Thanksgiving at Occupy Wall Street
Once again our intrepid New York Bureau Chief Zach Roberts was on the scene in Zuccotti Park, but this trip was far more peaceful than the last one, where hundreds were driven out of the park by police, and violence ensued.
The spirit was more festive on Thanksgiving, where thousands of free turkey dinners were distributed to hungry protesters and anyone who wanted one. The People’s Library was back in business after thousands of books were thrown into dumpsters by police last week.
One man who was hired as a private security guard to keep protesters from reestablishing their tent camp in Zuccotti Park after the eviction, was sympathetic to the protesters.
“I didn’t know anything about them and I’ve learned a lot. I’m also poor,” the guard, who asked not to be identified, said. “In some ways, thanks to them I got my job here, too.”
[All photos below by Zach Roberts. See if you can “Spot the Mudflatter” in the yellow boots!]
I see boots! There is a surplus store around these parts that is getting a shipment next week of boots… I’ll be picking up a pair of the Mudflats variety 🙂
WTG Zach.
Awesome, Ripley.
Please, if you support OWS, go back to the Open Thread for today and read my comments about Governor Brownback’s imitation of Sarah Palin. He is trying so hard to be like her, that he deserves some publicity.
OWS’s success has been attributed, in part, to its ability to use social media to share information and opinions, to mobilize and communicate. However, when government spends its time monitoring social media to squelch such free speech, it shows its dark side.
A Kansas teenager twitted about Brownback, and his office has exerted itself to make her regret it. Read all about it (with a link to the news story) in my comment under the prior Open Thread, Comment #14.
We need mudpup help on getting this story out. The local moveon.org network is asking SMS School district patrons to attend the next board meeting to protest the principal’s actions. It is not so much what was done as it is the principle involved.
Government should not seek to squelch free speech, even a teen’s thoughtless but honest opinion of an ultra-conservative Governor.
Hopefully, we will have a minor but noticeable “Occupy the District” at December 4th’s USD 512’s school board meeting. Wish us luck and please help us expose the dark side of our insecure, power-hungry Governor. We did our best to make sure your Sister Sarah bit the dust through exposure to her dark side. Help us do the same.
I retweeted a link to the story on Twitter. The backlash on Twitter supporting the student is overwhelming. Let his staff call our mommies on us all to make us write letters of apology. The school is also in the wrong in forcing her to do this. It has nothing to do with them and they have no say over what students post on their personal Twitter accounts. Hope the a$$hat feels the sting of his own poor decision.
Thanks, merrycrickett! You’re the best.
Thanks for not only posting the link on your Twitter account, but also for the feedback on the reaction. I was beginning to fear no one else was upset about this.
Yuppers, they sure do look like a violent group of lawless thugs…especially the one in the stroller!
Seeing the free Thanksgiving meals shared by the people of all economic, cultural, ethnic, religious, political, gender, sexual and age varieties just makes my heart smile. A grateful round of applause for whomever donated and prepared the food for the park protesters….you demonstrate the true meaning of Thanksgiving and caring.
Blessings be on those who protest for the good of us all.
I am grateful for the OWS movement. It has already begun to improve the quality of dialogue by shifting the topics of the mainstream media to what counts: jobs, healthcare, and the unemployed. It is helps constructively channel the outrage most of us feel towards the big banks, investment firms, financial traders and the one percentages (including many politicians elected to protect our best interests).
Thank you, OWS protestors. We included you in our thoughts on Thanksgiving and hope to join you on the front lines when we can. Thanks also to those who photograph, interview and get the word out about the protests. You give us hope.
“Elephants and Assets”–hahahaha.
Great photos. Cheers to all our occupy brothers and sisters.