The Occupation

By Mumia Abu-Jamal

In Lower Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park (renamed “Liberty Plaza Park” by the demonstrators), the cast of thousands swell in rebellion against the betrayals by the banks, Wall street’s relentless greed, the plague of joblessness and the craven servility of the political class—both Republicans and Democrats—to their moneyed masters.

In short, the central focus of their protest is capitalism—greed writ large, especially since the economic tumble of Fall 2008.

Begun mostly by unemployed youth, it has drawn the presence and support of public workers, urban youth, students, teachers and a considerable number of gray hairs.

That’s because social discontent is so widespread that it is spreading like wildfire. Wall Street—and then, days later, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and beyond.

Demonstrations springing up like mushrooms after a storm, in protest to the crony capitalism brought to us by the professional sellouts called politicians.

And (speaking of), like vampires at a blood bank, politicians are descending on Wall Street, to try to suck the life out of a movement that could threaten their monopoly on power. For, politicians’ only interest in this protest is to exploit it, to weaken it, while they continue to serve the very bosses the protestors oppose. You can count the number of politicians who truly oppose Wall Street on one hand—and still have a few fingers left.

Perhaps America’s greatest white revolutionary, abolitionist John Brown, had little regard for politicians. He told his family: “A professional politician—you never could trust; for even if he had convictions, he was always ready to sacrifice his principles for his advantage.”

Think about that. Now think about every politician you know.

See?

This is People’s Power, sparked, in part by the mass protests in Cairo and Wisconsin. Other sparks were the Troy Davis injustice, the assault on several demonstrators by New York cops, the repression on the poor and working class by the political class, and discontent with the long, wasted years at mindless wars abroad.

This is people’s power.

May it remain so.

Sources: DuBois, W. E. B., John Brown: A Biography. (Armonk, NY/London: M. E. Sharpe, 1997 p.83.); Wells, Robert, Passing Through to the Territory, Historical novel extending the life and times of Huck Finn, Jim—and John Brown! (Forthcoming, ca. 2011-12), p.224 (mss.).)

—PrisonRadio.org, October 7, 2011