Dear Occupy Hartford,
Well, now that your camp at Turning Point Park has been disbanded, what will you do? Will you choose another space within this city to “occupy” or will you take some time to examine exactly what it is you have been doing for the past few months? I have spoken time and time again at various meetings about what I see as flaws in the “Occupy” movement, particularly regarding “Occupy Hartford”. I do not want to have to reiterate my concerns about the racism embedded in the rhetoric used by the “Occupy” protestors. I have been over that all before. People have posted numerous articles on your page, begging you to take their concerns about the movement more seriously. It seems like most of it has fallen on deaf ears. There have been a few of you willing to engage in dialogue, but far too many who have wanted to jump up and attack the messenger.
I am going to ask this though: Why do you feel the need to “occupy” a city? “Occupy Wall Street” was about attacking the institutions and corporations that are preying on people in this country. Wall Street was a physical location associated with these entities. It was not named “Occupy New York City”, it was “Occupy Wall Street”. So, I am having a really hard time understanding why all of these protests that were supposed to show “solidarity” with Occupy Wall Street were about occupying CITIES, instead of institutions. Why occupy Hartford? Has the city of Hartford or the people who live here shown that they are part of the economic elite who are keeping others down and oppressing them?
There are two definitions for the word “occupy” as it relates to a location. The first is simple: “to dwell or reside in”. Well, in that sense, since there are over 100,000 people living in Hartford, I would say that Hartford is ALREADY “occupied”. There are people already living here. Many of you have come from the suburbs to “occupy” Hartford. For what reason? The second definition of “occupy” is “to seize possession of and maintain control over by or as if by conquest.” I believe that the second definition fits best when it comes to “Occupy Wall Street”. The protestors wanted to be able to seize control of Wall Street in order to force the corporate elite to take the concerns of the rest of the people seriously. So, the second definition works in that sense. “Occupy Wall Street” was an act of war… a war on the elites. However, it does not make any sense whatsoever to “occupy” a city… especially not a city like Hartford, where there are so many people who are living under the yoke of oppression due to racism, poverty and ethnocentrism. Besides, many neighborhoods are already “occupied” by an invading army… law enforcement.
“Occupying” a city is NOT what you do if you want to make life for the residents of that city better. “Occupying” a territory is what you do when you want to assert dominion over the people within that territory. It is what you do when you want to usurp control from the residents of that location. Why “occupy” a city? Why not “occupy” the board rooms of the corporations you are attempting to challenge? Why not “occupy” the homes of the elites who are part of the 1%?
You marched down Park Street here in Hartford, chanting “Whose streets? Our streets!” Do you live in Hartford? Do you live on Park Street? Is there someone on Park Street who has attempted to wrench territory which rightfully belongs to you from your possession? Somehow I doubt it. Imagine this for a moment: a group of protestors marching down Park Street, wearing white robes and hoods that cover their faces. Yes, imagine the KKK marching down Park Street. Now, imagine what chants they might use if they are upset about the fact that Hartford is now a majority minority city. “Whose streets? Our streets!” could DEFINITELY be one of their slogans of choice, couldn’t it? So, a bunch of folks marching down Park Street, most of them white, screaming that slogan, should give you pause, shouldn’t it?? If not, you have some serious issues that are beyond my capabilities to address in this post.
Now, while I have your attention, I would like to speak on another issue. One of the things that Occupy Hartford activists were quick to point out to me when I criticized their movement was that there were homeless people who were camping overnight in the park with them. They seemed to consider it a point of pride that they had opened there arms and embraced the homeless residents of Hartford. Yet, in the past few weeks, in all of the online discussions I read about looking for an indoor home for the occupiers, there was very little discussion of providing a more permanent escape from the winter cold for the homeless who had been sleeping at the camp. And now that the camp has been disbanded, I have not seen any discussion of what will happen to the homeless. Instead, there has been much ado about the people who CHOSE to sleep in the park even though they had homes they could have returned to. As if, somehow, they were heroes for pitching a tent and going on an extended camping trip in the middle of the city. I spoke with a few of the homeless people who had been staying at the park for the past few weeks. And, let me tell you, they are none to happy with your response to the eviction from the park. They feel as if you are so worried about where the Occupy PROTESTORS are going to go, that you are not worried about where the homeless people that have been staying there with you will have to stay.
I can really understand the idea of setting up camp in a public park IF you are protesting the conditions of services available to the homeless population. But, for the most part, your beef is with banks. It is with multinational corporations. It is not with the social conditions that have kept poor people mired in poverty for centuries. It is not with corrupt government policies that cause so many to have to live their lives in the streets. Yes, the elite have too much power. But protesting about having to pay back student loans is some petty bullshit! Do you know how many people were unable to even finish high school because the schools they went to were falling apart, dangerous, inadequately funded, and poorly staffed? Not to mention kids who had to drop out to help support their families!
I know it is the cool thing to do nowadays… to talk about “Occupying” cities across the country. But, please take some time to think about what you are really doing! Think about the community of Hartford… its PEOPLE! The people of Hartford are what makes this city so special, and I feel like they have largely been excluded from your “activism”. Yes, you have had some lovely little “community meetings” where you invited community members in to speak with you all. But basically, the meeting I attended seemed like an opportunistic ploy to garner new recruits for your movement. I really cannot deal with the idea of slapping the “Occupy” label on every bit of activism that is ALREADY happening, and then acting as if it is something new. Give credit where credit is due. Stop trying to co-opt the work that community activists in Hartford (and all over the country) have been doing for years. A protest does not always have to be an “occupation”. In fact, often, that very label is patently offensive to people who have been working tirelessly with little reward for so long.
And your constant begging is sickening. Every time I see information about Occupy Hartford, there is this list presented of things that Occupy Hartford protesters wish for. Food, cash, tents, building materials, even money to attend a reggae concert. And, of course, there is the inevitable outpouring of support from the white middle class folks who would not even pay attention if they were asked to donate to established activist groups in this city. How much food and material goods that were donated to Occupy Hartford could have been put to better use if they had been given to people who are ACTUALLY living in poverty or wrestling with homelessness, instead of a bunch of “middle class” people who decided to camp out for a few weeks?
Basically, I wish the “Occupy” movement would just go away. I wish the people involved in the movement who are SINCERE about improving the quality of life for the economically oppressed would continue to do work to end that oppression in cooperation with existing groups. Or, hell, even start new groups surrounding specific issues, remembering that they are dealing with human beings, who need real support, not a bunch of slogans. Please, just consider finding out what people need before you roll in and TELL them what it is they should be doing in their own community.
Sincerely,
The Hart Monitor
Some great questions asked in here. Everyone in the “occupy” movement needs to read criticisms like this.
I really do hope they will take a minute to read this. Unfortunately, many of the people who need most to examine themselves and the movement will not want to be bothered, or will claim that I am trying to make them feel “guilty”. It is human nature to try to deflect and defend when critiqued, but in order to be effective, we all need to swallow our pride and really figure out what it is we are doing wrong (and right) in our activism. That requires input from outsiders, imo.
Fair enough. As a member of Occupy Hartford, please hear out these thoughts….
The article asks excellent questions, and I do appreciate them, Sadly, the main thrust of the criticism seems to be a common one among one distinct group of critics, many of whom have worked in the small activist circle in Hartford and looked on OH with similar distain.
The critique seems to go like this:
– It usually starts with “What the hell are you doing in OUR city??”
- Moves on to “You are too white and too middle class to be helpful, and by the way where the hell were you when the economy was good? Probably buying a 60 inch flat screen and drinking imported beer.”
- Ends with “You all seem to be full of shit, and a bunch of hypocrites. Go home.”
This pattern, seen here, is actually really close to another critique on a different website. I said “sadly” above because I think you are missing something.
Knowing the reactionary hot head that I am (I am a liberal, after all), I will read this again, in full when I’m more awake and hope to see it with new eyes, but it’s hard to be open minded when a writer whom clearly has a nuanced understanding of activism and Hartford’s issues reads OH the riot act and misses this central point:
Despite critics being justified in using descriptions like inexperienced, disorganized, unfocused, naive, pushy, ironic, and uncouth, you could, if you chose to dig a little deeper, also find some other descriptions like sincere, earnest, energetic, compassionate, open-minded, and willing to learn, and searching for mentors may apply.
All the adjectives above don’t fit everyone of course. The camp was open to all types, and ran into some truly ugly racists, closed minded thugs and misogynists. But we also found some honest and open minded people who’s eyes have opened wider and wider to systemic injustices.
I’m sure you saw the Matrix, so hopefully you’ll understand this analogy: You can blame Neo for being a dumbass for not taking the red pill earlier, or you can teach him Kung-Fu and let him help you.
I wish some critics would give us their hard and deserved criticism, but also realize that we don’t need to be told what a failure you think we are. Many of us understand our own failings, believe it or not.
What I would truly hope some realize is that many of us, thought rubes from the ‘burbs, care about more than ourselves. We DO think deeply about the homeless we met and befriended, even in the chaos of eviction. We learned a lot, good and bad, about the process of activism.
If Occupy will do anything of lasting merit, it will be to teach people they CAN stand up and be activists. Maybe, it is a ‘mainstreaming’ of activism, and I wonder if that is making hardened local activists a bit uncomfortable.
As Occupy Hartford has, for one reason of another, has lost our more seasoned mentors, we will need to work this out on our own, and with many writers probably berating us along the way.
Here is another option: Kick us around, then teach those who get back up how to fight with you, even if we piss you off. We may surprise you.
Thanks, HART Monitor. – Jay Kamins
Jay, ironically, I only moved to Hartford 8 months ago. I am NOT a seasoned activist, I am just an individual who believes passionately about justice… particularly as related to race. Within two weeks of being in Hartford, it was really easy for me to notice many issues regarding racism raising their ugly little heads. I have been going to as many events and meetings as possible, and spending as much time talking to and meeting people in my new home, and at this point, I have fallen in love and feel like Hartford is part of me.
I try to not to say “get out of MY city” because I am so new here. My concern is not so much for me, but for people who have been living and working in Hartford for years. Anyway, I know I may sound like i am being hard on the Occupy Hartford people. I am. That is by design.
See, I am the type of person who benefits from “tough love”. I think it is essential for anyone who does want to become an activist or an advocate to be able to handle harsh criticism. It only makes you stronger. Think about it… if someone who is somewhat close to you in ideology speaks to you in a hard manner and you turn tail and run away because your feelings are hurt, how are you going to react when someone who is in direct opposition to you does the same thing, but without any desire to understand your views and opinions?
I spent a lot of time doing the same thing I have seen OH people doing on the facebook page… trying to deflect criticism and defend myself from it. Until someone came along, grabbed me by the metaphorical shirt collar, shook the shit out of me, and forced me to LISTEN instead of getting butt hurt! And, it was the most important thing that ever happened to me!
As I said, I did meet some OH people who were willing to dialogue. And I know there are some who are sincere about addressing issues of injustice. But I also know there are a lot of people who care more about doing the “in thing” than really creating lasting change. And, those who can weather the storm of being railed on by folks like me (and still continue to fight the good fight) are the ones who I would like a chance to work with some time down the road!
I agree with Jay. I also feel most of this complaint sounds like Cain striking down his younger brother Abel because he is getting more attention than he. We are open to all new people and groups, and the thing is we are all brothers and sisters of a common struggle. If you continue thinking of this as a race thing it will continue being a race thing. We have gotten to a point in our society where we can no longer live behind the color blinds. We now as sentient beings whether we be White, Black, Brown, Yellow, Purple, Red, Blue, whatever the color have to start seeing each other as human beings. To sit and dwell on the past and use that as an excuse to not come together and not to go forward as brothers and sisters of the common cause is just continuing to fuel the fire. None of us alive now were alive when these atrocities based on a pure race basis occurred. None of us were alive to be oppressed and none of us alive now were around to stop the oppression. Do not forget your history but do not hang it over the heads of those who had no ability to stop it. Move forward and in the famous words of the Beatles “Come together.”
Erik… see the thing is racism is NOT a thing of the past. The only people who say that racism is in the past are white people, or POC who are trying to appease white people. I do not think you will be able to find a single nonwhite person who actually believes that racism is history. There are still serious gaps in income, net worth, home ownership, etc. There is still a race based achievement gap, regardless of income level. Those in power in this country (white folks) have many written and unwritten policies in place to keep POC oppressed.
The whole rhetoric of color blindness is just another, more subtle way to enforce racist policy. If you cannot see race, you do not see racism, and you can’t fight it.
POC are still being oppressed in this country, I will give you the benefit of the doubt here, because I know that you are relatively young. I was in the same position as you when I was a college student. It was not until a friend at school started giving me literature about race and racism that I became more conscious of the impact of race in this society.
Every white person, no matter how “aware” will have times when they “fail” in a discussion of race based topics. The point is to listen, learn, move on, and use it to make you a stronger activist.But the most important thing I am trying to get across to you is this: racism is not history, Just because white folks do not want to discuss it, and want to believe that racism is dead and gone does not make it so.
I am saying there is no way of correcting what history has done, the only thing we can do now is come together and move forward to a better collective future.
But, we cannot move to a better future if we ignore the fact that racism is STILL a huge issue, not a thing of the past. White folks think racism is in the past. Ask any nonwhite person and they will tell you how it impacts them on a daily basis is 2011
Every time I spoke about Occupy Hartford, I spoke about Hartford’s/CT’s issues of wealth disparity and racism. The REAL work of Occupy Hartford is only just beginning, and it will attempt to address the community issues as well as those that pertain to Hartford as the state capital…
JoAnne, what is the REAL work of OH? If this is about Wall Street and corporate greed, how does this mesh with community issues in Hartford? Drugs, poverty, crime, education, clean streets? It seems to me these are policy issues that are at play and those decisions are made in Council meetings or at the State Capitol. Why aren’t more people occupying City Hall?
Great question Nyesha! I know when I first came to Hartford, I tried to go to all of the meetings I could… including city council, mayoral forums, etc. I am trying to get on the Human Relations Commission so I can hopefully help impact some of these policies that impact people in Hartford. Personally, I am more about interacting with people in the city and with officials than I am about holding a sign and yelling a chant as passing cars (although there is a place for that as well)
I won’t try to speak for OH, given my own low level of involvement, but as both an observer and a supporter of the larger movement, I thought your critique could use some critiquing. Like other critics, you seem to be having a two-way communication problem and only blaming the audience.
I think you are not getting the open ears you want because it sounds like you are questioning the motives of all participants, rather than recognizing that it’s a big-idea movement that attracts a diversity of ideologies, backgrounds, education levels, political involvement and savvy.
You want people to see that the “Whose streets? Our streets!” chant…
…might come across poorly.
I actually agree with your sentiment, and at the rallies I’ve attended I tried to shift the chant to “Whose streets? Your streets!” to convey that we stood with the people of Hartford; but it didn’t really work, and I got over it, because I’m not ‘in charge’ – no one is.
However, the way you chose to communicate this was by comparing it to the KKK, which… …might come across poorly.
See what happened?
Also, I’d like to suggest some pragmatism (to you and many others):
The group of people needed to shift the priorities of our economic and political system is many magnitudes larger than the group of people that recognize the complex, interlocking and compounding systems of inequality in this nation and the world in the way you are demanding. People are talking about Occupy and the issues surrounding it in a way that they haven’t in recent memory – people who are not normally politically active, or even politically aware. This is a good thing, and we shouldn’t tell them to go home unless they’re willing to sign a 91 point pledge to ensure they are righteous enough.
People from different areas of the spectrum of privilege working together are more likely to relate to those they are working with than if they had remained cut off from each other. Thus, encouraging the big tent could actually help break down barriers and thus weaken the systems of inequality.
This was about SOLIDARITY in my opinion, & that’s why I got involved. Solidarity with people who finally came across the stunning revelation that some sort of stand must be taken against a vast array of injustices. The principal target of our rage, of course, regards the rise of the elite corporate power structures with their unlimited access to our resources & gov’t influence. Do you suppose for a minute that we all could have fit in Zuccotti park??Do you really think we would have stood a chance occupying City hall? Or were you just being cute? Personally, i was a little disappointed in the turnout locally at Occ.Hartford, I expected it to grow quickly into more of a force to be reckoned with, but such is the state of affairs thus far. That being said, it was an experience that I suspect has changed my life; I’ve made some solid connections with like minded people who I admire more & more as I get to know them, and our movement within this city will continue with or without your unsolicited approval. I hope we continue to make positive changes & build bridges with the good people of this city, as we have already begun to do (apparently you are unaware of this) You are wise,perhaps, to play Devil’s advocate here to challenge us, but your article is extremely narrow minded in it’s attack on our credibility or “bonafide” credentials to camp in your city. Many of us have deep connections to this city, & those of us who didn’t made some. How can this be anything but positive for Hartford or our country for that matter? The only point I agree with you on was the chanting. Never was a fan of that. But I enjoyed marching, working, protesting, & sharing food & stories with these beautiful people & I expect that to continue. All because I showed up to express my SOLIDARITY.
So I am supposed to refrain from critiquing VERY REAL ISSUES that reared their ugly heads in the Occupy Hartford ranks because you met some cool people you like? Nah, that’s Ok… I will continue to address the shortcomings of the movement until I see some movement… as in careful consideration of the reality of your offensive rhetoric, as in actually listening to the voice of the people instead of just hearing it and ignoring it, as in letting down your guard enough to take criticism seriously instead of being defensive.
No social justice movement is above reproach. It is supposed to be OK to hate the Tea Party movement for their failings, but since the Occupy crowd leans left, I am supposed to forgive their transgression without examination? Sorry, can’t do that.
As I said, there are some OH people who are willing to engage in productive dialogue. But there are far too many who want to cry about how their feelings are hurt because they are not being showered with accolades.
Yes, you are supposed to shut up, smile and stroke the egos of activists who would crumble under the slightest criticism. After all, these men need to be told what a great job they are doing and how happy we are that they are coming to rescue us. And we better not dare ever bring up what they were not doing for our community. I mean, they were sacrificing for us by camping. We must treat them like the martyrs they are.
Ok, that hurt.
I don’t think anyone was saying to go home. I think we were saying to shit or get off the damn pot.
Well Kerri, actually we’ve (men AND women) suffered some pretty heavy criticism, from your (excellent) website included, and we’re still here, and still trying to figure out the best way to make an impact. That said, earning anyone’s respect or gratitude is not why we assembled, and we don’t require an ego stroke to want to continue, and don’t expect one.
How does this all relate to Hartford specifically? Not much, perhaps. Other groups (the newly formed HOG being one with potential) are going to be better poised to treat the specific symptoms of economic injustice that Hartford suffers.
I’m more interested in going for the root of the disease, and that is a national struggle, therefore many of us think nationally. If people say we don’t all “get” Hartford nuances, they are right. We don’t. And for me, it’s helpful, but not required. I see Hartford’s problems in New York, L.A., and my native Boston. We all suffer the same larger issues.
If I was in Boston, I’d Occupy Boston. If in Battle Creek, Michigan, I’d be there. It’s all the same fight.
With that, to take a cue from your own prose, get ready… we’re certainly intending to ‘shit’. I hope it is to your liking, but if not, we’ll probably stay on the pot anyway.
LOL I love this! So apparently now that Occupy Hartford has driven out every serious activist that is actually concerned about racism and its impact on the Hartford community, it can say (with a straight face) “Other groups (the newly formed HOG being one with potential) are going to be better poised to treat the specific symptoms of economic injustice that Hartford suffers.” And that lets OH off the hook . . . it can go on to lead on the Big Picture issues, because those are “the root of the disease, and that is a national struggle, therefore many of us think nationally.” Racism, racial profiling, record numbers of young black men in prison, incredible economic disparities due to race are NOT among those big picture “national” issues I suppose . . . or at least not the way that
Meanwhile, I was just reading the comments on the OH Facebook page in response to Wes’s posting of this very article. It included “defenders” of OH saying that the article (which I felt was incredibly thought-provoking and insightful btw) was stupid and idiotic, and that it was divisive, that even writing the article would add to “segregation.”
One person actually went so far as to say “There’s no reason why blacks cannot organize their own FB OH page to work in conjunction with the other groups, if you need your own personal space and culture.” So now the answer to racism within the movement is Separate but Equal?????
My absolute favorite argument presented there, though, goes like this. The article raised lots of serious issues but because it elicited blatantly racist comments from people in OH it was therefore “divisive.” The burden is apparently on the rest of us to make sure that OH members are not made to feel uncomfortable . . . because that will force them to say racist things . . . and that will add to the problem.
Yes, apparently, OH members want actual Hartford residents to go away and form their own group so they can continue pretending that racism and economic inequality are totally unrelated.
I just wanted the writers to know that I logged on because I am interested. However, I lost interest once I started reading contradicting (classifications) about “white people!” I am an individual. Unique; my life story ulike anyone else. How do you expect to be treated like an individual yourself when you who claim “white people” act this or that way? I’d love to read specific detailed/described event/experiences that incorporates racial issues verses generalized opinions. Are there any on This Site?
Dana, I certainly don’t speak for the editors but I would like to respectfully ask you to take a step back and ask you to think about what you have just said.
People of color have had a couple of centuries of experience in the US being treated — as a group — as less than human/less than equal. Typically, individuality has been recognized either as the basis for demonization (we know of a black slave named Nat Turner because he led a slave rebellion and became a violent, fearful bogeyman for a century of racists) or exceptionalism (I always think of Chris Rock talking about how whites praised Colin Powell “He’s so well-spoken . . . he speaks so well” as if they expected him, being black, to be a jive-spouting gangsta). I know plenty of well-educated, “liberal” whites who still see Barack Obama as a representative of “his people” . . . or as not really so because, after all, he isn’t African-American because his mother was white and his father was from Africa.
With that as a reality and context, do you really think it is fair for you to demand that first priority be given to *your* demand to be recognized as an individual? It is quite likely that you are regularly validated as an individual. At work or in school, the dominant culture does tend to treat you and I as individuals. There is a very strong likelihood that no police officer is going to stop you or me on the street and frisk us because, as a white person, you or I “look like” someone who is going to commit a crime or be holding illegal drugs. Recently released studies in both New York City and in London uphold the complaints of people of color that they are far more likely to be stopped and questioned or frisked by the police, regardless of how they are dressed, what they do for a living, how much money they make, or whether they have ever engaged in illegal activity.
As a white person, it is painful sometimes to listen to a discussion in which people of color talk about “us” as racist, insensitive, domineering and privileged. I try to think of it this way: the problem of racism in our society is so incredibly deep and divisive that it is hardly surprising that sometimes “we” as a group look a particular way to people of color. But in this context the best way for us to distinguish ourselves as individuals is to be relentless in challenging racism . . . and to not be so sensitive about our own hurt feelings when they are the difference between being pricked on the finger and having one’s arm hacked off at the elbow.