General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Martin Luther King, Jr. (with compatriots) take over a private building in Chicago in 1965. [View all]Robb
(39,665 posts)King, by any measure, was defeated in Chicago. And being told by his peers to stay away in '67 was the capstone to his direct actions against economic injustice.
King succeeded -- and this is where OWS can as well -- wherever he crusaded for basic civil rights in broad and righteous strokes. The result in Alabama was new federal laws in '64 and '65 that specifically address the inequalities King railed against. Where he failed was in attempting to translate that crusade's message into particular issues, like "rent in Chicago is too high."
The successes in OWS have been similar to those enjoyed by King -- big issues. Movements are for big issues, like peace and justice; rent control (or, frankly, foreclosure procedures) are for politicians.