Occupy This: Wall Street Is Our Street

A reporter with Russian Television International speaks to Occupy Wall Street protesters who have camped out in New York's financial district on September 20, 2011. Original here. (CC BY Paul Weiskel

Morning commuters walk past Occupy Wall Street campaign protesters sleeping in Zuccotti Park, near Wall Street in New York, on September 27, 2011. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)

A woman holds up a sign reading "Compassion is Revolutionary" during the Occupy Wall Street protests happening in Zuccotti Park, in the financial district of New York, on September 26, 2011. Original here. (CC BY SA Paul Stein)

Grassroots movements are the insistent voice of the people, whomever that people may be, whatever their desire. Occupy Wall Street is such a movement and is quickly gaining momentum. It's a movement that is being followed closely, (by the foreign press).

I've read the comparisons of this movement to the Arab Spring: that last spring it was Tahir Square and this early fall, it's Zuccotti Park. Seems like an oblique comparison, more of the apple and oranges variety. What comes to mind for me is the French Revolution. The masses demanded equity and the aristocracy dismissed the rumbles until it became a roar. It's counterproductive and too simplistic to demonize corporations, politicians, businessmen as heartless, greedy, "let them eat cake" bastards, (btw, Marie never said that). Perhaps the one percent is just the collective barbarians at the gate. And who are the one percent? I'd really like to know.

I love the sign that reads "The American People Are Too Big To Fail"

Regardless of which side of the issue you stand, these are fascinating times we live in. Here are a few articles that may be of interest.

Occupy Wall Street. The official site.

"As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality: that the future of the human race requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power. We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known." An excerpt from Declaration of the Occupation of New York City.

The three (taken from the original 35) photos posted above are from The Atlantic Magazine's In Focus with Alan Taylor. This link is a photo essay rather than article.

Semper Fi: Marines Coming To Protect Protesters On Wall Street Somebody better tell Anthony Bolgna to leave his pepper spray home.

The Guardian's coverage of Occupy Wall Street. A list of recent articles with live coverage of protests.

‘Corporate Zombies’ Hit Wall Street. The Daily Beast's Cheat Sheet #5 informs that after three weeks, the ranks of roughly 700 protesters, are about to swell as NYC unions join in the protest.

YouTube. You can watch, and watch, and watch.

The Onion: America's Finest News Source. Something for your funny bone.