As the news networks talk about crime and trying to explain why the protests are going on. I have gone down there and talked to the protestors to find out what the real reason hey were down there for.. The people there are from a wide range of backgrounds and places. A person from California that had flown out to NYC for the protest as well as a young lady that moved from Atlanta without telling her parents what she was doing in NYC.
Many news networks have been reporting crimes occurring at the park and sanitation problems at the protest. At “Liberty Square” aka Zuccotti Park there was a sanitation team that was cleaning around the park and trying to keep it clean. The head of the “Global Revolution” Livestream feed answered one of questions regarding crime and security within the protest. He stated that “This camp is on the front lines of dealing a lot of different problems in our society and therefore the problems in society will also manifest in the camp”. The security at the camp remains a concern as last week a person reported that a laptop computer was stolen as well as the kitchen group reported that thousands of dollars were stolen from the food fund.
Shawn Williams a young woman that had moved to NYC from Atlanta agreed to answer a few questions. Shawn had started coming to the protests September 24th however she doesn’t sleep there because she still goes to work in the morning s and then goes out to the protest everyday after work and on the weekends. She stated that “I am here for my future because the banks are controlling our food system and our lives”. When asked if her family supported her or resented She stated, “My father is a sheriff in Atlanta and had his pension taken away and I think he would be proud of what I am doing”
While walking around the park I saw a lady knitting by the sidewalk talking to people and saying hello to everybody. Her name is Marsha and a grandmother of five. She was making knitting gloves and socks for the protesters. When asked why she was down a the protest she stated “The economic climate in this country right now is not very favorable for them and there current situation”. When asked what the current situation was she said “Between the two parents they have three jobs and are still barely making it by. The oldest one is 16 and only two years away from college and I don’t know how were going to pay for that without having to take out massive loans.”
The protesters are all there for a reason and they all believe that they are already accomplishing things down at “Liberty Square”. They have shown the world that the 99% will not be quiet anymore. However, will these protests fail because they don’t all have the same demands or a spokesperson? Or will not having a spokesperson or the same demands allow them to succeed?