“The brief respite from the precipitation was mostly well timed for our loud and joyful casserole march through the streets of downtown Chicago…”
A report from Chicago’s action in participation with #globalNOISE
An occupier from Chicago reminisces on her first year in the movement as Occupy Chicago celebrates its anniversary:
“I now recognize our occupation, our movement to occupy every form of oppression everywhere, to be the only possible tide to rise against the financial-governmental machine of privatization, profitization, racialization and devastation of our homes, lives, bodies and thoughts. The one percent demands that we believe in their systems and institutions even as they crack and fall all around them, but the time has come for human beings to evolve. I will continue to use my skills as a writer, performer, and organizer to fuel the worldwide revolution for a sustainable culture until I wake up every last sleepy consumer. I occupy my art and other’s minds as best I can — I see no other way to be!”
My Occupy Birthday
An activist reminisces on his past year at OWS, while reporting back on new projects to tackle in year two:
I’ve had my share of personal successes and failures in life, leading a more or less comfortable existence, and therefore have remained complacent (and complicit?). Last year, though, when I witnessed innocent young people, right here in New York City, brutalized and arrested just for publicly stating that they believed our world was in peril and that they wanted there to be a better tomorrow, it triggered in me an uncontrollable desire to help. This is something I hadn’t ever encountered before and I didn’t know how to start, so I went to investigate what these kids were doing in Liberty Plaza (Zuccotti Park), and found at least a sliver of hope in the bravery of these young’uns.
Ethan’s story tells of self-actualization while presenting some projects on how others may become involved with the movement moving into year two!
Occupy: 12 Events That Defined Year One
As we approach the one year anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, Occupied Stories takes a look back at the events and actions that defined the first year of the movement. In the run-up to #S17 we will be posting stories from our archives for every month of the past year of occupy, starting with stories on the first days at Liberty Square and the spouting of other encampments nationwide. Be sure to check back often!
“So many people are so appreciative and excited about getting this surprise gift as they are wandering down the streets when our ragtag solidarity march goes by.”
Cindy Milstein writes about her outreach effort of giving away red squares to passersby while marching in Montreal.
Today on Occupied Stories, Cindy Milstein writes about street art in Montreal.
What’s that over there?
Oh, it’s a little red flag.
In Montreal, little red squares begin to catch your eye seemingly everywhere you look.
It’s been a slow couple of days at Occupied Stories, but we still have great coverage of protests in Montreal and solidarity actions in New York and Chicago. Check it out, and let us know if you were at such an action.
Today we release the second installment of a three-part story, An Anarchist’s Odyssey to Chicago. In this installment, the author (pictured above) is beaten by CPD and taken to the hospital, but not without a few puffs of his cigar.
