Has it really been four years?

[warrprayer]

I remember the excitement that filled the air like electricity here at D.U. back in October of 2011.
A populist movement that seemingly came out of absolutely nowhere, ordinary people (or, in hindsight, extraordinary) taking to the streets in cities across America.
There were as many different messages as there were people, but a common thread ran through the movement - the 99 percent had finally come together to demand change in the way they were dealt with by the financial royalty of America.
Emotions ran high on D.U.. with party establishment supporters telling those who embraced the movement that they weren't "real Democrats", and sometimes worse. Things got so heated at times that it finally led to the creation of this forum (iirc).
I remember my own emotions - daring to believe once again in American democracy.
Bursting with pride at rhe courage of Americans who still cared about the people falling through the saftey nets
Then came the beatdown.
It showed the world what happens here when you stand up for the people.
The 1 percent had all the chess pieces set up in advance to resort to violent suppression of free speech.
It's only been four years.
The silence is obscene.

[antiquie]

1. Logged in to rec

peace

[warrprayer]

17. thank you so much!

Your reply speaks volumes in few words.
It, like Occupy, speaks by its presence.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

2. Seems like yesterday.

Occupy was the reason I stopped lurking at DU2 and joined. And this forum had some great posters, Fire Walk With Me, and Limpy Hobbler come to mind, both of whom I miss. (anyone know what became of Limpy?)

But yes, it was a great time, and personally I learned a lot about myself; I realized that I was far, far further left than I even imagined. And my faith in humanity spiked when I saw the millennials getting engaged and mobilized, and also embracing the older generations of activists. Up until that point I thought the Battle of Seattle was the last and greatest thing of my X generation, and I was greatly heartened to see the Quebec student uprising in 2012.

Still I believe that we changed the dialog, and it has stuck. The concept of "99%" worked, as it is accepted everywhere now. One could argue that the fact that Bernie Sanders is a force also a result of the dialogs that we shared. The network of activists fighting pipelines and fracking, everyone from First Nations to cowboys working together gained a lot of momentum from Occupy too.

But still though; its not enough.

[warrprayer]

10. thanks for the recc

I am going witb Bernie as well!

[daleanime]

3. K&R.....

[warrprayer]

11. thank you!

Tbis beautiful October weatber feels empty without Occupy in the air

[daleanime]

18. Amen....

at least we have Bernie. Gives us something to work on.

[retrowire]

4. I wasn't politically involved then

and I wasn't inspired to do anything until Bernie Sanders came along to show me that yes, someone in the house has the voice of the people.

Now I'm standing.

I remember seeing the Occupy movement and thinking that that was something I could totally get behind. But I just thought it was a movement up in New York City.

Now that Bernie is here, the fight truly feels like it's on the national level.

Now that I'm active with this movement, I'm surprised at looking back and seeing the silence that followed as well. It's crazy.

So now that the message is loud again and the numbers are greater, we need to carry Occupy further than before.

[warrprayer]

12. fellow Bernieistas!

I believe we can make it happen!

[zentrum]

5. Felt huge relief

…..and recognition then too. As if the progressives who forced FDR to be so great were active again.

[warrprayer]

13. Bernie

And Lizzie Warren keep my hope alive.

[Uncle Joe]

6. It hasn't been silenced, Bernie is running on it.

Thanks for the thread, warrprayer.

[warrprayer]

14. thanks Uncle Joe!

Always good to remember with friends!

[Fearless]

7. You mean 8 years ago.

Four years ago was nothing special.

[Hydra]

8. I think the ghost of Occupy is still with us

A lot is getting done on the ground, against the wishes of of the Establishment- SSM, Minimum wage increase, possibly an ERA coming at some point...and the general voter apathy with the status quo which is opening up other possibilities.

They tried to silence Occupy...but putting a lid on the pot doesn't make the pressure go away.

[warrprayer]

16. those are all good things

But, imo, Occupy was unique and heart rending beautiful.

[rosesaylavee]

9. Occupy was the spark

Last edited Mon Oct 12, 2015, 05:40 PM - Edit history (1)

and it's not over yet. I don't hear 'silence' when I see so many other people out on the street, protesting fossil fuels, Keystone, working to bring solutions to Climate Change -- Occupy woke up the country -- and many are still waking up each and every day because of the groundwork laid at that time. No, there are no people camping out in parks but that was a watershed moment for the country and because of it, people realized that they could make a difference, that they did still have a voice in the matter of how we are governed and what issues are addressed. It's going to take longer than "overnight" is all... but we are transforming ourselves.

I hate to think where we would be at this point if Occupy never happened.

The electricity is still there -- look closer!

And as Uncle Joe said upthread, Bernie's campaign carrying the message forward.

[warrprayer]

15. thanks

It was so unexpected to see so many ordinary people bravely putting tbeir lives on the line.
I still remember the ice forming in my stomach as I watched the only violence to come out of occupy - the violence perpetuated at the behest of the oligarchy.