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Some thoughts on Occupy Wall Street.

• A diverse group indeed, in age, race, ethnicity, men and women.  One guy who held his sign with a variation on “I Am The 99 Percent” upside down in front of a wall of cops.  “Isn’t this beautiful?  Man, I’ve been doing this a long time.”
• The call-and-repeat at the General Assembly meeting was a way for the organizers to impart messages to the crowd — and ensure that everyone could hear them.  Even parts where the message got “a little confusing,” the crowd listened, repeated messages at least twice, and when approving of said message, would raise their hands in the air, shaking their palms side-to-side.
• The cops stood there, respectfully.  At one point, during a discussion on civil disobedience, one of the organizers drove home a particularly important point: “Don’t give the NYPD what they want,” i.e. provocation.  The crowd repeated the message more than twice.
• I saw a construction worker from across the way, at the World Trade Center site, sitting at the northwest corner of Zucotti Park, eating his dinner, sitting next to the bronze statue of that businessman.
• There was a rep from the UAW there, pledging their support.
• The food line was well-stocked, and, indeed, well-attended.  Beans, fruit, pizza, “something Italian.”
• A “Solidarity March” is planned for tomorrow starting at 3pm, from Liberty Plaza and ending at City Hall.  Organizers are calling it a “permitted” march, so in theory, the NYPD won’t be making arrests, providing protestors stick to the planned route. 
• In the shadow of the new buildings at the World Trade Center site, democracy flourishes.  There’s a tangible sense of unity, camaraderie, purpose among the thousands gathered there.  They recognize the need for reform; consumer protection; the need to ensure that their, our, and future generations don’t become mere afterthoughts in favor of big business.  This is a valid, legitimate movement, slowly but surely being shaped not just by the organizers, but by the actions of authority, such as the NYPD.
• This is not a hopeless movement.  It will not be fruitless.  Already, it has inspired. 
• How long can our leaders, in government and business, continue to ignore the din of humanity?  The hue and cry of the 99 percent?
• They simply can’t.