The following photos were taken by Sharon Roper Jackson at a Washington, D.C. park on 15th Street & K Street during the first week of occupation. These pictures provide a photographic essay on what a peaceful citizen's protest movement is like in the U.S. They also highlight the frustration many citizens are experiencing since the 2008 recession; the economic realities of many who blame corporate greed, Wall Street, and a government bent on funding multiple wars instead of providing employment relief.
Ironically, these pictures were taken prior to the dedication of the MLK statue in the nation's Capital.
Many people are unclear about the protesters: who they are and what they want. According to its website (www.occupydc.org), the organization "is a peaceful grassroots movement that are fed up with the current political and economical system in this nation. We are an independent branch from occupytogether.org and occupywallst.org but carry the same terminology and philosophy.
"We are here because our economic system is broken, and many of us are suffering. We are here because massive financial, political, and societal inequality is not sustainable, and threaten the country’s ability to thrive. We are here because we are the 99% and the economy is ours too."
The protesters have set up a tent city in the Park. Tent cities are temporary housing facilities which are set up during disasters, natural or man-made, and are often used as forms of expression or objection to particular events, policies, or situations.
These tents are very colorful and have durable chairs to match!
Some are covered with extra tarps to keep out rain and meant to be livable havens for months.
In this circumstance, people are protesting government corruption. "One of the reasons why we don’t want to put out any official demands or goals yet is because we want to hear from the people what they want. We have heard many messages but we feel like we need more input from more people before we can even think about releasing official demands," the group says on its website.
And while the protesters sat in and around their tents, President Obama was viewed on a jumbo-tron near the new King Memorial, talking about Dr. Martin Luther King's vision of non-violent dissent:
"Dr. King understood that peace without justice was no peace at all; that aligning our reality with our ideals often requires the speaking of uncomfortable truths and the creative tension of non-violent protest."
In his speech, Obama never mentioned that King was against war. So far, there have been over 4,683 Americans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and over 32,799 wounded in combat. Last week, Obama sent 100 military "advisers" to Uganda which neighbors his father's native country, Kenya. This same tactic was used during the beginning of the Vietnam War.
According to How to Occupy's website (http://www.howtooccupy.org/), the protestors are trying to build a new world and are promoting alternative money/exchange systems, free media, Internet/Opensource Software, political alternatives, and sustainability projects.
To find a list of the organization's grievances, go to: http://occupydc.org/community/declaration/.
©2011 Tomi Johnson (article)
©2011 Sharon Roper Jackson (photos). All rights reserved.
Don E. Wilson says: It truly shows we are in times of unsettled issues within our cultures and the cities we live in. Everyone wants fair chance to find their piece of America, they just don't want the have's to take it all and leave the crumbs to those who couldn't influence others to seat them at the table. Until that time comes when we are willing to level the playing field, their will always be discord in every country. But America is the cornerstone for the rest of the world to marvel at, with the thinking everyone has chance to do great things if they can arrive here to begin the quest!
ReplyDeleteMahmooda Rahman says: It breaks my heart to see businesses closing and people wondering how they are going to take care of their family, at times like this I turn to my faith like any person would do regardless of what she/he believes in, when i search for answer in my faith i find that. In the economic sphere Islam recognizes and safeguards the institution of private property, but makes all legal ownership subject to stringent moral obligations. It teaches that all ultimate sources of wealth, namely, the earth and all its treasures and capacities, the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds that bring rain etc, are the bounty of God, which he has provided for the benefit of his creatures.Wealth is produced by the application of human skill, knowledge and labor to the resources, which God has provided. Produced wealth must, therefore, be shared not only between capital and labor, but also between these two and the general community.
ReplyDeleteThe object of the Islamic economic system is that there should be equitable distribution and constant circulation of wealth, and that there should be no holding back: that it may not circulate only among those of you who are rich. (Ch.59: V8)
Behold, you are those who are called upon to spend in the way of God; but of you there are some who are niggardly. And whoso is niggardly, is niggardly only against his own soul. And God is Self-Sufficient, and it is you that are needy. (Ch.47: V 39)
Spending in the way of God means spending in the service of man. The object is further advanced by the prohibition against hoarding and against the lending of money on interest.