People of the Movement: Occupy Philadelphia

On the brisk evening of October 13, two young women walked gingerly over to four men sitting by their tents in front of City Hall, trying to hold back tears. One of them asked the men to take a candle to light that night in honor of their grandmother, who had passed away just an hour before. Each man immediately stood up and took a candle. Seeing the pain and sadness these girls were enduring, each man warmly hugged each girl, giving them sincere condolences for their sudden loss. “People are victims of a system,” Robby says, one of the receivers of the candle and a protestor of Occupy Philadelphia. “The best thing we can do is keep our spirits up; that’s what we are here for.”

 
The men were only four of many participating in Occupy Philadelphia, which has been in progress since October 6. Inspired by the protest against Wall Street in New York City, Philadelphia along with over one hundred cities across the United States have organized their own protests demanding democracy and human rights and to fight against corruption, unemployment, and other economic issues. Although it was established under basic, general frustrations, each individual has a unique and different reason for participating.
 
“I was inspired by everyone coming together in NYC,” Drew, an employed participant of the Comfort Working Group of Occupy Philadelphia, “At first it was just a few guys in our working group, a cardboard sign and a blanket. Then things really started to evolve and an amazing infrastructure has developed.”
 
The program is set up into different working groups with their own ideas and responsibilities. The information tent, the technology tent, and groups like anti-abilism, anti-racism and direct action all work separately but together towards their common goal: change. With a variety of experienced participants, the majority of them being working class people or middle-aged persons with families, the set-up is built upon political organizing techniques, but there is no political agenda or affiliation. In past protests there have been arguments between different political parties or ideologies, but according to Robby, this is not happening at Occupy Philadelphia. “People are willing to work together to cause any amount of change,” he says, “It’s amazing.”
 
Robby chose to participate in the protest because he injured his leg a few years ago and lost his house, job, and everything. Among other things, he is frustrated with systems like disability, welfare and food stamps, where you are “stuck” once you have them.
 
 “Either you’re on it or you’re not, and once you are there is no way to improve or get out,” he remarks. If he wanted to work again and get back on his feet, he says, he would lose his disability. And, if he ever needed to go back onto disability soon after, he would not be able to, because you have to be working at least 5 to 10 years to receive the stipend.
 
Mike, another protestor, has his own personal reasons why being a part of Occupy Philadelphia is important to him. His thoughts are that this protest is an effective way to apply pressure to the legislators. “You have to get in the person’s way,” Mike says, “People who work there have to walk by them and see them through their windows every day. Persistence is really important to address the issues, we are visible to the public and that is really important.”
 
Mike has had experience in other protests where the impact was enormous, but the public did not see it. A few years ago in Miami protestors endured constant bullying by the police to stand up for Free Trade Marketing of the Americas and to shut down a treaty about to be passed on the subject. The protestors were successful and the treaty was defeated. “This was the biggest treaty in trade history that had just been shut down because of protestors,” Mike says, “But, Michael Jackson died the same day, and what should have been a huge story all over the news was not covered at all.”
 
The media has not portrayed the protest as negatively as past protests or as Occupy Wall Street in New York City. Occupy Philadelphia is made up of different groups full of diverse people, all with their own reasons for participating, whether it be getting involved in their spare time or after work, or staying in tents every night.
 
“It’s magic,” a student of PAFA said. A member of the Art Committee of Occupy Philly, he believes that people just want to have an outlet to express themselves and their frustrations or beliefs, and this movement is a way in which they can do it.
 
All the protestors participate in a form of expression called “mic check”. One person can yell out mic check and say whatever they are feeling, and all individuals around him will repeat it. Later in the evening, there is also a general assembly meeting where groups or individuals can constructively state their opinions and be debated or supported by others in an organized, respectful manner.
 
“It’s people trying to build a new thing and start something that lasts,” the PAFA student said, eagerly waiting to go assist his new friends that he had made at the protest. “As long as it exists, it’s a step in the right direction.”
 
The protest, although under basic ideas, is a way for each individual to feel that they can contribute to change. Occupy Philadelphia is just a step so far, but it is a step towards change. To get involved, all you need to do is come by City Hall whenever you have the time and you and your own individual beliefs will be welcomed.
 
“It is not just a protest,” Robby said. “It’s a movement. A movement for change.”