Today in Salem, Oregon my wife and I joined hundreds of other 99%ers in a march from the Capitol that ended at a rally in Peace Plaza (in this context, "99%" refers to those people less well-off than the top 1% — who now own 40% of our nation's wealth).
We were part of a vast October 15 worldwide protest against growing wealth inequality. The United States has the fifth-most unequal wealth distribution in the world, and it's getting worse. Our middle class is sinking into lower class status, while the rich keep getting richer.
Here's a five minute video of how the rally started. I was impressed with the unorganized organization of the Occupy ______ movement. Nobody in particular seemed to be in charge of the event, but it went along appealingly smoothly and flowingly. Lao Tzu would be pleased: "In governing, don't try to control."
And here's some iPhone photos that I took of the march/rally.
My wife, Laurel (on the left) and I got to the Capitol about fifteen minutes after the pre-march rally started. We figured the march would be late, just as we almost always are. Nope. The marchers left right on time, with us and a friend, Delana (in the middle) bringing up the rear.
Willson Park, part of the Capitol grounds, was indeed being occupied. We marched by tents put up by the committed core Occupy Salem folks.
A merry band of Silverton People For Peace joined up.
I don't think one traffic law was broken during the march. Heck, I usually jaywalk a lot more on my own. Occupy Salem had monitors at every crosswalk guiding people. Again, great organization for a loosely organized group.
At the Peace Plaza rally, this canine was one of the most enthusiastic chanters. Well, he/she barked. But the dog had the right intention. The sign reads: "Rescue Airedales not Wall St. Bankers – Tax Fat Cats"
Here's the main "stage" of the rally. But people felt free to speak from anywhere.
The people at the rally were a diverse group. Young/old. Countercultural/traditional. Loud/quiet. Everybody was united, though, by a common goal: to get our country and the world back on a fairness track.
This was my wife's favorite sign, a Ghandi quote: "First they ignore you; then they laugh at you; they they fight you; then you win." We need to put something like this together — a generic protest sign that we can take to any sort of rally.
Laurel and I were signless until someone handed one to my wife. Guess they had to leave early.
Here's our friend, Delana, with a sign she made herself. Note how every word is spelled correctly. That's important when you're a teacher who is saying "Hire our teachers back."
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I will say this bunch looks a lot more pleasant and reasonable than some of the rabble seen at most of the other demonstrations around the country.
But remember when you are fussing about the rich and their greed and excess, the other side of the coin…
Communism says “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”
Human need cannot be defined. Do you really want government defining your need? How much self-determination do you think government will allow you once you give it the power to determine how much self determination you should have? Power is abused on Wall St. Power is abused in government. Neither should have too much, but in a nutshell…
Leave me alone.
Great coverage of the march and rally, Brian – video, photos, text – all of it.
I was on the other side of the rally at Peace Plaza from you and your camera, but am in there from 11-16 seconds, on the right by the steps, behind the dog, wearing a yellow jacket, fiddling with my bike. I’m also in the video at the Statesman Journal today, which was actually taken at a meeting on Friday to define a message for media use. (I haven’t been staying overnight, but have been to several meetings and educational activities associated with Occupy Salem.) I’m in the background in a few shots but at the end of the S-J video I’m standing next to the flag, same yellow jacket, hands in jeans pockets. Right around that point in the meeting (but not shown in the video) I went on a rant about how in trying to be all inclusive and not alienate anyone, the group seemed to be watering down the message that originated with Occupy Wall Street: that Wall Street, banks and corporations dominate our political and economic systems. They did include something along these lines in the statement: “…blatant injustices that are being perpetuated by the economic and political structures in our nation and around the world….” Democracy, as they say, is slow; but this is what democracy looks like.