Occupy Wall Street
When people think of Occupy Wall Street, many are unaware and uneducated on how the movement became so popular and received the global recognition that it did. Occupy has one goal in mind: ending the divide between the upper and lower classes. The movement has begun to create all different and compelling hashtags to spread the awareness. Those hashtags being, #occupytogether and #occupy. “#occupytogether is an independent group of activists working to help people learn how to get involved in #occupy in whatever way they find meaningful.”(1) The citizens involved in the protests want to equalize and harmonize America and create a level playing field. What may surprise many people, including myself was the spark of #occupy. While researching #occupy, I was amazed to discover that it all began outside the United States, specifically Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia. The riot erupted due to a twenty-six year old man setting himself on fire due to years of police harassment. This act ignited more protests around Tunisia, which ultimately led to the overthrowing of the long autocratic rule. As the rest of the world learned about this success that occurred in Tunisia, protests broke out in Yemen, Bahrain, and Syria.(1) Riots continued to spread all around the world, and large ones erupted in Spain and Greece. However, on September 17, 2011, Occupy Wall Street was born and emerged in New York City on the sidewalks of Wall Street. Two thousand people joined together in response to an article posted in a Canadian magazine by Adbusters' demanding the extinction of corporate influence in the political process. Occupy instantly began to spread like wildfire. Millions of people everyday commenced on Wall Street to spread awareness of the movement and fight for their beliefs. (1) "The #occupy Movement." Occupy Together. N.p., n.d. Web.