The evolution of the Occupy Movement is complex, drawing from many different movements, inspirations, events that took place long ago, faraway, and also within the US. Seasoned activists had been yearning, and working towards widespread non-violent resistance, and a catalytic event to spark greater opposition to the war culture, empire, corporate rule, corruption, the list goes on. In tandem with Occupy Wall Street, there was a call to occupy Freedom Plaza in Washington DC on the tenth anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan. Under the banner of "Stop the Machine! Create a New World! Human Needs - Not Corporate Greed!" Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers and others created the October2011.org website where people from all over the country pledged to come occupy Freedom Plaza, as long as they could, for as long as it takes, to shift the policies and priorities in DC from catering to corporations and the war machine, to serving real people and planet. In an excerpt form an article written by Kevin and Margaret, they describe the evolution of their idea and experience-
"On December 16, 2010 we joined with Veterans for Peace and other organizations in an anti-war protest. The theme of the protest was developing a ‘culture of resistance’ in the United States. Many of us spoke that day about the need for resistance, perhaps none more clearly than noted author Chris Hedges who said “Hope will only come when we resist the violence of the state. . . . those who resist here today with non-violence are the last thin line of defense between a civil society and its disintegration.” ...
"The Tunisian revolution sparked revolutions that became known as the Arab Spring. Most notable was the still-ongoing Egyptian Revolution which began on January 25th receiving wall-to-wall coverage in the United States... The Arab Spring led to a European summer, especially notable in Spain and Greece – these rebellions also continue.
"While these uprisings were occurring, the United States was already in revolt but for the most part it was not covered by the media. The media did take note of the occupation of the capitol in Wisconsin, and to a lesser extent in Ohio and Michigan, but those were the tip of the iceberg of a widespread revolt. There were protests multiple times a week on a range of issues including closings of schools, tuition increases, mountain top removal for coal, austerity measures, health care, banking, foreclosures, failure of big business to pay taxes, climate change, war, torture, Bradley Manning – the issues and actions go on and on...
"Even though all of this was occurring, those of us organizing the occupation of Freedom Plaza were still not sure if the American people were ready to stand up against the power of concentrated wealth that had corrupted the government. On July 13th when Ad Busters published a blog calling for “20,000 people flood into lower Manhattan, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy Wall Street for a few months,” we were not sure whether this would detract or be synergistic with the Occupation of Washington, DC. After a brief discussion, we quickly reached consensus and on July 19 endorsed the action. We decided to do all we could to help it succeed, issuing a joint statement of endorsement with one of the OWS organizing groups on August 8. Organizers from Occupy Washington, DC went to the assemblies in New York to participate in making plans for OWS. Many of us were there on the first day and some stayed until our occupation began on October 6.
"While 20,000 did not show up on Wall Street, a small but persistent group of people did sleep in the park and show commitment to the cause of holding the wealthy accountable. This combined with New York City police abusing their power and pepper spraying non-violent protesters who were already in their custody; and then making mass arrests of 700 people on the Brooklyn Bridge, led to an explosion of hundreds of occupies throughout the country. More than 1,200 Occupy camps sprang up quickly around the nation and the world. This TIME “Person of the Year” protest awakened Americans to their common economic struggles and the power of their solidarity.
"The Occupy Movement had gotten the attention of the nation. The first few months had a noticeable, even dramatic, impact on the public discourse, but the first few months were not without their problems. Occupies were not ready for dealing with many of the problems that exist in our unfair economy – homelessness, mass poverty, crime and violence – all existing problems which were drawn to occupy sites. Decades of policies that funnel wealth to the top left many in the nation abused, beaten down and battered. The Occupies had the challenge of dealing with those injured Americans.
"Occupiers were torn between taking care of as many of the 99% as they could and building an effective political movement and safe encampments."...
He has been active in independent and third party political campaigns including for state legislative offices in Maryland, governor of California and U.S. president, where he served as press secretary and spokesperson for Ralph Nader in 2004. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 2006 and was the only person ever nominated by the Green Party, Libertarian Party and Populist Party. Zeese serves as president of Common Sense for Drug Policy. He is a co-founder ofVotersfor Peace , Prosperity Agenda, True Vote and the Drug Policy Foundation, now known as Drug Policy Alliance.