Salute to the May Day Occupiers [View all]

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from Truthdig:



Truthdiggers of the Week: The May Day Occupiers
Posted on May 4, 2012




There were doubts about whether Occupy Wall Street could pull off the massive day of protest its organizers spent many months planning. But demonstrators in New York City and elsewhere joined forces with labor unions and immigrant-rights activists to remind the public that there is a working class and May 1 is its holiday.

They did so in spite of opposition from various corners. For example, just over one year ago, Gov. Paul LePage of Maine ordered the removal of a 36-foot-wide mural at the Department of Labor building in Augusta depicting the history of the state’s laboring class. A spokesman for LePage, a Republican, said the mural had offended some business owners, that it was “one-sided” and not in keeping with the labor department’s pro-business goals. It was removed and placed in storage until a more “appropriate venue” for the work could be found.

Opposition elsewhere has been more insidious. Instead of offering a nod to workers this May Day, the White House proclaimed May 1 “Loyalty Day”—an occasion to remember American citizens’ debts to the protective vision of the U.S. Constitution and those who struggled to defend it. “Loyalty Day” appears to be no different from Independence Day, but rather just a slightly different repackaging of the same bland appeal to patriotism that has become the hallmark of campaign seasons and seems more intended to instruct Americans to bracket whatever grievances they have and be happy with their country.

The Americans who filled the nation’s streets and squares on May Day know better. They know corporations own the legislative process. They know there is no meaningful difference between a vote for Goldman Sachs candidate A and Goldman Sachs candidate B. Even if they don’t agree on the particulars of the problem or any singular solution, they grasp that something is wrong with America, and they have shown time and again that they are willing to risk their bodies in confrontations with police and give up the respect of their fellow Americans, many of whom misunderstand their efforts and are to eager to insult them. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/truthdiggers_of_the_week_the_may_day_occupiers_20120504/