2011 7
Angela Davis at Occupy Wall Street
I can’t help but like the Occupy movement. Being from a country that has been royally fucked by the banks and the IMF, it’s gratifying to see American citizens protesting against the state most of us are in. It is also great to see the media being confused and bewildered by the lack of specific “message” to the protests. In reality, they are annoyed because they cannot co- opt something so vague. This is not the unhistorical, populist ignorance of the Tea Party. The Wall Street protesters understand that the situation is not going to be resolved simply by screaming for Obama’s birth certificate.
Case in point, Angela Davis’ recent address at Occupy Wall Street. Davis is the legendary activist, feminist, former Black Panther and inspiration for the Rolling Stones’ Sweet Black Angel. She is the latest in a long line of interesting people who have supported the movement, including Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, Paul Krugman and Douglas Rushkoff.
Her speech reminded me that the demonstrators should take a look at recent protests in Greece, Spain and other countries to see what can go wrong in these cases. Police brutality, media coddling, boredom, lack of organisation and good old stupidity on behalf of the protesters can erode and undo well- intentioned protest very easily. Perhaps it’s just my humanity- hating default mode, but I think that the moment you let your guard down and settle into a felf- satisfied “cumbaia- my- lord” state, you are starting to lose it. And while there is nothing wrong with the content of Davis’ speech…
…I have to admit that the crowd’s reaction reminded me of this:
(-Dimitris Kontogiannis-)
About the Author: CnB
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