Since the Occupy Wall Street protests began nearly two months ago in New York- spreading to several other cities in the US and across the world and sparking an intense amount of online attention and scrutiny- one of the main criticisms lobbed at protestors is that the location of the demonstrations do not factor in occupying government as well.
In fact, a bit of back and forth has ensued as to whether fault for the financial meltdown lies more appropriately with big business (for their role in creating and deepening the mortgage crisis) or big government (for allowing de-regulation in the first place, setting the stage for the wide-scale looting.) Perhaps those criticisms will be put to rest now with the announcement of plans for the group- or at least some of its members- to march from New York City to Washington DC ahead of a congressional vote to keep or repeal the Bush tax cuts.
The blog Zap2It indicates the group plans to leave November 9th and ideally arrive nearly two weeks later:
A small group of Occupy Wall Street demonstrators have also said that starting Wednesday (Nov. 9), they will march from New York City to Washington D.C., hoping to arrive by Nov. 23, which is the deadline for the congressional committee to decide whether to keep President Obama’s extension of President Bush’s tax cuts… The march will be roughly 240 miles and will feature about a dozen protestors, but they hope to pick up other protestors along the way.
Organizer Kelly Brannon referred to ” historic relevance of such long-distance marches for social causes” when discussing the impetus behind the Occupy March.
America used to work The people had work. The system worked. EVEN the Congress used to work…(sometimes). It was far, far, far from perfect – but at least we all had some share in the struggles AND the rewards. But somewhere along the way, we lost our way. And now we have an economy and a political system that works only for the rich. Trickle down economics just leaves most of us out in the rain. We need to get back to what America was, and what it should be, and what it can be. Occupy Wall Street is no longer just a place called Zuccotti Park — Zuccotti Park is everywhere. You can try to pen us in, you can beat us and arrest us, you can mace and tear-gas us , and you can try to "permit" us to death….but you can't kill an idea. You can't keep down people’s hopes and dreams for a better life…..a life with dignity and freedom….for us… for our kids. More power to Occupy Wall Street, as it spreads to every town and city – because OWS is us, and for us, and by us. It comes up from the grassroots, and it lifts us up in turn.With OWS America has found it’s voice, and that voice demands fairness and justice. This land IS our land! And we want it back! We want our lives back! We want our future back! Find a quiet place and consider this: We only have one brief life…one chance…and many choices. It’s time to choose, and to act. If not now, then when? If not you, then…..