Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
A photo essay of Occupy Wall Street,New York City, 2011
Albert Sgambati
� Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012
I’ve been reading my name between the lines both ink and digital for several years
now. Whenever you come across one of those hard-luck stories about the laid off
worker in his fifties, bewildered, collecting unemployment for the first time, you can
put my picture there. I tell you this by way of an introduction to a short photo essay
on Occupy Wall Street, New York City, September, 30–December, 31, 2011.
As a demographic, standing in Zuccotti Park, I represented one fair sized
contingent, but by far the majority of individuals, and those most actively involved,
were people much younger than me, and I hope their spirit and energy permeate the
atmosphere of the space in time these photos represent.
Standing on the steps of Zuccotti Park, I realized, as dire as my situation seemed
to be, that most of these occupiers, twenty and thirty somethings, were looking
down a long dark tunnel with no light at the end of it. Yet…And I’ll leave the ellipsis to hang because much of what I saw and experienced I
am still processing.
What is obvious, though, is that the generation that is driving the movement has
redefined politics and called into question core social values and economic
injustices. Their proposal is not to simply right wrongs, but to transform.
On a personal level, much of what amazed me about the workings of OWS has to
do with the crossroads of technology and social consciousness. An entire generation
lives in an alt horizontal universe alongside the vertical structure of my/our chunkier
reality, and they are amazingly adept at harnessing technology while understanding
the power of an individual voice and the necessary cacophony and vitality needed in
reaching collective consensus.
OWS NYC as I encountered it had an operatic quality to it in its complexity of
movement and interweaving plot lines. The encampment at Zuccotti Park was a
A. Sgambati (&)
New York, NY, USA
e-mail: [email protected]
123
Dialect Anthropol (2012) 36:7–20
DOI 10.1007/s10624-012-9271-0
glimpse into the alternate world of the coming century, a place of promise, justice
and opportunity.
To view a slideshow of OWS NYC September, 30–December, 31, 2011, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n58aVrL3mpk.
8 A. Sgambati
123
Protesters pour through the Municipal Building on Centre St. into Police Plaza, at
the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, on September 30, following the much publicized
pepper spraying incident of two detained women on September 24 by a senior police
official.
Occupy Wall Street as I encountered it 9
123
Occupy Wall Street protesters on the steps of the New York City Supreme Court
in Foley Square, at the start of the October 5 rally joined by labor and service unions
that drew an estimated 30,000–40,000 people.
10 A. Sgambati
123
Occupy Wall Street as I encountered it 11
123
A handmade ladder is used to scale a fence and occupy space owned by Trinity
Church, on Canal and Sixth. The man with the baseball cap and the girl with camera
in the foreground are facing a police surveillance crew filming from the top of a
police van. In this December 17 action, celebrating the three-month anniversary of
OWS, the Episcopal bishop, George Packard, was arrested along with dozens of
others. ‘‘There doesn’t seem to be any room at the inn,’’ he commented.
Girl versus mounted police
12 A. Sgambati
123
Marie Antoinette visits Occupy Wall Street
Defiant occupier during arrests on December 17
Occupy Wall Street as I encountered it 13
123
14 A. Sgambati
123
‘‘Revolujah!’’ The Reverend Billy, an unemployed Brooklynite with a newborn
at home, is a ‘‘spirited’’ presence in the movement
A citizen exercises his first amendment rights
Occupy Wall Street as I encountered it 15
123
At first, mainstream media steered clear of the biggest story in the most populated
city in the U.S. until it became too big to ignore, but still many important actions
remained uncovered
16 A. Sgambati
123
The Occupied Wall Street Journal, a four-color newspaper, is one of the many
sources of alternative media that sprang up. Occupystreams.org is another important
go-to video source to check on events as they happen around the U.S. and the globe,
covered by citizen journalists
Everywhere a sign
Occupy Wall Street as I encountered it 17
123
The sides of buildings help get the message out. This shot from the Brooklyn
Bridge shows the ‘‘99%’’ projected onto the Verizon building.
Workshop and Teach-In schedule board
18 A. Sgambati
123
‘‘GET OFF FACEBOOK AND STAND UP 4 YOURSELVES’’
Occupy Wall Street as I encountered it at Zuccotti Park, September, 30, 2011
Occupy Wall Street as I encountered it 19
123
December, 31, 2011, occupiers tear down barricades surrounding the park, and
ring in the New Year.
20 A. Sgambati
123
