As we finish the semester, we have finally arrived to the 21st Century activism movements. Luckily, our generation has been able to see these movements come into fruition and spark change. The movements of our time have been monumental in the masses of people that have gathered for causes, and brought together all types of people.
Jaffe begins by discussing the “Occupy Wall Street” (OWS) movement that took place in 2011. Occupy Wall Street emerged in a time period where activism was taking place domestically and internationally. In Spain, young people protested against job cuts and the government’s budget decisions. In Madison, Wisconsin, people protested the Republican tax and budget plan that would invade on the public sector of labor. In Cairo, Egypt, millions of people gathered in Tahrir Square to protest the sitting President Mubarak. The idea of having millions of people gather to strike change like the one in Cairo inspired the same movement across the Atlantic. OWS began in Lower Manhattan to express their distress and dissatisfaction with the direction of the US economy. Many were still triggered by the financial meltdown that occurred in 2008 that resulted in the saving of the banks but sinking of employment rates, rising in homeless people, and of course, the raising of salaries of executive members. OWS also brought several other problems to the table such as college loans, outsourcing, and environmental problems that were blamed on irresponsible corporations and a reckless government. The people united on the fact that life for middle class and working Americans was getting harder and the lives of the rich was becoming significantly easier. They utilized the slogan “We are the 99%!” to emphasize that such a small percentage is benefitting from the decisions made by corporations and the government.
OWS struck NYC harder than most protests. The movement persuaded thousands of depositors to move and estimated $4.5 billion dollars out of large banks, and into non-profit credit unions and community-based banks. Also, because social media was beginning to peak, OWS used platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to rapidly inform, persuade, and gather people. Something that was different about this protest is that it gathered people of all genders and races under the idea that it was the “people’s mic” not only one type of person’s turn to speak. As the protest carried on, facilitators had to ensure that women, people of color, and LGBTQ groups were receiving the same right to express their grievances as the straight white males that made up the majority of OWS. It is rather unknown what OWS accomplished with regards to the economy, however, the movement set the precedent for all the movements that were to strike New York City; #BlackLivesMatter, racial profiling, Women’s March and gentrification.
As seen in the articles we were given, several movements followed OWS. Black Lives Matter is a member-led organization whose mission is to build local power and to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. After the deaths of two men in Louisiana that were killed by forms of police brutality, the people of New York did not stay silent. Thousands on thousands of people gathered in Times Square and Union Square to grieve the innocent lives that were taken. Immediately after people began to arrive, the NYPD began to aggressively arrest people and detain them. Videos, photos and recordings went viral on social media which spread support for the movement even faster. When the public found a common enemy, people united and kept protesting even more.
Another movement is the WE ACT movement which builds healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and low-income residents participate meaningfully in the creation of environmental policies and practices. This organization mainly works in the low-income neighborhoods of New York City that do not receive the same access to cleaner air, healthy homes, and sustainable and equitable land. WE ACT conducts campaigns including their Uptown Chats which Uptown leaders networking and engaging with leaders and public officials on topics such as energy, economic development, and transportation.
The final movement that was mentioned was the New Sanctuary Coalition. The New Sanctuary Coalition has been led by and for immigrants to stop the inhumane system of deportations and detentions in this country. They work to provide person-to-person support to many hundreds of immigrants facing detention and deportation. With the help of donors and volunteers, the coalition is able to expand and continue to provide safe spaces for people in churches, businesses and homes. There are around 20 “safe spaces” designated as sanctuaries for immigrants and these places have managed to rescue thousands of immigrants from the grasp of ICE.
Movements like the one listed above are the stones that have set the base for activism in this century. People began to find common grounds and understand that change needed to be made. With inspiration from a movement like OWS, people have used platforms on social media, public performances, and gathering of thousands of people to get the awareness needed for their cause. The activism of this century is still continuing and our generations and the generations to come will be the sparks that ignite the activism in New York City because of the rich history ingrained here.
Sarah S.
