Chronological feed of everything captured from Occupy Wall Street.
blog / occupywallstreet / 1d ago
The Occupy Wall Street movement, on its second anniversary, asserts that capitalism itself is the root cause of societal problems like wealth inequality, political corruption, and financial instability. While acknowledging the value of reforms and temporary relief efforts, the movement maintains that true solutions require dismantling the capitalist system. They advocate for a revolutionary approach to achieve fundamental change, arguing that symptoms will persist without addressing the underlying economic structure.
occupy-wall-streetanticapitalismsocial-movementseconomic-inequalitypolitical-activismsystemic-change
“Capitalism is the fundamental cause of issues such as undue political influence by money, non-transparent trade agreements, and an unaccountable global financial sector.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 1d ago
This Occupy Wall Street post advocates for Jeremy Hammond, portraying his hacktivism as a legitimate form of public service rather than a crime. It contextualizes hacktivism within a broader narrative of digital resistance against corporate and government overreach. The piece urges support for Hammond, highlighting the perceived injustice of his sentencing while reframing hacktivists as agents of societal evolution.
occupy-wall-streetjeremy-hammondhacktivismcivil-disobediencefreedom-of-speechsocial-justiceactivism
“Hacktivism should not be considered a crime and hacktivists should be recognized for their societal contributions.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 1d ago
Micah White argues that Black Lives Matter's "creative protest" innovates only within the voluntarist model, neglecting other theories of revolution like materialist disruption. True systemic change, such as ending police violence, requires gaining sovereignty through elections to control police appointments rather than mere disruption. He likens police to strategically unassailable opponents per B.H. Liddell Hart's principles, designed to absorb and counter attacks ineffectively.
social-movementsactivism-theorypolitical-strategyoccupy-wall-streetsocial-change
“Black Lives Matter innovates only within the voluntarist model of social change.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 1d ago
Traditional activism, exemplified by Occupy Wall Street, operates under a flawed assumption that large-scale, non-violent protests directly lead to social change. Historical evidence, including numerous massive protests that failed to achieve their objectives, suggests this "voluntarist" model is largely ineffective. A fundamental reorientation of activist strategy is necessary, exploring alternative frameworks beyond mere human action.
activismsocial-changeoccupy-wall-streetprotestsociologyrevolutionpolitical-theory
“The conventional narrative of activism, where large, non-violent social movements with unified messages create social change, is a flawed illusion.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 1d ago
Contemporary social movements like Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter, while impactful in raising awareness, have faced limitations in achieving revolutionary goals due to outdated protest paradigms and a failure to translate disruption into political power. Future movements must move beyond traditional disruptive tactics, and aim to win elections and govern, becoming political parties operating on a global scale. This requires a shift from solely influencing elected officials to actively becoming the decision-makers.
occupy-wall-streetblack-lives-mattersocial-movementsactivism-critiqueprotest-tacticsglobal-movementspolitical-strategy
“Social movements are born from the convergence of new tactics that inspire collective hope and imagination, and the spread of a new societal mood.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 1d ago
This article argues that traditional protest tactics are no longer effective due to the evolution of oppressive regimes and the rise of a "protest industry" that co-opts and dilutes genuine revolutionary efforts. It contends that many prominent social movements of the last two decades have failed to achieve their objectives, leading to a crisis in activism. The author advocates for a period of radical experimentation and innovation to discover new, more effective forms of engagement.
social-movementsactivismpolitical-theoryoccupy-wall-streetprotest-tactics
“Traditional protest tactics, such as disruptive protests, have become ineffective in achieving desired social change objectives.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 1d ago
The murder of five police officers in Dallas is presented as a pivotal event that has rendered traditional street protest ineffective. The author argues that activists bear some responsibility for this outcome due to their failure to adapt tactics. This situation forces activists to choose between two paths: armed insurrection or building an electoral social movement, representing a choice between nihilism and optimism.
dallas-shootingpolice-brutalitysocial-activismprotest-tacticspolitical-strategymicah-white
“The Dallas police murders have effectively ended street protest as a viable tactic.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 1d ago
Occupy Wall Street activists have initiated OccupyDNC, establishing "Liberty Park" in FDR Park, Philadelphia, adjacent to the Democratic National Convention. This movement, fueled by WikiLeaks revelations of DNC interference in the Sanders campaign, demands a review and potential re-vote in states with voter tampering lawsuits. The group aims to galvanize a sustained protest against perceived systemic corruption within both major political parties.
occupy-wall-streetdnc-2016political-protestsocial-activismbernie-sandershillary-clintonwikileaks
“Occupy Wall Street has initiated a new occupation, OccupyDNC, in Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park, renamed 'Liberty Park,' adjacent to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 1d ago
Micah White, co-creator of Occupy Wall Street, argues that traditional protest methods are no longer effective in generating societal change. His book, "The End of Protest," proposes a new framework for activism, emphasizing tactical innovation, a unified theory of revolution, and a broader, long-term perspective on social change. White’s work attempts to redefine activism for a new era, moving beyond conventional protests to more sophisticated movements aimed at systemic transformation.
occupy-wall-streetsocial-activismprotest-tacticsmicah-whitesocial-changepolitical-revolution
“Established modes of protest are outdated and no longer effectively change society.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 1d ago
Activist Graduate School is an online learning platform providing courses for protestors, movement creators, and changemakers. The curriculum features experienced activists, including co-creators of Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter, and content is filmed at universities such as Bard College, UCLA, and Princeton. This initiative aims to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed for effective social activism.
activismsocial-justicecommunity-organizingonline-educationprotest-movementsoccupy-wall-street
“Activist Graduate School is an online university for protesters, movement creators, and changemakers.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 1d ago
Occupy Wall Street originated from a concept by Adbusters' Kalle Lasn and Micah White, who designed the initial protest framework. This concept was then adopted and operationalized by approximately 200 New York City activists. These activists, considered the true founders, organized the on-the-ground protest, distinguishing between the movement's conceptualizers and its practical implementers. Post-2012, the movement's social media presence became fragmented and unreliable, with many accounts not representing the original spirit or organizers.
occupy-wall-streetsocial-movementsactivismprotesthistoryadbustersmicah-white
“Occupy Wall Street was conceived by Kalle Lasn and Micah White of Adbusters.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 2d ago
OccupyWallSt.org facilitated the Occupy Wall Street movement by providing open-source digital tools for organization and communication. This approach empowered participants to collectively organize and execute the occupation, emphasizing self-sufficiency over centralized leadership. The initiative aimed to translate public discontent into unified action by leveraging technology for mass mobilization.
occupy-wall-streetsocial-activismprotest-movementgithub-projectopen-source-softwarecommunity-organizing
“Occupy Wall Street was initiated by an Adbusters call to action on July 13, 2011.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 2d ago
The Dallas police shooting incident marks a critical inflection point for street protests, rendering them ineffective and potentially dangerous. Activists must now choose between electoral engagement or armed insurrection, as traditional protest methods are no longer viable for achieving social change.
dallas-shootingpolice-brutalitysocial-activismprotest-tacticspolitical-strategymicah-whiteoccupy-wall-street
“The murder of five police officers in Dallas has effectively ended street protest as a viable tactic.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 2d ago
Activist Graduate School is an online platform delivering courses for protesters, movement creators, and changemakers. Faculty and guest lecturers include high-profile activists such as the co-creator of Occupy Wall Street, co-creator of Black Lives Matter, and creator of Kony 2012. Courses are filmed on-site at universities like Bard College, UCLA, and Princeton. Access details at activistgraduateschool.org.
activismoccupy-wall-streetblack-lives-mattersocial-justicecommunity-organizingonline-education
“Activist Graduate School provides online university-level courses for protesters, movement creators, and changemakers.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 2d ago
The Social Movements Assembly, convened at the World Social Forum in Tunisia, issued a declaration asserting a unified global struggle against capitalism, patriarchy, racism, and all forms of oppression. The declaration highlights the deepening crisis of capitalism, driven by transnational corporations and complicit governments, leading to increased inequality, exploitation, and environmental degradation. It calls for a collective strategy to counter neoliberal policies, advocate for climate justice and food sovereignty, fight violence against women, and promote peace and self-determination against colonialism and militarization.
social-movementsanti-capitalismdecolonizationsocial-justiceenvironmental-justiceanti-warglobal-mobilization
“The deepening crisis of capitalism is a primary driver of global inequality, exploitation, and environmental degradation.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 2d ago
The Occupy Gezi movement, initially a protest against urban development, has evolved into a nationwide youth-led revolt in Turkey. Millions are demanding greater freedom and democracy, uniting diverse social classes and political backgrounds against state authoritarianism. This movement signifies a significant politicization of a generation often characterized as apolitical.
gezi-parkturkeyprotestdemocracyauthoritarianismsocial-justice
“The Gezi Park Resistance is no longer solely about environmental conservation.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 2d ago
The Occupy movement, through its “net work” model, effectively leveraged the skills of knowledge workers (cognitariat) and a decentralized communication infrastructure to organize and execute rapid-response direct aid, exemplified by Occupy Sandy. This approach bypassed traditional hierarchical structures by utilizing social media, keywords, and a rhizomatic communication model to coordinate resources and volunteers, demonstrating the power of horizontal organization in both social movements and disaster relief.
occupy-wall-streetsocial-movementsdigital-activismcommunity-organizingdisaster-reliefnet-workrhizomatic-communication
“Occupy Wall Street's success in organizing and achieving goals stemmed from a decentralized, ”
blog / occupywallstreet / 2d ago
Micah White, co-founder of Occupy Wall Street, argues that contemporary protest movements like Black Lives Matter, while embodying "creative protest," are overly reliant on a "voluntarist model" focused solely on disruptive innovation. He posits that true revolutionary change necessitates a broader approach, integrating innovation across various theories of social change beyond mere disruption. White suggests that effectively challenging systems like police violence requires gaining actual power through engaging with electoral and political processes, rather than exclusively confronting prepared adversaries like the police, who are strategically designed to absorb disruptive tactics.
occupy-wall-streetprotest-movementmicah-whitesocial-changeblack-lives-matteractivism-theorypolice-brutality
“Current protest movements, such as Black Lives Matter, are too focused on a 'voluntarist model' of social change, emphasizing innovation only in disruptive tactics.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 2d ago
The traditional narrative of activism, where large-scale, non-violent protests with unified messages lead to social change, is fundamentally flawed, as evidenced by the failure of movements like Occupy Wall Street and massive global protests to achieve their stated goals. This necessitates a re-evaluation of current activist approaches and an exploration of alternative frameworks beyond voluntarism, such as structuralism, subjectivism, and theurgy, to foster effective societal transformation.
social-movementsactivismpolitical-theorysociologyoccupy-wall-street
“The conventional understanding of activism, which posits that large, non-violent protests with a unified message lead to social change, is an illusion.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 2d ago
Contemporary social movements frequently fall short because they misinterpret the mechanisms of social change. A global, electoral-focused strategy that integrates movement-building with political power acquisition is necessary to advance beyond the limitations of disruptive street protests and achieve meaningful revolutionary goals. This requires moving beyond merely protesting to actively contesting and winning elections globally.
occupy-wall-streetblack-lives-mattersocial-movementsactivism-critiqueprotest-tacticsglobal-movementspolitical-strategy
“Social movements emerge from novel tactics that inspire collective imagination and a new societal mood, as exemplified by Occupy Wall Street and the Arab Spring.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 2d ago
Contemporary forms of protest are failing to achieve desired social change, leading to a crisis within activism. Traditional tactics are ineffective against evolved repressive regimes. A taboo against critically assessing these failures perpetuates the problem, as those in power within the "protest industry" suppress dissenting voices. Only through honest self-reflection and radical experimentation can activism redefine its future.
activismprotest-tacticssocial-movementsoccupy-wall-streetsocial-changecritiqueinnovation
“Traditional protest methods are no longer effective in achieving social change.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 2d ago
Occupy Wall Street (OWS) has re-emerged at the 2016 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia, establishing "Liberty Park" at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park. This action, dubbed #OccupyDNC and #OccupyFDR, aims to protest perceived injustices within the Democratic Party, particularly the alleged undermining of Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, evidenced by WikiLeaks revelations. OWS seeks to escalate their original movement against financial tyranny into a broader critique of capitalism and governmental corruption, advocating for a re-evaluation of election results and a strengthened network of political power.
occupy-wall-streetdnc-2016political-protestsocial-activismbernie-sandershillary-clintonwikileaks
“Occupy Wall Street has established a new occupation at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park in Philadelphia, renaming it 'Liberty Park,' adjacent to the 2016 DNC.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 2d ago
Micah White, co-creator of Occupy Wall Street, argues that traditional protest methods are no longer effective in generating societal change, despite increased participation. His book, "The End of Protest," proposes an innovative approach to activism based on a unified theory of revolution and eight principles of tactical innovation. White suggests that recent global challenges and the perceived constructive failure of Occupy Wall Street highlight the necessity for this new paradigm, advocating for movements that aim to directly influence elections, governance, and societal norms.
occupy-wall-streetsocial-activismprotest-innovationsocial-movementsmicah-whitethe-end-of-protest
“Established modes of protest are outdated and no longer effect significant societal change.”
blog / occupywallstreet / 2d ago
Occupy Wall Street originated from an Adbusters initiative, with Kalle Lasn and Micah White conceptualizing and promoting the initial protest. Its implementation was driven by approximately 200 New York City activists who organized locally. Post-2012, the movement's official social media presence became fragmented and unreliable, often being co-opted by individuals whose agendas diverged from the original Occupy ethos.
occupy-wall-streetsocial-movementsactivismprotest-historyadbustersmicah-whitesocial-media-ethics
“Occupy Wall Street was conceived by Kalle Lasn and Micah White of Adbusters.”