Were the Occupy Wall Street Protests Successful?

Last week, I discussed the relationship between the Book of Exodus and Occupy Wall Street. In both instances, oppressed people's frustration resulted in civil protest. Moses and Aaron requested Pharaoh's liberation of the Jewish people in the name of God. On Wall Street, the 99% demanded the reformation of the plutocracy that was once their democracy. People across the United States called on the government to isolate themselves from corporations, for these activists felt politicians voted with companies in mind rather than people. While God sent ten plagues to change Pharaoh's mind, no deity helped these occupiers. Instead of hail and frogs, these protesters endured cold nights and pepper spray. Some say the message of the occupiers came across as unclear, but it seems that was just their intention. By camping out in the epicenter of capitalism, these men and women tried to express their feelings to the world. It is difficult to equate the Arab Spring to Occupy Wall Street, for the politicians in Washington were not the root of their problem. This fall's protesters criticized the Americans values as represented across our society. They questioned the power of a bank to force somebody into the cold, the say an oil company deserves in environmentalism, and the reasoning that grants the Kardashians more tax cuts than a struggling state employee. Police forces banned the encampment at most of these sites, but these troubled Americans, like Aaron, God, and Moses, refused to quit. As the intensity of these protests stagnates, it is important to ask what affect, if any at all, these protests truly forced upon the rest of society.

Were the Occupy Wall Street protests successful? By the end of November, the protest sites degenerated into homeless shelters. The message that came across to the American public was disorganized. While we comprehended these people were the 99%, what did they want? Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream, as celebrated this week, was clear. Moses presented a lucid argument to Pharaoh. The Occupy Movement is historically analogous to the revolutions that occurred in 1848 France. The protests at both times were sudden but overwhelmingly failed to change society. When the United Kingdom and Germany shifted the European balance of power, the French grew angry. They demanded revolution similar to 1789, but the Radicals closed their ears to liberals. The change flopped, but the anger remained. In terms of pushing legislation, Occupy Wall Street failed.

Were all those nights in Zuccotti Park a waste? Politicians poorly answered the demands of the protesters, but they heard the people's voice. Few protesters end unrecognized because they embody the people's frustration. While a clear message might help the occupiers progress, their opaqueness showed how many problems the American people battle. The protests inspired celebrities like Warren Buffet to call for action in Washington. Unlike 1848, Occupy Wall Street laid stepping stones that can lead to change. The French fight caused more anarchy than reformation. Throughout history, republics failed to represent their citizens. Now, the American people are taking initiative. Instead of waiting for Congress to wave their magic wand, the people want solutions as fast as they want their internet speed. The protests earned my support. The United States is a plutocracy, a country run by the rich for the rich. By camping in Manhattan, the people shoved this fact in front of the public. As with the Israelites in Egypt, sometimes protests need to bring physical change. Others fight to raise awareness. In the 1960's, the anti-war movement pushed congressional leaders to strategize the evacuation of Vietnam. It showed the frustration of the nation's citizens. Like those fighters who did not see results until 1971, I recommend the Occupy Wall Street Movement to continue their call for change. By prolonging their campaign, whether it be with tents, signs, Facebook, or any combination of the three, I will deem the Occupy Wall Street Movement a success.