Mic check! Occupy Wall Street offers a rebuttal to State of the Union
Everybody’s got a response to the State of the Union these days — including Occupy Wall Street. Or at least a branch of Occupiers in D.C. do. They were supposed to deliver it live post-State of the Union in McPherson Square in Washington.
(By the way, in yet another sign that the Occupy movement is maturing — or at least is becoming more mainstream media friendly — we received this text from their publicist, marked “embargoed” until after the SOTU. Really.)
The following was designed to for Occupiers to take turns reading a couple lines at a time, then the crowd repeating them, “People’s Mic”-style.
Mic check! [mic check] Mic check! [mic check] Fellow Americans, good evening! [Fellow Americans, good evening!]
We are men and women of the 99 percent
Many of us have spent many months at Occupy Wall Street
and at other Occupations across the country and around the world
We are here tonight to report on the State of the 99 percent in America
Of course most Americans know the state of the 99 percent very well
But sometimes the one percent, on Wall Street and in Washington, need a reminder
Financially, the state of the 99% is not strong
That is an understatement.
Never in our lifetimes have so many hard-working Americans
Faced so many difficulties, so many uncertainties, so many indignities
In Occupy camps around the country
We find Americans from all walks of life
Some of us have had it rougher than others
And it turns out living in camps is no picnic either
But we do not give up easily
And we take inspiration from the brave Americans who came before us
From Dr. King, who gave his life fighting for economic justice
From the Suffragettes, who insisted the voice of women be heard
From all of those brave or foolish enough to believe in America’s defining idea
theidea of democracy
That we are all created equal
And we all have an equal voice in shaping the laws we all live by
America
Let’s be honest.
When our courts tell us corporations have more right to speak than we the people do
That’s not democracy.
When pepper spray and midnight raids make a joke of the 1st Amendment right to assemble.
That’s not democracy.
When defrauding clients, blowing up our economy, forging thousands of documents and seizing people’s homes illegally is not a crime
but protesting all that is a crime
That’s not democracy.
Our America is not a democracy, not yet.
We all know why: Wall street owns Washington.
Bribery is legal, and the laws we live by are for sale to the highest bidder
That is why our government serves the very rich and powerful
at the expense of the rest of us
It protects the bonuses of bankers and Wall Street executives,
while failing to keep hard-working families in their homes;
It shields offshore tax havens for the very wealthy,
while letting our bridges, schools, and infrastructure fall apart;
There have been dark periods in our nation’s history, when corruption became the norm
when grave injustices stood in the way of America living up to its best ideals.
But time and time again, Americans stepped up to take back their government and correct our course.
Today Occupy Wall Street and the 99% movement step into this proud American tradition.
But fear not, one percent!
We are not here just to help the 99% at your expense.
We are here to help you too.
For when you’ve begun to think rigging the game is fair game
When you regard hard-working Americans as undeserving of a middle-class life
and unworthy of the profit their own work creates
When you treat the people who build your buildings and serve your food and raise your children and patrol your streets
without respect
You have not only lost touch with our humanity
You have lost touch with your own humanity
You need to find it again, for everyone’s sake
Real democracy will do you good
We are the 99%
We are here to create the democracy we have all been promised.
We are the 99%.
Our finances are weak, but our spirit is strong.
We are the 99%.
Our spring is coming.
SOURCE: http://blog.sfgate.com/
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Is anyone listening to OWS? I am extremely disappointed that they did not step up their action electing to let it fade into the winter and homelessness. They need leadership, not just a public voice. They need direction and momentum. I am afraid they lost their momentum and their chances with it. It will take twice as much action now to gain respect and renewal even in the spring. If they fail to challenge Republicans on their save the rich plan, they have missed an opportunity. Wanting to embrace everyone never works. You can’t walk down the middle and not fall over to one side or the other. In the end neither side claims you and you have nothing to add to the fight. I am profoundly disappointed because I placed a lot of confidence in this movement as anti-Wall Street aimed at both parties.
Losing faith here in any resolution that favors homeowners or the middle class. PERIOD. Its all about money. I watch the rich getting richer while the rest of us work twice as hard for half as much and still losing value in our homes, indeed still losing our homes.
In case many of you aren’t looking, the banks are stepping up short sales and foreclosure action. Nothing said last night in SOU changed anything!
Obama and the Democrats or OWS seemed to be the only hope. One is stuck in the tents and the other two are running for their political life.
ttt – have faith in a power stronger. I don’t know when and I don’t know how but their time will come. We must all continue to hound the media, AGs and legal system. I sent out 10 packages to different agencies and media in regards to BoA. I emailed at least 10 AG’s with information and asking them not go agree to any settlement. We all need to keep up a diligent effort as giving up is the absolute last resort. I figure at I have to do my part and at least I’m inside not out in the cold living in a tent. I believe you will see the numbers grown expontentially in the Spring and it will begin to get uglier. I’m counting on anonymous to keep hacking at them internally, as they are taking a great risk and doing a great job. I know it is very difficult not to get depressed; believe me I know!
“We are the 99%. Our spring is coming. ” OCCUPY!!!!
They have treated us like a horse rode hard and put away wet!!No more on the backs of the middle class.They’ve strapped us so hard it will take our childrens childrens children to pull us out of the muck.This is something that will go on unless something is done right now to make it right.The healing needs to begin without it we are helpless to progress and are tying the hands of our next generation as well.
obama kept saying 98%! he does not want to acknowledge?
He is acknowledging the OLIGARCHS…it is the 98%…he is correct..the OLIGARCHS and the PLUTOCRATS COMPRISE THE TOP 2%..Just like in NAZI GERMANY…THE TOP 2% CONTROL ALL OF THE WORLDS WEALTH..!
Obama will say bits of truth now and then..like when he said over a year ago that people are in this mess through no fault of there own…That was one of the most honest statements he has made during his entire Presidency…He knows we all got screwed but he also knows only We The People can take our country back..because they bought him and they own him…! He said it once..indivisibly we can do anything..!
…and he said we have to try harder!
They are not going to give it back..we have to take it back.
How well put. The 99% are coming after you. We will gain momentum and will not stop. Your gravy train ride on the backs of us will end. I’m afraid it is too late for you to find your own humanity, if indeed, you ever had it in the first place.
If the social contract is broken…the people must revolt..!