Occupy San Diego

K. Marx would be rolling in his grave right now if he knew about the potential for what could happen with current Occupy Wall Street movement. Before you read any further try to put aside all preprogrammed biases you might have regarding anything Russian or connected in any way to the negativity attached to words like Socialism, Communist, or Manifesto. If one could put aside all prejudice temporarily for one moment and just read the document one might be surprised at just how visionary Karl Marx was for his time, and even now. Marx’s discourses are about the inequality of power between the working class and the controlling class of society.

The Occupy Movement heralds many of Marx’s predictions and feelings about the state of inequality between what he called those who controlled the vast majority of wealth and means, and those without, who are forced to sell their labor to the upper class in order to survive.

During the early part of the Industrial Revolution Russian philosopher and sociologist, Karl Marx published the Communist Manifesto, a public declaration of intent and opinion based on the premise that inevitable and continual conflict is caused by inequality resulting from social class differences. Marx argued that the Industrial Revolution created an unchecked form of capitalism which separated people into two distinct classes of society which he called the Proletariat and the Bourgeoisie (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2008). Marx held that class antagonism and competition over resources have always been a central feature of society (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2008).

Marx’s description of the Proletariat and Bourgeoisie is still applicable and can be used to explain today’s current situation with the corruption on Wall Street and inherent within our Capitalist system of economy. Capitalist society, according to Marx, is marked by distinctive features that are specific to industrial economies. In the Marxist view, whoever has the gold makes the rules. Social class is determined by ones access to means and the tools of production (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2008, pg. 67). The world according to a Marxist viewpoint sees most of societies’ wealth concentrated in the hands of the relatively few (the 1% of the global population that owns 99% of everything), and the others (the 99%) are forced to sell their labor and are, in essence, enslaved to the 1% in order to survive. According to Marx, the current Capitalist society in which we live creates a system of exploitation that perpetuates itself. As exploitation of the worker grows, more people are forced closer to the poverty line. Marx argued that the exploitation of workers not only served to make the rich richer, and the poor poorer, but also lead to a growing sense of alienation, a process by which people become estranged, demeaned, and depersonalized (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2008, pg. 67). Marx believed that the competition and exploitation inherent in the Capitalist system cause people to become disconnected from their productive activity, from the products they produce, from other workers, and from their own human potential (Perdue, 1986; Ritzer, 1988; Rius, 1976, as cited in Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2008, p. 67). I would have to say that I honestly agree with many of Marx’s views on society. I find it fascinating that these words ring true to me more than 130 years later.

In the Communist manifesto (1848/1955) Marx and Engels advocated that “workers of the world unite” in their struggle against the ruling class. They believed people must become politicized in an organized struggle against the ruling class. Marx might be turning in his grave right now if he realized that much of what he predicted has come true and is playing itself out now on the streets of America at and in many places around the globe with the Occupy Movement. The working class is beginning to wake up and become aware of the vast imbalance of power.

Conflict theory assumes that the only constant is change. Conflict theory helps to explain and understand conflict and inequality between persons, ideas, groups, social classes, communities, and larger social structures (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2008, p. 63). Conflict theory is useful in helping to understand oppression and human vulnerability. According to contemporary conflict theorists, conflict, in contrast to earlier functionalist systems theories, conflict is seen as a way of life and is viewed as a natural process in society (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2008).

Abraham (1988) identified two types of conflict: endogenous and exogenous conflict. Endogenous conflict occurs within a system or a society, and exogenous conflict occurs between systems or from the external environment. Examples of current exogenous conflicts in America include our current involvement in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Pakistan and wars against drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

The Occupy Wall Street movement is an example of an endogenous conflict that is happening within the economical and social strata of America. Supporters of the Occupy movement are congregating to stand in solidarity with one another against what they believe is a massive imbalance of power based on distribution of wealth. Endogenous conflicts involve change, values, distribution of desired resources, and authority (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2008). Many of the protestors at varying Occupy Wall Street locations around world have faced conflict from police authority, and other citizens who do not share their worldviews.

The slogan that caught fire with the Occupy Movement is that “We are the 99%,” meaning that the vast majority of Americans do not have anywhere near an equal distribution of wealth compared to the 1% of the population who controls everything. Protestors at the Occupy Movement in San Diego report that they are protesting the financial corruption and corporate greed of 1% of the population that negatively affects all aspects of social life – our nation's politics, our economy, the media, education, and the environment (Occupy San Diego Press, 2011).

I decided to go down to Occupy Wall Street and check things out for myself. I didn’t see what I expected. I guess I expected to see people down there set up in tents, holding signs, brewing coffee and tea like I’d seen in news clips from OWS in NY. In addition to thinking there would be more people down there, I expected there to be a little more diversity between peoples of different socioeconomic statuses, but in my opinion most of the folks down there representing the movement on this particular day were probably the .001 or .0001% of the 1%. Many of these people were homeless and have been homeless for some time before the crash of the economy began. I spoke many different people down there and most of them were down on their luck for a variety of different reasons. Angel was one of the first people I spoke with. Angel is a 28yr old Native American man. He was friendly and immediately welcomed me to the movement as soon as I got down there. He’ll admit to anyone, he’s made some bad choices. He has recently served an 8 1/2yr prison sentence for manslaughter. He got out on October 18^th of this year and went straight to the Occupy movement. In part because he wants to stand up for his right to assemble and to protest what he feels is “wrong” with society.

Angel was nice enough to tell me a bit about himself and what was going on with the movement; How long he’d been down there, etc. He introduced me to some of the other people who’d spent weeks in camp. He told me about the occasional brushings with the police and about others who’d been arrested for something or another. Angel and some of his friends were arrested just weeks ago in a Occupy crackdown. They each spent 72hours in a holding cell, but that didn’t deter them from coming back to occupy SD once again and practice their right to peaceful assembly. In addition to introducing me to other fellow Occupiers he showed me some of his artwork and poetry, and told me some truly tragic stories about his life story.

In his story he’d mentioned he’d spent time in prison. I was curious what for so I asked him. He told me that he was arrested for felony DUI and had served time for manslaughter and sentenced to 81/2 years of prison. He told me that he would have been in longer but the man died after he made his plea bargain, therefore he could not be tried twice for the same crime under Double Jeopardy laws. Angel told me that he’d been out drinking after being emotionally unable to deal with the loss of his fiancé and unborn child. He told me the story about how he’d been engaged once, and then his girlfriend got pregnant. He told me that he didn’t want to get married until she had the baby so he’d know it was his. Before she could have her child, she overdosed on oxycodone’s killing herself and the unborn baby. Angel didn’t know how to react or cope, so he went out drinking. He does not remember what happened after that except for when he woke up in the hospital with the police around him.

He told me of another case he served time for in which he’d killed a known child molester. Not that I think that that makes alright, but I think that many people wish they could react in a similar manner if they thought they could get away with it. Most people don’t act on these extreme aggressive drives though.

Still I could see what paths and circumstances had ultimately brought Angel to his place in life. Life is hard on the street. I gained a new appreciation for my kush existence after spending a couple of hours down at Occupy SD. I left OSD wanting to bring them all blankets and food. To thank Angel for his time and for the poem he’d recited and written down for me I bought him and his GF lunch and got the “community” some jars of peanut butter and jelly. People living in the Occupy camp seemed to share things like bread, and PB&J and basic survival commodities.

Angel was an intelligent young man, extremely creative, with a sharp wit and mind. Life’s dealt his some misfortune by way of factors outside of his control. I hope that he can do alright for himself and is able to become the tattoo artist that he’d dreamed of. He’s quite talented judging by the looks of his drawings. They were amazing.

I mentioned that Angel recited and then wrote me a poem. He told me that I could share it. He wrote it in very neat, articulate handwriting. The name of his poem is “Native Pride Forever.”

I’m a full-blooded Native

From the Morning Star Nation

Both a Cheyenne and a Lakota

From my badass Reservation

Proud of my heritage

I only represent “NATIVE PRIDE”

With Respect and Honor to my people

And all the tribes nationwide

Like a Cheyenne Dog Soldier

I hold my head up high

Never fearing my own death because

“It’s a good day to die.”

I come from a Warrior Nation

Generations of a strong-heart clan,

I don’t want to be a gangster

Cheyenne and Lakota is what I am.

The Seven Council Fires

With warriors like Crazy Horse and Gall,

We’ve battled with the U.S. Army

And at Little Bighorn we killed them all.

I remember my People’s tragedies

Of Sand Creek and Wounded Knee

Americans killed and mutilated helpless ones

It’s part of my heritage and history

I’m a Native FIRST—American Second

And I don’t care what others say

I don’t celebrate the Fourth of July

And intend to keep it that way.

Maka Tanhan Wicasa Wan

And to Sehan and Earth I’ll return

If my fate is to die in battle;

Then dying well is my only concern.

I’ve spent time in a prison cell

For breaking the law back when,

But the Veho have so many laws

That I’ll probably break them again

And all the countries and nations

Throughout the Western hemisphere

Are all countries created by immigrants,

But now it’s the immigrants they fear.

With love to my family and people

And to the tribes of all the lands

In a good voice to Grandfather Creator:

“Have pity on all of our Bands”

To all of my relations everywhere

The Four Directions and Father Sky

To the memory of all of our warrior dead:

NATIVE PRIDE until I die!

-Angel, 2011

I’m thankful for what I learned by going down to Occupy-SD. I’m a little shocked by how much some of Marx’s theories resonated with me, although I disagree with violent uprising to overthrow the system.

I got to see a small slice of what life was like on the street for the people I met and I feel privileged to have been able to hear their stories. Apparently right after I left, Ray Lutz, a former Congressional candidate was arrested for having a table set up trying to get people to register to vote. I wish I’d stayed just a little while longer. I had my camera and everything and missed this awesome opportunity for a picture of history!

The link for the story on Lutz is here: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Politician-Arrested-for-Setting-up-Voter-Registration-Table-134774423.html

Occupy San Diego

I had the opportunity this past Friday to go out under the stars with the Occupy San Diego protestors. I was there several hours with other friends of mine who are apart of another social solidarity movement. There were probably a total of 15 to 20 protestors, it was a fairly quiet night. The most sound came from San Diegans walking by, to and from night clubs. There were several police officers around, just enough to keep them things quiet and in control.

Arriving there, I handed the OSD peeps a box of trash bags. I remember listening to a local radio broadcast several weeks ago how local police officials put an end to the high volicity of protesting by brute force and how they mentioned that the reason for their action was mainly due to environmental purposes, to much trash build up. The city workers came in right after with high powered water hoses to flush out everything any one left around. Of course, all of the trash went straight to the cutters and into the drains. No sense what so ever!!!

My observation was that it was a pretty glume night...nothing much going on. My buddies and I shared commonalities with the OSD peeps. Interviewing some of the OSD people, they mentioned that they were there because they were fed up with the whole "Wall Street bail out" scheme. "Billions of tax payers money went to help out the fat cats, but how did the fat cats help out the tax payers?"

Another OSD protestor mentioned a little about how the police were some what successful with slowing down OSD's movement and cause, by using guns, fear and ammunition, a lot people think twice continuing this.

As I was standing there, I couldn't help it notice people walking by to take pictures, take pictures with them posing in front of the OSD protestors as if saying I know who these guys are, but rather than being apart and picking up a sign, I will just play apart and express ignorance.

Occupy San Diego

I went to Occupy San Diego on Tuesday the 15th around 3pm. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was surprised that there were very few people in front of the Civic Center Plaza. It seemed that there were more police officers than protesters! There was a homeless camp set up on the street side of the theater and a young man was shouting things he had written on a clipboard to the street through a megaphone.

One man I talked to said he has cancer and spent all his money moving from Philadelphia to San Diego and as a consequence had to be homeless for a month. He became involved in OSD when he was standing outside a Wendy's, and a woman said that she would buy him lunch if he held a sign for 3 hours. The sign said "meet at 4 at the Civic Center"; the man has been involved ever since, and now he has made enough money to live in an apartment. He talked about how the original camp in the Plaza was set up with sanitation and nursing stations, and that everything was orderly and great until the police "raided" them and forced them all out of the Plaza. The man said that he believed an undercover cop infiltrated the protesters and created factions between them. He is sad that the numbers are not as strong as when OSD first started.

Another man discussed the organization of the OSD movement. He said that it is a pure democracy with no recognized leadership which helps keep the protesters from factioning. He said that the donation section on the OSD website was intended to be given to businesses effected by the protesters, but that was shot down in a General Assembly. He said that a weak part of OSD is insufficient media coverage which includes the need for one person to actively maintain the OSD website.

I also spoke to two police officers who were standing away from the majority of people. The officers stationed near the street declined talking to anyone and said that their boss has an official statement, but he was too busy for me to talk to him. The officers I did talk to said that protesters will try to "trap" them into saying something inflammatory so they have to be careful who they talk to. The officers said that 60% of the people who were in the Plaza today they actually recognize as homeless persons from North Park and Ocean Beach. They said that only a handful of people actually know what they're protesting, and they usually show up around 8 or 9 pm for the General Assembly meeting. The officers didn't seem upset at the protesters; they said that they are just exercising their 1st Amendment rights.

Occupy SD

I visited Occupy San Diego on the evening of November 14, 2011 with a fellow classmate. The movement was not at all what I anticipated. The small amounts of protestors were outnumbered by the many police officers. I questioned if I was in the right location. Fortunately, we were able to speak with some protestors. The first young man we approached had valid arguments for why he was a part of the movement. He explained that he never felt impacted by the economy since he is a traveler but expressed that the economy will affect the future generations. He is worried that his children will not be able to obtain an education without attaining massive loans. He believes in free education and healthcare for all. Many of the protestors we spoke to felt that the rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer.

Unfortunately, many of the other individuals we conversed with were extremely intoxicated. One young man slurred his speech, was unclear, and started a fight with other protestors while screaming that he spent his last ten dollars on her bottle of wine and all she could do was pee on him. Another young man decided to kiss both me and my classmate on our foreheads to say goodbye….. :/

We were also able to speak with one of the SDPD Sergeants. When asked his perspective on the SD Occupy movement and he responded, “I’m bored”. He said that he is disgusted by the human behavior he has witnessed here. He also shared that many of the protestors are disrespectful as they have kicked and spit at officers in the face. He stated that some of the San Diego protestors (not all) can at times be very hostile and many have threatened his family. He expressed that the SD protestors are getting their message out the wrong way here in San Diego and that he would rather be elsewhere as he feels he is babysitting people who do not even know what the movement is truly about.

My Occupy San Diego movement experience helped me understand Conflict Theory. According to conflict theory, conflict is inevitable and is a result form the inequalities of social class differences. It was noted that many of the protestors were homeless veterans and young adults who admitted to being homeless for several years now. Support from people from different socioeconomic statuses may help the movement. The individuals I spoke with appeared to be aggravated with the wealth’s need for power and control. One protestor commented, “I believe that Humans are naturally good, but the wealthy just keep on wanting more; it’s all about greed and control”. Also witnessed was the idea that authority leads to conflict. In this movement, there is no clearly defined leader yet it seems disorganized in San Diego. Many of the protestors felt that the police officers had a small amount of power/ authority and would abuse it. However, my experience told a different story. The police officers were peaceful and it was actually the protestors screaming obscenities at the officers as they walked their rounds. The police brutality around the country cannot be generalized to the SDPD.

Occupy San Diego

I went to Occupy San Diego last wednesday and I was very excited. I had been wanting to go an Occupy protest since the movement began but never could get down to one. As we walked up to the protest, I was a little concerned because there was not a lot of noise nor any indicators that a protest was occurring nearby. We actually had to ask a few people were the protest was. When we finally found it, it appeared that there were more police than protesters. I did count the amount of police officers and they totaled 17 (not counting the cops that were just standing on the sidewalk nearby).However, I am not absolutely sure how many protesters were there because there were some young people there who were just running around but sat with the other people who were clearly participants. The rest of the people appeared to be homeless with the exception of 2 of the people with whom we spoke.

While we spoke to 4 people at the protest, 3 of them provided a great deal of information to me. The first was a protester who was dressed in a jean jacket, american flag bandana, and blue jeans. He told us that he was an unemployed carpenter and that he had been out of work since last December. He was joined by another protester who was "working" the protest passing out fliers. The two of them told us that they were there because they were fed up with the actions of big businesses, banks, and the government. At the end of the conversation, they told us that this protest/fight would go on for a while, saying that it would be our fight and our children's fight.

The last person we spoke to had a cart of food and was giving out free bagels and butter/cream cheese. This intrigued me so I went to talk to him. I asked him where he got the food from and he said that it was mostly donated to them. He said random people and churches would donate the food to them. AS the conversation continued, he began telling us about some people he referred to as "Anonymous." He said that they were computer geniuses that were part of the Occupy Movement. According to him, they scared big banks once over the summer and even once had an "altercation" with the Mexican Mafia. He also mentioned that some of them come to Occupy protests and silently and covertly monitor the treatment of the protestors. His description of these people is what stood out to me most. He said that they come dressed completely in black, with their faces completely covered. He said that if a protester was to speak to them, they would not speak back but move their fingers as though they were typing so let them know that they were "Anonymous." He referenced the movie "V For Vendetta" to provide a better description of their dress. That was highly interesting to me.

These conversations helped to show exactly how big the issues of class and employment are in our country. It also showed how intertwined they are. The population of the protesters alone was homeless people for the most part. These people are not part of the upper class or the middle class even. Also, the people who were employed by the companies in the buildings around the area were all just walking by as though the protest did not concern them at all. The police were even somewhat detached from the protest as they were just lined up on "perimeter" talking with one another. The protesters actually wrote on the ground in chalk that the police were part of 99% with them. However, I think that because the protesters were mostly the homeless and unemployed, the police and "business people" felt that they were nto in the same class as the protesters and, therefore, did not need to be apart of the protest. Even the set up of the protest would cause these people to literally look down on them. As the protest was in the center of some office buildings, it was at the bottom of the steps to these buildings. So many of the employees of those corporations actually looked down on the protest from their office buildings.

Mike Check: OSD!!!!

Occupy San Diego (OSD) is a shoot off of NYC’s Occupy Wall Street. While the weather is a more cooperative the crowds are a bit smaller than NYC, the enthusiasm of San Diego’s 99% rival that of any other Occupy Movement.

As a student reporting on OSD I had the pleasure of talking to one of its original occupiers. Cali is recent college graduate with her degree in Environmental Studies and has been unemployed for the last two months. Cali is a lifelong resident of San Diego and is very proud of the OSD movement from its beginnings two months ago to where it is today. Cali looks back at the movement and can remember on day 20 when everyone remained peaceful even in the face of violent cops pushing, shoving, and verbally threatening her fellow 99%ers. She is also impressed with the amount of democratic participation the 99% now contribute to at San Diego City Council Meetings. The OSD movement is a political awakening for many San Diegans and has made its way from the Civic Center Square to the Police Department and City Hall.

The goal of the 99% is to get families talking again about whey the middle class is shrinking, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. They want challenge of the government to bring the American Dream that our parents and grandparents enjoyed back to generation X.

OSD would like to give a big “Mike Check” (shout out) to the following organizations who have been a source of support over past two months: Citizens Oversight, Labor Council, O.B. Rag, Chaplin Ron, Transit Workers, International Association of Electrical Workers, Nurses Union, and ironically…. The International Union, Security, Police, Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA).

San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital

No, I didn't go to Occupy San Diego (although I do support them).

I want to talk about the people I have met at the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital. During my brief two months, I have met many types of clients. There are the chronic homeless, the college student who had too much fun one weekend, and everything in between. The two extremes seem pretty static as there will always be homeless and there will always be those lucky enough to have a home, yet unlucky enough to spend a night in the emergency psych unit.

I want to focus on those right in the middle. The ones that are homeless for one half the year and sleeping on a friends couch for the other half. The ones who have a job, but now sleep in their cars following the divorce. These are the people who scrap by just inches above being homeless but who can definitely be considered poor. This demographic is easily the most difficult group to deal with emotionally. They recently had a home, a family, kids, loved ones, but due to a few terrible events, they are now facing living alone on the streets. Imagine having a decently normal life and then coming to the realization that its over, and it's time to start learning where the shelters are and where to get food.

I talked to one man who once had a home in Oceanside. He only had a high school education, but that was fine because he owned a bar in Oceanside. After a few years the bar closed, his alcoholism started to destroy him mentally and psychically and his family couldn't take it anymore. He moved out leaving his wife and daughter, taking only his guitar, a bit of clothing, and an old beat up van. Having only a high school education and deteriorating mental health, he couldn't get a job. With no maintenance the van quickly broke down.

As I talked to this man, his hands shook uncontrollably and he was on the verge of tears at the mention of anything regarding his past. This is the type of person who was scrapping by for the last decade or so, but has now fallen through the cracks because of the economic crisis and will have a nearly impossible time getting back to where he was before.

TL;DR

The current economic situation is really bad for those who were just barely able to avoid being homeless, but now have to face a terrible reality.