The Occupy Wall Street movement has succeeded beyond the wildest dreams of its organizers. When the protest began six weeks ago, few in the crowd at Zuccotti Park—and, no doubt, even fewer on Wall Street—could have imagined that an old-fashioned sit-in in a downtown Manhattan park would inspire a global protest.
But that is precisely what has happened. Most reasonably informed people in the U.S. and elsewhere know about the O.W.S. movement and its many iterations in other cities. While the demonstrations have lacked a certain degree of message clarity, and while the movement’s leaders are more than a little imprecise about their proposed solutions, there’s no question that O.W.S. has tapped into deep discontent and anger over the status quo.
Now it’s time for the demonstrators to end their protests on their own terms, and with more than a little dignity and pride. Reports of crimes committed against demonstrators have raised concerns about public safety. (Most recently, a Brooklyn man has been accused of sexually abusing an 18-year-old woman in the park.) Continuing the camp out in Zuccotti Park could lead to public health issues, especially with winter approaching. The message of frustration and the demands for action could become overshadowed by the fringe elements that have sought to attach themselves to the movement. (The presence of signs condemning Israel’s policies in the West Bank and Gaza suggests that there are agendas at work here beyond frustration with the U.S. economy.)
There is little left for the O.W.S. movement to prove, at least not in Zuccotti Park. Demonstrators who were arrested over the past few weeks have refused on principle to accept plea bargains and are now demanding their day in court. That shrewd move will give the movement another very public platform to air its message of discontent.
What’s more, a very critical presidential campaign is taking shape out in the fields of Iowa and the villages of New Hampshire, sites of the first-in-the-nation caucus and primary, respectively. President Obama, too, is in full re-election mode, and has been on the road selling his jobs program. If the O.W.S. movement wants action, the action over the next several months will not be in Zuccotti Park. It will be in town meetings and campaign rallies. The O.W.S. movement may disdain conventional politics, but its leaders would be foolish if they ignored an opportunity to shape the nation’s political dialogue with the best available tool, their votes.
The time has come to put away the placards and drums and barricades. The demonstration has altered the nation’s political dialogue in ways few would have thought possible in early October. In that sense, the movement has been a success. Organizers need to figure out how to build on that success while allowing residents and businesses near Zuccotti Park to return to their lives.
You know, outside of the United States, claiming that Israel is imposing apartheid on the Palestinians is roughly equivalent to saying the sky is blue. And the connection to Occupy Wall Street is not exactly remote. Imperialism – whether it’s conducted through U.S. clients like Israel or is more obvious, with flags planted and streets renamed – grows out of the same noxious, power-drunken contempt for human life and dignity that led our economy off a cliff.
OWS is just now being born. The tip of the head is just now showing so to stop now would be a huge mistake. This movement will reshape the world no matter what the police and politicians say or do. Now, which side of history are you on?
‘The Editors’ ? – what kind of cowardly move is that? Don’t you fine, ethical journalists have names you can stand behind?
How will engaging in this circus of a presidential campaign do anything? The American people have been failed on all sides. And did ‘the editors’ not notice what happened last night in Ohio and Mississippi? There IS a larger awareness growing that is already affecting the political process. The more the OWS can achieve on their own terms, the less relevant the current state of electoral politics becomes.
On a more practical point – the occupation at Zuccotti Park, while inconvenient for some area residents, has brought tons of people to the area. Tour buses drive by every 5 minutes, area restaurants and other small businesses are busy around the clock. ‘Return to their lives’- what does that mean? Go back to being blissfully ignorant of the complex inter-connected world around them? So they have to walk an extra block to Starbucks, I respect them deeply for their sacrifice.
Tour buses drive by every five minute because tourists want to see Wall Street, China town, Little Italy, Tribeca lower Manhattan, but mainly they want to see the World Trade Center site. This is the route they take for many years prior to OWS- there have always been tons of people in the area.
This is a section of NY that has been packed with tourists since 9/11. The streets so thick, you can’t walk. Zuccoti Park happens to be on the route, so they will have look. We have many tourists coming in to see the 9/11 site, that’s why they come. OWS happens to be across the street. In addition to the hustle and bustle of tourism and business, this is a very vibrant residential community- on weekends we would wander, have brunch, visit the local farmer’s market, stroll along the scenic Battery Park Hudson.
Oh, shut up, Elizabeth, and go start another blog.
No thanks, we’ll stay. We’ll stay in every single Country, State, City and Town.
Ridiculous article.
America used to work The people had work. The system worked. It was far, far, from perfect – but at least we all had some share in the struggles AND the rewards. But somewhere along the way, we lost our way. And now we have an economy and a political system that works only for the rich. We need to get back to what America was, and what it should be, and what it can be. Occupy Wall Street is no longer just a place called Zuccotti Park — Zuccotti Park is everywhere. You can try to pen us in, you can beat us and arrest us, you can mace and tear-gas us , and you can try to “permit” us to death….but you can’t kill an idea. You can’t keep down people’s hopes and dreams for a better life…..a life with dignity and freedom….for us… for our kids. More power to Occupy Wall Street, as it spreads to every town and city – because OWS is us, and for us, and by us. With OWS America has found it’s voice, and it demands fairness and justice. This land IS our land! And we want it back! We want our lives back! We want our future back!
“Organizers need to figure out how to build on that success while allowing residents and businesses near Zuccotti Park to return to their lives.”
Except the biggest obstacle to the lives and businesses is the grotesquely large and unnecessary police presence surrounding the park and literally blockading Wall Street. Was there yesterday and counted 45 police officers surrounding a bunch of peaceful protesters having a sing-along with Crosby & Nash. Absurd. Add to that a line of police vehicles, a huge portable watchtower and numerous useless barricades.
#OWS is 2 months old and still organizing. Compare them to the Civil Rights, Womens Rights, Gay Rights, Anti-War(s) Movements, and Environmental Movements …. #OWS is also in it for the long haul. #OWS is not camping out and intend to stay. Get used to it!
The problem here is that our votes are not worth anything to the politicians the day after the election. Sure, they need the numbers to win the election, but as soon as they are elected they stop representing us. That’s the core of this whole thing. How do you support candidates who have shown this to be their modus operandi?
Nope. Not going to happen.
You’re going to have to crackdown on us like Syria.
The world is changing for the better and The People of World will not stop until the mission is complete. This is a rEVOLution and I hope you’ll join us.
I can’t find one reader who agrees with this “opinion” He also gives no reason to end the occupation. Badly written artical. Not surprised no one put there name on it.
Nope, Nope, Nope!!! You must be making more than a million dollars a year. You must want to keep and increase your tax breaks! You must be part of the 1%. Trying to be slick!! You are selfish and greedy, greedy, greedy!!! neurotic, selfish and greedy. I guess it’s never enough huh!!?? When will the 1% get enough, When will they get enough!? REMEMBER, YOU CANNOT BUY YOUR WAY INTO THE PEARLY GATES!!!!
The new york observer? Dont you mean mouth piece of the 1% telling us to go away because they smell the trouble in the air and are getting scarred. Article is trash, the “reporters” who wrote it are trash and who ever owns this paper belongs on the very long list of people trying to screw over the 99%.
I am speechless… My 2 RedFish understand OWS better then ‘The Editors’. Peps Is it me or this post is completely absurd?
“And, my friends, in this story you have a history of this entire
movement. First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. And then they
attack you and want to burn you. And then they build monuments to you.
And that, is what is going to happen to the Amalgamated Clothing Workers
of America.
Proceedings of the Third Biennial Convention of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (1918), p. 53″
Maybe ‘The Editors’ should start building a monument to us!
F U we will not go home. This is our time. And the Palestinian issue is part and parcel with the US economy (see US Aid to Israel)
no
Thank You, But I think we will just stay on..Join Us #OccupyWallStreet
Wall Street has been a crime scene for many years. The crimes committed in the park on no different than the crime committed in any other park in any other city. To call for the end of actions that expose crimes is one of the most cowardice things I’ve heard in quite a while.
We politely decline.
this coming from donald trump’s son in law? forget about us, you have more important duties to report to, like keeping your father in law’s balls warm with your mouth. your mother should have swallowed you
It’s about time someone has the courage to stay and keep the dialogue going. I’m tired of sitting home on my comfortable piece of earth trusting that our elected officials know best and they will accurately reflect me since I studied and voted for the “best.” Doesn’t take them long to relax in their post and come up with new policies and committees to waste more time and money. The occupiers are right. Get back to the basics and realize the corporations do not care about us. The congress are only trying to “come up with something else” that will justify their existence. I’d rather vote on everything myself. Bigger isn’t better. And we can survive. We Are Americans. Prove it and stop letting everyone else speak for you! As a wife, grandmother, farmer, unemployed printer, and the mother of an NYC occupier, I say “stay and fight for the right to be heard” and to encourage other American’s to open their eyes and mouths!
I might have taken this article seriously if it had have shown any understanding of what the movement is about. The whole objective of the movement is to be non-descriptive, enabling it to serve all common purposes and not become grounded in miniscule detail. This article highlights the way in which media choose to come to conclusions without actually immersing themselves in the situation.
Apparently some people were taught “don’t get raped” instead of “don’t rape”. Don’t blame the victims.
If they spent as much time looking for jobs, as they do protesting, they wouldn’t have such problems. Silly, entitled young Americans. ;]
I wonder how my 501k is doing.
It looks like the initial public support and sympathy for Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is starting to wear thin. From CNBC:
“Occupy Wall Street may claim small-business owners as members of the 99 percent, but from Oakland, Calif., to New York, many local enterprises are asking the protesters to pack up.”
OWS has now escalated into scary violent outbursts in several metro areas with some protesters reportedly carrying weapons such as AK-47, while others resorting to destroying public and private properties and vandalism. Regardless how frustrated the bankster situation (at least that was the original OWS cause) might be, there’s hardly any excuse for that kind of bad behavior that could harm innocent bystanders, while not only disrupting day-to-day lives of business and private citizens, but also bringing about a “riot contagion.” Another observation: As part of the 99% “worker bees”, it is also very difficult for us to fathom how much free time these protesters seem to have to just camp out for days, weeks or even months without any concern in the world about family, work, and most importantly, the next paycheck. So either these people are part of the 14 million unemployed, whose time probably would have been better utilized going back to school or sprucing up job skill and resume for the next gig, or part of the 1% with riches able to subsidize idealism, or the term “Professional Protester” may not be that far off.The longer it goes on in this disruptive manner the more likely other parts of the society will start turning against it. Time to withdraw before falling flat on its face once the red carpet gets abruptly pulled out.
Um, they haven’t accomplished anything, actually.
this is kind of embarrising,i dont think we know how to do this here in america,uh you know riot,we were told to go home for gosh sakes!!!!!
If the anti-war and civil rights movements in the 60s would had taken this type of advice we would still be fighting in Vietnam and Jim Crow laws would still exist.
We didn’t asked for this. It was force unto the 99%. Now is not the time to wave the white flag of surrender.
In the 60′s they told us to go home. In the 70′s they beat us and and shot at us but we stayed and ended an unjust and illegal war. They’ll try to do the same now. We’ll stay, we’ll be beaten up, we’ll be shot and again we will win. The times they are a changin’.
This movement doesn’t have leaders you fucking idiot.
-also: (The presence of signs condemning Israel’s policies in the West Bank and
Gaza suggests that there are agendas at work here beyond frustration
with the U.S. economy.) Could you be any more transparent? What happens in Israel is related to this economy because our taxes are paying for that shit. It’s all fucked up. So just keep making excuses.
You Suck.
>The demonstration has altered the nation’s political dialogue in ways few would have thought possible
No, it hasn’t. It will be lucky to achieve ‘footnote’ status.
They are being disruptive to the residents, which just makes their “movement” look bad. These people just protest for the sake of protesting. They actually have “professional protesters” i.e. shit disturbers who go around and teach people how to protest. Get a life, “occupy wall street”.
Continue destroying this planet. Continue deregulating banks so they can dangerously gamble your money on CDOs. The United States is a Wall Street government. Both Democrats and Republicans are muppets. Continue living with a BOUGHT Congress. Continue thinking that the government listens to the people. They don’t, they listen to whoever funds them political donations. Have your liberty taken away. Listen to the bullshit on TV, let it brainwash you into thinking that everything is okay. Have unemployment rise, let 15% of Americans live on food stamps. Let your healthcare be a failure. Don’t go to University because it costs too much. Watch your country collapse, sit on your ass and make fun of people who struggle to get by. Label people who peacefully protest, label them as hippies or commies until you understand that everyone is screwed, except for the people on top. These are ordinary, fellow Americans who work hard. Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.