Posted on 10/25/2011 7:29:29 AM PDT by raccoonradio
SALEM — The "Occupy Wall Street" movement that started in New York City and spread to Boston and other cities has arrived here.
A dozen people met at Shetland Park last night to establish what they hope will be "Occupy Salem," one more outpost in a movement that, despite being accused of having no clear message or goals, continues to grow and gather strength on a tide of widespread discontent.
"I think it's tapping into people's frustrations," said Sue Kirby of Salem, a former GE union activist. "It's a moral message — it's community taking care of each other. Corporations aren't king; people are.
"We aren't being heard," she said, "and this is a way of being heard."
Like many movements, this one is spreading virally. The individuals who showed up last night heard about it from emails or on Facebook at "Occupy Salem MA."
"Eventually, it will be impacting every town," said organizer and Salem resident Carlos Juan Pacheco, who stood on the steps of a Shetland Park building holding a sign that read "Occupy."
"I hope ... we restore the Republic," he said. "There has been a corporate coup d'é©tat by the bankers."
Unlike other Occupy protests, the small group in Salem was largely middle-aged or older.
One man wore a mask to cover his face. When approached by a reporter, he declined to speak.
Pacheco said people at other demonstrations have covered their faces to conceal their identities.
"Some employers fire their employees," he said.
Prior to going inside to meet, the Salem group said they don't yet have a plan and don't know if they will occupy anything in Salem or anywhere on the North Shore. They came together as a group to share ideas and decide what to do, several said.
"We're not doing anything until we're all on board," Patrick Rosenheim of Danvers said.
But they know they don't like what they see.
"The system is broken ..." Rosenheim said. "The whole thing is broken. ... Within six weeks' time, there were over 400 lobbyists lobbying the super committee," he said, referring to the Congressional committee charged with reducing the deficit. "How is that right?"
This movement is spreading, several said, because millions of people are out of jobs, facing foreclosures or just struggling to survive.
"It spread because it's emotional and everybody is hurting somehow," Pacheco said.
Some who came saw this national phenomenon in political terms.
"I think the occupy movement is the (liberals') answer to the tea party," said Thomas Costagliola, a Salem real estate agent. "The left is finally finding its voice."
A few people had been to Occupy Boston and hoped to see that same spirit on the North Shore.
"I was so excited by the enthusiasm, commitment and idealism of the people there," said Kirby, who said she slept in Dewey Square, the encampment of Occupy Boston.
"If we want to see change, we have to win over the 99 percent, and they live everywhere."
Psst! Occupy Salem! Nobody is going to pay attention to you at least during the next week. See, there is this holiday that happens, commemorating the killing of some “witches”
in the 1690s. All kinds of people come in to Salem. They spend lots of MONEY.
Eeeeevil capitalism!
They will be eating out at Howlin Wolf Taqueria and Tavern on the Square. They will go to the House of Seven Gables, see the Bewitched statue, see live rock bands, walk the streets in costume, party hearty, see haunted houses, etc.
This produces a lot of tax money which will go to schools, roads—and yes, the cleanup and police details that will
inevitably be needed for Halloween.
Eeeeeevil capitalism!
And Count Dracula appears with all his (moon)BATS.
Just wait til cold weather arrives...this crowd will be gone by first freeze.
My daughter’s boyfriend will be on the SWAT Team in Salem for the festivities.
BTW - Are there any permits left to film a reality-type horror film the next few weeks in Salem, MA?
You don't have to be superstitious and "out-there" to know a really bad idea (that extends beyond a single parallel universe) when it shows up. What is next, Occupy Mt. Shasta, Stonehenge, Oom, Glastonbury, Monserrat?
—A dozen people met at Shetland Park...”I think it’s tapping into people’s frustrations,” said Sue Kirby of Salem, a former GE union activist.—
Well, it’s tapping into the frustrations of a dozen people, anyway. :-D
When I got frustrated by the traffic in Seattle, I moved. Maybe these dozen will move to Russia.
Yup—and btw “the liberal voice not being heard”? Are you kidding, this is Massachusetts, home of the Globe, the Phoenix, WGBH, politicians that are 98 per cent Democrat...
One comment someone made to Salem News article:
>>Yes, the super committee, member: Senator John Kerry, career politician, and let me avoid MA.tax by registering my multi-million dollar boat in another state better tax rates. I’m hoping the occupiers help the tea party vote out these career politicians who created this problem. Big-Gov- is the problem, not the solution.
If a dozen of us met somewhere do you think we’d get this kind of news coverage?
There was a tea party rally in Salem a yr or so ago; I took part in it. It didn’t get much coverage if at all. (Basically just holding signs in Riley Plaza in the middle of the city)
from 2010, small article:
>>The North Shore Tea Party, an offshoot of a growing national movement, is holding a “freedom rally” tomorrow from 1 to 3 p.m. in Riley Plaza, across from the Salem post office. “We’re disenfranchised Republicans, Democrats and independents who want our country back,” said David Beaupre of Lynn, co-organizer of the North Shore group with Carlos Hernandez of Saugus.
...Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches
First Witch
When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
Second Witch
When the hurlyburly’s done,
When the battle’s lost and won.
Third Witch
That will be ere the set of sun.
First Witch
Where the place?
Second Witch
Upon the heath.
Third Witch
There to meet with Macbeth.
First Witch
I come, Graymalkin!
Second Witch
Paddock calls.
Third Witch
Anon.
ALL
Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
Exeunt.... Act 1, Sc 1 ¨Macbeth¨ Shakespeare
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