OCCUPY NOLA VACATED

I went to see how it all would end. News and live reports were showing Occupiers leaving upon news of the lifting of the Federal restraining order; I knew that there wasn't going to be many left to make a scene. I wanted to see if THIS is really how it's going to end. (Or if the matter would somehow evolve.)
A few stragglers--gutter punks, real homeless, occupiers with apartments nearby--and one dude who insisted he was going to stay and risk getting arrested.
Nothing impressed me. Especially not the grandstanding posture that those remaining were taking, particularly when they saw that I could be Media--became bombarded with a slew of sound bites, then, along with accusations that I'm one of Them.
Occupy NOLA has been different than the other Occupations. Here it became less ideology, and more homeless encampment, which is what people claimed was irking them so much. I'll admit it sucked some wind out of my sails when I previously witnessed dudes more interested in getting free food and naps instead of standing up when time came to march, but for the Occupiers (Proper), that was nonetheless what the movement was about:
New Orleans had booted people from the homeless shelters and emptied mental wards, according to some, because the city knew these wrecks would gravitate to and sully the Occupy encampment. Nonetheless, Occupiers took them in and provided for them food, a safe place to sleep and be sheltered, and security and self-governance. The Occupiers and Organizers were doing for the downtrodden--whose numbers are ever-increasing--what government will not do. So while it's different than all the marches and conflicts and shutdowns occurring in other cities, the message is the same, just phrased differently. It is still a demonstration, perhaps in the most literal sense of the word.
So I didn't care that much about any of the paranoia or self-righteousness that night--not really--knowing it would end without having to use batons or teargas or sandbags.. .shit, I could tell that the cops didn't even want to be there.
There was lucid voice I didn't seek out, and he wasn't trying to make a message either. I think he said it best, though.
As for the homeless and other campers, there were several dozen sleeping across the street at the library.
(Probably some of the worst photography and editing I've done in a long time. I think it fits, though.)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• 2011

[quietthomas]

First they came for the felons,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a felon.

Then they came for the trade unionists,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Occupiers,

and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Occupier.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left to speak out for me.