Occupiers Speak

I am excited to be able to offer this report from my Saturday visit to the "occupation" of McPherson Square in Washington, D.C. (See previous post.) On a beautiful early fall late afternoon, I had the pleasure of speaking with several individuals in the park about the movement and its concerns.


The first person I spoke with was Ms. Sarah Tatoun at the information desk. Keeping in mind that no one is a designated spokesperson for the movement, the comments of Ms. Tatoun were representative of what I have read on the group's web site. Her comments were in response to questions of mine. Tatoun first learned of Occupy D.C. and the Occupy movement from Spanish participants she was in contact with. They told her about the movement and the fact that a related occupation movement was being planned for the United States.

"Corporations are not people," declared Tatoun, "and we shouldn't have people out of college with $100,000 debt."

"Is there a goal [of Occupy Wall Street]?" I asked. "There is no one goal," was the reply.

Tatoun stated, "I've been blown away with what allows everyone a say, but does come up with a result everyone can agree on." This is the vaunted consensus-based decision-making process in use among the occupiers world-wide.

I also spoke with a trio of attractive young people sitting crossed-legged along one of the east-west sidewalks of the park. One young woman had a "Free Tibet" sign propped against her legs. Another young man had a piece of artwork of a smiling face done in minimalist caricature style and with a vaguely Oriental feel. All three live in the area, they said. This was a good way for them to promote awareness without having to go to Occupy Wall Street, they told me.

I also met and spoke with a Viet Nam veteran with graying long hair who was not shy about showing me the scars of entrance and exit wounds around his knee. His was an anti-war message.

Other details:

The park features several tents with a helpful purpose: a tent for information, one for fresh food, and a medical aid tent. Tents for sleeping were set up along sidewalks.

There was the continous sound of enthusiastic honking as motors showed their solidarity and agreement with the demonstrators.

I have never felt so safe in a big city as friendly police had parked around the square and participants in the event were most hospitable overall, yet with individuals who were watchful. One announcer twice reminded everyone that this was a drug-free park.

I was treated to some newly-made garden soup, tasty French bread, and some water -- enough to fill me up for the rest of the evening.

The remarkable thing about this event and my visit, was seeing eager, intelligent, and loving young people succesfully occupying a public park, making people feel safe and welcome, and advancing the dialog about who should own America. The Occupy Movement is a way of saying the people who live and work in America should own America, both North and South. Being connected person-to-person with occupiers world-wide makes for a powerful, if still small force sure to make its presence known with ever-increasing force over the coming weeks and months.

Power to the 99%!