against the greatest corrupter of our democracy: Wall Street, the financial Gomorrah of America.
On September 17, we want to see 20,000 people flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months. Once there, we shall incessantly repeat one simple demand in a plurality of voices.
Tahrir succeeded in large part because the people of Egypt made a straightforward ultimatum – that Mubarak must go – over and over again until they won. Following this model, what is our equally uncomplicated demand?
The most exciting candidate that we've heard so far is one that gets at the core of why the American political establishment is currently unworthy of being called a democracy: we demand that Barack Obama ordain a Presidential Commission tasked with ending the influence money has over our representatives in Washington. It's time for DEMOCRACY NOT CORPORATOCRACY, we're doomed without it.
This demand seems to capture the current national mood because cleaning up corruption in Washington is something all Americans, right and left, yearn for and can stand behind. If we hang in there, 20,000-strong, week after week against every police and National Guard effort to expel us from Wall Street, it would be impossible for Obama to ignore us. Our government would be forced to choose publicly between the will of the people and the lucre of the corporations.
This could be the beginning of a whole new social dynamic in America, a step beyond the Tea Party movement, where, instead of being caught helpless by the current power structure, we the people start getting what we want whether it be the dismantling of half the 1,000 military bases America has around the world to the reinstatement of the Glass-Steagall Act or a three strikes and you're out law for corporate criminals. Beginning from one simple demand – a presidential commission to separate money from politics – we start setting the agenda for a new America.
Post a comment and help each other zero in on what our one demand will be. And then let's screw up our courage, pack our tents and head to Wall Street with a vengeance September 17.
for the wild,
Culture Jammers HQ
Adbusters #97: Post Anarchism – How To Live Without Dead Time (with #OCCUPYWALLSTREET campaign materials inside), hits newsstands on August 2. Go to adbusters.org/subscribe and subscribe!
534 comments on the article “#OCCUPYWALLSTREET”
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Anonymous
It's encouraging to see more calls for mass occupations of public spaces. Here's another: http://october2011.org/pledge
Anonymous
It's encouraging to see more calls for mass occupations of public spaces. Here's another: http://october2011.org/pledge
Anonymous
Corporatism=Fascism
That's a message that speaks to economics, civil liberties, and consumerism. And the mainstream can understand that equation. So... that's an idea that I'd rally behind and support.
With all this talk about uprisings in the Mideast, we'd be remiss not to take notice, make mention, and utilize the organizing capabilities of social media resources (something which I feel that Adbusters has thus far epically failed to utilize to the best of their abilities).
Organize locally, around the country, for relevant solidarity actions which could take cues from the main protest.
Occasionally find a place to shower, recharge, take a day or two for rest, and then return to the protest.
Diversity of tactics should be understood, and respected.
Don't slowly sacrifice people to the police forces on a daily basis -- keep people free. Attrition and related fines could mount quickly and take a toll.
Dress accordingly, wear comfortable footwear, and stay hydrated.
Don't get cornered or flanked.
Whistle, drums, and flags are very important -- educate people on their practical uses.
Finally... AVOID the self-appointed protest officials and directors. If you have an idea for a days action, maybe print it out on tiny 2"x2" pieces of paper and disperse it broadly. If people like the idea presented they can get to it immediately on short notice -- but there is no need to grab a megaphone and attempt to herd cats with no general plan on any given day. On days when no good plans are proposed (or if they become impractical)... STICK TOGETHER IN LOUD MASSIVE BLOCS.
Anonymous
Corporatism=Fascism
That's a message that speaks to economics, civil liberties, and consumerism. And the mainstream can understand that equation. So... that's an idea that I'd rally behind and support.
With all this talk about uprisings in the Mideast, we'd be remiss not to take notice, make mention, and utilize the organizing capabilities of social media resources (something which I feel that Adbusters has thus far epically failed to utilize to the best of their abilities).
Organize locally, around the country, for relevant solidarity actions which could take cues from the main protest.
Occasionally find a place to shower, recharge, take a day or two for rest, and then return to the protest.
Diversity of tactics should be understood, and respected.
Don't slowly sacrifice people to the police forces on a daily basis -- keep people free. Attrition and related fines could mount quickly and take a toll.
Dress accordingly, wear comfortable footwear, and stay hydrated.
Don't get cornered or flanked.
Whistle, drums, and flags are very important -- educate people on their practical uses.
Finally... AVOID the self-appointed protest officials and directors. If you have an idea for a days action, maybe print it out on tiny 2"x2" pieces of paper and disperse it broadly. If people like the idea presented they can get to it immediately on short notice -- but there is no need to grab a megaphone and attempt to herd cats with no general plan on any given day. On days when no good plans are proposed (or if they become impractical)... STICK TOGETHER IN LOUD MASSIVE BLOCS.
Anonymous
Hello. Your equation is truthful. However, it is not a call to action. It is not a demand. If people were to gather together in great number to essentially disrupt Wall Street wouldn't it be more productive if they assembled behind a clear, resonant, viable agenda?
Anonymous
Hello. Your equation is truthful. However, it is not a call to action. It is not a demand. If people were to gather together in great number to essentially disrupt Wall Street wouldn't it be more productive if they assembled behind a clear, resonant, viable agenda?
friends of Aristotle
If I may add some things:
don't forget to be human; talk exchange ideas, develop new strategies, feed and be fed, make coffee, have fun, whatever this is an occupation not a part time job.
As far as an agenda goes we all know that spectrum of political ideologies vary even towards frustration the radicals who sit on the vanguard side of things should seek to start dialogues with the less radical elements and form an agenda based consensus. I know this might be scary because of the lack of initial ideology but Spain and Greece are good examples of an evolving demand. Further no one should impose an agenda and even this is merely a proposal.
It's time for us to reclaim the commons and create new autonomous zones liberated from capital. Wall st seems a good place to start.
friends of Aristotle
If I may add some things:
don't forget to be human; talk exchange ideas, develop new strategies, feed and be fed, make coffee, have fun, whatever this is an occupation not a part time job.
As far as an agenda goes we all know that spectrum of political ideologies vary even towards frustration the radicals who sit on the vanguard side of things should seek to start dialogues with the less radical elements and form an agenda based consensus. I know this might be scary because of the lack of initial ideology but Spain and Greece are good examples of an evolving demand. Further no one should impose an agenda and even this is merely a proposal.
It's time for us to reclaim the commons and create new autonomous zones liberated from capital. Wall st seems a good place to start.
Anonymous
This is a great idea. We might consider the demand in the article a bit further. Instead of asking the president to reconsider election funding by way of commission, perhaps we could demand public funding for all federal elections exclusive of all other forms of funding. Of course, we would need a legal formula, one that is constitutionally sound, to achieve this goal. We would also need multiple strategies to force this demand upon the congress and the president. For those of you reading this, do you know of anyone who is addressing this issue legally?
Anonymous
This is a great idea. We might consider the demand in the article a bit further. Instead of asking the president to reconsider election funding by way of commission, perhaps we could demand public funding for all federal elections exclusive of all other forms of funding. Of course, we would need a legal formula, one that is constitutionally sound, to achieve this goal. We would also need multiple strategies to force this demand upon the congress and the president. For those of you reading this, do you know of anyone who is addressing this issue legally?
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