Below is a link to a website for the "We Are The 99 Percent" movement.
Who/What: “We
are the 99%” is a political slogan of the Occupy Wall Street protestors. In
essence, this slogan points out the consolidation of wealth in the top 1% of
people who earn an income in the United States. This slogan is one that struck
a chord with many people because of the Great Recession in December 2007, when
the United States faced financial devastation it had not seen in decades. The
Great Recession stems back to the 1970s when there was an attack on the working
class by their employers. This was because of decreased corporate profit
margins, since the United States had competitors in Japan and Europe, as well
as the high cost of the Vietnam War. Flash forward to 2011 and public employees
began to revolt and Occupy Wall Street was born. Young people protested against
the corruption of Wall Street, which falls into the 1% category. Occupy Wall
Street spread across the country and the world, protesting those who were
against the 99%, including politicians, police, employers, and the like.
Where: Occupy
Wall Street initially began in Zuccotti Park in downtown Manhattan, which is in
the Financial District of New York City. It then spread across the entire
country as well as the world as protests were formed in numerous cities and
states. Overall, there have been hundreds of protests worldwide since its
beginning.
When: The
movement began on September 17, 2011, and the protestors in Zuccotti Park were
made to leave on November 15, 2011. However, the movement is still ongoing.
Why (is it
interesting and relevant): This slogan was heard all over the country during
the height of the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011 and many people felt they
could relate to its meaning, since financial devastation was the reality of
many American families and individuals.
The identities
that are articulated through this slogan are the people of America who feel their
income is not sufficient to live a decent life. Additionally, it reflects that
the disparity between the richest people and the 99% is grossly unequal. This economic prosperity comes at the expense of those who are in the 99%, as the 1% owns the workforce and are in control of the labor force. This slogan
gave a large majority of the population a common phrase to unite under and
protest the inequality they felt.
Works Cited:
Yates, Michael
D. “Occupy Wall Street and the Significance of Political Slogans.” CounterPunch. N.p., 27 Feb. 2013. Web. 1
Sept. 2016.
Claimed.
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