New School Hosts Michael Moore, Naomi Klein on Occupy Everywhere Panel
Tishman Auditorium was filled to capacity on November 10 for “Occupy Everywhere,” a panel discussion focusing on the rise of Occupy Wall Street from a city-block-wide protest into an international movement dedicated to challenging the global economic establishment and the political status quo.
The event, co-sponsored by The Nation, featured a panel including filmmaker Michael Moore, authors Naomi Klein and William Greider, and Rinku Sen, executive director of the Applied Research Center in Lower Manhattan, as well as Occupy Wall Street organizer Patrick Bruner.
“The way that we distinguish ourselves from protests is we don’t leave,” Bruner said. “We took [Zuccotti Park]. We’re not giving that up… But people still think that’s the only place where Occupy is happening. It’s wherever people choose for it to happen.”
As Occupy Wall Street heads into its third month next week, panelists agreed that the demonstrators must continue to represent the interests of “the 99 percent.” And in order for the protests to build a national legacy lasting beyond a mere few months, they must frame their work within a greater historical context.
“It’s a high risk enterprise to build an authentic social movement,” said Greider, a veteran of political journalism. “We have to take a long view of what we are doing. We have to do this for ourselves and the great American virtue of self-reliance.”
According to Moore, director of such economically motivated films as “Roger & Me” and “Capitalism: A Love Story,” the nation has a history of economic influences pervading daily life – more than enough to provide ammunition for the occupiers’ movement.
“You have already been occupied by Wall Street,” said Moore. “Your homes, your media have already been occupied. It’s okay to say, ‘Not anymore. Those days are over.’”
Klein, best known for her most recent book “The Shock Doctrine,” added that the government’s attempt to bail out major American banks, mixed with ongoing struggles in the small business sector, has created a need for awareness of the economic and political issues that impede democracy.
“This is the no-kidding-around moment,” Klein said. “It is thrilling, as well as terrifying… We need to identify the barriers to democracy — corporate finance, corporate personhood, and advertising.”
Those who attended the discussion praised The New School’s role in fostering a discussion related to Occupy Wall Street and the movement’s concerns.
“It’s important for us to have a place where we can hear from the people associated with Occupy Wall Street,” said Chris Jochnick, director of the private sector department at Oxfam America, who was in attendance. “You have to build the movement by providing forums for leadership. That should be the central focus.”
Although there was much praise for what panelists and members of the university community discussed, some felt that the event did not feature enough statements from those on the other, “one percent” end of the corporate struggle.
“I came in with as few expectations as possible so I could listen more closely to their ideas,” said Lang senior Betsy Catlin, a global studies major. “It would have been better to hear from the people working inside Wall Street and learn what their views on this are.”
Despite concerns over the lack of political and economic diversity on the panel, Bruner stated that, at its core, the event was about setting the stage for future discussions.
“This talking about ideas, this discourse,” Bruner said, his hand motioning over those sitting in the front row. “As long as this doesn’t stop, we will keep winning.”
The event, co-sponsored by The Nation, featured a panel including filmmaker Michael Moore, authors Naomi Klein and William Greider, and Rinku Sen, executive director of the Applied Research Center in Lower Manhattan, as well as Occupy Wall Street organizer Patrick Bruner.
“The way that we distinguish ourselves from protests is we don’t leave,” Bruner said. “We took [Zuccotti Park]. We’re not giving that up… But people still think that’s the only place where Occupy is happening. It’s wherever people choose for it to happen.”
As Occupy Wall Street heads into its third month next week, panelists agreed that the demonstrators must continue to represent the interests of “the 99 percent.” And in order for the protests to build a national legacy lasting beyond a mere few months, they must frame their work within a greater historical context.
“It’s a high risk enterprise to build an authentic social movement,” said Greider, a veteran of political journalism. “We have to take a long view of what we are doing. We have to do this for ourselves and the great American virtue of self-reliance.”
According to Moore, director of such economically motivated films as “Roger & Me” and “Capitalism: A Love Story,” the nation has a history of economic influences pervading daily life – more than enough to provide ammunition for the occupiers’ movement.
“You have already been occupied by Wall Street,” said Moore. “Your homes, your media have already been occupied. It’s okay to say, ‘Not anymore. Those days are over.’”
Klein, best known for her most recent book “The Shock Doctrine,” added that the government’s attempt to bail out major American banks, mixed with ongoing struggles in the small business sector, has created a need for awareness of the economic and political issues that impede democracy.
“This is the no-kidding-around moment,” Klein said. “It is thrilling, as well as terrifying… We need to identify the barriers to democracy — corporate finance, corporate personhood, and advertising.”
Those who attended the discussion praised The New School’s role in fostering a discussion related to Occupy Wall Street and the movement’s concerns.
“It’s important for us to have a place where we can hear from the people associated with Occupy Wall Street,” said Chris Jochnick, director of the private sector department at Oxfam America, who was in attendance. “You have to build the movement by providing forums for leadership. That should be the central focus.”
Although there was much praise for what panelists and members of the university community discussed, some felt that the event did not feature enough statements from those on the other, “one percent” end of the corporate struggle.
“I came in with as few expectations as possible so I could listen more closely to their ideas,” said Lang senior Betsy Catlin, a global studies major. “It would have been better to hear from the people working inside Wall Street and learn what their views on this are.”
Despite concerns over the lack of political and economic diversity on the panel, Bruner stated that, at its core, the event was about setting the stage for future discussions.
“This talking about ideas, this discourse,” Bruner said, his hand motioning over those sitting in the front row. “As long as this doesn’t stop, we will keep winning.”
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