Anti-Corporation- Give the Power Back to the People by Olivia Condon
The Occupy Movement is grounded in opposition to corporate rule and unequal distribution of wealth in America. Heather Gautney, in her writing about the movement referenced the statistic that "a wealthy 1 percent of people in the US own roughly 40 percent of its wealth" - a troubling fact that demonstrates the power that corporations have accumulated in money, over the minority 99% (Gautney, 2013, 1). This movement, in an attempt to give the power and voice back to the people, has adopted many catchy slogans in protest to corporate rule, one being, "We the People, Not the Corporations"- a nod to the Constitution of the United States.
The phrase "We the People, not the Corporations" was coined to summarize the injustice that is corporate rule. It is the people that should have the constitutional rights, not the corporations, and having a slogan like this can aid in forming a community and identity among protesters, and shows just how far-reaching this movement is. Quickly finding a following in cities across the country, it was a national phenomenon, and such a slogan exemplifies that, consolidating Americans into one movement with many goals against all the injustices government priority of corporations introduced.
The particular pamphlet that boasted these words against corporations describes the move to amend the Constitution in an effort to protect people's rights with a 28th Amendment to 1) end corporate constitutional rights and 2) make clear that money is not speech. This pamphlet outlines clear goals- the passage of the 28th amendment- which is contrary to one of the defining features of the Occupy movement- that it "refuses to issue a formal set of demands" (Gautney, 2013, 3). This pamphlet is proposing a clearly outlined request- the ratification of an amendment, showing that individual branches of the movement may issue demands but the movement as a whole did not- perhaps speaking to its vast size and inclusion.
This piece of activism also offers a multitude of ways for individuals to become involved with the specific cause, allowing all groups of people access to activism, especially considerable is the fact that it is a paper artifact- something that was most likely handed out on the street, making it widely accessible to everyone, even those constricted by the "digital divide' of not having computer access (Carty, 2013, 3). This pamphlet also offered many levels of political opportunity or everyday activism that participants could engage in; form a move to amend group, educate themselves, educate others and make connections, pass a local resolution, petition for signatures in support, or pressure representatives to support. These groups can form anywhere, or the activism can be attempted individually, so they are leaderless "[allowing] for diverse and extensive participation" (Hurwitz, 2019, 157). Leaderless organizations like this are particularly accessible to the masses, allowing for the 99% to mobilize.
This document, through the goals it outlines and activism opportunities it gives its readers, is seeking a reform to democracy. America has changed, and it's governing body needs to catch up and begin protecting the people like it claims its purpose is. The colors of the pamphlet-, red white and blue, are patriotic, but those that wrote it are in search of what patriotism and democracy should be, not the reality of what it has come to be.
Carty, Victoria. 2013. "Internet and Social Movements." The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements, Blackwell Publishing.
Gautney, Heather. 2013. “Occupy Wall Street movement.” The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements, Blackwell Publishing.
Hurwitz, Heather. 2019. “Gender and Race in the Occupy Movement: Relational Leadership and Discriminatory Resistance.” Mobilization. 24(2):157-176.
