Over 20 AU students ventured downtown on Oct. 6 to support the Occupy D.C. protests, part of a series of nationwide protests held to express frustrations with corporate greed and control of the political system.
The Occupy D.C. group has been maintaining a constant presence in McPherson Square since Oct. 1. The group says it is standing in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York and other such protests that have been going on since Sept. 17.
“It’s a really cool organization that grew out of a spontaneous movement,” said Chris Litchfield, a junior in the School of Political Affairs who attended the protest. “This is proof that people are awake and want to change things.”
Students march for Occupy D.C.
AU’s Community Action and Social Justice Coalition brought a group of about 10 people to the Oct. 6 event.
Students joined the crowds in shouting slogans and handing out fliers describing the Occupy D.C. movement.
The group marched from McPherson Square to the Newseum, where the Washington Ideas Forum was being held. The forum brings together various leaders, including Vice President Joe Biden, to share ideas about the state of the world.
At the Newseum, protesters shouted slogans and wrote their own ideas about how to run the country on a banner marked “People’s Ideas Forum.”
Participants played drums and acoustic guitars, shouted mottos such as “We are the 99 percent,” and held signs proclaiming their thoughts about the state of the political system and economy.
The atmosphere was festive, and many people passing the protest showed their support, though some were annoyed when marchers did not stay on the sidewalk or follow crosswalk rules.
The protestors then returned to McPherson Square for a General Assembly meeting.
General Assembly meeting
During the twice-daily General Assembly meetings, attendees express their feelings and vote about various topics relating to their mission. The discussion is moderated, but not led. Everyone gets a chance to speak, ask questions or show support by “twinkling,” waving their fingers in the air.
At the General Assembly meeting on the night of Oct. 8, protestors discussed the need for a message and whether or not they should obey laws about sleeping in the square.
“I have never seen something so organized as this meeting,” said Tom O’Connor, a freshman in the School of International Service after the meeting. “A lot was accomplished and it was very uplifting to watch. I definitely want to be an active part of what is going on.”
About 15 AU students attended the Oct. 8 General Assembly meeting, and a few slept in the square that night.
AU students will continue participating in the Occupy D.C. movement as long as possible, Litchfield said.
The Occupy Movement
The Occupy D.C. group has no plans of leaving McPherson Square anytime soon, where they are located next to many of the corporations and lobbyists they are protesting, such as Koch Industries and Bank of America.
The protestors were organized spontaneously through the Internet, according to Drew Franklin, a Class of 2010 AU graduate who has been involved in the movement.
“A popular idea that has been coming up in our meetings is to focus on the fact that we are in the nation’s capital and to emphasize how financial institutions are taking over our politics,” Franklin said.
Occupy D.C. started out with about 20 people Oct. 1 and has slowly grown over time. Over 300 people attended the General Assembly meeting Oct. 8.
“It is very inspiring to see this kind of support,” Franklin said.
In contrast, the Occupy Wall Street movement started with 1,000 people and has grown to over 10,000 people at some marches.
Occupy D.C. is standing in solidarity, but is not involved, with the much-larger “Stop the Machine” movement.
Stop the Machine is focused on ending the war in Afghanistan but has also adopted a platform against corporate greed, and the groups are working to coordinate marches and demonstrations when interests line up.
Stop the Machine also held a protest on oct. 6 in Freedom Plaza.
