I went out at lunch today to check out the Occupy Tulsa site at 6th and Boston today.
There wasn’t a whole lot going on. If there was ever a peaceable assembly of people this would be it. There were more tents than people.
Shoot, there were more spectators than participants.
Their campsite looked more like geocaching campout site than a protest. It was neat and orderly, no litter around, everything put away. The tents were put up properly, they had to be since the wind had 28 mph gusts. Overall they do a neater job than most Boy Scout camps I’ve been around.
Followup – Apparently Nine Protesters were arrested early (around 2 am) this morning by Tulsa Police. The Police used pepper spray on some of the people they arrested.
But what is the purpose? Exactly what to they expect to accomplish? What change are they hoping to make? I’m not sure that I understand this whole “Occupy” thing.
@Driller – I’m not quite sure either. What happens for them to declare victory and go home.
Looks pretty small and quiet. Neater than the campground at the canyon.
Sorry to hear people were arrested.
People are tired of being ripped off by the banks, the politicians bailing out the banks, the top 1% owning all the wealth and the bills that keep mounting up for working people. We are currently facing more student debt than credit card debt. Young people are facing a dismal future, as if their parents (my generation) have had it any better. I support the Occupy Movements. It’s up to law enforcement to keep things peaceful but in some cities, there has been violence because of inability to handle protestors. It’s happening all over the world.
I don’t understand how it can be difficult for anyone to comprehend why people are fed up, if you are living, breathing and paying attention, how can you NOT know why people are protesting?
Sorry for the rant Yogi. You know that I don’t do this, usually. Sometimes a person just needs to speak out.
Thanks for covering this as a photo blog topic! 🙂
I’m assuming these are the same people who have been camping outside St Paul’s Cathedral for the past two weeks with three SPC people resigning over the furore caused.
It’s looks so quiet compared to the other occupy sites I’ve seen on tv.
In conservative Tulsa I’m surprised they could garner that many people but I’m not surprised that they were neat and polite.
I don’t know what they hope to accomplish, either, I think they just need an outlet to express their frustration and disillusionment. I think it is time for them to go home and get active in the political process.
Amen to Gina’s comment
thanks for sharing your city
I can’t get over how pristine the area looks….how calm the people are. I think it is a bit different in other parts of the country. Love all the colorful tents and the comfy chairs. genie
How did the peaceful protest turn into arrests with peper spray? Very interesting. Beautiful day, all the same!
@Sandy – I think some poor decisions were made by the protesters and then by the police or whoever told the police to clear them out of the park.
This is very interesting post. Thanks for sharing!
Signs,Signs
I understand the being fed up, and the unfair bailouts, but I’m not sure what they hope to accomplish by this occupying. Maybe I need to hear what they are demanding and what the options are, a “we are staying until happens”.
In Toronto, it almost seems some are occupying because they are getting lots of good free food (as a few have claimed).
Gina – I am an old fuddy duddy but I agree with you 100%. It really upsets me that two of my three children started out in life with huge debts because I couldn’t pay their university fees and the Government no longer does so. There is no way I would have gone to university when I was young if my parents had had to pay mt fees. They were poor as churcxh mice. As it was I struggled enormously just living as a stduent but I didn’t start my working life owing huge sums. And had I not gone to university my whole life would have been entirely different.
Sorry to use your blog for this little rsnt, Yogi, but I think the Occupy people have already achieved their aim by bringing attention to the state of things.
@Scriptor Senex – I think we are doing our kids and our nation a disservice by not subsidizing college education more.
I got an engineering degree from a major university here. My total gross cost for all four years was about $2500. Yep, I lived with my folks, and tuition was $162 per semester (not per credit hour) and books and fees were about the same amount.
My net cost was far less due to scholarships and various jobs I had at school. Plus I worked in the oilfields of west Texas in the summer.
I graduated from school with more money than what I had when I started.
Sadly, things are much different now.
Interesting post, Yogi. I also enjoyed reading the comments you got. 🙂
I only wish the government had listened to “the little people” before they did stupid things like “cash for clunkers”, and “stimulus checks” – who did these programs help? Nobody I know of got a job because of them.
My pet peeve: To have really worked – the “clunkers” program should not have destroyed the cars turned in. They should have let the poor people who drive even older cars trade STRAIGHT across for an already-traded-in one with higher gas mileage. Getting even more true guzzlers off the street, and letting those who couldn’t afford the upgrade get it for free.
I won’t even go into the stimulus …
sorry, you don’t even know me, but yours is the FIRST blog I’ve come across who has covered the “occupy” movement. Way to go!!!
http://the53.tumblr.com/page
Check out the 53% tumblr the 99% do not speak for all
Wait until more of the outside agitators move in. One already identified self as from California.