NEW YORK—Only two days after police cleared Zuccotti Park, thousands amassed to mark the two-month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street’s inception. The loss of territory did not quell the movement, said protesters, and Thursday’s events gave it renewed energy.
“It wasn’t just about occupying a space,” said Bill Henning at the 5 p.m. rally in Foley Square. “This is getting into people’s consciousness ... changing the terms of debate in this country, talking about fairness and economic equality. They can’t kill that idea.”
“It may slow it down, but I think [today] re-energized it, maybe hit a proverbial reset button,” said Fashion Institute of Technology student Steven Robinson.
Several protesters noted that Thursday’s actions brought a lot of press attention. “There’s no such thing as bad publicity, unless, you know, we start getting violent,” said Robinson.
The NYPD reported that 177 protesters were arrested and 7 officers were injured. When a fight broke out among the thousands at Union Square, the crowd quickly reacted and censured the violent parties with cries of “This is a peaceful protest!”
A teacher stood at the foot of Dewey Arch in Union Square at about 3 p.m. and gave a speech that reverberated throughout the crowd without the help of a megaphone.
Her message about the rising cost of post secondary education was repeated from one group at the front to another group behind them, to another group behind them, carrying the message right to the back of the massive crowd in a wave.
Helicopters circled above and a giant banner read, “Students and Workers shut down the city.”
A few groups of four or five people entered the Union Square subway station to “occupy” the subway. This happened at 16 locations across the city, reported protesters. The occupiers stood on subway car seats and explained why they joined the movement.
Early Thursday morning, the protesters attempted to shut down Wall Street. The NYPD shut it down, but not as the protesters hoped. Workers were allowed in, protesters were kept out.
Although the movement continues, protesters who set up camp in the park have disseminated across the city and seek a new unified home. Some are sleeping in churches, some in the homes of sympathizers, others in union offices, [and] on the streets, “wherever they can,” says protester Andrew Carbone.
Reflecting on what the movement has accomplished in two months, Robinson said, “It’s awakened a lot of people.” And for those who were already “awakened,” it let them know “you’re not the only person who feels this way.”
