Occupy+Wall+Street+Part+2

**Occupy Wall Street In A Global Context**

The Occupy Wall Street protest is only one of many important protests people have organized in public spaces around the world over the past year. The same economic conditions that gave rise to the Wall Street occupation and other "Occupy" demonstrations around the United States have also been felt in other countries. In Spain, for example, protests erupted at the beginning of 2011 in response to high unemployment and significant government spending cutbacks. In Madrid, protesters known as los indignados (the indignant) took over a number of public squares and plazas - including the city's central plaza, Plaza del Sol - where they camped out for extended periods of time. In both the Spanish movement and Occupy Wall Street, participants made active use of the Internet - particularly social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter - to communicate with other protesters and plan their actions. An even more famous instance of protesters taking over a public square in the past year was in Egypt, as part of what became known as the "Arab Spring." In early January, citizens speaking out against the 30-year reign of the violent and undemocratic regime of President Hosni Mubarak filled Tahrir Square, a major plaza in downtown Cairo. Protests and occupations in other parts of the country followed. Government forces attempting to repress the protests killed hundreds and injured thousands of demonstrators, but the protest only grew. Some two weeks after the Tahrir Square occupation began, popular discontent throughout the country succeeded in toppling the Mubarak regime. The Wall Street occupation has drawn comparisons to the Egyptian uprising from participants, supporters, and some members of the media. Patrick Glennon of //In These Times// magazine writes that the Wall Street occupation shares some qualities in common with the Tahrir Square uprising: > The activists behind Occupy Wall Street hope to emulate the success of Tahrir Square, which was an integral force in the dethroning of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak last February. In Cairo's case, the occupied square became the most compelling symbol of the country's spontaneous rebellion against its autocratic leader. > By endowing Wall Street with a similar, populist significance, American activists may succeed in producing a symbolic rallying point to push their agenda for finance and government reform, especially as the nation has recently seen the first ravages of the Citizens United ruling and the appalling leniency granted to speculators and profit hounds responsible for the financial crisis. ( [] )

At the same time that some commentators have attempted to link Occupy Wall Street with other global demonstrations, there are also some important differences. One difference is the sheer number of people involved. The Egyptian uprising relied on the participation of millions of people across that country. In contrast, participants in the Wall Street occupation and subsequent demonstrations in other American cities have only numbered in the hundreds or thousands. In his article, Glennon himself goes on to note some other distinctions between Occupy Wall Street and movements in other parts of the world: > [T]here are significant differences between the situation that Egypt faced at the onset of its occupation of Tahrir Square and where the United States is now. Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was an aggressive tyrant. The Egyptian people thus had an enemy against whom a diverse array of individuals with different political, social, and religious affiliations could organize. > The US activists behind Occupy Wall Street inhabit an altogether different environment. The financial world lacks the identifiable characteristics of a single dictator, and it operates more as an abstraction compared to Mubarak's concrete and oppressive security apparatus. > Additionally, the movement's cri de guerre is far from codified. Its demands are all variations of politico-corporate reform, yet they still vary, ranging from the modest goal of a implementing a Federally appointed oversight committee to the more radical call for a one dollar, one citizen, one vote system in which only citizens could make campaign donations exceeding no more than $1.

> ( [] )

Of course, just because various international protests are different does not mean that the Occupy protests aren't important. In the weeks since their action began, the protesters' cause seems to be gaining ground.

**1**. The reading discusses several recent protests that occurred in other parts of the world. Are students aware of protests in countries not mentioned in this reading?

**2.** What are some of the similarities between the protests in other countries and the Wall Street occupation? What are some of the differences?

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**3.** The idea of taking over or "occupying" public space has had a great deal of resonance in the past year. What do you think about this use of public parks and plazas? Do you think that ongoing protest encampments in public spaces are a good way of voicing a political message?