NEW YORK–Recently, the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement has been having more protests in the city: from Wednesday’s march to occupying Union Square on Thursday. The Epoch Times asked New Yorkers what they thought of the current state of the OWS movement.
Katy D., fashion industry, 31, Brooklyn
What started off as Occupy Wall Street, and against the banks and such, turned from one big idea to 25 little ideas. So it wasn’t organized, there wasn’t one unifying thought. … It turned into “well, [forget] the police,” and “we need peace in the world,” and “Muslims,” and “war in Africa.” And it is like, “Wait a minute! I thought it was about the 1 percent...” So now that is why I think it is true [that] because it is so unorganized, it hasn’t been as effectual as it could have been. They got a message out, but it dissipated. There was just no leadership.
Larry Rothbart, works in Wall Street area, 56, Brooklyn
I think Bloomberg and the police have done an outrageous job of stymieing the movement. They have done everything possible to cut it off, and then they say, “Look, they are not around anymore.” … I think they have been acting pretty irrationally, I mean the police and Bloomberg.
Maryanne C., receptionist on Wall Street, 27, Astoria
Overall, I think peaceful is the best way, because if it comes to violence, it’s just going to be shut down as a bunch of crazy people that are out of control. So I agree that it should be peaceful and [with] what they are doing now. I just wish that we had some representatives in the group that would be charismatic enough to be on TV and be respected, because no matter what you do, this movement keeps being [shunned] as a bunch of people that don’t' know what they are talking about, and that is because popular media just finds people that can’t articulate themselves. So then, of course, they are going to try to spin it. But overall, I agree with the way it is being done.
Tim Ward, works in Wall Street area, 45, Bronx
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