Occupy reemerges with festive, righteous anger.
JOHN MOORE/GETTY IMAGES
Across the world, Occupy celebrated our reemergence with a
bold May Day General Strike. It was a day of tactical innovation and
experimentation that sets the tone for the month ahead. Three tactics,
in particular, gained prominence: agitating rank-and-file workers and
radicalizing unions; deploying temporary, pop-up encampments instead of
permanent occupations; and the growing black bloc presence. Over 30,000
occupiers marched in New York with strong union presence while in San
Francisco workers disrupted ferry service. In London, occupiers set up
tents outside the stock exchange. Meanwhile, in Seattle and Oakland,
some militant occupiers embraced black bloc tactics of civil
disobedience and property destruction. Overall, the day felt to many
like a dress rehearsal for the future. As we move towards
May 12,
May 18 and May 20, we must, in the words of founding Zuccotti
Marisa Holmes,
“not just replicate and mimic what we’ve done before — but grow and
learn and become even better.” That is the challenge our movement is now
beginning to rise toward.
Here is a sample of the best coverage about Occupy’s General Strike.
“The atmosphere was one of festive, righteous anger… As the vanguard
of the march, led by taxicabs festooned in banners, crossed Houston
Street a huge cry went up and echoed back, turning Broadway into a
canyon of noise for block after block. “This is some serious shit,” an
onlooker said, shaking his head with a smile, at the throngs weaving
back all the way to Union Square.”
“May Day in New York City was beautiful. From the “99 pickets”
protest in the morning targeting corporate headquarters in midtown, to
the Bryant Park pop-up occupation, to the Free University in Madison
Square Park where students and educators went on strike by holding their
classes outside, to the joyous, fair-like atmosphere of Union Square
and, finally, with the energetic march with tens of thousands of people,
chanting, singing, dancing all the way to Wall Street, the city felt
re-imagined and re-invigorated. The entire day was inspiring and
powerful.”
Check out a collection of the most powerful photos from the day at
The Atlantic and share your experiences and tactical insights below.
No comments:
Post a Comment