Photo: Stacy Lanyon
I originally heard about Occupy Wall Street from the Adbuster's call and through emails from activist friends in LA and on facebook . I came down to Liberty Park 10 days into the movement on September 28th. I had seen photographs of it, but I was actually very worried about the police violence because that’s when all the macings and entrapment of protesters were happening. I think that's why I initially stayed away and maybe a part of me was a little skeptical. However, after the massive October 1st -5th marches and attending huge and empowering General Assemblies in the park, I was hooked. Since then, I've been at Duarte on D17 bringing art, assemblages and signs and have been involved in anti-Sotheby's protests at the Whitney Biennial and have participated in institutional critiques and actions at MoMA. Most recently I've been inspired by May Day, the march for Trayvon Martin and the End Stop and Frisk silent march from Harlem to Bloomberg's house on the upper east side.
I’ve always been interested in social movements and studied radical groups like the Weather Underground in college as well as the non-violent People Power Revolution in the Philippines from 1986. I've also been greatly influenced by the Civil Rights movement in America as well as the Women's Rights movement and Gay Rights movements from the 60's and 70's. I was involved in the 2003 protests against the U.S.' invasion of Iraq in college in Chicago and have participated in feminist rallies prior to OWS.
Political protest and dissent is very dear to my heart because I have family in the Philippines who are human rights lawyers, labor organizers and communist activists. My uncle Byron Bocar was exiled to Holland under Marcos' regime in the 1980's and tragically, another uncle, Norman Bocar, was murdered for political reasons in the Philippines in 2005. I’ve been waiting for a social movement like this for a long time. I guess from a very early age I was aware of inequality and the value of dissent and protest.
For me, one of the most important things about the Occupy Movement are feminist issues, dismantling patriarchy, creating space for free education and striking debt. Also, I'm drawn to OWS for broader human rights issues, addressing and protesting against police brutality, Mayor Bloomberg and the NYPD and figuring out ways to achieve universal health care and how to improve maternity leave for families. I want a radically different and more equitable society.
I would want a quota system like in Scandinavia or South America with more women holding office. I want women to be more involved in government. I want health care for everyone. I want the police state to dissolve. I can’t pinpoint exactly what my political ideology is, but it's a mixture of anarchy and socialism. I just want more compassion, more mutual aid. The criminalization of the poor should be abolished as well as the social stigma of needing public assistance and medical care. I'm an artist and also very interested in sociology. I want a more creative society - a more loving environment.
Personal debt and economics are issues for me as well. I was layed off from my job as an archivist in 2009 after the financial crash, but I was luckily able to come down to Zuccotti so much during the fall and winter because I was on unemployment at the time. It was incredible to meet such a diverse, open crowd in NY who were all united in the park for various reasons. I met drummers from the Bronx, southern travelers, established academics, radical anarchists, young and wild kids, older activists and beautiful and strange eccentrics who were just passing through. The energy in the park was absolutely amazing.
For the past 3-4 months, I’ve been very involved in making banners. Before May Day, my art group Radical Arts from Arts and Labor made a ton of creative banners and interesting propaganda for the march. I think messaging is so important because as occupiers we know why we’re here, but I feel it’s so important to outreach to people who aren't involved in the movement. I often think: " What’s the message to the outside? " I’m always making banners, even if they aren’t exactly on point. They’ll say, “Health Care for Everyone” or “No More Police State," "Education is a Right," "Stop Misogyny" etc. The other night it was “Free Education” for the Montreal solidarity/ Infinite Strike march because it really, really matters. That way it’s not just like, “Oh, these Occupy people" are on the streets again. I've overheard a lot of people who I thought would be on our side say, “Oh, what is Occupy doing here?” I still think we have to do so much outreach. I love this movement. This movement has changed my life.
Right now, I'm focusing on slowing down and stepping back. I've realized that being deeply involved in OWS for 9 months has taken its toll. It's important to rest and take care of ourselves. Right now, a dear friend is unjustly imprisoned in jail at Riker's for peacefully protesting on December 17th and was arrested and sentenced with a trumped up trespassing charge. We have to keep up the fight, and it's important to support each other and show solidarity for each other when the state is trying scare us away. One of my favorite chants is: " One - We are the people, Two - We are united, Three- this Occupation is NOT leaving! " We might not have the united physical space of Zuccotti Park anymore, but the vast network of activists in New York and all around the world committed to this movement is vibrant and totally inspiring.
Interview by Stacy Lanyon
http://buildingcompassionthroughaction.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/stacylanyon
https://instagram.com/stacylanyon/
https://twitter.com/StacyLanyon
http://stacylanyon.com/
I’ve always been interested in social movements and studied radical groups like the Weather Underground in college as well as the non-violent People Power Revolution in the Philippines from 1986. I've also been greatly influenced by the Civil Rights movement in America as well as the Women's Rights movement and Gay Rights movements from the 60's and 70's. I was involved in the 2003 protests against the U.S.' invasion of Iraq in college in Chicago and have participated in feminist rallies prior to OWS.
Political protest and dissent is very dear to my heart because I have family in the Philippines who are human rights lawyers, labor organizers and communist activists. My uncle Byron Bocar was exiled to Holland under Marcos' regime in the 1980's and tragically, another uncle, Norman Bocar, was murdered for political reasons in the Philippines in 2005. I’ve been waiting for a social movement like this for a long time. I guess from a very early age I was aware of inequality and the value of dissent and protest.
For me, one of the most important things about the Occupy Movement are feminist issues, dismantling patriarchy, creating space for free education and striking debt. Also, I'm drawn to OWS for broader human rights issues, addressing and protesting against police brutality, Mayor Bloomberg and the NYPD and figuring out ways to achieve universal health care and how to improve maternity leave for families. I want a radically different and more equitable society.
I would want a quota system like in Scandinavia or South America with more women holding office. I want women to be more involved in government. I want health care for everyone. I want the police state to dissolve. I can’t pinpoint exactly what my political ideology is, but it's a mixture of anarchy and socialism. I just want more compassion, more mutual aid. The criminalization of the poor should be abolished as well as the social stigma of needing public assistance and medical care. I'm an artist and also very interested in sociology. I want a more creative society - a more loving environment.
Personal debt and economics are issues for me as well. I was layed off from my job as an archivist in 2009 after the financial crash, but I was luckily able to come down to Zuccotti so much during the fall and winter because I was on unemployment at the time. It was incredible to meet such a diverse, open crowd in NY who were all united in the park for various reasons. I met drummers from the Bronx, southern travelers, established academics, radical anarchists, young and wild kids, older activists and beautiful and strange eccentrics who were just passing through. The energy in the park was absolutely amazing.
For the past 3-4 months, I’ve been very involved in making banners. Before May Day, my art group Radical Arts from Arts and Labor made a ton of creative banners and interesting propaganda for the march. I think messaging is so important because as occupiers we know why we’re here, but I feel it’s so important to outreach to people who aren't involved in the movement. I often think: " What’s the message to the outside? " I’m always making banners, even if they aren’t exactly on point. They’ll say, “Health Care for Everyone” or “No More Police State," "Education is a Right," "Stop Misogyny" etc. The other night it was “Free Education” for the Montreal solidarity/ Infinite Strike march because it really, really matters. That way it’s not just like, “Oh, these Occupy people" are on the streets again. I've overheard a lot of people who I thought would be on our side say, “Oh, what is Occupy doing here?” I still think we have to do so much outreach. I love this movement. This movement has changed my life.
Right now, I'm focusing on slowing down and stepping back. I've realized that being deeply involved in OWS for 9 months has taken its toll. It's important to rest and take care of ourselves. Right now, a dear friend is unjustly imprisoned in jail at Riker's for peacefully protesting on December 17th and was arrested and sentenced with a trumped up trespassing charge. We have to keep up the fight, and it's important to support each other and show solidarity for each other when the state is trying scare us away. One of my favorite chants is: " One - We are the people, Two - We are united, Three- this Occupation is NOT leaving! " We might not have the united physical space of Zuccotti Park anymore, but the vast network of activists in New York and all around the world committed to this movement is vibrant and totally inspiring.
Interview by Stacy Lanyon
http://buildingcompassionthroughaction.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/stacylanyon
https://instagram.com/stacylanyon/
https://twitter.com/StacyLanyon
http://stacylanyon.com/