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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSalute to the May Day Occupiers
from Truthdig:
Truthdiggers of the Week: The May Day Occupiers
Posted on May 4, 2012
There were doubts about whether Occupy Wall Street could pull off the massive day of protest its organizers spent many months planning. But demonstrators in New York City and elsewhere joined forces with labor unions and immigrant-rights activists to remind the public that there is a working class and May 1 is its holiday.
They did so in spite of opposition from various corners. For example, just over one year ago, Gov. Paul LePage of Maine ordered the removal of a 36-foot-wide mural at the Department of Labor building in Augusta depicting the history of the states laboring class. A spokesman for LePage, a Republican, said the mural had offended some business owners, that it was one-sided and not in keeping with the labor departments pro-business goals. It was removed and placed in storage until a more appropriate venue for the work could be found.
Opposition elsewhere has been more insidious. Instead of offering a nod to workers this May Day, the White House proclaimed May 1 Loyalty Dayan occasion to remember American citizens debts to the protective vision of the U.S. Constitution and those who struggled to defend it. Loyalty Day appears to be no different from Independence Day, but rather just a slightly different repackaging of the same bland appeal to patriotism that has become the hallmark of campaign seasons and seems more intended to instruct Americans to bracket whatever grievances they have and be happy with their country.
The Americans who filled the nations streets and squares on May Day know better. They know corporations own the legislative process. They know there is no meaningful difference between a vote for Goldman Sachs candidate A and Goldman Sachs candidate B. Even if they dont agree on the particulars of the problem or any singular solution, they grasp that something is wrong with America, and they have shown time and again that they are willing to risk their bodies in confrontations with police and give up the respect of their fellow Americans, many of whom misunderstand their efforts and are to eager to insult them. ..............(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/truthdiggers_of_the_week_the_may_day_occupiers_20120504/
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Salute to the May Day Occupiers (Original Post)
marmar
May 2012
OP
KG
(28,751 posts)2. I heard they didn't change the world overnight, so obviously it must have been a flop...
socialist_n_TN
(11,481 posts)4. This deserves a kick.........
just for the title.
I was there in Nashville. We had about 60 core occupiers and we joined forces for a couple of labor rallies one at Vanderbilt University and one with the SEIU. It was a VERY working class celebration.
Zorra
(27,670 posts)5. "They know corporations own the legislative process."
We surely do.
countryjake
(8,554 posts)6. Thanks for this!
I still can't get over that our Prez chose to dredge up that old "Loyalty Day" spiel, instead of giving some slight nod to May Day this year. A holiday that is recognized in most of the world, due to the courageous struggles of our own working class, yet still never acknowledged here.
Kudos to all those who went out to raise a collective voice against corporate power!