OCCUPY COLUMBIA | DAY 21
Protest community settling in
Group’s committees focus on national, local concerns
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As the movement marked its 21st day Friday, some are growing impatient with protesters, who have been spending the night on State House grounds since Oct. 15.
The group takes its inspiration from Occupy Wall Street but has developed a Columbia focus, like the recent stand against a potential big-box store replacing the old Capital City Stadium on Assembly Street. There are no official leaders, but protesters have formed committees that focus on food, technology and safety.
“This movement is all about figuring out what the plan of action is and then doing it,” said Artem Aleshin, a 20-year-old USC honors student who studies mechanical engineering and math. “All Occupys have their own ideology and one Occupy is not going to be like the other.”
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S.C. Rep. Rick Quinn especially concerned about the image that will be presented to the nation as the South Carolina Republican presidential primary election draws closer.
“We’re the first in the South primary and when those national TV cameras get here, I think we’re fooling ourselves if we don’t think more people will be there,” he said of the Occupy presence.
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Occupy Columbia participants have generated public interest in their movement.
On Wednesday, Norm Ivey, a sixth-grade science teacher from Northeast Richland, stopped by because the national news coverage has piqued his interest. When asked whether he supported the cause, Ivey said, “That’s why I’m down here.”
After spending an hour observing and talking to participants, Ivey decided the protesters were acting responsibly.
“It’s not a mess like people are trying to make it sound,” Ivey said. “I’ve heard people say stuff about them, but one of
my favorite hobbies now is fact-checking.”<snip>
Occupy Columbia has a tech team of computer and electrical whizzes who constructed a power station out of solar panels and batteries. They use the energy to power laptop computers and video cameras. Volunteers manage Facebook pages, a website and a Twitter account. They stream video from their large group meetings that are held at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.
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Read more:
http://www.thestate.com/2011/11/05/2035247/protest-community-settling-in.html#ixzz1coeY9KQuMore people should take up Ivey's hobby.
I'm amazed that it's been peaceful for this long. As you can see, the GOPeas are getting their knickers in a twist about appearances. If they are so concerned about appearances, then they should help the horrible areas of poverty that exist.
DFH in SC.