Standing in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement, Pittsburgh activists are speaking out against corporate greed. Occupy Pittsburgh led a march of over 3,000 people through downtown on October 15th in recognition of the Occupy Together movement’s Day of Global Action. Starting in New York, the Occupy Together movement has spread to over 1,550 cities globally. According to a website dedicated to the Day of Global Action, 15october.net, over 650 cities confirmed protest events on October 15th alone. Starting on Freedom Corner in the Hill District, Pittsburgh protestors made sure to pass corporations and businesses such as BNY Mellon, Citizens Bank, UPMC, and PNC before ending with a rally in Market Square. Hundreds of people held hands and encircled the square chanting, “Whose streets? Our streets!” and “We are the 99%.” Drums led the crowd of protesters from the Market Square rally to Pittsburgh’s Mellon Green where many have been camping with the permission of BNY Mellon. The protests of Occupy Together have only begun and the movement appears to be growing.
Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is a leaderless movement that is protesting corporate greed and attempting to reestablish democracy. Protestors are standing up against the control that the wealthy 1% of the population has over the remaining 99%. They are standing against the United State’s unequal distribution of wealth and the plethora of problems that result from it. The movement began on September 17 in the financial district of New York City when the anti-capitalist magazine AdBusters called for people to bring tents and to occupy Wall Street.A fully functional tent community has formed in New York’s Zuccotti Park and campers plan to remain there indefinitely. AdBustersmagazine stated that their actions were inspired by the Egyptian Tahrir Square uprising as well as the Spanish Acampadas protests. The OWS’s Declaration of the Occupation of New York City states “that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power.” The movement strives to address the many problems that the people are facing and to generate practical solutions.
So what do Chatham students think about Occupy Together? Many students expressed that they felt extremely uneducated about the topic. Some have only heard about the efforts on television; others sought out information on their own. First year student Jessica Sanfilippo says that the Occupy Movement “mirrors an attempt at starting a revolution… If it affects enough people, then they are going to start voicing their opinions.”
Just how involved are Chatham students? Are they willing to take action against corporate greed? Out of the 7 students surveyed, 6 stated that they intended or would be willing to protest. Sophomore Claire Swauger expressed the intention to protest as well and encouraged others to join. When asked if she would be willing to be involved in the movement, first year student Hannah Harris remarked, “Yes, even if this meant getting arrested. The truth must be revealed!”
Photos Credited to Kayla Clem