The Story
Occupy Wall Street Comes to Williamsburg
The Crim Dell Amphitheatre became the scene of political protest on Thursday, November 3 as students rallied in response to the ‘Occupy Movement’ that has taken already root in over 1400 cities across the world.
Gathering under the now popular slogan “we are the 99%” the organizers were inspired by the initial Wall Street gathering to take collective action on campus. Matt Caterine, one of the student speakers said, “We’re holding this as an action to show what these rallies are also trying to point out, which is the massive wealth inequalities in the U.S. as well as a host of other problems dealing with immigration, racism and beyond. In other words, the main issues that plague our society.”
As the event got under way a series of speakers were introduced from the local community as well as from the student body, each appealing to the audience’s humanity to join them in their battle against socio-economic injustice. Whilst in many cases the speakers were representing campus organizations that had decided to align with the Occupy movement, there were also speeches from members of the wider community such as representatives from the Williamsburg Unitarian Universalist church.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was one of the student clubs that spoke in support of the rally. Explaining why the organisation had made the decision to make a public stand on the issue, its President Kameron Adams quoted the NAACP founder W.E.B Dubois: “It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year. It is today that we fit ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow. Today is the seed time, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest.”
As the speeches drew to an end, the loudspeaker was offered to anyone from the gathered crowd who wanted to share his or her opinion. One student who took up this challenge drew a huge round of applause as he finished the open mic session by declaring, “Who am I? I am nobody. Who are you? You are nobody. We are the ninety nine percent.”
Those students carrying the banners advertising the event then thanked everyone for speaking, going on to hand out pamphlets for audience members to use as a lyric sheets on the subsequent march through Colonial Williamsburg.
Event attendee Bobby Kogan was impressed by how the rally turned out, though he pointed to popular conception of the movement as a lingering problem. Speaking after the march he said, “In short, we absolutely have an apathetic campus. About 70 people showed up, which is, ironically, about 1% of campus. In another sense, though, it was a total success. At the rally, it wasn't just undergrad students. There were Ph.D. kids, there were teachers, there were pastors, there were preachers. It was awesome. The more varied people there were there, the more legitimacy was added to the entire rally.”
Fewer people went on to march with the group, as they left Old Campus for Duke of Gloucester street. The reaction from onlookers as they passed through Colonial Williamsburg was indicative of general support, as many gave the marchers thumbs up in response to their chants.
There were still those who found issue with the march. One war veteran chased it down the street whilst yelling “Communists” and “I fought in the army for thirty years to protect political freedoms, but I didn’t do it for you.”
As the rally came to an end a summary speech was given until all gathered united in a solidarity clap at the Wren Chapel; a technique originally employed by migrant workers in which one person begins to clap and others join in, getting louder and faster until it pauses, followed by everyone giving one last, resounding clap. The organizers then announced that the following Saturday (November 5) there would be a second event, “Occupy DoG Street” between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Speaking of this move to hold several events around the cause, Matt Caterine said, “The only way this can be successful is that if it keeps going. Constant vigilance is needed to make a better world. There will never be a point when it’s over and we finish and move on because the true victory comes when we come to make a better world throughout our lives."