“Get a job” is yelled, again, from an SUV speeding by Turning Point Park during early evening rush hour on a day when many are still off from work due to the storm.
A group of fifteen activists — some camping at the site, some not — gathered at the corner of Broad and Farmington to rally in solidarity with Occupy Oakland in general, and Scott Olsen, specifically.
Tonight, the group included Orlando, a fifteen-year-old from the South End who is brand new to activism, but who could give a Political Science major a run for her money. He said that he learned about Occupy Wall Street from one of his teachers, but became aware of Occupy Hartford because the bus he takes to school goes by the site.
“The tents [are] what caught my attention,” the sophomore who describes himself as a Mexican-American said.
Orlando simultaneously jotted in his pocket notebook and told me that he is involved because he wants to be informed. “In three years, I’ll be eighteen,” he said, and explained that he wants to know the issues and be smart about who to vote for.
As Occupiers moved toward the edge of the site, some were asking others for reminders about who the veteran was that had been struck by a projectile at Occupy Oakland; Orlando, who was off from school this week because of Storm Alfred, quickly filled them in.
Among those gathered in solidarity tonight: a school nurse and a university student, both of whom had the day off due to their respective institutions canceling because of Saturday’s storm. A couple from Michigan joined the group nine days ago.
Amanda, half of the Michigan couple, said of Occupy Hartford, “we are hopefully going to organize this one.”
Barely taking a breath, she said that “life happens 24/7″and that she thinks there should be many more activities happening on site than there are. She indicated that everything seems to stop at 9pm. Right now, she wants musicians to come and play at Turning Point Park from 4-6 every weekday evening while activists hold signs on the corner. She wants to see a welcome table and more people involved.
According to Amanda, “People complain too much. People are not educated.”
She is hoping to create a kind of network that is not on the Internet. Orlando joined in, adding that people in the neighborhoods should be up at the site, and that he plans to talk to folks along Park Street.
On Saturday, Occupy Hartford will be marching from Turning Point Park to several Bank of America locations.
lobonick
excellent reporting as usual.. occupy hartford is still standing… the occupy movements on the east coast are really entering a different phase than other non-winter weather movements.. the winter weather movements are digging in for lack of a better term.. deciding how long they wish to stay.. much will be decided by the warmth of the winter sun..
Real Hartford » Occupy Hartford: Solidarity with Occupy Oakland « word pond
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