Occupy Wall Street

Many people felt life was not fair.

They felt a few people had too much money. Others had very little.

In 2011, people met in a park in New York City. They stayed in the park for many days. They used the internet to talk to each other.

They used a special phrase. They said, "We are the 99%." This meant most people were not rich.

They wanted better jobs and fair rules. They wanted to help people with debt. They wanted banks to change.

They spoke in big groups to make choices. This was a way to show their ideas. It was a big movement for many people.

In 2011, a big protest began in New York City.

People gathered in Zuccotti Park. They wanted to talk about fairness in money and power. Many felt the system was not fair to regular people.

One big reason was the 2008 financial crisis. During this time, banks faced many problems. The government used taxpayer money to help these banks. This made many people very angry. They felt big companies had too much power over the government.

The protesters used a famous slogan. They said, "We are the 99%."

This meant that most people were not part of the richest 1%. The slogan helped people share their stories about debt and jobs.

Protesters used social media to spread their word. This helped the movement grow in many cities and countries. They made choices in large groups. They stayed in the park for 59 days. On November 15, they were moved out of the park. After that, they moved to other places like banks and campuses.

Occupy Wall Street was a large protest movement. It started in New York City in 2011. Many people joined to speak about economic inequality. This means the gap between rich and poor people. They also worried about the power of big banks. They felt that money had too much influence in politics. The movement wanted to make things fairer for everyone.

Protesters used special ways to organize themselves. They met in large groups called general assemblies. In these meetings, they used consensus to make decisions. This means they tried to reach an agreement that everyone could accept. They focused on direct action instead of just asking leaders for help. They also used social media to share news very quickly. This helped them reach people all over the world.

This movement grew from feelings of anger after a big financial crisis. In 2008, the United States faced a very hard time with money. The government used taxpayer funds to help failing banks through a program called TARP. Many people felt this was unfair to regular citizens. Also, a 2010 Supreme Court ruling called Citizens United v. FEC changed things. It allowed corporations to spend huge amounts of money on politics.

Kalle Lasn and Micah White from Adbusters first called for the protest. They wanted a peaceful occupation in Lower Manhattan. The protest began on September 17, 2011, in Zuccotti Park. It lasted for fifty-nine days until November 15, 2011. The group used the famous slogan, "We are the 99%."

This slogan helped people talk about debt and jobs. An anthropologist named David Graeber also played a big role.

Occupy Wall Street changed how people talk about money and power. It grew from a small local protest into a huge movement. Similar protests happened in places like Greece, Spain, and India. Even after they left Zuccotti Park, the movement continued. Protesters moved to banks, college campuses, and corporate offices. They wanted to keep fighting for a more balanced world.

Occupy Wall Street (OWS) was a progressive, populist movement. It focused on economic inequality and the influence of money in politics. The movement targeted corporate greed and the power of big finance. It began in Zuccotti Park in New York City's Financial District. The protest lasted for fifty-nine days, from September 17 to November 15, 2011.

Many factors led to the public's distrust of the private sector. This distrust grew after the 2008 Great Recession in the United States. During the George W. Bush administration, the government created the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. This program used taxpayer funds to buy toxic assets from failing banks. Additionally, a 2010 Supreme Court ruling called Citizens United v. FEC changed political spending. This ruling allowed corporations to spend unlimited amounts on independent political expenditures. Many groups believed this allowed moneyed interests to corrupt the United States Congress.

Organizers used specific tactics to build the movement. Kalle Lasn and Micah White from the magazine Adbusters first called for the occupation. They wanted a peaceful protest against corporate influence on democracy. They used decentralized organizing and symbolic occupation to reach people. The movement also used social media to share news in real time. This digital presence helped the protest reach audiences far beyond Manhattan. By mid-October, Facebook listed 125 different Occupy-related pages.

Protesters organized themselves through a system called general assemblies. In these meetings, they used consensus-based decision-making. This means they worked toward agreements that everyone could accept. Instead of just petitioning authorities, they focused on direct action. They also used a unique communication method called a "human microphone." This allowed people to be heard in large crowds without electronic amplification.

The movement is famous for the slogan, "We are the 99%." This phrase refers to the income and wealth inequality in the United States. It compares the wealthiest 1% to the rest of the population. The slogan helped turn abstract economic ideas into a shared identity. A Tumblr page helped people share personal stories about debt and unemployment. Anthropologist David Graeber played a leading role in coining this famous phrase.

The goals of the movement were very broad. Protesters wanted to reduce corporate influence on the political process. They also sought a better distribution of income and more jobs. Other goals included bank reform to stop speculative trading. They also advocated for student loan debt forgiveness and help for those facing foreclosure. They believed the economic system favored wealthy elites over ordinary citizens.

Occupy Wall Street had a significant impact on global discussions. It gave rise to the wider Occupy movement across the United States. It also connected to protests in other Western countries. Similar demonstrations occurred in places like Greece, Spain, Chile, and India. Even after police forced protesters out of Zuccotti Park, the movement changed shape. Protesters moved their focus to occupying banks, corporate headquarters, and college campuses.