By Maha ElNabawi
NEW YORK: Sparked in Tunisia, popularized in Egypt, spreading in Europe and increasingly in the United States; demonstrations, strikes, riots and occupations of public squares are a growing global trend and an international phenomenon.
Inspired by the peaceful, nonviolent uprisings in Egypt and elsewhere – New York’s Occupy Wall Street movement has caught on like wild fire throughout the United States and has spread to over 80 countries worldwide.
The metastatic anti-capitalism movement began this past September at Liberty Plaza in Lower Manhattan, two blocks north of Wall Street – symbolically, beneath the office windows of the world’s leading financial institutions.
Despite having no single leader and no organized agenda, protesters gather to express a vague sense of grievance over the widening wealth gap between the rich and poor in America and the omnipresent corporate corruption that has deteriorated the American Dream.
For weeks now, thousands gather daily in Liberty Plaza to debate, discuss and organize what to do about the failed system that has allowed the 400 Americans at the top to amass more wealth than the 180 million Americans at the bottom.
The American system is broken. More than 50 million Americans live without health insurance. More than 25 million are unemployed. Nearly 100 million are soiled in poverty. The American Dream is a misplaced pursuit – left attainable only for those with enough purchasing power.
Drawing inspiration from Egypt’s occupation of Tahrir Square, and motivation from the Arab Spring – the Occupy Wall Street movement was born.
Co-organizer of Occupy Wall Street’s Art and Culture committee, Alexandre Carvalho told Daily News Egypt, “The inspiration for this movement certainly came from Egypt and the Arab Spring. If Egypt could oust Mubarak and his police state through peaceful non-violent protest, then what is stopping us [Americans] from ousting our corporate dictators?”
Last week, the scene of Liberty Plaza and the heart of the movement had the feeling of a street fair, a political festival of opinions and expression – colorful wittily-written signs with powerful messages, free pizza, music, tents, and an overwhelming sense of solidarity left me wondering: is Tahrir Square contagious?
The Occupy movement continues to gain ground globally, with 1500 protests in 82 countries including, England, Greece, Italy, France, Hong Kong, Tokyo and more.
Each city has their own list of grievances, but a recurring theme reigns through out – a dire need to end to the global financial crisis and a shift in the social paradigms that currently place more worth on acquiring capital rather than the basic needs of humanity.
Unlike Egypt’s Tahrir, Occupy Wall Street’s demands are not that clear. Instead, their initial demand was occupation itself – the direct democracy of taking over a public square – which will inevitably lead to specific demands.
Tahrir Square has shown the world that the action of occupation in itself is a monumental statement against corruption and oppression – a tactic that was significantly utilized in ousting the Mubarak regime.
The transformation of public squares into a self-organized hub for regular, organic general assemblies reminds people that they do in fact have a voice, and that a better world is possible — the square in itself becomes the definition of democracy and a political laboratory of forgotten opportunities.
Like Tahrir Square, Occupy Wall Street-goers unite within a political festival of signs, music, debate and guerilla-style democracy. Walking amongst the animated crowd, one overhears talk of, “an economic revolution” and reads a flood of protestor signs denouncing America’s corporate oppressors.
Liberty Plaza, unlike Tahrir Square however, is much more organized. Tables line the square’s parameter acting as springboards for volunteer initiatives, political petitions, sign-up and information desks for budding coalitions.
Alexandre Carvalho stresses the importance of organizing the square, yet letting it naturally evolve with out barriers or restraints. He said, “The Art & Culture coalition is more of a collective – a working group within a movement.”
He added, “We are trying to organize a collective deeply immersed in new thought – to create conversations mobilizing collaborative art and tackling the socio-economic, corporate, and systematic oppression.”
The concept of occupying a public square has become an open canvass for political debate, expression and one of the most richly organic experiments in modern day democracy.
Carvalho said, “Egypt showed us courage – courage to unite and stand up for our basic human rights, regardless of how the opposition may react. Well that, and the power of solidarity.”
So it may be safe to say that Tahrir (Liberation) is in fact contagious – it is a plague against capitalism, dictatorship and all forms of social oppression. It has changed the art of protest and has fashioned an entirely new platform for organic political dialogue – igniting a resurgence of humanity, while motivating the fight for a global Tahrir: a human liberation based on equality.
And while Egypt still has a long fight ahead, it should seek comfort and pride in knowing that Tahrir Square has mobilized a global human movement – a movement that empowers individuals to stand up for their human rights, democracy, and a free and better world.
