It’s a funny thing that’s been happening in the two weeks since I first wrote about the Occupy Wall Street movement. In my column, I wrote about the lack of media coverage of the events unfolding in NYC’s financial district. I criticized the mainstream media for neglecting to cover these events, seemingly in response to corporate pressures. I urged those who had an interest to get involved and get information any way they could.
While for some my call for media coverage of the events was a bit premature, since then the need for coverage has only grown. Immediately after the publication of the column in that week’s paper, major news media seemed to begin to pick up on the events unfolding in NY (I’m in no way implying I had anything to do with that, just a funny coincidence). Since that time Occupy Wall Street has been transformed.
It seems Occupy Wall Street has exploded in the media. No longer is it reserved specifically for those who were interested in it. Occupy Wall Street is finally becoming something worth noting in the media. Even corporate broadcast outlets have had some coverage of the events; some even came with controversial tactics including charges of biased coverage from specific outlets.
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The biggest event to really bring about the media coverage was the Brooklyn Bridge arrests, where the police were allegedly escorting protestors to the Brooklyn Bridge to cross while ultimately becoming trapped by police. 700 protestors ended up arrested that day, and they became some sort of martyrs for the cause, as news of the arrests came out in the media.
Don’t let my cheery tone and excitement over the spreading confuse you. To me, there is still insufficient major media coverage of the events, but slowly but surely, people are becoming more aware of what’s going on with the movement though the news. No longer is Occupy Wall Street limited to a small niche group in NYC’s financial district. Instead, much like the Wisconsin protests last year, the Occupy movement has taken on a life of its own, spreading and expanding throughout the country. There are already occupations going on in many major cities across the country, including Boston, Washington D.C., Seattle, and as many as fifty other places in the United States and even abroad. There is even a group in the works trying to get together to Occupy Keene. The spreading of Occupy Wall Street is what I think to be a sign for the times. Occupy Wall Street may have started as a small smattering of people but it has turned into something so much more than that. It may have stemmed from displeasure with the distribution of wealth, Wall Street’s involvement in government, or general corporate greed but that’s not necessarily the case anymore.
That’s the beauty of the movement. The critics argue that Occupy Wall Street’s lack of coherent demands or focused message makes the movement seem unorganized. However, that lack of direction makes it easier to become a part of it. All you need to be is unhappy with the status quo in economics and government and want something or anything to change and suddenly you’re a part of this. There is no careful screening process to be involved or a strict list of demands to meet in Occupy Wall Street; it’s just the desire to change what’s not working. This makes it accessible to everyone and anyone who’s ever felt that way. Several Keene State students found themselves at the protests over the weekend. They brought back with them stories of protestors they met, copies of the Occupied Wall Street Journal newspapers, and experiences they could share with their peers and others who are interested. Those who got to visit will continue to spread the word to others, bringing even more awareness.
Chelsea Mellin can be contacted at cmellin@keene-equinox.com