AI Overview
Occupy Wall Street was a 2011 protest movement against economic inequality, corporate greed, and the political influence of corporations, with its main slogan being "We are the 99%"
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Initiated on September 17, 2011, in New York City's financial district, it involved occupying public spaces and lasted for 59 days, but its focus on economic and social injustice has had a lasting impact on public discourse and activism.
Purpose and goals
Protest economic inequality: A primary goal was to draw attention to the growing gap between the wealthiest 1% and the remaining 99% of the population, a disparity exacerbated by the 2008 financial crisis and recession.
Limit corporate influence: The movement sought to reduce the power of large corporations, particularly banks, in the political process.
Advocate for a fairer economy: Participants called for a more equitable economic system that included debt relief, a more balanced distribution of income, and a better response to the housing foreclosure crisis.
Key aspects of the movement
"We are the 99%": This slogan was central to the movement, highlighting the concentration of wealth and income among the top 1%.
Decentralized structure: Occupy Wall Street did not have a single set of demands or a formal leadership structure, which made it a challenge to define concrete goals or a single heir to the movement.
Human microphone: Due to city ordinances against amplified sound, protesters developed a "human microphone" where a speaker would say a phrase and the crowd would repeat it in unison to be heard.
Grassroots organization: The movement emphasized participatory democracy, with protesters creating their own committees and systems to care for their needs while organized in a collaborative manner.
Legacy and impact
Brought inequality into public discourse: Occupy Wall Street is credited with re-inserting the issue of economic inequality into mainstream political conversation, a topic that had been largely sidelined since the Great Depression.
Influenced politics: The movement's focus on inequality was later adopted by politicians like Bernie Sanders and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who saw increased support in the years following.
Inspired activism: It is seen as a catalyst for other forms of activism, including the increase in low-wage worker strikes and other labor movements that gained momentum in the years after.
Occupy Wall Street | 2011, Definition, Movement, & Purpose | Britannica
In the United States the Occupy Wall Street movement from 2011 drew attention to long-standing, ever-increasing economic inequalit...
Britannica
Occupied Wall Street Journal - Museum of the City of New York
Occupy Wall Street also marked the return of collective direct action and a turning point in the use of social media in political ...
Museum of the City of New York
