Originally published on forbes.com on September 30,2011. Some of my Occupy coverage on forbes.com was close to breaking. There was a lag between the heavy social media coverage and coverage in mainstream media.
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I just received this press release. So it looks like I may not have to wait to get a better feel for what is going on. The protest is right by South Station so I’m thinking about taking the train. Boston has about the worst parking situation in the country, but nothing in downtown is really very far from anything else.
I ended up not being able to make it, but I did get a report, which I may post later.
“OCCUPY WALL STREET” INSPIRES PROTESTS IN BOSTON
*Friday, September 30th, Concerned Citizens Gather for the Kick-off of Occupy Boston*
The conversation that began on Wall Street on September 17 has swept northward to Boston, and inspired a powerful national movement. Joining with nearly 100 actions in cities from Los Angeles to Dallas, Chicago,and Washington D.C., concerned citizens have come to speak out for greater economic equality.
Occupy Boston will gather at Dewey Square in Downtown Boston on Friday,September 30 at 6 p.m., to begin an ongoing protest, discuss the state of the union and develop out of that discussion a list of specific changes to ensure our government actually works for the benefit of all citizens.
Planning this event began with a group of over 200 people from all walks of life who assembled on Boston Common Tuesday evening to discuss taking action. Paul Harris of the Guardian covered the meeting, saying,”[..]the people behind Occupy Boston showed a strong dose of media savvy and organizational skill on night, as they drew a committed crowd of volunteers to their cause: to occupy a slice of the city.”
Occupy Boston is the beginning of an ongoing discussion about the problems with America’s economic system and how it has damaged government and the fabric of society as a whole. The top 1% owns 50% of the nation’s wealth -and more importantly, how that wealth is used undermines the founding principles of America’s democracy.
Through the use of direct democracy, Occupy Boston is working to define and solve the problems of: an opaque and exclusive government, a Wall Street without conscience, and a state struggling to guarantee basic human rights. Everyone is invited to join this conversation about reforming how business and government operate.
In the coming days and weeks, Occupy Boston will persist in advocating the need for change, defining the change we need, and reaching out to policy-makers, business leaders, and the citizens of our Republic in this mission.”Our country is owned by the top 1%. We are the 99%.”
Join the conversation!
For more information about Occupy Boston visit http://occupyboston.com/