Occupy Protesters Include Singers, Senior Citizens; Families

Surprised? A commonly held perception is that occupy protesters across the country are college age young adults. There can be no doubt that many of the protestors involved with the occupy movement are college age. The reality is that they are being joined by people who are senior citizens and entire families.

Occupy protesters include grade school students and older senior citizens. This article contains a few examples from among the many.

It made headlines when 92 year old Pete Seeger marched with Occupy Wall Street protesters in New York. As he made his way on two canes he was accompanied by his grandson Tao Rodriguez Seeger, composer David Amram, and bluesman Guy Davis.

Another example of the stereotype defiance that bogs down Occupy Wall Street protesters is Marsha Spencer. This 56 year old grandmother is donating her time to knit hats for her fellow occupiers. Her background includes sewing for bridal shops and working as a costumer.

Spencer says that she has previously been a member of the wardrobe union but has no money to pay the membership. According to her she has been ‘looking for anything I can find’ but has had no success.

Some parents like Lindsey and Harley Erwin in Nashville, Tennessee are using occupy protests as teaching moments. They brought their 7 year old daughter. She said that this was the first time she had seen a protest ‘except on tv’ .

Another protester is middle aged Michael Custer, age 46. He is also with Occupy Nashville. This is the group who is currently camped out in Legislative Plaza in Nashville, Tennessee. Another Occupy Nashville participant is 71 year old veteran protester Rip Patton.

Each of these examples defy the stereotypical picture of an occupy protester. It is a sign that the occupy protest movement isn’t about age. It’s about trying to make a difference.


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