One critique of the Occupy Hartford movement has been that a number of uninformed activists — new to the area or to activism in general — attempted to reinvent the wheel; instead of immediately reaching out to other organizations in the spirit of solidarity, or simply to learn the ins and outs of local community organizing, it took weeks of nagging by residents and several changes in the make up of the core group before Occupy Hartford began to reach beyond the muddy patch at the corner of Broad and Farmington.
Meanwhile, the movement has lit a fire beneath long-term area activists, many of whom have been involved in Occupy Hartford to some capacity, including some who left it in disgust.
Tonight at 6pm there will be a “meeting of Hartford grassroots groups or groups that are doing work in Hartford.” Organizers describe it as an “opportunity to listen and learn from each other and to see how we can all work together. ”
This will be happening in the Hartford Areas Rally Together (HART) office at 385 Washington Street.
But the anti-union sentiment that has popped up in the few months of Occupy Hartford — some are concerned that “the unions and Democrats” have tried to “co-opt” the OWS movement — raises questions about with which types of groups the Occupiers would be willing to build alliances. Again, the question surfaces: if Democrats and unions are not part of the 99%, then who is? The rhetoric and the math do not balance.
Meanwhile, the Hartford Organizing Group (HOG) has emerged for those wanting to take direct action. Who is involved? One Real Hartford reader says, “just about anyone who is anyone on the left has moved into HOG.”
Karen
To play devil’s advocate? Unions, in general, are often in the top 20 of political donations (http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php). Many individual politicians, specifically at the national level, and political PACs have a lot of money. The argument could be made that, if you feel the system is broken, both of these groups have their own interests and not the interests of the 99% at heart. If you feel the system is broken, then political parties and large donors are not part of the 99%. My general understanding of OWS is that people feel that the system as it stands doesn’t work and needs to have a new paradigm. Poor usage of resources, perhaps. However, I can *technically* see the argument to be made. Then again, I haven’t really spent a lot of time talking to people about it and don’t know whether this would be the considered opinion of those involved. It just appears that it might be at the least a viable argument, if not the most practical. (Not intending to flame or anything…just chucking the idea into the void)
WiseFather
You might like this direct action protest I took on my own. It is an example of another form protests can take other than camping out to occupy a physical space. I called my credit card’s customer service line to do some negotiating. Having a bit of leverage, I thought it presented a great opportunity to mess with them a little and make a few points about the unfairness of the credit card lending system. I made a video of the call and posted it on my blog along with my comments about what happened, and a fuller director’s cut transcript. It is quite funny even if you are pro-megabank. Since it’s a protest at home, I called it my Kitchen Counterstrike Against Bank of America. http://www.ragingwisdom.com/?p=508
Richard
a short response for now:
Movements can only be co-opted if those involved allow such a thing to happen. This is no matter if it is the democrats, unions, the socialists, the anarchists, old uncle Joe, or Jesus folks who wish to be the head cheese. I can only speak from what I have experienced. Years ago I was a janitor. I cleaned 20 bathrooms a night. The wage was about $5.25 an hour. Our insurance was crap and we were lucky that we had any paid holidays. Through many negotiations, threats of strikes, sit-ins, illegal take over of buildings lobbies and build, build, build the union now called 32 BJ was able to win good wages, good health care, holidays, and personal days for its members. 32BJ was also one of the locals involved with the fight for a living wage and for universal health care. Could the people have done this on their own? No, as we sing in Solidarity forever, “What force on earth is weaker than the feeble force of one, the union makes us strong.” Now that all said I must say my partner who is still a member of 32BJ argues all the time against the union’s closeness with democrat politicians and the blind support for many of them. But many folks see the democrat politicians as a vehicle in which to enact legislation that benefits workers. Many folks can’t wait until the revolution comes to help us through the nasty capitalist system. Where in the world would the Farm Workers be without the union and the movement of United Farm Workers? Where would my janitor friends be.
There are many cleaning companies who are not unionized who pay their workers minimum wage with no health care, no holiday pay, and the workers have no protection but are at the whim of the bosses. (which is going to happen at the Hartford Courant.)
Karen asks about the 99% I can only answer from my perspective. I don’t believe in the 99% at all. In fact it is a myth. I am soon to publish on my blog an essay written by a queer Trans woman that explores the myth of the 99% from a queer perspective. When I first heard this chant, We are the 99%, I didn’t know if I would puke or just shake my head. We tried to enter in the demo with other chants but it was impossible to break that zombie like slogan from zombie like warriors who all believed that they had something in common with the big donors to the democrat party, the democrat party, the police, the military, and the bourgeoisie. (need I go on) Do I as a queer man have anything in common with those who would rather kill me? I don’t think so but the 99% slogan lumps me in with them.
lobonick
working together is not easy. the occupy hartford movement is an excellent example of this. still the goal of economic equality is a prize worth working for. eventually society will have to come to terms with working towards a solution for the people. occupy hartford (and the occupy movement itself) is a good moment in time in that it begins this process.
ConcernedPolitico
The Occupy Hartford people are not lifelong activists, and that’s the point, isn’t it? Many of the seasoned activists in Hartford find Occupy Hartford distasteful, green, overly-passionate, and not a part of the activist network. Well folks, that activist network has not been able to accomplish much over the years, and perhaps feel threatened by this group of uncouth citizens marching about their territory.
Rather than try and turn Occupy Hartford into THEIR old version of organizing, which hasn’t made fundamental change in Hartford, perhaps they could embrace Occupy rather than snub their noses, and give the benefit of their experience rather than expect Occupy to somehow magically know “who is who” in the city’s activist subculture and come knocking.
These are just working class people trying to make change.
Kerri Provost
Jay,
Thanks for your perspective.
Kerri Provost
As a reminder, Jay, we use real names on this news site. If you wish to continue to comment, please abide by this policy of owning one’s opinions.