Michael Quinlan ’14
Since October 6th, hundreds of people have gathered at City Hall to protest economic inequality and a corrupt relationship between businesses and government, as part of the Occupy Philadelphia movement. The Occupy movement, originating from the Occupy Wall Street protests, is known for the mantra “We are the 99 percent,” and has spawned over 600 protests nationally and 900 internationally.
At City Hall, both Philadelphians and nomads from other Occupy movements have set up hundreds of tents and signs. Makeshift medical stations, libraries, information centers, technology support centers, and a food base are all part of this movement. A schedule of events is posted by the information center, which includes anti-government lectures, community meetings and an 80’s style prom.
The Occupy Philly movement is costing Philadelphia an estimated $112,000 per week. This money, mostly spent on overtime hours for police offers, is used to monitor the behavior of the protestors and prevent riots from breaking out. Despite rumors to the contrary, protestors believe that police and Occupy members maintain a calm and respectful relationship.
For Philadelphian Paul Charles Wallowitch, his exasperation with the government reached a boiling point in 1981. After refusing to pay the income tax, he was sent to jail for eight months. His issues with the income tax system continue to this day, as he believes the money is used to benefit corporations, rather than the people. Wallowitch said, “The Rothchild family, the banksters…are the ones that control the world. They control Wall Street…and manipulate the market.”
At the Occupy Philadelphia protests, Wallowitch hands out flyers in hopes of educating all interested in the movement. The flyer said, “Rothchilds, Rockefellers, Warburgs, etc. finance all wars…[income tax funds] subversive objectives of The New World Order.” In his ten days of Occupying Philadelphia, Wallowitch’s message, although dismissed by many, has “been accepted by some.”
Two anonymous Philadelphians hope that the problems between the government and the “99 percent” can be solved through protests and discussions among citizens. One man, a political science major, blames the four-year presidency, which causes the president to be too focused on re-election. The other protester spoke positively of the protests, believing that they have led to success. They both support the bank bailout, but believe that the government “forgot to bail out the people.”
Bryce Holton, another Occupy protester, holds a sign displaying the word “Anarchy.” He believes anarchy may soon be inevitable. A former student at Seton Hall University, he understands that the common definition of anarchy is a chaotic time of mass confusion. However to him, anarchy is “eliminating oppressive government, military, the prison system…leaving peaceful organization.” Holton, a three-day occupier, has spent his time “talking to people,” because “anarchy and Occupy Philly may soon go hand-in-hand.”
Senior citizens, part of the self-entitled the “Granny Peace Brigade,” also support the Occupy Philadelphia Movement, protesting the “illegal, immortal, costly, deadly wars.” Having set up a tent at City Hall, the “life-long protestors” believe that they will be “very successful” in the Occupy movement.