Occupy the Hood Aims to Bring More Minorities Into the Occupy Wall Street Fold

[xchrom]

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/10/occupy_the_hood.php



Occupy Wall Street wants to represent the "99 percent." But if you've been down to observe the goings-on at Zuccotti Park, you'll have noticed that the majority of participants are white, which -- at the risk of sounding obvious! -- does not represent 99 percent of the U.S. population. Now, labor unions are in on the act repping more working-class minorities, but that isn't reflected in the makeup of the Zuccotti campers.

In response to OWS's crunchy white image, two activist friends based in Detroit and New York have started a sub-movement called Occupy the Hood, which is focused on bringing minorities into the protest. On Facebook, the group's page reads:

We are The Least Represented We are Among The Ignored We are Among The Unemployed We are Considered The Under Educated We are Considered The Minority We are The Consumers But most importantly WE ARE THE HOOD!!

The neighborHOODs is where the hearts of the people are. Our homes, our parks, our selves. It is in our best interest to have all abled voices heard to bring forth a peaceful solution in this world we have been given. There are millions of people that are effected by the Wall Street crisis. The questionable, unethical activities downtown Manhattan... and in Corporate America directly effects our economic struggles and the future of all business and personal endeavors.

Occupy the Hood is the brainchild of Malik Rhasaan, a construction worker and father of three from South Jamaica, Queens. He went down to Occupy Wall Street near the beginning and liked it, but "I noticed there isn't a strong black and Latino presence, or a strong Asian presence for that matter," he said. "I realized a lot of people just don't know about it."

[rustydog]

1. Boehner, Koch, Snot Wilson...Can you hear it? Can you Feel it?

It's coming..

[lunatica]

2. A brilliant tactic and I support it wholeheartedly!

Minorities need to have a strong presence in OWS! They need to include themselves in this! Together we really are all the 99%

[butterfly77]

3. Bachmann says...

there aren't any black people. Why is she so concerned about black people protesting now. How many black people did we see in the teabagger's march?

They bring some blacks and put them up front or people of other races and start screaming that they are not racist and they pretend to be highly upset when it is obvious to so many in different circumstances.

They always bring there favorite black guys on stage to sing for the teabaggers..

Many people of all races agree with the protests but can't attend for one reason or the other..

[lsewpershad]

5. Like Kieth

would say "that woman is an idiot"

[moondust]

4. Good discussion of minority presence on Countdown last night.

With Tavis Smiley and Cornel West live at OccupyLA.

http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/tavis-smiley-cornel-west-discuss-the-occupy-movement-in-l-a

[Starry Messenger]

6. k&r

[TBF]

7. I believe Occupy Houston would agree -

We are truly a multicultural city and our photos reflect it. Solidarity!