Apparently inspired by the so-called Arab Spring movements in the Middle East and North Africa, the Occupy Wall Street movement began almost as a curiosity, largely ignored by the media, political leaders, and even NYC law enforcement. However, the movement began to grow.
As conservative elements began to denigrate OWS and distance themselves, and liberal elements tried to associate themselves with the movement, the occupiers became more demonstrative, and the police more aggressive:
Surprisingly, even in the most free country in the world, with the Arab Spring fresh in our memories, the establishment still doesn’t seem to understand the impact of their actions combined with today’s instantaneous communications. With every arrest, with every punch thrown by law enforcement, with every tent torn down, with every flag thrown to the ground, they are inspiring the movement they are every day becoming more desperate to control. Ironically, this disconnect, this lack of understanding of the motives and the sensibilities of the Occupy movement, demonstrates clearly why the movement is important, and necessary.
Despite the reluctance of the mainstream news outlets to treat the movement as more than a curiosity, reports are coming from around the country, and around the globe as the movement spreads. As the sense that leaders do not want to listen and do not want to change the status quo gets stronger, so does the movement.
Today, the movement has spread to cities like San Diego, Denver, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Richmond, D.C., Seattle, Detroit, Cleveland, Phoenix, and Kansas City. This morning as reports come in from around the world, even the mainstream media is beginning to take notice. On facebook, TheAnonPress has pictures and posts from Cape Town, Johannesburg, Sydney, Milan, Manila, Seoul, Berlin, Taipei, Melbourne, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Auckland.
Judging by the state of play today, until the world’s leaders remember that there are other tools to use besides the iron fist and economics of scarcity, this movement will continue to grow.