I’m sure by now you’ve heard somewhere on the mainstream media that the Occupy Wall St. protestors are a bunch aimless college kids running around not really sure of what it is they are protesting or what it is they want. Well they have released a mission statement and it appears to me that they know exactly what they want and exactly what they are protesting. Check it out below:
As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. We write so that all people who feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your allies.
As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality: that the future of the human race requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power. We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments.
We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.
They have taken our houses through an illegal foreclosure process, despite not having the original mortgage.
They have taken bailouts from taxpayers with impunity, and continue to give Executives exorbitant bonuses.
They have perpetuated inequality and discrimination in the workplace based on age, the color of one’s skin, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation.
They have poisoned the food supply through negligence, and undermined the farming system through monopolization.
They have profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless nonhuman animals, and actively hide these practices.
They have continuously sought to strip employees of the right to negotiate for better pay and safer working conditions.
They have held students hostage with tens of thousands of dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right.
They have consistently outsourced labor and used that outsourcing as leverage to cut workers’ healthcare and pay.
They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility.
They have spent millions of dollars on legal teams that look for ways to get them out of contracts in regards to health insurance.
They have sold our privacy as a commodity.
They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press.
They have deliberately declined to recall faulty products endangering lives in pursuit of profit.
They determine economic policy, despite the catastrophic failures their policies have produced and continue to produce.
They have donated large sums of money to politicians supposed to be regulating them. They continue to block alternate forms of energy to keep us dependent on oil.
They continue to block generic forms of medicine that could save people’s lives in order to protect investments that have already turned a substantive profit.
They have purposely covered up oil spills, accidents, faulty bookkeeping, and inactive ingredients in pursuit of profit.
They purposefully keep people misinformed and fearful through their control of the media.
They have accepted private contracts to murder prisoners even when presented with serious doubts about their guilt.
They have perpetuated colonialism at home and abroad. They have participated in the torture and murder of innocent civilians overseas.
They continue to create weapons of mass destruction in order to receive government contracts. *
To the people of the world,
We, the New York City General Assembly occupying Wall Street in Liberty Square, urge you to assert your power.
Exercise your right to peaceably assemble; occupy public space; create a process to address the problems we face, and generate solutions accessible to everyone.
To all communities that take action and form groups in the spirit of direct democracy, we offer support, documentation, and all of the resources at our disposal.
Join us and make your voices heard!
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The Devout Infidel 
If this action is inspired by the Arab Spring, where are the demands?
Off the bat I can think of three. Can you get behind these?
1) We demand that the government and the banks impose a moratorium on home foreclosures.
2) We demand a constitutional amendment that declares that corporations are not people and they cannot donate to candidates’ campaigns.
3) We demand a constitutional amendment that states that money is not free speech and that limits personal contributions to political campaigns.
Frank Hyman
http://www.frankhyman.com
ONe of the demands needs to be the repeal of the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 and the 14th Amendment section 4 which states the Validity of the public debt of the United States…shall not be questioned
You have a lot of company on ending the Fed.
I can certainly “get behind” those demands. I went through the Vietnam protests,and resisted the draft, Now, I regret I’m a bit too old and disabled to be doing protests, though I would be happy to make pots of stew and donate bedding to the kids.
absolutely, those are great ideas, I guess at this point the movement is still taking shape, once there are clear cut people established as leaders more of these great ideas like yours will be put forth…
[…] the OWS protesters’ mission statement, they say, we organize “at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, […]
The point of occupy wall street is that there are no demands. Not everyone in the movement has the same political ideals, some people want far more radical change than others. The movement is about showing to others that it is possible to imagine a world with a different system, that there are many others who support it, that there is massive discontent, and that taking action is possible. People who want specific demands don’t get what this is about. We don’t want them to be in power anymore, we don’t want to have to ask them for change, we want to bring about REAL change.
What “system” are you showing? Please don’t tell me that you think occupying a private park and living off donations is a “system”.
I support Occupy, and will be on the street 10-15, but what nonsense are you talking?
What REAL change do you think you are creating?
Imagining a different system…wtf?
The only action without demands that people could take would be to “starve the beast”. Sell your stocks, keep your money at home. Don’t eat anything that is not produced locally. Get off the grid.
If that is the plan, then we should be occupying the land. Occupy the land of the big argi businesses. Occupy the meat operations and move animals back on the land.
While that might be possible, China showed us there are serious pitfalls moving large number of urbanites to the land rapidly. 😉
OR
We could demand that our government address the issues in the declaration. The key is removing the corporate money from campaigns and lobbying. From there we open the door to electing people who will make the changes in the system we need.
The thought that I get from reading your post, RMamaHen, is that we shouldn’t leave it up to the government to save us. Yes, we should push the government to do the right thing, that is a key factor, but another key factor I am sensing is that we have to do something as people to move ourselves away from the system that doesn’t work in order to start endorsing and following the movement that DOES work. What do you think? And thank you for inspiring me to even type this! 🙂
Our system, based on the Constitution and rule of law is the best ever devised. First, we need to follow if we want our system to work. Maybe we should change the name from Occupy Wall Street to Occupy Congress??? The problem is that you and I have not insisted that it be followed. Our rights came from the Creator, not the government. If Washington is changed to comply with the Constitution corruption will be removed. For over 100 years we have slowly been making law contrary to constitutional principals. You and I are the only people that can fix our dysfunctional government. We need to start with Congress.
Hey Johh,
Excellent analysis and I do agree that our rights come from God himself, paid for through His Son Jesus Christ! What also might be of help to the movement is to move away from the sense of entitlement and serve our fellow man. I am glad we live in country where we have the freedom of speech and I too agree with parts of the movement. My concern with the movement is this: Is there another agenda behind it that we are not aware of and that the protesters themselves are not aware of.
Amazed by His grace,
Brian
The US had two large migrations off the land to the cities. One after WW2 and one in the 80s, Farm Aid notwithstanding. Less than 1% of our population lives on farms now, as opposed to 25% in 1930.
It seems obvious to me that the answer is to abolish the class system. So the 1% loses its fabulous wealth? Too bad, so sad.
The slaveowners lost a lot of wealth when slavery was abolished. As Rumsfield said, shit happens.
When capitalism is working, it destroys the Earth! The Earth’s bounty is turned into commodities and then trash.
Either we abolish capitalism, or we lose our ecosystem.
The ways things are done now does destroy the earth. I don’t think that is the fault of any system, not even capitalism. True capitalism considers all costs and naturally moves toward sustainability and whatever most benefits those who participate in exchanging products/services of value. Having clean water and air would definitely be part of that.
The truth is, no system can maintain it’s goals when applied to people who act in greed. Not communism, not capitalism or socialism or any other system.
It comes to the “guns don’t kill people, people kill people” concept. So long as people are looking to turn a quick buck instead of building sustainable long-term businesses, capitalism will always be corrupted, the way that firearms are corrupted by a lack of respect for life.
It’s a problem of human beings not willing to deal thoughtfully and respectfully with the world and each other. It’s about greed- a human condition of wanting to gain without caring about the real cost of your gain. That will corrupt any system or non-system.
It’s time for us to step up, relearn to recognize true value, and take responsibility for our resources and the way we use them.
The idea that “time is money” is not a capitalist concept. It came about when profit mongering overtook common sense. Only when people- as a species, a whole- begin to fully understand that our time is our most valuable resource will we see real change.
Seems to me this comment gets much closer to the core of the problem. This extreme imbalance of wealth and power (which translates into food and shelter for a few) is not the way things have to be; it is a specific cultural ideology. And civil disobedience (by individuals, but individuals working together) is most definitely a system. Without it, history would look very different. The point is, we are the culture, and the power to change our culture is in our own hands.
The problem is that you can’t decide things for other people. Which is what makes democracy so frustrating. This is also why the wealthy- on every scale- are called upon to participate in this process.
As for relocating into the woods- that’s easily enough done by individuals, if they really want to do it. It just doesn’t change anything for others, unless it’s an inspiration. Everett lives.
You propose communism? We tried that at Jamestown, it didn’t work! You cannot abolish Free Market Capitalism, because we haven’t had it in this country for a long time. Yes, I want to breath clean air, and drink clean water. Both are possible.
[…] lack of focus. Some of these news organizations don’t know how to use Google, apparently: Their message is clear after a few mouse clicks. The protest is aimed against wealth inequality and a political system that allows advantages to […]
1- Capitalism has lifted more people out of poverty than any other system ever tried.
2- What you are objecting to is mostly “Crony Capitalism”
3- Who exactly FORCED anyone to take on debt to go to college?
4- It is the very place you turn to that is causing the damage you complain about. Big business has indeed taken control of big government. The only path to sanity is to abolish big government. We should have government only do those things that MANY more than most agree to do.
Your most reasonable demands are those already made by the Tea Party. When that thought sinks in, join the libertarian movement and we can march together to a better America.
Education is a human right? Tell that to the college professor whose time and talent you propose to steal.
I agree with you about stealing time. If you want to be trained, expect to compensate your trainer.
What do you think of the idea of all information being open to the public though so that any person may inform themselves on their own time? Between libraries and the internet we all but have that- mostly just proprietary research is kept out of the public domain. What would you think of a 10 year quiettude limit before full public disclosure?
Also, do you really believe that the current Tea Party- the one being presented on the mainstream media- is an effective way changing things? To me it seems that they’ve sort of been taken over by a few talking heads with their own private interests in being a part of a newly established big government. Could be wrong..
i agree with you we do need goverment but we need to change who is running it for us we need to vote and i mean to clean out congress & senate cut their wages then we could balance the budgget make them have the same health care and the same retirement as the the rest of us
[…] Mission Statement of Occupy NYC […]
I’ve been angry enough to stop buying products and services that aren’t wholly USA-owned and operated by only US legal citizens; if I had to tip one way or the other on trade and commerce issues, I’d more favor isolationism than free trade practices since I’ve seen more negative results come of global efforts in those areas than I’ve seen in companies that choose to keep things working closer to home. I’d suggest not dropping your investments and cutting your cards up, but associate yourselves with those businesses, organizations, and institutions that mirror your moral values and tactical preferences – in this way, you will suffocate industrial and commercial kingpins who’ve recklessly chosen financial disparity as a way of life. Be very selective which groups you weed out and which ones you support – and keep anger and righteousness out of the equation when making those decisions – as this will most definitely affect the strength of your local economy, thereby determining whether you struggle or prosper as a whole. I promise you, making emotionally-based decisions without intelligent, logical, well-founded strategy will plunge you into a situation much worse than the one we have, now.
Very nice, my thoughts exactly! But I need some help identifying “made in the u.s.a.” companies. Any suggestions?
How about printing out the mission statement and passing it out on the streets and posting it all over the city. We still need a leader with a voice representing “we the People”!
We live in a Plutocracy that praises money and power. Nothing will change until we get rid of those who continue the status quo. The 2-party scam is complicit in the theft of the American Dream. Although its argued that the multiparty system brought the Nazis into power in Germany.
[…] the OWS protesters’ mission statement, they say, we organize “at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, […]
[…] is also a multi-issue campaign, with a lengthy, diverse list of demands. However, one issue in particular that is generating significant media attention is about the […]
“Non-human animals”?? I understand the sentiment but this sort of language just provides fodder for detractors. Perhaps it will just take a little time for OWS to smooth out the verbiage.
“They have held students hostage with tens of thousands of dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right.”
College is not a human right. You choose to go, you agreed to repay the loans, now take some personal responsibility and pay back what you owe like those before you.
Agreed! This is the one of the statements that leaves me on the fence. It should have been worded differently. At $500+ a semester though, we can all be sure that educators are paid. Books are usually paid for by the student. Where does the rest of the money go? I am sure that public colleges are less but, how is this even right? Education is a right, I agree. It is important that educators are paid, I agree. I think that making education more affordable/available would help the future of our nation, maybe that is where the disconnect is.
I feel quite strongly about the topic of education – as it is (in my mind) the most powerful means to alter the poverty cycle. In Australia everyone has access to a university (college) education. When anyone applies to undertake a degree they can nominate for the government to pay now and they will accumulate a debt – but this debt has no due date and gathers a mere 2% interest p.a. Once they start earning over approximately $47K/year a deduction of around $50/wk comes out of their pay to start contributing to the loan. Until they are earning this salary they am not require to make payments.
Furthermore, all full time students in Australia (from 16-116 years old) who can prove financial hardship (this is as simple as showing pay slips and/or proving financial independence from your parents) are eligible for rent assistance and a fortnightly living allowance, both of which are given, not loaned, with no pay back required. This allowance is available for 5 years of study.
I’m sure many here would have their complaints about our system (and no doubt other countries would have even more impressive examples) but I know that masses of Aussies are able to get university educations with no financial support from their families or scary student loans weighing on their backs.
I, for one, am extremely grateful that we have such a system here as education should be accessible by all.
I’m glad to see this statement at last. I’ve been struggling to articulate the Occupy message succinctly to everyone I know and encounter since it began. I go down to Dewey Square (Occupy Boston) every chance I get to talk to people, witness events and general assemblies, and I plan to march with them today and every time there’s a march. Occupy Boston may differ on certain matters from OWS (or not) but this statement is a terrific resource for those of us (supporters) who keep running into the “they don’t know what they want” complaint. I find that I hear that from people who are looking for an excuse to dismiss the movement anyway…but now it’ll be easier to give them something of substance not so easily brushed off. A major hurdle has been cleared here. I hope everyone will be resolute in pursuing the aims and goals of this movment until we have brought about a fundamental, egalitarian, and humanistic transformation of this arbitrarily cruel, sadistic, psychopathic, unjust and ROTTEN anti-society for which we all bear a certain responibility. This will entail long term struggle, hardship, and self sacrifice…but the alternative–a continuation of the status-quo is monstrous and unthinkable!! Onward to Revolution! Solidarity Forever!! -Guy Fawkes Jr.
[…] have even taken the time to read our mission statement? I wonder if they even know we have a mission statement? They have criticized us for not having a spokesperson. Perhaps they are just frustrated that […]
Sounds like these people should be occupying Washington not wall street as Washington is who lets ” wall street” work this way. 2nd find it funny that there is websites and apps for ows and All these kids walk around with there I phones hmmmmmm. 3rd zucotti park ” liberty square ” is owned by a nearly 200 billion dollar a year corporation and the only reason they haven’t gotten kicked out is because that corporation hasn’t asked the police to kick them out yet …… Those Evil bastards
I have read the Mission Statement of OWS several times and don’t understand why you aren’t changing the name to Occupy Washington, D.C. That being said, it appears that that you would mean Washington in most cases. While I understand your unhappiness, bringing down Wall Street and Business will only make matters worse. Moving money from major banks, certainly send a message I can identify with. Cleaning up the corruption is Washington is something I could also identify with. Supporters should work on forming new businesses and hiring people, then they can start them at $40 per hour if they want to. Laws and regulations pertaining to Wall Street and all of us are crafted in Washington by our Congress not Wall Street. Unfortunately Washington is very short on oversight and has become very corrupt. We need to get Congress working for us again, not themselves. We absolutely must change the way they are doing business in Washington. We have a right to expect a higher standard from our elected officials, and must demand it if our Republic is to stand. Remember, no country has enjoyed a higher standard of living than the United States if you are willing to work for it. Why are so many people trying to get into the United States??? I would encourage all OWS Supporters to read their constitution and the federalist papers then consider rewriting their mission statement. If you support the Constitution; Limited/Accountable Government; and Free Market Capitalism we stand a chance of restoring our nation. Again, I understand the unhappiness but think it needs to be redirected to Washington. Our housing market collapsed as the result of poorly written laws, regulations, and lack of oversight. Waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer money happens in Washington for the most part. Go after Washington, and you would be joining millions of your Fellow Americans who agree that something is fundamentally wrong and we all know where it originates. In the end analysis it is up to you and me.
This whole movement is not about fixing America, it’s, sadly, about destroying America. These people are revolutionists, not patriots. If you are following the OWS leaders (yes, they have them, they just are not showing themselves publicly) they want to overthrow the USA, not help it. Wake up, the enemy is in the gates. There is a fifth column in America for quite some time and we need to start the counter revolution right now.
agree 100%
Just a little FYI we are a Republic and not a democracy . In a Republic it is the voice of the people . In a Democracy it is mob rules which ultimately turns into a Oligarchy . http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=N7cY7LfMSbk
Your Mission Statement is spot on! I believe a country whose citizens are educated and healthy would be the greatest country in the world. America should be that country, but we are not. Maybe no country is, but WE have the potential.
RE: Education- keep this in there. Many here do not understand that Sallie Mae (family member of Freddie and Fannie) is so corrupt and screws students on their loans, “usury” is a term many should look up. Also look up Oligarchy.
thank you for all your hard work on this movement. It HAS to work!
PS maybe consider Term Limits. at one time 26 states passed laws limiting terms of politicians, but the Supreme Court overturned this, noting that just because citizens of a State elect the officials, they are then considered Federal Employees and States cannot dictate laws onto Feds. I’m thinking the Supreme Court knew they were next. with this should be serious reductions in politicians pension plans.
[…] of grumbling about how Occupy Wall Street has disturbed the peace of the general population, that OWS does not have a mission and they are wasting tax payer dollars by pre-occupying local police forces […]
HEY PEOPLE, Most of the correct observations I see here echo what Ron Paul is talking about RIGHT NOW:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/10/05/ron-paul-calls-occupy-wall-street-a-legitimate-effort/
Ron Paul is not the answer either, next question.
How do you demand a constitutional amendment. There is a process for that. Fully 2/3 of the house needs to vote on it as well. What a knuckle headed movement.
Great work – great start, keep the faith Occupy Wall Street. You started a dialogue for everyone to participate in, whether we agree or disagree, you have challenged the system that does “business te same old way for awhile”. I believe there will be a positive impact that will come out of this movement, change always have. Keep the faith.
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There is a difference between Free Market Capitalism and “Corporatism” Capitalism is a beautiful thing. I agree Ron Paul gives a lot of insight on the subject, as well as his thoughts on the Federal reserve, the IRS and countless other agencies depleting our quality of life. Ron Paul wants to fix the real problem which is taking the government (puppets for the bankers/corporation) OUT
of the economy so that things like alt energy can develop naturally. YOUTUBE him.
[…] Simon Johnson is likely to be a speaker quite popular with Occupy Wall Streeter just for converting to “the other side” . The quote below from the film reads like the Occupy Wall Street Mission Statement. […]
[…] […]
Yes!!! We can and we shall overcome…
[…] [vi] Occupy Wall St. releases their mission statement. https://devoutinfidel.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/occupy-wall-st-releases-their-mission-statement/ [vii]“Youtube”. Trader on the BBC says Eurozone Market will crash. […]
fuck yo shit…..putting a * then not following up…
I think the protests should include the Department of Educaton- from reviewing this site education and understanding of how things get accomplished is missing. It is quite possible the Occupiers are the pawns being used to fawn the rage required to disrupt the system- a Marxist tactic- used by the knwoing taking advantage of the well intentioned but uninformed.