Allie Bedell
Student Life Editor
Just after noon on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, nearly 80 Keene State College students and Keene residents gathered on Railroad Square to take part in National Occupy Day, part of the Occupy Wall Street that has grown and is now worldwide.
Occupy Keene participants gathered to partake in the larger Occupy movement, which aims to create unity and equality for all people through economic and social justice. The Occupy movement calls for the 99 percent of the population to make their voices heard amid the injustice they say corporations create.
As the afternoon continued on, the group’s numbers continued to decrease. By 4 p.m., the crowd was about 15 and just two occupied Railroad Square overnight, although the crowd was back up to nearly fifteen Sunday morning.
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Some participants made signs at a designated station to wave at cars passing by while others brought their own. As the crowd began to accumulate, many talked among themselves about why they turned out for the event, even before the day’s first general assembly meeting began.
These “GA” meetings occur whenever deemed necessary by the group present at all Occupy events, usually a few times per day. They are used to solidify the group and their stance, determine what course of action should take place, and when the next GA will be. Saturday’s Occupy held two GA meetings to plan out the logistics of occupying Keene.
Peterborough resident Andrea Cadwell led the first GA meeting at the beginning of the protest, but emphasized she is not the leader of the movement and that it belongs to everyone. She helped with Boston and Washington D.C. Occupy events, and was glad to bring Occupy to Keene.
“Basically, we’re looking for reform,” Cadwell said. “It’s true democracy in motion.”
Cadwell repeatedly stressed to protesters the importance of remaining peaceful, staying respectful to police, and planned a civil disobedience and nonviolence training course for Saturday evening in the event that the protesters were approached by police.
Following the first GA meeting in Railroad Square, the group decided to march to Central Square because more traffic would see their signs. Some decided to march in the streets, holding up a bit of traffic but causing no trouble, while many chose to remain on the sidewalks. As they walked from Railroad Square to Central Square, they chanted “They got bailed out, we got sold out.”
Once they reached Central Square, the protesters took position around the traffic circle and sign waved until the next GA meeting, which took place at 4 p.m.
KSC senior Morgan Flagg attended the rally, pointing out that each person brought a different point to the movement and participated in the demonstration for a different reason.
“I came out today to join the movement,” Flagg said. “It shows the true emotions of America right now.”
Although Flagg was impressed with the community’s turnout, he said he wished more students had attended the protest.
N.H. State Representative Steve Lindsey was glad to see so many people participate in the event, noting that every Saturday a group of city residents protest U.S. involvement overseas. He said they were, “not like the seasoned anti-war protesters,” who show up every week. “It’s interesting because there’s a lot of new people,” Lindsey said. “It’s kind of rewarding to see that.”
Lindsey said the demonstration was important because, “the bankers got bailed out and we got the bill,” a sentiment many other participants shared.
KSC physics Professor Tom Maguire led the second GA Saturday afternoon, as Cadwell lost her voice.
“I am not a leader, I am a facilitator,” he said to the group.
Maguire ran the GA, where participants discussed the possibility of sleeping in Railroad Square for the evening.
“I think it can all come down to one thing, and that’s money,” Maguire said. “Protesting, in my mind, is more passive. This is more aggressive.”
Although Maguire called the movement aggressive, he stated the importance of remaining nonviolent.
“This is a peaceful movement of nonviolence,” Maguire said. “Think MLK, think Civil Rights Movement.”
The peaceful theme was reiterated across the square by participants.
“I think peaceful demonstrations stave off violent backlash,” resident Shauna Nash said.
Although most were impressed with the turnout, many expressed hope more students from the college would have attended.
KSC freshman Hersch Rothmel said it is important for students to get involved in the movement and said he was disappointed more KSC students hadn’t attended the demonstration.
“We are the 99 percent and it is a youth-made movement,” Hersch said. “I just want there to be more equality.”
Billy White, a junior at KSC, said although this movement has been compared to the conservative Tea Party movement, it is more legitimate as compared to the Tea Party’s “astro turf.”
“The entire movement of the Tea Party is beneficial to corporations,” White said.
Many participants attended the event with an open mind, looking to hear what perspective other participants brought.
“I’m out here just to share ideas and learn from other people,” resident Pete Eyre said. “We can support each other.”
Eyre spoke to the necessity of citizens to self-govern, noting that government gets in the way and becomes an “arbitrary authority” which instills fear in citizens. He was at the Occupy Wall Street protests a few weeks ago to participate and join the movement and also works with Cop Block, an organization which informs citizens of their rights and tries to protect citizens from excessive police force.
Ultimately, all protesters were unified by one statistic: 99 percent.
“I need to add my voice and speak it out there for the 99 percent,” Keene resident Kathy Newhouse said.
Occupy Wall Street marked one-month of protests on Monday, Oct. 17.
Allie Bedell can be contacted at abedell@keene-equinox.com.