What was Occupy protest even about?

WIVB.com

Posted by: Eli George

Updated: Feb 4, 2012 3:31 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Will the Occupy Buffalo movement lose its steam now that protesters are cleared out of Niagara Square?

What was Occupy Buffalo? For over four months, the encampment stood in Niagara Square. The protesters called it a symbol of society's ills; an "in-your-face" way to send a message to the wealthy, and politically-powerful.

One protester explained, "The camping out, all it is is basically [saying] 'Look, we ain't letting you up. We see what you're doing.'"

Occupiers preferred not to share their personal stories, always directing the focus back to the group. But was it really as unified as it seemed? News 4 went undercover for several nights, and we found only a half-dozen protesters, and more empty tents than "occupied" ones.

It was nothing like the crowd of over 50 protesters Buffalo Police evicted from Niagara Square at 2 a.m. on February 2nd.

Hours after the eviction, Mayor Byron Brown told the media, "I don't necessarily see this as an end of their movement. I see the movement maturing and transitioning."

The question is, how?

Protester Dan Tritto said, "This movement is not going to stop for a long, long time. 'Til there's some real changes in this country. Stop the wars. Tax the rich, make them pay their fair share. Programs for the people - education, health care, jobs."

Tritto's comments illustrate something that, according to critics, has hindered Occupy Buffalo: they have tried to tackle many different problems, all at once.

"[Going forward], I would say, the more they can focus, the better," reflected city Councilmember David Franczyk. "They say, 'He who defends everything, defends nothing.' You can't defend the whole front, but you can pick on certain battles that you can win."

At the same time, Franczyk said, Occupy's encampment does appear to have achieved something.

"...I think they've certainly raised the consciousness; they've made Americans think and say, 'How much economic inequality are we willing to accept?' " he noted.

So where does Occupy Buffalo go, from here? Its main platform now is Facebook, where messages from supporters and opponents alike are still pouring in. The Occupiers will tell you that although the encampment is dead, the movement is very much alive.

Curt Rotterdam said, "You can't bulldoze an idea. You can't evict an idea. People that haven't come out, but felt it, I think they are going to come out."

"If you're not involved, you're not helping to affect change. It takes all of us to stand up together, and say "These are the problems; these are the solutions, and we are going to work together to affect the change that we want to see." It takes all of us. It takes you," said Robert Albini.

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