Occupy Toledo encourages debate
Written by Priscilla Esquivel | | pesquivel@toledofreepress.comOn Oct. 10, Occupy Toledo will set up camp and hold its first general assembly meeting in Levis Square on the corner of Madison Avenue and St. Clair Street in Downtown Toledo. If you aren’t yet familiar with Occupy Toledo, its website describes the group as a “nonviolent assembly of individuals from all walks of life who stand in solidarity with the occupation of Wall Street in New York City and with the overarching Occupy movement across our nation and the world.” Items on the agenda for the first general assembly meeting include discussion and debate concerning the issues and demands of the occupation. Occupy Toledo, which claims to have no hierarchy or set leadership, intends to devise a working plan and manifesto with the consensus of all individuals who choose to participate.
The Occupy movement, which is gaining momentum in cities all across the United States (including Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Memphis, Minneapolis, Detroit and Washington, D.C.), began on Sept. 17 in New York. Adbusters Editor in Chief Kalle Lasn reportedly put an ad in the July edition of Adbusters calling for people to occupy Wall Street and to “bring a tent.” Several weeks later Occupy Wall Street is still going strong and has attracted the support and participation of military veterans, Continental and United airlines pilots, labor unions, college students and presidential hopefuls. The mantra for the movement has become “We are the 99 percent.” This in reference to 2007 census data showing that the top 1 percent of households in the U.S. hold 43 percent of the nation’s financial wealth, while the bottom 99 percent share the rest. Several videos depicting police brutality by the NYPD against peaceful protesters and the arrests of hundreds of protesters marching on the Brooklyn Bridge have only further fanned the flames of revolution. Occupy Wall Street responded by encouraging the police department to join rather than beat the protesters, as they were likely to encounter union strikes and layoffs again in the near future.
Despite raging popularity, Occupy Wall Street has been met with hostile and dismissive treatment by the mainstream media. You won’t see much coverage, if any, by major news outlets. You can find videos and photos posted by protesters on YouTube and the Occupy movements various Facebook pages.
The Occupy movement has refused to support or endorse a candidate for office, a political party or any specific political agenda, and is resisting efforts to be co-opted by any political organizations or affiliations. Occupy Toledo intends to include anyone and everyone who wants to address the pressing concerns of the average citizen — unemployment, the disappearing middle class, foreclosures, bank bailouts, crushing student loan and personal debt, Wall Street corruption, dependency on foreign oil, etc. Those interested in more information are encouraged to attend the general assembly meeting or take part in the online community discussions at occupytoledo.org.
Tags: Occupy Toledo, Priscilla Esquivel
“Despite raging popularity”? Really! what color is the sky in your world?
This comment was posted on October 10th, 2011 at 9:06 amJenny – I just came from the assembly and there are over 300 people already from all walks of life down there supporting the cause. For anything to do that in Toledo- I would say that’s ‘raging’. There where many powerful supporters that are visible at this protest so far. All the TV stations and newspapers where there. It’s exciting to see many people that have nothing really in common – come together for pursuit of the common good. No more apathy.
This comment was posted on October 10th, 2011 at 1:43 pmJenny-Are you aware that the Occupy movement has spread to numerous major cities in the US and a few others across the globe in a matter of weeks? Your time might be better spent on research and informing your opinion rather than asking pointless rhetorical questions.
This comment was posted on October 10th, 2011 at 2:50 pmUnlike the one day Tea Party protests it will take an unusual stamina to spend days or weeks protesting. Usually this will be reserved for young people. Good Luck!
This comment was posted on October 12th, 2011 at 2:08 amWith 25 million real Americans, looking for work.
All Toledo can muster is a few dozen dissolute hypocrites with H.P. lap-tops, Sony cell phones,Guess jeans,and other corporate items seen ?!
Your madness would still receive ZERO sympathy even if you wore sack clothes, home made sandals, and ate grass, instead of smoking it !!!
This comment was posted on October 12th, 2011 at 7:42 pmHoward Buffet, Warren Buffets son defends the Occupy Wall Street Movement.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-13/howard-buffett-defends-occupy-wall-street-protests-to-make-things-happen-.html
Millions of people are supporting and offering their sympathy to the movement by donating money, supplies and food, marching in protests and occupying in cities across the nation and the world. Sounds like someone is in denial.
This comment was posted on October 13th, 2011 at 2:44 pmMore than 750 cleaners, security guards and other building service workers converged on the financial district:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/site/newspaper/news/sc-nw-1013-occupy-20111013,0,7776865.story
This comment was posted on October 13th, 2011 at 3:06 pmWhen Kanye West, Al Sharpton and Russell Simmons drop by the Manhattan protest site, activists accuse them of using the movement to boost their own profiles and agendas
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-occupy-wall-street-20111013,0,2351376.story?obref=obnetwork
Prof. Provo = Out of touch with reality.
This comment was posted on October 13th, 2011 at 3:15 pmOh Shawn, What was the average price of gas during President Bush’s, tenure ?
The average unemployment rate ?
The average food inflation numbers ?
Do you know how much MORE , homes have lost value today, than during the Great Depression ?
Do you know what F.D.R., did to buy votes from the farming community ?
Maybe, you know how many jobs have been lost in Toledo, say in the past 27 years ?
Any guess as to what amount of retirement monies that have been depleted , to stay alive in our current economy ?
I could ask you any number of questions regarding economic statistics that are worse now, than during the Great Depression,that you would have only a response as above,indicating you know nothing ?
A debate with you would be like a debate with Carleton S. Finkbiener , all slobber and zero substance.
My reality is so real, I wish America, wasn’t comparable to Estonia’s plight, as you seem to believe, it isn’t ?
Maybe, it is your reality that needs a wholesale adjustment….that, is an absolute.
See you in class, an F-, awaits you…
Hoping you all the best for the Future, Prof. Provo
This comment was posted on October 13th, 2011 at 6:16 pmI agree Zoe
This comment was posted on October 14th, 2011 at 8:00 amMy sympathy goes out to to the protesters on the Brooklyn bridge.
This comment was posted on October 14th, 2011 at 8:07 am@ the “Prof”-every thing you wrote leads me to believe that the participants in this movement have many good reasons to protest. Are you agreeing with them or disagreeing? You come across as severely confused. I think this Occupation movement sounds a lot more productive than what you are doing-throwing temper tantrums and insulting people on the internet. I went down to Levi’s Square today and spoke with a few of the participants about their intentions. They were all polite, level headed and intelligent people…more than I can say for you.
This comment was posted on October 14th, 2011 at 8:57 pm