EDITORIAL: Occupy the globe

Ask a critic of Occupy Portland what they think of the hundreds of protesters occupying the park blocks between Chapman and Lownsdale Squares, and you’ll likely get a disgusted smirk accompanied by the phrase, “Get a job.” Much to opponents’ disdain, movements like Occupy Portland continue to grow and gain the support of their local communities and businesses—and that includes the endorsement of the Vanguard.

In the month since Occupy Wall Street’s first march in New York City, the protests have evolved from a disorganized band of grassroots activists into a legitimate social movement with the potential to elicit significant changes worldwide.

Despite the protesters’ cries, opponents have focused on the negative aspects of the movement, such as the damage and cost to the public parks. Others just want to see a resolution to the chaos. On Monday, Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish stated that the damage to the two-block Portland park would cost an estimated $19,000­—more than $10,000 of which is set aside for restoring the grounds. Fish emphasized that Portland tax payers would foot the bill, a rather insignificant point considering the larger issues protesters have put on table.

Last weekend, according to United for Global Change, the Occupy demonstrations had spread to 951 cities in 85 countries. Tens of thousands of protesters calling themselves “the indignant” marched across major European cities in solidarity with other rallies across the world.

Tensions between the many parties involved—protesters, government officials, law enforcement and critics of the movement—will likely reach a head soon. Although a majority of the demonstrations have been peaceful, there have recently been escalating reports of violence. Chicago police arrested 175 protesters over the weekend. New York City police took 78 demonstrators into custody. And in Italy, Rome burned, as rioters set cars ablaze and shattered the windows of stores and banks.

Here in the Northwest, however, Occupy Portland has not only become one of the largest protests but also one of the more peaceful and organized. In a city with a controversial history of police brutality, the lack of aggressive confrontations and the level of cooperation between police and protesters have been surprising. This civility is refreshing, and highlights what may be the key ingredient for continued progress within the movement. For Occupy Wall Street to make a real difference, the lines of communication must remain open and honest, and to achieve this the dialogue must remain civil and meaningful.

What started as six tents and a handful of sleeping bags in downtown Portland has developed into a makeshift tent city for hundreds of protesters, volunteers and supporters, complete with a large kitchen area, medical center, wellness tent, information desk, library, art station and even a small community garden. Discussion of community issues are held at organized public assemblies and positions have been created, such as camp peacekeepers, to help maintain harmony.

Communities like this have been setting up camp all across the world, and Portland has become a positive example for the growing movement.

The Occupy Portland experience is broadcasting live 24/7, over both KBOO public radio and streaming video online at the group’s website. Organizers from different cities are communicating and sharing ideas through social media outlets, which has become a valuable tool for a movement so reliant on street-level involvement. The road to social change can be difficult to navigate, and grassroots movements have a history of putting up roadblocks that impede their own progress. Organization and civility have thus far prevented such impediments for the Occupy movement.

When asked how long Occupy Wall Street could last, the word tossed around lately by many involved is “indefinitely.” But for the movement to be taken more seriously, it will need to maintain organization with a form of centralized leadership. While the movement has been criticized for a lack of clear goals, it has nevertheless managed to achieve something not easily attained-real political clout.

The Vanguard supports the Occupy Portland movement for the meaningful impact it could potentially have on our society and for the significant moment it represents for our generation. Regardless of what one thinks of the Occupy movement, it has clearly become something of great legitimacy and will likely play a role in next year’s presidential elections. If that’s not democracy in action, we don’t know what is.