This picture illustrates one reason I feel OWS will not fade away soon:

[coalition_unwilling]

*************************************************************

Photo taken by my wife at Occupy Los Angeles yesterday (October 15, 2011) at about 4:30 p.m. Please note the orthopedic shoe the woman is wearing. I was simply blown away.

I'm sorry the photo has been cropped and I can't get the words on the sign to get bigger. Maybe one of the DU experts at this sort of thing can lend a hand?

[JDPriestly]

1. I couldn't go to the morning march, but went later in the afternoon.

There was still quite a crowd, good music, a gentle feeling, lots of fun. Clean considering the circumstances. We passed Port-a-Potties and sacks of trash ready to be carried away.

Because it was late afternoon following a morning march, some of the protestors seemed a little tired, but they were still focused and ready to go.

I agreed with the points I heard from the speakers. The anger is justified and being directed peacefully.

There did not appear to be any drugs or violence or anger at all.

The usual LA crazies were present. But that is an essential part of LA life. We'd be lost without our wandering messiahs (and believe me, we have lots of them from around the country). When I say "wandering messiahs," I mean the street preachers and folks who habitually hang around talking to themselves.

The OLA folks were cordial and kind.

Hey, thanks for what you are doing OLA. You speak for millions of us who aren't up to urban camping any more.

[coalition_unwilling]

3. IIRC, Jesus the Nazarene was a 'wandering messiah' :) - That said,

Occupy LA is showing folks who care to see what a different type of democracy could look like. As Ron Kovic pointed out at a Coffee House Teach In last night, Congress is gridlocked but these General Assemblies as they're called are getting things done.

I voted for the first time in 1980 and it's been downhill ever since. I never thought I would see this in my lifetime. Like the Berlin Wall coming down or the Paris Commune of 1870.

[JDPriestly]

6. It is not at all like the movement of the 1960s.

The demonstrators have wised up. They are quite well organized without having repressive authority.

OLA even has a "finance committee." We were talking to someone taking names at a table, and someone from the finance committee came around to make sure that no money was changing hands. This time our kids have their acts together. They know what they are doing.

[Scuba]

2. Your picture is fine. I saw a similar sign held by a similar lady in Milwaukee yesterday. n/t

[coalition_unwilling]

4. And so what's your take? Is this a sign of the movement's

vitality?

[Scuba]

7. Well, 99% does cover a lot of folks....

... so one might anticipate a broad cut of American society.


What struck me was the contrast between Madison crowds last spring and Milwaukee yesterday. The former was predominately made up of People 40 and older - with lots in their 50's, 60's, 70-'s - while the latter was predominately People in their 20's and 30's.


Yes, that implies staying power to me. But I felt the energy in Madison last spring and thought then that the movement had legs.

Fasten your seat belt.

[coalition_unwilling]

8. Los Angeles yesterday was decidedly mixed when it comes to

age cohort. I would like to see more African Americans, Latinos and Asians at the Occupy Los Angeles, and organized labor's presence was noticeably absent.

[Scuba]

9. We had a small presence of organized labor and a healthy....

...representation from our black and Hispanic communities.

[yardwork]

5. Contrast these actual photos with the fake "53%" astroturfing.

[Enthusiast]

10. Kicked and recommended! nt

[Fumesucker]

11. Here you go..