#OccupyWallStreet has Heavily Occupied Twitter Stweet…
September 19th, 2011…unfortunately only about 2,000 of the projected 20,000 protestors showed up, but give it time. (The event did make a splash on Twitter, becoming a trending topic) The group AdBusters had been spreading the word about the peaceful protest on Wall Street for months, and the word is still spreading. They even invited the President to attend the event today since he would be in the city at a $38,500/per person fundraising event. For some reason I doubt any President would participate in such an anti-lucrative event for themselves.
Word spread and people showed up over the weekend, although according to a few sources the crowd has dwindled to less than 500 today, rightfully so…people gotta eat! Many people are there to stay, pitching tents, making PB&J’s, and holding morning yoga sessions.
The DHS took seriously the warnings from popular hactivist group, Anonymous, encouraging employees of financial institutions to ignore persuasions from protestors to stand up against the financial fraud and join the protest. They did what they were told, but the protestors continued their peaceful protests, even though they were barricaded from protesting right on the sidewalks of Wall St. The city provided some “free speech zones” allowing the protestors to do as they wish there as long as they weren’t disrespecting anyone’s property. Mayor Bloomberg also approved of this non-violent protest:
““People have a right to protest, and if they want to protest, we’ll be happy to make sure they have locations to do it.”
It’s been suggested that the social media efforts behind most of the weekend’s events could come under attack in the future by DHS and their Cyber-security Act. With the number of protestors, I find this highly unlikely, but talks of shutting down the internet, like what happened during the Tahrir’s Square in Cairo, could be possible.
I see this as nothing but a First Amendment issue, not a homeland security issue, not a terrorist threat. It’s people from around the country, getting together to protest corruption, and from the guest list it looks like there was quite the mixed bag. Everything from socialist party members, to “age old hippies, Anonymous members, to Ron Paul supporters were among those fed up with the current back-door dealings between Wall Street and DC lobbyists.
There’s quite the calendar put together for Anonymous group events. They’ve got one hell of an organizer…oh wait, there doesn’t seem to be any directors listed under the Anonymous group. Even a cop asked protestors in NYC to direct them to their organizer and they responded there wasn’t one and that the law enforcement just didn’t get it.
That’s what grassroots is all about. Using your reliable resources and membership to enact change through social application. Bravo to the protestors…do I smell a Rebel of the Week nomination?
